Service and Stewardship with the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Nevada

The Trip

The mountains, meadows, lakes, and rivers that surround Truckee Donner are spectacularly beautiful places to hike, swim, and play. However, the area continually faces threats from improperly regulated growth and development that directly impact the natural areas. The Land Trust and its staff are stewards of multiple areas of land and rely heavily on volunteers to maintain the local environments and keep the sites safe and accessible to the public.

The Land Trust conservation strategy is three-pronged. They work to protect:

1. Critical open spaces and greenbelts in the greater Truckee Donner region,
2. Natural areas that aren't yet threatened by imminent development and therefore are more affordable, and 
3. 
Large open spaces that are threatened by immediate development and are therefore expensive, but also of great value to the community.

We will be working in these gorgeous protected areas, hiking and swimming on our day off, and returning each day to our Lodge for a delicious meal and time to relax in the hot tub. The weather will be delightful -- sunny in the day (70s and low 80s) with cool nights (mid-40s to mid-50s). 

The Project

We will be working in several different locations that are part of the Truckee Donner Land Trust. The nature of the projects will be dependent on the severity of the winter snowfall. We could be doing trail maintenance, cleaning up campsites, installing signage, improving trails, or even constructing trails (local permits needed). We plan to work where we are most needed. 

The Land Trust has existed since 1990 and has protected over 33,000 acres with plans to protect another 24,500 acres in the following years. Their mission statement is: "To preserve and protect scenic, historic, and recreational lands with high natural resource values in the greater Truckee Donner region and manage recreational activities on these lands in a sustainable manner."

A detailed description of the projects will be sent before the trip.

Day 1: Arrive at the Lodge by 4:00 p.m. to meet the trip staff and participants. We will settle in, have an orientation meeting, and enjoy a delicious dinner. Each night after dinner, we'll have evening programs: a conservation evening, evening hike, quiz night, and other games. In addition to our service work with the Land Trust, a few of the group will do service work at Clair Tappaan Lodge each day too. We will rotate this within the group so everyone works one day at the Lodge.

Days 2-3: Each day after breakfast, we will leave the Lodge by 9:00 a.m. to drive to our nearby work locations. The group staying to work at the Lodge will report to the Lodge staff for instructions. Ranger Kevin will tell us our tasks for the week and be with us at the work sites.

Day 4: Today is designated as a day for participants to explore and enjoy the area. Options are driving to Lake Tahoe, going on a hike, swimming in nearby lakes, kayaking on Lake Tahoe, bicycling the Truckee River Trail, and much more!

Days 5-6: We'll continue working on the work projects we started earlier in the week. The group staying to work at the Lodge will report to the Lodge staff for instructions.

Day 7: The trip ends after breakfast. We will load our bags into our cars and say goodbye to each other, proud of our achievements and ready for more!

Getting There

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

In 1934, Sierra Club volunteers built Clair Tappaan Lodge as a rustic retreat for hikers, skiers, and mountain climbers. Since 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.

Before breakfast, guests prepare their 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.

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 provide their own sleeping bags or sheets, towels, soap, and toiletries. 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 follow this link: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/thingstoknow.aspx.

Doors do lock and there are lockers, and you can bring your padlock. Restroom and shower facilities are shared, with two men's and two women's bathrooms (bring your 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. I 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.

Trip Difficulty

We will be working at 6,000-7,000 feet, in a warm, dry climate and using tools and moving building materials. This is moderately strenuous overall and participants will be urged to drink water frequently, take breaks, and work at their comfort levels. If you are in reasonable physical condition, you should have no problem with the trip tasks.

A current tetanus vaccination is needed for this trip.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to all approved participants.

References

Maps:

• Tahoe National Forest

Books:

• Sorer, Tracy I., Sierra Nevada Natural History.
• Blackwell, Laird R., Wildflowers of the Tahoe Sierra.
• Powell, Margie, Donner Summit, A Brief History.

Websites:

• Forest Service/Tahoe National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe/
• Donner Memorial State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov
• Tahoe Visitors Bureau: http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com

Conservation

Your leader is a volunteer, totally dedicated to the mission of the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. 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. As we are working for the Land Trust, we can talk about the importance of their work and how other Land Trusts operate. While on the trip, please don't hesitate to ask your leader about any conservation concerns that you may have. I 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/national/sierra-club-outings-and-carbon-offsets