Backpacking the Catalina TCT

*** PRICE FOR THE NEXT TRIP GOES UP ON APRIL 7th - SIGN-UP NOW TO GET THE BEST PRICE!

This is an amazing trip! We head over to Catalina on the Catalina Express Saturday morning and after grabbing a breakfast burrito (or something else) and packing a fresh sandwich for lunch, we will hike to Blackjack campground about 11 miles inland and stay overnight there. Our first trip, Steve woke up to a buffalo grazing right next to his tent!

The next morning, Sunday, we will hike 2 miles to the airport for some amazing buffalo burgers (or other, vegan meals) and then another 4 miles to Little Harbor, where we’ll hang out at the beach for the afternoon and have a campfire that night.

Monday morning we hike to Two Harbors and have lunch at the outdoor restaurant/bar while looking out at the water. There we can do laundry, take a hot shower, grab some ice cream, and provision more at the store. SCUBA diving is available as well. We’ll have a group dinner and hang out a bit before heading back to the campground (10 minute walk).

Tuesday morning we take the infamous Fence Road to the beach and stay there. If that is too much, there is an easier alternate route. Sometimes windy, always fun. Last year we saw foxes, bison, many different kinds of birds and even a snake!

Wednesday we’ll take the easy way back to Two Harbors, grab lunch, hang out and party a bit with other travelers before jumping on the boat and heading back to LA. SCUBA diving is available as well during the afternoon.

Included in the cost of this trip are the following:

• Permits
• Ferry tickets
• Choice campsites every night
• Coffee or tea every morning
• Snacks every day
• Fuel for any cooking
• Firewood when available
• Help and knowledge about the island
• A complete packing list
• Help and advice on what to bring and buy (at a low cost, too)
• Help and advice on how to prepare yourself for the trip 
• Two guides who are trained in Wilderness First Aid and have been leading and backpacking for over 10 years combined
  

As well as the following specifics by day:

Day 1 - LA to Avalon to Blackjack

• Souvenir trail map
• Stop at the Avalon Trail shop
• Breakfast burrito or something equivalent in town
• Lunch sandwich (packed, your choice)

Day 2 - Blackjack to Little Harbor

• Brunch at airport restaurant
• Group campfire
• S’mores at the campfire

Day 3 - Little Harbor to Two Harbors

• Lunch and a beverage at Two Harbors patio
• Shower at Two Harbors
• Laundry at Two Harbors
• Dinner at Two Harbors restaurant

Day 4 - Two Harbors to Parsons Landing

• Water at Parsons Landing
• Group campfire at Parsons Landing
• S’mores for dessert

Day 5 - Parsons Landing to Two Harbors to LA

• Lunch at Two Harbors
• Ferry tickets to LA

Note: if there is extra food or anything to carry for the group, we may need to distribute that among the hikers, so please be aware you may be carrying an extra 1-2 lbs the first couple of days.

Along this journey you will see amazing sites, have time to ponder yourself, the world, and your place in it, make lifelong friends, and discover a whole new world just off the coast. Steve and Gabe one year met over a dozen other people taking the same journey, in different groups, and Steve even met up with one of them in France the next summer! 

We are asking for a deposit of $200 and the balance to be paid by April 15th.  

The trip is fully refundable before April 15th, 50% refundable before April 22nd, and non-refundable after that unless we can replace your spot. We do suggest purchasing trip insurance if that is a concern.

Note: you will be required to sign a release of liability prior to starting the trip. You can find a copy of this on the Resources page. Refunds are only provided according to the description above and are not changed if you decide not to sign the release.

Please let us know as soon as you can if you are interested and we will get you signed up!

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