Do you handle Wilderness Permits?

Yes. Rainbow Pack Outfitters will reserve required Wilderness Permits and hold them at the pack station the morning of your trip.

What is the deposit and cancellation policy?

All trips require a non-refundable 30% deposit at booking; the full balance is due on the first day of the trip and no-shows are charged in full.

What are the group and load size limits?

The service accommodates groups of 1 to 10. Confirm weight and size limits with Rainbow Pack Outfitters when booking to ensure safe transport.

Where do I meet the packers?

Meet at the designated pack station in Bishop on the morning of your trip; the operator will provide final meeting details upon booking.

Can they carry food and bear cans?

Packers transport standard backcountry gear and food; communicate food-storage requirements and container needs in advance so they can accommodate them.

Is the service one-way or round-trip?

Both options are offered—choose one-way or round-trip service depending on your itinerary and desired level of support.

Dunnage Drops: Lighten Your Load for Bishop Pass Backcountry

At the edge of the high Sierra, Dunnage Drops with Rainbow Pack Outfitters turns a strenuous approach into a light-footed day of scenery and solitude. Based out of Bishop, California, this dunnage-drop and packer service ferries your gear up to Bishop Pass so you can hike in unburdened, spend more time exploring alpine lakes and granite ridgelines, and arrive at camp ready for a sunset rather than exhausted. The route climbs from sagebrush-dotted valley into subalpine meadows, past talus fields and glacial cirques carved into pale granite. The pass itself provides broad views of jagged peaks, stepping stones of tarns, and late-season wildflowers that carpet the bowls. Rainbow Pack Outfitters specializes in a 'Backpacker Boost'—carefully timed packer drops and stock carries that move your packs over the steepest, most technical stretches, then meet you at the top. That means you pay only for the dates that involve packer and stock use, not for the length of your stay. What makes this operation vital to the local outdoor scene is practical: Rainbow Pack Outfitters manages Wilderness Permits on your behalf, holds reservations at the pack station the morning of the trip, and offers one-way or round-trip service for groups of 1 to 10. For hikers accustomed to hauling thirty-pound loads through switchbacks, that logistical lift opens new options—overnight routes that felt out of reach become comfortable, family trips are simplified, and backpackers can focus on routefinding, fishing, or photography rather than weight management. Expect classic high Sierra features: hard granite, shallow soils, clear blue alpine lakes ringed by rocky benches, and variable weather at elevation. The service is particularly useful late season when snow patches remain and trail conditions can be unpredictable; packers can move loads across tricky patches so your gear arrives safely. Know in advance that all trips require a non-refundable 30 percent deposit at booking with the balance due on the first day; no-shows are charged in full. Practical notes: arrive at the pack station ready to sign permits, label gear, and confirm load limits; carry a daypack with essentials for the crossing; and plan for altitude and strong sun. For photographers, the granite cirques and lake reflections deliver classic Sierra frames at sunrise and late afternoon. For families or lightweight thru-hikers, Dunnage Drops converts a backcountry slog into a lighter, more intentional exploration of the Bishop Pass high country. When booking, permits are available up to six months ahead and are strictly regulated under USFS policy. Rainbow Pack Outfitters holds your permits at the pack station the morning of the trip. Communicate weight limits, food-storage needs, and itinerary changes ahead of time to ensure a smooth dunnage drop and minimize impact on fragile alpine terrain and wildlife.

Dunnage Drops: Lighten Your Load for Bishop Pass Backcountry

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