Hetch Hetchy BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry

Transcription

1 Emergency Information Location Hospital Backcountry (On-Trail) Yosemite Medical Clinic Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite Valley am-7pm drop-in 911 Services? Yes Local Contact Cell Phone Coverage? Yosemite National Park No BCM Phone Numbers Emergency Phone Number If an emergency arises on trip that needs immediate assistance, call the emergency number first to reach a BCM staff member. If you do not receive a return call within 20 minutes, refer to the emergency contact sheet you received at the beginning of your trip or directly reach out to BCM staff. Regional BCM office numbers are listed below. Hetch Hetchy BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry Denver Office Chicago Office Pacific NW Office (cell) (cell) SF Bay Area Office Additional Emergency Information: Yosemite Medical Clinic: 24 hour emergency, drop in 8am - 7pm Trip Code Instructor Cell Phone Coverage: There is no cell phone service at Camp Mather 16 1

2 Table of Contents Instructor Comments Trail Summary... 3 Trail Information... 3 This area will be used for free form comments from Instructors to future Instructors. Please use the Field Journal for feedback and comments. Trail Description... 4 Route Description... 5 Trail Distances... 5 Trail Elevation Profile... 5 Trail Map & Key... 6 Camp Site Information... 6 Map Legend... 7 Trail Map.8 Hazards Recommended Destinations Fishing Summits Daily Outline Curriculum Checklist Instructor Recommendations Instructor Comments Instructor Feedback Form Emergency Information BCM Phone Numbers

3 Curriculum Checklist 1 Welcome Introductions & Ice Breaker Expectations Policies 7- Overview 2 Trust Activity Policies Review Daily Activities Quote of the Reflection Roundtable Journaling Lessons Lost & Alone Camp Craft 101 LNT Group Travel Food Waste Disposal Campsite Selection Health & Hygiene 201 Cat-Holes Pack Packing Food Protection Water Treatment Lightning Safety Trail Information Trailhead Name: Trailhead Camp: Beehive Meadows Trailhead (Rancheria Falls) Hetch Hetchy Campground Permit (Expiration): PWA-YOSE (2011) Permit Pick-Up: Wilderness Permit: Permit Pick-Up: Trail Name(s): Special Use Permit is provided in the Trip Binder. Instructors: Copies of your CPR/WFR cards need to be available upon request. Wilderness Permit information is in your binder. Go to any of the Ranger Stations listed in binder. Please have a printed permit confirmation letter with you (it will be in your binder). Rancheria Falls Trail Beehive Meadows Trail Outcomes Set expectations, roles & responsibilities. Establish structure & daily routine. Build Trust. Establish common understanding of trip purpose. Reflect on physical and emotional stresses. Understand one is capable of overcoming & learning from challenges. Work as a team to overcome challenges. Support and encourage each other to overcome challenges. Peak hike: overcome challenges, reflect, and learn from experiences. Celebrate achievement. Create Meaning: How did we overcome challenges? Create Meaning: What are our strengths and weaknesses? Create Meaning: How do we transfer what we have learned home? Setting individual goals for the future. Record learning and achievement in something tactile that teens can take home with them as a reminder of their experience. Type of Trail: Mileage: Alternate Routes: Alternate Mileage: Trail Location: Maps: Flora/Fauna: Loop (Lake Vernon) 15.9 miles Frog Creek/Miguel Meadows Loop 20.9 miles Yosemite National Park Yosemite Wilderness BCM provides USGS &Trails Illustrated Maps: T.I. #307 (Yosemite NW/Hetch Hetchy) The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide by John Muir Laws Weather Trends: Average High 90 F / Average Low 53 F 14 3

4 Trail Description The trails leaving Hetch Hetchy Reservoir are only appropriate for the early season, because of the hot summer weather in the area. Hiking in California is dry and fast. Beautiful granite slabs make for an easier terrain, great picnic areas and flat, smooth campsites. Expect to hike through pine forests and fields of Manzanita brush. Manzanita, which literally means "little apple" in Spanish, is characterized by orange or red bark and twisting branches. Sometimes Manzanita grow to the height of small trees. The mountain ranges of California are known for their excellent light quality, referred to as alpenglow. When the sun is just below the horizon, a red glow can sometimes be seen on the opposite horizon. Look for alpenglow after sunset or before sunrise, when there is no direct sunlight. Instead, light reflects off airborne snow, water, or ice particles low in the atmosphere. At any time of day, the views above tree line are stunning. During wildflower season, late spring through early summer, expect lots of lupins, paintbrush, columbine, and California poppies. Watch for marmots and pikas--they are everywhere. Lake Vernon and Laurel Lakes are both worthwhile destinations. The area along Moraine Ridge is pretty and has lots of water for dipping and cooling off. You could summit a peak along the Moraine Ridge. Daily Outline Backpackers Campg round IN THE FIELD Camp Mather HOME Recommendations Expedition Preparation and Planning Meet at North Face Issue Individual Gear Pre-trip teen surveys Duffle Shuffle Issue BCM Group Gear Camp at Hetch Hetchy Backpacker s Campground Camp near Laurel Lake, or creek south of Beehive Meadows. Camp at Lake Vernon. Possible summit of Mt. Gibson Camp at Lake Vernon again, or camp at Tiltill Creek Valley, or go all the way to Rancheria Falls. Camp at Rancheria Falls Hike out this morning Clean gear Laundry Showers Pick up breakfast for 7 Evaluations & Surveys (D/A Profile) Celebration Dinner Call office with ETA Coordinate with Youth Leader for how to get teens home. Instructor debrief with RPM (volunteers not required to join.) 4 13

5 Area History These trails travel through national forest and a wilderness area, both public lands, owned by the federal U.S. government and protected from private commerical development, but for different purposes. The initial and continued mission of the National Forest Service, established in 1905 (within the Department of Agriculture), is: "...the greatest good of the greatest number of people in the long run. Focused on conservation, timber and mineral deposits are managed in a manner similar to agriculture or farmed crops. Wilderness Areas were established with preservation in mind. The Congressional Wilderness Act of 1964 was approved to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. As such, Wilderness designation protects the area from roads, logging, oil and gas drilling, and any commercial enterprises. In part, to retain the quiet, motorized and mechanical vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed. Local Environment The Sierra Nevada Mountains are an uplifted, tilted block of granite 400 miles long by 100 miles wide; the result of fault-line tectonic plate activity. Subsequent erosion, due to streams and glaciers, carved out U-shaped valleys, lakes, rugged peaks and cliffs. Sediment fills lakes creating meadows. There are several threats to the natural condition of the Sierras: air pollution, light pollution, and global warming, evident in the thinning snowpacks. Stray light, particularly from San Joaquin Valley, brightens the night sky. Darkness allows vistors views of the stars, while nocturnal animals depend on darkness to hunt, conceal their location, navigate, and reproduce. Artificial light can disrupt plant cycles. Route Description Overview From Hetch Hetchy Reservoir head east along the reservoir for a 21-mile loop with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain between Rancheria Falls and Lake Vernon. Do a midday summit of Mount Gibson, or wait for an easier summit above Laurel Lake. Details Hiking east to Rancheria Falls makes for a nice, fairly easy, flat first day of backpacking. The majority of the elevation gain is between Rancheria Falls and the Mount Gibson drainage. Break up the elevation gain by camping at Tiltill Valley. On summit day, backpack from Tiltill Valley to the Mount Gibson drainage. Drop packs and hike to Mount Gibson for lunch. Camp at the drainage or continue to Lake Vernon for a nicer camping area. This is a long summit day, so be prepared. Return to Hetch Hetchy via Beehive Meadows. There is no layover day on this 21-mile loop. If summiting Mount Gibson makes for too long of a day, hiking to a peak above Laurel Lake (the next day) is a good alternative. These peaks are lower, but the views and Laurel Lake are nice. If you plan to summit above Laurel Lake, hike directly from Tiltill Valley to Lake Vernon. The next day, hike from Lake Vernon to Beehive Meadows, drop packs, and day hike to Laurel Lake and summit a peak. Camp near Beehive Meadows. Trailhead to Rancheria-1: 5 miles Tiltill-2 to Creek-3: 3.7 miles Tiltill-2 to Lake Vernon-4: 5 miles Lake Vernon-4 to Drainage-6: 3.5 miles Drainage-6 to Trailhead: 4.6 miles Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain:Min. Elevation: Elevation Loss:Max. Elevation: 12 * The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only not alternate routes. 5

6 Camp Site Information Favorites 2- Tiltill Valley - UTM E N 4- Lake Vernon- UTM E N 6-Drainage- UTM E N Good Alternative 1- Rancheria- UTM E N Summit Neither of the summit options are exceptional, but accomplishing a summit is important to the teens. MOUNT GIBSON- UTM E N The hike to Mount Gibson is completely tree-covered, but there is an opening in the trees at the top allowing for nice views of the Tiltill Creek Valley. PEAK ABOVE LAUREL LAKE- UTM E N The summit above Laurel Lake will hopefully have views of Eleanor Lake and Laurel Lake. Laurel Lake in itself a nice visit. 3- Creek- UTM E N 5- Beehive Meadows- UTM E N 7- Pond- UTM E N 8- Laurel Lake- UTM E N Not Recommended No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Hetch Hetchy Reservoir Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites. 6 Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 11

7 Hazards The biggest hazards are afternoon storms and the public. Keep hydrated, wear sunscreen, and be self-aware, taking care of problems immediately. Sprains, strains, blisters, and river crossings are all possible hazards. Animals Poisonous Plants Weather Hazards Lightning Exposures No Water Between Black bears are common; especially in campgrounds. Rattlesnakes are uncommon though present. Bees, wasps, and spiders are all possible hazards. Animals are wild. Do not approach any animal. Poison Oak Can be hot an dry. Keep hydrated! No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Scree Slopes No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Map Legend Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.) Kitchen area Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring) Portages Point of Interest Hazards Fishing Main Route --- Alternate Routes Points of Interest No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Fishing No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 10 Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 7

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