YOSEMITE AND SAN FRANCISCO ADVENTURE

Dates and Price

8/1/09 - 8/9/09 (ages 20s) $895 + $300 for optional San Francisco extension

Overview

A little bit country, a little bit rock n’ roll, this trip has it all: Five days hiking in and around Yosemite National Park and camping in the Ansel Adams Wilderness followed by an optional two nights of fun in San Francisco.  While in Yosemite, we’ll hike the Sierra backcountry, rock-climb and view some of the sites that have made Yosemite the granddaddy of all national parks.  If you opt to join us for the weekend in San Francisco, we’re going to explore all the culinary, cultural and nightlife opportunities that we can in two days.

Highlights

- Hiking off the beaten track in the Sierra Backcountry
- Professional rock-climbing instruction for all levels on Yosemite’s world famous Granite
- Five nights of sleeping under the stars (possibly a lowlight for some)
- Visiting Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls and other iconic nature sites
- Two nights of pampered fun at the Hotel Rex in San Francisco (optional)

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in San Francisco and transfer to our hotel for the night.  For those who arrive in time, we will have a group welcome session and happy hour.  Dinner is on your own. 

Day 2 – This morning, pack your bags and grab some breakfast because today we are heading out to the wilderness!  After about a four hour drive, part of which is pretty drab and part of which is stunningly beautiful, we will arrive at our home for the next four nights, a campsite in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area, which runs along Yosemite’s southern border, sits at 7,000 feet, and is free of the summer crowds.  Once we arrive, we’ll set up camp, have some drinks and a delicious dinner, sit by a bonfire and do some stargazing.

Day 3 - Today will be spent with the guides, getting off the beaten track into the Sierra backcountry.  Today we plan on hiking a full 12 mile round trip hike into the Lady Lakes Basin.  This is the Sierra backcountry at its best!  Tonight, we will rest our feet and have a delicious meal prepared for us by the campfire.

Day 4 – If there is one thing Yosemite is famous for, it is the rock climbing.  Today you will climb with our professional guides on the legendary Yosemite granite.  All of our guides are PCGI or AMGA trained rock climbing guides, so whether this is your first or fiftieth time climbing, you will be sure to have a great time. 

Day 5 – Our hiking destination today is the Jackass Lakes Basin (named for the mules who used to stock the lakes with fish in the early 1900s) and Madera Peak, a summit at 10,500 feet that offers a stunning view of the whole Sierra.  Bring your bathing suit, as there will be a chance to swim in any of the three crystal clear alpine lakes we come across.

Day 6 – After breakfast, we will strike our campsite and head into the Yosemite Valley to see some of the more visited sites that Yosemite is famous for.  On our way, we’ll hike through the famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia Trees and stop at Glacier Point to get a view of the Yosemite Valley from above.  After checking out all that the valley has to offer, dinner is on your own tonight in Curry Village, the main town located within the national park.  Tonight, we will lay our heads in the Curry Village Tent Cabins.

Day 7 – This morning we will visit a few more sites around the Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, before packing up for the trip pack to San Francisco.  Those people departing the group today (bad decision) will be dropped off in downtown San Francisco. Those who have chosen to extend their trips will check into the Hotel Rex, a boutique hotel that constantly ranks as one of San Francisco’s finest.  Tonight, a group dinner where we will feast on some delicious, local food. 

Day 8 – The day is yours to explore the city.  We will have an optional group tour of the SFMOMA if you are culturally inclined.  Tonight, a final group happy hour, with dinner on your own in the city.

Day 9 – The trip ends! Transfer on your own to SFO, for your flight back to reality.

What’s Included

- All meals except 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- 1 night hotel (3 nights with San Francisco add on) and 5 nights camping
- All camping equipment (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, pad, cooking utensils, etc.)
- Professional guides for hiking and rock-climbing and all equipment
- Transportation to and from Yosemite

What’s Not Included

- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- Transportation while in San Francisco