Travel Information for High Sierra and Yosemite Courses

**Reminder – Please do not book travel unless you have been cleared to do so. This includes medical clearance as well as a course confirmation when your course reaches its minimum participants. If you aren’t sure if you have these two items, please contact your Course Advisor.

Skip To: Travel Delay // Course Start Information // Course End Information // Unaccompanied Minor Info // Accommodations // Travel Agents

WHERE TO MEET

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following 4 courses will fly in and out of Oakland: XBMB-021, XBMB-022, XBMB-031, XBMB-032. All other High Sierra Backpacking courses will fly in and out of FAT. 

Courses XBMB-033 and XMMB-021 will both fly in and out of Fresno.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) – Baggage Claim Area – Terminal Map

Oakland International Airport (OAK) – Terminal 2 Baggage Claim Area – Terminal Map

TRAVEL DELAYS

If you are traveling to Oakland (OAK) and a travel delay occurs, please call (415) 316-0572 as soon as possible so that we can facilitate your pick up.

If you are traveling to Fresno (FAT) and a travel delay occurs, please call (209) 742-6999 as soon as possible so that we can facilitate your pick up.

COURSE START

• Flight Arrival: Book your inbound flight to arrive by 1:00 PM on the first day of the course. If you arrive early, please go to baggage claim to connect with your group. Someone will be there by 11:00 AM.
• Being Driven: Please arrive at the airport by 12:30PM.
• Driving Yourself: Please arrive at the airport by 12:30PM.
• Greyhound/Amtrak: An Outward Bound staff member can pick you up from the station (Amtrak - Fresno Santa Fe Station / Greyhound Fresno, CA). Please alert your course advisor if you would like someone to pick you up from the station. Trains/buses arriving by 12:45 are fine.

COURSE END

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

• Flight Departure: Book your return flight after 11:00 AM on the last day of the course, you’ll be back by 10AM or earlier if there are no travel delays.
• Driving: For those being picked up, you’ll be back at the airport by 10:00 AM on the last day of the course. The best place to meet is the baggage claim area.
• Greyhound/Amtrak: An Outward Bound staff member can take you to the station. Please schedule this with your course advisor. Trains/buses after 11:00 AM are fine.

Note About Course End Drop Offs

Middle School Courses - Ages 12 – 14: OBCA Staff will take Unaccompanied Minors through security. For all other students, OBCA staff will wait until they are able to pass through security (four hours before flight) until 2PM. If you wish to book a flight after 6PM and have a staff member wait with your child, please first get approval from your student services team to determine whether this is possible.

Youth, Teen Course - Ages 14+: Any Unaccompanied Minors booked through airlines will be taken through security by an OBCA staff member. For other students, an OBCA staff member will be available to assist with check in and support as needed for a limited time after drop off. Unless Unaccompanied Minor Services have been purchased through the airline, students will not be supervised after drop-off unless they have specifically requested support from staff.

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

• Unaccompanied Minors Definition: This is a term that airlines (as well as bus and train services) use for minors who have purchased their Unaccompanied Minor service. It ensures that a staff member from OBCA connects the student to a staff member from the airline and then the airline staff ensures that the student connects again to a designated adult upon final destination.
• Travelling as an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) has its challenges. We recommend calling the airline as you enroll to make sure there are flights that will accommodate your schedule. You can also see general restrictions on each airline's website. Our info is here to assist, but may become inaccurate if the airlines change their data. Please confirm directly with the airline (or bus or train).
• There are additional fees for travelling as a UM, up to $300 per ticket, please keep this in mind when selecting a course out of state.
• One of our staff members (not your Course Advisor) will meet your child at the flight gate to escort them to the group. You'll need the name of that staff member who will collect and return your child to the gate. We generally can confirm the staff in April. Until that time, please use a temporary name and adjust this when you have our details. 
• Amtrak and Greyhound also require UM services - please review their policies. If travelling for one of these, please make sure you select UM services if necessary - they are very strict about this.
• Please notify your Course Advisor when flying as a UM as there are additional steps you’ll need to take. It's your responsibility to book UM status and find out if it's necessary. 

**Handy document about airlines flying into Fresno and their respective rules: Fresno Airport Unaccompanied Minor Info

ACCOMMODATIONS

Fresno Hotels - contact hotels directly for airport shuttle information

• Wyndham Garden Fresno Airport – 5090 E Clinton Way - (559) 252-3611, minimum age 18, restaurant on site
• Quality Inn Fresno - 5113 East McKinley Avenue - (559) 375-7720 minimum age 18, hot breakfast included
• Piccadilly Inn Airport Hotel - 5115 East McKinley Avenue - (559) 375-7760 minimum age 18, continental breakfast included

 Oakland Hotels - contact hotels directly for airport shuttle information

• Courtyard by Marriott Oakland Airport - 988 Broadway - (510) 625-8282
• Best Western Plus Airport Inn & Suites - 170 Hegenberger Loop - (510) 633-0500
• Radisson Hotel Oakland Airport - 8400 Edes Avenue - (510) 969-2490

TRAVEL AGENT

Ruby Frederick, CTA - Southlands Travel
Phone: 303-680-5241
Email: [email protected]