Backpacking, Day Hikes & Family Camping

We're already looking forward to getting outdoors next summer and we hope that you can join us to enjoy the beauty of God's creation: the mountains, lakes, rivers, flowers... and the people that you will meet!

Registration Forms

Registration & Deposit by April 1:

• Backpacking (Backcountry, Week 1)
• Day Hikes (Weeks 1 or 2)
• Family Camp (Week 1)

Balance Due by June 1:

• Pay Balance by June 1

Covid Complications

Covid complicates many things, including group activities, therefore:

• For the safety of all participants we will be developing a "Covid Covenant" for shared safety procedures prior to, en route and during the trips.  The covenant will vary slightly for each unique trip experience and will be developed in detail this Spring dependent on the spread or containment of the virus.
• Transportation to and from the mountains will be dependent on virus containment.  Two options we are exploring include:
  • Pods: If there are family groups or safe pods of people committed to safe travel, then family groups could arrange their own travel to and from the mountains, meeting Immanuel leadership in Wyoming.
  • If virus transmission is reduced and/or vaccines are readily available, we might rent vans (as we have in the past) for group travel to and from the mountains. 
• Tenting:  Households or pods will tent together.
• Meals will be prepared by a different household or pod each night.

 

July 17 - 24, 2021

Watch the Backpacking & Day Hike Interest Meeting by clicking on the video on the right, or by clicking HERE.

1) Backpacking overnight in the backcountry with Pastor Paul or Paul Kautz

This is a multi-generational wilderness experience for young adults, adults and youth who have completed 8th grade. Students who have completed 7th Grade may attend with a parent. 

See and experience things that are out of the ordinary. Take a ride across Dakota, laugh with friends, enjoy Solitude, take a shower in a mountain waterfall, sing around campfires, sleep under the stars, commune with God. Hike, work, cook, play and pray together, and take part in the best adventure of all, friendship grounded in faith, guided by Jesus Christ. Come grow in friendship and faith!

Participants will carry a pack with all of their personal gear (clothing, breakfast and lunches, rain gear, sleeping bag and pad, personal snacks, etc.) and some group equipment (Group equipment includes: tents, cook kit, First Aid kit, potty packs, fuel, group food, etc.).  Here's the Packing List.

• July 17 travel to Buffalo, WY and stay at the Big Horn Mountains Campground
• July 18 - 23: backpacking in the backcountry
• July 23: hike to trailhead and go into town to shower
• July 24: drive home

The cost of backpacking is $150 (assuming that Covid complications result in you making your own transportation arrangements to and from the mountains.  In the event that van transporation is deemed to be safe we would add the cost of vans to the trip).

2) Day Hikes with Martin Rathjen

Enjoy the beauty of the Bighorn's Cloud Peak Wilderness with scenic day hikes.  You only need to carry a light pack with: water (2 water bottles or a camelbak), rain gear, a warm layer, sandals to cross streams, sun screen, lighter, whistle, small flashlight and food (Other shared group hiking items will include: First Aid Kit, water filter, potty pack, etc.).

Immanuel has a supply of tents and general camping equipment that can be borrowed if needed, otherwise, bring out your own camping equipment (there is room available for tents, campers, etc.). All sites are non-electric.   Please contact martin@immanuel.us and let him know what you may need.

If you prefrerred you could find your own accommodation in Buffalo and drive up to meet the group in the mountains!  

Optional day hikes in the Bighorns which could include: Bald Ridge, Sherd Lake (and beyond), Mirror Lake and/or Lost Twin, Lake Angeline, Seven Brothers.  We're flexible so you could skip day hiking and head into Buffalo to explore!

• July 17: travel to Buffalo, WY and stay at the Big Horn Mountains Campground
• July 18 - 24: Camp at the Hettinger Group Camp (about 15 miles west of Buffalo).
• July 24: drive home 

The cost of camping during day hiking is $20/household/night.  Food purchase and prepartion will be on your own. We can each chip in a little towards the cost of firewood.

3) Family Camp (Families of all ages!) with Paul Erdmann

Families with children/youth and families without children.  This is for anyone who'd rather not hike the backcountry or do long day hikes (But you could do a hike with the day hiking group...as the Day Hike and Family Camp groups will be fluid).

Watch the video (right) about the many options this trip offers.

Immanuel has a supply of tents and general camping equipment that can be borrowed if needed, otherwise, bring out your own camping equipment (there is room available for tents, campers, etc.). All sites are non-electric.   

If you prefrerred you could find your own accommodation in Buffalo and drive up to meet the group in the mountains!  

Please contact paule@immanuel.us and let him know what you may need.

• July 17: travel to Buffalo, WY and stay at the Big Horn Mountains Campground
• July 18 - 24: Camp at the Hettinger Group Camp (about 15 miles west of Buffalo). $20/household/night
• Come for 1 night, 2 nights, 3 or more!
• Connect with other families and explore the Bighorn Mountains area which can include: Hunter Mesa walk, West Ten Sleep Lake and Falls, Tie Hack Reservoir, Drive through the Crazy Woman Canyon, explore Buffalo

 

July 24 - 31, 2021

Day Hikes with Pastor Paul

Enjoy the beauty of the Bighorn's Cloud Peak Wilderness with scenic day hikes.  You only need to carry a light pack with: water (2 water bottles or a camelbak), rain gear, a warm layer, sandals to cross streams, sun screen, lighter, whistle, small flashlight and food (Other shared group hiking items will include: First Aid Kit, water filter, potty pack, etc.).

Immanuel has a supply of tents and general camping equipment that can be borrowed if needed, otherwise, bring out your own camping equipment (there is room available for tents, campers, etc.). All sites are non-electric.   Please contact paul@immanuel.us and let him know what you may need.

• July 24: travel to Buffalo, WY and stay at the Big Horn Mountain Campground where you will meet Pastor Paul.
• July 25 - 30: Camp at the Hettinger Group Camp (about 15 miles west of Buffalo). $20/household/night
  • Optional day hikes in the Bighorns which could include: Bald Ridge, Sherd Lake (and beyond), Mirror Lake and/or Lost Twin, Lake Angeline, Seven Brothers
  • Optional: skip a day of hiking and head into Buffalo to explore
• July 31: drive home 

The cost of day hiking is $20/household/night.  Food purchase and prepartion will be on your own. We can each chip in a little towards the cost of firewood.

 

Options

• If neither of these weeks works for you please contact paul@immanuel.us or martin@immanuel.us to see if we can arrange an alternate week.
• We are continuing to explore the possibility of a BWCA trip and/or an Isle Roylae trip.  Please contact martin@immanuel.us if you're interested.

Cost

• Backcountry Backpacking and Fishing Trips: 
  • If you arrange your own transportation to and from the mountains, the cost will be $150 to cover the cost of food, cooking fuel, water filters, tents, equipment maintenance. etc.
  • Fishing license (if you choose to go fishing).
• Day Hikes & Family Camp:
  • $20/household/night for camping
  • chip in to cover the cost of firewood
  • food of your own choice/purchase
  • Fishing license (if you choose to go fishing).

Participants should bring money for meals on the way out and back from Wyoming.

Scholarships are available upon request

Documents

• Backpacking FAQs (Please read)
• Backpacking Equipment Needs Request Form
• Packing List
• Backpacking How To's and Gear Tips

Practice Hikes

We will walk the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area trails and talk through the trip. Bring your pack and start out with a lighter load and work up to a heavier load. Bring your questions and we’ll talk them through with you. Start getting in shape now so that you’ll enjoy the mountain experience even more! Please let us know if you’d like to carpool from Immanuel.

Leave No Trace Training

We’ll learn important skills through hands-on and interactive experiences that will help protect the wilderness.

Food Packing

Food packaging and prepartion will be dependent on the group option.

Learn how to minimize our impact on the wilderness with Leave No Trace Training (Things like: how to hike and camp respectfully, low impact cooking and camping, and how to poop in the woods...and so much more!).

For safety purposes all first-time backpackers will be asked to come in for a mandatory equipment check. First timers are asked to bring ALL the equipment that they plan to take (with the exception of underwear) so that a trip leader can check that you have all of the necessary equipment and address your questions.

Contact Pastor Paul (paul@immanuel.us) for more information.