Backpacking Trip 2023

A backpacking trip will take place in conjunction with a car camping trip in the same vicinity. 

Car Camping

The car camping will by at the Meridian Campground in the Pike National Forest.  This campground has 18 campsites with parking spurs at an elevation of 9,000 ft. Campground includes a picnic table and fire ring at each campsite, and two vault toilet.  This site is first-come, first-served and does not take reservations (which is why we can probably get a site).  Dirk plans to be at this campground by Friday morning at the latest to reserve some sites.  We need to know by Wednesday, September 7th, if you are coming, to plan on grabbing sites.  We are limited to a maximum 8 persons per site, 2 tents and 2 vehicles or 1 recreation vehicle per site.

• FS Meridian Campground page
• Getting there (Google)

Backpacking Trip

This will take place starting at the Meridian Trailhead about 1 mile by car from the Meridian Campground.  This will be limited to the people that have already committed to this trip and have been to the orientation meeting.

We are planning on gathering at the Meridian Campground before noon and leaving as a group to the Meridian Trailhead at noon.  We will be leaving a car or two at the trailhead.  The hike to the campsite is about 1 mile with an elevation gain of about 500 feet (9,500 feet).

The weather is starting to turn cooler and at 9500 feet the overnight temperature will probably be 35-45 degrees.  Bring a tent, warm sleeping bag, a ground pad, wool socks, gloves and knit hat for sleeping.  Have food for a dinner, a breakfast, and snacks for in between.  If you don't have a stove, we will have a couple in the group to share and probably have a campfire.  You must have a water container (at least a pint, preferably a liter) and we will have several water purification methods for the stream (Elk Creek) near the campsite.

We plan to return to the trailhead by noon on Sunday.

• FS Meridian Trailhead page
• Getting there (Google)