Hiking and Music in Tahoe National Forest, California

The Trip

"I know what the hill are there for and they know me… City life is the scary life, inane, insane, tiny and alone. Learn wildness and you don’t fear anything.” — Henry David Thoreau

“The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds,… let no such man be trusted.” — William Shakespeare

With its high jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and clear flowing streams, Tahoe National Forest occupies the Sierra Nevada between Sacramento and Reno. One hundred fifty years ago, California-bound emigrants, gold miners, and railroad laborers made history in these hills as they struggled to build a nation and make a better life for themselves. This August, a similarly bold group of adventurers and wandering minstrels will again experience the Sierra Nevada, this time under more comfortable circumstances as they escape their city lives, experience wilderness, and fill the hills with a concord of sweet sounds.  

From our base at the Sierra Club’s historic Clair Tappaan Lodge, we will enjoy moderate dayhikes on the Pacific Crest Trail and other nearby walking paths. We will explore mountain meadows filled with aster, lupine, and black-eyed susan; visit clear lakes suitable for swimming; experience high granite crags and vistas; and perhaps even see pre-historic petroglyphs. 

Music will be an important feature of the trip. With guidance from the trip leaders, the hills will echo with the sound of our music, and players of any gentle-sounding instrument — recorders, flutes, violins, lutes, guitars, horns, voice, piano (the Lodge has a well-maintained piano), etc. — are encouraged to participate. We will make music every day and perhaps put the sun to bed each day with a soft lullaby. We may even carry our instruments into the hills to play to the flowers and trees for they also enjoy a sweet song.  

Our repertoire will range from Josquin to Joplin and may include early music, ethnic music, show tunes, and anything gentle and easy on the ear. We will enjoy pieces such as Playford’s lively English renaissance dances, ethnic tunes such as Turlough O’Carolan’s Irish melodies, and Jacob van Eyck’s traditional Dutch folk songs and variations. Our repertoire will also include familiar 20th century compositions from the musical stage and film by composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin; popular ’60s folk songs from singers such as John Denver and Woody Guthrie; and classical compositions such as Vaughn-Williams’ enchanting Rhosymedre. Participants will receive a tunebook compiled by the trip leaders.

The trip leaders, Richard and Andrew, are both musicians. Richard plays French horn and recorder and has performed with the Seacoast Wind Ensemble from Kittery, Maine; the Leftist Marching Band from Portsmouth, NH; and a variety of recorder ensembles. Andrew is a professional pianist/singer and bandleader with a background in classical piano, bass fiddle, and guitar. He enjoys performing jazz, pop, and standard tunes as well as songs from the musical stage and screen.

Getting There

Participants are responsible for transport to/from Clair Tappaan Lodge at the beginning and end of the trip, and for transport from the Lodge to trailheads during the trip. The closest major city airport is in Reno, Nevada, which is about 50 miles and 1 hour driving time away. Other possible airports are Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco. All trailheads are within 20 minutes' driving time from the Lodge. The leader will provide driving directions to the Lodge and trailheads.

There is no public transportation to Clair Tappaan Lodge. Participants without vehicles should either rent a vehicle or make carpool arrangements with other participants. The leader will provide a trip roster to facilitate carpools. 

Do not make non-refundable transportation reservations until the leader approves your participation in the trip.

Accommodations and Food

Clair Tappaan Lodge is comparable to a youth hostel. It is not a typical motel or upscale rustic lodge.  Lodging will be in single-sex dormitories with up to 10 bunkbeds and/or in very small two-person rooms. The Lodge will try to accommodate participant requests to room with specific other participants, but this is not guaranteed. Shower and toilet facilities are single-sex group facilities. 

The trip includes all-you-can-eat family-style meals at Clair Tappaan Lodge. Every meal will include a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option. Lunches will be make-your-own sandwiches and will include chips, cookies, and a fruit. Participants with most common dietary restrictions, such as food allergies, can usually be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance.

In keeping with the cooperative spirit of the Lodge, participants will be asked to help with a simple chore that will require about a half-hour each day. Chores may include preparing and serving meals, setting tables, sweeping/mopping floors, bussing tables, washing dishes, and taking out trash/recycling.

The Lodge has a spacious living room, small library/game room and hot tub for those who wish to use them.  

The trip will not have exclusive use of the Lodge. Meals and perhaps accommodations may be shared with other Lodge visitors.

Trip Difficulty

“You can feel the muscle knots tightening in your legs… Fibers multiply and valves enlarge and walls thicken. A miracle. At least if the species has lost its animal strength, its individual members can have the fun of finding it again.” — Jerry and Renny Russell in On The Loose

Participants in hiking activities should be mentally prepared to multiply their fibers and enlarge their valves, at least a little bit. You should enjoy moderate exercise, be able to hike 8-10 miles and climb 1,500 feet with a lightweight daypack at 2-3 miles per hour, and feel comfortable walking on uneven, rocky, or steeply sloped trails. We will be hiking at elevations of 7,000 to 8,000 feet, so if you're accustomed to exercising at sea level, you may find yourself moving more slowly than usual. The trip is not an Olympic competition, but we do want to see as much of the Tahoe National Forest’s magnificent scenery as is reasonably possible and to feel comfortably tired at the end of each day.

Participants in musical activities should be comfortable with the normal range for their instrument (including voice), and able to play in common keys and read music. The leaders will select music appropriate for intermediate-level amateur musicians.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants should bring a sleeping bag or other appropriate bedding, a daypack, two water bottles, lightweight clothing layers for hiking, rain gear, broken-in hiking boots for the trails (sandals and sneakers are not sufficient) and other shoes for the Lodge. Expect daytime temperatures in the 80s and evenings in the 50s. Afternoon thundershowers are possible. A more detailed equipment list will be provided. Participants in musical activities, in addition to their instrument, should bring a music stand. 

References

• The National Geographic Trails Illustrated map, #805, Tahoe National Forest, Sierra Buttes/Donner Pass includes the area of this trip.
• Several books about the Donner party and the Donner Pass are available on amazon.com.
• Muir, John, My First Summer in the Sierra.
• Hill, Mary, Geology of the Sierra Nevada.
• Storer and Usinger, Natural History of the Sierra Nevada.
• Farquhar, Francis P., History of the Sierra Nevada.
• Clair Tappaan Lodge website: http://clairtappaanlodge.com/

Conservation

Your leaders are volunteer Sierra Club members who have a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We hope to impart to you some of our love for the area we are visiting and for the work of the Sierra Club. We believe that the Sierra Club's outings program provides an excellent opportunity for members to enjoy the fruits of past conservation victories and to learn about current concerns. While on this trip, please feel free to ask your leader about any particular conservation issues and to share environmental concerns from your area.

On this trip, we will learn and practice Leave No Trace principles that will minimize your impact whenever you choose to explore the wilderness. At our lodge, we will model recycling, conservation, and minimal use of disposable products. Participants will be invited to share a conservation issue from their home region or state.

Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, participants should review the information the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/national/sierra-club-outings-and-carbon-offsets. 

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