Trip Highlights:
With over 800 miles of trails, the Yosemite Wilderness offers endless itineraries and opportunities for adventure. Our 13-day Yosemite High Country Adventure offers twice the amount of fun and endless adventure for participants ages 14-18. Most trips travel a total of 60-75 miles while camping and hiking beside high alpine lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and meadows. Most trips also have opportunities to summit major peaks, travel off-trail, and/or enjoy the natural geological formations and backcountry sunsets from incredible viewpoints. Risk-taking and challenges, along with fun and support from others, lead to a positive adventure for all. Our Outdoor Educators will also share environmental and historical highlights of the region in a fun and exciting way. Through leadership and communication initiatives and challenges, participants will be challenged to develop a more profound passion and skill set for the outdoors. Whether joining us for a first-time backpacking experience or having had backpacked before, participants should have a passion for the outdoors, roughing it, getting dirty, and creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Age Range
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YOUTH PROGRAM ADVENTURE SHUTTLE
Lasting Adventures will be providing transportation from near the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the greater Bay Area to our Youth Backpacking programs in Yosemite National Park. Skip the long drive and traffic while helping save the environment.
Yosemite 2025 Update: The National Park Service was given the green light for Yosemite to hire all needed seasonal employees for the summer 2025 season. We do expect to be able to run all our programs as planned. Should reservations be required, participation in Lasting Adventures programs, trips, and/or tours includes entry when reservations are needed
This is a Sample Itinerary only. Itineraries differ weekly based on trailhead permits.
Day 1: Meet your Counselors/Outdoor Educators. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. Group orientation and relocation to the Yosemite Valley Backpackers Campsite for the evening. Yosemite Valley tour, including geological and natural highlights. Evening activities and campfire to strengthen bonds while goal setting and an introduction to the Yosemite wilderness and history through storytelling.
Day 2: After taking the morning shuttle to the high country, we will head out on the trail through Tuolumne Meadows and follow the river downstream for 6 miles to Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp at 7,840′. Participants will enjoy the natural water features and exploring this area.
Day 3: After the morning meeting (stretches, map review, goal setting, etc.), we will continue weaving our way down the Tuolumne River gorge while appreciating the natural art that the glaciers left behind. We will hike about 7 miles today to a site along the Tuolumne River and across from the Cathedral Creek cascade, which joins the Tuolumne River at approximately 5,600′.
Day 4: Today, we will awake to granite walls all around us as we prepare with morning stretches and circle time. Today’s hike will continue for another 7 miles to Pate Valley at 4,380′, which is the west end of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. This valley is a meadow area that may have been along an old Indian trading route.
Day 5: Day 5 will also begin early. Today, we have a more strenuous day of uphill trail as we leave the Tuolumne River Gorge and head to White Wolf. This almost 10-mile uphill hike will ascend nearly 3,500′ to White Wolf at 7,875′. Once here, we will celebrate our achievement with ice cream, real toilets, and a resupply of food and clean clothes.
Day 6: After a much-needed rest and relaxation, we will head back east for 5.5 miles along a more moderate trail before a lunch break at the Ten Lakes trail junction at 8,240′. After lunch, we will begin our uphill segment of the day, climbing nearly 1,400′ over the next 2.8 miles to the Ten Lakes Pass at 9,620′. After taking in the view, we will drop down approximately 600 feet over the next mile to camp beside one of the lakes in the Ten Lakes basin.
Day 7: We will wind our way out of the Ten Lakes basin dropping into the South Fork of the Tuolumne at nearly 8,800′. Total hiking will be approximately 6 miles.
Day 8: Today, after waking in a very remote site, we will head approximately 8.5 miles to May Lake at 9,329′, passing and rounding Tuolumne Peak and many spectacular high-country views along the way.
Day 9: Today is our much needed “Zero” day with packs. This means no mileage with packs on today. Instead, we will partake in a morning scramble to the top of Mount Hoffman at 10,850′. This is approximately a 4-mile round-trip from May Lake. Mount Hoffman is the geographical center of Yosemite and offers one of the best views of the entire park. This afternoon, participants can wade, fish, and relax on May Lake before afternoon activities and dinner. An awesome sunset experience will be had on the bluff above our campsite.
Day 10: Today, we will leave May Lake and follow Snow Creek to the rim of Yosemite Valley. We will travel a total of 8 miles to a campsite at 6,720′ directly across the valley from Half Dome. This is another spectacular sunset location for our last night together in the wilderness.
Day 11: We will hike a moderate 10 miles round-trip to enjoy the view and the accomplishment of reaching the top of North Dome at 7,542′. North Dome looks over Yosemite Valley. We will return to our campsite by Snow Creek.
Day 12: On our last day, we will descend to Yosemite Valley via the Snow Creek Trail. We will drop from nearly 2,600′ in 2.6 miles. We will then hike past Mirror Lake (now Mirror Meadow) on level ground for our last 2.5 miles before we head to the Backpackers’ camp for our last night together.
Day 13: After packing up camp, we will do a final bonding activity together as we explore the secret Indian Caves. We will then return to Curry Village. Here we will unpack and celebrate with pizza and beverages before we say our ‘See-ya Laters”.
Note: Remember, this is only a sample itinerary. We can accommodate late arrivals on this first day, as communicated in advance. All 13-day trips will have a re-supply halfway through the trip. Participants are encouraged to pack an extra duffle bag with clean socks, shirts, underwear, etc.
Other: On all of our summer youth programs, we have a daily morning meeting where youth engage in group games, share highlights, offer praise to each other, stretch, review maps and day itineraries, and set individual and group goals for the day. Also, whether breaking on the trail in the afternoon or evening at the campsite, our Outdoor Educators also facilitate additional opportunities for youth to develop a personal connection with nature. Problem-solving and initiative games are common, as are smiles. Additional outdoor skills are gained as we practice Leave No Trace principles and promote environmental stewardship throughout the length of the program.
Drop-off/pick-up time & location: Our Sunday through Friday program begins at the Curry Village Day Use Parking Lot (near the Campground Office in the NE corner) on Sundays and ends on Fridays at 12 p.m. in the exact same location. Late arrivals can usually be coordinated, but please let us know, as this may affect the group’s itinerary.
Scholarship Application – Every youth deserves this opportunity!
REQUIRED FORMS
In addition to full payment, the final acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all the Required Forms. For overnight adventures, you will find these forms attached to your confirmation email once you register online and must be filled out by each member of your party as soon as possible.
We will require an additional medical release for any participant who is currently under the care of a physician for any ongoing disease, illness, or any other condition/factor that may be a concern on the trip.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
For your protection and ours, we strongly recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance, which can provide you with coverage for trip cancellation/interruption (including COVID-19), travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, airfare, and baggage loss/delay to protect your financial investment. We recommend those with “cancel for any reason” clauses included. See reviews of some of the best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Options presented by Forbes or Squaremouth. Other good student options include InsureMyTrip and Allianz Travel Insurance for Students.
Travel Insurance is the easiest and best way to protect yourself and our smaller non-profit organization against last-minute cancellations. We are happy to provide timely and accurate documentation for any insurance claim related to our trips when requested. Please remember that when canceling a reservation, you must first contact the company responsible for ensuring your reservation.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Full payment is preferred for all youth programs/summer camps. During check-out, you may pay a 50% deposit at the time of booking and the remaining 50% at least 30 days from departure. If choosing this option, you can either complete payment on your own with the self-service link in the confirmation email, or you will be billed automatically at or shortly after the 30-day interval for the remaining amount.
When registering online, expect to pay a booking fee of 3.0% (which is capped at $30) and a processing fee of 2.7% (no cap). These fees can be avoided when paying by check and are non-refundable. For detailed information, see our Payment Options page.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICIES
Lasting Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. Lasting Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred while preparing for the trip.
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 TripAdvisor/Viator, bookyogaretreats.com, or 57Hours), the below policy does not apply, and you are held to the third-party’s cancellation policy.
Multi-Day Adventures/Summer Camps Cancellation Policy
48-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy
Any reservation can be canceled within 48 hours of the initial booking, and we will grant you a full refund minus a 2.7% processing fee for credit card transactions. After 48 hours, our standard terms and conditions apply. To cancel, please email us at staff@lastingadventures.org or leave a voicemail at 800-513-8651. This policy does not apply if the booked trip occurs within 96 hours of the initial booking.
Fire/Smoke Cancellation Policy
Fire/smoke cancellations are considered circumstances beyond our control. If your chosen travel insurance does not cover fire/smoke cancellations, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued. If we cancel during your adventure with us, we will issue a non-refundable credit equal to the dollar amount associated with the number of days not used. In both cases, these credits will be lifetime/transferable but non-refundable.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Departing From a Trip: Once a participant has joined a trip and the trip has begun, no refunds or credits will be issued, regardless of the reason for departure. Costs associated with assisting a participant with evacuating from the wilderness will be passed on to the participant. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.
Minimum Participants: Our summer camps require a minimum of four participants. Our 27-Day Leadership Expedition requires a minimum of six participants. If for any reason, we fall short of our 6-person minimum on this trip, the confirmed youth will be scheduled together on two consecutive 13-day programs in Yosemite with a layover in between in a front country campsite. If we fall short on these minimums, we will contact you 30 days before your scheduled start date with options that may include switching to another trip/date and/or a surcharge.
Infectious Illness Policy (including COVID): Any participant on any program/trip with any sign/symptom of a potential illness will not be able to participate, and no refund or credits will be given. Many forms of Travel Insurance cover these circumstances. We ask that you screen yourself and/or your child before participating and contact us to cancel if any sign of illness is present. Health screenings can be expected in all youth programs.
Half Dome & Other Summits: Reaching the top of a summit, such as Half Dome, is risky and can be made far worse by inclement weather. While we aim to get everyone to the top, summiting is not guaranteed. Lightning and rain can be deadly on exposed summits, and our experienced guides may have to call off a summit bid if weather conditions are unfavorable. You will not be allowed to summit using a Lasting Adventures permit should the experienced guide decide the conditions are not favorable.
TRIP CHANGE/CREDIT POLICY
Once you book a trip with Lasting Adventures, the value you paid is valid towards switching to another trip in the current or the coming year, pending available spaces on the new trip. Changes to your booking and conversion to credit must occur more than 30 days before your original start date. Changes within 30 days are subject to fees. Once changed to a lifetime/transferrable credit, credits are non-refundable and are a dollar-for-dollar value.
RECREATIONAL SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM
Our summer camp programs are purely recreational and should not be confused with a wilderness therapy program. Our staff is trained as summer camp counselors, outdoor educators, and guides, and they are not required nor expected to have training/experience in therapeutic programs. Your child should individually have the desire to participate in this program and should not be sent against their will. Additionally, all participants should have experience at sleepaway camps and/or being away from their parents/guardians for multiple nights. No refunds or credits will be issued for evacuations due to social, emotional, and/or behavioral reasons. In addition, due to said concerns, there will be a minimum fee of $500 for any field evacuation.
TRADITIONAL BACKPACKING
Lasting Adventures runs “traditional backpacking” trips. This is done without using porters, stock, or other outside assistance. For this trip, you will be expected to carry your personal gear, a share of the group gear, and food in a backpack. The weight can be expected to be 30-50 lb. and no more than the recommended ⅓ of your body weight.
As needed, it is recommended that participants discuss their ability to fully participate in a backpacking trip with their doctor, including (but not limited to) the ability to carry heavy loads over long distances and strenuous and uneven terrain. Levels of difficulty listed on our website are relative and in no way an objective declaration of difficulty. A regular physical exercise program is recommended before going on your adventure.
TRIP ITINERARIES
All trips are subject to itinerary changes for various reasons, including, but not limited to permitting, weather, forest fires, park or public land closures, and/or road closures. In most situations, we will offer an alternative itinerary of equal value and quality or a credit equal to the total amount paid through the end of the following season. Payments are non-refundable for itinerary changes. If a trip is canceled before its start date due to circumstances beyond our control, a credit equal to the total amount paid will be issued.
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