Yosemite Backpack
Learn the basics of backpacking in this introductory course while enjoying the beauty of the Yosemite backcountry. Yosemite features a variety of routes, each with its own distinct and ideal season and conditions for exploration. Our guides will take you into the backcountry and show you the park’s wonders while teaching route finding using a map and compass, how to establish a camp with minimum environmental impact, the basics of packing light, outdoor cookery and menu planning, natural history and personal care. In addition to acquiring basic backcountry skills, you’ll enjoy a weekend in the sublime beauty of one of the world’s most revered wilderness areas, Yosemite National Park. Be aware that this is a backpacking course, and participants will be required to carry their personal gear (weighing about 20-25 lbs) and a portion of their tent, food, and group gear (weighing about 10-15 lbs) for the duration of the trip.
Yosemite Backpack: Yosemite Valley Itinerary:
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Day 1
Your trip begins in Yosemite National Park, CA. You will meet your guides and the other group members at a group campsite in Yosemite Valley today. Group members must arrive at camp at 5:30 p.m. for orientation, dinner and gear check. This initial meeting is critical to the success of the trip. If you will be late for any reason, please call your guide using the emergency contact information below. Dinner included.
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Day 2
Today we wake and enjoy breakfast before packing up and heading out on the trail to our first backcountry campsite. This is typically a full first day of backpacking, with time along the way for lunch and skills development. We’ll hike beside the rushing waters of Yosemite Creek today traveling just below the snowline. This will be a 3-4 mile hike, beginning at around 7,200’ and ending at our seldom-visited creek-side backcountry campsite at 7,000’. After dinner, look forward to an inspirational evening program. All meals provided.
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Day 3
After breakfast, we continue exploring the Yosemite backcountry. Today, we move camp downstream to the idyllic swimming holes near Blue Jay Creek. After descending another 200 feet over the course of about 2 miles, we’ll set up camp around 6,800’. We’ll have lunch, then load our day-packs and set out in the afternoon to enjoy the panoramic view from Eagle Peak, where we will experience Clouds Rest, Half Dome and other iconic features of the park face-to-face. Look forward to a refreshing evening swim and dinner followed by a relaxing, reflective campfire program on our last night beneath the bright Sierra stars. All meals provided.
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Day 4
On our final day we complete our journey, breaking camp after breakfast and making our way out of the backcountry. The views today are spectacular! We’ll start at the lip of Yosemite Falls and descend through the mist to the world-famous Yosemite Valley below for views of El Capitan and the Merced River before returning to our vehicles to say our goodbyes. We plan to arrive there by 4:00 p.m. but there is no guarantee that we’ll make it to our vehicles by then, so those flying out of Fresno should plan no flights before 9:30 p.m. and those flying out of Oakland should plan no flights home before 10:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.
Yosemite Backpack: The High Country Itinerary:
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Day 1
Your trip begins today in Yosemite National Park, CA. You will meet your guides and the other group members at the Tuolumne Meadows group campsite. Group members must arrive at camp at 5:30 p.m. for orientation, dinner and gear check. This initial meeting is critical to the success of the trip. If you will be late for any reason, please contact your guide using the emergency contact information below. Dinner included.
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Day 2
Today we wake and enjoy breakfast before packing up and heading out on the trail to our first backcountry campsite. This is typically a full first day of backpacking, with time along the way for lunch and skills development. Plan on taking a short drive after breakfast to the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead around 8,560’ to begin our 3.5 mile hike to stunning Cathedral Lake at about 9,500’. There, your guides will offer an optional hike to Medlicott Dome (9,900’) and/or time to play in the warm pools and small waterfalls at the inlet to Cathedral Lake. After dinner look forward to an inspirational evening program. All meals provided.
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Day 3
After breakfast, we continue exploring the Yosemite backcountry. We hike along the Cathedral route six miles up and over scenic Cathedral Pass (9800’) on a long, gradual on- and off-trail contour to Mildred Lake (9539’). Look forward to a refreshing evening swim and dinner followed by a relaxing, reflective campfire program on our last night beneath the bright Sierra stars. All meals provided.
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Day 4
We will enjoy an optional morning hike up 10,200’ Tenaya Peak before we break camp and descend from Mildred Lake to our trail’s end at Tenaya Lake (approx. 2 miles cross country). We catch the national park shuttle back to our parked vehicles, planning to arrive there by 4:00 p.m. There is no guarantee that we’ll make it to our vehicles by 4:00 p.m., so those flying out of Fresno should plan no flights before 9:30 p.m. and those flying out of Oakland should plan no flights home before 10:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.
Although we do our very best to adhere to one of the schedules listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. There are numerous beautiful and suitable routes available to our guides, and these routes may be utilized instead of those published in this itinerary when circumstances or conditions warrant. This trip is operated rain or shine.
Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.
Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted on the daily itinerary; 2-person tents; group cooking gear; group first aid kit, water filter; campsite and permit fees; shuttle between trailheads.
Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees where required, insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.
Fresno, CA: 100 miles, 4 hours
Oakland, CA: 180 miles, 5.5 hours
Reno, NV: 180 miles, 5.5 hours
REI Adventures recommends one of the following ways to make your rendezvous: either rent a car and drive to the designated location or fly into Merced, CA (with connections from Las Vegas) and use YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Service) to travel the rest of the way. YARTS can be contacted at 1-877-98-YARTS.
Please note that you may not be able to connect with YARTS service out of the park until after 5:00 p.m. on the last day of our itinerary on most departures, and this may impact your air travel plans.
Daytime temperatures usually range between 60-80 degrees F, with evening temperatures dropping to the 40s or 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility so adequate raingear is important.
This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.
Yosemite Backpack
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.
Weather
Daytime temperatures usually range between 60º and 80º F, with evening temperatures dropping to the 40s or 50s. You may encounter freezing temperatures at some of the higher elevations. Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility so adequate raingear is important.
Gear Checklist
- Tents (3-season, 2-person)
- Cooking gear
- Stoves and fuel
- Water filter
- Group first-aid kit
- Bear canister
- Backpack: large internal frame or external frame (4000-6000 cu”)
- Pack cover - waterproof
- Sleeping bag (rated at 20º-25º F)
- Sleeping pad
- Rain jacket and pants, lightweight waterproof and breathable
- Midweight fleece jacket or wool sweater
- Midweight thermal top and bottom made of synthetic or wool
- Hiking pants, quick-drying, lightweight (zip-off legs are great). No jeans!
- Hiking shorts, quick-drying, lightweight
- 1 T-shirt, synthetic
- 2 changes of underwear
- Hiking socks, 2 pairs of wool or synthetic
- Sock liners, 2 pairs of synthetic liners (optional)
- Sun hat with brim
- Wool or fleece hat
- Bandana
- Lightweight wool or fleece gloves
- Hiking boots: heavy duty, waterproof, and well broken-in, should rise above ankle
- One 1-quart water bottle, Nalgene-type, even if you have a hydration system
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulb
- Plastic bowl, spoon, fork, 16 oz. mug with lid
- Sunglasses and retainer strap
- Sunblock, small amount not the whole bottle, min SPF 25
- Lip balm (unscented)
- Insect repellent (small)
- Head net for mosquitoes, especially in July
- Toothbrush & trial-sized paste
- Pack towel and/or washcloth
- Personal first aid kit, small and light with personal medications
- Bic lighter
- TP System: In a gallon Ziploc Bag store these items from the packlist above: Toilet paper (not a full roll) & 1 ziploc quart baggie, orange plastic trowel, WetOnes, Feminine Wipes, Pantiliners for women
- 1 large plastic garbage bag
- Trekking poles
- Down vest or jacket (highly recommended)
- Swimsuit (for bathing and swimming)
- Compass - the guide teaches with a Sunto M-2
- Ear plugs
- Lightweight camp shoes/sandals
- Journal and pen
- Pocket knife or multi-tool (small & lightweight)
- Camera and spare batteries
- Hydration system (bring at least one Nalgene-type bottle, even if you do bring a hydration system)
