50-Plus Service and Fun at Pyramid Lake, Nevada

The Trip

Share your community spirit and your love of the great outdoors on a service-oriented outing involving work projects in cooperation with the Paiute tribe at Pyramid Lake in the Reno, Nevada area. Along the way we will learn about the importance of the Truckee River, the tribe’s fisheries, and why Pyramid Lake is sacred to the Paiute.

Each day will offer a balance of activities, either service or recreational -- including hiking and exploring the culture and history of the Paiute. At the end of each day, we will return of our hotel for a hot shower. We will have plenty of time for rest and relaxation since we will not be required to perform the group chores that are the norm on many Sierra Club outings.

While most visitors come to this region to enjoy the glitter, gold, and bright lights of the Reno casinos, this trip offers an opportunity to take the road less traveled and experience the stark beauty and big skies of the Great Basin Desert, the largest desert in the U.S. Home to the Paiute Indian Tribe and one of the largest natural lakes in the state of Nevada, Pyramid Lake features spectacular scenery and world-class fishing.

Our fun will begin at our hotel in Fernley, Nevada. This location was selected because of its proximity to Pyramid Lake and its rural Nevada character.

The Project

Pyramid Lake is the site of unique tufa formations composed of calcium carbonate. One of these formations, the Stone Woman and her Basket, is an icon of Paiute lore. The tufa rocks formed sometime between 26,000 and 13,000 years ago when Pyramid Lake and its sister lake, Winnemucca, (now dry) were part of ancient Lake Lahontan, which covered much of Nevada and eastern California. Tufas formed when freshwater springs bubbled under the higher and more salty Lake Lahontan. As the ancient lake receded, the tufas emerged as strange calcified formations. 

Under the supervision of Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal staff, this will be our fifth year the Sierra Club has been able to help the tribe (which owns no casinos).  Projects vary each year.  In the past, Tribal leaders have involved participants in gardening, painting facilities, and removing invasive species from reservation lands. We eagerly anticipate new projects each year.

The trip will begin on day one with an informal gathering at 5:00 p.m. at the hotel. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. If you arrive early, you can unpack, take a leisurely walk, or explore the area. By arriving early you will have additional time to acclimate to the altitude at 3,796 feet.

A typical day will begin with eating breakfast and making a sack lunch. We will then travel about 30 minutes to our work site and trailhead. At the end of each day’s activity, we will return to the hotel for a social gathering, then dinner and optional evening activities.

We will alternate days two through six with three days of working, one day of hiking, and a day off so participants can explore the area on their own. This off day will give those who are interested an opportunity to fish Pyramid Lake. As a world-class fishery, the lake is the site of the world-record Lahonton Cutthroat Trout (41 pounds) and the only place in the world where the ancient Cui-ui fish can be found.  If you have never fished here before, you are in for a visual treat and some exceptional fishing fun. However, you will be responsible for providing your own equipment and obtaining a tribal fishing permit.  Some may want to bring along a kayak while ohers may just spend the day relaxing at the hotel or admiring the spectacular Reno clouds.

We will also visit the Pyramid Lake Paiute Museum and Visitor Center, a tribal fishery, the Bureau of Land Management’s Palomino Valley Wild Horse Ranch, and the Nature Conservancy’s McCarran Ranch Preserve along the Truckee River.

All activities and service projects are subject to change depending on a variety of factors, including trail conditions, permits, weather, and availability of staff and speakers.

Getting There

Due to insurance regulations, all transportation to the lodge, trailheads, and the work site is the responsibility of each trip member. Leaders are unable to arrange carpools for participants. Those arriving by air or being dropped off at the lodge should plan to rent a car or make their own arrangements to carpool with other trip participants. If you wish to carpool, the leader will provide a participant roster before the trip.  Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member.

Accommodations and Food

Because Pyramid Lake is mostly undeveloped, we will stay in Fernley, Nevada. Our hotel is located about 36 miles east of the Reno International Airport. Participants will share a double-occupancy room -- either a king-size bedroom for couples, or a room with two queens. Hotel amenities will be described on the hotel website.

The first trip meal will be dinner on Sunday evening and the last meal will be breakfast on Saturday morning. Participants will pay for their own dinners at nearby restaurants. The hotel offers a full, complimentary breakfast each morning. Participants will prepare their own sack lunch each morning. The trip leaders will provide an assortment of sandwich breads, meats, cheeses, and spreads. There will be plenty of food; however, those who have dietary restrictions or personal preferences may provide some food items of their own. While the lunches will include vegetarian options, we cannot promise that local restaurants will be able to accommodate strict vegans.

Trip Difficulty

Work will be moderately strenuous due in large part to working in an arid climate. Hydration is the most important tool in preventing sickness -- everyone is advised to bring at least three one-quart water containers.

This service trip is suitable for all levels of fitness because everyone is encouraged to work at his or her own pace. However, if you haven't been exercising regularly, now is a good time to start. Safety is the primary concern on all of our service trips.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to all registered participants. Participants will need hiking boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts for the work project.

The leader will send a departure bulletin with reminders about equipment and pre-outing preparation before the trip begins. You should expect evening temperatures in the low 40s and days in the mid-70s, as well as an occasional afternoon thundershower. Please, no electronic devices.

References

Maps:

• USGS Nixon Quad. Leaders will provide maps and detailed directions in pre-trip and on-trip communications.

Books:

• Storer, Tracy I., Sierra Nevada Natural History.
• Blackwell, Laird R., Wildflowers of the Tahoe Sierra.
• White, Mark, Afoot and Afield: Reno-Tahoe: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide.

Websites:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Basin_Desert
• Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s Reservation: http://plpt.nsn.us/
• Tahoe Visitor Bureau: http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com

Conservation

Your leaders are volunteers. They have a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We'll be practicing Leave No Trace wilderness principles throughout the trip in order to minimize our impact on the environment. 

Pyramid Lake is considered the gem of Nevada, and a National Scenic Byway runs along its shoreline.  The area is heavily impacted by tourism related to recreational use.  Annually in September, more than 50,000 people pass through this area to and from the Burning Man Music Festival in the Black Rock Desert: http://burningman.org

Pyramid Lake is the sink of the Truckee River. In 1905, the Derby Dam was built between Wadsworth/Fernley and Sparks/Reno Nevada.  The result is that Pyramid Lake’s sister lake, Lahontan, went dry and will never recover. The depth of Pyramid Lake dropped over 70 feet.  With the recent drought and decreased snowfall in the Sierra Nevada, water is the most serious environmental issue the Paiute’s face.

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/national/carbon-offsets