Fatpacking Itinerary
Saturday, February 28, 2009 - Sunday, March 8, 2009

Last Updated 1/17/2008

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Fly into Palm Springs, CA (PSP)

We will pick you up at the airport and head to the Ramada Palm Springs, 2000 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-320-0555

Equipment shakedown

Go to Joshua Tree Outfitters to pick up any equipment participants forgot

Trail mix distribution

"Before" measurements taken

Go out for dinner

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in a storage unit. You'll also have the opportunity to take one last shower as this is your last stop in civilization for a week.

Go out for breakfast

Shuttle to Joshua Tree National Park, Indian Cove Campground

Start at Indian Cove Backcountry Board, elevation 2850'

Joshua Tree Picnic Area

Hike 3.1 miles on Boy Scout Trail to Big Pine Trail, elevation 4050'

Hike 1.0 miles on Big Pine Trail to spur trail, elevation 4200'

Hike 0.5 miles on Spur Trail to the end. Camp here. Elevation 4200'

Mileage Today: 4.6. Total mileage: 4.6

Possible bailout: Indian Cove or Park Road

Monday, March 2, 2009

Hike 0.5 miles back to Big Pine Trail, Elevation 4200'

Hike 0.7 miles to Maze Window Loop cutoff, elevation 4250'

Hike 0.2 miles on cutoff to North Side Trail, elevation, 4200'

Hike 1.5 miles to Park Boulevard, elevation 4000'

Pick up cached water

Hike 0.5 miles to Bigfoot Trail, elevation 4000'

Hike 0.9 miles to Panorama Trail, elevation 4000'

Camp near intersection of Bigfoot and Panorama Trails.

Mileage Today: 4.3. Total mileage: 8.9

Possible bailout: Park Road.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Hike 3.0 miles on the Panorama Trail to the Bigfoot Trail, elevation 3650'

Hike 0.3 miles on the Bigfoot Trail to the Quail Springs Trail intersection, elevation 3500'

Hike 2.7 miles on the Bigfoot Trail to Spur Trail, elevation 4500'

Camp at Nolina Cove spur trail, elevation 4500'

Mileage Today: 6.0. Total mileage: 14.9

Possible bailout: Nolina Cove (there are homes at the end of the spur)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Hike 1.2 miles to Covington Loop Trail, elevation 4500'

Hike 1.3 miles on Bigfoot Trail/Covington Loop Trail to Trail intersection, elevation 4700'

Hike 0.3 miles on Bigroot Trail to the California Riding & Hiking Trail, elevation 4550'

Hike 3.0 miles on the CR&HT to Blackrock Campground, elevation 3980'

Camp at Blackrock CG, sites 069 & 070, campfires permitted

Resupply water, 2.5 gallons each

Blackrock Canyon

Mileage Today: 5.8. Total mileage: 20.7

Possible bailout: Blackrock Campground

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Hike 0.6 miles on Blackrock Canyon Trail to Burnt Hill Trail, elevation 4100'

Hike 2.8 miles on Burnt Hill Trail to Eureka Peak Trail, elevation 4800'

Hike 1.1 miles on Eureka Peak Trail to Eureka Peak, elevation 5518'

Eureka Peak

Hike 0.8 miles to Upper Covington Flat Road, elevation 5150'

Hike 0.4 miles along Upper Covington Flat Road to CR&HT, elevation 5150'

Hike 1.9 miles along CR&HT to Covington Flat Backcountry Board, elevation 4820'

Camp near Covington Flat Backcountry Board

Mileage Today: 7.6. Total mileage: 28.3

Possible bailout: Upper Covington Rd.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Hike 1.5 miles to Covington Flat Picnic Area, elevation 4600'

Hike 3.0 miles through Smith Water Canyon, elevation 3700'

Rope scrambling necessary in one spot (it's a 20' rocky dropoff in which you lower yourself using a rope)

Possible pools of water in Smith Water Canyon

Hike 0.5 miles to West Entrance Wash, elevation 3700'

Camp near dense grove of Joshua Trees near Quail Wash Junction

Mileage Today: 5.0. Total mileage: 33.3

Possible bailout: Lower Covington Rd.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Hike 3.5 miles on Quail Springs Trail to Quail Springs Picnic Area, Park Boulevard, elevation 4000'

Pick up cached water

Shuttle arrives

Mileage Today: 3.5. Total mileage: 36.8

Possible bailout: Park Road.

Shuttle back to the Ramada Palm Springs, 2000 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-320-0555

"After" measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony

Sunday, March 8, 2009

"After" measurements taken

Leave Hotel

Parting Breakfast

Airport Drop