Bay Area Expeditions

We had a great experience with BAE this past weekend. We did the Big Sur overnight backpacking trip and it was great. Our guides were Chris and Moe. Chris was great at sharing his wilderness expertise and his love for the outdoors. BAE provided awesome gear including top notch backpacks and individual air mattresses, food bowl, cup and sporks. There’s plenty of room in the backpack for you to stuff your sleeping bag, change of clothes, snacks, etc. Just work quickly getting your stuff in the bag so you get back to the group and don’t miss out on valuable instructions from the BAE guides.
The trail is not that strenuous (maybe intermediate/​beginner level?), and it took about 1 ½ hours of hiking to reach base camp. We had several stops in between. BTW, take a good look at the gorgeous view of the ocean before you hit the trail because once you get in the woods, you are surrounded by redwoods, boulders and plenty of shade. I was glad to see water in the creek given that we are in a draught. Also, I took too much water with me, considering it is less than two hours of hiking. So, don’t overdo it. You can refill your bottles at base camp. For me, two 16 oz bottles were more than enough. The BAE team brings several filtration devices for the group to try and you can refill at any time.

I was concerned that my back would give me problems from carrying so much weight. However, the backpacks have great suspension and Chris goes over what to look for and how to adjust it to size, so you can go without pain. No issues with my back whatsoever! Yay!!!
Base camp was nice. The weather was warm and humid, so I had my first experience sleeping without a tent. It does get pitch dark at night. BAE supplied us with head lamps too but I kind of wish I had brought one of those glow sticks to hang over my sleeping area. Unfortunately we didn’t have any visitor like raccoons or deer.
In the evening there are some activities like archery and Chris went over survival skills and equipment ideal for backpacking. Moe got the water boiling so we could warm up with hot cider and cocoa before dinner. Again, if you like a specific brand of drink, just bring one packet for you. I wished I had brought my special coffee from home, or one of those minibar bottles of wine.
For insurance and liability reasons, BAE doesn’t provide alcohol. So, note to everyone: if you want a beer or glass of wine in the evening, BYOB! :). You can always get some last minute shopping done at the quick mart across the street form the Starbucks where the group first meets.
As this is a backpackers training adventure, be prepared to experience reconstituted food. BAE provided the best brand out there, but it may be too dry for some even after soaking it in hot water for 20 minutes. I would recommend bringing something extra just in case you end up not liking it. Something like a cup of noodles or top ramen, just in case… Breakfast was hearty oatmeal and COFFEE!!! Thanks Moe for getting up at 6 AM to brew it!
From reading past reviews it looks like at some point BAE was doing prepared gourmet meals, but I heard they stopped because the focus is on wilderness training and preparing you to be a backpacker. So, ignore other peoples reviews of prepared meals or wine boxes. If you have any favorite food or drink that is ready to eat with hot water, bring it!!!
I highly recommend this adventure to anyone who wants to add backpacking to their bucket list. You’ll learn a lot from the BAE team. We need more group adventures under our belt before we feel comfortable venturing out on our own. So, we are looking forward to doing other adventures with BAE.
Great team, great experience. Thank you BAE! :)

The trip is well organized, the trail is reasonable for beginners and our team leaders are responsible.
The one thing I would like to complain is group member didn’t get any training for wilderness survival.

If you’d like an intimate trip and to get know others that are nature lovers and adventure lovers, definitely check out a trip through BAE!
I went on a backpacking trip in Big Sur (Mill Creek trail) and it was great. The price was reasonable considering you get a guide to navigate the 2 – 2 ½ mile trek into the woods, it includes dinner and breakfast, and we even got to do archery! An added bonus, in my opinion, because now I’m hooked and going to buy a set for at home!
A down side is you need to meet in King City… I had to drive from Monterey in the morning to meet them there (an hour am a half) and then another 1 ½−2 hours to get to Big Sur. It was a lot of driving for me. Would have preferred to meet at Mill creek trail somehow, but I know being an out of towner, it may have been tricky for me to find.
It’s a great relaxing night trip… it would be neat if they had two night options… here or elsewhere! I love SF and if I come up again and they have more options, I’d totally be up for going on another excursion with them!
Thanks Ting and Mo!

Can’t recommend BAE enough! The guides are so helpful and freely share so much information that you can use for yourself for future trips. The Big Sur overnight trip was just right for us. There was one thing that was really surprising for me. My desire to try backpacking was partially to get away from ‘everything and everybody’ so I was leery about being in a group. But one thing I ended up enjoying most was the learning and laughter shared with everyone else in our small group. Sleeping under the redwoods and looking up at the supermoon peeking through during the night was AWESOME! Thanks for the great experience BAE

Nine of us ages 11 – 65 took the our private group on the Big Sur Overnight Backpacking trip 7÷22÷2004. The location was beautiful and secluded. We were the only people on the trail and at our camping site. Stream was still flowing for replenishing drinking water and cleaning off.
They provided water filter, larch tepee with no floor, backpacks, sleeping pads, dinner, s’mores, quaker oats & coffee for breakfast. You need snacks, water, sleeping bag… There was not any archery and headlamps were replaced with flashlights.
Most of us slept outside. The sleeping pads were fine for the kids but a bit small for adults. You may want to bring a bigger one.
It was a great way to get a taste of what backpacking is all about. We are looking forward to going out on our own.
(We had a new guide so there wasn’t any wilderness training or any hands on with the filtering or food prep. They no longer do archery or provide headlamps that you’ll see described on the website or the living social deal.)
The price was right with the living social deal but I would have felt we way over paid at the full price. But «Bobby never pays full price.»

I recent did a day trip/​hike with BAE in the north bay and it was a beautiful experience. Chris our guide was very knowledgable and kind. The scenery was beautiful and we even got to eat a few edible plants along the way. I can honestly say that I feel more confident about hiking now that I did prior to this class. I highly recommend BAE. For a full description of my trip along with videos and pics check out my blog
.

Excursion: Big Sur Level 1 Overnight Backpacking
Date: September 14, 2013
Guides: Chris, Mo, Dan
LOVED our trip! Big Sur is absolutely beautiful, and there is no better way to experience it than getting out in the woods and sleeping under the stars.
This was the perfect introduction to backpacking class. I have done several day hikes and some car camping, but wanted to learn more about backpacking, but didn’t know quite where to start. The BAE team was awesome. They provided us with the backpacks, meals, sleeping bag and airbed (bag and air mattress were $ 20 extra). They taught us about what to look for in equipment, how to adjust our pack to be comfortable, what to pack, about local flora and fauna, some basic wilderness safety and survival skills. And the location was great too! They have found a great beginner trail. I was a little intimidated by carrying such a heavy pack, but the packs were comfortable and the hike was fairly flat and not strenuous (only 2.5 miles).
The excursion definitely gave me the tools and confidence to potentially go out on an overnight trip somewhere else on my own.
And even the food was good! I am gluten-​free, dairy-​free and my friend is vegetarian. I had brought some of my own food, just in case, but was pleasantly surprised that they were able to accommodate both of our dietary restrictions.
But most of all — it was fun! I can’t wait to do another one with them in the Spring — perhaps the Level 2 backpacking or the Black Rock Desert excursion. Both sound like so much fun! I’m definitely going back.

I felt pretty darned spoiled going on this backpacking trip. The most luxurious backpacking adventure I’ve been on yet.
What I really liked about this trip, was that the guides and the people in the group were all very friendly, and I learned a lot about wilderness preparedness, some of the local vegetation, and also just made me think of what other supplies I would need to bring, and kept me aware of what is the smart things to do in emergency situations and traveling in general.
Some parts of the trail we went on involved a bit of climbing, but wasn’t too difficult for the most part and the guides were there every step of the way to offer a helping hand across the stream, or whatever else. What actually enhanced the hike for me was the rain (or heavy mist as guide Chris liked to call it). The hike was so beautiful and green, walking along Mill Creek, and with all the trees, we actually didn’t get hit too hard by the rain.
The food that guide Dan prepared for us in the evening was also super delicious. The hot meal was much appreciated. And the boxed wine. ;) And of course, plenty of coffee in the morning. There was plenty of space in the teepees that they set up for us, but about half our group slept outside, which I’m sure was absolutely beautiful, but it was a little too chilly for my liking, so I was glad for some shelter. It felt like my group was anti-​social (we didn’t mean to be) as we pretty much had the teepee to ourselves, until one of the helper guides dove in to stay warm. And I’m actually surprised how much of the supplies the 4 main guides were carrying compared to the rest of the group. We were given some of the bowls, chairs, and the food to carry, but the guides were doing most of the heavy lifting.
There was a few things I didn’t like about the overall trip, but I understand this is a beginner backpacking tour. For me personally, I’d like to be a little more involved, so I felt pretty helpless, standing around while they set up the teepees and cooked the food. Dan assigned my friends to crush up some croutons. Productivity ftw! And not to stereotype, but it very much felt like a «guys» trip. When we arrived at our meeting spot at Starbucks before caravaning to the park, there were no introductions made, nor was there a sense of the overall itinerary. Basically, we were told just enough to get to the next location. Don’t get me wrong, these guys know exactly what they’re doing, but I’d appreciate a little more communication/​organization.
A big thank you to Chris, Dan, Mo, and Steve for providing a fun and informative adventure.

Just got back from the overnight backpacking trip in Big Sur… and it was AMAZING. I loved every bit of it.
Chris, the expert/​guide, and his crew made it such a wonderful experience for me and my bestie. We couldn’t stop smiling.
I do a lot of day hikes and adore being in nature, and the Big Sur expedition was my first attempt at backpacking and overnight wilderness camping… I wanted to gain experience, knowledge and confidence to start doing it on my own, and this was such a fantastic start. After they showed us the correct way of packing and using the backpack, I couldn’t believe how easy and fun it was to trek it.
There was a break 30 min into the hike where they taught us some wilderness prep stuff and it was not only helpful, but a whole new perspective on hiking ventures.
Anyway, the hike itself was GORGEOUS. Redwoods everywhere, the sun breaking through the trees, the creek flowing… just beautiful. The trail was somewhat tricky at times but overall super fun. The camp stuff was great because I think we lucked out and had an amazing group of people there this weekend. Dinner was crazy delicious and I even got seconds, kudos to the cook. (Only dinner and breakfast is provided, so bring your own snacks and any other meals you may want.) Breakfast was oatmeal, so if you’re not into oatmeal, bring an alt. I brought some fruit and trailmix so I was good to go.
I also have a great appreciation for how much they actually accomplished with such a wide range of hiking experience levels. The whole crew did an amazing job and were a lot of fun to hang out with.
It was such a great time… but it may suffice to say I am looking into doing the other expedition BAE offers.
I highly recommend it the Big Sur experience!

Went on the Intro to Backpacking Big Sur trip. It was a beautiful and secluded hike 2.5 miles into the Big Sur wilderness. Chris and Dan were great guides and were very knowledgable of the area. We learned a lot of great information that will prepare us for future backpacking trips. Sleeping in the wilderness with only the tall redwoods of Big Sur for our roof was a really cool experience. Also the cookies that Chris brought and the bonfire were great!

For a city dweller like me with a deeply rooted passion for the great outdoors, this was the perfect trip. Our guides Chris & Dan took us to a secret oasis tucked away in one of the most well-​known areas of coastal California: Big Sur.
Under their guidance, we tasted wild berries (before Chris confirmed they wouldn’t kill us), drank from the creek (after we used a neat water filtration system) and slept directly under the stars, among other amazing activities. Without giving too much away, they also shared with us riveting stories around the bonfire after sunset. Other participants on this trip also shared their entertaining stories. Who needs TV/​internet when you have the awesome company of others around you?
Sadly the trip only lasted one night. Granted it was nice to finally take a shower, I already miss the scent of redwood & sage, the sound of the running creek etc…

I recently went out on BAE’s Intro Big Sur Hike and it was spectacular. I highly recommend doing this! The trail was a lot of fun to hike, gorgeous scenery and natural, remote setting. Seriously didn’t see anyone else on this trail! The guides were super knowledgeable, informed and definitely knew their stuff. Serious bonus to learn about emergency equipment, survival techniques and a lot about the local flora and fauna. Do yourself a favor and go on this trip. You won’t regret it — plus you’re supporting a small local business!

If I could give no stars I would at this point. I’m feeling like cattle and any emails sent to them are ignored. To give a bit of background… I purchased a groupon for BAE’s Big Sur backpacking trip early March for my husband’s birthday and scheduled our trip for March 30^th. It was to be our first backpacking trip ever and we both were really excited. The entire month of March probably visited REI 12 times and purchased some gear for ourselves (in case we wanted to bring our own this first time out with BAE). My husband was so excited he packed and repacked the gear at least 4 times over the course of a week. Both of us started to watch YouTube videos on all things backpacking… from gear, cooking, … you name it we watched it. BAE on Unilocal was so highly reviewed and everyone seemed so happy with their experience
The first email I sent them was on ¾/​13 regarding where to meet since we were leaving from LA. No response to that until i called to talk to someone 10 days later. Another email sent to them on 3÷18÷13 regarding us meeting them in King City and asked if they would bring our gear included in the package to King City and also asked about tents. (As my husband has a tendency to snore and I was concerned for BAE’s other guests and asked if we should bring our own tent.) That was three weeks ago still no response regarding that one. The email we did end up getting was on 3÷27÷13 asking if anyone objected to canceling the trip for ³⁄₃₀. We sent a response saying that we’d like to keep the trip since we had already booked a non-​refundable hotel and took time off… Besides learning how to backpack in poor weather what a learning experience that would be! Alas another woman in our group responded saying she would cancel. Chris then shortly thereafter sent a mass emailed on ³⁄₂₈ canceling the trip. No apologies, just we’re canceling. Thanks for understanding.
I understand BAE runs on a bare minimum. I get the weather is something they can’t control. BUT they can control how they respond or not respond to their customers. A short email saying sorry that it didn’t work out would have been nice.
Stuck with a non-​refundable hotel room… My husband and I ended up driving up to King City staying the one night and improvised. We took the gear we purchased and found a trail and backpacked on our own. It was the best weather anyone could have asked for… cool and shady with long lengths of sunshine. I took a picture of some redwoods with the sun shining through the trees and emailed Chris on 4÷8÷13 3:25pm … And to my surprise he promptly emailed me back at 3:38pm THE SAME DAY (wow) saying the following …“there is no way I could have known it wasn’t going to rain and had to make a decision based on the weather a few days before the event to people could make other plans. Glad you had a good time. «(partially true… It was a business decision because there were not enough campers to make the trip profitable).
ANYHOW… Seeing that I still have to go use this groupon … and got more «I’m sorry-​s» from the groupon guy… and not to mention this is still my husband’s «birthday» gift … I sent another email to Chris on ⁴⁄₈ at 4:11pm to kind of bury the hatchet… and asked if the 2.5 miles would be too easy for us since our trip on our own was 10 miles (and possibly upgrade to a more lengthy trip). It’s now Wednesday 4÷10… Still waiting on a response. Seeing this is a birthday gift… I guess I’ll just re– book and hope for the best… But at this point not impressed with their selective email responses.

Class: Intro to Wilderness Training
10.6.12 9am-​2pm (5 hrs)
Cost: $ 300 for 2, but half price with Groupon, bought as a present for my father’s birthday
Route: Los Altos
Instructor: Chris
A lot of information packed into 5 hours. Do take a pen and pad. The instructor, Chris, was extremely well informed, intelligent, and humorous.
The Los Altos route was very easy. We spent more time standing/​sitting while listening than walking. My 63 year old father managed it without a sweat. The Mt. Tam route involves more hiking, since you hike up to a waterfall. Golden Gate is even easier.
A great introduction to the essential skills for backpacking. The class involved following the instructor and learning about some common bay area plants, switching off large packs that one would use while backpacking to get a feel for them (surprisingly easy to carry!), an interactive exercise to figure out what to do when lost, an exercise in starting fires (with cotton… from a tampon!!), demonstrations of outdoor cooking and camping equipment, and advice on how to prevent the largest mistakes day hikers usually make.
Thoroughly enjoyed my experience. (My dad did too.) Thanks, Chris!

Imagine falling asleep under the umbrella of redwood trees and peering at stars through the canopy — in the middle of the forest away from anything remotely resembling modern society. This memory fully captures my thoughts on the trip. Furthermore, Bay Area Expeditions was a great choice for an intro into backpacking course for the following reasons: super cool guys, they know their stuff, they tell you only what you really need to know. Chris, Johnny, and Dan were very experienced, intelligent, and cool dudes — they shared very pertinent information that you would think would be obvious, but we almost always certainly forget. If you want to pick up the basics about backpacking, hear some great wilderness stories and have a great time, I would certainly recommend Bay Area Expeditions.
The Big Sur hike itself can be done by anyone questioning their fitness — it is a pretty easy in-​and-​out hike and we took a lot of breaks to take in the surprisingly beautiful creek along our route. My one tip other than bringing yourself and a positive outlook: be sure to bring a snack or sandwich on the first day.
Bay Area Expeditions also has a survival and safety course with more in-​depth field analysis. They also do excursions deep into the Black Rock Desert where the annual Burning Man festivals are held, which our group is possibly considering in the near future.

are you interested in experiencing the outdoors but intimidated by the cost of equipment, the prospect of becoming lost, or the idea of going at it alone? if so, the big sur expedition offered by bay area expeditions is perfect for you.
owner/​guide/​brawny outdoorsman chris van loan really knows his shit. and after one trip with him, you’ll know some shit too — like how to filter water from a stream, what kind of clothing is best for a backpacking trip, the proper (and comfortable) way to wear your pack, and most important, how to react in a crisis situation when you are in the woods, with only the supplies you carried in on your back. BAE provides all the gear you will need, and if you’re looking to buy, chris is happy to share his wisdom on which brands are best.
the expedition itself consisted of a 3-​mile hike into the woods, sleeping in a clearing, and then hiking back out the next morning. i was able to take some amazing photos of the waterfalls, redwoods, and banana slugs we passed along our way. dinner and breakfast are provided, but bringing snacks is a good idea. i didn’t find the hike too challenging, and everyone in our group of mixed ages/​abilities was able to make it without trouble.
this is a fantastic way to see big sur and gain confidence in your outdoor survival abilities. i can’t wait to follow chris into the desert on his american safari!

My Fiancé and I took the Wilderness First Aid course this past weekend and were extremely impressed by the amount of information and advice we received in the course. The instructors, Rob and Chris, are the real deal! They give you thorough information with regards to choosing the right clothing, dangerous plants and insects, purifying water, and applying first aid techniques to situations such as broken limbs and open wounds. We even learned how to create slings, splints, and tourniquets We found all the information to be applicable for the day hikes we frequently take in the CA Bay Area.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the course was acting out scenarios (the course’s «test») to apply what we learned. As silly as the acting was, this portion of the class really did help us feel out we’d react in the real situations. We enjoyed the hands on portion of the class and thought the scenarios were quite fun despite the serious nature of them.
We both highly recommend the course to all hikers (even beginners!).

The boy and I booked the Big Sur Expedition trip with BAE after we saw a deal on living social. I really thought the trip was truly worthwhile. We have often been car camping in the past but never really backpacked before, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to experience real backpacking (even though it was just one night). Chris was really prepared for everything. He was very personable, provided us with detailed directions so we did not get lost meeting up with him from Los Angeles.
As the other reviewers said, all the gears are top-​notched. Even though I am rather short, and the bag looked huge, I was able to carry the bag easily throughout the weekend (especially since Chris taught us how to wear the gear properly). I thought all the information Chris provided was quite interesting especially since we were backpacking on the day of the «rapture». Chris really showed us what we were capable of. The hike wasn’t very hard, but hiking with the gear made it a bit more challenging (particularly when the pack get caught underneath a tree or two when I was ducking under). Just make sure to bring lots of snack. We didn’t pack enough food and were quite hungry toward the end of both days.

I went along on an overnight trip to Big Sur this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Chris was our guide, and Ingrid was our chef (yes, I said chef, on a camping trip!). Apparently Ingrid doesn’t always come along, but she arranges food which Chris then prepares as part of the deal. Everything she prepared or brought along was delicious, and made for a really nice touch to the trip.
I got a ride to the trailhead with Chris, and we chatted pretty much all the way there. He obviously knows his stuff; grew up in the Bay Area and has clearly spent years camping, hiking, offroading etc in the area. He’s been through a ton of equipment and knows what works and what doesn’t, who makes the best stuff, where to get it, etc. The best part is that he’s more than happy to pass all this info on to you.
The equipment we were provided with was top-​notch, military grade gear. If you needed it, you could have pretty much turned up empty handed and come along. The «team gear» was split up and carried amongst us, and I tried out 2 different (Kifaru) backpacks; both of which were super comfortable once adjusted correctly. Don’t worry, you’ll be shown how to adjust things correctly when you get to the trailhead; as Chris said «these backpacks are great, but even a $ 500 backpack will feel like a $ 50 one if it’s not adjusted correctly.». The hike in/​out was nice and easy — around 2 miles in each direction with not too much elevation.
I’m definitely signing up to do a couple more trips with BAE — I heard about a Wilderness First Aid one and a trip out into the Desert which both sound awesome. This is the perfect way to get out into nature if you 1. haven’t before and don’t know where to start, 2. don’t have your own equipment, 3. don’t know where to go or 4. don’t have anyone to go with (or any/​all of the above!). I think it works out as fantastic value given what you get for your money: food, transport (first come, first served), equipment and expertise provided.

Bay Area Expeditions led a camping trip for 5 kids this summer for me, and I have nothing but praises for this company. Chris was great with the kids, it turned out to be one of the most memorable summer of the kids life. This trip will be one of the tradition we will keep coming back to each summer and we will use Bay Area Expeditions indefinitely.
Why would you want to go backpacking with Bay Area Expeditions? Simply said:
1.Survival skills. Since scary apocalyptic visions always enter my mind from time to time, I felt the needs to teach human from an early age to learn and honed on survival skills in this planet. That is why Bay Area Expeditions comes in mind.
BAE taught, challenged and engaged the kids during the camp in a practical, fun, and informative ways to be eager and curious to learn how to survive in the wild, discovering animal tracking and local plants, leadership and team skills.
2.Bonding and Communication. Aahhh… no readily available mindless entertainment or distractions going on, no TV, game console, iPod, computer, facebooking, twittering, googling. The kids were forced to actually talked and entertained each other. The result was real communication, true bonding time, and unforgettable memories to carry them to adulthood. The coolest thing about BAE they were naturally, intuitively, magically capable of instilling the «moment» to bond among the peers silently and unexpectedly.
3.Did I just say «Smores» and «Fire», umm… I mean Campfire? Nothing is more relaxing or hypnotic than staring into a campfire while roasting marshmallows, turning it into sweet creation called SMORES. You can sit and stare at the flames for hours. The smell of the burning wood, the smoke curling to the sky, the crack and pop of the fire beneath a star-​filled sky is a unique experience. And of course BAE taught the kids how to prepare campfire properly, safety concern, etc…
4.Closer to nature, learn to respect and care for the environment. Camping spirit created by BAE formed an immediate connection between the kids with nature and if they were not fed too many smores, being closer to nature definitely will mellowed them out. BAE also helped the kids to gain confidence of knowing that it’s okay to sleep outdoor and they can function and have fun without electricity, bathroom conveniences, if they have to.
5.Fresh air, seeing stars at night, falling asleep to an outdoor lullaby. Nothing smells as good as being outdoors. You can take a deep breath and smell nothing but clear air — no diesel fumes, no perfumes, no factory exhausts. Without the sounds of city streets nearby, you can actually hear the birds sing. Another treat is hearing the trees «talk» to each other (actually, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees). At night, shower of stars in a dark blue sky, the sounds of crickets can lull you into one of the most restful nights of sleep you’ve had in a long time, or sometimes raccoon wondering around hunting for scraps can be quite exciting and dreamy.
Chris successfully nudged 2 kids out of 5 to sleep outdoor :) They both had an awesome experience.
On BAE Beginner Backpacking Class:
So you think you know how to camp and backpack? Not until you take backpacking class with BAE then you realized that you don’t know anything about surviving in the wild if suddenly during your fun backpacking day, BOOM… happy, fun backpacking trip turned to be an «Apocalypse».
You and your group ran out of water then food, you guys got lost, then turned into a huge dramatic unnecassary arguments, GPS system winks out (assuming you even have GPS system), storming and tent is failing; someone got injured badly,…heaven turned to hell…
I say, it’s about time to sharpen your survival skill.
Just to warn you, if you are chicken shit, you probably will be scared shitless at first to ever go camping and backpacking again while listening to all the scary possibility of all the worse scenario that might happened during backpacking trip, but I promise, you will be grateful later that you took the class.