Sierra Adventure

Overland’s Sierra Adventure offers the opportunity to explore California’s high country at its finest. For two weeks, we’ll hike the Sierras, raft the exciting American River and kayak scenic Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America.

We’ll gather in San Francisco before heading east to Lake Tahoe, where we’ll swim in Tahoe’s brilliant blue water, kayak pristine Emerald Bay and hike high above the lake. We’ll then drive south to tackle more challenging hikes in the wildflower-filled valleys and granite peaks of Stanislaus National Forest. We’ll wrap up our time in the Sierras with a day of rafting on the American River—a great way to finish a fantastic two weeks in California.

For our last night, we’ll return to San Francisco to celebrate all of our accomplishments in the rugged and beautiful California mountains.

“Sierra Adventure was fantastic. The leaders made such a difference—both were amazing. Julia will definitely return next summer.” Suzanne Fox, Falmouth, Maine

Highlights

• Discover California’s spectacular Sierras
• Hike in the Sierra high country
• Explore Lake Tahoe on foot & by kayak
• Raft the American River

Grade

For students completing grade 6 in June 2013

Call us (413-458-9672) to check on current availability

Challenge Level

2 (1-10, 1 is easiest)

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in San Francisco, California

Dates

2 Weeks

Sunday, June 23 to Friday, July 5
Sunday, July 7 to Friday, July 19
Sunday, July 21 to Friday, August 2

Fees

$2995

What the trip fee includes:

• All meals, group gear, accommodations, activities and transportation during the trip

What the trip fee doesn't include:

• Personal gear and clothing (see packing list)
• Airfare to and from the trip start and end (see flight and travel details)
• Trip insurance (recommended; learn more about the benefits)

“Both leaders were excellent and helped me make new friends.” Danny Sysler, Short Hills, New Jersey

Trip Details

This is an introductory trip. The selected activities, their duration and intensity are designed for adventurous 6th graders. The challenge level is a 2 on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is easiest. While this trip is designed for some of our younger students, it is essential that parents make a good choice for their child. Every Overland program requires independence, age-appropriate maturity and good fitness.

“Thank you for another great year. My favorite part of the trip was reaching the top of our challenge hike.” Max Cavallaro, Pipersville, Pennsylvania

Itinerary shown below subject to change

Day 1: Trip Start

On Sierra Adventure, we’ll begin our trip in San Francisco, CA at the San Francisco International Airport. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll drive to our first campsite just outside San Francisco and spend the rest of the day getting to know each other, playing games, checking through our gear, learning how to pack a backpack and getting ready for our adventure.

Day 2-7: Lake Tahoe

We’ll spend the next several days exploring the Lake Tahoe region on foot and by kayak. We’ll take day hikes on southwest Tahoe’s Emerald Bay, on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, and in the Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country in nearby Eldorado National Forest. When we’re not hiking, we’ll hang out on the beach, play fun games, and swim in the crystal clear waters of the lake. On one of our days at Lake Tahoe we’ll kayak Emerald Bay with Kayak Tahoe. Kayak Tahoe has been guiding watercraft tours of Lake Tahoe for 22 years and our day with them is often a highlight of the trip. From the water we’ll get amazing views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains and hope to catch a glimpse of wildlife on the shores.

Day 8-10: Emigrant Wilderness

After exploring Lake Tahoe, we’ll head south to the Emigrant Wilderness. The Emigrant Wilderness boasts a remote wilderness of granite peaks, wildflower-spotted meadows, and crystal clear alpine lakes. For our first hike in this amazing landscape we’ll travel along a ridge that offers spectacular views of Yosemite National Park to the west and the Nevada desert to the east. While we’re here, we’ll also take on our challenge hike that follows alongside a babbling creek splashed with colorful wildflowers to reach the deep, vivid blue East Lake.

Day 11: Rafting the American River

After conquering our challenge hike, we’ll head west to the American River. Here, we’ll meet up with professional guides from the American River Touring Association (ARTA). A reputable and trusted outfitter, ARTA has been guiding water adventures all over the west coast since 1963. Their experienced guides will lead us on a spectacular trip down the American River complete with beautiful scenery and even a few low-grade rapids.

Day 12 & 13: San Francisco and Trip End

After rafting on the American River, we’ll head back to San Francisco where we’ll celebrate our amazing adventure together in California’s High Sierra.
 

Accommodations

The group will stay at a hostel in San Francisco at trip start and trip end. The hostel has dormitory style accommodations with beds, showers and laundry facilities. The rooms are divided by gender.

All other nights the group will be tent camping at frontcountry campsites. Two of the campgrounds have hot water sinks, flush toilets and showers. The third campground has hot water sinks and flush toilets; showers and laundry are available nearby.

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Preparing for the Hiking

Stay active in sports and get out for some walks and hikes this spring. The more you prepare, the more you'll enjoy your program and the better able you'll be to hike safely this summer.

Packing for Your Trip

• Please do not bring cotton clothing to wear while hiking and camping. Cotton absorbs moisture and does not dry out quickly, keeping you cold and wet longer. You will be more comfortable in synthetic (polyester, fleece, wool, etc.) clothing.
• Label the following items with your name, address and phone number.
• Bring only what you need and and pack it in a duffel or suitcase and your day pack. Participants can bring one additional set of travel clothes (e.g. jeans and a t-shirt) to wear on the plane. These will be left in the van
• If you are flying to your trip start, you should wear your hiking boots on the plane and carry your sleeping bag and sleeping pad on the plane with you in case your checked luggage fails to arrive on time.
• You will have the chance to do laundry periodically and you will be able to leave some extra items in our van while we are on the trail, so please stick to the packing list and bring only the clothes and items listed below.
• Overland will rent or provide any specialized gear for any of our non-hiking activities (for example, rafting and kayaking) and that gear is included in your trip fee.
• Check out some of our favorite brands and retailers to purchase items on this list.
• Please do not bring any type of knife or multi-tool like a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool.
• If you have any questions, please contact our office at 413-458-9672.

Clothing

• Medium-Sized Duffel Bag/Suitcase
  Please pack all your clothes and gear into a duffel bag (measuring between 3000 and 5000 cubic inches) and your day pack. You'll be able to leave the duffel bag and any extra items in our van during the trip and use your day pack for hikes and activities.

• Sneakers or Low Top Hiking Shoes
  Comfortable shoes to wear around all day and on day hikes and bike rides. Shoes should be supportive and have a good tread on the bottom for traction.


• Sport Sandals
  With a heel strap for rafting, kayaking, swimming and around camp. No flip-flops or Crocs as these will not be acceptable for rafting and kayaking. If you don't have sport sandals, sneakers will work fine for rafting and kayaking although they will get wet so you may want to bring sneakers for rafting and kayaking in addition to those you'll wear for daily hikes.


• Waterproof Rain Jacket
  Your rain jacket must be waterproof (not just water and/or wind resistant). GoreTex is one of the better-known waterproof and breathable fabrics, but there are many of these fabrics to choose from.


• Fleece Jacket, Pullover or Warm Sweater
  One or two. To wear in camp on cool evenings. If you get cold easily, we recommend two.


• Winter Hat & Gloves/Mittens
  To stay warm in camp on cool nights

• Hat
  With a visor to keep the sun off your face

• Long Pants
  One or two pairs to wear in camp on cool evenings. One could be a long underwear layer or a pair of sweat pants.


• Shorts
  Three pairs of comfortable shorts to hike in


• Shirts
  Three short-sleeve shirts or tank tops and two long-sleeve shirts


• Underwear
  Six pairs


• Socks
  Six pairs


• Pajamas
  One pair only


• Bathing Suit
  One only

Hiking & Camping Gear

• Backpack
  For everyday adventures and hikes. Your backpack should have two shoulder straps (i.e., not a satchel) and it should be big enough to carry your lunch, snacks, two water bottles and a rain jacket or extra warm layers. A regular school backpack will work fine. Please don't bring drawstring backpacks, as they are not comfortable for extended periods of use and do not have enough storage space.


• Sleeping Bag
  The bag should be reasonably compact (most come with a stuff sack) and rated to 30 degrees or less.


• Sleeping Pad
  Any type is acceptable. A thin roll-up, a fold-up foam pad or a self-inflating pad (like Thermarest) can be found at most outdoor stores.

• Pillow
  Optional--many students will use their fleece or sweatshirt as a pillow


• Flashlight or Headlamp
  So you can see in camp when it's dark outside


• Utensils
  6" to 8" plastic dish or bowl with top; insulated plastic mug; spoon, fork and knife. These don't need to be special camping utensils. A Rubbermaid dish and regular eating utensils are fine.


• Water Bottle
  One of any variety. One-liter bottles are a good size to aim for, but smaller sizes are fine.

Miscellaneous Gear

• Towel
  Medium size synthetic camping towel. Synthetic towels dry faster, are more lightweight and compactable than cotton towels.


• Toiletries
  All items should be travel size. If necessary, you will be able to restock en route.


• Sunglasses


• Sunscreen, Chapstick, and Insect Repellent
  Minimum SPF 15

• Digital Camera & Extra Batteries
  Optional, but great for documenting the trip. Make sure you bring a large enough memory card (1 to 4 GB).

• Personal Journal or Book
  Optional


• Spending Money
  $25/week in cash

Cell Phones, Electronics and Personal Property

Please note the following important policies:

Our programs offer the opportunity to strengthen independence and self-reliance. To maximize these benefits, we do not permit phone calls to or from our students (except in the case of emergency).

If it is important for your son or daughter to be able to call you while en route to Overland, we recommend that you purchase an inexpensive prepaid cell phone. Please do not send an expensive smart phone like an iPhone or BlackBerry. On arrival we will collect all phones but we have found that safeguarding these phones is problematic given that our programs move from place to place. Despite our best efforts over $25,000 in phones have been lost, damaged or stolen in the last two years alone. We regret that due to the expense involved in replacing these items, we take absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for phones, electronics or personal property brought by students and we will not make any reimbursements for lost, damaged or stolen phones, electronics or personal property. 

 

FAQs

Is Sierra Adventure the right trip for my child?

Sierra Adventure is a great trip for an adventurous 6th grader who has done some hiking and camping before. Previous hiking and camping experience is not required, but it is helpful. Although this is an introductory trip, the hiking is slightly more difficult than trips in New England because of the elevation. It is also a great trip for a student who completed Berkshire Adventure or Mountains & Sea Adventure last year and is looking for an option outside of New England.

What is a day hike like?

The day hikes range in length from three to eight miles. The group will pack up snacks, lunch and layers and be on the trail early—normally by 9 am—in order to avoid any afternoon showers. The terrain varies, from shoreline hikes along Lake Tahoe, to more difficult alpine hikes in Meiss Country (pronounced “mice” country) and Stanislaus National Forest.

What is the kayaking like?

We will meet up with our experienced guides from Kayak Tahoe for a day trip in Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe. We’ll explore the bay, starting around 9 am and return to our campground in the afternoon. No previous kayaking experience is required.

What is the rafting like?

The group will spend one day on an eight-mile stretch of the Middle Fork of the American River. Professional and experienced guides from American River Touring Associations (ARTA) will guide our students and leaders on the river. Most of the day will be spent on relatively flat water, but the group will encounter Class I and II rapids. These rapids will be exciting, but are low-grade and will be tame.

What is the difference between the Stanislaus National forest hikes and the hikes around Lake Tahoe?

Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation spot for weekenders from the Bay Area; as a result, it is busier than Stanislaus. There are still plenty of great trails and campgrounds, but the Lake Tahoe area as a whole is more developed then Stanislaus. The hikes around Lake Tahoe range in elevation from about 6,200 feet to 8,500 feet and are through forested terrain. The Emigrant Wilderness hikes are at about 9,000 feet in a high alpine environment; the landscape is less wooded and more open, and these hikes often end at waterfalls or alpine lakes.

What are the meals like?

Leaders will supervise meals and give the students reasonable responsibilities in a supportive environment.

What happens if my child is homesick?

Our leaders are trained to help students who may feel homesick at times. The group will also be active and busy all the time, which is often the best way for students to get over missing home.

How does Sierra Adventure compare to the other 6th grade introductory trips?

We offer four introductory trips for 6th graders (New England Adventure, North Country Adventure, Sierra Adventure and Yellowstone Adventure). North Country Adventure, Yellowstone Adventure and Sierra Adventure are two weeks long, while New England Adventure is one week long. The western trips (Yellowstone Adventure and Sierra Adventure) are slightly more challenging due to the higher elevations of these trip locations. The activities on all trips for 6th graders are similar; however, our New England trips combine hiking and biking, whereas our western trips emphasize hiking. North Country Adventure, Sierra Adventure and Yellowstone Adventure all kayak and raft, while New England Adventure only rafts due to the length of the trip.

Please refer to the table below for a summary of our introductory trips for 6th graders.

Trip	Challenge Level	Highlights	Elevation
New England Adventure	1	Hike the Berkshires Bike, hike & swim in Vermont & New Hampshire Climb Mount Greylock Raft the Deerfield River	Highest point: 3,491 feet
North Country Adventure	2	Hike, bike & swim at Lake George Kayak on the Battenkill River Raft the Hudson River Gorge Bike along Lake Champlain Hike the Green Mountains	Highest point: 4,098 feet
Sierra Adventure	2	Discover California’s spectacular Sierras Hike in the Sierra high country Explore Lake Tahoe on foot & by kayak Raft the American River	Average elevation: 7,000 feet Highest point: 11,120 feet
Yellowstone Adventure	2	Hike Yellowstone National Park Explore the Tetons with a naturalist Kayak Yellowstone Lake Raft the Snake River	Average elevation: 7,700 feet Highest point: 10,219 feet

 

• Expectations, Cell Phones & Electronics
• Travel Information
• Mail Stops
• Helpful Reminders