Ages: adults
Guests must attend the mandatory pre-trip meeting on
October 2 and 9 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Look About Lodge, South Chagrin Reservation - 3734 Miles Rd. Bentleyville, OH 44022
- Guests must be 18 & over.
- Guests must complete and bring the waiver to the pre-trip meeting.
Registration Opens: June 15, 2024.
Fee: $345 per person
Length: 5 days and 4 nights
Trip Dates: October 13-17, 7 a.m. depart – October 17, 8 p.m. return, departing from Garfield Park Center
Terrain/Distance: Natural surface terrain with narrow, rocky, often wet, and rugged tread. Mostly rolling terrain with some significant elevation gains with mileage between 5-8 miles a day while carrying a backpack.
Overview
This trip is designed to allow those with some backpacking experience to plan and prepare the logistics of this trip during the pre-trip meeting under the guidance of experienced backpackers. After completing this trip, you should feel comfortable planning your next backpacking adventure on your own. Dolly Sods backpacking trip is a rugged, rocky 5-day backpacking trip in a designated wilderness setting complete with grassy meadows, natural rock overlooks, and forested areas.
Due to the remote environment and extended mileage, backpacking experience is required.
Itinerary
Pre-Trip
The mandatory meetings on October 2 and 9 will prepare you for the upcoming adventure as the group collaboratively works through the logistics and meal planning for this backcountry experience. Guests will bring their personal gear to the pre- trip, so instructors can assure you are as prepared as possible for a great trip. The pre-trip meeting is exclusive for all paid trip participants.
Trip
Day 1 – The group will depart from Garfield Park Center traveling 5-6 hours to Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. During the pre-trip meeting the group will plan the exact route.
Day 2-4 – The exact itinerary will be planned during the pre-trip meeting, but guests should expect 5-8 mile days on rugged, wet, muddy, and rocky terrain while traveling to various Dolly Sods highlights. Guests will be expected to take turns navigating each day with instructor led mini-lessons on wayfinding, creek crossings, camp cooking, and Leave No Trace principles as desired by guests.
Day 5 – The last day will likely be a shorter hike back to the vehicles to prepare for the 5-6 hour drive back to Garfield Park Center. On the ride home, we’ll stop for food.
Logistics
The following are included with your trip:
- Trip leaders and guided instruction
- Pre-trip meeting to prepare you for your trip including the opportunity for you to plan the logistics and meals for the trip
- Transportation
- Equipment
Travel
Guests will be transported in Cleveland Metroparks vehicles to the trip location departing from Garfield Park Center. Guests’ personal vehicles will be parked in a fenced area at Garfield Park Center for the duration of the trip.
Accommodations and Food
Tents will be provided; however, guests may bring their own if it is appropriate for the nature of the trip. Tent accommodations will be shared as space is always limited in backcountry sites. In the wilderness setting, nights will be spent in the backcountry where nature will provide the bathroom. Food is not provided as one of the hurdles to backpacking is learning how to manage food weight and calories. Each guest will plan and supply their own food for the trip, which will be discussed as part of the pre-trip meeting. Water will be filtered from small streams and other water sources during the trip.
Equipment
It is required that guests bring everything on the list below to the pre-trip meeting for the leaders to review, inspect, and discuss with you. If you aren’t sure about an item, bring it with you to the pre-trip, and we can discuss it. We want you to be prepared to have a great trip. Use the equipment checklist when preparing for the pre-trip meeting and the trip. Outdoor Recreation can provide items with an “*”, so if you don’t have that item you don’t need to go out and buy it. The most important thing you might need to buy is adequate footwear…sturdy shoes at a minimum; however, boots are recommended due to wet and rocky terrain and the additional weight of carrying a backpack. (Be sure to break in your boots before the trip to avoid blisters). Most everything else on the list can be found at home, borrowed, or found at a thrift store.
Equipment Checklist: Link PDF
General Information:
By registering, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the
cancellation policy.
Looking to enhance your backpacking knowledge or add new skills before the Dolly Sods Backpacking trip. Register for one or more of the upcoming Backpacking programs. For more information or to register please select on a link below.
General Essential Eligibility Requirements that all participants must meet. A participant….
- …must meet minimum age and pre-trip meeting requirements for each individual program.
- …must meet program fee requirements for each individual program.
- …must be able to remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed in order to avoid environmental injuries such as hypothermia, heat-related illnesses, sunburn, and frostbite.
- …must refrain from use of alcohol and tobacco before or during outdoor recreation activities and any illegal drugs throughout the duration of a program.
- …must be able, either alone or with the aid of a personal care attendant, or through arrangements outlined on the Request for Administration of Medication Form or an Individual Medication Plan to manage, administer and protect any prescription medications currently prescribed to him or her. All medications, including over-the-counter medications shall be listed as required on the Medical Information portion of the registration materials.
- …must be able, either alone, with the aid of an augmentative communication device, or a personal care attendant to follow directions and communicate needs.
- …must not exceed manufacturers’ maximum recommended weight limit for equipment being used.
- …must be able to manage personal mobility either alone, with a reasonable amount of assistance, with the aid of a personal care attendant, or with adaptive equipment.
- …must be able to independently wear and maintain wearing all safety equipment correctly.
- …must be able, either alone or with the aid of a personal care attendant or adaptive equipment to travel at least 1 mile on varying terrain as well as be able to carry their own gear on backpacking trips.
- …must be able to, for backcountry programs only, travel in a physically demanding, remote backcountry environment for the uninterrupted period of the trip length, which can range from one to ten days with varying temperatures and environmental conditions including but not limited to, rain snow, hail, sun, and wind. The remoteness is such that cell signal may be unavailable, and it may require at minimum an hour, but perhaps in excess of 2 days travel to reach the nearest road and advanced medical care; participant assumes all costs associated with rescue.