Location

Deep in the Angeles Forest, under majestic trees, is Camp Sturtevant.   Established in 1893, it is the only camp from the Great Hiking Era still in operation in southern California's San Gabriel Mountains.   Surrounded by the largest virgin stand of Big Cone Spruce trees in the United States, Sturtevant's canyon setting provides a unique opportunity to experience wilderness, an historic location, and contra dance! The four-mile hike leads you up the lush, cool and shady Santa Anita Canyon to the cozy, inviting canyon setting of this beautiful camp setting.   Complete with bunk bed cabins, a bathhouse, and a dining and dance hall, with maple floor that has the natural spring of hundred-year-old horizontal pole framing.   It is an intimate location for 40 campers.   A pack train of burros hauls the food, creature comforts, and fuel up a trail that leaves roads, cars, crowds, disturbance, worry, and the bustle of LA miles away.   The quiet canyon setting provides perfect solitude.   The camp includes heated cabins, hot showers, a 30-foot tree swing, zip-trolley line, volleyball court, fireplaces, a warren of hiking trails, and the great outdoors for relaxing.   It is a place designed for weekend fun, fantastic traditional music and, of course, CONTRA DANCING!

The hike

We will meet at the trailhead no later than 2:00 PM on Friday to hike in together.   We plan on returning to the trailhead by 5:00PM Monday.  

Accommodations

Heated bunk bed cabins, with separate Men's and Women's restrooms & hot showers nearby.   An optional tent area is available.  

Meals

There will be nine nutritious, filling meals, prepared in modern kitchen facilities, provided as part of the weekend.   A variety of refreshments will be provided throughout the day.  

Pack train portage

The pack train of donkeys will be hauling our food, fuel, equipment and supplies.   They will haul 10 pounds of camper's personal items round trip.   Items must be delivered at a drop off point (3 or 4 throughout the L.A. area) by Wednesday night.   Out of town campers can send boxes of items to Dan for inclusion in the pack train.  

Registration

You can send in application any time, however, a lottery will be held on April 15th if there are more applications received than spaces available.   Consideration will be given to gender balance.   Acceptance notices will be sent after the April 15th.   Registration is not transferable.   Registration fee is $295.   A $50 deposit is required with your application.   Balances must be paid in full by May 10th

Please download and/or print the registration flyer:  

Cancellations

A full refund will be given to cancellation requests received before May 10th.  

Work Scholarships

A limited number of partial work scholarships are available.   Please contact Dan for more information.  

Contact Dan: dan@vilter.us 626.422.4364 or Lynn: lynn_ricketts@yahoo.com or browse the site menu on the upper left.

For more information and history about Big Santa Anita Canyon including the pack station and Camp Sturtevant the canyon association web page is:

http://www.bigsantaanitacanyon.com/

http://www.sturtevantcamp.org/