Joshua Tree Weekend Details

Date: Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23

Time:

5:00 a.m.  Arrive no later than 5:00 a.m and begin loading buses

5:30 a.m.  Buses depart for Joshua Tree

Meeting Location: 
Santa Monica College
Center for Media & Design
Parking structure address:
2762 Pennsylvania Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Buses and Loading Gear:

• Check in with a Group 4 staff member when you arrive at the bus.  They will instruct you on where to load your gear.

• Remember, everything you bring will be loaded into the cargo hold of a bus.  Please try to have your stuff compact and ready to load/unload easily. A large duffel bag or backpack is ideal. Do not pack trekking poles, coolers or water bottles in your bag, they will be loaded separately.
• You must mark all your items with "Group 4" and "Your Name".
• Bring your daypack packed for Saturday's activities
• You cannot leave anything on the buses when they drop you off at Joshua Tree

Destination: Indian Cove Group Campground in Joshua Tree National Park

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to set up and stake a tent
• Be able to use various unroped climbing skills
• Use new climbing skills to climb a challenging 3^rd class peak
• Practice Leave No Trace principles for desert travel
• Be able to identify terrain features and travel with map and compass

What to Bring:

• Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag and pad, stove (if you intend to cook)
• Daypack
• Ten essentials
• Map
• Clipboard and pencil (for nav exercises)
• Food and water for two days (2 gallons recommended)
• Clothes for any weather scenario (wind, rain, etc.).  As always, check the weather, but be prepared for anything.  Long pants are recommended for both days due to rough rock and sharp cacti.
• Leather gloves (for the rock day)
• Dessert (details to come)
• Cooler (bus space is limited, so either bring a small cooler or try to share with another person)
• A collapsible camp chair for around the fire
• Alcohol is allowed, but be responsible

Schedule

On both Saturday and Sunday, once we leave camp in the morning, we will be out and about all day long.  You will need to pack everything you need for the day in your daypack.

Saturday

• Arrive and setup tents in Group Site
• Rock climbing/scrambling instruction (helmets will be provided)
• Climb Peak 4377 via Gunsight Notch
• Dinner
• Team dessert competition and campfire

Sunday

• Wakeup and breakfast
• Navigation noodle: you will be out all day in 2-4 person teams, returning to camp by 2 p.m.
• Break camp and pack
• Buses depart for LA at approximately 3 p.m.