2013 Trips

Seven Sierra Trips are offered for 2013 varying from 4 to 7 glorious days. To receive email announcements about trips and updates please send an email to John Kaiser, MPS Chair

	Glen Aulin Jul 23 - Jul 27	Honeymoon Lake Jul 28 - Aug 2	Clark Lakes Aug 4 - 9
	Bernice Lake Canceled	Fourth Recess Lake Aug 18 - 23	Shadow Creek Aug 22 - 25
		Cottonwood Lakes Sep 1 - 7		Click here for PDF list to save
Guidelines for all SIERRA 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" and one or more roll-up tables for use of the group. For pot lucks, participants are asked to contribute so that each pot luck constitutes dinner for the group. Happy Hours are more informal and many participants find that they substitute for dinner but they are not planned as dinners. We will have campfires where permitted. During the trip, each participant may choose his/her 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 your contact information and a statement about your condition, experience, altitude tolerance and health. All applications received through Dec 31, 2012 go into an applicant pool -- how early you apply is not relevant. No acceptances will be given before Jan 1, 2013. After Jan 1, additional applications are considered as 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		Cathedral, Unicorn, & Tuolumne River		Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Glen Aulin: Jul 23 - Jul 27, Tuesday - Saturday Join us to enjoy the beautiful and unique waterfalls of the Tuolumne River. On Tuesday morning, we will hike 7 miles with a net 800 ft elevation loss, from Tuolumne Meadows to a base camp at 7400 ft in the Glen Aulin area. Day hike options include Tuolumne Falls, California Falls, LeConte Falls, and the unusual Waterwheel Falls. We also plan on exploring a portion of the High Sierra Loop trail to McGee Lake, Cathedral Creek, Polly Dome Lakes and to hike along the PCT through Cold Canyon to the Elbow Hill area. To help us acclimate to the altitude and get our hiking legs, we will also offer a pre-trip hike from Tenaya Lake to May Lake on Monday July 22. Happy hour every evening. Trip cost is $280 per person and weight allowance is 45 lbs per person. To apply, send email with recent high altitude and and distance experience and health to Leader: Frances Penn. Assistant Leader: John LaRue Back to Top of Page			Important: See special note about trips in Yosemite NP below
Honeymoon Lake		Scene from Granite Park
	O/I: Honeymoon Lake: July 28 - August 2, Sunday - Friday On Sunday morning, we will set off from the Pine Creek Pack Station, off the 395 10 miles north of Bishop. Beginning at 7500’, we will hike 8 miles with 3000’ of gain up the Pine Creek Canyon to our base camp overlooking beautiful Honeymoon Lake at 10,435’. As we hike with just our day packs, hired mules carry gear of up to 55 pounds per person. This weight limit—plus whatever you carry in your pack—allows for small luxuries not possible on a back pack trip. In addition, the leaders provide conveniences including tables, stoves and gear for group cooking, water filtration (you will not need to bring your own water filter or spend hours pumping), and a latrine with a privacy enclosure. Upon arriving in camp, we will set up our kitchen/dining area, the latrine, and our individual campsites. Once we’re all set up, we’ll gather for our first evening meal which will include appetizers, a huge salad with multiple ingredients to choose from, desserts and wine. In the mornings, most people like to get together to prepare their individual breakfasts and plan the day’s activities. Hot water will be provided. Every evening, we’ll have happy hour followed by a planned potluck dinner with wine or the beverage of your choice. The evenings are always a great occasion to socialize and enjoy wonderful food planned by the leaders and brought by participants. Sandy and Laura’s trips are famous for well-organized gourmet meals. This beautiful rarely-visited area offers an ideal setting for easy to strenuous hikes, fishing, photography, or just relaxing by a lake or stream. Hiking destinations include: Pine Lakes, Granite Park, Italy Pass, Upper French Canyon, Royce Lakes, and others, as well as challenging Julius Caesar Peak. If we have sufficient rain, this is a fabulous area for wildflowers. We will have four days to enjoy ourselves, with each person arranging activities to suit his/her preferences. On Friday, after we’ve had plenty of fun and adventure, the mules will return to carry our gear out while we hike. Cost per person is $400. To apply, email information on your health and recent high altitude and distance conditioning to Co-leader: Laura Joseph. Co-Leader: Sandy Burnside Back to Top of Page
Thousand Island Lake		Summit Lake		Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Clark Lakes: August 4 - 9, Sunday - Friday On Sunday morning we hike at a leisurely pace for about 7 miles (approx. 3000’ gain) from the pack station at Silver Lake (in June Lakes area), with many photographic opportunities along the way. Our trip includes panoramic views of the June Lake Basin, traveling past pretty Agnew and Gem Lakes, and crossing Rush Creek to a lovely campsite along Clark Lake #2 (elevation 9800') in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Once we set up base camp, we’ll have four full days to explore this scenic area. Many lakes, wildflowers and trails abound for all levels, (including the JMT and PCT). Day hikes will be available to destinations such as Thousand Island, Badger, Summit and Garnet Lakes, Island and Agnew Passes, Spooky Meadow, Carson Peak, San Joaquin Mountain and much more. Or hang out in camp to photo, fish or relax, with chances to look for rare wildflowers. Enjoy evening Happy Hours with wine provided, as well as a salad night, a quesadilla night and a special dessert for salad night. Hike out on Friday. The cost is $285, and the mules will carry up to 60 pounds per person. Trip limit 15. To apply email or phone with high altitude and distance conditioning and health to Co-Leader, Winnette Butler. Co-Leader: Jim Fleming. Back to Top of Page
Alpenglow at Bernice Lake		Bernice Lake seen from Vogelsang Pk
Trip has been canceled because permits could not be obtained.	O/I: Bernice Lake: August 11 - 16, Sunday - Friday Vogelsang Peak (11,493'), Mt Florence (12,561'). Use Bernice Lake in Yosemite Park as your base camp to climb peaks in the area. This trip is designed for strong hikers who mainly desire to do cross-country routes and peakbagging, so we are co-listing with the Sierra Peak Section and the Wilderness Travel Course. We will start at Tuolumne Meadows, where we plan to reserve a group campsite for Saturday night, Aug 10. 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 - Thursday you can hike, climb peaks, take photos, fish, or relax in camp. We will have organized gourmet dinners each night. The dinner food will be provided but we will all take part in preparing it. The higher elevation means we can't have campfires, but mosquitoes and other pests should be minimal. Friday we will hike out. Weight limit for the mules is 50 lbs and the cost is $345 per person including dinner and wine. Accepted participants will need to complete the Participant Medical Form . To apply email recent high altitude tolerance, conditioning, and experience to Co-Leader, Sandy Lara. Co-Leader: Peter Lara. Back to Top of Page
Fourth Recess Lake				Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Fourth Recess Lake: August 18 - 23, Sunday - Friday After dropping our gear off at the Rock Creek Pack Station (9,950’) 9 miles from Toms Place (on US Highway 395, 24 miles north of Bishop, CA) early on Sunday morning, we’ll park at the Mosquito Flat TH (10,295’) 2 miles away and hike 7.5 miles with 1,800’ of elevation gain over Mono Pass (12,045’) to our base camp near Fourth Recess Lake (10,132’). We’ll enjoy beautiful alpine views in the spectacular John Muir Wilderness along the way. Our spacious base camp offers a range of options for individual tent sites and a large common area. This area has been very popular with backpackers and mule packers but is rarely scheduled due to the packer’s relatively high costs. Because of the high demand for the location, we think that people will be willing to pay a few dollars extra for this spectacular experience. Hiking opportunities in the area abound, ranging from easy to strenuous. Mount Huntington (12,394’), Mount Crocker (12,458), and Mount Hopkins (12,304’) are nearby. Lake lovers will enjoy Golden Lake (10,994’), Third Recess Lake (10,531’), Lower Hopkins Lake (10,355’), and various glaciated lakes and gentle meadows in sprawling Pioneer Basin (10,400’ to 11,000’). We will have four full layover days to enjoy the area. Non-hiking activities include fishing, photography, or just kicking back. In the evenings we’ll have tasty potluck dinners organized by the leaders around food that the participants will bring and wine will be provided. Those who wish to do so may also enjoy preparing breakfasts (hot water provided) in the common area and sharing each others’ company while making plans for the day. You’ll be able to camp in comfort and enjoy a variety of food since wranglers will lead mules carrying up to 55 pounds per person. The packers will return to take our gear back to the pack station on Friday morning while we hike out. Of course, you’re also welcome to carry in as much additional gear/food as you want to on your own back. Cost is $400. To apply, contact Co-Leader: Laura Joseph with recent high altitude and distance conditioning and general health. Co-Leader: Les Wilson. Back to Top of Page
	Garnet Lake		Shadow Lake
	O: Shadow Creek: August 22 - 25, Thursday - Sunday On Thursday morning we will hike 7 miles from Agnew Meadows (8,000 ft) to Shadow Creek ( 8,750 ft) to camp at one of the loveliest areas of the Ansel Adams/Minaret Wilderness. Hired packers will carry 45 lbs of your gear while we hike with only our daypacks. Two full lay-over days to hike, fish or relax. Easy access to Ediza, Garnet and Thousand Island Lakes. Enjoy a group salad night and daily happy hours, with wine provided, and fun evening activities. We will hike out on Sunday. A group camp site will be available Wednesday August 21, 2012 or you can stay in Mammoth. The trip cost is $275. To apply, send an email with recent high altitude and distance conditioning and health to the trip contact Co-Leader: Dave Cross. Co-Leaders: Francine Oschin and Christine Gutierrez Back to Top of Page
Cottonwood Lake 3		On the trail to Old Army Pass		Click on the pictures to view in a larger window. Close the window to return to this page.
O: Cottonwood Lakes: September 1 - 7, Sunday - Saturday. Join us as hired packers carry gear of 50 lbs per person while we hike separately with only our daypacks. Sunday am hike from Cottonwood Pack Station (10,040’) at Horseshoe Meadows, 6.5 miles, 1,300’ gain, to our base camp near Long Lake (11,160’) with beautiful views of Cirque Peak and surrounding areas. Monday - Friday you can hike, work on your photography skills, fish, or relax in camp. In addition to exploring the Cottonwood Lakes (can we find Hidden Lake?) we’ll have planned hikes to Cirque Peak (12,900’), Cirque Lake, and Mt. Langley (14,026’). Enjoy happy hours every night with wine provided, followed by potluck or soup dinners. Saturday, we hike out. Trip cost is $320. To apply, email or phone with recent high altitude and distance conditioning to Co Leader: Frances Penn. Co-Leaders: Sharon Kirk, Peter Ireland. Back to Top of Page


In Yosemite National Park, applications for Wilderness Permits cannot be submitted earlier than 24 weeks before the date of the trip. Therefore the dates and/or location of this trip are subject to change. If it is necessary to make a change that is not acceptable to you, the reservation deposit will be refunded. Back to Bernice Lake trip Back to Glen Aulin trip

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, click here. 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 November, 2012