SIERRA NEVADA BACKPACK

The beauty of the Southern Sierra Mountain Range is undeniable and there is nothing quite like exploring the area intimately through backpacking.  Wilderness Orientation (WO) backpackers will spend seven days moving from camp to camp on foot. Your group will feel a sense of shared accomplishment and camaraderie as you hike over mountain passes, past pristine lakes and among craggy peaks. This trip will give you tools to thrive in nature and at UCSD.

The Trip

Sheer peaks offering fantastic views of the California landscape; glassy alpine pools still crisp from winter snows; expansive night skies teeming with flecks of the moon and stars; fern-lined mountain trails that echo scenes from The Lord of The Rings: these are just some of the wondrous sights that students will get to experience while on their Wilderness Orientation backpacking trip. The rugged and beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountain Range provides an inspiring Wilderness Orientation backpacking experience.  Whether you're a seasoned backpacker, or exploring nature for the first time, you will learn how to have a working relationship with the environment, and how to physically, emotionally, and mentally deal with the rigor of the wilderness. You will learn an abundance of skills during this time including team building, leadership, backcountry cooking, and navigation. In addition to all of this, you will have the opportunity to form friendships that can last throughout your years at UC San Diego and beyond.

Course Area - Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada is the largest mountain range in the continental United States and extends 400 miles from north to south making it bigger than the Swiss, Italian, and French Alps combined. It is in this wilderness that WO participants will spend seven days traveling, learning, and bonding with their fellow backpackers. This glacially sculpted area offers a remote look into the inspiring beauty California has to offer. You'll find high-country meadows brimming with wildflowers and enjoy the delightfully cool waters after a long day of hiking. Along the way, you may encounter deer, marmots, red tail fox, rabbits, and very occasionally a curious little black bear.

Sample Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Meet at Outback Adventures Office / Rental Shop by 10am. Check out your gear and then experience the Outback Challenge Course. Camp at Outback Adventures on the first night.

Day 2 - Depart for Sierra Nevada early in the morning. Arrive at Sierra Nevada and set up camp. 

Day 3 - Learn and practice backpacking, cooking, and navigation skills. Camp high in the mountains.

Day 4-8 - Explore the Sierra Nevada, be amazed, feel connected to nature, search for wildlife and get to know about life at UCSD. Drive back to campus on day 8 for trip clean up and a celebration dinner. Camp at Outback Adventures for the final night.

Day 9 - Breakfast, Closing Ceremonies, Depart 10am. Plan flights no earlier than 12pm (noon).

Physical Demands

While our trips are designed for beginners, carrying a loaded pack in the mountains is physically challenging. Our guides will help you fit your packs so they fit comfortably. We will travel 4-10 miles per day with packs loaded with personal equipment and water and a share of the group gear and food. The rewards and feeling of accomplishment are probably greater than any other trip we offer. 

*We are more than willing to work with participants who may require adaptive solutions. Please call the Director for more information at a minimum of 30 days in advance of the trip start.

Registration Fee Info

Registration fees cover transportation from UCSD to the trip destination, instruction, most food and all group gear (tents, cooking equipment, backpacks, first aid supplies etc.). Participants provide personal equipment on the trip packing list, most of which can be purchased or rented at Outback Adventures. We also offer financial assistance awards ranging from $200 to full coverage for first generation college students, students from low income families, international students, and out of state students. If you believe you qualify and would benefit from this financial assistance, please apply early.

If the cost of this trip is prohibitive to you, please reach out to us. We do not want financial barriers to stop anyone from participating in our programs.

Cancellation Policy - please review the trip cancellation policy before registering for Wilderness Orientation.