The Practical Sturtevant Camp
What the Camp provides for you:
- The Camp provides potable water to the public, and in the main Lodge, Retreat Cabin and bathhouse.
- The cabins include covered propane wall heaters, bunks or beds with covered mattresses, plus blankets and pillows. (Linen service, providing sheets, will be available soon.)
- The bathhouse and Retreat Cabin have hot showers and sinks, flush toilets, toilet paper and paper towels.
- The Lodge kitchen is commercial-style with everything needed to serve groups up to 50, including plates, silverware, drinking glasses and hot beverage mugs. There are two propane refrigerator/freezers, a six-burner stove top, two ovens, and a grill top. Also included are pots, pans, skillets, casserole and brownie pans, oven safe cookware and gloves/potholders, etc. Cleaning supplies are also on hand.
- There is also a good supply of salt & pepper, most common spices, olive or vegetable oil for cooking, paper towels, hand towels, hot mitts, dish soap and trash-bags/containers.
- Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and instant oatmeal are provided complimentary to all guests and hikers.
- In the evenings at dusk, electricity is generated to light all the buildings until around 9-10 p.m. After lights out, there are some battery light fixtures inside, but otherwise, it’s all flashlights and headlamps. (No hair driers or other appliances are allowed.)
- This is a wilderness, fully off the grid camp: we have no free wi-fi, in fact, we’re wi-fi free!
- A supply of firewood (for safe use in season) is maintained with the help of guests.
- Trash: your trash will be packed out by the friendly donkeys.
Five things every person needs to bring when staying in the guest cabins:
- Change of clothes, appropriate for the season and predicted weather.
- Towel and toiletries, including shampoo and soap.
- Flashlight or headlamp.
- Bug spray (spring and summer).
- Water bottle (for the trail).
What your group needs to bring:
- Food and drinks besides water.
- Depending on your menu, you might need stuff for preparing your food.
- Sometimes there are left over staples such as condiments, syrup, cooking oil, coffee, etc. Check with your Host before you shop.
What you DON’T need to bring:
- Your cell or smart phone, because it won’t work (Verizon sometimes catches at the heliport, but is NOT reliable.)*
- If you decide to bring a smart phone for the camera, remember that electricity is limited to lighting only.
- Anything related to your job.
- Firearms and/or anything that plugs in.
* Check with your host about emergency communications.
What’s available in Camp:
- The Big Swing, badminton / volleyball, shuffleboard and horseshoes; ping pong, various board games, and of course, unlimited hiking.
- Also: the outdoor chapel, and the nature trail out to the canyon overlook, which is excellent for night-time stargazing (also pretty dramatic at sunrise.)
Dogs:
- Much as we love dogs, for their safety (snakes, bears, tics, etc.) and the safety of others guests, and including through-hikers and their dogs, dogs are not allowed as guests. Insert frowny face.
What YOU do:
- Sturtevant Camp operates like a hostel: you do your own cooking and kitchen clean-up, and you’re asked to clean-up your cabin before check-out so the next guests can thank you.
- Check-in & out: Friday check-in starts 3pm; on Saturday and other days by arrangement with your host (usually after 12 pm works); Sunday check-out starts at 10am and is final by noon.
- Group leaders and parents: the Camp is located in true wilderness, and operates under special conditions. Therefore the Host will meet with you on arrival, and set a time for a brief orientation with your group or family. The purpose is insure a safe, positive experience that sends you home healthy and happy, and leaves the camp in good condition for the next group.
Packing In / Out of Your Items:
- Consider having Adams’ Pack Station pack in your food and personal items. Think about how great your stay will be if you can eat things besides backpacking food or drink your favorite beverage. Plus you do not need to carry your personal items up.
- Adams’ Pack Station only packs to Sturtevant Camp on Fridays. You need to have your items to the pack station by 7:30 am the Friday of your weekend stay. You are welcome to bring the items up during the week or the weekend before. The Pack Station can store everything and refrigerate any perishable items.
- Items you want packed out come out the following Friday.
Check-In / Parking
- Check-in at Adams’ Pack Station prior to hiking in. This allows the pack station to contact the volunteer Host to let them know you are on your way. This also means that your group must check-in prior to 5 pm. Plan for at least a two-three hour hike.
- Parking is at a premium. If you arrive on Friday, you should not have a problem parking. Purchase an Adventure Pass for $5/day from the pack station (one for each day of your trip). If you arrive on Saturday, you’ll need to purchase an Adventure Pass for both Saturday and Sunday ($10 total) and park in the parking lot or along the road.
Directions to Camp
- If you have not been to Sturtevant Camp, you will find that there are no signs at this time. First, look at the map located at: http://www.sturtevantcamp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/simple-map-chantry-to-sturtevant.pdf
- Next, besides following a map, from the time you leave the Pack Station after checking in, you will be looking for signs toward Spruce Grove Campground .
- Begin your trip just below the parking lots and restrooms at the white pipe gate; the fresh dirt road drops steeply down into the Canyon to Robert’s Camp (site only, no buildings remain). Cross the stream and head right past the restrooms. From this point on you will follow the stream up the Canyon, sometimes close to it, other times high above it– but always UP the Canyon.
- After another mile along the stream, with a cluster of private cabins in view, there will trail signs: follow either trail– the Gabrielino trail to your left has a more gradual gain, rising away from the stream along the Canyon hillside. Or the Top of Falls trail goes to your right: this is prettier (closer to the stream and waterfalls) but steeper and tricky in spots. So the trail to your left is a better choice for most families, and both come together at Falling Sign Junction anyway.
- Continue more steeply up toward Spruce Grove; at Fall Sign junction, you’re about halfway to Camp. Soon you will arrive at the Cascades, cross the stream and take a break at the picnic table.
- In another mile you will arrive at Spruce Grove Campground; keep going through the campground and after one more stream crossing, you’ll arrive at Sturtevant Camp (at 3200 ft).
- The full trip is a little over 4.3 miles. The trails are moderate to difficult, but most people do not have a problem with the hike if they take their time. Also, we have found that children also make it just fine. Even the very young ones.
Each weekend the Camp has a volunteer Host who will be with you at Camp, ready to help you have a memorable mountain experience.