Dayclass & Overnight Snowcamping $225 Day Class $500 Overnight
Come on a guided snowshoe adventure into the heart of the Sierra Nevada's. We will cover 2.5 miles of snow trails overlooking alpine lakes. Stay for a back-country gourmet lunch inside Tipi's with wood burning stoves. Instructors will show you how to be comfortable, effective and safe when traveling in a snow environment. Meet other adventurous members who share an interest in exploring. We provide a day trip and overnight option to stay for an overnight in the Tipi's. (Includes dinner and breakfast)
What we provide:
Meals
Tipi's with wood burning stoves
Snowshoes
Transportation available with the overnight camping trip
Overview We supply experienced guides, delicious meals, the best equipment available, optional transportation on an overnight backpacking trip in Big Sur. The Big Sur Backpacking Expedition is great for beginner skill levels, with moderate physical exertion required. The course is only 5 miles round trip, is mostly flat, and is suited to most healthy adults.
The Trails You will travel through shaded redwood ravines, with short sections in the coastal hills that overlook views of the ocean. The trails are mostly flat, but there is some up and down hill to cover, as well as occasional stream or fallen tree crossing. Trail length is only 2.5 miles pr day, moving slowly to enjoy the surroundings. Your guide will provide relevant information on the trail, such as identifying common plants, animal sign, and other points of interest. We will stop often to rest, snack, and cover training and class activities.
Training We will train you on the trip with instruction and hands on experience to become a better backpacker at any level. Get hands on with our equipment like water filters, camp stoves, GPS and more. Learn trip planning, safety & emergency protocol, wilderness skills.
Outfitting We supply lightweight, modern, top of the line personal and group equipment. You will be issued a Kifaru Backpack- hand made packs with the best suspension available, Big Agnes Clear View Air Mattress, Headlamp, and a titanium spork and bowl BAE can provide a Big Agnes Encampment sleeping bag for $15. They are rated to 15 degrees, and contain an air mattress inside to prevent you from twisting up in your bag or rolling off of your sleeping pad, and have a pillow case built in that you can fill with your clothing. Click Here to see a video on the Encampments features.
Group Equipment: We will supply a Kifaru Tipi for the group, stoves, headlamps, and water filters & purifiers to resupply water from the creek. Group use sunscreen, wet naps, soap & hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and a garbage bag will be available, but feel free to bring you own in small container sizes.
Transportation Round-trip transportation from our office in San Francisco to the trail head is available in our luxury off-road SUV's (its like a private jet inside) for an additional $30. We have very limited seating availability.
2012 Dates
3/17/2012 4/14/2012 Full 5/19/2012 6/2/2012 6/16/2012 Full 7/14/2012 8/18/2012
Water Carry: You will need to have a container or containers for at least 2 litter of water. Platypus bladders in the 2l range are ideal. Camel backs, nalgenes, canteens, and even disposable bottles will work.
Medications: Remember to bring any and all prescription or other medications you may need. If you have crucial medications bring a few extra days supply.
Clothing: Pants 1-2 pair Shirts 2 Poison-oak and ticks can be along the trail. Long pants & shirts will help keep them away from your body. Socks 2 pairs. We prefer the Smart Wool running socks for hiking, but any synthetic, silk, or fine wool socks will work. Underwear 2 pair Synthetic, silk, or fine wool underwear
Jacket: Fleece or insulated jackets, used in conjunction with warm midlayers is the best way to pack for warmth and weight.
Rain Gear- Only bring a rain jackets and pants if you feel there will be the need that particular weekend, or if you are joining a winter time expedition. Rain gear is heavy, and often unused in the field. You can always bring it in the truck just in case.
‘COTTON KILLS'- Cotton clothing is heavy, micro abrasive on the skin, stays wet for long periods of time, and is cold when wet. Synthetic socks and underwear will help keep you from blisters and chafing dry. Synthetic, wool, and silk garments are very light weight, pack down much smaller, dry fast, and are less abrasive than cotton garments. Shoes: A pair of hiking shoes with a pair of back up of running shoes. Shoes must not be new, and not older than a few year.
Cancellation Policy: Bay Area Expeditions reserves the right to cancel trips on short to no notice due to adverse weather conditions. Because we are a small business and there is high demand for our services, and our costs are very high, we must enforce a strict cancellation and no-show policy. For cancellations occurring 14 days or more there is no cancellation fee, and you will be able to reschedule or receive a refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of scheduled arrival are subject to no refund. You will be Required to Print, Sign and Bring a signed copy of our Release of Liability Click Here to view and print.
American Safari - Black Rock Desert
Duration:
Price: $
Dates:
Duration: 3 Days Price: $1200 Dates: 4.27.201, 6.22.2012
Safari in the US in the unreal landscapes of the Black Rock Desert.
We take care of Everything: Bay Area Expeditions will take care of transportation to the trail head from the Bay Area, meals in the field and at camp, and high end camp and outdoors equipment (such as the teepee's we will stay in). Highly modified 4WD vehicles & trained off-road drivers will be provided for back country touring. Most importantly - we have expert guides on staff. All you have to bring is clothing.
On any given trip you may camp at an oasis or soak in natural hot springs. This region of the USA has natural wetlands, vast dry lake beds, abandoned ghost towns and a surprising abundance of flora and fauna. We commonly see pronghorn antelope, wild horses, chukars, birds of prey, cottontails, jackrabbits, coyote, bighorn sheep, and a vast variety of lizards while on these trips. Participants will tour vast expanses of uninhabited, undeveloped desert back-country. Day time activities will include touring the back country, seeing sites, optional survival classes, and time relaxing at the hot springs. There are trails all over the interior of the desert which have been long established by horses, wagons, and 4WD vehicles. Hikes take place early and late in the day in the warmer months -- like animals, its better to be diurnal and work when its cooler.
Education: Learn About the History of the Landscape: The Great Basin Desert also has a rich natural and human history. We'll teach the history of the region as we travel on segments of the Historic Pony Express and Immigrant Trails, and alongside stretches of the Pacific Railway. The names of everything in the western Nevada desert are a link to history - Fireball Ridge, Massacre Ranch, Soldier Meadows, and Nightingale mountains. We will tell you the stories of the people behind the names Truckee, Reno, Winnemucca, Washoe County, and recount the legendary history of the Paiute, settlers, California and Oregon Immigrant trail travelers, sliver miners, rail workers, Pony Express riders and even Basque sheep herders. From a natural history perspective this region of the world is fascinating.
Training: you will also receive basic desert expeditionary training, emphasizing logistics & planning, basic introduction to desert survival, as well as skills for dealing comfortably with the desert.
Details: Time of Departure: 8:00AM Departure Location: 525 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA American Safari Packing List Climate: Lows can be below 20* in early spring and Late Fall, and as high as the 90*s in summer. Clothing: Remember the phrase "cotton kills"! Cotton clothing is very heavy, micro abrasive on the skin, stays wet for long periods of time, and is cold when wet. Synthetic socks and underwear will help keep you from experiencing chafing and blisters on the trail. Synthetic, wool, and silk garments are very lightweight, pack down much smaller, dry fast, and are less abrasive than cotton garments. Remember, this trip is an overnight, so pack light. Including what you're wearing, we recommend bringing: - 2 pairs of pants (preferably long synthetic - like cargo hiking pants) - 3 shirts - 3-4 pairs of socks (wool is best) - 3-4 pairs of underwear - synthetic, silk, or wool long underwear - a light-weight fleece or soft shell jacket for layering - an insulated warmer down jacket for cold nights - a rain poncho - light hiking shoes to keep alkaline dust away from your feet - sun hats, knit caps, sunglasses, and gloves Supplemental Equipment If you already own it feel free to bring a camera, GPS, pocket knife or Leatherman tool, sunglasses, FRS radio, or compass. Medications Remember to bring any and all prescription or other medications you may need. If you have crucial medications bring a few extra days supply. Please note: We will supply Kifaru Teepee's to camp in for the group. Each will shelter 5-8 people. If you would like to rent a smaller private tipi for 1-2 people we have them available to rent, or feel free to bring your own 2-3 person tent.
Cancellation Information
Bay Area Expeditions reserves the right to cancel trips on short notice due to adverse weather conditions.
As we are a small business we must enforce a strict cancellation and no-show policy.
For cancellations occurring 14 days or more there is no cancellation fee, and you will be able to reschedule your trip or receive a refund.
Cancellations made within 14 days of scheduled arrival are subject to no refund.
Expeditions Logistics & Outfitting
Education Classes & Activities: This is your adventure, and your opportunity to relax, get into a new environment, bring your outdoors skills to a new level, work on your fitness or even your photography. With that in mind you can chose to relax at camp, or go on any of the trainings we offer. You will find that some educational segments are impromptu and come through hands-on experience, while other classes have a structured format and scheduled time.
The training and classes provided on a trip can include:
