Sierra Sampler, Tahoe National Forest, California

Day 1: Check into the lodge by 2 p.m. We will assemble at 4:00 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, meet each other, view the week's itinerary, and tour the lodge. After dinner we will take a short nature hike to explore the lodge grounds and relax together. 

Day 2: We will carpool to a nearby trailhead and take a leisurely 4-mile hike on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail to reach our favorite mountain lake. There we can wade or swim surrounded by stunning granite outcrops, and eat lunch with a grand view of Donner Lake. After dinner we’ll carpool to view nearby Indian petroglyphs (rock carvings) and the China Wall built by Chinese laborers to link the roadbed of the Transcontinental Railroad (completed 1869). We'll also have an opportunity to walk into a tunnel hand-cut through granite. 

Day 3: We will drive to Donner Memorial State Park where we’ll paddle Donner Lake in kayaks. After lunch we’ll watch a film about emigrants and the Donner Party at the museum. Then we'll explore the museum, which focuses on history of the area, from the time the Washeshu (Washoe), Paiute, and Western Shoshone tribes lived here for thousands of years before the coming of European Americans through the advent of railroad travel and the Lincoln National Highway that passed through Donner Summit Valley. In the evening, we will share and discuss our environmental concerns in our Conservation Conversation. 

Day 4: Today we will follow in the footsteps of the 19th-century emigrants on the California Trail, as we hike to Donner Peak and Roller Pass to see where many crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains and used oxen and chains to haul their wagons up an incredibly steep incline. Some of us may continue on a longer hike on the Mt Judah Loop with its panorama of surrounding mountains. After we shower and have dinner, Bill will read from Mark Twain’s classic, Roughing It, describing Twain's experiences in the Lake Tahoe area in the 1860s, an introduction to our hike along the lake to Emerald Bay. 

Day 5: We will leave early to drive to one of California’s state parks, located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. We will eat breakfast and then hike along the Rubicon Trail with magnificent lake views. After lunch at Emerald Bay, we’ll return to the trailhead in time for dinner at one of the restaurants in the area (not included in trip price). 

Day 6: The trip will end after breakfast. You can pack a lunch for your return home or travel to your next vacation destination.

While leaders will make every attempt to follow this itinerary, all hikes and programs are subject to change depending on a variety of factors, including trail conditions and the weather.

Getting There

The most popular and closest airport to the lodge is Reno, Nevada, only 60 minutes away on I-80. Other airports are Sacramento, California (1.5 hours) and San Francisco (about 3 hours). Those arriving by air should rent a car or make arrangements to carpool with other trip participants. If you intend to drive your own vehicle, consider bringing folding chairs for your comfort around the campfire.

Due to insurance regulations, all transportation to the lodge and to and from the trailheads is the responsibility of each trip member. Sierra Club leaders are not allowed to transport participants or make carpool arrangements, but leaders will provide a participant list for those who wish to make carpool arrangements. Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to the trailhead each day. Ride sharing with other participants is strongly encouraged. 

We’ll provide information about arrival at the lodge: directions from I-80, tips about unloading, and help with moving in.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until the trip leader notifies you to go ahead.

Accommodations and Food 

Located at 7,000 feet in towering Jeffrey pines near Donner Pass, Sierra Club-owned Clair Tappaan Lodge (its first phase was built by Club volunteers in 1934) is a rustic retreat known for Sierra Club hospitality, family-style meals, and good company. A professional kitchen staff prepares hearty breakfasts and dinners, and provides a daily sandwich board from which you will pack lunch each day. According to Sierra Club tradition, guests are asked to assist with a daily chore, such as setting tables, serving, or cleaning up — taking on average about 20 minutes. Vegetarian options are always available, and the staff may be able to accommodate other dietary restrictions with advance notice.

Coffee and tea are available before breakfast. Juice is served at breakfast. Participants are invited to bring their own beverages of choice to meals, and have the opportunity to store them in a basement refrigerator reserved for guests. Each morning before breakfast you will prepare your lunch for the trail. We highly recommend you bring a reusable container to carry your sandwich so we can reduce paper and plastic bag waste.

There are a variety of room types, ranging from separate dormitories for men and women, cubicles for couples, and larger rooms for multiple occupation. Your leaders will consult the staff to assign rooms based on availability, keeping you together with your family members or friends. We’ll sleep on bunk beds so you must bring a sleeping bag or bedding. Bring your own towels for use at the lodge and after swimming and kayaking. However, a sheet, one blanket, and a towel are available if reserved. There are two men's and two women's restrooms, each with at least two private showers and two toilets. Bring your own toiletries.

Trip Difficulty

Our hikes range in distance from approximately 4-8 miles (round-trip) along well-traveled trails, with approximate elevation gains of 700 to 900 feet. We invite participants of varying hiking strengths, from strong to those who may not have hiked much recently, or others not accustomed to hiking at altitude. Our hikes will give those who want to take photographs that opportunity without the worry of holding up others in the group.

We'll be at 7,000-9,000 feet elevation, where the air is thinner and acclimation may take several days. You can expect a feeling of tiredness and fatigue initially. You can, however, ease your transition by getting into shape before the trip. Being physically unprepared is unfair to yourself and other participants. You should be able to walk and carry on a conversation for one mile briskly (and three miles on flat terrain more leisurely) without getting winded. We're able to accommodate all who are in good physical condition and stay fit.

Equipment and Clothing

No special equipment is required; however, you need a daypack large enough to hold lunch, layered clothing, water bottles or a water bladder holding at least two liters or quarts, and a waterproof jacket. A sun hat or cap is a must. We recommend you have sturdy, “seasoned” hiking boots because of uneven terrain and stones. Sandals are not acceptable. We also recommend hiking poles for comfort and safety on trails. Bring a fleece or light jacket, for night and morning temperatures may be in the 40s. We will send a detailed clothing and packing list a couple months before the trip. 

References

Books:

• Brown, Daniel James, The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party. 2015.
• Howard, Thomas Frederick, Sierra Crossing: First Roads to California. 1998.
• Konigsmark, Ted, Geologic Trips: Sierra Nevada. 2002.
• Lankford, Scott, Tahoe Beneath the Surface: The Hidden Stories of America’s Largest Mountain Lake. 2010.
• Makley, Michael J., A Short History of Lake Tahoe. 2011.
• Reid, Robert Leonard, A Treasury of the Sierra Nevada. 1983.
• Schaffer, Jeffrey P., The Tahoe Sierra: A Natural History Guide. 1975/1998.
• Strayed, Cheryl, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. 2012.
• Twain, Mark, Roughing It. 1872.
• Wallis, Michael, The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny. 2017.

Websites:

• Clair Tappaan Lodge: http://clairtappaanlodge.com/
• Emigrant Trail Museum in Donner Memorial State Park: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503/
• UC Davis Tahoe Science Center: http://terc.ucdavis.edu/ed-outreach/tahoe-science-center/

Conservation

Because of its year-round attractiveness to outdoor enthusiasts, the Donner Pass/Lake Tahoe area, with its segments of the Pacific Crest Trail, is one of the most heavily visited regions in northern California. We’ll learn and practice Leave No Trace principles to minimize our impact whenever we’re in nature, on trails, or on the water. At the lodge, we will model recycling, conservation, and minimal use of disposable products. Remember, we recommend you bring a reusable container to carry your lunch each day. You might consider also bringing a cloth napkin. We’ll witness conservation implications of the intensive use of the landscape we are visiting.

One evening we will have a conservation conversation in which you will share concerns and practices from your community. We hope you'll consider urging your elected representatives to support protection of public lands or Sierra Club initiatives. 

Another evening co-leader Bill Baurecht will read from Mark Twain’s descriptions and experience of Lake Tahoe and the area in 1861, which we’ll use to turn our attention to water. 

Your leaders are volunteers and Sierra Club members with a long-term dedication to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. We hope to impart to you our love for the area and an understanding of 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. We are not experts. While on this trip you will be encouraged to share environmental issues, stories, and practices you’re familiar with back home so we’ll be learning from each other.

Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, check out the information that the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: https://content.sierraclub.org/outings/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.