Photo: Didi Toaspern Women's Service at Calf Lake, Klamath National Forest, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08304A Price: $495 Deposit: $50 Capacity: 12 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Didi Toaspern This trip offers the unique opportunity for women to enjoy the company and support of other women, far removed from the concerns of everyday life. We will have a chance to share, explore and to work hard together to accomplish something good for the environment. Expect to be pleasantly surprised by the wide range of experiences, personalities, lifestyles and professions that participants bring to this trip. Women from previous trips have said that these trips rank among the most significant events of their lives. The Marble Mountain Wilderness is a region of rugged grandeur in the Klamath National Forest. Featuring heavily forested valley bottoms with magnificent old-growth firs, pines and cedars. The area also includes trails that climb to sub-alpine lake basins and above tree-line ridge crest views. Peaks and ridge crests are generally at the 7,000 foot leveland the area is filled with sub-alpine scenery. The area is part of the famous “Klamath Knot”, one of the most botanically rich areas in North America. It contains over 500 species of plants, including the weeping spruce, which is unique to the area. Spotted owls, pileated woodpeckers, hawks and eagles soar over the wilderness. Deer are abundant and sightings of black bear can occur. Trout fishing is usually outstanding in the widerness' many lakes. Late June and July are prime wildflower times, and the weather is relatively predictable-warm sunny days and cool nights. The Project
 Photo: Didi Toaspern Work will be varied, hard and rewarding. We will be making much needed improvements to the final mile or so of trail leading into Calf Lake. We will build water bars, repair eroded or fallen away trail bed and lop back vegetation overgrowing the trail. Everyone will get a chance to try all jobs. No experience is necessary as Forest Service personnel will train us in tool use and safety, and will supervise the project. Expect to work hard and see the difference you've made.
We will meet in the late afternoon on day one. On day two, we'll hike in and set up camp. We'll work for four days, with one day off to explore the area or relax. We'll hike out on day eight. Getting There
 Photo: Didi Toaspern It is your responsibility to get to our meeting point, to be determined but not far from the trail head. The leader will disseminate participants' travel plans to help coordinate rides. Please indicate your travel plans, however tentative they may be, at the time you submit your application materials to the leader. Airports in the Bay area include San Francisco, San Jose or Oakland. From the Bay area you will need to drive about 6 hours to the trail head. Other options include Sacramento (5 hour drive) or Redding (3 hour drive). Please don't make your return flight reservations for the evening of the day we hike out. Plan to fly out the day after the trip ends.
It is a Sierra Club Service tradition to pay special attention to the meals. The cook's main goals are to provide plenty of food with variety, while balancing the requirements of transportation, on trip-storage, cost and participants needs. Our meals will be largely vegetarian, although the cook will use dairy products and a small amount of meat, especially for lunches. Adaptations are made to accommodate food allergies and religious restrictions. Strong preferences are given as much consideration as possible. The cook welcomes questions from all of you (e-mail in bio) and will contact each participant personally before she finalizes the menus.
Previous backpacking or trail work experience is not necessary. However, the hike in and out and the work will require participants to be in good physical shape. The hike in is six miles with an elevation gain of 2,220 feet. The trail is in good shape except for the last mile, which is the section we will be improving. We will cross a number of small streams and seeps, especially in the first half of the hike while the trail follows the larger Shakleford Creek. All of the crossings are easy. One or two may require removing boots. There is a fairly steady but gradual climb for the first 3 miles with one short section of switchbacks. For the last mile we will take a side trail in to Calf Lake, this is the steepest section of the trail and the only part that is in bad shape.
You will need the usual backpacking gear, including water-proofed boots that are well broken in. Layers of clothing are the best way to handle the temperature variation of the area-from 75 degrees on sunny days to 30 degrees at night. Wearing pants and long-sleeves while working is preferred. We will send you a list of required and recommended equipment when you are accepted for the trip.
Maps Marble Mountain Wilderness Topographic Map (Wilderness Press Maps) ISBN# 9780899972053 15'Quad Topographical map: Boulder Peak, California Books
Websites Conservation The Marble Mountain Wilderness area deals with many environmental concerns including grazing that has damaged meadows, streams and lakes in the area, fire suppression that has caused a drop in diversity in the area and left abundant fuel for fires. Habitat loss due to past clear-cutting and old-growth logging are also issues with which the area has to contend. The ranger on the trip is very well-versed in the history and current issues of the Wilderness and will be available during the trip to discuss the region.
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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Lori Lampert-Wilke lives in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where she teaches fifth grade. She lives on the shore of the Wisconsin River where she kayaks in the summer (while fending off mosquitoes) and snowshoes in the winter. She believes Sierra + Service + Summer = Sanity and will continue to lead a trip each summer in order to survive the next school year.
Didi Toaspern is excited to be cooking for this trip in the John Muir
Wilderness. She has backpacked in the high Sierra but never had the
opportunity to contribute to a service project in this stunning wilderness.
She has led or cooked on trips in a variety of places in California, as well
as Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming and British Columbia. For her,
service trips are a magical combination of challenge, friendship, exertion
and fun, and a chance to fly fish in some amazing places.