Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts have a unique opportunity this summer to combine wilderness adventure with meaningful conservation work. From August 9–13, Ascend Wilderness Experience is hosting the Klamath Mountain Adult Backpacking & Botany Trip, a five-day guided journey through one of California’s most botanically diverse regions.

Set in the Kangaroo Lake Botanical and Geologic Areas along the Pacific Crest Trail, the trip invites participants to explore the stunning landscapes of the Klamath Mountains while contributing to a vital scientific project: the Klamath Vegetation Mapping Program. This initiative, led by California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt, California Native Plant Society, Bigfoot Trail Alliance, and other partners, aims to map plant communities to support biodiversity and climate resilience.

Two trip options are available: an 11-mile backpacking route along the PCT or a basecamp experience at scenic Kangaroo Lake. Both include flexible day hikes and hands-on plant surveys with expert botany, ecology, and geology instruction.

Leading the educational component is Liz McGee-Houghton, a seasoned botanist and educator with over 15 years of field experience. She’ll be joined by professional backcountry guide Andrew Nelson, who has worked extensively with Ascend and is in his third year with the vegetation mapping team.

No experience is required—just a love of nature and a spirit of discovery. The suggested donation begins at $750 per person and includes meals, gear, instruction, and optional transportation from Weaverville.

Participants will help survey and document native plant life, contributing to one of California’s most important ecological mapping efforts.

Do you love to nerd out about plants? Do you like to volunteer? Do you like to backpack and hike? If yes, consider joining Ascend during our Adult Botany Trip where you’ll get to learn from field experts and help collect data for a Klamath Mountain Botany Survey in the Kangaroo Lake Botanical Area of the Klamath Mountains.

Date: August 9-13
Location: Kangaroo Lake Botanical & Geologic Areas, Pacific Crest Trail

Apply HERE

---

Hiking With a Purpose: 

The Klamath Vegetation Mapping Program is a partnership between:

• California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (CPH)
• California Native Plant Society (CNPS)
• California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW)
• Bigfoot Trail Alliance

CNPS formed a vegetation sampling team with funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It includes CNPS staff, Michael Kauffmann from the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, Cal Poly Humboldt Professors Lucy Kerhoulas, Rosemary Sherriff, Erik Jules, and many students.

The goal is to inventory and map plant communities in the Klamath Mountains to help fill critical data gaps about vegetation types and biodiversity. This work also supports future life form classification and wildland fuels mapping, vital for fostering climate resilience in one of California’s most ecologically important regions.

During this Ascend Adult Botany Trip, guest botanist, Liz McGee Houghton, and Ascend Wilderness Guide, Andrew Nelson, will lead the group in botany exploration as well as meet up in the field with project partners and field scientists.

For more information click here.

---

Kangaroo Lake – Overview

Location:
Kangaroo Lake is located in Klamath National Forest, in Siskiyou County, Northern California. It sits within the Scott Mountains, a subrange of the Klamath Mountains, and is easily accessed via a forest road or by hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. This location is in one of the most botanically unique areas of the Klamath National Forest with multiple designated Botanical and Geologic Special Interest Areas all within walking distance.

Camping:
There’s a small developed campground at the lake with picnic tables, toilets, and fire rings, as well as dispersed backcountry sites for those seeking a wilder experience. 

Thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers, sections of the Haypress and Let’er Buck trails in the Marble Mountain Wilderness are now cleared and fully accessible for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The Ascend Wilderness Experience Crew restored 3 miles on the Haypress Trail, which includes a portion of the upper Let’er Buck Trail. Their work included clearing 69 logs, re-establishing .25 miles of tread, and rebrushing a full mile of trail.

Meanwhile, the Bigfoot Trail Alliance Volunteer Crew tackled 1.7 miles of the Let’er Buck Trail, which had been heavily impacted by a high-intensity burn. In total, the Bigfoot Crew removed 86 downed logs, .75 miles of trail tread was restored, and brushing on dense overgrowth was cleared. Several segments had become nearly invisible, but are now well-defined and free of obstructions.

Six volunteers contributed more than 85 hours to the effort from both teams, and the two teams conquered their goals in the short amount of time afforded to them. Totally AWEsome!

With these efforts complete, the trail is now open as a loop through Haypress Meadow, home to a rare grove of lower-elevation hemlocks—a unique natural feature worth the hike.

This collaboration wouldn’t have been possible without U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest. They not only guided us on what was labeled a priority, but the USFS representative who joined us was a huge help with the trailwork; they worked very hard to make sure this project was completed. AWEsome all around.

Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated crew, the Waldorff Crossing Trail is now in much better shape for hikers to enjoy. From the trailhead to Raymond Flat—about 1.5 miles—crews completed major maintenance, including installing new signage, clearing 16 downed trees, brushing back overgrown sections, and restoring about a mile of trail tread.

The effort was led by 3 staff members, 1 Forest Service representative, and 2 volunteers who together contributed 32 hours of volunteer time. With steep terrain and heavy lifting, this was no easy task, but their work has made the trail safer and more enjoyable for all.

Next time you’re out there, keep an eye out for the new signs and enjoy the improved trail!

Ascend Wilderness Experience recently completed a successful trail project deep in the Marble Mountain Wilderness along scenic Wooley Creek—a river-sized tributary nestled near the tri-county border of Siskiyou, Humboldt, and Trinity counties, just outside Somes Bar.

Partnering with the Six Rivers National Forest and Bigfoot Trail Alliance, staff and volunteers put in solid work restoring 6.5 miles of trail. A wild and wet winter left roughly 75 fallen trees—many of them heavy hardwoods like Tan Oak and Madrone—blocking the trail. The team cleared debris, brushed overgrown sections, and retreaded eroded portions to help reopen this beautiful stretch of wilderness.

Next up, Ascend is heading to the Waldorff Crossing Trail system in the Trinity Alps near Helena, CA May 3-4, and the Haypress/Let ‘Er Buck trail systems in the stunning Marble Mountains near Somes Bar May 8-11. Both of these upcoming May trips are car camping adventures, offering even more opportunities to get involved, give back, and enjoy time outdoors in some of Northern California’s most ruggedly beautiful backcountry.

Ascend has adventures planned throughout the summer and fall, with free trips available for adults, teens, and potentially youth (pending funding availability for 2025). One trip, the Adult Botany trip will have a fee to join as our first “fundraising trip”. Multiple hikes and volunteer opportunities are scheduled from May through October.

Interested in joining a trip or know someone who would love to get out on the trail? Head to the LINK for all the details or call us at 1-530-739-1177 Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm. And don’t worry if you’re missing gear—Ascend’s fully stocked Gear Library ensures that everyone can access the wilderness, no matter their equipment situation.

Join Ascend for an Overnight Trail Stewardship Adventure on the Waldorff Trail. (LINK BELOW)

Are you passionate about nature and eager to give back to the trails you love? Ascend Wilderness Experience, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is excited to invite volunteers for a special overnight trail stewardship trip with car camping at Pigeon Point near Helena, CA, and hiking from the nearby Waldorff Trail.

This is your chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying breathtaking views, working alongside fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and experiencing the wilderness in a way few get to.

Event Details:

Host: Ascend Wilderness, in partnership with the USFS
Location: Pigeon Point, near Helena, CA and Waldorff Trail
Dates: May 2nd – 3rd
Difficulty: Moderate (2 miles one way, 4 miles round trip)
Volunteers Needed: All skill levels are welcome

What You’ll Be Doing:

We will focus on vital trail maintenance tasks, including:

Improving trail tread – ensuring the path is safe and easy to navigate.
Tree logout – removing fallen trees or branches blocking the trail.
Brushing – clearing overgrowth to keep the trail visible and accessible.

Why Volunteer?

Not only will you contribute to the preservation and upkeep of our beautiful public lands, but you’ll also be treated to an unforgettable outdoor experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to:

Take in stunning views: Waldorff Trail offers incredible vistas, making every step worthwhile.
Learn valuable skills: From trail-building techniques to teamwork, you’ll gain hands-on experience.
Meet like-minded adventurers: Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to trail stewardship, this is a great opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for nature.

What’s Provided:

Gear and food: Ascend Wilderness has you covered with all the necessary gear for camping and trail work with delicious meals to keep you fueled and energized.
Car camping: Enjoy a comfortable base camp at Pigeon Point, where you can relax and unwind after a hard day’s work.

Ready to Join Us?

Spaces for this incredible trip are limited, so don’t wait! Sign up with the link below and get involved in an experience that combines outdoor adventure, community service, and environmental stewardship.

We can’t wait to see you there and work together to maintain and protect our local trails.

It is nearly March and Ascend has released our “Save the Dates” flyer for 2025, registration will soon be live for the 2025 season, no later than April 1st. The deadline to sign-up will be May 15th. If you have any questions or concerns about any upcoming trips, please give Ascend a call at 1-530-739-1177, we are open Monday thru Friday 10am to 5pm. We can also be reached at Information.Ascend@Gmail.com and in-person at 420 Main Street in Weaverville, California (We are located directly underneath and behind Kay’s Bookstore).

What a remarkable year it has been for Ascend Wilderness Experience! Our final outdoor trip of 2024 has wrapped up, and we’re excited to share just how AWE-inspiring this season has been. Building on the valuable feedback from previous years, we extended our season from spring through fall, and offered an even broader range of free programs, catering to everyone from youth to adults.

Our season kicked off with our second Spring Break Day Camp, hosting over 60 students for five days at the East Weaver Campground. Throughout the summer months—June, July, and August—we conducted 12 engaging youth and teen trips into the stunning Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Russian Wilderness. Participants, aged 9 to 18, enjoyed a variety of experiences, including a collaboration with Shasta-Trinity National Forest on trail stewardship. This project involved retreading trails, brushing back vegetation, and removing over 50 downed logs, with teens receiving stipends and real-life trail work experience.

In total, 158 youths explored the wilderness, hiking, swimming in lakes, and reveling in nature’s beauty through our 2024 programs. Some of the breathtaking lakes they visited included Boulder Lakes, Paynes Lake, Lily Pad Lake, Deadfall Lake, and East Boulder Lake. AWEsome.

Our adult programs featured six trips across various locations in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, including the Canyon Creeks and Long Gulch Lake trail systems. We kicked off the year with a trail-clearing trip up the Waldorf Trail, where our volunteers tackled logs and poison oak. The momentum continued as we navigated through Canyon Creeks, expertly dodging bear canister-savvy bears while removing over 50 downed trees. An overnight trip to Lily Pad Lake proved highly successful, clearing trails from the trailhead to the first junction. Another highlight was the Long Gulch Lake trip, which benefited from pack support, enabling us to clear 15 miles of trail, remove 49 logs, and monitor over a dozen miles of wilderness trails. 

This year, 60 volunteers dedicated over 1,300 hours to maintaining our wilderness trails, resulting in hundreds of logs removed and over 50 miles of trail retreaded and brushed. On that note, this incredible season wouldn’t have been possible without the passion and commitment of our volunteers, staff, and collaborators. Their hard work ensures that our trail systems remain open and accessible for future generations to enjoy the wonders of nature. We want to especially thank our Forest Service partners Erik Fleitz, Jotham Barragar, and Monique Rea who put a lot of effort into making these goals achievable. 

None of this would be possible without support from grants and donations. A gracious THANK YOU to the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance, National Forest Foundation, Trinity Trust, Rose Foundation, Redding Rancheria Community Fund of Community Foundation of the North State, California State Parks and Rec, Humboldt Area Foundation, USDA Forest Service, and our many many wonderful donors. We also want to thank collaborating organizations like the Backcountry Horsemen, Bigfoot Trail Alliance, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity County schools, and the Trinity County Resource Conservation District and Watershed Research and Training Center.

As we wrap up 2024, we are already excited about what’s to come in 2025. We have many trips in the pipeline and will release a detailed schedule by March 2025. To be the first-to-know about next year’s trip dates, sign up to receive our email newsletter by visiting our website ascendwilderness.org. For information or connecting with us in general, you can reach Ascend at 530-739-1177, check out our Facebook page, or email: information.ascend@gmail.com Here’s to another year of adventure and appreciation for the great outdoors!

Ascend Wilderness Experience has concluded its summer season with an impressive amount of trips under our belt. For our fall season, we still have a few more trips available, but first, let’s dive into what has happened so far!

During the month of May, Ascend had an all adult stewardship project on the Waldorf Crossing trail that saw some badly needed clearing, brushing, and logouts! In June, our 5-day adult stewardship trip to the Canyon Creek trailhead received a lot of love from our staff + volunteers, helping clear 55 trees from the trails caused by last winter’s big storms and doing miles of brushwork. We also had an adult day hike trip up to Shimmy Lake where some moderate brush work was done. Our 7-day Teen Stewardship Trip saw 8 teen volunteers collaborate with the United States Forest Service to do some heavy-duty trailwork on the Boulder Lakes trail system that also included 55 logouts, retreading, and brushing work. The month of June also kick started our youth backpacking program with two day hikes, one on the Lewiston Lake trail and another in Whiskeytown Falls.

In the month of July, Ascend provided youth ages 9-14 backpacking trips ranging from 3-5 days to East Boulder Lakes, Boulder Lakes, Paynes Lake in the Russian Wilderness, and Deadfall Lake. Two teen trips that included youth from the Dream Quest Youth Center and volunteer teens, participated in a trip to Boulder Lake and Stuart Fork. The Teen Field Science Trip up Stuart Fork was a collaboration with BigFoot Trail Alliance and Cal Poly geologists. We were joined by Executive Director Michael Kauffmann, a noted local author, as well as Botanist Liz Houghton who engaged the teens in the world of plotting and soil sampling. An all-ages 2-day backpacking trip was completed up at Boulder Lakes that involved light-duty brushing. To spread awareness of Leave No Trace ethics, Ascend tabled at Stuarts Fork and Canyon Creek Trailheads during the Fourth of July weekend to hand out information on trail conditions and permits for campfires to bustling crowds going into the wilderness. 

 September and October will see a couple of trips, some of which are still looking for volunteers to join.  An all adult 7-day stewardship backpacking trip in collaboration with BigFoot Trail Alliance will be taking place the last week of September going into October to the Long Gulch trail system. This trip will include pack support from the USFS with their famous pack mules and will focus on trail work that will also include logouts and brushing while camping under the stars. Lastly, we will culminate our fall season trips in October with a Car-Camping Stewardship Trip in the Coffee Creek area, location is still TBD.

If you or anyone you know are interested in joining one of Ascend’s upcoming trips please contact us via email at Information.ascend@gmail.com or contact us by phone at 1-530-739-1177. 

Upcoming Trips:

September 29th – October 5th – Long Gulch trail system, adult stewardship, 7-day backpacking with brushing and logouts in collaboration with the USFS and their famous pack mules as pack support.

October 19-20 – Location TBD, structure of the trip will be Car Camping with the option of a day hike to our work area.