Introduction to Backpacking

in Tahoe National Forest - North Lake Tahoe

Starting at $297

Trip Summary

Backpacking can take you to some of the most beautiful places on the planet, but it can be intimidating to get started on your own.

Let our female guides provide you with first-hand education on how to confidently backpack so that you can set off on your next adventure!

This course is designed for women who have little or no experience camping in a wilderness environment. Through this course, you’ll learn how to plan and safely execute your own backpacking trips through the use of established wilderness trail systems.

2024 Dates

May 18 - 19, 2024

June 8 - 9, 2024

June 29 - 30, 2024

July 20 - 21, 2024

August 17 - 18. 2024

Highlights

  • In-person backpacking skills weekend led by Alpinistas female guides.

  • Free online backpacking course to prepare and pack. Instant access!

  • Small group session for expert attention.

  • Learn vital backpacking skills with a group of like-minded women

  • Hike past sparkling lakes and granite domes in the magnificent High Sierra

Don’t see the dates you are looking for?

Sign up to be notified when new dates are released or book a private guide to get the trip of your dreams.

What’s Included

  • Beginner backpacking curriculum that consists of online coursework to prepare and pack with full instruction on the field.

  • Professional guides

  • 7:1 client to guide ratio with a max group size of 10 clients, 2 guides

  • Permit fees

  • Special discount to shop at Alpinistas store

  • Option to have tent, mattress and stove provided.

  • BONUS - altitude prep handout for the Sierra Nevada.

Activity, Fitness & Skills

  • Backpacking

  • Tahoe National Forest is rated as Beginner + fitness.

    • Trail Profile: up to 4 miles, 600’ elevation gain round trip

  • To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we encourage you to participate in a training program before the trip. We recommend that your program includes training by hiking with a weighted pack.

  • Overall fitness is important to your enjoyment of the trip. The only thing taking your breath away should be the views!

Not Included

  • Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point

  • Transfers to and from trailheads

  • Meals (But we help you prepare to bring your own! Meal planning is part of learning how to backpack).

  • All backpacking gear including pack, sleeping bag, and other essential items. You do have the option of having us provide the tent, mattress and stove.

  • Trip insurance

  • Alcoholic beverages or soft drinks

  • Guide gratuities

  • Personal items

Backpacking is for YOU!

Between learning about all the gear, how to plan your route, how to prepare your meals and find water, navigation, emergency preparedness, and first aid, there is a lot to learn to make sure that you’re prepared!

In this beginner-friendly course, we’ll turn you into a safe and confident backpacker!

Plus, you’ll be surrounded by other like-minded supportive women to help get you ready for the trail.

Backpacking 101 Schedule

  • Before the Class

    You will be sent log in credentials to access our online learning portal where you will find your pre-trip curriculum.

    This curriculum will help you understand the basics of backpacking, choosing the right gear, apparel, packing efficiently and more.

    When you are on the field with our guides, they will demonstrate and explain all of these concepts with you live and be able to answer your questions.

  • Meet Us in Tahoe!

    Day 1

    Meet your guide at the Tahoe trailhead. We’ll start out with a live instruction on packing up your backpack for efficiency on the trail. We’ll get on the trail at a nice relaxing pace, taking regular breaks to enjoy the views and make adjustments.

    Throughout the day, your guide will stop and provide various lessons about backpacking. We’ll have a chance to stop by beautiful alpine lakes for lunch and breaks.

    Once we reach our camp destination for the night, we’ll talk about how to pick the best campsites, camp preparation, and then we’ll set everything up.

    After our cozy camp set up, we’ll cover camp cooking, enjoy dinner together and then head to bed for an early and well-deserved rest.

    Day 2

    Enjoy a relaxing breakfast with amazing sunrise views, then we’ll pack up and head back on the trail. Your guide will talk to you about campsite cleanup and Leave No Trace principles to make sure that we leave the wilderness as beautiful as we found it!

    All weekend, your guides will also be sharing information about emergency preparedness, first aid tips, navigation, and more.

    When we get back to our starting point, we’ll debrief from the trip and then say our goodbyes.

Let’s hit the trail!

  • Trip preparation, including how to trip plan using a variety of mapping tools

  • Gear and systems

  • Meal planning and backcountry cooking

  • Food storage and safety

  • Water safety and filtration

  • Physical training & recovery

  • Leave no trace principles

  • Campsite selection and camp craft

  • Mindset & inspiration

  • Women’s specific topics, such as how and where to pee in the wilderness, what to do when backpacking on your period, and more!

Major Topics Covered

Easy as 1-2-3!

1 - Access the backpacking course from Alpinistas Learning Portal. Self-paced lessons in backpacking basics to help you prepare and pack.

2 - Pack your gear!

(optional upgrade for us to provide loaner gear)

3 - Get to the trailhead! A female Alpinistas guide will kick off the field session with a warm welcome and a weekend full of instructions and demonstrations.

This program is for you if you answer YES to any of the following:

  • You’re a hiker who wishes that you had the skills to be able to travel deeper into the wilderness

  • You’ve been picking out backcountry “dream destinations” but don’t know how to get to them

  • You are feeling intimidated by all of the gear and knowledge required to get started and are looking for a support network

  • You wish that you spent more time outdoors but aren’t sure how to make the leap to do so

  • You just don’t have time to spend months learning how to do this and want to get started NOW

  • You want to learn how to backpack while having the support of other women with similar goals

Don’t see the dates you are looking for?

Sign up to be notified when new dates are released or book a private guide to get the trip of your dreams.

Gear List

Layering is the key to staying comfortable while being active outdoors. The secret to achieving maximum comfort with minimum weight is to bring versatile layers that can be mixed and matched to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation, and weather protection.

When packing, try to bring only what you need. This not only makes your load lighter but also helps our amazing field staff.

If you've already booked your trip, don't worry! You’ll be getting emails with a detailed list of what you'll need to bring (plus tons of other helpful information).

Are you looking to reduce your carbon footprint or save some money? Check out our rental page for great gear to borrow for your trip or shop at Alpinistas Re-Cover department for gently used gear online.

Get ready to conquer the outdoors, Alpinistas! We can't wait to see you on the trail.

  • Group First Aid Kit

    Water Filter

  • Backpacking Pack

    Base Layer Tops and Bottoms (Lightweight, Synthetic or Wool)

    Fleece/Wool Gloves

    Fleece/Wool Hat

    Headlamp with Fresh Batteries

    Hiking Boots

    Hiking Pants (Quick-Dry, Lightweight)

    Hiking Socks (Synthetic or Wool)

    Insulated Jacket and/or Vest

    Long Sleeve Shirts (Synthetic, Lightweight)

    Pack Rain Cover

    Personal Bathroom Kit: Toilet Paper, Ziplock Bags, Personal Wipes, Hand Cleaner

    Prescription Medications

    Rain Jacket (Hooded, Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)

    Rain Pants (Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)

    Sleeping Bag (15°-29°, Lightweight, Compressible)

    Sleeping Pad

    Spork, Bowl and Mug

    Sunblock and Lip Balm

    Water Bottles (Three 1-Liter) or Hydration System Plus One 1-Liter Water Bottle

    Whistle

    Bear Canister for Food Storage

  • Bandana or Buff for Sun Protection

    Day Pack (Lightweight, Compressible)

    Face Mask

    Hand Sanitizer

    Head Net

    Hiking Shorts (Quick-Dry, Lightweight)

    Insect Repellent

    Large Plastic Garbage Bag

    Sun Hat

    Sunglasses and Accessories

    Tee Shirts (Synthetic)

    Toiletries

    Trowel

    Underwear

  • Camera and Accessories

    Camp Towel

    Casual Shoes for Camp

    Ear Plugs

    Energy Snacks and Drink Mixes

    Gaiters (Low)

    Lightweight Backpacking Chair

    Liner Socks (Synthetic)

    Personal First Aid Kit/Medications (Lightweight)

    Reading and Writing Materials

    Sleeping Bag Liner

    Small Binoculars

    Small Multitool

    Swimwear

    Water Shoes (Full Foot Protection)

  • Don’t want to make the investment in a tent, mattress or stove? We’ll provide those for you. Just select that option when checking out.

Have questions about the gear list?

Give us a call at 775-230-7125 or send us a chat or email.

Helpful for booking

What to expect after you book your reservation

After you book your reservation, you will receive a confirmation email with access to your online course preparation material. As you start to get closer to your event date, you will receive additional emails confirming itinerary details and other important or helpful supplemental information such as start time and driving directions. The week of the event, you should be ready to go and you will receive a final email introducing your guides, providing you with their contact information and other last minute notes.

Where does this trip exactly take place?

Tahoe National Forest trips take place near Yuba Pass or Soda Springs, CA. Trailheads are located a short drive off of an I-80 exit. See individual trip booking for general information on meeting location.

What is the closest airport?

The closest airport to Tahoe National Forest - Truckee is either Reno, NV or Sacramento, CA.

Booking airfare?

If you are flying in for this trip, please contact us before booking airfare to make sure that your trip is confirmed. We require a minimum number of participants to operate.

Is there any road or park closure that impacts access to this trip?

This event is fully focused on skill building so we have chosen to run this course in areas of the park or forest that are accessible and snow free.

General weather expectations?

Tahoe National Forest near Truckee day time temperatures range between 70s to 80s degrees F, with overnight lows dropping to 40s to 50s.

Yosemite day time temperatures in this area can range between 70 to 90 degrees F, with overnight lows dropping to the 40s or 50s.  Afternoon thunderstorms are a distinct possibility so adequate raingear is important. Please view our Yosemite Weather page for additional information.

Will there be snow on the ground?

We run this event in areas of the park and forest that are snow free.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your trip in the event unforeseeable circumstances or illness comes up that interferes with your ability to join the trip.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

“Dear women adventurers of all skill levels, you need to take a trip with Alpinistas! I just returned from the Cold Weather Skills workshop in Yosemite and I've learned more in three days than I have in all my years of hiking and camping. It's so rare to find guiding experiences that are fun, connect you with likeminded folks, AND equip you with a ton of new skills.”

— Ashley

“I had the absolute best experience on a rock climbing trip with Joanne’s team! Every part of the weekend was fantastic - the camping experience was wonderful, the guides were knowledgeable and kept everyone safe, and the climbing was so much fun! I'm looking forward to future trips with Alpinistas, and love the work they are doing in making outdoor education more accessible to women!”

- Rebecca

What People Are Saying about Alpinistas Adventures

“The women I met that weekend were so amazing for their love of the outdoors, their curiosity, and their tenacious spirits. I learned so much from our skilled guides who made us feel safe to ask any and all questions regardless of how silly they might be. Thank you Alpinistas for a truly amazing weekend! I can’t wait for the next adventure 🏕️”

— Katarina

“I joined a Cold Weather course and winter camping weekend with them in Yosemite and absolutely love it! The guides are passionate about what they are teaching us, they are so supportive, and the event was organized so well.”

- Ashley-Marie