Beech Creek National Botanical Area in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma will be our home away from home for the spring backpack. This American Beech tree forest marks the western limit of this species habitat in the United States and they are protected from harvest. Bring an adventurous spirit and a compass because these trails are not heavily traveled. We'll carpool to Beech Creek and backpack in a few miles on Wednesday to set up camp. Day hikes on Walnut Mountain, Blue Bouncer, and along Beech Creek will fill our days until we backpack out and head home on Saturday.

Carpool and food groups will be decided at the pre-trip planning meeting immediately following the KCOC program in February. Please contact Lynne at lbeatty@jccc.net to sign up.

Cuivre River Co-ed Backpack
May 7-9

Enjoy forests along clear, rocky creeks nestled beneath steep limestone and dolomite bluffs on this spring adventure. We'll backpack in a couple of miles on Friday afternoon and enjoy more hiking and creek wading on Saturday before backpacking out and returning home on Sunday afternoon. Carpool and food groups will be arranged immediately following the KCOC program on Monday, April 19th. This trip is for up to 12 people and the sign-up deadline is March 15th. Information about the park can be found at www.mostateparks.com/Cuivre.htm. Please contact Lynne at lbeatty@jccc.net to sign up.

Never Summer Wilderness Women's Backpack
July 5-10

Early wildflowers and maybe even a snowy Continental Divide will greet us on this mountain backpack on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. We'll be backpacking approximately 19 miles on the Baker and Bowen Gulch Loop. Snowpack may alter our route. Due to the altitude and ruggedness of the terrain and per park regulations, this trip is for intermediate and experienced backpackers with no respiratory issues, alcohol, or tobacco. Both of those affect acclimatization. We will spend the night of July 5 near Grand Lake, CO at approximately 8,000 ft elevation after driving from Kansas City. We will backpack in only a few miles and camp between 9,000 and 10,000 ft elevation to help us acclimatize on July 6. The next several days will have us swimming in alpine lakes and cresting the divide. The Continental Divide Day will require an early start so we can be down before afternoon thunderstorms begin. Bear canisters are required as of 2009. You will need to purchase or rent one. Check with the Denver REI store or camping supply stores in Grand Lake, CO if you want to rent one. If you use the freezer bag method for all your meals, you can probably share a bear canister with someone and take turns carrying it or redistribute other gear. You will also need to purchase a Colorado Search and Rescue Card (CORSAR) at www.dola.state.co.us/dlg/fa/sar/sar_purchase.html.

This trip is for 7 women and the sign-up deadline is April 19. Please plan on attending several training hikes, including the Mountain Hiking Workshop on April 24, and a pre-trip meeting in May. Our permit cost is $20. We will reward ourselves with a good dinner and lodging somewhere around Grand Lake, CO on July 9 before returning to Kansas City late in the evening on July 10. Please contact Lynne at lbeatty@jccc.net to sign up.

Australia & New Zealand!
March 3-22, 2011

This is a 20-day group trip of Australia and New Zealand put together by Judy Gerling, with help from her son, Mark, who is a travel agent. The price is fantastic and includes round-trip airfare from Kansas City. Also, 25 meals are included in the trip. Group size limited to 20 people.

Highlights include: Melbourne • Alice Springs • Ayers Rock • Cairns • Great Barrier Reef • Sydney • Christchurch • Dine with a New Zealand Family • Franz Josef Glacier Region • Queenstown • Milford Sound • Mt. Cook National Park Per Person Rates: Double $5999, Single $7499, Triple $5949. Included in Price: Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $230 (subject to increase until paid in full), Hotel Transfers, Round Trip Air from Kansas City Intl Airport. Twenty-five meals are included: fifteen breakfasts, two lunches, eight dinners. You will find the complete itinerary at: www.collettevacations.com/group-page/index.cfm?ID=376044. See www.gerlingtravel.com as a resource for info on the trip.

Contact: Judy at JudyKGerling@aol.com