Backpack and Base Camp for Grandparents and Grandkids, Tahoe National Forest, California

Day 1: Meet at Hutchinson Lodge by 4:00 p.m. for an orientation meeting. We can get to know each other, swap stories, and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Day 2: We begin the day eating a hearty breakfast, making our lunches, and assembling our backpacks with everything we will need to bring with us: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, eating utensils, warm clothing, swimsuit, towel, personal effects. After carpooling to the trailhead, we will begin our hike on the PCT, in the Tahoe National Forest. We will take the trail through the forest up and over Castle Pass and down into Round Valley, where we will find the small rustic mountain hut, our home for the next two nights. The hut has a communal cooking area and an upstairs communal sleeping area. There is an outside composting toilet for group use. (5 miles; 800-foot gradual elevation gain, 400-foot descent).

Day 3: Today we’ll all hike to nearby Sandridge Lake and explore and swim to our heart's content. (4 miles)

Day 4: Sadly, we have to return to civilization today. We will load up our packs, hike out to our cars and return to the Lodge for a cool snack, hot showers, relaxing dinner, and an old-fashioned family campfire. Time permitting, we’ll take the kids to swim in a lake before dinner.

Day 5: The trip ends after breakfast. We say our goodbyes and hope to see each other next year!

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. Hutchinson Lodge is also owned by the Sierra Club and is located within a few hundred years. It is a very rustic, self run Lodge with 2 bunk rooms of 8 beds and 4 day beds in the lounge, a communal kitchen, and shared bathrooms.

Peter Grubb Hut is a similar type of mountain hut with a communal sleeping area and eating area. There are no showers or running water and the toilet is in an adjoining small hut and is composting.

Participants will be expected to carry some of the trip food for the backpacking section of the trip.

The leaders will provide all the food, cooking stove, pots, and utensils. We will all assist with meal preparation and clean up. Owing to the limited cooking space and food transport, it is possible to accommodate vegetarians but not vegans.

Trip Difficulty

If you are in reasonably good physical shape but have never been backpacking, this trip is a good place to start! How better to relate to your grandchild than to learn together! The trip is designed so you do not have to carry too much weight in your pack and that you are only backpacking into the hut and out again which really means that you are carrying the pack for two half days. We will help you keep your pack light too. There is some elevation change too, but not a lot and we can hike as slowly as you want to. We have three leaders in total to enable hiking at different speeds. We want all to succeed and have a positive experience, both adults and children. After all, the grandchildren are the future generation of hikers, campers, and custodians of wild places.

Equipment and Clothing

The trip leader will send out a detailed equipment list to all approved participants. If you do not have a backpack, we recommend that you borrow or rent a backpack. The kids should be able to carry most of their belongings but maybe not their sleeping bag. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the trip leader. 

References

Maps:

• Tahoe National Forest (National Geographic or similar)

Books:

Websites:

• Forest Service Tahoe National Forest: http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe
• Donner Memorial State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov
• Tahoe Visitors Bureau: http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com

Conservation

The trip leaders are volunteers, 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 encourage the grandkids to recognize and discuss environmental issues and possible resolutions.

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