Backpacking trip with BOTH chapters of Latino Outdoors!
IMPORTANT: This event is for participants over 18 years old only. Each participant is required to register with their own name and email, in which they will receive a waiver to fill out a week prior to the event.
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MONDAY, JULY 27th! Spots are limited.
If you cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible by replying to the email you received from Eventbrite so that we can release spots to those on the waitlist.
Join us for our first joint outing with Latino Outdoors Colorado and Latino Outdoors Wyoming! This is an approx 2.5-mile-in backpacking trip in Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming (about 1 hour outside of Laramie). Gear is available to borrow if you don’t have backpacking/hiking gear.
This hike is suited for beginners and we will hike around many alpine lakes. Please read all of the information below thoroughly and reply to the email you received once you have registered if you have any questions! If you have any questions prior to registration, email colorado@latinooutdoors.org
Trail Info:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/lost-lakes-to-west-glacier-lake
Distance to basecamp: 2.5 miles in and 2.5 miles out
Elevation Gain: 784ft
Max Elevation: 10,948ft
Basecamp Elevation: 10,787ft
Skill Level: Beginner
Facilities: There are toilets and a picnic area at the trailhead. The rest of the trailhead and basecamp does not have toilets or any other facilities. We will give guidance on digging cat holes with a trowel and packing out toilet paper/wipes if you don’t have experience. Laramie, WY will be the closest developed town to the trail, there are limited facilities in the closer town of Centennial, WY. We will have access to a creek from where we will filter water that is about half a mile away from our basecamp and 0.3 miles from our cooking site. There is no cell service on this trail. We will have satellite devices, which can be used in emergencies to communicate.
Terrain: Overall, the trail is pretty exposed, with not many shade opportunities. We will go at the pace of the slowest member of our group to make sure that our group stays together at an even pace. The trail varies in wideness during the hike, but is mostly narrow and we will be needing to stop to let other trail users outside of our group pass us.
What to Expect During this Backpacking Trip
Parking:
There is a small parking lot at the trailhead. Cars are also allowed to park overnight on the road leading to the trailhead. Each car will need to have a parking pass from the trailhead attached to the rearview mirror. The parking pass will also account for the day use fee (which Latino Outdoors will cover if you do not have a National Parks pass).
Carpooling:
Carpooling with LO volunteers who are pre-approved to drive will be offered in the registration.
Weather:
The weather tends to be warm during the day and cold at night. Be prepared for both extremes and the possibility of passing storms.
Bear Safety/Wildlife Precautions:
Bear canisters are not required for this area. All food, food utensils, and personal care items (smell-ables) should be near you at all times, as best practice. During dinner clean up, all smell-ables should be placed in a dry bag and put in a bear hang (which we will demonstrate).
Itinerary:
Day 1
- 11am:We will arrive at the trailhead at 11am.
- Everyone will be required to pack their packs together.
- We will make sure everyone has a paid parking pass.
- We will have lunch at the picnic area at the trailhead (Latino Outdoors will provide meal)
- 4pm: Get to basecamp at 4pm at the latest.
- We will set up camp when we arrive.
- 5pm: Start dinner preparations.
- 7:30pm: Dinner clean up and bear hangs at 7:30pm at the latest.
- We will have hangout/downtime after dinner cleanup.
- 8:23pm: Sunset.
- We will have a fire at/after sunset if fire regulations at the time allow.
- The last leader to go to bed will stay with the fire and allow the full putting out of the fire (with water from lake nearby)
Day 2
- We will decide as a group the plan for the day, making sure we get back to the trailhead by 1pm at the latest that day.
- Breakfast at camp
- Lunch at trailhead (Latino Outdoors will provide sandwiches)
Participant Policies!
As a participant of this outing, I abide by the following policies:
No-Show/Late Cancellation
In order to respect the resources our organizations put into this outing, no-shows or cancellations without proper notice and not due to unforeseen circumstances will not be allowed to participate in future backpacking trips with Latino Outdoors CO or WY.
Commitment to Staying the Entire Length of the Outing
Ensure that you are able to participate for the entire duration of the outing. Excluding emergencies, everyone in the outing must arrive and leave together.
Remaining with the Group for Entire Outing
Please let one of the leaders know where you are going if you need to step away momentarily from the group at any time. Do not hike ahead of the group or leave for extended periods of time on your own.
Audio Technology
As to not disrupt the experiences of others, we ask that you disconnect from audio technology when we are in a group. This includes:
- Not using phone speaker or external speakers
- Not making phone calls when in the group, except for emergencies
- Not using headphones (including wireless headphones) while walking on the trail
If you must use technology, please do so during down time, not while we are in a group and quietly enough that others are not able to hear. Aside from disrupting the nature experience, it could be a potential safety risk to use technology on the trail.
Photography/Content Creation
Please help the outing maintain an authentic experience and don’t interrupt the flow of the outing by staging, recreating moments, or posing excessively for content creation. We will have volunteers from our group who will be our designated content creators/photographers. For Latino Outdoors social media, the waiver will include a photo release agreement. For individuals’ social media, please seek the consent of those that appear in your content individually. Do not post others without their expressed consent in your personal social media accounts.
Acknowledge Different Levels of Outdoor Experience
Everyone joining does not have the same level of experience. This outing is geared towards beginners. We will all be accommodating to beginners and people with less experience than us. This includes:
- Requiring all participants to pack their backpack at the trailhead as a group, item by item.
- We will explain the purpose of each item in the packing list.
- The slowest member of our group will set the pace at the front of the group. Do not take offense if a group leader asks you to go to the front of the group. Keeping an even pace helps to keep everyone safe and together, and is overall done for good group management.
- We are not in a rush or in a race, we will take plenty of breaks and no one should be afraid to ask for a break.
Community Agreements!
- Come As You Are
We honor and celebrate the full spectrum of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, and family structures. Show up as your whole self, and allow others to do the same.
- Respect All Identities and Pronouns
Use the names and pronouns people share with you. If you make a mistake, gently correct yourself and move on.
- Consent is Key
Always ask before touching someone (including during first aid moments) or taking photos of others. Please respect people’s physical, emotional, and social boundaries.
- Share the Work
This is a communal effort! Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, helping to set up, or watching the fire—please lend a hand and support group meals and camp duties as you are able.
- Leave No Trace & Respect the Land
Take care of our shared space. Clean up after yourself and your group, reduce waste, and honor the land and water we’re on! We will be explaining what this means for our outing specifically.
- Mindful Friendly Vibes
Be mindful of language, tone, and behavior in shared spaces. Let’s create a joyful and safe environment for everyone!
- Communicate Openly & Kindly
If conflicts arise or you feel uncomfortable, talk to a lead organizer or volunteer. We’re here to support a respectful and caring community experience for everyone.
How to Dress for Backpacking Comfort/Protection from the Elements
- Non-cotton shirt
- Non-cotton and non-jean pants or shorts
- Sturdy athletic shoes or hiking boots
- Wool or synthetic socks if possible
- Sun hat (baseball cap, hat with wide brim, visor, etc.) and/or sunglasses
Prohibited items:
- Weapons (excluding bear spray)
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
- Vapes
- Recreational drugs
- Speakers
Individual Packing List
Remember: packing the least you can without sacrificing your safety/comfort will make for the best backpacking experience
Required Items
*LO can provide the gear with an asterisk for you to borrow if you marked it in your registration or contacted us about it*
- 40L-50L minimum Backpack (ideally 50L+)*
- Backpacking tent and footprint*
- Large black garbage bag for lining backpack to waterproof*
- Sleeping Bag*
- Sleeping Bag Liner*
- Sleeping Pad*
- Headlamp*
- Hiking poles* (why hiking poles are helpful: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY9eo5ICnIf/?igsh=MTc1ZHMzaXRqZ3ExeQ== )
- Water filter/purification*
- Water (we recommend 1.5 liters minimum since we will have water filtration access near basecamp, in a water bladder/nalgene/other lightweight water container – LO can provide nalgenes)*
- Electrolytes (we will have Salud electrolytes for the group) – we recommend one of your water containers to be electrolytes to prevent hyponatremia (low sodium levels) which can happen during intense physical activity*
- Rain jacket*
- Winter gloves/mittens
- Winter hat/beanie
- Extra pair of socks
- Long sleeve shirt and/or light fleece or synthetic pullover or jacket (extra layers)
- Puffy jacket
- Personal care items
- Toilet paper/wipes for bathroom and trash bag for these items*
- Sunscreen SPF 30+
- Bug spray (mosquitos are prevalent in basecamp area)
- Chapstick or lip balm with sunscreen*
- Eating utensils
- Personal meals (1 dinner and 1 breakfast and we recommend bringing an extra meal just in case – please see bottom of this document for suggestions for lightweight meals)
- Personal snacks (we recommend salty snacks, as this helps keep your sodium levels healthy which leads to adequate hydration)
- National Parks pass if you have one (this covers your fee)
Optional Items
- Food bowl (depends on what meals you will be taking – more info in bottom section)
- Bear canister (not required for this area, we will be teaching bear hangs)
- Wag bag (we will have some if you don’t have one, this is used as an option for pooping and we’ll explain how they’re used)
- Sleeping clothes (optional but it’s comfy)
- Change of clothes (adds weight and bulk, most backpackers opt to only wearing one outfit)
- Camp shoes (optional, shoes for wearing around camp that are comfy)
- Battery pack and phone charger cable
Group Gear
Group gear will be divided amongst the group to carry and you can bring your own of these items if you have it or if you prefer to have your own. LO will provide these items.
- Plastic bags to waterproof inside of pack (each individual person will receive one)
- Dry bags (for bear hangs)
- Stoves
- Fuel
- Cookware
-
- 2.L collapsible pot
- Dish/hand washing station w/soap
- Extra batteries for headlamps
- Water filter
- Water purification
- Extra trash bags
- Trowel with hand sanitizer
- Extra bug spray
- Salud electrolytes (caffeine: hibiscus. immunity: guava jarritos, watermelon, horchata, cucumber/lime)
- Backpacking spf chapstick
- Pact dehydrated wipes
- Backpacking food samples
- Extra snacks
- Mini games
- Mini smores
- $5 cash for each car that does not have a National Park pass
Group Gear that LO leaders will carry (you may also bring your own if you prefer)
- Emergency satellite communication device
- Walkie talkies
- Bear spray
- First aid kit
- Lighter
- LO Flag
- Copies for each leader of emergency contact info (including of leaders)
- Copies for each leader of emergency response plan
Meal suggestions
For meals, you want to make sure you like the food you’re taking and that it’s not the first time you’re trying a meal because you need calories to make sure your energy levels are up while your body is working hard. At the same time, most food/meals are too heavy to carry over several miles and not worth the weight. Also remember that anything that doesn’t get eaten will have to be packed back out and you will have to carry it back. Take the opportunity to try some lightweight meals at home in the weeks prior to the trip to see what you like. Here are some suggestions on what to bring and what not to bring:
- LUNCH – something that does not require cooking
-
- Tuna (in plastic packets, not cans) with carbs (tortilla, saltines, chips, etc)
- Sandwich (pb&j, or any type of sandwich)
- Burrito
- Leftovers (pizza, etc)
- DINNER – can require cooking or not/can be same as lunch
-
- Backpacking meals/dehydrated meals – we will have some samples of these to share as a group, but again, it has to be food that you like if it will be your only meal available
- Ready to Eat non-refrigerated pre-cooked meals packaged in plastic that can be heated in stove or in hot water (any combination of these to make a meal)
-
- Chilorio meals (we will have some at camp to try)
- Isadora meals
- Rice
- Beans
- Mashed potatoes
- Top ramen
- Chicken
- Tuna
- Pasta
- Tortillas
- BREAKFAST – can require cooking or can be eaten cold
-
- Any combination of:
-
- Oatmeal
- Dry/dehydrated fruit
- Protein powder
- Granola
- Powdered milk
- Instant coffee
- Tea
- Backpacking meal breakfast
- SNACKS
-
- Bars
- Cheez-itzs
- Chips
- Nuts
- Energy gummies/gels
- Candy
- Any other hiking snack
NOT Recommended Food/Drinks:
- Prepackaged drinks (gatorade, juice, etc)
- Fresh fruit (bananas, apples, etc)
- Water gallons
- Yogurt
- Milk
FAQs
Is there a cost for this event?
This is a free opportunity to gather with the community. Latino Outdoors will cover the day use parking fee.
Language Accessibility Disclosure:
As a volunteer-led chapter of Latino Outdoors, we rely on the language skill sets of our volunteers and partners. Due to limited capacity and funding, we are not able to provide consistent multilingual, Spanish-language programming, or other Native languages. As an organization, we value transparency and Language Justice, and we want to make sure that our participants are aware of what to expect at each event.
The programming for this event will be:
- Programming Language: English/Spanish
- Available Interpretation: None
- Volunteer Language Proficiency: CO Bianca, WY Bianca, Brian, and Raul – Fluent in English and Spanish
Regardless of your language abilities, you are welcomed at this event and we will do our best to work with you. The intention of this disclosure is to create better transparency on what to expect during our program.
