This amazing tour of Yosemite's most famous landmarks includes the infamous Half Dome and the spectacular Clouds Rest, along with the popular Glacier Point, Cathedral Peak and some of the most amazing waterfalls that Yosemite has to offer - including Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, Yosemite Falls, and Illuluette Falls. Other highlights: Sunrise Lakes, the Cathedral Lakes, the Merced River, Little Yosemite Valley, Sunrise Creek, and a classic stretch of the John Muir Trail. This is not a beginning backpack.

Class 4 hiking tours are meant for people who have done either a number of backpacking trips or are in excellent physical condition. Participants must be prepared to do heavy physical activity in extremely diverse environments and terrain. The trails, although well traveled, are not easy. They involve extended descents and climbs. We will hike between 8-12 miles a day with a backpacking pack weighing anywhere between 30-45 pounds (depending on how many personal items you bring). Participant backpacks will include about 10 lbs of group gear (comprised mainly of food, tents, and cooking equipment) to be carried throughout the trip. Beyond that, there is a considerable amount of high altitude hiking on this tour. Age range tends to be 17-50. Please contact us if you are not in that age window, but still think you qualify.

Yosemite Summit Class 4 Backpacking Trip - 5 Days Length: 5 Days  Prices - including tax Our Adult Retail Rate GEAR NOT INCLUDED: $738.95 Our Adult Internet Rate GEAR NOT INCLUDED: $688.95 Savings: $50.00 Our Adult Internet Rate GEAR INCLUDED: $774.95 Time: 10:30 am meeting time July 16-20; Availability Calendar shows July 16  Summary: Transportation to Yosemite National Park is NOT included. Rates are per person and include tax, but not guide gratuity. Each participant is required to sign a liability release. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-317-1528. ** You will receive an E-Ticket for your tour/activity. We attempt to provide your E-Ticket within 72 hours (if your tour/activity is in less than 10 days). If your tour/activity is within the next 72 hours, your E-Ticket will be processed as quickly as possible. You will need to print your E-Ticket at www.reserve123.com/tickets; you must have your E-Ticket, or you will be charged again with no refund. There is a $3.95 processing fee per order. This is a flat fee regardless of the number of tickets or tours purchased on an order.

Includes

-Professional instruction and guiding
-All dinners on day one through day four
-All breakfasts from day two through day five
-Drinks
-Group cooking gear
-Group first aid kit
-Water filters
-Campsite and backcountry permit fees

Not Included

-Transportation from your hometown to Yosemite National Park
-National Park entrance fees
-Insurance of any kind (trip insurance highly recommended)
-Lunches
-Snacks and energy food
-Energy drinks
-Alcoholic beverages (prohibited)
-Soft drinks
-Guide gratuities (Tipping at the end of the trip is optional; if you feel your guide(s) did an outstanding job and would like to reward them for their efforts, $5-$15 dollars per day, per guide is a suggested guideline.
-Personal items

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
The following are the minimum gear requirements to participate in this backpacking trip

*Backpack - Large capacity internal or external frame, with padded hip belt
*Sleeping Bag - Synthetic fill, mummy style and comfortable (Temperature rating - at least down to 20 degrees)
*Tent - 1 Person or arrange with your guide to share a 2 Person
*Tarps - Lightweight and waterproof to set under a tent (Only one per tent required)
*Sleeping pad - Closed cell foam, Ensolite, or Thermarest
*Pillow (Not mandatory, but suggested)
*Eating Utensils - 1 cup/mug, 1 bowl, 1 each: fork, knife, spoon (Preferably plastic and lightweight)

GEAR RENTAL
If you choose the GEAR INCLUDED option, all mandatory equipment above is provided

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
While not required, the following is highly recommended gear for an enjoyable trip

*Flashlight or Headlamp - Small but durable, headlamp preferred
*Water System - The water system we recommend is a CamelBack bladder (at least 2 quarts) to be filled and placed in the top pocket of your backpack plus 1-2 (1 Quart) Nalgene bottles. The CamelBack Bladder is great for drinking while you are hiking and the Nalgene bottles (with large mouth openings) are necessary for the water filters we use in the backcountry. Everyone should have the capability of holding 3-4 liters of water for each day of hiking.
*Toiletries - Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant, personal medications (Aspirin/Advil, prescription meds), Vitamins, Hand Sanitizer, Sunscreen, Toilet Paper, Bug Repellant, Lip Balm, etc.
*Towel - Lightweight and quick drying
*Pocket Knife

GROUP GEAR PROVIDED BY YOUR GUIDES
The following gear will be supplied, but may be distributed among participants for carrying on this trip

*Stove and Fuel
*Pots & Pans
*Matches/Lighter
*Water Filters/Purifiers
*Shovel/Trowel
*Cooking Utensils
*Garbage and Zip-lock Bags
*Map and Compass
*First Aid Kits (Includes Moleskin)
*Nylon Cord or Rope
*GPS Receiver
*2-Way Radios
*Bear Bins

TRIP ITINERARY

Day 1: Meet your guides and other group members at the departure point inside Yosemite National Park (provided on your E-Ticket) by 10:30 am. Following an orientation, gear distribution (where applicable) and pack fitting we'll begin our short 3 mile hike up to the beautiful Sunrise Lakes where we'll camp for the first night. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami, etc. are all good choices. Dinner included. Mileage: 3 miles; Elevation Start: 8140 ft; Elevation End: 8500 ft.

Day 2: After breakfast, we'll begin the gradual climb to the top of the majestic Clouds Rest (9926 ft). Once on top we'll descend the south side to our first backcountry campsite near the Sunrise Creek. Breakfast and Dinner provided. Bring your own variety of quick foods to be eaten as lunch and grazed on constantly throughout the day each day. Energy bars and drinks as well as trail mix, bagels, salami, etc. are all good choices. Mileage: 6.7 miles; Elevation Start: 8500 ft; Elevation End: 7210 ft.

Day 3: After breakfast, we'll make an early start for the top of the Half Dome (8836 ft). Since we'll be at the base of the mountain, we'll be one of the first groups to the top beating all the day hikers and large tour groups. It will be a semi-easier climb as we will do it without our packs. Once back to our first night's backcountry campsite, we'll pack up camp, then begin hiking back along the historic John Muir Trial to our next night's backcountry campsite near the Sunrise High Camp and Sunrise Lakes. Breakfast and Dinner provided. Mileage: 5 miles (no pack) + 6.4 miles (with pack); Elevation Start: 7210 ft; Elevation End: 9320 ft.

Day 4: After breakfast, we'll day hike out to the Cathedral Peak and some will climb close to the top of the beautiful peak at 10911 ft. While there, we'll enjoy the tranquil and stunning Cathedral Lakes then hike on back to our previous night's backcountry campsite for dinner. Breakfast and Dinner provided. Mileage: 11 miles (no pack); Elevation Start: 9320 ft; Elevation End: 9320 ft.

Day 5: The final day of hiking is a short 5 miles back out to the Sunrise Lakes Trailhead to return to the vehicles. Breakfast provided. Mileage: 5 miles; Elevation Start: 9320 ft; Elevation End: 8140 ft.

PLEASE NOTE: Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated rain or shine.

TRIP PREPAREDNESS

This trip is Class 4. Participants will be carrying their own backpacks with weights of 30-40 lbs. over steep and rocky terrain with constant and dramatic elevation gain and/or loss. Please make sure your backpack is fitted to your body before the trip. Trip members need to in superior physical condition. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage participants to be involved in a training regimen before the trip. Day hiking with 30-40 lbs in the pack you intend to hike with on the trip and making sure your hiking boots are broken in before your trip are strongly recommended. Beyond that, due to the high altitude nature of this tour, any acclimation or high altitude preparation you can do will greatly add to your experience.

MEALS

We provide all cooked breakfast and dinner meals both at the initial, developed campsites and in the backcountry. We pride ourselves on providing "gourmet" backcountry meals where freeze dried, prepackaged meals are a thing of the past.

We DO NOT provide LUNCHES so be prepared! Do not expect to just eat two meals a day! Hiking all day long required a lot of sustenance and you will need to not only eat lunch, but also have snacks for breaks on the trail.

The following are suggestions for LUNCH and SNACK items:

Salami (Log form keeps the best - be sure to bring a knife to cut it!)
String Cheese (Individually packaged)
Peanut Butter (Skippy makes a squeezable container that you can bring)
Pita Bread (Regular bread works too, it just gets mashed up a bit)
Nuts or Trail Mix (Any assortment you like - remember salty is good when you're hiking all day)
Dried Fruit (We have an assortment for breakfast each morning so typically there are leftovers you can take)
Bars (Our favorite is the Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cliff Bar, but any will do - recommend at least one per day)
Crackers (We like Wheat Thins)
Candy (Although it seems odd, Snickers or Peanut M&M's are a favorite on the trails - careful, they melt!)

Basically you can bring anything that is not too heavy or perishable. Remember to repackage everything so that all the extra boxes and containers are eliminated. There is no trash in the backcountry so all the trash you generate, you have to keep with you until we get back to civilization!

The following are examples of DINNER meals provided:

Developed Campsite:
BBQ Chicken
Baked Potatoes (Sour Cream, Butter, Chives, Bacon Bits Available)
Caesar Salad
SMORES and Hot Chocolate for Desert!

Italian Theme
Pesto, Parmesan Tortellini with Pine nuts and Sun Dried Tomatoes

Mexican Theme
Rice, Bean and Cheese Burritos with Tortilla Con Queso Soup

Thanksgiving Theme
Chicken and Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Veggies

Mediterranean Theme
Sun Dried Tomato Couscous with Crab Meat, Hummus and Pita

Hot Chocolate and other variable Backcountry Deserts!

The following are typical BREAKFAST meals provided:

Developed Campsite:
Eggs
Herb Potatoes
Donuts
Oatmeal (Variety of flavors)
Dried Fruit (Kiwi, Mango and Apricots)
Breakfast Bars (Variety of flavors)
Sausage Links
Coffee (Sugar, Coffee-Mate, Splenda, Sweet-N-Low Available)
Assorted Teas
Emergen-C

Backcountry:
Herbed Potatoes
Oatmeal (Variety of flavors)
Summer Sausage
Breakfast Bars (Variety of flavors)
Dried Fruit (Kiwi, Mango and Apricots)
Coffee (Sugar, Coffee-Mate, Splenda, Sweet-N-Low Available)
Assorted Teas
Emergen-C

Please let us know on the Order Form if you have any food allergies or restrictions (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, etc.).

Transportation to Yosemite National Park is NOT included. Rates are per person and include tax, but not guide gratuity. Each participant is required to sign a liability release. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-317-1528.