2009 Trips

Seven Trips are offered in 2009, varying from 4 to 7 glorious Sierra days
Glen Aulin Jun 25 - 28	Charlotte Creek Jul 19 - 24	Garnet Lake Aug 2 - 8	Pine Creek Aug 9 - 15
Bernice Lake Aug 16-22	Sunrise Lake Aug 27 - 30 Note Revised Date	Lillian Lakes Sept 4 - 7		Click here for PDF list to save
Guidelines for all Trips: On all trips, mules carry gear to the campsite, drop it off, and return at the end of the trip to carry it out. If the weight per person that can be carried by the mules is not shown for a trip, clarify it with the trip leader. In addition, you may carry as much as you like in your pack when you hike in. All trips provide wine for the “happy hours" and/or "pot lucks". For potlucks, participants are asked to contribute so that each pot luck constitutes dinner for the group. Happy Hours are more informal and might substitute for dinner but are not expected to. Campsites below 10,000’ generally allow campfires. During the trip, each participant may choose their own activities, within safety guidelines. The leaders usually plan daily hikes, which are optional. People who like to fish should check the regulations that apply to the area before choosing a trip. To apply, contact the indicated leader with information about your condition, experience, and altitude tolerance. All applications received through Dec 31 will receive equal consideration -- the date received is not relevant. No acceptances will be given before Jan 1, 2009. Applications that are received after Jan 1 are given priority based on when they are received. After you are accepted for a trip, the leader will provide the details you need about trip plans and what to bring. Note reservation & cancellation policy. Sign up and have fun!
Tuolumne Falls - late summer C 2008 Michael E. Gordon www.michael-gordon.com				Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Glen Aulin in Yosemite: Jun 25 - 28, Thursday - Sunday This trip will allow you to see the falls of the Tuolumne River at their early season best. On Thursday morning, we will hike 7 miles, 800 ft elevation loss, from Tuolumne Meadows to a base camp at 7400 ft in the Glen Aulin area. Tuolumne Falls, California Falls, LeConte Falls and the unusual Waterwheel Falls await us on our day hikes. Other day hike options are to cross Return Creek into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, or hike along the PCT through Cold Canyon, or hike a portion of the High Sierra loop trail to McGee Lake, Cathedral Creek, or Polly Dome Lakes. Leaders are hoping for good early season wildflowers and minimal nuisance from mosquitoes. Happy hours each night. Trip cost is $240 and weight allowance for the mules is 40 lbs / person. To apply, contact Leader: Yvonne Tsai. Assistant Leader: John Kaiser Back to Top of Page			See this note about trips in Yosemite Date is Confirmed
	View from Kearsarge Pass Kearsarge Lakes, Bullfrog Lake & Mt Bago (right horizon). 2005 Mule Pack
	O/I: Charlotte Creek: July 19 - 24, Sunday - Friday This one is for peak, lake, and pass baggers. We can take up to 10 serious hikers on this trip to one of the most beautiful hiking areas in this part of the Sierra. Sunday morning we'll start at Onion Valley (9200') outside of Independence and hike 8 miles with 2600' gain over Kearsarge Pass (11,283') to our scenic base camp at Charlotte Creek near Charlotte Lake at 10,370' elevation. Options for hikes range from moderate to difficult including the JMT over Glen Pass to Rae Lakes, Vidette Meadow, Mt Rixford, Mt Bago, and Mt Gould. From Monday to Thursday we'll hike, photo, look at flowers, fish, or relax in camp. The leaders will organize potlucks every night. On Friday we'll hike out leaving the weekend to adjust to being back in the real world. The fee per person is $300. You'll be allowed to ask the mules to carry up to 55 lbs. You can carry as much as you want yourself. To apply, contact co-Leader Pat Arredondo. Co-leader: Laura Joseph. Back to Top of Page
Garnet Lake, Ritter & Banner Peaks S. Sperling, 2005 Mule Pack				Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O/I: Garnet Lake: August 2 - 8, Sunday - Saturday We've planned this trip with the goals of lots of creative hikes, flower identifying, gourmet meals, and good conversation. The area is a popular one near the JMT and PCT and Thousand Island Lake. There are beautiful views of Ritter, Davis, and Banner Peaks from our campsite at 9,700'. Sunday morning, we'll hike from Agnew Meadow Pack Station near Mammoth to the campsite. We'll start at 8335' and hike 7 miles with 2500' gain to the lake. We'll have five full days to hike, photo, fish or relax in camp. We are hopeful that campfires will again be allowed. The leaders will organize potlucks every night. To allow for your comfort, you may put up to 55 lbs per person on the mules. We'll hike out on Saturday. The cost per person is $275. To apply, contact co-Leader Laura Joseph. Co-leaders: Sandy Burnside, Les Wilson. Back to Top of Page
	View from Royce Lake saddle looking toward Honeymoon & Upper Pine Lakes 2003 Mule Pack
	O: Pine Creek Canyon: August 9 - 15, Sunday - Saturday Sunday morning we will hike 6 miles, 2900' gain, from the Pine Creek pack station (7500') to our base camp in the Honeymoon Lake / Upper Pine Lake area (10,400'). This camp is located for convenient access to outstanding hiking areas. For dayhikes, one choice is the Pine Creek trail into French Canyon and its numerous lakes: French, Moon, L, Elba Lakes and others or continue down French Canyon to Royce Falls. Or take the Italy Pass trail to beautiful Granite Park and on to Italy Pass. Or hike to Golden Lake & Royce Lakes or into lake-filled Chalfant basin. Only five layover days to try to take it all in. Enjoy daily happy hours and a couple of potlucks. The weight limit for the mules is 50 lbs per person and the cost is $295. To apply, contact Assistant Leader: Winnette Butler. Leader: John Kaiser. Assistant Leader: Yvonne Tsai Back to Top of Page
Vogelsang Peak Tom Hood, 2008 Mule Pack		Vogelsang Lake Helmut Hafner, 2008 Mule Pack		Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
Mule Pack, Sierra Peaks, and WTC O/I: Bernice Lake, Vogelsang Peak, Mt Florence: August 16 - 22, Sunday - Saturday Use Bernice Lake in Yosemite Park as your base camp to climb peaks in the area. This trip is designed for strong hikers who want to do mainly cross-country routes and peakbagging, so we are co-listing the trip with the Sierra Peak Section and Wilderness Travel Course. We will start at Tuolumne Meadows, where we plan to reserve a group campsite for Saturday night, Aug 15. Sunday morning we will hike 11 mi, 2600' gain, with our daypacks over Tuolumne Pass (9992') and Vogelsang Pass (10,670') to Bernice Lake (10,200'). This will be a superior peak-bagging opportunity with Vogelsang Peak and Mt Florence in close proximity, and also other peaks in the area. Many streams, lakes, a few trails, and many cross-country options. Monday - Friday you can hike, climb peaks, take photos, fish, or relax in camp. We will have organized gourmet potlucks each night around food that you bring. While the higher elevation means we can't have campfires, mosquitoes and other pests should be minimal. Saturday we will hike out. We also plan to reserve a group campsite for Saturday night, Aug 22, as we will likely reach the trailhead before the mules do. Weight limit for the mules is 50 lbs and cost is $270 per person (not including Tuolumne Meadows group campsites). To apply, complete Participant Medical Form found at http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ltc/forms.html and contact co-Leader: Sandy Sperling. Co-Leaders: Peter Lara, Laura Joseph. Back to Top of Page			See this note about trips in Yosemite Date is Confirmed
	A View from the Top 2007 Mulepack to Purple Lake
Revised Date! See this note about trips in Yosemite	O: Sunrise Lake and Clouds Rest with a Little Help from our Mules: August 27 - 30. Thursday - Sunday This is our annual late-summer weekend trip to the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. We'll hike in on Thursday, 5 miles, 1300' gain to our base camp by Sunrise Lake. Spend the weekend enjoying the beautiful area. Saturday hike 10 miles round trip, 900 gain, to the top of Clouds Rest. Many consider this to be the most stunning view of Yosemite Valley from above. We'll hike out on Sunday. Cost is $240 per person. For this trip, you will be asked to send full payment on acceptance. To apply, contact Leader: Christine Gutierrez. Assistant Leader: Sharon Kirk. Back to Top of Page
Early Riser Special 2002 Mule Pack to Lillian Lake				Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Lillian Lakes with a Little Help from our Mules: Sept 4-7, Friday - Monday. End the summer on our annual Labor Day weekend trip in the partly forested, partly sub-alpine Lillian Lakes area just south of Yosemite. Experience this lake-filled area enjoying the advantages of moderate weather, still warm lakes, good fishing and a guarantee of no mosquitoes! Friday, enjoy the scenery of the Fernandez trail as we hike 5 miles, 1200' gain to our base camp at Lady Lake. Before the trail descends to our camp, it will provide views across the San Joaquin drainage to the Ritter range. Many scenic lakes and views to enjoy from our location, including Vanderburgh, Stanford, Chittenden, Shirley and Lillian Lakes. We'll hike out on Monday. Cost is $220 per person. For this trip, you will be asked to send full payment on acceptance. To apply, contact Leader: Christine Gutierrez. Assistant Leader: Francine Oschin. Back to Top of Page

	SPECIAL NOTE for Trips to Yosemite Park: Leaders cannot apply for wilderness permits until 24 weeks before the date of the trip. As a result there is a small possibility that adjustments to the trip destination or dates may be needed. If such adjustments are necessary and are not acceptable to you, a full refund of your payments will be made. Back to Top of Page
All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the Liability Waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, please go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms. The Sierra Club is registered as a Seller of Travel under CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
	Updated March 19, 2009