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All In The Family: Multigeneration Adventure in Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08247A Adult Price: $495 Child Price: $395 Adult Deposit: $100 Child Deposit: $50 Min. Age: 6 Capacity: 25 Leader:
The Trip When was the last time you took your niece(s), nephew(s), grandkid(s), son(s), or daughter(s) into the out-of-doors for hiking, swimming in mountain lakes, and learning about the natural world? Clair Tappan Lodge is a perfect place for kids of all ages to take advantage of the great ourdoors. Here, we will have many activities with many surprises as well. We will be close to beautiful Lake Tahoe and you will also have the opportunity to explore this wonderful area as well. So, join us for a fun-filled experience that both you and the kids will long remember.
The outing begins with dinner at 6 p.m. on day one. Plan to arrive early enough to unpack and unwind from your journey. There's a general store in Soda Springs, two miles down the road; you can buy last-minute items there. The trip ends after breakfast on the final day. Lunch materials will be available for the trip home. Our trip begins at the Sierra Club's own Clair Tappaan Lodge. In the summer, the area around the lodge abounds with wildlife and wildflowers. There are many mountain lakes nearby and quite a few trails to hike and explore (including one just outside the lodge). We have numerous activities planned -- both locally and in the Lake Tahoe area, which is about 35 miles away. So you'll have many an opportunity to see lots of beautiful scenery. Activities for the kids are planned throughout the day, with lots of surprises! We'll hike, river raft, and ice skate. We'll explore some historic sights, and in the afternoons there will be arts and crafts. After dinner we'll sing, tell ghost stories, toast marshmallows, and eat s'mores. If you can play a musical instrument, please bring it along. Getting There The lodge is about 45 miles west of Reno, Nevada, near the historic town of Truckee, California. Reno is the nearest airport. Although there is no public transportation directly to the lodge, both Amtrak (which tends to be late) and Greyhound both go to Truckee. You can also rent a car, or take a limo or taxi from Reno or Truckee. We'll be sending out rosters with participants' phone numbers and e-mail addresses as early as we can, so you can arrange rideshares or car rentals.
The lodge has a special charm, with its spacious living room, enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring. You'll also find a bright dining room, sun deck, and a backyard under the trees, complete with volleyball net. Most sleeping accommodations are dormitory-style, but there are several family-style rooms and small cubicles; all are equipped with bunk beds and mattress. There are two men's and two women's bathrooms, and a hot tub. Because the lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles, no smoking is allowed, whether in the building or on the surrounding trails. Lodge personnel consist of a resident manager, assistant manager, and a professional chef. In the cooperative spirit in which the lodge was built, each lodge guest is expected to pitch in with a daily housekeeping chore, such as meal preparation and serving, setting tables, or dishwashing. These chores will require about a half-hour to 45 minutes each day. A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared by the professional kitchen staff and served in the lodge's large communal dining room. A vegetarian meal option is always available. Participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided they let the trip leader know in advance.
The best thing adults can do for themselves is to get in and stay in good aerobic shape. Remember, we'll be hiking and playing above 7,000 feet, where the air is thinner, making the lungs work harder. Start some kind of aerobic conditioning regimen now; you won't regret it. Leader Approval It is very important that, after signing up for the trip, each adult fills out the questionnaire and other forms sent to them in the confirmation packet. The child(ren)'s parents have to complete the forms for their child(ren). Please return the forms to us promptly. Once we have received your completed forms, we will notify you. Failure to complete and send in the forms on a timely basis may indicate to the leaders that you are no longer interested in joining the trip, and it may result in moving your party back to the end of a waitlist.
Imagine you're going camping; you'll need just about the same gear at the lodge except for plates, cups, and cutlery. The leaders will send out a bulletin with an equipment list (and other information) well before the trip begins. You should be prepared for evenings in the low 40s and days in the mid-80s, as well as an afternoon thundershower. Note that except for the living room fireplace, the lodge is not heated in the summer. The kids may want to bring along a favorite game, hobby supplies, VHS movie, frisbee, whiffle ball, and books to read. We recommend packing all gear in a duffel bag, but suitcases are acceptable. Conservation All Sierra Club leaders are volunteers, and dedicated to conservation and the enjoyment of the outdoors. If, at the end of the trip, you share just a little bit of our love for the wilderness -- and an appreciation of the Sierra Club's work -- we'll feel that we've done our job well. Our wish is that the children on this outing become strong believers in the need to protect our wild areas. Who knows? Maybe someday they'll become Sierra Club outing leaders. Wherever we go, we will learn how to "Leave No Trace" in order to minimize our impact. The area that we will explore is very popular, both for retirees and for recreational users in winter and summer. Indeed, as more and more people escape the big cities and buy homes in the foothills of the Sierra, they contribute to a growing pollution problem. Then, too, logging practices have ruined many acres of surrounding land, threatening the ecosystem. While on the trip, don't hesitate to ask your leaders about any conservation concerns that you may have and feel free to share any similar stories from home.
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:
Sy Gelman has been leading local Sierra Club trips for more than 35 years, and national outings for over 20 years. He loves the Sierra and gets great enjoyment out of sharing the mountain splendor and wilderness experiences with the great people who participate. Miki Kinkel has been taking care of kids for some time. She has a degree in psychology and a great rapport with children. Her vivacious personality and great sense of humor will add greatly to the trip experience. General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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