Photo: Joel Brody Forestry, the Sierra Club Way, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
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Trip Number: 09266A Price: $785 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 15 Leaders:
The Trip Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us. Photo: Joel Brody Join us on a journey to explore the wonderland of the Sierra forest, which includes lectures, discussion, and presentation intertwined with gorgeous hikes. Review the historical and present use of the forest; it’s condition and needs. Find out how climate change affects the Sierra Forest. Visit an old growth forest, healthy (and not so healthy) forests and those managed for sustainable use. Participate in a forest rehabilitation project. And have fun, star gazing, enjoying bonfires, hot tubs, and good food.
Day 1: Arrival and getting to know one another, followed by an introductory presentation. Day 2: Visit Donner Lake, a perfect glacier moraine; see where the Donner Party tragedy occurred, hike the Nature Trail and attend a lecture and group discussion at lakeside. Evening campfire.  Photo: Joel Brody Day 3: Morning lecture and discussion followed by a naturalist-accompanied hike, to Flora and Azalea, two pristine glacier cirque lakes. Identification of trees and plants with a visit to an old growth forest. Evening historical movie about the Sierra Club on Donner Summit. Day 4: A free day. Visit those places in the Lake Tahoe area you have dreamed of seeing. Day 5: A shorter hike to a lake near Donner Summit with group discussion on the health of the forest. On to a lake overlook for the robust hiker. Evening lecture in the living room and folk songs around a campfire. Day 6: Visit Sagehen Creek Field Station - the University of California’s 9,000 acre experimental forest. We will learn about their research and findings on forest history, effects of fire on the forest and its management, effects of climate change and much more. Day 6: Open topic discussion on a morning hike; last minute questions and clarifications: Until we meet again; farewells and photos. Trip ends at noon. Getting There  Photo: Joel Brody The lodge is about 12 miles west of Truckee, California, which is served by both Amtrak and Greyhound as well as the airport in Reno, Nevada. To get to the lodge, you can either rent a car in Reno, (45 miles away) or take a taxi from Truckee (if you opt for a taxi, be sure to tell the driver you are with the Sierra Club and you should get a reduced rate). The leader will send out the participant roster so you can possibly coordinate sharing a rental car with other participants. The driving instructions will be sent as the start date approaches, but getting to the lodge is the responsibility of each participant.
Clair Tappaan Lodge was built in the 1930’s by Sierra Club volunteers 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. In summer, a network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and lakes in which you can swim. The Donner Summit area is great for both road and mountain biking, and is also widely known as a rock climber's mecca.  Photo: Joel Brody With its spacious living room and enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring, Clair Tappaan Lodge has a special rustic charm. Since the very beginning, the lodge has embodied the cooperative spirit familiar to Sierra Club Outing participants. Guests assist with daily kitchen chores such as meal preparation and serving, setting tables, or dishwashing, which 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 for guests to take with them. A vegetarian meal option is always available. We can usually accommodate participants with other dietary restrictions, too; please let us know well in advance. There is no smoking at the lodge. All accommodations are in bunk beds; bring your own sleeping bag or bedding. Pillows will be provided. The rooms are small, and you must carry your own gear. The lodge manager assigns accommodations in advance. Doors do not lock, but there are lockers for rent. 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 coin-operated washer and dryer are available. You can make reservations for extended stays before or after your outing by calling the lodge directly, at (530) 426-3632.
 Photo: Joel Brody We will be hiking around 3 to 8 miles each trip. The hikes will be in the mountains, but we won’t be doing any excessive climbing - perhaps 600 ft elevation gain and loss. We’ll be hiking at 7,000 feet where some folks may take a while to acclimate to the altitude. 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. The trip will be in August, so be prepared for warm weather and be sure to bring water bottles or your preferred hydration system.
The leader will forward a complete list of equipment once you have been approved for the trip.
A wonderful introduction to many of the trees we will be discussing is: Conifers of California by Ronald M. Lanner. The Tahoe Sierra: A Natural History Guide to 112 Hikes in the Northern Sierra (4th edition) by Jeffery P. Schaffer contains fine descriptions of the areas we will be in and maps 14 & 18 covers many of the areas we will hike through. Conservation The Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass area is one of the most heavily visited in northern California. It features year round attractiveness and easy access from major population centers. The conservation standpoint - which has implications that we will both witness and discuss - is a major focus of our Outing. The Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass area is one of the most heavily visited in Northern California. It features year round attractiveness and easy access from major population centers. The conservation standpoint - which has implications that we will both witness and discuss - is a major focus of our Outing. We will experience the human impact on the Tahoe National Forest which contains many areas popular with folks who enjoy outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, hunting, backcoutnry skiing, snowmobiling, etc.. It was extensively logged in the past to support the building of the railroad, settlements and commerce of the area. Predictions of climate change have serious impications for the area with projections of a greatly reduced snowpack – the source of much of Northern California’s water. We’ll enter an area that already seems to be adapting to changing conditions. We will practice the seven principles of "Leave no Trace" to minimize our impact whenever we choose to explore nature.
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.
Leaders:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Joel Brody has been a Sierra Club member since 1995. He is an avid bicyclist, cross country skier and hiker. He is a member of the the Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee and has developed a strong interest in the forests of the Tahoe/Donner area. He lives in Oakland, CA where he has recently retired from the University of California, San Francisco after a career in Developmental Biology research.