Long-Weekend Service at Clair Tappaan Lodge, Tahoe National Forest, California

The Trip

Looking for a long weekend of camaraderie and volunteering in a spectacular and historic Sierra setting?

Come spend a memorable four-night outing with others who value the preservation of the Sierra while enjoying the famous Clair Tappaan Lodge. The Sierra Club’s historic building has hosted many generations of nature lovers, and our efforts will help to ensure it will continue to do so in the future. You can contribute to that future and all the Lodge represents to people who carry on the vision of John Muir, while at the same time enjoying its amenities and setting in a dedicated group.

We'll enjoy hearty, vegetarian-friendly meals, served family-style; spend evenings swapping stories around the fire or stargazing after a rewarding work day. On our day off, you can choose from a variety of activities: hike the Pacific Crest Trail, visit Donner Memorial State Park, ride the Squaw Valley Tram, or explore mountain streams, meadows, peaks, or crystal-clear lakes to quietly enjoy nature.

Nestled in the Tahoe National Forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and built by Sierra Club volunteers, Clair Tappaan is the Sierra Club's flagship lodge, embodying sustainable practices and supporting the Sierra Club's mission to encourage people to "explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth." To promote that mission, the Lodge’s operation is designed to increase awareness of the environment, foster a sense of community, enhance the spirit of volunteerism, and nurture environmentally attuned, conscious conduct.

The Project

The Lodge sits at roughly 7,000 feet of altitude near Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The heavy winters take their toll on this large yet cozy volunteer-built structure. We will bring our skills and experience to a variety of projects selected by Clair Tappaan staff to help preserve and enhance the Lodge and the surrounding area. There will be a range of tasks to suit all of our volunteers. Tools and instruction will be provided, and we’ll keep you posted as we hear from the Operations Manager about specific projects or needs.

We have two overlapping volunteer groups sharing the same weekend at Clair Tappaan Lodge. The first (22301A) arrives in time for dinner Wednesday evening, works the first two days and then has the third and fourth days (Sat/Sun) free for hikes, touring the area, etc. The second group (22302A) arrives for dinner on Friday evening, has the first two days (Sat/Sun) free for activities, and works on the third and fourth days.

For the weekend, we’ll have both of our groups (as many as 24 participants) at the Lodge to get to know each other and participate in a range of free-time activities together.

Arrival: Plan to arrive at the Lodge in time to check in before our 6 p.m. family-style dinner. After dinner, we’ll begin with a group introduction, orientation meeting, and tour. For the rest of the evening, you will be free to visit with your fellow participants, read, play games, settle into your rooms, or turn in early.

Days 1-2, 3-4:

Each morning, the "come and prepare your lunch" bell will ring at 7:30 a.m., followed by a hearty breakfast that starts at 8 a.m.

Work days: Work will start daily at 9 a.m., or as soon as we finish our kitchen cleanup chores. We should have a variety of projects in the vicinity of the Lodge. Since we are working at a higher altitude, we will stop frequently for water and rest breaks. We’ll choose an appealing spot to enjoy our packed lunches as a group.

Off days: Free-time! We’ll organize groups of three or more to explore a network of nearby trails that offer miles of hiking and access to streams, meadows, mountain peaks, and crystal-clear lakes. The well-known Pacific Crest Trail is a short hike from Clair Tappaan's back door! Lodge staff will be happy to suggest other outdoor activities you might enjoy. Or, you may choose to enjoy the atmosphere of the Lodge. If there is interest, an excursion to nearby Truckee, Donner Memorial State Park, or Lake Tahoe can be organized by carpool.

Departure: The outing comes to a close by 5 p.m. at the end of the fourth full day. If it’s a work day, please plan to contribute to the volunteer project until at least 4 p.m.

Getting There

Clair Tappaan Lodge is near the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the Lake Tahoe community is a short 25 miles away. Reno, Nevada is located 45 miles away, and Sacramento, California, is 98 miles away. Both cities have large airports with numerous flight destinations. The Lodge is also about 180 miles from San Francisco.

Although no public transportation to the Lodge exists, there are several ways to get to it. The town of Truckee, California, offers a taxi to the Lodge; carpooling is also an option and one that the Sierra Club encourages. The trip leader will provide everyone a list of all participants and email addresses should you want to arrange a carpool or find a ride-share with other trip members.

Driving directions: The Lodge is located on Donner Pass Road (old US 40), 2.4 miles south of Interstate 80. Once there, look for a loading zone located up the paved driveway on the north side of the road. The Lodge entrance is just beyond that at the end of the footpath. Parking is available on the south side of Donner Pass Road.

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

Accommodations and Food

Participants will enjoy hearty, family-style meals every day. Vegetarian meals are always an option. (If you have dietary restrictions or concerns, please contact the trip leader.) Breakfast is served at 8 a.m., but coffee and tea are always available. Refrigerators, food storage lockers, free laundry facilities, and a microwave are available. 

Sleeping accommodations feature a variety of room types (all with bunk beds): small two-person cubicles, five-person dorm rooms with a triple and double bunk bed, 10- to 12-person dorm rooms with triple and double bunk beds. Participants may bring their own sleeping bags, towels, and toiletries or may rent sleeping bags from the Lodge. Beds include two sheets, two blankets, a pillow, and a pillowcase. Towels are also included. Tents will not be needed.

Though not a luxury facility, the Lodge possesses a rustic yet comfortable charm: spacious living room, enormous fireplace, cozy library, and outdoor fire ring. A friendly staff cares for the Lodge, yet in keeping with the cooperative spirit of the Sierra Club each guest pitches in by doing a simple chore that takes about a half-hour each day. Chores could include helping to prepare or serve meals, setting tables, keeping floors clean, bussing tables, dishwashing, and doing trash/recycling duties.

Trip Difficulty

The work projects, under the supervision of the Clair Tappaan Lodge staff, can be moderately strenuous; however, no one will be asked to work beyond his or her comfort level, and we encourage all participants to take regular water and rest breaks to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Equipment and Clothing

Bring work boots and heavy leather work-gloves as well as long-sleeved shirts and heavier pants to protect you from rocks, thorns, and sharp twigs. Disposable gloves are useful for painting projects. Bring a sun-shade hat for high-altitude, bright days, and several layers of clothing for the crisp mornings and evenings. The average daytime high in summer is in the upper 70s, but the temperature can drop below freezing at night, so a hat and warm gloves might come in handy. Mountain weather conditions can change fast, and we will be there at the “swing” season. Sierra Nevada is Spanish for "snowy mountains,” so do prepare and bring waterproof jacket, pants, and boots. Once you are accepted as a participant, a full equipment list will be sent with more details.

You’ll certainly want to bring a camera and binoculars. A small telescope for stargazing would be a welcome addition. If you play a musical instrument, bring it so we can sing along!

References

• Muir, John, My First Summer in the Sierra.
• Farquhar, Francis, History of the Sierra Nevada.
• Powell, Margie, Donner Summit, A Brief History.
• Tahoe National Forest: fs.usda.gov
• Pacific Crest Trail Association: http://www.pcta.org/

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Your leaders are Sierra Club volunteers who have dedicated time and energy to the enjoyment and conservation of the outdoors. Please don't hesitate to ask your leaders about conservation concerns, and come prepared to share conservation successes and challenges from your local environment with the group one evening. We will have opportunities throughout our time together to discuss different aspects of resource conservation and learn more about the challenges in preservation and management of the Sierra and, specifically, those related to the Tahoe National Forest and Clair Tappaan Lodge area. 

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.