Great Basin Exploratory
July 7-10, 2013


An island of cool in a sea of heat. Great Basin National Park at first glance would seem to be mis-named. One might infer that the park is about the low basin, but in fact it's about the mountains of the Snake range. A prime example of the Basin and Range hydrographic province, Great Basin National Park is a little-visited alpine jewel. This class will combine geology and botany to give a broad overview of this special place.

We will camp together in the group campground at Grey Cliffs. Through a series of day hikes we will explore a Bristlecone Pine forest, glacial lakes, a rock glacier, and on the Baker Creek Trail, meadows with beautiful wildflower displays. Also as part of the class we will take a 60 minute tour of Lehman Cave. There is also a possibility of a night-sky program.

The hikes to the Bristlecone forest, the glacial lakes, and the glacier itself start at 10,000 feet elevation and have slight elevation gains along the way. The total hiking distance for this combination of hikes is approximately 5 miles. The air is thin here. Participants must be honest in assessing their ability to hike at these elevations. The Baker Creek Trail hike starts at approximately 7,800 feet elevation and goes STEEPLY uphill before topping off at approximately 9,000 feet. This is a six mile hike in total.


FEE: $285.00 (NO DISCOUNTS!!!!!!!!!All camping and entrance fees included)
INSTRUCTORS: Ben Everitt and Walt Fertig
MEETS: 2 pm at Lehman Caves Visitor Center (not the park visitor center in the town of Baker, NV, 5 miles away) on July 7, 2013. The class will adjourn by 2 pm at the latest on July 10. 3 nights of camping.
Minimum of 6 participants; maximum of 9. Students will provide all their own meals for the duration.


Price: US $285.00

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