Price: $200  Gear Add On: $65   Food Add On: $40

Participants: 6

Refund Policy: $50 non-refundable service fee.  Remaining balance refundable up to 30 days before trip.  No refunds will be given for cancellations within 30 days of the trip.  Full refunds for any trip cancellations made by Step Into Your Journey.

This women’s only backpacking for beginners excursion will take us on a 5 mile trek to beautiful Spider Lake near Lake Tahoe.  You. need not be a beginner to join us.  We will start our trek from the Loon Lake Campground parking lot and travel along Loon lake, through the forest and up to Spider Lake.  The elevation gain is modest, making it a perfect overnight getaway for beginners.  We will take it slow and steady, with rest stops as needed.

Experienced backpackers are welcome to join.

Participants will meet at the Loon Lake Trailhead Parking Lot (There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle). https://goo.gl/maps/MxRLvfsgopxRkPaX9 at 8:00 am.  There we will distribute gear, pack our packs, and set off.

We will enjoy an afternoon lake side and an evening under the stars with plenty of time to explore and socialize before settling into our tents for the night. Participants will learn about properly packing and wearing a backpack, locating an appropriate campsite, tent set up, sleeping systems, water filtration, meal prep, fire making (if permitted), and leave no trace principles.

The following morning we will enjoy the sunrise, have breakfast, break down camp and head back down the trail  between 10:00am and Noon depending on the preferences of the group.

Skill Level:  No backpacking experience required.  Participants should have some hiking experience in hills on uneven terrain.  This trip does require that you be able to walk with a pack, weighing 25-30 lbs, for a short distance.

Each participant will carry their own pack with their personal belongings.  Provided equipment, and group food/cooking equipment will be split among the participants to distribute the weight.

What is included in the base price:

• Experienced Guide with a 1:6 guide/participant ration
  • Wilderness First Aid Certified
  • Emergency GPS device
  • Group First Aid kit
• Water Filtration
• Group informational zoom meeting prior to the trip
• Educational information on fitting/packing a pack, campsite location, water filtration, camp cooking, leave no trace principles

What is included in the Gear Add On:

• Backpack
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• 3 person tent (double occupancy)
• Headlamp
• Hiking Poles
• Bear Canister

What is included in Food Add On:

• Dinner
• Breakfast
• Dessert
• Coffee/Tea/Cocoa
• Bear Canister

What is not included:

• Transportation
• Parking fee ($5)
• Lunch/Snacks
• Gratuities

It is important to remember that carrying 25-30 pounds on your back is much easier than carrying it in your arms.  Packs are designed for the bulk of the weight to sit on your hips with your legs doing the work.  Equally important is to remember that we have to carry with us anything we are taking so being selective in what we take is important.  Participants will be provided a detailed packing list, prior to the event, with a virtual meeting 2 weeks prior to the event to iron out specific details.