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Great Basin National Park

Saturday, June 17, 2023 - Saturday, June 24, 2023 -- $1550 ★ SOLD OUT - Put me on the waiting list

Out in the remote backcountry of Nowhere, Nevada lies a diverse, seldom visited world called Great Basin National Park Great Basin rises out of the low desert to a towering 13,063' mountain ... Wheeler Peak, just 84 feet shy of the highest point in all of Nevada. Great Basin is home to ancient Bristlecone Pines, which have been known to live for over 5000 years, already 400 years old when the pyramids of Giza were built. Great Basin is so remote that it is a designated international dark sky park and is considered one of the best places in the United States to star-gaze and see the milky way.


Our trek will visit a variety of terrains that are accessible by established trail including the summit of Wheeler Peak. Plus, we'll tour Lehman Cave revealing the geology of the past few million years. And maybe we'll see some of the local animals: Yellow-bellied Marmot, Bighorn Sheep, Pygmy Rabbit, Porcupine, Water Shrew (whatever that is!) or even a Ringtail Cat


The trails through Great Basin National Park can be steep at times but are generally well-maintained. We will be mindful of afternoon thunderstorms, particularly at elevation. As this is a day hiking only trip, we will be carrying 10 pound day-packs making the hiking less strenuous. Expect great sunsets and amazing (or just about the best possible) star-gazing.


Kick off the Summer the right way (well, that's subjective). Join us for an unforgettable week and summit Wheeler Peak.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the high 80s with nighttime temperatures around 50. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 90 and as low as 30 (!), with an ever-present chance of passing afternoon thunderstorms. Here is the historical weather for nearby Ely, NV. Note: Ely is lower in elevation than the park. Be prepared with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 6 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Beau Devlin
Chris Frey
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty

As this is a day-hiking trip, most days we'll be carrying 10 pounds over not-so-rugged terrain. However, do not underestimate Wheeler Peak. It is a long and reasonably steep uphill climb and may have remnants of melting snowfields.



Cost

$1550 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 1 hotel night. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Salt Lake City (SLC), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities.


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, Round Trip transportation from Salt Lake City to the National Park, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, National Park permits, Lehman Cave tour, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes

This trip is scheduled to coincide with the New Moon. This should optimize star-gazing as Great Basin is an International Dark Sky Park, however please be aware that it doesn't get really dark until late this time of year.


Day-Hiking / Base Camping only



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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
 
 

Itinerary


Saturday, June 17, 2023

Fly into Salt Lake City Airport (SLC). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-Noon. However, if you have completed the online equipment shakedown and can be ready to leave by around 3PM, you can arrive later.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel / gathering spot

We will assemble at: Comfort Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport, 202 N Jimmy Doolittle Rd, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, (801) 783-3165.

Mini equipment shakedown just to make sure you have proper gear

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

Go to REI Salt Lake City, 3285 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801) 486-2100 for last minute equipment

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: Grey Cliffs Group Campground, Great Basin National Park, NV. Site(s): null Elevation: 7120'

Shuttling will take about 4.5 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at Grey Cliffs Group Campground, Great Basin National Park, NV. Site(s): null Elevation: 7120'

Water found at nearby Baker Creek Campground


Sunday, June 18, 2023

Shuttle 1 hour to Snake Creek Rd

Shuttle to Snake Creek Rd and start Day Hiking-at the end of the road, Elevation 8013'

Day-Hike 1.7 uphill miles to Dead Lake, elevation 9564'

Day-Hike 1.7 miles back to Snake Creek Rd.

Day-Hike 0.7 miles to Snake Creek

Shuttle 1 hour back to Grey Cliffs Group Campground, elevation 7120'

Camp at Grey Cliffs Group Campground Group Site TBD, elevation 7120', water found at nearby Baker Creek Campground

Miles today: 4.1. Total miles: 4.1


Monday, June 19, 2023

Day-Hike 0.6 miles on the Osceola Ditch Interpretive Trail, elevation 8,400'

Drive to Wheeler Peak Drive Pullout, elevation 8409' or 8565'

One guide will drop off the group and shuttle the vehicle to Strawberry Creek Trailhead, elevation 7920'

Day-Hike 5.0 mostly flat miles along the Osceola Ditch to the Sage Steppe Loop Trail, elevation 8200'

Meet up with other guide here

Day-Hike 3.0 round-trip miles up Windy Canyon, elevation 9199’

Day-Hike 2.0 round-trip miles to Sage Creek Springs, elevation 7800’

Day-Hike 0.6 miles to Strawberry Creek TH, elevation 7920'

Drive 0.5 hours back to Grey Cliffs Group Campground, elevation 7120'

Miles today: 11.2. Total miles: 15.3


Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Drive to Bristlecone Trail Parking Area, elevation 9800'

Day-Hike 4.6 miles on the Bristlecone-Glacier Trail through a Bristlecone Pine grove to the only permanent glacier between Sierra Nevada and Wasatch Range, elevation 10,900'

Day-Hike 2.7 miles around the Alpine Lake Loop, elevation 10,400'

Drive to base camp, Grey Cliffs Group Campground, elevation 7120'

Miles today: 7.3. Total miles: 22.6


Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Drive to Lehman Caves

Day-Hike 0.3 miles on the Mountain View Nature Trail, elevation 6800'

Tour Lehman Cave, one of the most decorated caves in the world (whatever that means).

Drive to Baker Creek Trailhead, elevation 8000'

Day-Hike 5.3 miles around the Timber Creek Loop, elevation up to 9800'

Drive to base camp, Grey Cliffs Group Campground, elevation 7120'

Miles today: 5.6. Total miles: 28.2


Thursday, June 22, 2023

Awaken pre-dawn and leave camp by first light in anticipation of a long and rewarding (but difficult) day.

Drive to the Wheeler Peak Summit Parking Area, elevation 10,160'

Day-Hike 4.0 miles to the summit of Wheeler Peak, elevation 13,063'

Day-Hike 4.0 miles to Wheeler Peak Summit Parking Area, elevation 10,160'

Drive to base camp, Grey Cliffs Group Campground, elevation 7120'

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 36.2


Friday, June 23, 2023

Drive to Baker Creek Trailhead, elevation 7931'

One guide will drop off the group and shuttle the vehicle to Pole Creek Canyon TH, elevation 6870'

Day-hike 3.8 downhill miles by Pole Creek to Pole Canyon TH, elevation 6870’

End of hiking. Break camp

Miles today: 3.8. Total miles: 40.0

Shuttle 4.5 hours back to Salt Lake City

Shuttle back to local hotel: Comfort Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport, 202 N Jimmy Doolittle Rd, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, (801) 783-3165.

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, June 24, 2023

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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