Outdoor Adventure Club- Backpacking Trips, Rae Lakes

Yosemite Backpacking We think the Rae Lakes Loop is one of the most beautiful trips anywhere on the planet! We hike and camp by water every day, and see everything from wooded forest to high sierra views, trout filled lakes and streams, and granite peaks and domes. It really is a little of everything!

The trip is a 46-mile loop of beautiful backpacking in Kings Canyon National Park. We're going to be traveling in "fast and light" style, so we can cover the distance in 3 days. If you're new to fast packing, you'll be surprised by the distances you can cover in a day with a light pack, and efficient use of the daylight hours. In many ways, covering the distance in 3 days is easier than carrying a heavy pack for 5 or more days on the same trail.

Level of experience:

This trip is a serious undertaking. It involves being in the woods for 3 days, hiking over 40 miles, spending time at elevations up to 12,000 feet. It is not for the inexperienced. However, fit, determined, advancing beginner backpackers are welcome with pre-approval. This is not the trip to break in your new boots either. You should have multi-day backpacking experience. Your experience should involve trips with distances of 10 miles or more per day.

Gear:

This trip is a great opportunity to break away from “traditional” backpacking and get into fast and light packing. The farther you carry a backpack, the more your body will appreciate it being light. Our head guide, Richard, is an expert in lightweight backpacking and can help you put together a lightweight system for this trip. You can email Richard for more information and advice, at richard@OutdoorAdventureClub.com

Where is this trip?

Specific driving directions for the trip will come with your confirmed reservation.

Includes:

Experienced guides, certified as Wilderness First Responders
A map of the hike
All necessary permits for backpacking in Kings Canyon, including Wilderness permits and Commercial Use Authorization
All meals from Friday lunch to Sunday lunch
Group cooking gear (stoves, pots, water filters)
Bear resistant food containers
Group first aid supplies
3 days of guided backpacking
A carpool list so you can arrange rides to the trip

You'll need to bring:

This is a "fast and light" trip, and the gear is different than standard backpacking gear. Fortunately fast and light doesn't mean more expensive. Often times it's less expensive as the gear tends to be more simple. We're happy to help you plan for this trip, and to help you put together your fast and light system.

A recommended gear list will come with your confirmed reservation, but you should generally be prepared with the following:

Clothes appropriate for the weather (avoid wearing cotton)
Tent/tarp or other shelter- there are lots of options, but a two person tent should be well under 4 pounds for this trip
Sleeping bag rated for 30ºF or colder- ideally 800 fill down. A bag like the Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 (640 g) is great
Sleeping pad- light is right! For this trip a small or regular Neo Air Xlite(230 g or 350 g) is ideal
Backpack - again, light is right! Everything you pack should fit into a pack that is under 50 or so liters
Footwear appropriate for the conditions and the weight you're carrying-pack light and you can wear trail runners
Gaiters to keep snow/rocks out of your boots
Water bottles or Camelbak
Goretex or other lightweight rain jacket and pants

You need to supply your personal backpacking gear: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, pad, appropriate clothing, and personal items. A complete gear list will be sent to you with your reservation confirmation.

The Outdoor Adventure Club has a supply of backpacking gear available for rent. For a list of available items and pricing, go to our gear rental page. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to rent gear so we can reserve it for you.

Pricing:

Step 1 - Click on the trip registration link below and fill out the form to complete Step 1 of the registration process. Don't forget to return to this page to complete Step 2, payment (which may require closing a tab or window).

Private, custom and corporate trips: Any trip on our calendar can be customized and offered to your friends, family or corporate group. Just ask and we'll make it happen.

Backpack Rae Lakes Loop (Fast and Light) in Kings Canyon National Park

August 17-29, 2012 (starting Friday morning)

Where is this trip?

Includes:

Pricing: