Current and Past Trip Information

Remember: You must be a member of Desert Survivors with a release on file to join in with one of these trips. Join Desert Survivors if you are not yet a member.

Click here for your Overnight Backpacking Checklist.

For reference, we have many listings for trips in the past.

If you are new to Desert Survivors or contemplating joining one of our interesting desert trips as a new member please click on the above "General Trip Information" button to acquaint yourself with additional information concerning the scheduled trips below.

Many of our popular trips, particularly car camps on 3 day holiday weekends, tend to fill early and quickly, so plan accordingly. We ask that if you do secure a reservation with a trip leader, please be sure to use it, but if you cannot keep the reservation then advise the trip leader immediately to allow someone on standby to take the open slot.

Other backpacking trips tend not to fill to maximum at all times and may have an open space or two. If you find yourself with an open weekend and want to join in, try phoning the trip leader, space may still be available.

Most of our trip leaders ask that you contact them directly by telephone. This enables the leaders to assess your skills and abilities and to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. Your safety and enjoyment while on the trip is just one of their many concerns. They want you have fun and the trip to be a rewarding experience. This also enables the trip leaders to build a "balanced group" that will enhance everyone's enjoyment of the trip.

Upon securing a slot for the trip you will be mailed additional information concerning the meeting area, car pooling, last minute changes, etc.

It may help you to jot down your questions before phoning.

 

SUMMER 2009 TRIPS

  1. June 5-7 (Fri-Sun)
    Desert Mountains Backpack (S)
    Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park

    Weather is warm, but we will follow streams at low elevation and then travel high with long views. The first day follows the newly riparian Surprise Canyon upward to the old, but vacant, silver-mining town of Panamint City. The second day ascends from 6400', over Sentinel Peak at 9634', then descends into the upper part of Happy Canyon. The third day is entirely downhill. Much of the trip is cross-country. Elevation gains are significant; the second camp is dry.
    Limit 12.
    Contact Leader: Craig Deutsche (310) 477-6670; craig.deutsche@gmail.com
  2. June 12-14 (Fri-Sun)
    Conglomerate Mesa Carcamp (M)
    Eastern Sierra

    John and Maura Moody will lead us to this endangered desert mesa above Owens Valley, just north of the Malpais Mesa Wilderness. A company wants to do a major drilling program here for gold. We have ample reason to say "No." John and Maura will explain the issue and interpret the natural history of the site. Moderate hiking and ample shade in this upland region above 6000'. Great views from on high, maybe some late-season flowers, too.
    Limit 15.
    Contact: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  3. June 20 (Sat)
    Beginning Backpack Seminar (E)
    Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA

    Although intended as an introductory class, this is a good refresher in case you haven't been out for awhile. This year's class will emphasize lightweight, inexpensive packing and includes my book. Equipment topics include backpacks, tents, tarps, sleeping bags, clothes, shoes, and accessories. We'll demonstrate how to start a fire without matches, pitch a tarp, and load and adjust your pack. Learn to carry just what you need with minimum impact on the environment, your back, and your wallet.
    Limit 12.
    Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 586-6855
  4. June 20 (Sat)
    Desert Survivors Summer Picnic (E)
    Tilden Park, Berkeley, CA

    Join us for our traditional Summer Picnic. We'll gather at 11 a.m. in this Bay Area park for a potluck meal and desert stories. Enjoy tall tales under the trees. We'll erect the badminton net in an adjacent sunny meadow. Late in the day we'll hike the ridge to stretch our legs. It's a great opportunity to meet fellow members in the outdoors, and perhaps find new hiking partners. A detailed flyer will be sent with directions. Note: Come early to attend Bob Lyon's Beginning Backpack Seminar.
    For information, call: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  5. June 26-28 (Fri-Sun)
    Badger Mountain Carcamp (E/M)
    Northern Nevada

    Spend an early summer weekend in the high country of the Sheldon Refuge in far northern Nevada. From our camp at the base of Badger Mountain, we'll do a series of long dayhikes through the gradually deepening canyons at the headwaters of Virgin Creek and investigate some springs, get up above the rimrock onto Bitner Table to explore the portion of the Massacre Rim WSA which the BLM recommends for wilderness designation, and wander through the mahogany groves of Badger Mountain. Expect horses, pronghorn, mule deer, and 50-mile views.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Dave Oline (541) 552-1195
  6. July 3-5 (Fri-Sun)
    Bilk Creek Mountains Backpack (S)
    Orovada, Northern Nevada

    Between the Pine Forest Range and the Santa Rosa Mountains in northern Nevada are the Bilk Creek Mountains which rise nearly as high, to 8485' so obscure they are not even on the list of neglected Nevada wildernesses because there is no wilderness or WSA status anywhere in the range. To explore this new country we will have a steep carry-all-water hike to a high ridge camp, and then climb several high peaks to survey the area. Expect flowers in the high country, old mine sites, and wild horses.
    Limit 10.
    Contact Leader: Dave Oline (541) 552-1195.
  7. July 3-5 (Fri-Sun)
    Fish Creek Rim Carcamp (M)
    Southeast Oregon

    Three dayhikes at moderate elevations in Oregon's Great Basin Desert. Two days on the high plateau (above 6000') checking out junipers and rare old-growth fir growing in sagebrush. Cool air, raptors, antelope, deer and horses. Maybe bighorn on the rim, certainly great views of dry lakes and desert below. Day three will be bird watching at Crump Lake, if it has water.
    Note: On this wildlife-monitoring trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking; if you cannot, please choose another trip.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  8. July 11-12 (Sat-Sun)
    Pescadero Creek Backpack (E)
    San Mateo County

    Although this hike is intended for beginners, it is open to all if space permits. We'll spend two days in the cool redwood forest along Pescadero Creek, hiking from Sam MacDonald Park to Shaw Flat Trail Camp. Along the way we'll visit the Heritage Grove, have lunch at the Sierra Club Hikers Hut, and stir the pools of Tarwater Creek. Evening campfire and stories.
    Limit 10.
    Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 586-6855
  9. July 11-19 (Sat-next Sun)
    Moqui Canyon Backpack (M)
    Southeast Utah

    In 1992 we did a classic six-day backpack to this wonderful redrock canyon. We saw cliff dwellings, pictographs, rock pools, green trees, sheer cliffs and thunderstorms on our cross-country quest. This time we'll explore farther north, searching for springs and seeps in tight canyons. This trip is planned for the start of the summer monsoon rains; it worked last time, hopefully will again. Note: On this wildlife-monitoring trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking; if you cannot, please choose another trip.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  10. July 17-20 (Fri-Mon)
    Toiyabe Crest Backpack (S)
    Central Nevada

    The Toiyabe Range is the longest mountain range in Nevada, running for over 100 miles. The Toiyabes include the large Arc Dome Wilderness, but the range to the north is still unprotected, although its wilderness qualities are just as fine. We'll sample a little of both parts of the range on this trip. We'll pack in to a campsite near the crest, climb seldom-visited French Peak as a dayhike on Saturday, then head south along the crest on Sunday and exit on Monday via the North Twin River.
    Limit 12.
    Contact Leader: John Wilkinson (408) 876-8295; johnfw1@mac.com
  11. July 26 (Sun)
    Desert Survivors Technical Seminar (E)
    Mt. Diablo State Park, Bay Area

    This all-day seminar features instruction in trip planning, route-finding with map/compass, and introduction to wilderness first aid. Both hikers and potential trip leaders will benefit. We'll spend an hour on each topic, with an hour's break for lunch. In late afternoon we'll do a short hike to test our map and compass skills. A longer hike afterward is optional. A detailed flyer will be sent to the membership well before the event. You must register beforehand to attend. Space is limited. A $5 donation will be requested at the site.
    Contact: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  12. July 31 August 2 (Fri-Sun)
    Hawksie-Walksie Backpack (M)
    Southeast Oregon

    Three days of backpacking in Oregon's Hawk Mountain Wilderness Study Area. Start with flat walking across an easy valley, then into the hills to check out springs, juniper woods, and long views. Great wildlife values (hawks, horses, antelope), and lots of wide open spaces. Another of our "Neglected Wilderness" trips; no Survivor trips have made it into this WSA. A monitoring report will be written afterward. Note: On this wildlife-monitoring trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking; if you cannot, please choose another trip.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  13. August 7-9 (Fri-Sun)
    Mt. Jefferson Backpack (S)
    Toquima Range, Central Nevada

    This is classic Nevada basin-and-range country. The hike begins at Pasco Creek, climbs to the summit, then descends along Pine Creek. A steep climb is required to reach the Middle Summit of Mt. Jefferson (11,700'). Visible from the ridge are magnificent panoramas of forest, meadow, desert, and distant ranges. Distance is 18 mi. with 5000' elevation gain. Water is available. Good physical condition required.
    Limit 10.
    Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 586-6855
  14. August 14-16 (Fri-Sun)
    Bob Canyon Backpack (M)
    Central Nevada

    Enjoy a three-day backpack to the north end of the Clan Alpine Mountains. Hike seven miles up curiously named Bob Canyon, then dayhike to the crest (4000' to 7955'). This is another of our "Neglected Wilderness" trips; no telling what we'll see, but the map shows springs and lots of trees. This is terra ingcognita, the way we like it in Desert Survivors. Note: On this wildlife-monitoring trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking; if you cannot do this, please choose another trip.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
  15. August 28-30 (Fri-Sun)
    Wall Canyon Backpack
    Northern Nevada
    Wall Canyon is another obscure BLM wilderness study area west of High Rock Canyon. On this monitoring backpack, we'll check out the wilderness values its two perennial streams have to offer and do a dayhike to the high point at Boulder Mountain. Let's see what else we'll find in this land of sage and wild horse.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Paul Menkes (510) 710-3283
  16. September 5-7 (Sat-Mon)
    Bodie Hills/Paramount Mine Carcamp (M)
    Eastern Sierra

    A corporation wants to reopen the old Paramount Mine in the Bodie Hills to get some gold. We'll visit the site to call attention to the need for protection. Day Two we'll hike down Rough Creek for a romp through willows and cool water. Day Three we'll stop off at the town of Bodie in a return to yesteryear. Cool mountain air on this end-of-summer carcamp. Note: On this wildlife-monitoring trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking; if you cannot do this, please choose another trip.
    Limit 15.
    Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706

Desert Wildflowers: Where and When?
An often asked question of Desert Survivors is "what trip should I choose to see desert wildflowers". This can sometimes be a difficult question to answer. Phone the trip leader and ask that question if you are interested in that aspect of your trip. Click on the above link for additional information about desert wildflowers.