Altitude, sun, heat and storms

• 1:61 adult to 6 children8 to 9 years · Group size: 12
• 1:81 adult to 8 children10 to 13 years · Group size: 16

36

Ages 8 years to 13 years

• Background checks
• CPR and first aid
• Medication training

• Altitude

  Flagstaff sits at a little over 7,000 feet, and the first days are slow. We take shorter routes at the start of a week, stop for water and a snack often, and walk at the pace of the slowest camper. Tell us at registration if altitude has bothered your camper before.

• Sun

  The sun is strong at this altitude, even on a cool day. Campers wear a brimmed hat, put on sunscreen at home and again after lunch, and take shade breaks. Sunglasses are welcome, and sunscreen comes from home.

• Heat and cold

  Mornings start cool and afternoons warm up, so we dress in layers. On a hot day we move the long walk to the morning, rest in shade through the middle of the day and shorten the afternoon block.

• Storms and lightning

  Afternoon storms are common in July and August. We read the forecast and the sky every morning, keep the afternoon block near the trailhead and bring groups back to the trailhead when the sky starts to turn. When a storm is near, groups move into vehicles and the shelter at the trailhead, and we text families.

• Trail groups

  Every trail group has a counselor in front and a counselor at the back, so a second adult is always with the group. Each camper carries a filled bottle, and each group carries a first-aid kit, extra water and a phone. We drink at every stop on a schedule and count campers each time.

• Wildlife and the land

  Trails here are public land that others share. We keep a distance from wildlife, keep food packed away, stay on the trail and pack out everything we carried in.

• Who may pick up

  An adult on your list signs your camper in and out at the trailhead. We ask for ID until we know you, and we call you if someone new is coming.

• Allergies, medicine and illness

  Tell us about allergies and medicine at registration, and we ask what we need privately. A camper with a fever stays home. If a camper feels ill on the trail, a counselor stays with them and we call you.