FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS &
HELPFUL INFORMATION
If this is your first time at Aspen Meadow, we recommend
reading all the questions.
How do I get a Wilderness
Permit?
You MUST have a wilderness permit
to stay overnight in the outback. The Summit ranger station at the Pinecrest
turnoff can issue your free wilderness permit - call 209.965.3434, or
to apply on line, you can link to http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/stanislaus/permits/wildernessform.htm.
Please be sure to take care of this detail and have your permit in hand
before you arrive at Aspen Meadow. Here's a few extra details that might
help -- please be sure to include your packer in the count of people,
and if you are unsure of the number of people and or stock (count both
horses and pack mules) that you will have on your trip, it's better
to estimate on the high side. If you arrive to pick up your permit after
hours (at the summit ranger station--can't verify the others), the rangers
will have placed your permit in a box on the side of the building. You
might consider calling the station before you arrive -- just to confirm
that it's ready for you.
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What time do we need to arrive?
Please
arrive at Aspen Meadow by 6:00 am to give the packers time to properly
load the bags, get you settled on a horse and allow you to enjoy your
destination as soon as possible!
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Is there a place to stay the
night before we begin our trip?
Campers can make reservations at nearby Pinecrest campground operated
by Stanislaus National Forest. Visit http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/stanislaus/visitor/pinecrest.htm
or call 877-444-6777
For
more comfortable accommodations, you can contact the following hotels
and resorts: Click Here.
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Will my camera and other equipment
be safe on the mules?
When planning for your trip, please keep in mind that your gear will
be loaded on a live animal whose behavior cannot always be predicted.
Aspen Meadow cannot guarantee your equipment and suggests that if you
choose to bring expensive or fragile items such as video equipment, you
pack it with styrofoam and in a waterproof container. If you carry your
camera, for example, while you’re on horseback, keep in mind that it will
get dusty and may require cleaning after your trip. Back
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What should I bring?
Are there size or weight restrictions for the mules?
The advantage of having pack mules is that you will be able to enjoy
the back country with items you wouldn’t normally pack in on your own
back. However, it’s important to balance the need for luxury with the
150-pound per mule limit. Back to top
Please keep in mind that the
pack bags are limited in size. Please plan to bring coolers no larger
than 48 quart as that size fits perfectly in the pack sack; clothing
and food should be packed in canvas or other soft material no larger
than 13” wide x 23” long x 15” deep. Many smaller containers are
better than a few large ones, enabling the packers more flexibility
in obtaining the correct weight and balance for each mule.
What you bring is up to you, but
if you’re new to the back country, you might consider the following
list as a helpful guide. Click
here for a guide on what to pack.
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What does our packer do?
Your packer is your guide to the Emigrant
Wilderness. He will handle all of the pack animals, ensure your trip
is safe and if you like, provide you with a little history of the area.
You packer will participate in your trip as much or as little at you like.
He can gather firewood for you, help set up your camp, and if you’re lucky,
maybe sing a song at the campfire. It’s all up to you. Back
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Should we feed our packer on overnight
trips?
Packers are much more fun to be around
if they are fed! Yes, when planning meals for overnight trips, or if you
plan to keep your packer with you, please include enough food to feed him.
He does not carry his own food, just water, a chew of tobacco and perhaps
a little snake bite. Back
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Should we tip our packer?
If you are happy with the work that
you packer did for you and your group, gratuities are certainly welcome.
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Can
I bring my dog along?
It’s
probably not a good idea. The back country is pretty rough even on
a dog who’s in extremely good condition, and is used to walking many
many miles through rocky terrain. Add to that the danger of horses’
hooves and you might be better off leaving Rover with friends at home.
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I’m not very
experienced on a horse. Will I be ok?
Yup! Aspen Meadow takes pride
in offering well-trained horses that are very easy to ride – even for the
novice cowboy! If you’re not used to being on horseback for long stretches,
though, you might consider wearing well-padded bike shorts under your loose-fitting
jeans. Back to
top
What
kind of weather should I plan for?
The weather
in Emigrant Wilderness can change at any moment. A summer day that starts
out sunny and warm can end with thundershowers and a significant drop
in temperature. You should definitely plan to bring foul weather gear
and warm clothing. Back
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What kind of food should we
plan to bring?
Because you can bring coolers on your
back country trip, your menu can be varied and exciting! Leave those
freeze-dried packs of food at home; bring along the steaks!! Please plan
your menu according to your own food preferences, but if you’re new to
the back country, you might consider the following shopping list and menu
as a helpful guide: Click
here for a menu and shopping list.
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Can Aspen Meadow organize the
food and cook for our group?
YES! Aspen Meadow now offers all-inclusive trips that include
a packer, stock, a cook and all meals. For more information, click here. Back
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How do I estimate the number
of mules our group will need?
The general rule of
thumb to follow is one mule per person per week. Of course, please keep
in mind that this is the general rule. In order to maintain safe conditions
for our pack animals, we keep to the 150 pounds per mule rule. Back
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What is the maximum size for
a group?
The maximum size for a group is 15. Please call us if your group is larger
than
15 and we will try to accommodate you. Back to top
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Why
do we need to bring a water filter?
With a water filter,
you can drink the water in the lakes and streams, saving yourself
from running dry and the hassle of carrying several days worth of
water into the back country. Without a filter, you run the risk of
infection by giardia, a microscopic parasite that lives in most high
altitude water sources. Alternatives to a water filter include boiling
water for a minimum of 10 minutes. Recent tests conclude that iodine
and chlorine compounds are not totally effective in eradicating the
parasite. Back
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Do you offer group discounts?
Because Aspen Meadow
prices are geared to be as affordable as possible no matter how many riders
in your group, there is no opportunity to offer additional discounts. Back
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Is there parking at the Pack
Station?
Aspen
Meadow offers plenty of parking for your car, truck or RV. Back
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Can I email Aspen Meadow?
Aspen Meadow is a working
pack station with more than 60 animals that need caring. We’re up before
dawn and working until long after sunset. Time to check email is very limited,
so you’re best off calling us at (209) 965-3402. We’re happy to take a
break and answer your call! Back
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