Mark your calendars and save the dates of these exciting outdoor opportunities in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area this 2022 summer season! Ascend is thrilled to be offering our most diverse schedule yet with opportunities for adventure and stewardship for EVERYONE.

Youth Day Hike Series (June 20, 22, 24) – This introductory experience is designed for youth participants to enjoy an adventurous day in the outdoors with a trained Ascend Wilderness Guide. For the youngest age group of 6-9 years old a typical trip will be 2-4 miles. Older age groups (9-12, 12-15) will hike 5-8 miles round trip.  Examples of hike destinations in the Trinity Alps include Lake Eleanor or Boulder Lakes for younger groups and Tangle Blue Lake or Stoddard Lake for an older group.

Adult/Multigenerational day hike and/or overnight trip (June 25-26) – Our Adult and Multigenerational hike is open to all ages. We encourage teens to join this trip, however any participating youth under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Stewardship is a key element of this experience and we expect that all participants, including youth, will actively participate in the project and maintain a positive attitude in a group setting throughout the trip. In 2022 we plan on rehabilitating the East Weaver Lake trail from the top of Weaver Bally down to East Weaver Campground in Weaverville. The trail in total is approximately 7.5 miles from the top of Weaver Bally to the East Weaver Campground. Participants have the choice of attending as a day hike on June 25, or making it an overnight journey. We’ll meet at East Weaver Campground in Weaverville, where Ascend Wilderness Guides will shuttle participants to the top of Weaver Bally to begin the hike. The group will spend the day brushing and clearing the trail on the way down. For those who wish to make this a day hike, they can hike themselves out to their own vehicles staged at the campground. Participants are encouraged to stay for the two full days of work to help clear the trail the following day.

Stewardship tasks involve brushing and clearing of trails, with some cross cut saw/log-outs with the supervision and guidance of trained Ascend guides and Forest Service personnel. All tools, food, trained guides and gear are provided. 

Youth Backpacking Trips – Ascend’s flagship program is a multi-day immersion youth backpack trip into wilderness, which has proven to foster personal and social development, leadership skills, and to spark interest in the stewardship of Trinity County’s environment, and beyond. During our trips we will have a variety guests from various environmental careers joining the groups to teach participants about botany, fire science, Leave-No-Trace Wilderness Ethics, and more.

• Ages 9-11 (July 16-18) – In 2022, the 9-11 year old group will hike to Deadfall Lake, where they will make camp and have a day to adventure to the top of Mount Eddy. The view of Mount Shasta from this point is incredible and an AWEsome adventure for this age group. This introductory backpacking trip is designed for youth who are just dipping their toes into independent outdoor adventures.

• Ages 10-13 (July 25-29) – The 10-13 year old group will spend a full 5 days immersed in the backcountry of the Trinity Alps. The location of this trip will start on Scott’s Mountain and hike up the Pacific Crest Trail to camp at East Boulder where youth will have a plethora of  options for amazing vistas, alpine lakes, solitude, and communing as a group and in wilderness.

Youth Leadership Trip ages 12-14 (July 18-22) – For the 12-14 year old age group, Ascend offers a Leadership and Mentor training trip for youth who exhibit interest in a deeper wilderness experience or are considering being a Junior Wilderness Guide for future Ascend trips. In the 2022 season, we are planning the 5-day Leadership and Mentor Training trip up Canyon Creek Trail. During this backpacking trip youth will spend an afternoon participating in stewardship tasks, brushing the trail to Boulder Creek Lakes in addition to the supplemental leadership activities facilitated by Ascend Wilderness Guides for this specific trip.

Teen Work Experience Trip (July 9-15) – Ascend Wilderness Experience will offer a 7-day stewardship focused backpack trip for teens into the Trinity Alps Wilderness. The trip is open to teens ages 14-18 and will take place July 9-15. 

Four of the seven days will be devoted to stewardship activities while the remaining three days will be spent backpacking, hiking, and enjoying the back country. This trip offers valuable resume and skill building work experience and also serves the community and the wilderness by accomplishing important tasks under the leadership of Forest Service personnel and an Ascend Wilderness Guide. Participants should expect to work hard during days devoted to stewardship activities and will receive a stipend for their efforts.

Stewardship on the trip will include activities such as removing brush and digging. The trip is devoted to rehabilitating the trail system up Boulder Lakes trail to Foster Lake. It will include up to eight teens and all necessary gear, safety equipment, tools, training and food will be provided. The Forest Service will be providing pack mule support, which will transport all food, tools and camping equipment. Stewardship is a key element of this experience and we expect that all participants will actively participate in the project and maintain a positive attitude in a group setting throughout the trip. Participants on this trip will learn valuable skills and trail building techniques, especially if they have an interest in outdoor recreation career paths.

Adult Stewardship Trip (July 8-12) – Ascend Wilderness Experience will offer a five-day stewardship focused backpack trip for adults into the Trinity Alps Wilderness July 8-12.

Eight volunteers will have the opportunity to work alongside Forest Service and Ascend personnel in rehabilitating the trail system of Sugar Pine Lake to Battle Canyon trail that serves as the connecting trail to both Foster Lake and Union Lake. The area of focus is a lesser traveled haven in the Trinity Alps that promises abundant wild flowers and stunning vistas. The group will base camp in the vicinity of understated and solitude-rich Sugar Pine Lake.  

Physical work will include activities such as removing brush and downed logs from trails, and digging to re-establish washed out or overgrown trail tread. Three of the five days will be devoted to stewardship activities while the remaining two days will be spent backpacking.  All necessary group gear, safety equipment, tools, training, and food are provided in addition to pack mule support by the Forest Service to transport all tools, food and camping equipment into the backcountry. Any individual gear such as backpacks, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads are also available to borrow if needed. 

This trip is guaranteed to be scenic and rewarding but also physically demanding. Volunteers must be prepared to live in the backcountry, be willing and able to work throughout the day on the project and maintain a positive attitude in a group setting.

Applications to attend an Ascend Wilderness Experience trip are due by May 15, 2022.

Join us!