Photo: Susan Barry Painting along the Sierra Trails, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
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Trip Number: 08270A Price: $625 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 20 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Jane Risk Start the day off right: Hike through the pine forest, follow a sparkling creek, admire a mountain lake, or climb a granite peak. Capture the beauty of the High Sierra using watercolor materials that fit into your day-pack. Instruction and supportive critiques offered by an expert art instructor. The program is designed for adults with beginning to intermediate painting skills.
 Photo: Susan Barry This is the perfect trip for those who love to hike and explore the beauty of the mountains, then settle down to capture that beauty in watercolor. Enthusiastic beginners and experienced artists in search of new subjects will enjoy a week of watercolor painting instruction and easy to moderate hikes in the spectacular High Sierra. On a typical day we will enjoy a hearty breakfast and pack a bag lunch to sustain us after our morning hike. Each day we'll carry our equipment with us to our destination and work “en plein air.” Occasionally we'll take short saunters to discover items along the trail that we can use in our paintings. Short demonstrations by our resident artist will give you the opportunity to apply new techniques to your day's paintings. Each day you'll come away with artistic pieces that reflect the spirit and beauty in nature.  Photo: Susan Barry You'll be thrilled with the variety of hiking trails available. Most are less than a half hour's drive from Clair Tappaan Lodge. The area is so beautiful that it may be hard to choose what to capture in watercolor. We'll see gnarled trees, craggy peaks, interesting rock formations, reflecting lakes, and incredible vistas. The pace will be leisurely, with ample time to stop and reflect, take pictures, and store memories. Four miles per day will be the average (sometimes much less) with a longer hiking option each day. The days should be bright and sunny and the evenings pleasantly cool. The day finishes with a return hike to the Lodge about 4 p.m., just in time to shower and relax before dinner. In the evenings those interested may participate in a friendly critique. It is always amazing how much we learn from each other! Our outing begins with an informal gathering at 4 p.m. on day one, followed by dinner at 5 p.m. Plan to arrive early enough to unpack and get settled. The trip ends with breakfast on the final day. One day will be unscheduled, a perfect opportunity to explore the surrounding area on your own – or just to hang out at the lodge, take a nap or a stroll, or read a book. Getting There The Lodge is located at 7,000 feet in California's Sierra Nevada. It's 48 miles west of Reno, Nevada and about 12 miles west of Truckee, California. Participants flying into Reno/Tahoe airport will want to rent a car since public transportation is infrequent, expensive, and unreliable. All participants will receive detailed driving directions and a trip roster so that you may make arrangements to carpool. All transportation to the lodge, trailheads, or other activities is the responsibility of each trip member.
In 1934, Sierra Club volunteers built Clair Tappaan Lodge as a rustic retreat for hikers, skiers, and mountain climbers. Located near Donner Summit at an elevation of 7,000 feet, the area receives the highest average snowfall of the entire Sierra Nevada Range, making the lodge a favorite of cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts. In summer, a network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and good swimming lakes. The Donner Summit area is great for both road and mountain biking and is also widely known as a rock climbers' mecca. Clair Tappaan Lodge has a special rustic charm, with its spacious living room, enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring.  Photo: Roger Mulholland Since the very beginning, the cooperative spirit familiar to Sierra Club outing participants has been employed at the lodge. Guests assist with daily kitchen chores such as meal preparation and serving, setting tables, or dishwashing. These chores require about a half-hour each day. A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared by the professional kitchen staff and served in the lodge's large communal dining room. Guests prepare their own bag lunches from plentiful and varied ingredients. A vegetarian meal option is always available. Participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance. Because the lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles, no smoking is allowed, either in the building or on the surrounding trails. The rooms vary in size from very small cubicles for couples, to larger family rooms and separate dormitories for men and women. All rooms are furnished with bunk beds. That's all. Accommodations are assigned in advance by the lodge manager. Doors do not lock; however there are lockers, and you may bring your own padlock. Restroom and shower facilities are shared, with two men's and two women's bathrooms (bring your own towel). The lodge also has a hot tub, so be sure to bring your bathing suit! A washer and dryer and a refrigerator are available. You can make reservations for extended stays before or after your outing by calling the lodge directly at 530-426-3632 or 1-800-679-6775.
Two months or so before the trip, the art instructor will send you a list of recommended art supplies. Average cost is $50. Please note: You must carry all your art tools to each site. Sketchbooks are always a plus. A detailed list of clothing, gear and accessories to bring will be sent to each participant well in advance of the trip. Conservation Because of its attractiveness to summer hikers and winter skiers, the area around Donner Pass is very popular. We will discuss effects of multiple users on a fragile ecosystem and ways of minimizing our own impact. We will also look at larger conservation issues and how we can influence legislators to preserve remaining wild and scenic areas in our home states.
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.
Jane and Jerry Risk are retired teachers who love to hike the trails and swim in the mountain lakes of the High Sierra. They have been coming to Clair Tappaan Lodge for more than 20 years. In the 1980’s Jane brought her middle school students to the Lodge each winter for a Snow Trip. For the past fifteen years Jane and Jerry have been bringing their children, grandchildren and many of their friends to the Lodge. Both Jane and Jerry are active members of the Lodge Committee, working to increase the number of educational programs at Clair Tappaan.
Susan Barry is a landscape watercolor painter. For over thirty years she has taught painting, drawing and papier mache crafts in schools and colleges throughout Northern California. Currently Susan is curator of a gallery at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California. Her mountaineering background and love of the Sierra shines through in her boldly painted landscapes. Her painting of John Muir was chosen as the wine label for the Muir-Hanna Vineyards. Susan’s goal is to have you come away with a sense of accomplishment and some new skills that will enrich your wilderness travels through life. Be sure to check out her website at www.susanbarry.us. General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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