Photo: Sondra Dunkle 50+ Ridgetop Rambles, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08272A Price: $775 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 16 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Sondra Dunkle Once known as a gateway to the promised land of California , the towering granite peaks and high passes of the Sierra Nevada posed stark challenges for early explorers. Today this area is a welcoming place, offering the visitor spectacular scenery, sparkling mountain lakes, and magnificent hiking trails. Using the Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge as our home base for the week, we'll explore the network of trails in the vicinity of Donner Summit and Lake Tahoe. Our hikes will take us through magnificent forests to scenic vistas, remote meadows, and secluded, turquoise mountain lakes. One day will be set aside as a free day so you can choose your own activity, or just relax with a good book. Best of all, after a pleasant day in the mountains we'll return each evening to the lodge, where we can enjoy hot showers, home-cooked meals, a hot tub, and the camaraderie of kindred spirits. Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) will be sent application forms, and must fill these out 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. Please wait for approval from the Leader before making any transportation reservations.
 Photo: Sondra Dunkle Day 1: Plan to arrive at the lodge in plenty of time to unpack and relax before our happy hour at about 5 p.m. We'll eat dinner at 6 p.m., andl get together to discuss our activities for the week. Days 2, 3, 5, and 6: We will explore beautiful hiking paths on the Pacific Crest Trail, Tahoe Rim trails, and others around Lake Tahoe. Our hikes will be varied, taking us through groves of rustling aspens to pristine alpine lakes and magnificent views of towering peaks and forested valleys. We may swim in mountain lakes, or relax in lush meadows and enjoy the cool breezes of September in the High Sierra. Day 4: This is a free day to do whatever you would like. There are many activities to choose from: White water rafting on the Truckee River, kayaking on Lake Tahoe, bicycling along the Truckee River, and exploring the emigrant heritage and Donner Party history. Leaders will provide a list of local outfitters, bike rentals, etc. A half-day hike may be offered if there is interest. Day 7: The trip ends after breakfast. The exact hikes and itinerary are subject to change due to weather, poor trail conditions, and unforeseen circumstances. Getting There Clair Tappaan Lodge is located in Norden, California, about 2.5 miles off Interstate 80 using the Soda Springs/Norden exit. This is approximately 15 miles west of the historic town of Truckee, California, and about 45 miles west of Reno, Nevada, which is the nearest airport. The lodge is also about 180 miles east of San Francisco. Although there is no public transportation to the lodge, there are several ways to get to Truckee (Shuttle, Greyhound, AmTrak), where a taxi can be hired to take you to the lodge.For more information about transportation from Reno, please see www.geocities.com/dtmcbride/tahoe/clairtappaan.html# For travel from San Francisco, please visit www.geocities.com/dtmcbride/tahoe/transportation.html# Due to insurance regulations, all transportation to the lodge, trail heads, or other activities is the responsibility of each participant. Leaders are unable to arrange carpools for participants. Those arriving by air should plan to rent a car or make their own arrangements to carpool with other trip participants. If you wish to carpool, a roster of other trip members may be provided before the trip.
Built entirely by volunteers in 1934, Clair Tappaan Lodge -- the Sierra Club's rustic, two-story mountain lodge – offers a spacious living room, enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring. Most sleeping accommodations are dormitory-style, but there are several family-style rooms and small cubicles; all are equipped with bunk beds and mattresses. Except for possibly 3 cubicles, which have two bunk beds abutting, there are no double beds. By today's standards, space for belongings is limited (remember this when packing). It is an uphill walk from the parking lot to the lodge, and you must carry your own gear. Shared bathrooms and showers are down the hall. Please bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.Trip participants provide their own sleeping bags or bedding, towels, soap and toiletries. There are two men's and two women's bathrooms, with showers. A hot tub is available in the lodge. No smoking is allowed in the building or on the surrounding trails. To keep rates low, participants will strip their bunks and clean their rooms prior to departure. As in a hostel, each lodge guest is expected to pitch in with a daily housekeeping chore, such as meal preparation and serving, setting tables, sweeping/moping floors, bussing tables, or dishwashing. Participants may sign up for chores in advance. 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. Brown bag lunch provisions are available, and guests prepare their own lunches to take on the trail. A vegetarian meal option is always available. Participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated; inform the leader well in advance. Two small refrigerators are available in the Puce room, on a first-come, first-served basis. Coffee, tea, and water are served with meals. For those wishing hot drinks before or after mealtimes, please bring change for the donation box. If you prefer soft drinks, a coin machine is available in the lodge. The lodge has a washer and dryer. Please bring a supply of quarters if you plan to do laundry during the trip.
This trip is for the experienced hiker, who can hike at high altitude for several days in a row. Our goal each day will be to enjoy our time in the mountains while hiking at a fairly brisk pace. The hikes are considered intermediate level, at altitudes of 7,000 feet or more, and distances of 6-11 miles. Ascents and descents will vary from 1,500 to 2,000 feet. We will hike over gravel, steep, rocky terrain, sometimes over boulders, and possible stream crossings, depending upon snowmelt conditions. In some areas, footing may be unstable. Occasionally drop-offs may be seen from the trails. Hikes will vary from 4-6 hours, with a lunch break around noon . You will need comfortable, well broken-in hiking boots. Keep in mind that we will be hiking at elevations above 7,000 feet where the air is thinner than at sea level, so more exertion is required. It is dry in the Sierras; bring water bottles that will carry at least two liters/quarts total. Plan to drink lots of water. Participants owe it to themselves, and to the other hikers, to be in good physical condition. Photographers are welcome, understanding that the focus of this trip is hiking; photographers are expected to keep up with the group, and not lag behind. This is a group hiking experience.
The leader will send participants a detailed equipment list. Examples of necessary items include good quality rain gear, including both a jacket and rain pants (no ponchos), broken-in hiking boots, and a daypack. Prepare to dress in layers, as temperatures may range from the 60s – 70s during the day, to the 30s and 40s at night. We will be in the mountains, where weather is often unpredictable. Be prepared for any kind of weather, from mild and breezy, to hot, to snow or rain. That is all part of the adventure! Be sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip gloss with sunscreen.
Books: The Sierra Club publishes numerous books about California. Find them at www.sierraclub.org/books/recent.asp Maps If you're interested in learning more about the area, pick up a copy of the USGS topographic map for Donner Pass, available at many sporting goods stores and at the lodge. Websites www.geocities.com/dtmcbride/tahoe/donner_summit_trails.html#maps Conservation Our trip will follow “Leave No Trace” protocols. One evening participants will share local conservation issues from their area. The area that we will explore is very popular among recreational users in both 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. In addition, logging practices have ruined many acres of surrounding land, threatening the ecosystem. We'll discuss these and other issues while on the trip. We may have a local ranger speak with us one evening.
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
|
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.
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.