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Trip Number: 12205A
Adult Price: $495
Child Price: $395
Adult Deposit: $50
Child Deposit: $50
Capacity: 15
Staff: John Doidge
Minimum Age: 14
Highlights:
- Enjoy the peak waterfall season in the Sierra
- Help care for one of our most treasured national parks
- Learn more about Yosemite during evening lectures
Includes:
- All meals, and base camp site
- Training and guidance from staff and park personnel
- Bicycle rental (if requested) for 6 days
The Trip
Yosemite has long been hailed as the flagship of our national park system. Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees received federal protection in 1864 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, considered the foundation upon which national and state parks were later established. Sierra Club founder John Muir helped lead the drive for a much larger Yosemite National Park, which was established by Congress on October 1,1890.
Yosemite's unique beauty continues to enchant visitors from around the world.
More than 3 million people a year come to experience its vertical granite walls,
cascading waterfalls, Sequoia groves, and microclimates that range from 4,000
to more than 10,000 feet in elevation. The contrast from a flat, lushly green
valley floor to treeless granite peaks has been the subject for authors and
artists for decades.
We will have the opportunity to learn more about this park's natural and cultural
history and to create our own personal experiences. Invite your extended family,
age 14 and over, to join us! Bring your curiosity and hiking boots, and explore
Yosemite Valley while we work and play.
Our primary transportation choices during the week will be: bicycles, valley shuttle buses, walking and lastly, private automobiles.
The Project
Photo: Arlene Jamar
We will work with the park's Vegetation and Ecological Restoration Program on projects in or around the valley that are of the greatest importance to the National Park Service. Work may include: the removal of invasive plant species, planting of more native species, trail cleanup, eradication of unauthorized "social" trails, and campground refurbishment. The National Park Service will provide all tools and instruction.
Itinerary
We will assemble by 2 p.m. on day one, Sunday, June 3. After introductions and orientation, we'll set up our base camp for the week. We will likely work four days in all, taking one day off midweek to explore or relax. Our last full day of work will be on Friday, June 8. This is also the day we will return all of our rental bikes. The trip will conclude at midday Sunday, June 10.
Flexibility is always important -- for instance, a late snowpack may change the work project or our base camp location. We'll adjust to whatever surprises come our way!
Getting There
If you fly to Fresno or Merced airports, you will need to drive about two hours to reach the park. Flying to San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland airports requires about a four-hour drive (but it will likely be a less expensive flight).
Please note: If you plan to arrive at Reno Airport, you will need to drive over Tioga Pass Road (State Hwy 120), which may or may not be open by this time in the season. Driving that route would likely take four to five hours.
State Highways 120, 41, and 140 provide park access. Please make sure the route you plan to use is open. Amtrak services Yosemite via Merced, where you change to bus transport to the valley.
Carpooling is strongly recommended, and the leader will help facilitate ride-sharing
among participants.
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Accommodations and Food
Photo: Arlene Jamar
We will be camping in a semi-developed campground designated for our group's use. You will need to bring a weather-tested tent, a three-season sleeping bag and pad, and personal camp gear for your comfort. A recommended equipment list will we sent to each participant.
There is no shower facility at the campground, but you may bring your sun shower or use a shower facility nearby in the valley.
We will be in the mountains at about 4,000 feet of elevation, so plan accordingly. Bring raingear and be prepared for any type of weather. The days can be quite warm, but temperatures drop once the sun falls behind the valley's rim.
Our first meal will be dinner on June 3, and the last will be breakfast on Sunday, June 10. Come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure. Trip menu planning considers that there may be no refrigeration and food must be protected from animals. We provide healthy, nutritious vegetarian-friendly meals, planned to ensure adequate protein with occasional meat on the side.
We have an experienced cook and everyone will take turns in assisting with food preparation and cleanup in our group commissary. Before applying for the trip, people with food allergies and/or strong food preferences must contact the cook to see if accommodations are possible.
Black bears are ever present in the valley, seeking easy calories. All food
and anything with a scent will be kept in steel bear boxes at all times. Even
with these precautions we should not be surprised if curious bears or other
wildlife wander through our campground.
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Trip Difficulty
This trip should not be too strenuous. You may find you are a bit short of breath due to the elevation, but you should adjust in a few days. The valley trails are almost all well developed, with reasonably good footing. You will need boots while we are working on the project, and they are recommended if you intend to do more strenuous hiking above the valley floor.
You will not be asked to do more than meets your comfort level. Safety is a priority and you are the best judge of your abilities. We work at our own pace. At the end of each day, we will be free to hike, tour the immediate areas, or just rest our tired muscles.
Minor medical conditions are no impediment to having a full, enjoyable experience. Please do not forget that all participants must have a current tetanus shot within the past 10 years.
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Equipment and Clothing
You will need a day pack, basic first-aid kit (containing moleskin, adhesive bandages, sun block and lip balm), water bottle(s) or container for a day's supply of water, densely woven long pants for work, work gloves, comfortable broken-in boots, and clothes to layer for the daily temperature changes. You will need eating utensils, cup, and plate, and a solid container to keep your lunch together and undamaged in your day pack.
While we hope for warm, clear days, it's always possible to have rain and even snow, so please bring three-season camping gear. The leader will send a recommended equipment list to participants.
If you can conveniently bring your own bike, helmet, and lock, you are encouraged
to do so. Or, if you request one, a 6-day bike rental will be provided for your
use at no additional charge.
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References
Books:
- Muir, John, The Yosemite.
- Giacomazzi, Sharon, Trails and Tales of Yosemite and the Central Sierra.
- Schaffer, Jeffrey, Yosemite National Park - A Complete Hiker's Guide.
- Wolff, Kurt; Amy Marr; David Lukas; and Cheryl Koehler, Lonely Planet
Yosemite National Park.
Websites:
- Yosemite National Park: www.nps.gov/yose
Conservation
We will learn what the phrase "loved to death" means in terms of human impact on this park's front-country and backcountry access, traffic, flora, and fauna. We will also discuss how park policies deal with this issue and what the future may hold.
The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy and participation in the goals of the Club.
Trip Price
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.
Staff
Leader:
Over the last several years, John has led and cooked on backcountry and front-country service trips in locations ranging from islands (Culebra, Vieques, St. John) to terra firma gems in the remote corners of the U.S and Italy. Whenever he can, he is gardening in his San Francisco garden, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing in California's mountains, pedaling its roads and paths, or paddling its waters. He believes that service work is one of the best ways to connect our values with love for our natural world.
E-mail: jrdoidge@gmail.com
Cook:
Maureen Kurtz lives in a historic neighborhood in downtown Durham, NC and has been a cook for service trips since 1997. In addition to volunteering for service trips both locally and nationally, her other current interests include living car-free, historic home renovation, gardening, and taking care of her own dog, cats, and chickens, as well as foster pets. She has never been to Yosemite so this is a special treat for her!
E-mail: mpkurtz2009@gmail.com
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips