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The Trip

Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us.

We will work with U.S.F.S. staff, helping them maintain trails and facilities in this unique and popular forest. Projects vary but often include building, maintaining, and cleaning up trails. We will help wherever the need is greatest.

On this trip you'll experience the rainforest in all its glory, including the sounds, colors, light, and weather that comprise this mysterious ecological system. As a special benefit, we will work with Forest Service staff to learn about local flora and fauna.

As an added treat, local Sierra Club activists will show us the Northeast Corridor: 3,000 acres of wetlands, mangroves, coastal forest, and beaches that they are working to preserve.

The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system, El Yunque is home to the Puerto Rican parrot, numerous palms, tiny orchids, and giant ferns. There are four types of forest here; the highest is home to ancient dwarf trees that survive, buried in the clouds, under extreme environmental conditions. Hiking trails throughout the forest in the Luquillo Mountain Range provide access to waterfalls, rugged peaks, and valleys of ferns and mosses. In addition, the El Portal Tropical Forest Center boasts a visitor center, environmental education programs, and a conference center for the study of the rainforest.

Itinerary

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather and local conditions.

Day 1: We will meet in the San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14. We will then transport you to our accommodation in Luguillo. Our first group meal is dinner.

Day 2: Today we'll explore El Yunque, including a visit to El Portal Visitors Center and a waterfall hike.

Days 3-5: We will start working on our service project by building, maintaining, and cleaning up trails, depending on what is needed most. After work on day five, we’ll join local Sierra Club activists to explore the Northeast Corridor.

Day 6: On our day off, we will explore Old San Juan, with its massive Spanish fortifications and European ambiance, or visit an island beach. We'll eat dinner in town.

Day 7: Today we'll continue working on our service project.

Day 8: On our last day, we will depart after breakfast and arrive at the airport by noon to say our goodbyes.

Getting There

In the eastern U.S. there are many same-day travel options that will get you to San Juan (San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport) by our 2 p.m. meeting time. Whether you're traveling from the west or east coast of the U.S., you may want to consider arriving a day or more early to explore Old San Juan and other Puerto Rican destinations.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in apartments set up to accommodate groups. Located in the town of Luquillo, our oceanfront apartments contain more than enough bunk beds so we can spread out. Included also are flush toilets, hot showers, and all linen. Proximity to the ocean and town provide us with many free-time options. On work mornings we will travel 30-40 miles by van to our work sites.

The trip cost includes breakfast, a bag lunch, and dinner each day that we will prepare. On one night, we'll eat dinner out. As with all Sierra Club trips, assisting with kitchen duties is part of the experience.

Trip Difficulty

This service trip will require stamina and a flexible attitude. There are usually a variety of tasks, but be prepared to do whatever the Forest Service deems necessary. Most trails have steep ascents, and mist or rain is common. Although the highest peak stands at only 3,526 feet, the weather conditions may be extreme. As a result, good conditioning, stamina, and a willingness to work hard are necessary to fully enjoy this trip.

Safety on the job will be primary in all of our actions and decisions. We will be using various tools each day. Explicit instructions in tool use and safety will be provided.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need layers of clothing to include protection from rain and the vagaries of mountain/rainforest weather. Broken-in hiking boots with ankle support are the most critical piece of equipment you will be asked to bring, followed closely by a full rainsuit -- top and bottoms. Bring a day pack that will hold extra clothing, food, and your raingear; a personal first-aid kit (Band-Aids, moleskin, etc.), toiletry items, and of course any regular medicines. We will be happy to discuss clothing and equipment details with applicants, and we will provide a full list of items to bring closer to the date of the trip.

A detailed list of what to bring will be provided to confirmed participants. We will also provide emergency phone numbers and trip planning information.

References

General Information:

Puerto Rico Tourism Co.
575 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY, 10017

Maps:

• The topographic map for the park is "El Yunque."
• Other maps of the general area are "San Juan," "Rio Grande," "Carolina," and "Fajardo."

You can order maps from:
U.S.G.S. Map Sales
Department of the Interior
Box 25286
Denver, CO, 80225

Books:

• Pariser, Harry S., The Adventure Guide to Puerto Rico.
• Kricher, John C., A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics.
• Wagenheim, Kal, and Olga Jimenez de Wagenheim (Eds.),The Puerto Ricans: A Documentary History.

Websites:

• Caribbean National Rainforest (El Yunque): http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean
• North East Corridor: http://www.sierraclub.org/corridor and http://www.elyunque.com/northeastcorridor.htm

Conservation

We will be working in and for the Caribbean National Forest and will have frequent contact with staff. We’ll also join local Sierra Club activists in exploring their Northeast Corridor project.

While working on the trails and in free time, we will always follow Leave No Trace protocol.

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:

Linda Cooper has over 35 years experience as a counselor, social worker, university administrator and outdoor adventure guide. Certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, Linda is an environmentalist committed to inspiring others with the love and appreciation of our fragile world. She is now partially retired with more time to play in the outdoors and lead trips for Sierra Club. She moved to Vermont in 2007, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

E-mail: flatlandertravel@juno.com

Co-Leader:

An avid hiker, Mary Alice Smith joined the Sierra Club in 2002, following a trip to Yosemite National Park. A service trip to Clair Tappaan Lodge in 2009 sparked her interest in becoming a Sierra Club national leader to share her love of the outdoors. Growing up in rural Georgia, where she enjoyed roaming the woods and fields, she developed a deep affinity for nature. Now mostly retired, Mary Alice is relishing her new-found freedom, spending time with family and friends and pursuing a life-long interest in conservation and environmental issues. Favorite activities include hiking in the White Mountains and her home state of Rhode Island. She also enjoys bird watching, biking, yoga and listening to acoustic music.

E-mail: maryalicesmith4@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners