Work and Play at Clair Tappaan Lodge, Tahoe National Forest, California

The Trip

Looking for a volunteer service week in a spectacular and historic Sierra setting?

Come prepared to tackle a wide variety of repair and restoration tasks inside and outside the famous Clair Tappaan Lodge. The Sierra Club’s rustic building has hosted generations of nature lovers, and our efforts will help to ensure it will continue to do so in the future. 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 nearby 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

Our group will help further the lodge staff's plans to maintain both the facility and the surrounding forest. Since the 1860s, the forests in the Tahoe Basin have been heavily logged to supply timber for railroads and buildings. Since the lodge's construction during the 1930’s, the forest has remained mostly untouched except for the addition of a few nature trails.  After an expert inspection in 2003, a plan was created to restore the forests to their pre-1860s state (before the railroads came through). Our specific tasks, whether to improve forest health or to preserve the lodge, will be determined by the Clair Tappaan staff.

Specific projects may include invasive plant removal, trail improvement in the surrounding forest lands, or preservation work on the lodge. We will be working at a higher altitudes and will stop frequently for water and rest breaks. We’ll look for spots with a scenic view for our lunch breaks. Before work begins, the lodge staff will provide instruction on safe tool use.

Arrival: Plan to arrive at the Lodge on Sunday 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, 4-5 Work Days:

Each morning, the "come and grab 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.

Day 3 Off Day: 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 after breakfast with check out by 12 noon on Saturday.

Getting There

Clair Tappaan Lodge is located on Donner Pass Road (old US 40), 2.4 miles south of Interstate 80, near the edge of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Lake Tahoe community is 25 miles away. Major airports are located in Reno, Nevada (45 miles east), Sacramento, California (100 miles west), and the San Francisco Bay Area (about 190 miles west).

Although no public transportation to the Lodge exists, there are several ways to get there. The town of Truckee, California, an Amtrak stop, is about 11 miles from the lodge, and offers a taxi to the Lodge. The Sierra Club encourages ride sharing, and the trip leader will provide everyone with a roster of participants in advance, for those wishing to arrange a carpool to the lodge. The leader will provide all participants with detailed driving directions to the lodge.  

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. Beds include a fairly stiff vinyl covered mattress, a fitted sheet, a pillow, and a pillowcase. Towels and blankets can be rented.

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 expected to work beyond his or her comfort level, and everyone will be encouraged to take regular water and rest breaks.

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 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.

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.

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 Nevada and, specifically, issues related to the Tahoe National Forest and Clair Tappaan Lodge area.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable operates under a permit area located in the Tahoe National Forest.