Photo: John Hamilton Memories of Muir in an Accessible Sierra, California Highlights:
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Trip Number: 08198A Price: $1,095 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 9 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Jan Lockie This trip has been canceled. If you have questions, please contact us. NOTE: This trip is uniquely designed to accommodate participants with varying abilities, including those with disabilities. Trip members should be in reasonably good physical condition and be able to function independently. To ensure your enjoyment and success as well as the safety of the group, it is essential that you provide complete information on health concerns and disability issues on your trip approval and medical forms. Jan Lockie will be in contact with you to discuss specific details of the outing shortly after you apply. " When the boundaries of your life are defined by a wheelchair, enhanced mobility brings freedom -- the freedom to enjoy and explore formerly inaccessible places. " --Michael Muir Join John Muir's great-grandson on a unique Sierra camping trip. This trip is designed for able-bodied nature (and Muir) enthusiasts as well as for people needing an alternate mode of transportation to access the wilderness. Trip members are invited to hike or ride (or a little of both) in the incomparable Sierra National Forest just south of Yosemite National Park. Learn Muir family history firsthand from a Muir descendant who has traveled thousands of miles by horse and wagon.  Photo: John Hamilton We will use a uniquely designed horse drawn wagon featuring a solar powered, battery operated wheelchair lift. Powered by a team of gentle draft horses, our group of adventurers with varying abilities (able bodied, ambulatory mobility challenged, and wheelchair users) will camp, hike, and ride our wagon into the beautiful Sierra overlooking the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses. Discover a unique way of seeing the wilderness, while challenging the limits of disability. Our wagon will be driven by horseman Michael Muir who has lived with multiple sclerosis since he was 15 years old. Despite the challenges of MS, Michael has maintained an extraordinarily active and adventurous lifestyle. In 2001, he led an international team of people with disabilities driving wheelchair accessible horse drawn carriages on a 3,000 mile, ten-month journey across America. Two years later, Michael reenacted John Muir's walk to the Gulf using his horse drawn carriage.
 Photo: John Hamilton Our trip begins at a campsite in the Soquel Basin area of Sierra National Forest, northeast of the town of Oakhurst, California, just south of Yosemite National Park. We'll spend the morning settling in before we gather together for lunch and an orientation. The afternoon will be spent getting acquainted with our team of horses and learning more about our wagon transportation. We will take a short ride and hike before dinner. Days two and three will be full days of exploring the area with visits to places such as the “Shadow of the Giants” interpretive trail and Nelder Creek. On day four we will drive along the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway to our second camp in the high country bordering the Ansel Adams Wilderness. We will make several stops along the way and take time to enjoy the dramatic change of scenery from the lower forest area to the High Sierra granite. Days five and six will again be full days of hiking and riding through serene forests and granite overlooks. The trip will conclude with breakfast on day seven at our High Sierra campsite.
 Photo: John Hamilton Amenities are limited in the backcountry so expect the equivalent of primitive wilderness camping with some important exceptions such as our own “backcountry accessible” toilet system with conventional toilet seat. We strive to make this trip as accessible as possible and enjoy dreaming up more creative ways to make things work for our participants. However, we will be in the natural world and cannot always duplicate the level of accessibility available in an urban setting. We use the term “backcountry accessible” to indicate this distinction. We are happy to brainstorm with participants to discuss desired accommodations but a spirit of adventure is key. All on-trip food will be provided. Sierra Club trips are designed to be a group experience rather than a guided tour, so everyone will participate in meal preparation and clean-up. Meals will be healthy, hearty, tasty and sustaining, but generally vegetarian. We will work with you to accommodate specific dietary requirements as much as possible given our wilderness setting. However, any dietary restrictions must be discussed in detail with the leaders well in advance of the trip.
This trip is designed to accommodate trip members with varying abilities, including people with disabilities. Those trip members using the wagon transportation should expect to be in the wagon up to six hours a day with frequent breaks. Hikers can expect to walk up to 10 miles in a day over varying terrain with grades of five to seven percent. Participants can alternate between hiking and riding throughout the day. Everyone will participate in camp chores. Weather and other wilderness conditions can make a trip more physically demanding. While the days may be sunny and moderately warm, nighttime temperatures in the Sierra this time of year can dip into the 30's. Trip members should be in reasonably good physical condition and be able to function independently. To ensure your enjoyment and success as well as the safety of the group, it is essential that you provide complete information on health concerns and disability issues on your trip approval and medical forms. Because this is an integrated trip with a range of participant abilities, the leader will have a phone conversation with each prospective trip member before accepting them for this trip. Wagon space is limited, so participants needing to ride are encouraged to sign up early.
You will need to bring your own quality waterproof tent, sleeping bag and pad as well as multiple layers of appropriate outdoor clothing. Your leaders will provide you with a detailed equipment list prior to the trip and will be happy to discuss the recommendations with you to help you prioritize any purchases you may need to make. Good rain gear, footwear, and warm layers are especially important.
Sierra National Forest Map published by the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. Order form: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/maps/maporderform.shtml USGS 7.5 min. quads for trip routes: White Chief Mountain , Little Shuteye Peak, Sing Peak , Timber Knob, Cattle Mountain . Books
Journals
Conservation We will discuss a variety of appropriate issues concerning our trip and its unique setting. One topic will be the challenge of bringing people with disabilities into designated wilderness areas given current restrictions. We will address the question of how to honor the natural setting of these areas while still making them accessible for everyone. We will also learn about the unique role the draft horse plays in sustainable forestry practices in modern times (while traveling on wagon roads that were formerly rail beds used in clear cutting the forest).
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Jan Lockie has been an outdoor guide for over 15 years, leading paddling, backpacking and wilderness trips in her home state of California, as well as Alaska, Canada and other outdoor destinations. She has a master’s degree in Recreation and has worked as a YMCA Parent/Child Program Coordinator. She is also a certified Recreation Therapist and Wilderness First Responder who enjoys introducing people to the wonders of the outdoors. Working with Wilderness Inquiry, Environmental Traveling Companions and the Sierra Club, Jan is most content when she is in the wilderness, experiencing nature and the companionship of other outdoor enthusiasts.