Beginner Backpack in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, California

The Young Adventurers Fund is offering adults 18-35 years old a full $300 off this trip. Visit our scholarships page to apply.

The Trip

This trip is tailored for beginner backpackers who are interested in developing skills associated with wilderness travel. Basic instruction will be provided on selecting and organizing gear, reading topographic maps, preparing and cooking meals, selecting and setting up camp, traveling safely in the natural environment, and following Leave No Trace principles.

Our trek in the Ansel Adams Wilderness (traversing sections of the Pacific Crest and John Muir trails) to sparkling alpine lakes at the base of the Minarets, Mt. Ritter, and Banner Peak introduces us to some of the most dramatic and scenic mountain terrain in the Sierra Nevada. Shorter hiking distances and layover days at Thousand Island Lake and Lake Ediza allow us time to learn backpack basics and explore wildflower-laden alpine meadows, glacially sculpted lake basins, and forested river valleys.

“I believe in growing things, and in the things which have grown and died magnificently. I believe in people and in the simple aspects of human life, and in the relation of man to nature. I believe man must be free, both in spirit and society, that he must build strength into himself, affirming the enormous beauty of the world and acquiring the confidence to see and to express his vision.” - Ansel Adams

The wilderness area we will explore (originally known as the Minarets Wilderness) was renamed for Ansel Adams -- the 20th century American photographer and environmentalist who joined the Sierra Club at the age of 17 and awed many with his dramatic black and white landscape photos of Sierra Nevada mountain ranges and the American West. Adams, who was contracted by the Department of Interior in 1941 to make photographs of U.S. National Parks, inspired the ideology of social responsibility to man and to nature.

Our objectives are to enjoy this iconic area of the Sierra Nevada and complete the trip safely as a group. Beginner backpackers unfamiliar with the rigors and challenges that outdoor travel brings when exposed to high altitude; primitive camping; hiking in rain, snow, and mountainous terrain; extreme weather changes; and sore feet from carrying heavy packs should be physically prepared and come with an open mind and flexibility.

As successful backpacking experiences require thorough advance planning and preparation, the leader will provide pre-trip correspondence and resource information to help with backpacking gear selection and physical conditioning.

Day 1: After meeting our group at the Pine Glen group campground on Sunday afternoon, we'll conduct our pre-trip orientation, provide instruction on gear packing, and share our first dinner together. Spending our first night at 7,800 feet elevation will help participants acclimate to the higher altitude.

Day 2: We’ll break camp and catch the transportation shuttle from Mammoth Scenic Area to Agnew Meadows. We’ll start our backpack trek at 8,300 feet elevation on the forested River Trail, traveling four miles to camp near the rushing Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River at 9,000 feet elevation.

Day 3: We'll travel the short journey to Thousand Island Lake, where we will set up camp for the next two nights. We'll spend our afternoon relaxing at the lake.

Day 4: We'll enjoy our layover day exploring nearby lakes. Afternoon options include relaxing or practicing outdoor skills.

Day 5: Descending from Thousand Island Lake on the John Muir Trail, we'll pass by a trio of alpine gems called Emerald, Ruby, and Garnet lakes. Traveling just under eight miles, we'll reach our camp at Ediza Lake, where we will stay for two nights.

Day 6: We'll spend our layover day exploring nearby lakes, including Iceberg and Nydiver, or relaxing at Ediza Lake.

Day 7: Breaking camp and heading down from the high country, we'll travel seven and a half miles past Shadow Lake to the River Trail, returning to Agnew Meadows and the shuttle by mid-afternoon.

Getting There

Our trip starts at the Pine Glen Group Campground in the town of Mammoth Lakes on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Mammoth Lakes is about 160 miles from Reno, NV; 250 miles from San Francisco, CA; and 310 miles from either Las Vegas, NV or Los Angeles, CA. Mammoth Lakes has a regional airport that provides service from Los Angeles and Reno. Trip members arriving from other parts of the country should explore the option of flying to one of these major cities and sharing a rental car or arranging a ride. Eastern Sierra Transit provides limited public bus transportation between Reno and Mammoth Lakes: http://www.estransit.com/.

Accommodations and Food

All on-trip meals, beginning with dinner on our first day and ending with lunch on our last day, are included in the trip fee. The leader enjoys planning meals that are flavorful and diverse. We will provide a vegetarian friendly (non-vegan) menu. Trip members will share the responsibilities for meal preparation and cleanup.

Trip Difficulty

The trip difficulty is rated 2 on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 denotes the least difficult of the trips that we offer, and 5 denotes the most difficult trips). Mileage on our hiking days ranges from 3-8 miles, with a total of almost 25 miles for the trip (not including layover day hikes). Our camp at Thousand Island Lake will be just under 10,000 feet elevation and our camp at Ediza Lake will be at 9,300 feet.

While participation in this outing does not require previous backpacking experience, carrying a 40-pound pack on trail with elevation changes is physically challenging. Participants must be in good physical condition and be prepared for the rigorous physical demands of a beginner backpack. The leader will provide physical conditioning recommendations to participants.

Known for its temperate summer weather, the High Sierra can also experience sudden, unexpected spells of rain, hail, snow, heat, and cold. Daytime temperatures can soar into the upper 80s, while nighttime temperatures can dip into the 30s or lower. It is essential that you be prepared for extremes in weather conditions, and also be flexible so that we can adapt our route to accommodate unexpected conditions or events.

Equipment and Clothing

The Sierra Club will provide the following items: food (including all trail snacks), pots, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel, bear-proof canisters, and water purification treatment. At the beginning of the trip you will be issued one bear canister loaded with food, plus a portion of the group gear, which together may weigh up to 15 pounds. Please limit your personal gear to 20-25 pounds or less, so that your total pack weight is less than 40 pounds, including 1-2 liters of water.

We require sturdy, fully broken-in boots with rubber lug soles for this trip. We recommend that you waterproof your boots before beginning the trip. For shelter, we strongly encourage you to bring a tent with a rain fly -- a lightweight waterproof tarp is the required minimum. For raingear, bring a waterproof jacket and pants instead of a poncho. The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip. More information regarding personal gear may be found at the following link: http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html

References

Please plan on bringing your own map and compass -- not only is this a matter of safety, but you will have a better appreciation of where we are going and where we have been.

Maps:

• The U.S.G.S. 7.5-minute “Mount Ritter,” and “Mammoth Mountain” quadrangles together cover our planned route.
• The Ansel Adams Wilderness Trail Map published by Tom Harrison Maps (www.tomharrisonmaps.com) covers the complete trip and, while not providing as much details as the 7.5 minute maps, is a good general map of the area.

Books:

• Alsup, William, Missing in the Minarets: The Search for Walter A. Starr, Jr. The book centers on the search for Walter A. "Pete" Starr and is filled with wonderful background on the legendary early mountaineers and explorers of the Sierra.
• Arnot, Phil, High Sierra: John Muir’s Range of Light. Written in 1996 when the Ansel Adams Wilderness was formerly called the "Minaret Wilderness," this has excellent descriptions of the entire area of our trip along the Ritter Range.
• Laws, John Muir, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada (published by the California Academy of Sciences). An excellent guide to the plants and wildlife of the Sierra Nevada.
• Clark, Ginny, Ansel Adams Wilderness. Colorful maps, trail descriptions, and area history. 

Conservation

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, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

The Ansel Adams Wilderness, home to marmots, pica, deer, and black bear, encompasses 230,258 acres of forest, sparkling alpine lakes, glacially sculpted gorges, jagged volcanic peaks, and river valleys. This area was once inhabited by Native American Indian tribes including the Miwok, Mono, and Shoshone who gathered and traded obsidian, acorns, and pinion pine nuts.

We will venture into alpine lake basins that appear today much as they must have to the early mountaineers of the 19th century. We will share the mountaineers' stories and their visions for ensuring the preservation of this treasured wilderness for many generations to come. Climate change is beginning to have a pronounced effect on the flora, fauna, and ecology of this wilderness landscape. As a group we will diligently observe Leave No Trace principles and invite discussion of current efforts to preserve our wilderness lands for the enjoyment of future generations.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.