Maria's Backcountry Camping Info

LAMP
What ever type of lamp you bring make sure it's very dependable. You don't need one that shines very far, you need it mostly around the camp site to find things in the dark.

MOSQUITO PROTECTION
Bring mosquito coils, a mosquito candle, or some other anti mosquito stuff.

STRING
Good old-fashioned heavy-duty string could be the most important thing in your pack.

BACK PACK
Be very careful when you buy a backpack, many of the big brands are selling low quality junk and charging you big bucks for the brand. If you're looking for a top of the line backpack it's good to look at less known brands that have a good reputation. These kinds of brands are generally very local and it's hard to know what to get. If you're looking for a good backpack but are not ready t spend $250 or so just get a well known non-fancy brand, nobody will think you're cool but you'll have a good backpack.

WATER
You need to keep hydrated in the wilderness, your body works better when you're not thirsty, when you get thirsty you've already wasted a lot of energy without even noticing. The trick is to take a little zip of water as often as possible so you never get thirsty in the first place.

BACKPACKING STOVE
As far as I know there's not a single stove on the market that can compare to the Trailstove. The Trailstove weighs less than a pound, it burns wood that you gather on site so you don't have to carry any fuel, it has no moving parts. The design is extremely simple, it's a stainless steel cone with some holes in all the right places for air to go in and out and a screen for the wood, and a hose that you blow air into by mouth when you start it up. I think the big guys that are selling us fancy brand name stoves for big bucks would be embarrassed to make something as simple as this, but the simple truth is that the Trailstove that sells for about 20 bucks is a much better choice than any $200 ultra-light stove in the world.

Almost anywhere you go you can find water if you just go downhill, water flows in valleys and accumulates in depressions, it's all just gravity at work.

Look for different vegetation, greener vegetation far away often indicates the presence of water.

Look for a chain of uniform vegetation, this often means that there is a riverbed.

If the riverbed is dry there may be water under the ground, the best place to dig is by the largest plant you can find.

Great Basin National Park

From the sagebrush at its alluvial base to the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park includes streams, lakes, alpine plants, abundant wildlife, a variety of forest types including groves of ancient bristlecone pines, and numerous limestone caverns, including beautiful Lehman Caves.

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Daily, Summer: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Pacific; Daily, Winter: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Pacific; Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

Lehman Cave tours are offered daily year-round. In the winter, the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is only open to the Upper Lehman Creek Campground and Lehman Creek Trailhead. Opening dates of the higher portions of the road depend on weather. The road usually opens for the summer season starting in May, June or early July. It usually closes by late October or November.

Getting There
PLANE - The nearest airport is loctaed in Cedar City, Utah, 120 miles away. Major airports are found in Salt Lake City (240 miles) and Las Vegas (287 miles.)

CAR - From the east or west: from U.S. Highway 6 & 50, turn south on Nevada State Highway 487 and travel 5 miles to Baker, NV; in Baker turn west on Highway 488 to the park.

From the south: Travel north on Utah State Highway 21 which will become Nevada State Highway 487 as you cross the border; turn west on Highway 488 in the town of Baker.

Weather & Climate
This is a fairly arid region with most precipitation received during winter snows or summer thunderstorms. Winters are generally cool and summers are generally mild; however, weather conditions can change rapidly, especially at the higher elevations. Be prepared for all types of weather. Lehman Caves is 50 degrees F, 90% humidity year round, a jacket and suitable walking shoes are recommended.

Accessibility
Upper Lehman Creek, Wheeler Peak, and Baker Creek Campgrounds have a designated wheelchair accessible site. The visitor center is wheelchair accessible as is the First Room Tour of Lehman Caves.

Getting Around
The Wheeler Peak Scenic drive is 12 miles long with an 8% grade. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not recommended to travel beyond the Upper Lehman Creek Campground. The road is closed beyond this campground in the winter. The Baker Creek Road is a 3.6 mile gravel road. This road is closed in winter.

FEES/PERMITS

Activity Fee
CAVE TOUR, 30 MINUTES
$2.00 for One Time
The 30 minute tour visits the Gothic Palace where you can view all of the major types of cave formations found in Lehman Caves, and is wheelchair accessible. This tour is recommended for families with young children and infants. Cave tours are limited to 25 persons. Cave tours often sell out. To ensure space, buy your tickets early in the day or in advance over the phone. (775) 234-7331 ext 242.

CAVE TOUR, 60 MINUTES
$6.00 for One Time
This 0.46 mile walk through the cave visits several highly decorated rooms. The route passes by many shields, helictites, and fabulous draperies. Cave tours are limited to 25 persons. Cave tours often sell out. To ensure space, buy your tickets early in the day or in advance over the phone. (775) 234-7331 ext 242.

CAVE TOUR, 90 MINUTES
$8.00 for One Time
This tour is the longest offered, walking 0.54 miles through the cave, and visiting the spectacular Grand Palace where one can see the "Parachute Shield". Children ages 4 and under are not permitted on the 90 minute tour. The limited attention span of younger children can detract from the enjoyment of other people on the tour. Cave tours are limited to 25 persons. Cave tours often sell out. To ensure space, buy your tickets early in the day or in advance over the phone. (775) 234-7331 ext 242.

NATIONAL PARKS PASS SPECIAL
$50 for Annual
Purchase your National Parks Pass at Great Basin National Park, and recieve one free cave tour, a value of up to $8.

CAMPING

*Grey Gliffs Group Campground
Memorial Day to Labor Day
Elevation is 7115 ft. (2160 meters) This group campsite is open May through November, weather permitting. A campfire is allowed in one campfire ring only. The campsite has pit toilets and no potable water. Water jugs can be filled at the Baker Creek Campground or the RV dumpstation. RV's are not recommended due to space constraints. The campsite fee is $25 per night for up to 25 people. Each additional person will increase the fee one dollar. The total may not exceed 50 people and $50. A $10 non-refundable deposit will be applied to the fee. Balance is due upon check-in.
For More Information on this campground please call (775) 234-7331 ext. 213

Baker Creek Campground
Baker Creek Campground, at 7,700 feet (2,350 meters), contains 32 campsites, 2 of which are wheelchair accessible, and pit toilets. It is 3 miles from Visitor Center on a gravel road. Water is available in summer only. Campsites are $10.00 per night and are limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site.

Lower Lehman Creek Campground
Open All Year
Lower Lehman Creek Campground, at 7,300 feet (2200 meters), contains 11 campsites, pit toilets, and a limited number of pull-through sites for small RV's and trailers. It is 2.5 miles from Visitor Center off the paved scenic drive. Lower Lehman Campground is open all year, but water available in summer only. Campsites are $10.00 per night, and are limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site.

Upper Lehman Creek Campground
Upper Lehman Campground is located 3 miles from the Visitors Center off the Scenic Drive at 7,800 feet (2,400 meters). It contains 24 campsites, pit toilets, and 1 wheelchair accessible site. Water is available in summer only. Campsites are $10.00 per night and are limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site.

Wheeler Peak Campground
Wheeler Peak Campground is located at 9,950 feet (3,000 meters) at the end of the scenic drive, just over 12 miles from the Visitors Center. It contains 37 sites (one wheelchair accessible), and pit toilets. The road to the campground is narrow and curvy and climbs an 8% grade 12 miles. RV's and trailers are not recommended. Water is available in summer only. Campsites are $10.00 per night, limited to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site. No water available at this time.

FACILITIES

VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year
Phone - (775) 234-7331
Location - The Visitor Center is located on NV Hwy. 488, 5.5 miles from the town of Baker, and half a mile inside the park boundary.
Closures - The Visitor Center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Special Programs - Regularly scheduled tours of Lehman Caves are offered year round. Tours may be 30, 60 or 90 minutes in duration. Longer tours go further along the same route. The 30 minute tour visits only the Gothic Palace. Distance for the 90 minute tour is 0.54 miles. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the 90 minute cave tour. Nightly campfire programs, daily guided Bristlecone hikes, and weekend kid's programs are offered Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Exhibits - The Visitor Center exhibits include cave formations, ancient bristlecone pines, plant communities and seasonal exhibits.
Available Facilities - The Visitor Center houses exhibits, two short audiovisual presentations, the Great Basin Natural History Association bookstore (775-234-7270), and a concession gift shop and cafe (775-234-7221).

LAMP	What ever type of lamp you bring make sure it's very dependable. You don't need one that shines very far, you need it mostly around the camp site to find things in the dark.
MOSQUITO PROTECTION	Bring mosquito coils, a mosquito candle, or some other anti mosquito stuff.
STRING	Good old-fashioned heavy-duty string could be the most important thing in your pack.
BACK PACK	Be very careful when you buy a backpack, many of the big brands are selling low quality junk and charging you big bucks for the brand. If you're looking for a top of the line backpack it's good to look at less known brands that have a good reputation. These kinds of brands are generally very local and it's hard to know what to get. If you're looking for a good backpack but are not ready t spend $250 or so just get a well known non-fancy brand, nobody will think you're cool but you'll have a good backpack.
WATER	You need to keep hydrated in the wilderness, your body works better when you're not thirsty, when you get thirsty you've already wasted a lot of energy without even noticing. The trick is to take a little zip of water as often as possible so you never get thirsty in the first place.
BACKPACKING STOVE	As far as I know there's not a single stove on the market that can compare to the Trailstove. The Trailstove weighs less than a pound, it burns wood that you gather on site so you don't have to carry any fuel, it has no moving parts. The design is extremely simple, it's a stainless steel cone with some holes in all the right places for air to go in and out and a screen for the wood, and a hose that you blow air into by mouth when you start it up. I think the big guys that are selling us fancy brand name stoves for big bucks would be embarrassed to make something as simple as this, but the simple truth is that the Trailstove that sells for about 20 bucks is a much better choice than any $200 ultra-light stove in the world.