What is the Wamplerkids program?Wampler Kids provides residential adventure programs for youth with physical challenges such as Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Cord Injuries and Cerebral Palsy in the High Sierra’s of California.
Click here to read about wamplerkids.org (formerly known as
camp WAMP)
What is NCCX's role in Wamplerkids?The Wamplerkids adventure program is held at a privately-owned property called Camp Nejedly, situated beside scenic Hawley Lake, along the Gold Valley trail, a route suitable only for 4WD vehicles. A tour bus transports the program's 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 Camp Nejedly 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 Wamplerkids), 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 Wamplerkids.
July 25 Departure times/locations:
7:00am- McDonald's, Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton
9:15am- Raley's parking lot, Foresthill/I-80, Auburn
Click here for route map (~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 route map (~1 hr 30 mins)
(11:50am- Last chance for fuel in Johnsville/Graeagle.) 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 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 this route.
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 will 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), depending on how quickly we can run the trail . Neither camping location will have water or toilets, so be prepared. I'll be bringing my
PETT portable toilet for all to use.
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.
Previous Topic
Index