Arizona Outdoors Club

Yosemite Backpacking 🏕️
2026-06-18 09:00 - 2026-06-23 19:00 (America/Phoenix)
Full Weekend Itinerary:
June 18 @ 9:00 am – June 23
This trip will be a 6-day road trip and camping trip from Phoenix to Yosemite National Park, built around waterfalls, granite cliffs, Yosemite Valley views, rivers, meadows, and some of the most iconic hikes in the park. Days 1 and 6 will mainly be driving days, while Days 2-5 will be full Yosemite days.

📅 DAY 1 | Thu, June 18
🚗 Phoenix → East-side Camp near Lee Vining
Leave Phoenix at 9:00 am and drive toward the eastern Sierra / Yosemite area. Arrive at camp in the evening/night, set up, eat, and get ready for the park days.

📅 DAY 2 | Fri, June 19
🚲 Yosemite Valley Bike + River Day
Wake up around 6:30 am, leave camp around 7:15 am, and arrive in Yosemite Valley by late morning. Rent bikes, explore Cook’s Meadow, Lower Yosemite Falls, the Merced River Trail, Mirror Lake, and swim/chill along the Merced before driving back in the evening. 🚲🌊
◦ 🌊 Merced River Trail    ▪ 🥾 5.6 miles    ▪ ⏱️ 2-2.5 hours    ▪ 🟡 Moderate
◦ 🪞 Mirror Lake Paved Trail    ▪ 🥾 2.1 miles    ▪ ⏱️ 0.5-1 hour    ▪ 🟢 Easy

📅 DAY 3 | Sat, June 20
🌊 Full Vernal + Nevada Falls
Wake up around 6:30 am, leave camp around 7:15 am, and start the hike by late morning from Happy Isles. Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, then finish in the early evening and return to east-side camp at night.
◦ 🥾 6.7 miles  ◦ ⏱️ 4.5-5 hours  ◦ 🔥 Hard

📅 DAY 4 | Sun, June 21
🌲 Wapama Falls / Hetch Hetchy + Move into Camp 4
Wake up around 7:00 am, pack up, and leave around 8:15 am for Hetch Hetchy. Arrive around midday, hike Wapama Falls, then drive into Yosemite Valley in the late afternoon/evening to check into Camp 4. Optional sunset stop at El Capitan Meadow or Valley View. 🌄
◦ 🥾 4.9 miles  ◦ ⏱️ 2.5-3 hours  ◦ 🟡 Moderate

📅 DAY 5 | Mon, June 22
🏔️ Panorama Trail
Wake up around 7:45 am at Camp 4 and leave for Glacier Point around 8:30 am. Start Panorama Trail by late morning, hike down toward Yosemite Valley, and finish by the early evening. Shower, eat, and camp one final night at Camp 4.
◦ 🥾 9.1 miles  ◦ ⏱️ About 5 hours  ◦ 🔥 Challenging

📅 DAY 6 | Tue, June 23
🏠 Camp 4 → Phoenix
Wake up in the morning, pack up Camp 4, shower/bathroom stop if needed, and drive back to Phoenix. Arrive home late at night.

💵 Estimated Costs Per Person
• Gas: ~$120-180• Yosemite entrance pass: ~$35 per vehicle, split by car• Camping: varies depending on campsite location• Bike rental: ~$45-60• Showers: ~$5-10• Food/groceries: ~$70-120• Extra cushion: ~$30-50• Total estimated cost: ~$250-400 per person
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Petrified Forrest National Park/Painted Dessert
2026-06-19 16:00 - 2026-06-21 13:00
We’ll leave Friday afternoon and arrive at Crystal Forest Campground in the evening. After setting up camp and getting settled, we’ll relax for the night and prepare for a full day of exploring on Saturday.
Saturday will be dedicated to seeing the best of Petrified Forest National Park. We’ll start the morning with a hike on the Historic Blue Forest Trail, followed by the park’s signature Blue Mesa Trail Loop, where colorful badlands and scattered petrified wood create some of the most dramatic scenery in the park.
After the hikes, we’ll visit Newspaper Rock to view hundreds of ancient petroglyphs and stop at Puerco Pueblo to explore the remains of an ancestral Puebloan settlement. We’ll then continue to the Giant Logs Trail and Crystal Forest, where some of the park’s largest and most colorful petrified logs can be found.
In the afternoon, we’ll head north through the park to experience the vibrant landscapes of the Painted Desert. Along the way, we’ll hike to Onyx Bridge, one of the park’s most remarkable petrified wood formations, and stop at the Painted Desert Overlook for panoramic views of the desert’s colorful hills and mesas.
To end the day, we’ll enjoy dinner and watch the sunset over the Painted Desert before returning to camp. We’ll break camp and leave early Sunday morning for the drive home.

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Apache Lake Raft Camping
2026-06-27 12:00 - 2026-06-28 18:00
Join me for a raft camping (raftpacking? packrafting?) trip on the Apache Lake, one dam up from Canyon Lake in the Superstitions. We will be parking at the Apache Lake Marina & Resort for $30/car and using inflatable rafts to boat 4.5 miles to the LeGrand Cove, where we will camp on the beach.

I have a raft that fits 5ish with gear and a one person inflatable kayak. If your buying a raft I recommend buying the Walmart special Ozark Trail Raft and paddles, currently going for $32. It fits 2 people, so you can split the price in half. Then, grab a life vest from Walmart. Or if you want to be fancy, you can rent a Kayak from the marina for $85/day. Or even a full Pontoon Boat for $550!
I also recommend getting some drybags so your valuables and sleeping bag don’t get wet, which can also be found at Walmart.

The Poormans Yacht:
Great Value Raft and Paddles: $32/2 = $16
Life Vest: $12
Total per person: $28
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Catalina Island Backpacking 🏝️
2026-07-26 08:00 - 2026-08-01 19:00
READ BEFORE SIGNING UP:

This trip will be a 5-day / 4-night backpacking trip on the Trans-Catalina Trail, a roughly 38-mile route across Catalina Island. We’d be hiking across the island and camping 4 nights along the way.
This will be a little more expensive than a normal camping trip since campsites are around $38 per person per night, plus ferry tickets and gas. Reservations are really hard to get ahold of, especially on weekends, but as of today (July 1st) we can likely do July 27–31 since the weekend dates are mostly full. The dates may change depending on campsite availability once we have a confirmed group. I’m waiting to get a confirmed group before booking any sites, so only sign up if you are 100% committing, because I will have to book the campsites first. Spots will be very limited, and the group will likely be capped at 6 people. I will open up car slots later, but for now, please sign up for the waitlist.
The trail has ocean views, island ridgelines, steep climbs, and beachside campsites, including some nights near/on the beach. We’ll likely see some of Catalina’s wildlife too, like bison, foxes, deer, and tons of birds, along with coastal views, cliffs, coves, and clear blue water. It’ll cost a little more, but it would be one of the coolest trips we’ve done — we’d literally be backpacking across an entire island. 🏝️

💵 Estimated Costs Per Person
• Campsites: ~$152• Ferry tickets: ~$85–100• Gas: ~$20–40• Total estimated cost: ~$260–300+ per person

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Colorado Backpacking and 14ers: Chicago Basin Grand Slam
2026-08-13 08:00 - 2026-08-18 18:00
Deep in the San Juan Mountains lies the hidden kingdom of Chicago Basin — a remote alpine cirque guarded by jagged granite towers, wandering mountain goats, and four ancient 14ers: Eolus, North Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom.
EDIT: We will be starting in Purgatory, just north of Durango, with around a 15 mile hike into the basin our first day.
Over 3–4 days in the backcountry, the summit team will attempt all four 14ers in a massive alpine push involving exposed scrambling, endless talus, thin air, and rapidly changing mountain weather. Total trip mileage is expected to land around 42 miles with well over 15,000 feet of elevation gain.
A second group will have the option to enjoy a more relaxed wilderness experience by backpacking into Chicago Basin and hiking up toward Twin Lakes beneath the surrounding peaks, taking in the alpine scenery without committing to the technical summit routes.
Whether chasing summits or simply immersing in the basin itself, the trip offers a rare chance to step into one of the wildest and most beautiful mountain landscapes in the American West.
🗺️ Location: Chicago Basin in the San Juan Mountains of Colorad0, North of Durango
🌄 Activity: Backpacking and Summit Push
🏔️ Skill Level: Advanced to Extremely Strenuous
📌 Total Miles: 24-42 hard miles
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 9000 – 16000 ft (at altitude)
👥 Max People: 12
🗞️ Costs: Gas ~$75, Food
⛅ Weather: TBD
🧭 Meeting Place: TBD
🧳 What to Bring: Backpacking gear and food for 3-4 days in backcountry
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Lake Powell Exploration
2026-08-21 11:00 - 2026-08-23 18:00
Itinerary
🌊 Lake Powell 2-Night Lone Rock Beach Camping Itinerary 🚗🏕️
Day 1: Drive from Tempe + Beach Camp Setup 🏜️
11:00 AM: Depart Tempe. Head north on I-17 to US-89 N. Light traffic expected; quick stop in Flagstaff for lunch/gas if needed.
~4:00-5:00 PM: Arrive at Lone Rock Beach (north of Page ~12 miles, Utah side off US-89). Pay entrance + camping fee at kiosk/booth. Drive onto sand (follow existing tracks; high-clearance/4WD best but many 2WD succeed). Claim a spot near the water with views of Lone Rock.
💰 Prices for Day 1:
Entrance: $30 per vehicle (waived if you have a National Parks Annual Pass)
Campsite: $14 per night per vehicle → $28 total for 2 nights
Afternoon/Evening: Set up tent, canopy, and camp. Swim around, explore the beach/rocks. Grill dinner or easy camp meal. Watch the sunset over the lake. Quiet hours 10 PM-6 AM.
Overnight: Primitive camping (portable water, showers, toilets seasonal). Campfire OK in rings or below high-water line. 🔥
Day 2: Antelope Canyon Kayak Adventure + Horseshoe Bend Sunset 🛶🌅
Morning: Wake, quick breakfast at camp (coffee, bars, fruit).
~8:00-9:00 AM: Drive ~15-20 min south to Antelope Point Public Boat Launch. Pick up rented kayaks.
Kayak & Hike (4-6+ hours total):
Paddle ~2.5 miles each way into the Antelope Canyon water arm (stay to the side of main channel). Beach kayaks at the sandbar, then hike upstream into the stunning narrow sandstone slot (30 min to a few hours RT; bring water, snacks, shoes for sand/mud). Towering glowing walls, peaceful and adventurous—no crowds like the land tours. Return same way. Start early to beat afternoon wind.
💰 Kayak Cost: $60 per person/$40 For Two Person
Early-Mid Afternoon: Return kayaks, drive ~10-15 min to Page.
Late Lunch/Early Dinner in Page (~2-5 PM): Options like Big John’s BBQ, Dam Bar & Grille, El Tapatio, or similar (casual, $15-25/person). Groceries if needed. 🍔
Late Afternoon/Evening: Drive 5 min to Horseshoe Bend ($10/vehicle parking). Easy 1.5-mile RT sandy hike to the epic 1,000-ft overlook. Stay for golden hour/sunset glow.
Evening: Drive ~20 min back to Lone Rock camp. Night swim, campfire, chill under the stars. 🌌
Day 3: Dam Stop + Navajo Tacos + Drive Home 🏠
Morning: Wake, eat breakfast at camp. Pack up completely (leave no trace—pack out all trash).
~9:00-10:00 AM: Short drive ~15-20 min to Glen Canyon Dam / Carl Hayden Visitor Center (near Page). Free overlook, exhibits, bridge views (open ~9 AM-5 PM). Quick 30-45 min stop.
~10:30 AM onward: Drive south on US-89 ~50-60 min to Cameron Trading Post (right on highway, on Navajo Nation).
Eat Navajo tacos (fry bread with beans, beef/mutton or veggie, green chile, cheese, lettuce, tomato—regular ~$15-20, mini cheaper). Historic spot with gift shop and Little Colorado River gorge views. Eat in or to-go. 🌮
Continue home: From Cameron ~3-3.5 hours via US-89 S to I-17 S. Arrive Tempe by 6:00 PM.
💰 Full Cost Breakdown (Per Vehicle)
Entrance: $30 per vehicle (waived with National Park Pass)
Two Nights Camping: $28
Kayak: $60 per person (or $40 per person if sharing a 2-person kayak)
Horseshoe Bend Parking: $10
Gas (round trip): ~$120 (for most cars) → ~$100 for a 4-person car split
🗺️ Location: Lake Powell
🌄 Activity: Camping/Hiking/Kayaking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate
👥 Max People: 25
🗞️ Costs: $40
⛅ Weather: Highs Are In The Upper 70s. Nighly Lows In The 50s
🧭 Meeting Place: In Front Of Trader Joes
🧳 What to Bring: Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Pad, Sun Protection, Water Shoes for Kayaking,
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Sport Climbing in Sedona, AZ (Octopus’s Garden)
2026-08-22 06:00 - 19:30
Join us for a full-day sport climbing trip to one of Sedona’s best beginner-friendly crags! We’ll spend the day climbing high-quality sandstone sport routes ranging primarily from 5.6–5.8, with a few harder/longer multi-pitch options available for experienced climbers.
This trip is intended for climbers who already have experience sport climbing. While the grades are beginner-friendly, this is not an instructional course. Participants should already know how to belay and be comfortable climbing outdoors.
We’ll meet in Tempe, organize carpools, stop for breakfast in Sedona, climb throughout the day, eat lunch at the crag, and return to Tempe in the evening.
Routes are single-pitch with a short approach and spectacular views of Oak Creek Canyon.
🗺️ Location: Octopus’s Garden Sport Climbing Area (Midgley Bridge), Sedona, AZ
🌄 Activity: Sport Climbing
🏔️ Skill Level: Beginner–Intermediate
📌 Total Miles: ~1.5 miles round trip
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: ~60-600ft (Depending on Route)
👥 Max People: 8
🗞️ Costs: Estimated $10-$15 for carpool gas and optional breakfast & lunch
⛅ Weather: Typical late-August Sedona weather: Highs in the low 90s°F, morning temperatures in the upper 60s°F, with a chance of afternoon monsoon thunderstorms. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and rain protection.
🧭 Meeting Place: APMA
🧳 What to Bring: Required
• Climbing shoes
• Harness
• Helmet (required)
• Belay device and locking carabiner
• Chalk
• 2–4 liters of water
• Lunch and snacks
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable hiking/climbing clothes
Optional (Recommended)
• Rope (60–70m)
• Quickdraws
• Stick clip
• Belay gloves
• Small backpack
Important: This is not an introductory climbing clinic. Participants should already be comfortable climbing outdoors and be able to safely belay.
Participants are expected to have prior outdoor sport climbing experience or previous lead climbing experience. Most routes will be in the 5.6–5.8 range, with a few harder options available.
If you do not have your own climbing equipment, please contact the trip leader before signing up so we can determine whether extra gear is available.
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Salt River Tubing!
2026-08-29 07:00 - 14:00
We will be doing our annual Salt River Tubing trip, this is a great first trip and a perfect chance to meet people. I would highly recommend going on this trip as it is very casual and relaxing.
Important Info: Glass bottles and marshmallows are banned on the river so please do not bring glass products as they will check bags/coolers and make you throw them away. P.S. Glass hurts to step on and the wildlife choke on the marshmallows 🙁
https://www.saltrivertubing.com
I would highly recommend buying a ticket online since it speeds up the process of checking in. It gets very busy at this time of year and the line for online tickets moves way quicker than paying for a ticket in person.
🗺️ Location: 9200 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215
🌄 Activity: Tubing
🏔️ Skill Level: Beginner
👥 Max People: ∞
🗞️ Costs: Gas, $28 ticket for Bus Ride and Tube
⛅ Weather: Hotter than Hell, Sunny
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Water, Snacks, Sun screen, swimwear/swim shoes, etc…
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Goldwater Lake Hike
2026-08-30 09:00 - 17:00
Hello everyone! I will be leading a chill easy-to-moderate 5.2 mile hike with 652ft of elevation gain. The hike starts at a lake and goes through the nearby forest. There is a $3 parking fee per car at the trailhead. This will be a great chance to make new friends in the club and get a feel for AOC – all members are welcome to join! Afterwards, anyone who is interested can stay to play volleyball at the local court. So excited!
🗺️ Location: Bannon Creek Trail to Trail #396
🌄 Activity: Day hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Easy to moderate
📌 Total Miles: 5.2 miles
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 652ft
👥 Max People: 70
🗞️ Costs: Gas + parking fees
⛅ Weather: Partly cloudy w/ 85°F high, 60°F low
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts building
🧳 What to Bring: Sunscreen, water, snacks, hiking shoes, and a good attitude! 🙂
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Horseshoe Bend Kayaking and Grand Staircase-Escalante Backpacking
2026-09-04 12:00 - 2026-09-07 22:00
Everyone’s heard of the iconic Arizona landmark Horseshoe Bend, but have you ever kayaked through it? Join me on an epic adventure up/down the Colorado River to see the iconic Arizona landmark from a new point of view! Afterwards well head up to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and do a one night backpacking trip. Escalante is unique as its one of the most remote National Monuments in that it has very few trails. This gives us an exciting opportunity to experience a off trail backpacking trip!

More info to come on the Escalante backpacking

Team Unintelligent: We will be kayaking 9 miles upstream of Lees Ferry to get to Horseshoe Bend. Get ready for a very difficult character-building adventure!! Make sure to rent your kayak for a 6am start so that we have all day to make the 9 miles. We also want to start early, as they tend to release more water from the dam around 3 pm.
Team Float: We will take the backhaul service ($80/person) and kayak only downstream, meeting the idiots at Horseshoe Bend for camp. Both groups will kayak downstream together on Sunday. Since team float will be meeting the idiots at Horseshoe Bend I recommend booking the 1pm backhaul so your not sitting at camp all day.

Everyone will need to rent a kayak. I recommend this website, but any of the rentals operating out of Lees Ferry will work. Please do so as soon as you sign up, as the rental service has a limited amount. For upstreamers in order of best to worst, I recommend:

Sit-in Hardshell Tandem Kayak ($50/day): Double the people, double the power
Sit-in Hardshell Kayak (single) ($35/day): Hardshell Kayaks are the most efficient human-powered watercraft
Sit-on-top Hardshell Kayak ($35/day): Although above the water, so more air resistance, still better than inflatable
Inflatable Tandem Kayak ($50/day): Although inflatable (so more resistance), it’s tandem, so double the power

For people taking the backhaul the kayak doesn’t matter as much as long as you have room for your camping gear

Kayak Rentals: Make sure to rent for 2 days starting September 5th at 6 am for team unintelligent and 1pm for team float.
The Idiots will likely take all day to reach the base of Horseshoe Bend at river mile 9 and camp here. I’ll find something cool for team float to do before there backhaul at 1pm, there’s tons of stuff to do in this area! The next day, we will paddle downstream, stopping at the waterholes slot canyon on the way. The paddle down should take only 2-4 hours.

Grand Staircase-Escalante Backpacking Trip

Itinerary:
Friday, Sep 4th: Drive to Page and car camp
Saturday 5th: Team Unintelligent will start at Lees Ferry at 6 am and kayak 9 miles upstream to Horseshoe Bend camp and 9-mile camp. Team float will likely do a small hike in the area before catching there 1pm backhaul to the Glen Canyon Dam. Then paddle downstream to meet the others at 9-mile camp
Sunday 6th: Float downstream, stopping at the Waterholes slot canyon and any other interesting things along the way, return kayaks, grab real food in Page, drive up to Escalante, Start backpacking make it ~5mi
Monday 7th: Finish backpacking, drive back to Tempe

https://arizonaoutdoorsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMG_8753.mp4

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New Member Car Camping Trip (Stoneman Lake)
2026-09-05 10:00 - 2026-09-07 14:00
NEW MEMBERS ONLY PLEASE, This is a great trip to make new friends in the club and to find out what camping with the Arizona Outdoors Club is like. This will be a chill first trip focused on getting people comfortable with camping and to most importantly make friends.
🗺️ Location: Stoneman Lake
🌄 Activity: Car Camping, Day Hiking, Swimming
🏔️ Skill Level: Beginner
👥 Max People: 25
🗞️ Costs: Gas
⛅ Weather:
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Camping mat, Sleeping bag, Tent, 3L+ of water, snacks/food, swim wear, etc…
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Arizona Outdoors Club Fall Kickoff Trip
2026-09-19 11:00 - 2026-09-20 14:00
Join us for our annual Arizona Outdoors Club kickoff trip! We’ll be heading out for a one-night camping trip near the Mogollon Rim (close to Young, AZ)—a beautiful spot to enjoy the cool pines, starry skies, and fresh mountain air.
We’ll provide burgers, hot dogs, chips, and water for everyone, so just bring yourself, your camping essentials, and a sense of adventure. This is a perfect chance to meet fellow members, relax around the campfire, and kick off the semester with great food, good company, and the outdoors.
🗺️ Location
🌄 Activity: Camping
🏔️ Skill Level: Beginner
👥 Max People: 80
🗞️ Costs: Gas
⛅ Weather
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Camping mat, sleeping bag, tent, water, snacks, etc…
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Sedona
2026-09-25 15:00 - 2026-09-26 19:00
Hey, all! This will be a fun, beginner-friendly trip to Sedona. We will be car camping the night near Sedona and taking an easy to moderate hike the following morning. For the location of the hike, we will choose between either Cathedral Rock, Subway Cave, or Soldier’s Pass. After we finish hiking, we can explore town or head back to campus.
📌Cathedral Rock: 1.1 mi (1.8 km) distance, 🥾 740 ft (226 m) elevation gain
📌Subway Cave: 4.8 mi (7.7 km) distance, 🥾 574 ft (175m) elevation gain
📌Soldier’s Pass: 1.6 mi (2.6 km) distance, 🥾 75 ft (23 m) elevation gain
🌄 Activity: Camping + Hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Easy
👥 Max People: 30
🗞️ Costs: Gas, food, water
⛅ Weather: 87°F high, 62°F low (31°C high, 17°C low)
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts near Trader Joe’s
🧳 What to Bring: Sunscreen, hiking shoes, camping mat, sleeping bag, tent, water, food
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Wilderness First Aid Course
2026-09-26 07:00 - 2026-09-27 18:00
From CAMRA:
Are you prepared?

What happens if a medical emergency happens to you, a family member, or a friend while you are in the wilderness? Do you know how to safely respond to a life-threatening injury? Gain peace-of-mind in learning the same life-saving skills taught to outdoor professionals across the country.
This fast-paced, yet comprehensive two-day program will teach you skills for responding to medical emergencies in the backcountry. A blended course of classroom learning, skills labs, and outdoor scenarios for plenty of hands-on practice.
Topics covered in the two-day WFA course include:

Patient Assessment System
Principles of Splinting
Preparedness and Prevention
Environmental Emergencies
Long-term Patient Care
Soft Tissue Injuries
Bites and Stings

…and many other potentially life-saving skills!
Tuition includes:

SOLO’s Field Guide to Wilderness First Aid (current edition)
Wilderness First Aid Map
SOLO WFA certification card

Please Bring:

Notebook and pen for notes during classroom session
Water and snacks (sack lunch in lieu of eating offsite recommended)
Clothing appropriate for expected weather conditions, approximately 1/3 of the course will be outdoors, will require kneeling on dirt surfaces
Backpack with items you normally take into the backcountry. If new to the outdoors, you can download the WFA Gear List.

You must sign up through CAMRA’s Website: https://camra.ticketspice.com/wilderness-first-aid-september-2026

🗺️ Location: North Mountain Visitor Center
🌄 Activity: Class
🏔️ Skill Level: Easy
👥 Max People: 8
🗞️ Costs: $250 for course, gas
⛅ Weather: Hot outside, A/C inside
🧭 Meeting Place: APMA/ TJ’s
🧳 What to Bring: Water, food, backpack, and a good attitude
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Camelback Mountain Bike and Hike
2026-09-26 08:00 - 13:00
We will start at the ASU Preforming Arts building and bike along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt to Camelback mountain where we will park our bikes and hike Cholla-Trail. We will be bike ride is one hour each way but it is my favorite bike trail in Phoenix because we are biking through parks and by water most of the time. Camelback Mountain is a fun but strenuous hike, so be prepared.

There is a spot at the start of the trailhead with public bathrooms and a place to fill your water.
This is a difficult trip. It involves at least two hours of biking and one and a half hours of difficult hiking. Cholla trail is already rated a double black diamond trail. Don’t join us unless you are prepared.
The club doesn’t have any bikes to rent out so you will need to bring your own. You are allowed to bring an eBike, but be careful because some older or lower end bikes might not have the battery life to do the full round trip. Make sure to bring plenty of water, a helmet, and sunscreen.
This is the path we will be taking: here
All Trails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/camelback-mountain-via-cholla-trail
Date is still subject to change🗺️ Location: Camelback Mountain Via Cholla Trailhead
🌄 Activity: Day Hike
🏔️ Skill Level: Strenuous
📌 Total Miles: 3 Miles Hiking, 20 Miles biking
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 1300 ft Hiking, 300 ft biking
👥 Max People: 20
⛅ Weather: 80°F
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Bike, 2L of water, snacks, sunscreen, helmet
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Bear Jaw to Abineau Trail Backpacking
2026-10-03 07:00 - 2026-10-04 19:00
We will be doing a a beautiful one night backpacking trip to Bear Jaw to Abineau Trail! There will be beautiful fall colors and amazing views from the back side of Humphreys, the tallest mountain in Arizona!

Spots are extremely limited on this trip because the camp spot can only fit MAX 9 people! There is only room for 3 tents, and 3 people must sleep in each. It will be very cold at night, so bring multiple layers, gloves, and a beanie/hat.
🗺️ Location: Bear Jaw to Abineau Trail – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/abineau-trail-to-bear-jaw-trail
🌄 Activity: Backpacking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate-Hard
📌 Total Miles: 7.4
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 2000 ft elevation gain
👥 Max People: 9
🗞️ Costs: Gas
⛅ Weather: 55°F high, 25°F low
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Backpacking bag, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, 3L water, food, warm clothes
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Fossil Springs Day Hike
2026-10-03 09:00 - 20:00
This trip will be a day hike to one of Arizona’s coolest spots. We’ll hike the Bob Bear Trail down to Fossil Springs, where bright blue water flows through caves, waterfalls, and swimming holes. The hike is 8–9 miles round trip with ~1,500–2,000 ft of elevation gain and is moderate to difficult, especially on the way back out. This is not a trip for inexperienced hikers. We’ll spend time swimming, cliff jumping, and exploring. The water is refreshing but pretty cold, even on warm days. Be sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a swimsuit.

All Trails link: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/fossil-springs-trail
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9LvZYDjfRU7YPgwj9
🗺️ Location: Fossil Springs (Bob Bear) near Strawberry
🌄 Activity: Day hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Strenuous
📌 Total Miles: 8.5 Miles
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 1639 feet
👥 Max People: 25
🗞️ Costs: Gas
⛅ Weather: High in the 70s or 80s
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: At least 3L of water, sunscreen, swimsuit
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Yellowstone & Grand Tetons
2026-10-08 08:00 - 2026-10-13 22:00
Hey, AOC! We will be embarking on a journey to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons over Fall Break! The itinerary is as follows and is subject to change based on weather and group preferences:
Thursday, 10/8: Leave Tempe early morning for Utah, camping the night in Utah.
Friday, 10/9: Leave Utah early morning for Yellowstone, arriving at our campsite in the late afternoon.
Saturday, 10/10: Spend the day at Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
Sunday, 10/11: Spend the day at Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.
Monday, 10/12: Explore some more if we have time, and head back south toward Tempe, staying the night in Utah.
Tuesday, 10/13: Leave Utah, arrive in Tempe at night.
This trip will begin two days before October Break, so please make sure you can get school/work off then. Additionally, it is a lot of driving, so it’s recommended that drivers have someone to switch off with to avoid fatigue. Do not drive while excessively tired. It will be below freezing at night, so make sure to bring of blankets, layers, and warm clothes.
I will be releasing more details about the trip including information about the campgrounds, and estimated driving time each day as I finalize the logistics.
🗺️ Location: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
🌄 Activity: Camping, exploration, hiking, sightseeing
🏔️ Skill Level: Any
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: Yellowstone vehicle entrance pass ($35/car), Grand Tetons vehicle entrance pass ($35/car), campsite fees, gas, food, water, etc.
⛅ Weather: ~54°F (12°C) during the day, ~24°F (-4.4°C) during the night (I will provide updated forecasts closer to the trip date)
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts near Trader Joe’s
🧳 What to Bring: Warm clothes, food, water, shower supplies, sunscreen, hiking shoes, any other necessities you’d like to bring
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Eastern Arizona Wildlife Safari (WHALE WATCHING PUSHED BACK TO SPRING BREAK)
2026-10-08 12:00 - 2026-10-13 20:00
This fall I am leading a somewhat car centric wildlife search and viewing expedition in Arizona’s white mountains and the petrified forest national park. We will be searching the most prominent hotspots for herds of large mammals, alpine songbirds, and unique reptiles. There will be some hiking involved primarily in two of the nature reserves in the white mountains as well as in open grasslands. The scenery will be amazing as this lies within peak fall color viewing on aspen trees with wildlife activity being abundant during the day due to slightly cooler temps than the summer months. the other portion of the trip spent in petrified forest will blend both cooler mountain fall colors with the colorful badlands of the Colorado plateau, unique sunsets, clear skies, ancient fossilized trees, and unique desert wildlife! This is going to be an epic trip and an opportunity to see amazing wildlife.
For any photographers in the club who love wildlife viewing and scenery this one is for you! Do not forget your camera if you have one!
(DISCLAIMER)
This was originally this falls whale watching trip. It is a tad too expensive right now and I will be living there next summer. Much of the larger marine life is also feeding much farther offshore this year due to the weather pattern in the pacific so chances of viewing whales grow lower. Instead, as of right now, I have a trip dedicated for the channel islands national park in search of killer whales for next spring! That being said, I have wanted to see a “true autumn” and there is no better opportunity than this fall break.
Itinerary will be out within the next couple weeks!
🗺️ Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RZJY131ENwmkggaDA (Greer Arizona and surrounding wilderness) https://maps.app.goo.gl/f58Ut1kjmvxoBZkg9 (petrified forest national park
🌄 Activity: wildlife viewing/hiking/camping
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate
📌 Total Miles: 536 round trip
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: TBD
👥 Max People: 10
🗞️ Costs: (Gas- $18 split between 5 people per vehicle)
⛅ Weather: Expect sunnier weather during this time of the year. highs in low 70,s and lows in mid 30’s for both locations
🧭 Meeting Place: Meet infront of the ASU performing and media arts center!
🧳 What to Bring: Bring tents (for those who are not car camping), sleeping bags, strong sturdy shoes, water, and cold weather gear such as wind breakers and thick hoodies. Both the white mountains and the petrified forest national park can get quit chilly.
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Moab Desert Expedition
2026-10-09 12:00 - 2026-10-13 21:00
For Fall Break, we’ll be heading up to Moab, Utah’s red rock country for a multi-day desert adventure. Expect towering sandstone formations, endless views, remote campsites, and some of the most iconic landscapes in the Southwest.
We’ll spend several days exploring the canyons and arches around Moab, with a mix of challenging hikes, scenic overlooks, and time around camp. Come ready for early mornings, dusty trails, big views, and the kind of adventure that leaves you with stories for years.
If you have a 4×4 and/or a mountain bike, this is the trip to bring it on! More details to come.
🗺️ Location: Moab, UT
🌄 Activity: Road Trip, Camping, Hiking, Off Roading
🏔️ Skill Level: Various
📌 Total Miles: TBD
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: TBD
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: ~$80 gas, Food, camping, National Park Pass
⛅ Weather: Highs in 80s, Lows in 60s
🧭 Meeting Place: APMA
🧳 What to Bring: Everything your driver is willing to fit
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Horton Creek Backpacking
2026-10-17 08:00 - 2026-10-18 18:00
We will be backpacking for one night alongside Horton Creek near Payson, passing waterfalls and going through beautiful pine forests. Towering limestone cliffs of the Mogollon Rim will loom above us as we make camp beneath the rustling canopy. Crisp mountain air and the constant, soothing melody of the spring-fed stream will guide us into a quiet, starry night under the pines. This backpacking trip is relatively difficult so make sure to be prepared. It will get colder at night so bring warm clothes!
🗺️ Location: Horton Creek Trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/horton-creek-trail
🌄 Activity: Backpacking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate-Hard
📌 Total Miles: 9.2
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: 2500ft elevation gain
👥 Max People: 20
🗞️ Costs: Gas, Tonto Pass ($8)
⛅ Weather: 74°F high, 45°F low
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts
🧳 What to Bring: Backpacking bag, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, warm clothes, 3L water, food
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Cactus to Clouds Hike
2026-11-06 12:00 - 2026-11-08 12:00
Cactus to Clouds!
Looking for a challenge? The route up to San Jacinto Peak is one of the toughest day hikes in the U.S., climbing over 10,000 vertical feet, but the views and reward are more than worth it. Rising from the desert to the peak over 16 miles, you cross through multiple ecosystems on the way up. The best part is, after descending only 3 more miles, the gondola will take us back down into town.
We will leave Friday afternoon and dispersed camp near the trailhead, so that we can get an early 2:30am start on the trail (we’re going to need it). After coming down, we can enjoy a well earned dinner in Palm Springs, and camp in Joshua Tree before heading back to Tempe on Sunday.
🗺️ Location: Palm Springs, CA, San Jacinto Peak
🌄 Activity: Camping and Hiking
🏔️ Skill Level: Strenuous (Very)
📌 Total Miles: 21 miles
🥾 Total Elevation Gain: ~10,800ft
👥 Max People: 16
🗞️ Costs: Gas ~ $40 per person
⛅ Weather: In the desert: Highs in the 80s, Lows in the 50s; On the Peak: Highs in the 40s, Lows in the 20s
🧭 Meeting Place: APMA
🧳 What to Bring: Car camping gear, Trail running shoes, water, snacks, and endurance fuel in summit bag
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California Sand Dunes Backpacking & Stargazing
2026-11-07 11:00 - 2026-11-08 17:00
We will be heading to the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness in California for an incredible backpacking trip in the dunes! We will camp on the sand and will go stargazing! Also we’re all gonna get milkshakes because that’s cool. It’s not a very long trek, but it may be extra difficult because we will be trudging through the sand. We’ll likely have to carry extra weight for water and firewood (if we want to have a fire).
Day 1 (Nov. 7):
– Meet at the ASU Performing and Media Arts building (in the Trader Joe’s lot) in Tempe
– Depart Tempe at 11AM
– Visit Dateland to try their Date Milkshakes
– Reach the sand dunes around 3:30PM (we want to arrive later in the day so we don’t scald our feet if we want to walk barefoot!)
– Hike 2.5 miles across the sand dunes
– Reach camp around 5PM and set up tents
– Stargaze at night – it’ll almost be a new moon!
Day 2 (Nov. 8):
– Pack up camp (including campfire ash) and leave around 9AM
– Hike 2.5 miles back to the cars
– Get lunch somewhere
– Head back to Tempe around 1PM
– Reach Tempe by around 5PM
Trip dates/details may be subject to change!
🗺️ Location: North Algodones Dunes Wilderness
🌄 Activity: Backpacking
🏔️ Skill Level: Moderate
📌 Total Miles: 5 miles (2.5/day)
👥 Max People: 15 (hard cap)
🗞️ Costs: Gas + milkshakes
⛅ Weather: 90°F high, 60°F low
🧭 Meeting Place: ASU Performing and Media Arts building in Trader Joe’s lot
🧳 What to Bring: Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat/headscarf, extra socks (thank me later), camping mat, sleeping bag, tent, LOTS of water, snacks, headlamp
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Baboquivari Peak
2026-11-14 15:00 - 2026-11-15 22:00
Join us for a hike up southern Arizona’s most distinctive peak pronounced “bah-boh-kwa-VEE-ree“. Sticking up 1000 feet or more above the surrounding mountains, with its characteristic pyramid-shaped peak, it beckons the curious. On a clear day, it can be seen from over 100 miles away.
This mountain is a sacred place to the Tohono Oʼodham people so please treat this sacred place with a little extra respect. The reservation is generous enough to let people climb it for a permit fee of $10/person.
Baboquivari is a challenging 9.5 mile 4,100ft climb with class 3 scrambling towards the top. To reach the very top the last 100ft is proper rope climbing rated 5.4. However we likely won’t be able to do this as we don’t have the proper gear or experience. However the end of the trail is where most people turn around anyways. Climbing experience is NOT required for this trip!
Read more about this <— at the link!

Itinerary:
Saturday 14th: Meet at ASU Performing arts building in the Trader Joe’s parking lot at 3pm then drive down to Baboquivari. The res requires a $3 fee to camp
Sunday 15th: Hike Baboquivari and drive back to Tempe
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