For a detailed map with elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here: Map.

Day 1: Meet your hosts, Scott and Chris, at 4 pm in Curry Village. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. If time allows before dinner, explore some of the Valley’s iconic features. Eat dinner at one of the park’s many restaurants (food in the front-country is not included). Camp in the Yosemite Valley Backpacker’s Camp. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 0 mi / +0′, -0′

Day 2: Grab breakfast in Curry Village, then take the morning shuttle to Tuolumne Meadows. From there, depart by means of the John Muir Trail and quickly diverge onto the Rafferty Creek Trail. This is a steady uphill hike into high alpine meadows. Our goal this day is to go 6.5 miles to either Boothe Lake (9,845′) or Vogelsang High Sierra Camp (10,130′), where we’ll spend the night in an area of Yosemite unanimously beloved as a favorite among our guides! Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 7.5 mi / +1,500′, -0′

Day 3: This downhill day begins with a drop in elevation to Babcock Lake (8,885′), over the course of 5.3 hiking miles alongside Fletcher Creek, which flows into the mighty Merced River. Upon reaching camp at Babcock Lake, you’ll have the opportunity to relax and cool off in the brisk alpine lake before dinner. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 5.3 mi / +100′, -1,300′

Day 4: After a hearty breakfast, we break camp and leave Babcock Lake, dropping over 1,500′ on the 3.9-mile hike to Merced Lake for a lunchtime break. We will then hike another 2.6 easy miles along the shores of the Merced River to Echo Valley (7,020′), where we’ll set up camp and enjoy a delicious dinner before bedding down for the a well-earned sleep. Today’s Mileage/Elevation: 6.5 mi / +100′, -2,000′

Day 5: Today we continue hiking along the Merced River to Little Yosemite Valley (6,140′) for a total of 6.7 easy, downhill miles past stunning backcountry waterfalls and cascades. You’ll experience lush meadows filled with wildflowers and babbling creeks as you trek through some of the park’s most pristine wilderness. Today’s Mileage/Elevation (without Half dome): 6.7 mi / +250′, -1,800′

Day 6: Our final hike takes us 4.5 miles down the iconic Mist Trail to Yosemite Valley (4,000′). Along the way we pass two of Yosemite’s most stunning waterfalls—Nevada Fall and Vernal Fall—before finishing in historic Curry Village. Typically, the goal is to reach the end of the hike, and trip, between 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Today’s Mileage/Elevation (without Half Dome): 4.5 mi / +300′, -2440′

Other: Half Dome can be completed in the afternoon/evening of Day 5 or early morning on Day 6 before hiking out. This is a 7-mile round-trip, +2,700’/-2,700′ elevation change hike from Little Yosemite Valley.

NOTES:

• Required shuttle costs are included in the above costs. We also provide backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, pads, trekking poles and eating utensils as needed at NO EXTRA COST. This trip is primarily a fundraiser, and all profits go to supporting our Youth Programs.
• All trips are subject to Lasting Adventures obtaining the necessary wilderness permits. Although we have a 98% success rate for obtaining permits, if we are unable to acquire permits for this exact itinerary, a trip of equal quality will be secured.
• Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Lasting Adventures is recognized for its commitment to safety and risk management. In this regard, the summit of Half Dome (or any other peak) will not be attempted when clouds are in close proximity.
• All trips are pending permit availability which we gain 24-weeks in advance. Please refrain from making travel arrangements until we have confirmed dates.

Multi-Day Adventures/Summer Camps Cancellation Policy

The following cancellation policy is only for trips booked directly through our official website, lastingadventures.com. If you have booked via a third-party website, such as The Clymb, TripAdvisor Experiences/Viator, or bookyogaretreats.com, the below policy does not apply, and you are held to the third-party’s cancellation policy.

If you cancel or leave a multi-day trip for any reason:

• More than 90 days prior to the trip start date, we will grant you a full refund. (*Exception: our Lodging/Hiking package has a $100 non-refundable processing fee per room booked.)
• Between 90 and 61 days prior to the trip start date, we will you a full refund minus a $50/person processing fee.
• Between 60 and 46 days prior to the trip start date, we will retain 25 percent of the trip cost. You may also take a non-refundable credit of the full value paid.
• Between 45 and 31 days prior to the trip start date, we will retain 50 percent of the trip cost. You may also take a non-refundable credit of the full value paid.
• Less than 31 days prior to the trip start date, or once the trip has begun, there will be no refund or credit.
• There will be no cost for cancellations for trips we are unable to run due to closures and/or restrictions by government officials. We will make departure determinations for trips 7 days in advance of the departure date. Refunds for trips not able to be run will be processed within 5 days of the intended departure date and can only be processed back to the original payment method used for the current trip.
  • Exception: We may make this determination 15 days in advance for Lodging Packages.
  • Any portion of a trip purchased with a credit from a previous year will revert back to a credit.
  • Due to the difficulties of running seasonal programs, a lost season can affect us greatly. We appreciate any of our customers that would choose to take a lifetime, transferable credit for the value paid of their trip, should the trip not be able to operate due to government restrictions.
• Final payments on multi-day trips are automatically processed/due at 30 days in advance of the trip. Any new multi-day booking made at/within 45-days in advance will be required to pay in full.
  • Exception: Final payments are due at least 45 days in advance for our Lodging/Hiking package.
• For our Summer Camps, due to COVID-19 in 2021 participants must have a responsible party available within 6 hours of Yosemite Valley for pickup in case of emergency.
• If we determine that a trip should be pulled or cancelled mid-way through the trip (for example, due to unhealthy smoke levels or other circumstances outside our control, we will provide a credit for the unused portion of the trip.

Traditional Backpacking

Lasting Adventures runs traditional backpacking trips. Traditional backpacking is done without the use of porters, stock, or other assistance. You will be expected to carry all of your own personal gear and a share of the group gear and food in a backpack for the duration of this trip. This weight will typically be between 30-50 pounds and in no case more than ⅓ of your body weight.

As needed, it is recommended that participants discuss their ability to conduct a backpacking trip with their doctor, including (but not limited to) the ability to carry heavy loads over long distances and over strenuous and uneven terrain. Levels of difficulty listed on our web site are relative and in no way an objective declaration of difficulty, and a regular physical exercise program is recommended prior to going on your adventure. A subjective guide to difficulty levels can be found here: Difficulty Levels.

Dietary Constraints

Although we are able to accommodate many specific dietary constraints and choices, we prepare foods in a facility with peanuts, gluten, soy, and other major allergens, and are not certified as an ‘allergen-free’ facility. We take steps to limit the risk of cross-contamination, but we cannot guarantee that foods we prepare will be fully free of major allergens.