What is WAMP? Click here to read about WAMP (formerly known as
camp WAMP)
A message from Jay for this year's program:
Dear 4x4 group leaders,
Its time to round up the rigs and haul some kids to camp.
This is an opportunity to offer your time, talent, and rigs to help put smiles on the faces of those less fortunate than us - some disabled kids. Camp WAMP (rhymes with stomp) is looking for a bunch of 4x4ers that would be willing to transport kids and their wheelchairs and gear plus counselors and their gear on an hour and a half trek to or from camp in the High Sierras. The campsite is a bit remote so you need a capable 4x4 with a little clearance and 4low, a KIA Sportage made it last year. Most of the trail is easy with probably just two challenging spots.
The dates for the treks are as follows:
July 26, Saturday at 12 noon bus stop at Plumas-Eureka State Park- inbound.
August 2, Saturday at 10 am at Hawley Lake - outbound.
August 3, Sunday at 12 noon bus stop at Plumas-Eureka State Park- inbound.
August 9, Saturday at 10 am at Hawley Lake - outbound.
If you would like to participate, please have space available in your rig for at least 1 camper and 1 counselor and some gear. We would like to make sure that everyone that participates has a great time, so we are asking for a little cooperation and a little information beforehand so we can plan. If you really want a camper in your rig, just say so and we will try our hardest to make it happen, especially for the first-timers. If you have been one of very valued transporters in the past, maybe you can reach back in your memory banks to remember the special feeling from those huge smiles to make sure a newbie has the same experience.
Now for the tough part, group leaders you are an awesome part of this program. We need space for 42 campers and counselors and their stuff on the opening inbound trip, July 26 and the closing outbound trip, August 9. All of the people and gear go in or come out on those days. The in between days, August 2 and 3 are a little lighter since some of the counselors will stay in camp over the weekend.
-Jay
Camp WAMP is located along the Gold Valley trail (see map below), a route suitable only for 4WD vehicles. A tour bus transports the camp participants and counselors to a picnic area in the Plumas-Eureka State Park, and our role is to provide transportation from the picnic area to the camp on Saturday. This involves loading up the campers, counselors, luggage, wheelchairs, and other gear into our rigs, driving the 1-1/2 to 2-hour trail to the camp, and unloading everything.
After that, the weekend is open. NCCX normally runs the remainder of the Gold Valley trail on Saturday, then runs the Sierra Buttes trail on Sunday. We return home Sunday evening. It's a fun weekend adventure through some spectacular scenery.
Do I need special training to care for the disabled?No. Your responsibility is only to provide safe transportation. Each severely disabled individual (i.e. those who cannot walk or have special physical or medical needs) is accompanied by at least one counselor, who is responsible for that person's care. They take care of loading and unloading that person from your vehicle.
Do I need special insurance?No. Your vehicle's insurance policy is sufficient. Each vehicle and driver must present proof of current registration and liability insurance in order to participate. Seatbelts for all occupants are mandatory.
What type of vehicle do I need?The trail is rough, rocky, and steep in places, and traverses through high-altitude terrain, reducing the power output of most engines. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle with a part-time transfer case or lockable center differential, and either low-range gearing or a powerful engine is required. One year, a stock Honda CR-V was able to make it, but it had a rough time, scraping the undercarriage occasionally and needing a tow from another rig a couple of times. A stock Xterra is more than capable of handling this trail.
How difficult is the rest of the trail?The Gold Valley trail beyond campWAMP becomes rougher, but with careful driving and spotting, can be done with a stock vehicle without damage. Portions of the route do pass through dense brush that flanks either side of the trail, so there is a risk to clearcoat paint scratches that may require buffing out.
The Sierra Buttes trail is easy, but very steep in places. The use of low range gears is essential.
Can I bring my family?The primary goal of this trip is to provide transportation to others. Therefore, the more empty your vehicle, the more useful you'll be as a volunteer. However, since there is a secondary purpose to this trip (i.e. our own adventure that happens
after we drop off the campWAMPers), feel free to bring a companion to keep you company. But try to have space in your rig for at least 2 passengers and some gear.
Can I invite friends who have their own 4x4's to help?Absolutely, yes! This event is not limited only to Xterras. All makes and models of 4x4's are welcome. In fact, members and leaders of Northern California Club Xterra don't mind what kind of 4WD is driven in any event, as long it's driven carefully and responsibly, and the driver respects the
Tread Lightly philosophy.
Can I deduct my travel expenses for this volunteer service from my income tax?Yes. Note your vehicle's mileage before and after the trip, and keep your gas receipts for the trip, and you can deduct the expenses from your income tax. Contact your tax advisor about deducting travel expenses incurred by donating your time to campWAMP.
BONUS INFO!
Hey Guy and Gales,
Great email to the crew........ We will be giving each driver a $50 gas card to off set there expenses. I'm really looking forward to this summer and seeing you again. And just an FYI I've changed the name to just WAMP Inc. and dropped the word camp.
Thanks,
Stephen J. Wampler, WAMP Inc.
CEO / Chairmen of the Board / Director
Wheelchair Adventure Mountain Programs
A 501(c)3 Non-Profit California Corporation
Tax Exemption Number: 80-0170486
times/locations:
7:35am- Krispy Kreme parking lot, Willow Pass Rd/I-680, Concord
Click here for map of leg 1 (~1 hr 39 mins)
9:15am- Raley's parking lot, Foresthill/I-80, Auburn
Click here for map of leg 2 (~1 hr)
(10:15am- Optional Refuel in Truckee) * Do this BEFORE the 10:30 departure time. 10:30am- Safeway parking lot, Hwy89/Donner Pass Rd, Truckee
Click here for map of leg 3 (~1 hr 30 mins)
(11:50am- Last chance for fuel in Johnsville/Graeagle. Last year it was cheaper here than in Truckee.) 12:00pm- Plumas-Eureka State Park, Johnsville
Communications:CB channel
22FRS channel
8-0Here are GPS coordinates and maps for the trip. The info below is merely for your reference, if you'd like to plug in the data into your GPS unit.
Gold Valley Map (Saturday's trail run)
Gold Valley GPS Waypoints (GPS Datum: NAD27CONUS)
#_Mileage____Latitude___Longitude
1____0.0___39 37 10.7___120 39 59.0
2____1.5___39 37 58.3___120 40 41.8
3____3.7___39 39 01.7___120 41 07.8
4____5.3___39 39 11.5___120 42 25.3
5____7.6___39 40 38.1___120 41 56.6
6___10.7___39 42 23.4___120 42 58.4
7___13.1___39 42 55.8___120 44 38.5
8___12.9___39 46 18.0___120 37 09.2
*We will run this trail from north to south, which is in reverse order of the waypoints. CampWAMP is held at Hawley Lake on the map.
Sierra Buttes Map (Sunday's trail run)
Sierra Buttes GPS Waypoints (GPS Datum: NAD27CONUS)
#_Mileage____Latitude___Longitude
1____0.0___39 33 56.6___120 38 4.7
2____2.5___39 34 33.8___120 39 36.7
3____4.8___39 35 03.6___120 40 23.7
4____5.2___39 25 16.6___120 40 1.4
5____1.2___39 35 43.0___120 39 11.2
6____2.7___39 36 51.8___120 39 56.2
7____3.1___39 37 10.7___120 39 59.0
We can camp along the Gold Valley trail or at a very nice turnout east of the Packer Saddle summit
(N39 36 59.2 W120 39 33.5) . The camping location will not have water or toilets, so be prepared. I'll be bringing my
PETT portable toilet for all to use.
A Garmin .gdb file is available for download here:
right-click and save as... Photos from previous trips:
camp WAMP 2007 featured in Off-Road Adventures magazine campWAMP 2006 album 1 campWAMP 2006 album 2 campWAMP 2005 campWAMP 2004 ***Note: You may be asked to transport wheelchairs or other gear, possibly on your roof. If you care about your paint, bring an old blanket, towels, etc. to prevent scratches.
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