DAY 1- MEET YOUR GUIDE IN OAKHURST, CA 

Check in to the Hampton Inn anytime after 3pm. Meet your guide and group at 5 pm in the main lobby for a short meet-and-greet and trip orientation. Dinner tonight is on your own at one of the many local restaurants (we recommend Southgate Brewery located in Oakhurst).  

DAY 2- HIKE TO LAKESIDE CAMP IN ANSEL ADAMS WILDERNESS 

After an early breakfast on your own, we’ll meet you at 7 am to drive to the nearby trailhead (7,600’). The drive, which takes about 1.5 hrs, is your responsibility to and from the trailhead and pack station. We’ll first stop at the pack station where we’ll drop off our gear for the packers to load up, then after a short 5 minute drive to the trailhead, we will hit the trail! While hiking, you’ll carry just a day-pack. We will hike approximately 5 miles into a centrally located lake where we will make basecamp. 

5 miles, Elevation: +1709'/ -322' 

DAY 3- EXPLORE ALPINE LAKES BASIN 

Today your guide(s) will lead a hike through the pristine upper lakes basin via established on- and off-trail routes.  Exact destinations and distance vary depending on the preferences of the group members. Your guides excel at customizing the itinerary to best fit the nature of the group. The day ends with swimming at our lakeside camp, a hearty dinner prepared by your guide(s), and stargazing. 

Varies by trip 1-6 miles, Elevation varies 

DAY 4- OPTION TO CLIMB A 10,000'+ PEAK ON THE BORDER OF YOSEMITE WILDERNESS AND/OR MORE EXPLORATION 

After a delicious breakfast prepared by your guide(s), we’ll set out again to explore the surrounding area. An optional  summit hike to one of the nearby 10,000'+ peaks that make up the southern border of Yosemite National Park is a possibility. There will also be opportunities for day hikes to other nearby alpine lakes with great fishing & swimming,  depending on your interest. 

Varies by trip 1-6 miles, Elevation varies 

DAY 5- DEPART BACKCOUNTRY AND RETURN TO BASS LAKE 

After a leisurely morning we’ll bid farewell to our cozy camp and make our way back to the trailhead, where we will meet with the packers and collect our gear. Expect a 3 pm departure from the high country which will get us back to Oakhurst no later than 5 pm.

5 miles, Elevation: +322’ /-1709’

Accommodations 

• 1st night's lodging at the Hampton Inn in Oakhurst.  

• 3 nights of wilderness tent camping  

(permits included) 

Food 

• Starting with lunch on Day 2 and ending with lunch on Day 5 

• Gourmet backcountry meals including trail snacks 

• Hot tea or coffee served each morning

Gear  

• All group gear including stoves, cookware, water filters, chairs, group first aid kit, bathroom kit, etc. 

• Personal backpacking gear provided by request: daypacks, sleeping bags,  sleeping pads, trekking poles, and tents

❌ Transportation to and from trailhead

❌ Trip Insurance (strongly recommended)

❌ Recommended 15%-20% gratuity for guides and 20-30$ for Packers.

❌ Personal clothing & footwear 

Dinner (Day 1) & breakfast (Day 2)

❌ Airfare

❌ Evacuation

There is a 4 person minimum requirement for this trip to run.

If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests.

We make the final determination for these trips 4-5 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.

• Full Payment: Due 60 days before trip departure

• Cancellation 60+ days before departure: 75% of deposit refunded or transferred to another trip in same season.

• Cancellation within 60-45 days of departure: 50% of trip cost refunded or transferred to another trip in same season.

• Cancel 45 days or less, non-refundable, non-transferable.

Cancellation policies are necessary for operating “tour-type” programs with high up-front costs and overhead. While AWE operates within industry standards and strives to be fair, there are many things are out of our control.  

By their nature, backcountry adventures are uncertain endeavors. Many factors can influence the arrival to, the running of, or the outcome of an AWE program. Therefore, AWE strongly suggests obtaining “cancel for any reason” travel insurance before embarking. Weather, route conditions, or your own abilities may create circumstances that make continuing an AWE program unsafe or unwise, and you and/or your party may have to exit early. No refunds are given if a program ends early due to weather or route conditions. If this occurs your guide will offer to spend your remaining time pursuing a different or more feasible route. There is no credit for any days that go unused.

Should AWE need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances (government closures, etc), we will offer you the opportunity to change programs, reschedule, or refund without penalty.

Unless you are willing to absorb the entire cost of your trip in the event of a cancellation or early exit, it is recommended that you obtain travel insurance to protect your investment. AWE is not liable for cancellation fees or costs pertaining to your changed or canceled flights, rentals, lodging, or other arrangements (travel insurance can cover those costs). We recommend you call and speak with agent(s) before purchasing.

Our recommendations (please do your own research to see what best suits your needs):

• Travel Guard- travelguard.com

• World Nomads- worldnomads.com

• ADD Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage to your insurance plan– it’s highly recommended you add this to your policy. You often need to purchase this coverage within a short timeframe of making your reservation (typically 1-2 weeks).