Beginner Overnight Backpack - Chantry Flats to Hoagees Campground

Welcome to backpacking!!!

I am looking forward to leading the first of many backpacking trips for this group and we'll start out with one that may be familiar to many of you.

This is a very easy hike in (5 miles) and easy to find. We will be taking upper winter creek trail 3 miles to Hoegees, it's a short, mostly downhill trail with not much elevation gain or loss and a great trip for beginners. On the way out we will take lower winter creek up the paved road to the parking lot.

We will meet at the top of the parking lot at 6:30 am before the lot fills up. You will need an adventure pass to park here overnight. You can get the adventure pass at the pack station at Chantry but I don't know if they are open that early. REI also has these passes. Parking is always an issue so carpooling is recommended.

The site is named for Hoegees resort which stood just upstream. The concrete foundation in the center of the campground was a private cabin which burned down decades ago. This facility has 15 campsites, each with table, fire ring and wood-burning stove. There are 2 men’s toilets & 2 women’s. Please pack out your garbage. Site is shady year round with perennial water.

Campsites are first come-first serve only. Stream water must be boiled or filtered. There are several options for day hikes from here. We will set up and do a day hike to Zion Summit. Don't forget to bring layers for warmth. We will check weather as the date gets closer, rain cancels trip.

For those of you who are new to backpacking, feel free to ask any questions you can think of. I have been doing this for a long time and can answer almost anything. Also, if you don't have all of the gear you need (see the basic backpacking gear list from REI here: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html ) let me know. Some items can be rented at REI and Sport Chalet. I also have a veritable mini-REI of gear and you can borrow it for this trip. Just let me know.