Autumn Hiking and History in the Sierra Nevada, Tahoe National Forest, California

The Trip

Join us for one of the best times of the year to be in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fall ushers in cooler temperatures and beautiful autumn colors. Summer travel has passed and a more peaceful atmosphere arrives in the mountains. You will learn about the history of the Donner Pass and Lake Tahoe areas as we hike each day. Some evenings will be spent gathered around the fireside to hear stories about the old timers who roamed the area or to discuss how our human presence has impacted the Sierra Nevada Mountains and surrounding areas. Other times you may wish to visit the hot tub or play games in the large living room area of the lodge.

By day we will explore trails near Donner Pass, summiting peaks that offer beautiful 360-degree views of the surrounding area. We’ll also take advantage of hiking along Lake Tahoe, one the most beautiful lakes in the world. This may be your last opportunity to do a few good hikes before winter sets in and snow arrives. If some of the hikes appear too difficult, you may want to spend a few days reading or relaxing in the library or around the lodge. We hope you will join us for this exciting autumn adventure.

Getting There

Clair Tappaan Lodge is located at 7,000 feet in California’s Sierra Nevada. It’s 48 miles west of Reno, Nevada and about 12 miles west of Truckee, California. Participants flying into Reno/Tahoe airport should rent a car or make arrangements to carpool with other trip participants. All participants will receive detailed driving directions and a trip roster so that they may make arrangements to carpool. All transportation to the lodge, trailheads, or other activities is the responsibility of each trip member. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

In 1934, Sierra Club volunteers built Clair Tappaan Lodge as a rustic retreat for hikers, skiers, and mountain climbers. It's located near Donner Summit; the area receives the highest average snowfall of the entire Sierra Nevada Range and is a favorite of winter sports enthusiasts. In summer, a network of nearby trails offers miles of hiking and bicycling and provides access to fishing streams, remote meadows and peaks, and alpine swimming lakes.

Although it is not a luxury lodge, Clair Tappaan Lodge has a special rustic charm. It boasts a spacious living room, enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring. A small, friendly staff cares for the lodge. In keeping with the cooperative spirit of the lodge, each guest pitches in by doing a simple chore that requires about a half-hour each day. Chores include preparing and serving meals, setting tables, sweeping/mopping floors, bussing tables, washing dishes, and taking out trash/recycling.

Prior to breakfast, guests prepare their own bag lunches from plentiful and varied ingredients. A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared by the professional kitchen staff and served in the lodge's large communal dining room. A vegetarian meal option is always available. Participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance.

Coffee, tea, and water are served with meals. Those wishing hot drinks before or after mealtimes should bring change for the donation box. A soft-drink coin machine is available in the lodge.

Because the lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles, no smoking is allowed indoors or outdoors. Sleeping accommodations vary in size from very small two-person cubicles, to larger family rooms, to separate dorms for men and women. All rooms are furnished with bunk beds with mattresses, pillows, and pillowcases. Trip participants are asked to provide their own sleeping bags or sheets, towels, soap, and toiletries. If travel with a sleeping bag is too cumbersome, sheets and blankets may be provided. Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper. The Lodge Manager assigns all accommodations in advance. For more information about staying at the lodge, please visit http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/thingstoknow.aspx.

Some doors do not lock, but there are lockers, and you can bring your own padlock. 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 washer, dryer, and refrigerator are available.

All luggage has to be carried or pulled by cart from the unloading zone to the front door of the lodge, then upstairs to your room. We recommend that you travel lightly. If you have a backpack or a carry-on bag, these might serve you better on this trip rather than a suitcase.

Reservations for extended stays before or after your outing may be made by calling the lodge directly at 530-426-3632.

Trip Difficulty

Our hikes range from easy to strenuous, five to nearly ten miles round-trip, up and down over uneven ground. Elevation gains range between 375 feet and 1,980 feet. It’s important that everyone be in good physical condition. Remember, we'll be hiking above 7,000 feet, where the air is thinner and this makes our lungs work harder. Start some kind of aerobic conditioning program now -- you'll be happy you did.

Equipment and Clothing

Prepare like you are going camping; you'll need just about the same gear at the lodge, except for plates, cups, and cutlery. That includes day packs, water bottles, hiking boots or sturdy shoes (no sandals) for hiking, and waterproof shoes or Crocs for the beach. We will send you a departure bulletin with reminders about equipment and pre-outing preparation before the trip begins. You should expect evening temperatures in the 30s and 40s and days in the mid 70s, as well as an occasional afternoon thundershower.

References

• White, Mike, Afoot & Afield Tahoe-Reno 201 Spectacular Outings in the Lake Tahoe Region. 2016.
• Howard, Thomas Frederick, Sierra Crossing: First Roads to California. 1998.
• Konigsmark, Ted, Geologic Trips: Sierra Nevada. 2002.  
• Lankford, Scott, Tahoe Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Stories of America’s Largest Mountain Lake. 2010.
• Makley, Michael J., A Short History of Lake Tahoe. 2011.
• McGlashan, C.F., History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierra. 1940/1975.
• Reid, Robert Leonard, A Treasury of the Sierra Nevada. 1983.
• Schaffer, Jeffrey P., The Tahoe Sierra: A Natural History Guide. 1975/1998.
• Strayed, Cheryl, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. 2012.
• Twain, Mark, Roughing It. 1872.

• Clair Tappaan Lodge: http://clairtappaanlodge.com/ 
• Emigrant Trail Museum in Donner Memorial State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503

• USGS 7.5-minute Norden
• USGS 7.5-minute Cisco Grove and Soda Springs
• CSP D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Parks, Trail System

Conservation

Your leaders are volunteers. They have a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. Their wish is that during this outing you will become a strong believer who understands the need to protect our wild areas. We'll be practicing Leave No Trace wilderness principles throughout the trip in order to minimize our impact on the environment.

The Donner Pass area is a readily accessible recreation mecca, appealing to retirees as well as to winter and summer recreational users. As more and more people come to the area, they contribute to a growing environmental problem. We'll discuss the ecological implications of the area's popularity.

While on the trip, please don't hesitate to ask your leaders about any conservation concerns that you may have. They look forward to having you share conservation challenges and successes from your home. Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, check out the information that the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/carbon-offsets

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from Tahoe National Forest.