San Jacinto Courses (near Idyllwild)
Offered between May and September. If you are looking for a classic mountain experience, this overnight trip is for you!

Sample Intinerary
(subject to change according to conditions)

Day 1: We meet at Humber Park, near the quaint town of Idyllwild, at 8 am. We will spend a few hours reviewing our equipment needs for the trip, and ensuring we have all that we need (and what you don’t need!) for our journey, and how to pack your pack efficiently. Our hike begins up one of the major trails into the San Jacinto backcountry, climbing gradually upward, with Tahquitz Rock looming over us. Along the way, you will learn about skills such as pack fitting, basic navigation, pacing, and foot care. We typically arrive at our backcountry campsite around mid-afternoon, where you will learn about campsite selection, using tents and shelters, water treatment, stoves and cooking skills. After a hearty dinner, we settle in for a beautiful evening in the woods, usually with an amazing sky of stars overhead.

Day 2: We awake and enjoy a good breakfast amongst the warming sun and the pine trees. The day’s activities often consist of continued instruction in navigation skills, and often involves a trek to the summit of incredible Tahquitz Peak, with 360° views of the San Jacinto mountains, the deserts near Palm Springs, Salton Sea, and the Southern California area. After enjoying one of the most view-ful lunches you have ever had, we begin our return trip to the trailhead. After turning in equipment, we enjoy a debrief discussion of the trip, and usually depart around 4:30 pm.

What to bring
Generally speaking, you will need to bring your personal equipment, including clothing, and boots, backpack, sleeping bag and pad, as well as your own lunches and snacks. We provide tents and shelters, stoves, cooking equipment, first aid kits, water treatment, and navigational gear such as maps and compasses. We will provide dinner on Day 1, as well as breakfast on Day 2.