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: [email protected] Here’s to another year of adventure and appreciation for the great outdoors!
Ascend Wilderness Experience is hosting a volunteer trail stewardship car-camping weekend at Big Flat campground in the Coffee Creek area October 19-20. This trip will consist of two days of easy to moderate difficulty day hikes that will also include some log outs and light brushing on nearby trails.
For those new to hiking or trail work, this is a great opportunity to learn from experienced guides and for seasoned hikers, it’s a great way to appreciate and give back to our local trails. As always, all food, gear, transportation and guidance are provided at no cost.
Ascend trips are open to all skill levels with gear available to borrow from an extensive gear lending library.
Join Ascend in a fall adventure tending our public trails and enjoying AWEsome company. To learn more and sign up, visit ascendwilderness.org or call 530-739-1177.
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 [email protected] 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.
We know you have all been chomping at the bit to sign up for Ascend’s summer programs. We are officially launched and have an exciting schedule planned for 2024. We have trips for all ages; youth 6-18, teen internships, adult stewardship and multi-generational/family trips. We have something for everyone, whether you’re absolutely new to backpacking and hiking, or you’re looking for a more immersive backcountry experience. Check out our Trip Description page for more details on each date we have planned. To apply, click here to access our digital registration form. Our deadline to apply is May 15! Both youth and adult day hikes are first-come, first-served. You can apply anytime before May 15 for our youth multi-day backpacking trips and those groups will be curated once we have all the applications, but those spaces are also limited due to wilderness permit group size restrictions. (Our Adult Autumn shoulder season trips registration window is open until August 15).
Call the office for any questions, 530-739-1177. See you on the trails!
With such enthusiasm and support from kids, parents, and schools alike, Ascend Wilderness Experience’s Spring Break Day Camp returns again this year for another AWEsome time! We are thrilled to offer a safe place for youth during Spring Break (April 1-5) at East Weaver Campground. The relief this day camp provides to working parents has been a solution for our community even more powerful than we expected. You can fill out an application here or drop by Ascend’s office to pick up a printed copy from the box outside the office door (we’re located next to White Wolf Gym on Forest Ave. in Weaverville).
This year’s Spring Break Day Camp promises to outshine 2023’s since we have a knowledge base from which to launch improvements to last year’s successful program. Spring Break Day Camp is a way for kids to connect with nature, identify with their role in our environment, and learn organically, away from screens for a bit. They are educated about the wilderness in a fun, hands-on way, while having a great time playing and interacting with one another. Stewardship is always the backdrop for an Ascend Wilderness Experience. By building compassion for our surroundings, humans develop respect and appreciation for many things.
As an all-inclusive program, Ascend’s Spring Break Day Camp provides everything a child needs to participate and be well nourished*. Donations are graciously accepted, but not required for enrollment.
*Thank you to our local business sponsor for their generous contribution to provide healthy meals and snacks: Trinity River Lumber Company in Weaverville, CA
In wrapping up 2023, we are looking at the numbers and are blown away by Ascend’s accomplishments this year – Ascend hosted 16 more days in wilderness than the previous year and served over twice as many youth!
This accomplishment is largely thanks to the launch of our very first Spring Break Day Camp (SBDC) in April 2023. This program offered outdoor education and adventurous day hikes to 60 youth, ages 5-14, during the week of spring break at no cost to families. SBDC also employed high school counselors during the week, providing adult mentorship and references as well as a source of income to teens during their time off from school.
Ascend wants to make sure to offer this excellent opportunity for youth in April of 2024!
During December, all donations to Ascend will go to supporting Spring Break Day Camp. Please consider including Ascend in your end of year giving!
Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving and a wonderful opportunity to support the causes that mean the most to you.
Maximize your giving to Ascend by donating through North State Giving Tuesday, where your gift will help Ascend become eligible for cash prizes available through this unique event.
We hope to match this past year’s success in 2024 and community contributions greatly influence our ability to do that.
Early Giving is open now!
To maximize your impact, plan your giving for the day of January 28th during the Power Hours of 11am-12pm, 3-4pm, and 7-8pm. The more gifts Ascend receives during these times, the bigger the portion of a $15,000 cash prize pool Ascend will receive!
Ascend is proud to serve communities in the north state and help make public trails accessible to everyone.
Ascend Wilderness Experience has just wrapped up their final outdoor trip of 2023, rounding out their most awe inspiring season yet. In response to community feedback, Ascend went above and beyond their classic summer backpacking excursions and offered a more diverse catalog of free programs than ever before, beginning in spring with the launch of our first ever Spring Break Day Camp and extending into fall with additional Adult Stewardship opportunities for weekend warriors and Board Members. In all, Ascend hosted 6 overnight trips and 4 day hikes for youth including two family-friendly opportunities and 5 Adult Stewardship trips, totaling 50 days in wilderness for youth and adults.
Spring Break Day Camp
Youth Programs started in April this year with the first ever Ascend Spring Break Day Camp. Youth ages 5-14 spent five weekdays during their spring break based at East Weaver Campground exploring the creek and trails on day hikes, eating great snacks, and learning about botany, outdoor ethics, camping basics, and a day in the life of a Forest Service pack mule thanks to guest speakers and presentations. 60 kids attended anywhere from one to all five days of camp and had an amazing time during this unplugged, educational day camp. Ascend cannot wait to continue supporting local families with environmental education by hosting this free 5-day Spring Break Day Camp again in 2024.
Youth Hiking and Backpacking Trips
A wet June and beautiful July saw the majority of Ascend’s Youth Programs adventure into the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. Three multi-day trips and three day hikes adventured into different areas of the Trinity Alps Wilderness, giving youth the chance to build connections in their groups and within themselves in the unique setting of backcountry wilderness.
3-day Backpacking Trip (Ages 9-11)
A group of eight brand new backpackers joined the beginner 3-day trip for ages 9-11. These brave new wilderness explorers journeyed up to East Boulder Lake, enjoying swimming, exploring the wildlife, day hiking to a patch of snow for sledding in July, and imaginative play around the campfire.
5-day Backpacking Trip (Ages 10-13)
Youth ages 10-13 got a great backpacking experience adventuring up Swift Creek and taking the turn to Granite Lake where they camped halfway along the trail before making it up to the lake the following day. Participants were wowed by the incredible lake and let their imaginations take over playing in the alpine waters, day hiking up to a snow patch where a snowball fight and sledding ensued, and playing games around the fire.
5-day Leadership and Mentor Training Trip (Ages 12-14)
The second 5-day youth backpacking trip was for ages 12-14 and intended for youth who exhibit aptitude or desire to take on a leadership role in wilderness. This trip hiked up and around Union Lake in the cool June weather dodging hail storms, catching fish, playing games, and spending time around the fire. One participant wrote in their journal, “A breathtaking experience for me were the stars last night. I’ll never forget about how many stars I’ve seen. Also bonding with everyone was so special to me. I felt free and proud of myself for pushing myself to hike.”
Youth Day Hikes (Ages 6-9, 9-11, 12-14)
In June and July, youth attended three day hikes, exploring swimming holes and alpine lakes during summer months when a hot swimming day was followed by a rainy hike to a snow covered alpine lake mere days later. These age appropriate days hikes were attended by youth ages 6-15 and were a great way to spend a summer day with peers.
Stewardship Program
In response to community feedback and with support from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and Rose Foundation California Wildlands Grassroots Fund, Ascend was able to expand our Stewardship Program, adding one new family-friendly day stewardship day hike and three new stewardship opportunities for adults.
Adult Spring Stewardship Trip – Waldorff Crossing
Ascend kicked off the season with a brand new 3-day Adult Stewardship Trip in May at Waldorff Crossing in Western Trinity County. Volunteers did great work clearing brush, downed logs, and treading over three miles of this trail to the North Fork of the Trinity River.
7-day Teen Stewardship Work Experience Trip
Ascend Wilderness Experience hosted their 3rd annual Teen Stewardship Work Experience Trip this past June, facilitating seven days of trail work, adventure, and team building in the Trinity Alps Wilderness for eight regional high school students. The group was led by Ascend guide, Danyel Aglipay, FS Wilderness staff Erik Fleitz, with assistance from recent graduate and former Ascend Teen Trip participant Rowan Price, who is now working for the Forest Service on trail crews.
The group base camped at Big Flat Campground in Coffee Creek where they had access to numerous trails that have been receiving attention from other trail work groups, tying into the Forest Service’s plan to utilize volunteer groups to rehabilitate a number of trails in the area. The Ascend team used hand tools to take on the difficult task of retreading a combined mile of undefined trail over swaths of Packers Peak Trail, Lady Gulch Trail, and South Fork Coffee Creek Trail. They also received training on crosscut saw usage while logging out 5 logs that were impeding South Fork Coffee Creek Trail. The crew then ventured into areas of the Trinity Alps that had recently been burned by wildfire, rehabilitating trails by filling holes where burned stumps have created instability and building water bars to improve drainage in areas that are susceptible to erosion. Lastly, these teen volunteers learned about invasive species while pulling about 700 invasive Wooly Mullein, limiting the spread of seeds in the Wilderness Area.
This trip was particularly special due to former teen participant Rowan Price taking part in a professional capacity. FS Lead Erik Fleitz said, “Rowan had been a participant on this annual trip since its inception, so it was great to have him as an assistant leader on this trip, showing how this trip can be a pipeline for local trail workers once they become adults.”
Thank you to the National Forest Foundation for their enduring support of this trip!
5 or 7 day Adult Stewardship Backpacking Trip
Ascend’s Adult Stewardship Backpacking Trip covered an incredible 18 miles from Swift Creek to Parker Creek Trail and Deer Flat trail over to Eleanor and Shimmy lakes brushing, retreading, and logging out 30 downed trees. Adults had some flexibility this year of staying either 5 or 7 days in the backcountry working and exploring with the group.
2-Day Multigenerational Stewardship Backpacking – Canyon Creek
Ascend lead a family friendly stewardship adventure up Canyon Creek Trail, where two families and an eager adult cleared encroaching brush from the trail down to “The Sinks” camp site about two miles from the trailhead. Our volunteers enjoyed incredible views, cooling off in great swimming holes, admiring waterfalls, and enjoying an unplugged night in the wilderness secure with professional guides and content with their volunteer efforts improving the trail for hikers in the Alps.
Multigenerational Stewardship Day Hike
Ascend had a wonderful Stewardship Day Hike in the mist and fall weather clearing brush on East Weaver Trail at the end of September. The views were magnificent and the all ages company on this family friendly hike to East Weaver Lake was wonderful.
Board + Friends Stewardship Day Hike – Poison Canyon Trail
Ascend hosted Board Members and friends on a trip up Poison Canyon Trail, logging out downed trees that were impeding the trail and remove brush from the trail corridor to improve access and keep hikers safe in the backcountry. This trail to Lilypad Lake has been tended by Ascend for the past 3 years and it was wonderful to introduce our Board to the area.
Fall Adult Stewardship Weekend – Rush Creek Lakes Trail
Ascend’s last volunteer trip of the season was a car camping stewardship weekend for weekend warriors who have busy schedules and are just dipping their toes into trail work. Participants joined us from as far as Shasta and Humboldt Counties to learn about using the crosscut saw and clearing trail corridors. This well attended trip performed logouts and brushed Rush Creek Lakes Trail before heading to Poison Canyon the second day to clear the trail corridor for hikers. Thank you volunteers!
Ascend is proud of its 2024 accomplishments and grateful for its incredible volunteers and amazing funders.
In all, Ascend hosted 50 days in wilderness for 162 volunteer participants, 137 of whom were youth. Volunteers and guides monitored over 80 miles of trail in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, performing significant trail work on 34 of those miles during Stewardship Program trips. These incredible stewardship accomplishments combined with our adventurous and educational summer youth programs make up the bulk of Ascend’s programs. However, Ascend has begun to engage with youth during the school year, providing outdoor education curriculum during after school and elective courses at Trinity County Schools and during community events like the Salmon Festival in Hyampom.
There are just a couple of openings remaining on our free fall stewardship trips for families and adults!
Family-Friendly Day Hike | September 30th | East Weaver Lake Join Ascend Guides for a ride up to the top of Weaver Bally to maintain the top of East Weaver Trail, enjoying stunning 360 degree views as you perform basic trail maintenance like brushing on the first mile of trail. After accomplishing this work, participants will have the option to make the trip to East Weaver Lake. This hike is one of the most accessible entry level hikes for young children or people new to hiking and stewardship work.
Adult Stewardship Weekend| October 14-15 |Rush Creek Lakes Trail Designed for weekend warriors, this car camping trip is an opportunity for adults to have a stepping stone before committing to a longer backpacking experience. Spend two days with trained Ascend Wilderness Guides hiking into areas in need of maintenance from a car camping basecamp at Kinney Camp. Participants will safely access areas that have been neglected or damaged by fire and perform tasks such as logouts, brushing and clearing trail corridors. Discover the Trinity Alps with like-minded peers and give back to your local wilderness area on this 2-day adventure!
