Photo: Hurston Roberts Sierra Nevada Adventures for Families with Teens, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09253A Adult Price: $745 Child Price: $645 Adult Deposit: $100 Child Deposit: $100 Min. Age: 13 Capacity: 25 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Hurston Roberts Bond with your favorite teenager as you share challenging experiences that will get you out into the wilderness, enjoying new and fun activities together. This trip is designed for teenagers with parents, active grandparents, or aunts and uncles. On some days we will hike on beautiful trails and swim in cool mountain lakes. A highlight will be kayaking on Lake Tahoe near Emerald Bay with qualified guides, who will provide basic instruction before our paddle begins. All equipment is furnished by the kayak company and is suitable for beginners. Another day, we will begin our white water rafting trip by first learning and practicing proper paddling techniques. We will then put-in on the Little Truckee River in a raft with up to six people and a professional river guide to lead the way. After our kayaking and white water rafting trips there will be time to explore the historic old town of Truckee or visit Squaw Valley before dinner. If there is enough interest, we may even offer an afternoon hike on these days. Evening activities include a short hike to view ancient petroglyphs and 19th century railroad tunnels while learning some of the area’s fascinating history. Another evening, we will learn about geocaching, a new outdoor treasure-hunting activity that uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. The lodge also has a spacious living room that is great for socializing with other guests or playing cards and board games. To round out our week we hope to include at least one or two evening campfires in the Lodge’s backyard if fire conditions permit.
 Photo: Hurston Roberts Our trip will begin at 4 p.m. on day one with a get-acquainted orientation and social hour. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Alcohol will not be served but you are free to bring alcoholic beverages if you desire. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. in the dining room. After dinner we will do a short hike around the lodge grounds. A typical day will begin by making our lunch at 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast at 8 a.m.. We will usually leave the lodge for our hikes or other activities between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Most of our trailheads are within a 15-20 minute ride from the lodge. All hikes will depend on weather conditions and accessibility. Some of the hikes we typically do are Summit Lake with an optional extension to Frogs Lake Overlook, local lakes off the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Loch Leven Lakes, Donner Peak and Mt Judah, Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe’s famed Trail, and the Five Lakes trail. Here is a tentative itinerary: Day 1: Arrive at Clair Tappaan Lodge. We’ll do a short evening hike around the lodge property. Day 2: Hike to local lakes near the lodge. Then we’ll discover what geocaching is all about.  Photo: Aurora Roberts Day 3: We’ll spend the day kayaking on Lake Tahoe. We’ll enjoy an evening petroglyphs and history hike. Day 4: Hike to Donner Peak and Mt Judah, and swim at Donner Lake. We’ll go to a local band concert in the park. Day 5: White water raft on the Little Truckee River. The afternoon will be free to enjoy as you wish. We’ll meet again in the evening for a conservation discussion. Day 6:Hike to Loch Leven Lakes. We’ll have a family night around the camp fire Day 7: We’ll meet after breakfast for final farewells. Getting There Transportation to the Lodge, trailheads, or other activities is the responsibility of the participants. Leaders will provide a trip roster of all participants before the trip to aid in sharing of rides. Clair Tappaan is a 45 minute drive west of Reno and one and a half hours drive east of Sacramento just off of Interstate 80. The address is 19940 Donner Pass Road in Norden. From eastbound I-80, take the exit for Soda Springs/Norden - old U.S. 40 - and go 2.4 miles east on Donner Pass road. The lodge is at 19940 Donner Pass Rd. (old U.S. 40). Look for our sign slightly up the hill on your left and the wide footpath leading up to the Lodge. Parking is available on either side of the road. There is a sign located at the foot of the hill that explains where you can drive and drop off your luggage near the back of the lodge.
 Photo: Aurora Roberts Clair Tappaan Lodge was built in 1934 by a dedicated group of Sierra Club volunteers. It was built as rustic retreat for hikers, skiers, and mountain climbers. The lodge is a charming place to begin exploring the riches of the Sierra Nevada. It is nestled on a hill in a pocket of mountains near Donner Summit at an elevation of 7000 feet, which receives the highest average snowfall of the entire Sierra Nevada range making the lodge a favorite with cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts. The network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows, mountain peaks and alpine lakes for swimming. The Pacific Crest Trail is only a mile away and can be reached right out the back door of the lodge. The lodge is on the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin with Tahoe City only 25 miles away. Clair Tappaan has a special charm with its spacious living room and enormous fireplace, its cozy library and reading area, and its relaxing sun deck. Since the very beginning, the cooperative spirit familiar to Sierra Club Outing participants has been employed at the lodge. Each day of their stay, guests assist with a daily chore such as help in the kitchen or sweeping a hallway. A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared each day by a professional kitchen staff and are served in the lodge’s large, communal dining room. Brown bag lunch provisions are available for guests to take with them every day. A vegetarian meal option is always available and participants with other dietary restrictions can sometimes be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance. All accommodations are in bunk beds equipped with mattresses, pillows, and pillow cases. Trip members must provide their own sleeping bags or bedding. There are several room types and sizes available, but most are dormitory-style with 5 to 8 beds to a room. Families normally have a room to themselves. If there are two smaller families of the same gender, they may be placed in a larger room together. Accommodations are assigned in advance by the trip leader and lodge manager. Doors do not lock, however, lockers are available and you may either bring your own lock or rent one at the lodge. Restroom and shower facilities are shared, with two men’s and two women’s bathrooms. Trip participants must bring their own towels. The lodge also has a hot tub for participants to use during evening hours. For further information about the Clair Tappaan Lodge, please use this link: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/accomodations.asp. By calling the lodge directly at 530-426-3632 you can make reservations for extended stays before or after your outing. For your convenience, the website above also has a link to Google and Yahoo Maps for driving directions. The Lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles and no smoking is allowed, either in the building or on the surrounding trails. A modern sprinkling system and smoke alarm system have been installed to assure that everyone has a safe stay at the lodge.
 Photo: xx The trip involves hiking at altitudes between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. The hikes are moderate and range from five to seven miles with elevation gains up to 1,800 feet. Though the average daily mileage is low, hiking in altitude gives you a good workout. You must be able to hike over rocky, uneven terrain comfortably. We average approximately 2.5 miles per hour, allowing for pictures and water breaks. You owe it to yourself and the group to come prepared for the hikes. If you have questions about the activity level, please contact the leaders. The white water rafting and kayaking companies may request that we sign an additional liability waiver for these activities. Both activities are suited for beginners but it is recommended that everyone know how to swim. If you are a non-swimmer, please inform the leader prior to the trip.
Bring a sleeping bag or bedding, toiletries, towels, swimsuit, and hiking boots that are well tested and proven to be comfortable. Hiking shoes or boots must have adequate tread to grip the rocky terrain. Be prepared for warm days and cool evenings. There may be afternoon rain, so pack rain gear (heavy duty ponchos are acceptable). Also bring a hat, daypack, water bottles or hydration system, and a flashlight for each person. A detailed list will be sent upon acceptance on the trip.
Conservation The Tahoe Donner area is very attractive to both summer hikers, winter skiers, and other forms of recreational use. There are many examples of good conservation practices and over use of the area, which we will both witness and discuss. Ways that we as individuals can become good conservationists in our own local areas and homes will also be examined. Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, Sierra Club offers information about carbon offsets at the following web link: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/offsets/Carbon_neutral.asp
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.
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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Aurora Roberts is an avid hiker who enjoys walking and exploring the outdoors. As she started noticing the destruction of forests and pollution of the environment, she saw the need to preserve them, which naturally led her to join the Sierra Club. Aurora became an Outings leader after participating in national and international outings. She leads international trips to destinations including Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland as well as National Outings in the Sierra Mountains. She spends a lot of her time reading, preparing gourmet meals and walking her dog. Her attention to detail, patience, and flexibility will ensure that you have a wonderful experience.
Hurston Roberts, also a seasoned hike leader, has lived and traveled in many parts of the world. He has a great love for the outdoors and enjoys sharing this with others. 
Native Texan Marty Wynne cherishes being outdoors, particularly hiking, camping, gardening and playing golf and tennis. A financial adviser to companies for over twenty years, Marty spends her spare time on school or church projects, with her Rotary Club, cross-training at the YMCA and enjoying life with her teen daughter. Marty has hiked Zion National Park and Big Bend National Park and backpacked New Mexico's Pecos Wilderness with Sierra Club groups. A passion to facilitate families enjoying the outdoors together motivates Marty's active involvement in Sierra Club outings.