mendocino magic
trip details

Wahoo! We're so pumped you're registered for this camping adventure to one of California's most gorgeous areas: Mendocino and the Anderson Valley. You'll find most of the info you need to prepare for your trip on this page. We'll email you the week before the trip with final details about our meeting spot, carpools, and bios from the other rad ladies who'll be joining you.

our campsite

We'll be car camping at Hendy Woods State Park, in the heart of the Anderson Valley's wine growing region. We'll pull our cars directly into our campsite, meaning you'll only have to carry your belongings around thirty feet (from your car to your tent). Hendy Woods features potable water spigots and bathrooms with flush toilets and running water. You won't need to pee or poop outdoors...unless you want to.

Depending on the drought conditions, pay showers with hot water are also available, though few take advantage. If you're deeply committed to showering, bring quarters, a towel, and flip flops!

Meals

Breakfast/dinner on Saturday and breakfast/lunch on Sunday will be provided. We’ll eat tasty hot meals for breakfast and dinner, and this will be your opportunity to get hands-on practice using a variety of camping stoves. The group will share in cooking and cleanup responsibilities, and you'll be on meal duty and dish duty at least once.

For Saturday's lunch, we'll eat a casual lunch out in incredible charming downtown Mendocino, and on Sunday, we'll have picnic-style food that's easy to take on the go. We'll have more than enough food, but if you’ve got any favorite trail treats, feel free to bring them.

We'll stop for dinner at Whole Foods en route to wine country. Bring cash/credit to buy your dinner at the hot food bar!

Hiking

On Saturday, we'll take a short hike around the Mendocino Headlands after our kayak tour. Total distance: 1 mile.

On Sunday, we’ll explore the enormous redwoods in Tall Trees Grove in Hendy Woods State Park. The trails are flat and easy. Total distance: 3 miles.

*Guides reserve the option to modify trip itinerary as necessary due to weather, injury, illness, or other unforeseen incidents.

Packing List

Each Trail Maven should plan on bringing:

• Sleeping bag rated at 40° or colder
• Sleeping pad
• Headlamp with fresh batteries/spares
   
• Sleeping bag liner (if borrowing Trail Mavens sleeping bag)
• Personal clothing (see below)
• Sturdy, broken-in walking/hiking shoes
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Small backpack for carrying your personal items
• Towel for hanging out by the swimming hole
• Sunscreen/sun hat/sunglasses

Items in bold will be provided for those women who indicated they needed them during registration. 

SHARED ITEMS, PROVIDED BY TRAIL MAVENS: Tents, lanterns, food and wine, stoves, fuel, cookware, camp chairs, utensils, firewood and basic First Aid. 

Clothing

This trip is a great opportunity to practice your minimalist packing skills! We recommend the following:

• One pair hiking/quick-dry shorts (something you can get a little damp while we kayak)
• One pair long pants for warmth at night
• Two tanks/short-sleeved shirts
• Fleece or down jacket for warmth to wear on the coast where it's cooler
• Waterproof outerwear for warmth/in case of rain
• Two pairs socks (one pair on your feet, one pair in your bag)
• Two pairs underwear
• Bathing suit

Please use your own judgement when packing: if you’re always cold, pack heavier layers. Keep an eye on the weather forecast linked below!

Weather

We have two distinct climates to keep an eye on as we approach our trip: the Anderson Valley, which is generally sunny and hot (the kind of weather that makes you think summer) and Mendocino, which is generally cool and foggy (the kind of weather that makes you think San Francisco). We'll spend most of our time in the Anderson Valley, but we'll kayak and hang out on Saturday on the coast. Prepare for both climates!

Leave No Trace

Trail Mavens is committed to following and teaching Leave No Trace principles. To get you started, watch this video on LNT Outdoor Ethics from the National Parks Service. We'll cover this material again on our trip!

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking

Trail Mavens often enjoy wine or whiskey together around the campfire in the evenings. Participation in drinking is welcome but of course not mandatory. We ask that Trail Mavens leave recreational drugs at home. If you’re a smoker, please be respectful and partake in a manner that doesn’t bother other group members, and adheres to Leave No Trace principles.

Electronics

This is an internet-free weekend (plus, we won’t have cell service)! If you’d like to share your pics on social media, go for it, but only after we get backhome. Then, feel free to go crazy tagging @trailmavens on Instagram or Twitter.

Gear Care

Trail Mavens provides its adventurers with $800-1000 of fantastic camping gear. Read on for a couple tips on how to keep gear in fantastic condition:

TENTS
Your tent is your home for the weekend, so you want to keep it clean and tidy! Keep the door zipped shut unless you’re getting in or out to avoid six-legged visitors. Consume only water inside your tent to keep it scent-free, and store anything smelly, including toiletries, inside a car or food box (available at our campsite). High-end tent fabric is very delicate; keep shoes and anything else dirty or sharp outside.

SLEEPING BAGS
Set up your sleeping bag inside your tent to keep both your bag and your tent clean.

SLEEPING PADS
Our pads are inflatable, meaning they’re a) quite comfortable and b) can pop if they meet a sharp rock. Be sure to unpack, inflate, deflate, and pack your pad inside your tent, away from anything sharp. This will ensure a comfortable night of sleep for you, and a clean tent.

Still scratching your head about something before the trip?
Email sasha@trailmavens.com.