Tick it off . it saves for this visit
What to bring.
Less than you think. We carry the kitchen, the tents and the first aid. You bring clothes that work wet, boots you have already walked in and a good attitude about sand.
Your list
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Wear and carry
Small stuff
What we bring
- Tents, stoves, fuel and cook kit
- Every meal and drink on trail
- Water filters and bear canisters
- Medical kit and a satellite messenger
- Kayaks, wetsuits and dry bags on the island trip
- Permits, ferry seats and shuttles
No gear? Rent ours: pack, tent, bag, pad and poles for $35 per person per day.
Questions people ask on the phone.
How fit do I need to be?
If you can walk five miles with some hills and feel fine the next day, you can do a two boot trip. For three boot trips, walk hills twice a week for a month before. We care about steady, not fast.
Can I come on my own?
Yes, and about a third of our guests do. You join a group trip at the normal rate and get your own tent. If you want a guide all to yourself, that is a private trip at x1.6 on the day rate.
Where do I go to the bathroom?
Huts and some camps have drop toilets. Elsewhere we carry a small trowel kit and show you how on day one. Used paper gets packed out in a bag. It is less awkward than it sounds.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If we cancel for weather, smoke or a closed road, you get new dates or a full refund. If it is just rain, we go, with a plan B route. Guides make the call the day before.
Can you handle food allergies?
Yes. Ash plans every menu from your booking form. Gluten free, vegan, nut free and dairy free are routine. Tell us about anything serious and we pack a separate cook kit.
How old do kids need to be?
Eight and up for the overland trip, ten and up for the 3 day kayak camp and Big Sur, and fourteen and up for the Sierra and the Lost Coast. Private trips can bend this.
What about bears?
Black bears live on most of our routes. They want your food, not you. Everything with a smell goes in a hard canister at night, away from the tents, and we teach you the routine.
Will my phone work, and what if something goes wrong?
Mostly no signal, which is the point. Every guide carries a satellite messenger that can send an SOS and text the office. Guides are wilderness first responders with a full medical kit.
Should I tip the guides?
Never expected. Guides are paid a fair day rate. If someone made your trip, a tip of 5 to 10 percent split across the guides is kind, and a note on our reviews page means a lot too.
Something else? Ask the trip desk or see what the price covers.