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March 16, 2006
Dear trip members, I'm sending you the first packet of information. This one includes information about meeting time, lodging and meals, a trip roster, travel information and resources for planning the activities you can choose to do before, during and after the trip. Future information will include an equipment list, information about personal first aid and medication, a tentative schedule, conservation issues, Leave No Trace ethics and will ask if you have any contributions you want to make to the group. Accommodations: Joseph's Cabin is a contemporary style four bedroom, three bath house, non-smoking. Most couples will have their own room. Single trip members will be sharing with one two or three others of the same sex. All bedding will be supplied. Bathroom facilities will be shared. Bring a swim suit for the hot tub! There will be a sign-up list for cleaning the cabin. Food: Meals will be prepared and cleaned up each day by assigned, rotating cook crews. Lunch provisions will be set out so you can make your own sandwiches to take with you. Vegetarians and participants with other dietary restrictions will be accommodated. Plenty of drinks will be supplied, but none will contain alcohol. Breakfasts and lunches will be provided from Monday through Saturday. Dinners will be provided on all days except Wednesday (the free day) and Friday (the day we go to Yosemite Valley.) Getting There: Josephs' Cabin is approximately 125 miles (2 _ hours) southeast of Sacramento and 157 miles (3 hours) east of San Francisco. Don't make plans to fly into Reno, as Sonora Pass may still be closed. Joseph's Cabin is located at 29837 Old Mono Trail, Cold Springs, 30 miles east of Sonora on Highway 108. From Sonora, continue on CA-108 through Twain Harte and Mi Wuk. When you get to the sign for Long Barn, measure 7.2 miles to the turnoff at Lassen Drive. Make a right at Lassen Drive. (If you reach the Cold Springs Stores, you've gone too far. Turn back.) After making a right at Lassen, make an immediate left and follow Mono Trail counting ten cabins on your right. Joseph's Cabin at 29837 is on your right. Due to insurance regulations all transportation to the lodge, trailheads, or other activities is the responsibility of each trip member. Leaders are unable to arrange carpools for participants. There is no public transportation to the cabin. Those arriving by air should plan to rent a car or make their own arrangements to carpool with other trip participants. I've enclosed a roster, so you can contact each other. First and last days: We'll meet at Joseph's Cabin on Sunday, June 4 at 4 p.m. for orientation and getting acquainted. Please plan to arrive an hour earlier in order to have time to settle into your room. Following dinner at 6, we'll have a presentation by a speaker about the area. The trip will end on Friday, June 9 before dinner for those who wish to spend additional days in Yosemite. For those who return to Joseph's Cabin, the trip ends Saturday, June 10 when we'll have a final gathering over breakfast, and say our farewells. Other: I've also included references for information about the area. You can be planning what you would like to do on Wednesday, the free day - exploring Sonora, Jamestown, the Wine Country, Murphys, the Stanislaus National Forest, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Columbia State Historic Park, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Mercer Caverns, etc. Please let me know if any changes need to be made to the roster, as well as your nickname. Keep up that exercise program! It is a good idea to practice walking up and down hills (if you have any - bleachers, if you don't) in your hiking boots. Boots with ankle support are required, so if you don't have any yet, please get them soon, so you can start breaking them in. You'll want to be in good hiking shape when you arrive.
Happy hiking,
Leader:
Co-leader: |