Desolation Wilderness Crew July 20 – 23 2020

Join the TRTA as we reconstruct the PCT/TRT deep in Desolation Wilderness. Our work will focus on constructing stone steps and armoring drains to combat erosion.

What to Expect

This is a Wilderness Backpacking Camp in Desolation Wilderness, and requires a 5.5 mile climb to the campsite while carrying all your gear, food, and supplies to camp out and work for four days. Bear-proof food storage, such as a bear keg, is required (bear hangs are not allowed). This is a true wilderness camp and volunteers should have some backpacking experience. A short questionnaire will be required before participation can be confirmed. Meals will be prepared on backpacking stoves. This camp is rated Most Strenuous (but most rewarding!).

Registration for this camp is currently on hold due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic. To be put on a notification list for updates on this camp, please email your interest to KristineK@tahoerimtrail.org.

Schedule

A short questionnaire is required for participation. Please both register through the links on this page and return the questionnaire if you are interested in this camp.

Participants will meet the crew on Monday, August 24th at the TRTA office in Stateline, NV and be shuttled to the Bayview trailhead near Emerald Bay. Volunteers may meet the crew at Bayview, but overnight parking at the trailhead is NOT recommended due to recent bear activity (several cars have been damaged in the past few years). It is recommended that those meeting the crew at Bayview are dropped off/picked up. We’ll pack our gear 5.5 miles and over 1000 feet up to our camp location near Middle Velma Lake. We’ll camp out for three nights, spending our days repairing eroded sections of the trail by installing and armoring drainage features and building stone steps. There will be plenty of time after work for exploration, fishing, swimming, and enjoying the beauty of Desolation Wilderness. We’ll return to Bayview by the afternoon of Thursday, August 27th and shuttle the crew back to the TRTA office. There is a strict cap on the number of participants on this crew to respect the US Forest Service’s group size limit in Desolation Wilderness.

Please note! Our camp and work site are at high elevation, approximately 8000 feet. If you will be traveling from low elevations or are not accustomed to strenuous activity at high elevation we recommend you arrive in the Tahoe area several days in advance to acclimate to local conditions.

What to Bring

All volunteers are required to dress appropriately for each day of work including long sleeved shirts, long pants, and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. You should also bring everything you will need for four days in the wilderness, including lightweight camping and cooking gear, warm clothes, etc. Plan to bring containers for at least 3 liters of water, sunglasses or other eye protection, sunscreen, any medications, and other personal items. Don’t have the all the fancy stuff? Just let us know, we have gear to loan out. The TRTA provides food (on request), safety equipment such as hard hats and gloves, tools, and experienced crew leaders.

Who to Bring

Wilderness Backpacking Camps require previous backpacking experience, preferably at altitude in the Sierra Nevada. This is not an appropriate opportunity for people looking to spend their first night in a tent. Minors age 16+ are welcome so long as they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. In such a case, please fill out the Parent/Guardian Permission Form.

Come out and help build some great trail!

Thank you to the Tahoe Fund, the Clif Bar Family Foundation,

and the Pacific Crest Trail Association for their generous support of this project!