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Donner Lake Rim Trailbuilding, Tahoe National Forest, California Highlights:
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Trip Number: 09323A Price: $645 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 18 Leader:
The Trip Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you have questions, please contact us. Photo: Claudia Hilligoss In cooperation with the Truckee Donner Land Trust, we plan to build a new section of the Donner Rim Trail through the Tahoe National Forest. When complete, this 23-mile trail will encircle Donner Lake, tying into portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, Donner State Park, and Truckee, California. The Project Under the supervision of Truckee-Donner Land Trust employees, our trail work will involve clearing trees, brush, rocks, and various other tasks needed to build a section of a multi-use trail and/or help repair existing sections.
We will gather at Clair Tappaan Lodge located about 10 miles west of Truckee, California, and about 45 miles west of Reno, Nevada. Amtrak, Greyhound and an airport serve this area. To get to the lodge, you can either rent a car in Reno or take a taxi from Truckee (approximate cost is $35). The leader will provide driving instructions. The trip will begin with an informal gathering at 3 p.m. in the backyard. If you arrive early on Sunday, you can enjoy unpacking, bird watching on the lodge deck, taking a leisurely hike on nearby trails, or shopping in nearby Soda Springs or Truckee for items you may need. Arriving early affords additional time to acclimate to the altitude. We will begin our work on Monday morning, and plan to have Wednesday as our off day unless inclement weather occurs on a work day. The trip ends after Sunday breakfast. Due to insurance regulations all transportation to the lodge, trail heads, or other activities is the responsibility of each trip member. 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 will be provided before the trip.
In 1934, Sierra Club volunteers built Clair Tappaan 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 with cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts. In summer, a network of nearby trails offer miles of hiking and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and lakes in which to swim. The Donner Summit area is great for both road and mountain biking and is also widely known as a rock climber’s mecca. Clair Tappaan Lodge has a special rustic charm with a spacious living room and enormous fireplace, its cozy library, and outdoor fire ring. Since the very beginning, the cooperative spirit familiar to Sierra Club outings 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. Brown bag lunch provisions are available for guests to take with them. A vegetarian meal option is always available. Participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided the 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. All accommodations are in bunk beds (bring your own sleeping bag or bedding). The rooms are small and you must carry your own gear up a rather steep path and inside stairs, so it’s wise to limit your gear to what you can easily manage. Accommodations are assigned in advance by the lodge manager. Doors do not lock, however there are lockers and locks may be rented. Recently remodeled 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. Those who wish to stay additional nights at the lodge before or after the trip, may make arrangements directly with the lodge at www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/ or (530) 426-3632.
Work will be moderately strenuous due in large part to working at 7,000 feet elevation. Hydration is the most important tool to prevent altitude sickness, which can happen to anyone regardless of physical conditioning. Everyone is advised to bring at least three quart water containers. This service trip is suitable for seniors and beginners because everyone is encouraged to work at your own pace. However, if you haven’t been exercising regularly, now is a good time to start. Safety is the primary concern on all our service trips. Work days will begin at 9 a.m. with a 20-30 minute ride to the trailhead. Lunch will be wherever we are at noon. Frequent water and rest breaks will be called, and the workday will end around 4 p.m. After work, you are free to relax, walk the trails, or just hang out and enjoy time at the lodge getting to know everyone. Dinner at the lodge is at 6 p.m. (except 5 p.m. on Sundays). On our day off, there are many nearby attractions: hiking up to Castle Peak or the Pacific Crest Trail to the Peter Grubb Hut, swimming in alpine lakes, the “Chinese Wall” and old railroad, the Donner Museum, Squaw Valley, Truckee, or Reno. In the evenings, we will enjoy opportunities for videos, a fire in the living room fireplace, games, cards and music.
The leader will send a detailed equipment list to participants once they have been accepted on the trip.
Books
Websites
Conservation Preservation and management of the forest is a large focus of this service trip. Good forest practices keep the woods healthy and allow for recreation, hiking, nature walks, cross-country skiing that does not disturb the flora and fauna. Good forest management helps to prevent out-of-control forest fires that often lead to the degradation of surrounding water bodies. This occurs because soil-holding vegetation has been destroyed by the fire thereby allowing top soil to flow off the hillsides during subsequent rains. The resulting siltation clogs waterways and changes the ecology of the river or lake.
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:
John Svahn has been a Sierra Club member for a couple of years and quickly joined the ranks of national outings leaders. Finishing the Donner Lake Rim Trail is his life dream as he actually works for the Truckee Donner Land Trust as their Trail Coordinator. He has been working on the Donner Lake Rim Trail for three years, and this year he has extended his role of overseeing the Sierra Club trail work by becoming the trip leader as well. . Originally from Maryland, John lives in Truckee, CA John with his wife, Heather, Both John and Heather have been a professional bicyclists in the past. In addition to his passion of bicycling the Donner Lake Rim Trail and others in the Truckee/Tahoe area, John loves surfing on the West Coast a native of New Jersey and now resides in Truckee CA.
Assistant Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Claudia Hilligoss has been a Sierra club volunteer participating, cooking and leading service trips in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and in the Midwest since she joined the club in 1992. Her favorite past times: hiking, cross country skiing. photography and watercolor. In the past she served as a local group chair in Northern Kentucky, Fundraising Committee of the Cumberland Chapter and on the Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee. She worked at Clair Tappaan Lodge the winter of 2004 and this will be her fourth year leading trail parties on the Donner Lake Rim Trail. She makes her home part year in Bear Valley CA. The remainder of the year she spends time in Indiana and Kentucky with her family.