Pack Trips 2026

Join biologist Patrice Ringelstein and bioregional herbalist Marika Clymer for a weeklong nature camp in the Golden Trout Wilderness. We will deepen the connection to our bodies, our communities, and the land through exploration of the ecology of the Sierra Nevada. The trip will begin and end with a horseback ride into a cozy camp at the edge of Big Whitney Meadow, and we’ll spend the rest of our trip hiking, eating nourishing meals, and learning together.

June 23 - 28, 2026
6 Days / 5 Nights
Cottonwood Pack Station
Basecamp
$2,800
Riding

Learn how to cook in the backcountry with cookbook author Spencre McGowan, and backcountry cooks Kelly Kate Warren and Christy Young. We will prepare meals together, discuss dutch oven cooking, herbalism, foraging, setting up a camp kitchen, menu planning, and how to plate beautiful food. Every morning starts with coffee and a big breakfast, and ends with a wilderness dinner party and evening tea service, with lots of time in between to explore the wilderness.

July 31 - August 5, 2026
6 Days / 5 Nights
Rainbow Pack Outfitters
Basecamp
$2,222+
Hike or Ride

Learn about the flora of the Sierra Nevada with Botanist Matt Berger, explore the vast meadows and winding creeks of the Golden Trout Wilderness, and enjoy the comforts provided by trained guides, a backcountry cook, and a pack string of mules.

June 17 - 21, 2026
5 Days / 4 Nights
Cottonwood Pack Station
Basecamp
$2,222
Hiking

This 7 day, 43+ mile trip is ideal for experienced hikers who want to see a lot of country, and a ton of plants. We will hike 5-15 miles a day, accompanied by botanist Matt Berger, a pack string of mules, wranglers, and a cook, who will set up camp at a different meadow each afternoon. There will be 2 layover days to rest, with optional day hikes, including an off-trail summit of Olancha Peak.

July 2 - 8, 2026
7 Days / 6 Nights
Cottonwood Pack Station
Traveling Trip
$3,900
Hiking