Name: Point Reyes Wildcat Backpacking “Refresher” (6.5 - 9 mi, ~1,200 - 2,000 ft)
Start: 2024-11-15T07:00:00-08:00
End: 2024-11-17T17:00:00-08:00

**PLEASE READ THIS FULL DESCRIPTION WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNUP. ALL SIGNUPS ARE ON A WAITLIST UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE REQUIRED INFORMATION (DETAILS BELOW).**

**THE PRICE FOR THIS TRIP IS $50. CARPOOL DRIVERS WILL RECEIVE A REBATE OF $30.**

Join us for a weekend in Point Reyes November 15-17. We will be backpacking to [Wildcat Campground](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildcat-campground.htm) where we will spend 2 nights camping near the beach. This low key backpacking trip is designed to be a nice introductory or refresher trip for those who have not backpacked in many years or for those who do a lot of hiking and camping and interested in trying out backpacking. Experienced and inexperienced backpackers welcome as long as you are comfortable with exploratory Strenuous+ level hikes (hiking levels [here](https://bit.ly/31eeinM)).

Despite being a relatively short drive from the urban parts of the Bay Area, Point Reyes feels worlds away. This park features wild coastal beaches, estuaries and lagoons which provide habitat to a diversity of wildlife. We will be staying in [Wildcat Campground](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildcat-campground.htm) which is equipped with vault toilets, potable water, food storage lockers, and picnic tables. It is also a fantastic starting point for a day hike to [Alamere Falls](https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/alamere_falls.htm), one of only two coastal waterfalls in California.

Carpools will meet early Friday morning (\~7-7:30 am) with a goal of meeting at the trailhead in Inverness around 9 am. We will return home by early evening Sunday (\~5 pm - dependent on traffic).

* **Day 1:** Backpack from the [Bear Valley Trailhead via the Bear Valley, Glen, and Stewart Trails ending at Wildcat Campground](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-september-26-2024-30a0b73?u=i&sh=hosny4) 6.3-mi, 1,200 ft.
* **Day 2:** Day hike TBD. Late afternoon beach walk from [Wildcat Campground to Alamere Falls](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-september-26-2024-d6dabcc?u=i&sh=hosny4) 2.6-miles. This beach walk is safest around low tide (Nov 16 at 5:18 pm). Depart Wildcat Campground around 3:45 pm, walk 1.1 miles south on Wildcat Beach to Alamere Falls to watch the sunset (4:55 pm). Return the way we came at dusk (bring a light).
* **Day 3:** 6.3-mile hike backtracking from Day 1 from the Wildcat Campground to Bear Valley Trailhead. Alternative: Hike up to 9 miles with up to 2,000 ft elevation gain on a different route back to Bear Valley Trailhead.

To facilitate community building and make the logistics as smooth as possible, we are including the campsite & transportation as part of the trip. We will also offer 1-2 optional Zoom sessions for Q&A to prepare for the trip.

**SIGNUP REQUIRES MORE THAN CLICKING THE RSVP LINK- PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY:**
Everyone who signs up will initially go onto a waitlist. Before you can be moved to the “going” list, you will need to do these two things:

1. Fill out the trip questionnaire, available [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVgSvbAhp7NtFsx7Jnd0M0odOttDjvXKOBaqPxr9fsEku8zg/viewform?usp=sf_link).
2. Fill out the waiver, available [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/137Qf6hDXk1CECI5RG2yc1WRlq5mrIw_9/view?usp=sharing), and send it to bayareawomenshikinggroup@gmail.com

Please Note:

* You will need to supply your own backpacking equipment and food. The recommended packing list is available [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YaxBJtVEbw-RuboFqnIeUvNZsO6k-ly0tNGj4zch304/edit?usp=sharing).
* We are only allowed to bring 5 cars, so everyone will be carpooling (the organizers will make the arrangements).

Space is limited. Deadline to sign up is **10/5/24**. We will announce a list of who is going by 10/13/24. If we’re oversubscribed, contributors and people willing to drive will get priority, and others will be admitted in the order signups are received. We reserve the right to make a determination whether people have sufficient hiking and camping experience for this trip. After 10/6/24, we’ll let people in on a rolling basis.

After we let you know you’re going, you will have 7 days to send us your payment in full of $50. If we don’t receive it, we will put you back on the waitlist.

Payment can be sent via PayPal (paypal.me/BayAreaWomensHiking) or Venmo (@BayAreaWomenHike) - both for Friends and Family please (we are volunteers, not a business) or a different method if necessary.

**CANCELLATION POLICY:** Your payment is fully refundable until Oct 26, 2024. After that, it is refundable only if we can fill your spot. If we have to cancel the trip for reasons beyond our control (fire, pandemic, inclement weather, etc.), we will try to recover as many costs as we can, and will refund them to you pro-rata; but may not be able to refund the full cost of the trip.

Bay Area Women's Hiking Group

Travel & Outdoor

Women's Hiking

Outdoor Fitness

Outdoors

Wilderness Hiking

Hiking

Walking

Women's Fitness

Do you understand that registration for this trip is a multi step process and that you must submit a google form and email a waiver to be added to the list?

Point Reyes Wildcat Backpacking “Refresher” (6.5 - 9 mi, ~1,200 - 2,000 ft)

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Point Reyes Wildcat Backpacking “Refresher” (6.5 - 9 mi, ~1,200 - 2,000 ft)

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