Girls Summer Camp: 6-Day or 13-Day Young Women’s Program
This is a sample 13-day itinerary only. Actual itineraries may differ based on trailhead permitting. For a sample 6-day itinerary, see our 6-Day Yosemite High Country Adventure.
Day 1: Meet your Counselors/Outdoor Educators. Get acquainted with the group and with gear. Group orientation and relocation to the Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers Campsite for the evening. Tuolumne Meadows 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 packing up and stretching, we will head out on the trail through Tuolumne Meadows, following 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 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 cascad,e 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 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 Native American 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 along 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 swade, 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 the 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-mile 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 Native American Caves. We will then return to Curry Village. Here we will unpack and celebrate with pizza and beverages before we say our goodbyes.
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.
Scholarship Application – Every youth deserves this opportunity!
