Calling Adventure Spirits and Beginner Backpackers! (Coed AGES 18+)
If you have never been backpacking or you just love getting outside with awesome company, then this is the adventure for you! This trip is like a “grab bag”, or now the kids call them “blind bags” that you used to get in grade school. Remember the brown paper bag with the unknown mystery item. The mystery made it even more exciting! We will surprise you with the location for this trip! Know that you are in good hands and that we will find a great place. We strive to sleep in places of magnified beauty! You can anticipate the location to be in Tahoe National Forest, OR Eldorado National Forest, OR Mokelumne Wilderness. The photos are from the potential areas that we are considering.
This 2 day / 1 night adventure is intended for beginners, so we expect that you may not have everything you need for this first step in what we hope will be your next favorite hobby. We will get you geared up with all the backpacking necessities for a fun, safe and enjoyable backpacking experience.
Travel Plans and Logistics
Parking may be limited depending on the location. Joining this trip may require a carpool plan if our group does not have enough parking permits. More information to come closer to the trip date. The meet up time for departure from the Rancho Cordova area will be 7:00 AM on Saturday, June. 25th * Estimated return to Rancho Cordova on Sunday 6/26/22 is 5:00 PM.
Meet Your Guides
Gilbert and Monica Mendoza here! Coolest fact of the day is that Monica and Gilbert met on YouTube! Monica was going on a solo backpacking trip to Point Reyes and ran across Gilbert’s YouTube video that gave all the best details on the area. With a love of backpacking and connecting people to the outdoors, Grow Outside was born. Here we are today, guiding backpacking trips for beginners. We are both Wilderness CPR and First Aid certified.
Monica Mendoza is our C.E.O (Chief Enjoyment Officer) of Grow Outside. You can count on me to be your sunshiny, safety focused, heart opening, indie-folk music loving, backpacking guide. I am super excited to adventure with like minded humans. In my non-free time I am a mom of three daughters (ages 20, 18, and 15), a Forest Therapy guide, teacher of nature connection, a wanna-be social media influencer, emotion coach, and professional potty trainer (I teach kids how to poop in the toilet, parents how to support their kids to poop in the toilet and I will teach you how to poop in the backcountry!) My biggest pet peeve is people chewing popcorn loudly in the movie theater. I love sunrises and sunsets and all the little bugs that many people cringe over. I’m excited for this adventure and especially excited to share in this experience with you! Favorite Trail Food: Anytime I can put my food in a tortilla, Watermelon Sour Patch Kids, and Marcona almonds with Rosemary from Trader Joes.
Gilbert Mendoza is our map guru, communication specialist, and sherpa which earns him the most trail points. I am a backpacking expert of Northern California and have lead many hiking and backpacking trips for people of all ages. As a gadget guy, I’m not afraid of a heavy pack carrying creature comforts like an inflatable pool donut and frozen steaks. I have a passion for maps, navigation and emergency preparedness which creates peace of mind for participants and their families. Favorite Trail Food: I love pastas, M&Ms and beef jerky.
Gear Logistics
The guides will bring:
- All Group Cooking Gear
- Stoves and Fuel
- Water Filters
- First Aid Kits
- Emergency Satellite Transponders
Participants WILL BE PROVIDED:
- Backpack
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Tent (2 people per tent or single capacity…let us know.)
- Headlamp
- Trowel, Toilet Paper, Sanitizer
- Nalgene (1L water container)
- Trekking Poles
- Bear Can
- Bowl, Spoon, Cup
- Day 1: Dinner
- Day 2: Breakfast & Lunch
- ***Dietary accommodations must be communicated ahead of time***
- EPIC FUN
Participants will need to supply the following:
Personal Food Items
- Snacks / Candy
- Lunch on Day 1
Active / Adventure Wear
- Hiking boots or Tennis Shoes that have good traction
- Hiking socks *2 pairs (lightweight for day use and warm pair for bed) – (synthetic or wool)
- Hiking / Athletic pants or leggings
- Hiking/Athletic shorts (optional)
- T-shirts (1-2) – Dry fit technical shirts are best.
- Long sleeve shirt (lightweight, synthetic) – think warm and/or sun protection.
- Insulated jacket
- Rain jacket depending on weather
- Hat
- Beanie
Sleep Wear and Personal
- Base Layer Top and Bottoms (lightweight, synthetic or wool) – weather can go from warm to very cold.
- Bathing suits (optional) – no life guards, so swimming can be dangerous, so more for lounging purposes.
- Underwear
- Flip-flops / Sandals
Personal Items
- Hand sanitizer
- pee – rag – as a woman, this is my favorite hiking/backpacking item.
- Bandana – if you do not bring a pee-rag then bring two bandanas (1 that is Pink or Purple … “think letter P for pee” and then a regular colored one for various other uses.)
- Chapstick/Lip Balm
- Insect Repellant
- Headnet for insects. If you do bring a headnet then be sure you bring a bucket hat.
- Sunblock
- Feminine hygiene products
- Travel toothbrush/paste
- Travel contact lenses and solution
- Prescription medications – must be kept with the guide unless written permission from parent
- Allergy remedies
- Small battery phone charger
- Journal & writing utensil