Backpacking 101: Tahoe National Forest - PCT South
- Duration: 2 Days (approx.)
- Location: Soda Springs, CA
- Product code: PAJUJZ
Backpacking 101 Course
A beginner friendly course to learn how to get started backpacking.
Dates Available
August 26 -27, 2023 - PCT to Lake Angela Trail Profile: 4 miles, 338’ elevation gain round trip
Location: This course takes place in Tahoe National Forest.
You will meet your guides at the Donner Summit Sno Park, right off the I-80 exit at Boreal.
Start Time: 9AM Saturday
End Time: 4PM Sunday
What’s Included
- Beginner backpacking curriculum that consists of online coursework to prepare and pack with full instruction on the field.
- Professional guides
- 7:1 client to guide ratio with a max group size of 10 clients, 2 guides
- Permit fees
- Special discount to shop at Alpinistas store
- Optional upgrade to have tent, mattress and stove provided.
- BONUS - altitude prep handout for the Sierra Nevada.
Not Included
- Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point
- Transfers to and from trailheads
- Meals (Meal planning is included in the online course material to help you prepare).
- All backpacking gear including pack, sleeping bag, and other essential items. You do have the option of having us provide the tent, mattress and stove.
- Trip insurance
- Alcoholic beverages or soft drinks
- Guide gratuities
- Personal items
Rough Itinerary
Day 1 - 9AM
Meet your guide at the Tahoe trailhead. We’ll start out with a live instruction on packing up your backpack for efficiency on the trail. We’ll get on the trail at a nice relaxing pace, taking regular breaks to enjoy the views and make adjustments.
Throughout the day, your guide will stop and provide various lessons about backpacking. We’ll have a chance to stop by beautiful alpine lakes for lunch and breaks.
Once we reach our camp destination for the night, we’ll talk about how to pick the best campsites, camp preparation, and then we’ll set everything up.
After our cozy camp set up, we’ll cover camp cooking, enjoy dinner together and then head to bed for an early and well-deserved rest.
Day 2
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast with amazing sunrise views, then we’ll pack up and head back on the trail. Your guide will talk to you about campsite cleanup and Leave No Trace principles to make sure that we leave the wilderness as beautiful as we found it!
All weekend, your guides will also be sharing information about emergency preparedness, first aid tips, navigation, and more.
When we get back to our starting point, we’ll debrief from the trip and then say our goodbyes.Fitness
To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we encourage you to participate in a training program before the trip. We recommend that your program includes training by hiking with a weighted pack. Overall fitness is important to your enjoyment of the trip. The only thing taking your breath away should be the views!
