Photo: Susan Elsner Mountain Medley, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08269A Price: $875 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 18 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Susan Elsner Sample the best of the Tahoe-Donner basin, both natural and cultural. We'll hike to gorgeous High Sierra lakes for birding, swimming, and relaxing. We'll sail along Tahoe's historic shoreline in an elegant 40-foot wooden boat and explore the rich pioneer history of the Donner Pass area. We'll have two evenings out -- one will be dinner at a lakeside restaurant in Tahoe City, the other will be a Shakespeare play under the stars on the shores of Lake Tahoe. The rest of our evenings will be spent at the lodge where we can stargaze, relax by the huge fireplace in the living room, learn more about emigrant history, discuss conservation issues, or simply soak away our cares in the hot tub. Best of all, we will get to come back to the lodge each evening, where we'll enjoy hot showers, home-cooked meals, and the camaraderie of kindred spirits.
 Photo: Susan Elsner Based on activities from past Mountain Medley trips our itinerary might look something like this: Day 1: We'll meet at the lodge by 3 p.m. This will give us a chance to get to know one another before we head to dinner. After our meal, we'll gather over a cup of tea or hot cider and go over the week's itinerary. Day 2: We'll start the week with a hike to one of our favorite alpine lakes, where we'll swim, fish, or lounge in the sun surrounded by fragrant pines, the incredible Sierra granite, and lots of birds. For those interested in wildflowers you may see elephant-heads, shooting stars, tiger lilies, and more. That evening, we will explore an ancient petroglyph site with a ranger who specializes in the history of the area. Day 3: Today will be history day. We'll hike to Cold Springs Pass, tracing the footsteps of 19th century emigrants as they broke trail through the mountains. Lunch could be on top of Donner Peak or Mt. Judah while we learn a little railroad history. We may visit the Donner Museum after the hike. That evening, weather permitting, we will enjoy stargazing with a visiting astronomer who will set up high-powered telescopes outside the lodge. Day 4: We will hike another trail in the area, possibly to Loch Leven Lakes or Frog Lake overlook via the Warren Lake trail. This evening we may have a guest speaker who will tell us about local conservation issues. Day 5: This will be a free day for exploring the trails around Tahoe, white-water rafting on the Truckee River, visiting Virginia City's silver mines, gambling in Reno, exploring historic Truckee, or taking a horseback ride at the Ponderosa Ranch. In the evening we'll meet up at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, where we'll enjoy an under-the-stars performance in a sand amphitheater overlooking the lake. The performance and beach chair rental are included in the cost of the trip. Day 6: Today we'll visit Emerald Bay, the jewel of Lake Tahoe. We will hike around part of the bay and end the afternoon with a chartered boat ride on the lake. On our way back to the lodge we will stop for dinner (also included in the price of the trip), at a restaurant offering gorgeous views of the lake and sumptuous food. Day 7: The trip will end after breakfast today.
Clair Tappaan Lodge is located between Reno and Lake Tahoe at an elevation of 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Nestled in a pocket of mountains near Donner Summit, the Sierra Club-owned lodge is a rustic retreat known for warmth, fun, good company, and family-style meals. Guests are asked to assist with chores such as meal preparation, setting tables, serving, and cleanup. Professional kitchen staffers prepare hearty breakfasts and dinners and a morning buffet from which you can pack a bag lunch. Vegetarian meal options are always available, and the staff can usually accommodate other dietary restrictions with advance notice. All accommodations at Clair Tappaan Lodge are in bunk beds equipped with mattresses. Guests are asked to bring their own sleeping bags and/or bedding. There are a variety of room types ranging from large dormitories to very small, private cubicles. Room assignments will be made in advance by the trip leader. Restrooms and showers are communal (two men's and two women's bathrooms) with guests providing their own towels and toiletries.
Our hikes range in distance from four to eight miles, roundtrip. Most are on fairly level terrain (elevation gain and loss around 600 feet), along well-traveled trails. The exceptions are two optional hikes that have elevation gains of up to 1,500 feet. Most of our hikes will have a shorter option, so the less ambitious need not worry. In previous years, we've had participants from fifteen to seventy-eight years old and have been able to accommodate everyone who was in shape. If you can walk three city miles briskly and still carry on a conversation, you will probably do just fine on this trip. However, the best thing you can do for yourself and the rest of the group is to get in shape now. We'll be hiking at 7,000 feet where the air is thinner and every step takes more effort. Before the trip begins you should be able to walk one mile briskly without getting winded and be able to carry on a conversation while walking. Being physically unprepared is unfair to you and the rest of the trip participants.
The leader will forward a complete list of equipment once you have been approved for the trip.
If you're interested in learning more about the area, pick up a copy of the USGS topo map for "Donner Pass," available at many sporting goods stores and at the lodge or on the USGS website at www.usgs.gov/. Upon registration, we'll send out a list of additional suggested readings and references. Conservation Because of its year round attractiveness to outdoor enthusiasts the Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass area is one of the most heavily visited in northern California. From a conservation standpoint, this has implications that we will both witness and discuss.
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
|
A Sierra Club member since 1991, Ronald Franklin currently lives in Monterey, California. He lived in Hawaii for 16 years where he enjoyed hiking, backpacking, and ocean kayaking. Ron has rafted the Grand Canyon and, most recently, summited Mt. Rainier in Washington state. This demanding 14,411-foot peak is considered a training ground for the Seven Summits (the highest point on each of the seven continents). Ron next goal is to climb Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Meanwhile, Ron looks forward to sharing his interest in hiking and exploring the high country of the Donner-Tahoe region in California's Sierra Nevada.
A two-year retiree pursuing hobby jobs and travel, Paul Kidder enjoys two part-time positions as an Adventure Programs staff member and as a Recreation Assistant with employers in and near Cooperstown, New York. The Adventure Programs include hiking, camping and canoeing opportunities
in the greater area of nearby Adirondack State Park in upstate New York. Paul summited Mt. Kilimanjaro in September 2007, and when last on the West Coast in 2006 hiked to the summit of Mt. Whitney and in areas of Death Valley. He looks forward to sharing his pleasure in the outdoors with others desiring the experiences Sierra Club offers