Trip Highlights:
Our 13-day Yosemite Backpacking Summer Camp for teens is designed for participants ages 14-17 who are both new and experienced to backpacking. Most trips travel a total of 60-75 miles while camping and hiking beside high alpine lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and meadows. Most trips have an opportunity to summit a major peak, travel off-trail, and/or enjoy the natural geological formations and backcountry waterfalls. Risk-taking and challenges along with fun and support from others leads to a positive adventure for all. This 13-day backpacking summer camp for teens offers a great alternative for those seeking a more grand adventure and a more defined connection to nature.
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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.
This is a Sample Itinerary only and is subject to change.
Day 1: Meet your Guides/Counselors between 12-1 pm. 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 in this area.
Day 3: After morning circle time (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 in this location 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 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 which may have been along an old Indian trading route.
Day 5: Day 5 will also begin early as we have a more strenuous day today 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 re-supply 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 besides 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 awaking 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 in all of the park. This afternoon participants will have a chance to wade, fish, 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 the Snow Creek to the rim of the Yosemite Valley. We will travel a total of 8-miles to a campsite at 6,720′ directly across the valley from Half Dome. 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 accomplishment from reaching the top of North Dome at 7,542′. North Dome looks over the 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 half-way through the trip. Participants are encouraged to pack an extra duffle bag with clean socks, shirts, underwear, etc.
Other: On all youth programs, we have a daily circle time in the morning 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 or in the afternoon or evening in the campsite, our guides 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 13-day program begins at the Curry Village large parking lot (near Bus Stop #14) at 12 pm on Sundays and ends on Fridays at 12pm in the same location. Late arrivals can usually be coordinated but please let us know if you will be arriving after 1pm, as this may affect the group’s itinerary.
Scholarship Application – Every youth deserves this opportunity!
Our summer camp programs are purely recreational in nature and should not be confused with a wilderness therapy program. Our staff is trained as summer camp counselors, outdoor educators, and/or guides and they are not required or 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 his/her will. Additionally all participants should have experience at sleepaway camps and/or being away from their parents/guardians for multiple nights. No refunds will be given for evacuations due to social, emotional, and/or behavioral reasons. In addition, there will be a minimum fee of $500 for any field evacuation due to said concerns.
In addition to full payment; final acceptance of any participant is subject to receipt and review of all the Required Forms. These forms are also attached to your confirmation email once you register online.
We will require an additional medical release for any participants on multi-day trips or 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.
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.
We have experience accomodating a variety of dietary choices and concerns, including, but not limited to:
If we have questions or concerns about the information on your medical form, we will call you the day before your trip to ensure we are packing foods you are able to eat without issue.
Lasting Adventures runs “traditional backpacking” trips. This is done without the use of porters, stock, or other outside 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. The weight can be expected to be 30-50 lbs and no more than the recommended 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 strenuous and uneven terrain. Levels of difficulty listed on our website 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.
All trips are subject to itinerary changes for a wide variety of reasons including, but not limited to permitting, weather, forest fires, park or public land closures, and/or road closures. In most all situations we will offer an alternative itinerary of equal value and quality or a credit through the end of the following season. Payments are non-refundable for itinerary changes. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control prior to its start date a trip credit equal to the full amount paid will be issued.
Due to the nature of backpacking, our guides work long hours. In order to provide the best possible experience to our guests and our guides, we limit the number of hours that our guides work to 15 hours per day. Guides will not be required to be available from 9 pm to 6 am, unless a different time period is agreed upon by the group prior to this standard break period. This varies on our summer camps, where our outdoor educators are available as needed at all times.
During time off, our guides will be available for emergencies, but should be allowed to rest and should not be considered available for other purposes outside of working hours. Please refrain from requesting non-time-sensitive assistance from guides during this period. Our guides are also entitled to take off 10 minutes every four hours, as well as 30-minute meal breaks every 5 hours, between 6 am and 9 pm. We appreciate your cooperation with these scheduling requirements.
Lasting Adventures understands that firearm laws and policies vary in every area we operate in. Regardless of local laws and policies, Lasting Adventures does not allow firearms on any of our trips. Participants who bring firearms will not be allowed to participate while in possession of their firearm.
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 do recommend those with “cancel for any reason” clauses included and see here for a review of some of the Best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Options presented by Forbes or Squaremouth.
Travel Insurance is the easiest and best way to protect both yourself and our smaller non-profit organization against last-minute cancellations. We will happily provide timely and accurate documentation for any insurance claim related to our trips upon request. Please note that when canceling a trip, your first course of action should be to contact the company responsible for insuring your trip.
Full payment is preferred for all Youth Summer Camps. During check-out, you may opt to pay a 50% deposit at the time of booking and the remaining 50% 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. Any new multi-day booking made at/within 45 days in advance will be required to pay in full. Feel free to contact us directly to set up any other payment plan. 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. For detailed information, see Payment Options.
Lasting Adventures reserves the right to cancel trips. If a trip is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, a trip credit equal to the full amount paid will be issued. Lasting Adventures is not responsible for additional expenses incurred while preparing for the trip.
Cancellations of any trip can be made without penalty within 48 hours of the initial booking. 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 cancellations are considered circumstances beyond our control. If your chosen travel insurance does not cover fire/smoke cancellations, a credit equal to the full amount paid will be issued. In this case, you will be required to submit proof of the purchase of said travel insurance. If we cancel during your adventure with us, we will refund a credit equal to the number of days not used. In both cases, these credits will be lifetime/transferable.
Departing From a Trip: Once a participant has joined a trip and the trip has begun, no opportunities for refunds or credits will be possible, 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 (below) is strongly recommended.
Minimum Participants: Our Summer Camps have a four-person minimum. Should we fall short on these minimums, we will contact you 30 days in advance of your scheduled start date with options that may include switching to another trip/date and/or a single-participant surcharge.
Infectious Disease 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/credits will be given. Many forms of Travel Insurance cover these circumstances. We ask that you screen yourself and/or your child prior to participation and contact us to cancel should any sign of illness be present. Health screenings can be expected on all youth programs.
Half Dome & Other Summits: Reaching the top of a summit, such as Half Dome, is a risky activity which 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.
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 a credit must occur more than 30 days prior to your original start date. Changes within 30 days are subject to fees. Once changed to a lifetime credit, credits are non-refundable and are a dollar-for-dollar value.
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