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Parent and Teen Adventure in the Central Sierra, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08245A Adult Price: $845 Child Price: $745 Adult Deposit: $100 Child Deposit: $100 Min. Age: 13 Capacity: 16 Leader:
The Trip Spend a refreshing week in the clear Sierra Nevada air with other parents and their teens. This trip is ideal for single parents as well as couples with teens. Experience a unique adventure in the High Sierra, hiking and kayaking, or just “communing” with your kids. A cozy lodge with heated swimming pool, at 7,000 feet in the central Sierra Nevada in Bear Valley Village, is our home base. The trails of the Bear Valley ski area and backcountry trails of the Stanislaus National Forest are within easy reach. Lake Alpine, with its granite-rimmed and tree-lined shore, Utica Reservoir, and other alpine lakes will be our destinations for water activities. The trip features a combination of activities. We'll dedicate two days to kayaking on Alpine Lake and a nearby reservoir, with additional days for hiking and touring the Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the largest grove of Giant Sequoias north of Yosemite. The trip includes basic flat-water kayak instruction and equipment rentals. One day will be a free day when you and/or a group can go on an excursion on your own and do your own thing. Within a one- to two-hour drive of the Lodge are opportunities for white-water rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, winery tours, and limestone cavern tours, as well as historic state parks, gold rush towns, logging museums, etc. (The cost of activities during the free day is not included in the trip price). While daytime activities will vary, nights will be spent in a comfortable lodge where we'll enjoy warm meals and the camaraderie of group activities. Kayak rentals and basic instruction are included in the trip price. No kayaking experience is necessary, but you should be able to swim and be comfortable on the water. Minimum age is13. Sierra Club Outings operate under a Special Use Permit in the Stanislaus National Forest. Sierra Club Outings is an equal opportunity service provider.
We will stay at Bear Valley Lodge – located in the hamlet of Bear Valley. Geographically, the Lodge lies halfway between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, 24 miles east of Arnold, on California Scenic Highway 4. The only way to get to the Lodge is by car. The nearest airport is Sacramento (approximately 120 miles, or three hours). Reno airport is slightly closer and involves driving on narrow, curvy, two-lane Hwy 4, over high mountain passes. This highway has steep drop-offs. For those who fly into San Francisco or San Jose, the drive is approximately 180 miles, or 4-5 hours. Those arriving by air should plan to rent a car; you may be able to carpool with other trip members, if you make advance arrangements. Transportation to the Lodge, trailheads or other activities is the responsibility of each participant. The leaders will provide a roster of trip members before the trip to aid in carpooling arrangements. We will meet on day one at Bear Valley Lodge. Our first group meal will be dinner at 6 p.m. The last group meal will be breakfast on the final day, with an option to pack a sack lunch. The leader will send more information as the trip date nears. Typically, days start with breakfast and the makings for a sack lunch. We will then drive to the trailheads and kayaking locations in the areas of Bear Valley, Big Trees, Lake Alpine, or Utica Reservoir. Evenings will bring us back to the Lodge, where we will relax with an occasional happy hour before dinner. Following dinner, we can talk about conservation issues or whatever comes to mind. One evening we hope to have a guest speaker from the Forest Service of a local environmental group. Getting There Please note: There are no busses, vans or shuttles to the lodge, as this is a rural area. All transportation to the inn, trailheads, or other activities is the responsibility of each trip member. If you wish to carpool, a roster of other trip members may be provided before the trip. If you plan to drive to the Lodge from Reno or the east, please first check road conditions over Ebbets Pass, as there may be late season snow or ice.
Participants (two per unit) will share a comfortable room with TV, phone and private bathroom. Those wishing single rooms must make personal arrangements with the innkeeper at substantial additional cost. A cozy common room with fireplace offers guests plenty of space to relax after a day of good exercise. The common room is open all day for anyone who chooses not to hike the trails. A large heated pool is also available to all participants.
On average, our hikes will be moderate in difficulty. The outings range from 5,000 to 8,000 feet altitude and may include hikes in the Stanislaus National Forest, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, and Mokelumne Wilderness areas. Trails will be over rocky, uneven terrain, with elevation gains. We will hike at a fairly brisk pace on trails from six to ten miles in length. To enjoy the trip, you owe it to yourself – not to mention the group – to get into the best possible physical condition. Remember to break in any new boots. You will be staying at an altitude of 7,000 feet. Days can be warm and nights cold. Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Summer temperatures in July usually range from nighttime lows in the mid-40s to daytime highs in the mid-80s, although this can vary.
Generally temperatures are warm in the day, and slightly cooler in the evenings. However, mountain weather can be unpredictable, and even bring unexpected snow! This is part of the outdoor adventure. Bring clothes appropriate to cold and hot conditions. Prepare to dress in layers. Kayaking equipment is provided. Other requirements are typical day hiking equipment and clothing. The leader will send out a detailed equipment list to all registered participants.
Maps USGS 7.5 -minute quadrangle maps:
Books
Conservation We hope to have a guest speaker to talk about local conservation issues. We may have DVDs on conservation topics. We will also become familiar with Leave No Trace ethics and practice what we’ve learned on our trip.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Al Wittine is professor emeritus of linguistics, literature, and cultural studies of Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa. Upon retirement he turned his attention to Sierra Club’s initiatives of protecting the environment and preserving wilderness.
Ever since his early years in Austria, he's been an avid outdoorsman -- hiking, camping, canoeing, cross-country running, and skiing. He's hiked to the summit of Lower Austria’s highest mountain and to the top of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Whenever he's abroad, he mixes business with pleasure, and the latter always includes mountaineering. Over the years he has enjoyed camping in the Adirondacks, the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park, and the Smoky Mountains.
Sondra Dunkle has been an avid hiker and outdoors enthusiast for as long as she can remember. She joined the Sierra Club in 1970, and for 11 years actively led outings for the Tehipite Chapter in Fresno, California, near the highest mountains of the Sierra Nevada range containing five national parks. She has backpacked, hiked, and/or cross country skied in all of them. Currently she lives in Pocatello, Idaho, where she leads local outings for the East Idaho Sierra Club Group.