Director's Desk: The Sierra Club Ecosystem

  • Posted on 27 April 2021
  • By Morgan Goodwin

I do my best thinking when I'm out in the mountains.

Long, uninterrupted hours putting one foot in front of the other creates that rhythm where I reflect on the puzzles I'm working through in my work. But it's not just the rhythm -- I've rarely found this quality of thinking when working out inside. Outdoor recreation is being in relationship with the natural world, and a great deal of inspiration available through observing the biology around us. John Muir knew this well.
 

Notable Black Leaders in the Angeles Chapter

  • Posted on 28 January 2021
  • By Morgan Goodwin - Senior Director, Angeles Chapter

February is Black History Month, and we take this moment to celebrate the contributions of Black leaders to the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter. Be sure to also read about the first Black members in the chapter and the challenges of integration. The following members have received Chapter leadership awards, which we highlight here.

Discrimination and Integration at the Angeles Chapter

  • Posted on 28 January 2021
  • By Morgan Goodwin - Senior Director, Angeles Chapter

Discrimination and Integration at the Angeles Chapter

February is Black History Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to shine a light on the Black history of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter. This article is based on documents1 from the Sierra Club archives, as well as interviews conducted by the Oral History Program of the California State University in Fullerton and the Sierra Club History Committee. 
 

Hiking England's South West Coast Path

June 5-17, 2017 | 13 days | South West Coast Path National Trail in England: Section One | Price: $2,900 to $3,100 

Leader: Deirdre Butler, (303) 823-8649, deirdrebutler2@gmail.com

Hike the first 100-plus miles of England’s South West Coast Path National Trail, a remarkable ramble that covers 630 miles of stunning coastal scenery. Discover the beauty and hidden treasures on this 13-day adventure that passes passes through a number of nature reserves and heritage coasts, five designated areas of outstanding natural beauty, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve as well as one national park. Participants can expect to hike 5 to 12 miles each day with no more than 2,300 feet in elevation gain. Stay in lodgings each night, with a hot shower and snugly bed at each day's end. 

Activity level

Moderately strenuous (this is an O-rated trip). Good for travelers passionate about hiking, wildlife and coastal exploration. A portion of the trip price supports Angeles Chapter Sierra Club.

Reserve this trip by contacting leader Deirdre Butler by email at deirdrebutler2@gmail.com or call (303) 823-8649. Co-leader is Kath Giel, sierrakath@gmail.com, (415) 720-4430

Price

$2,900 per person for Sierra Club members; $3,100 per person for non-members. Includes lodging, all ground transportation, most meals, luggage transfers, gratuities, hikes and more. International airfare is extra.

Good for anyone passionate about trekking and hiking in a stunning coastal setting. 

Trip Highlights

  • The South West Coast Path National Trail represents 630 miles of stunning coastal scenery around the South West peninsula of England. With its origins dating back to the 1800s as a coastguard patrol route to deter smuggling, today the path is England’s longest national trail. Read more about the trail.
     
  • Described by Lonely Planet as “walking at its most diverse, most spectacular and most delicious,” this award-winning trail is one of the world’s greatest walks and is regularly used to provide backdrop to TV and film productions.
     
  • This trip is the first in a series of six, with the goal of covering all 630 miles. You change accommodations just once during this trip.

Meet the leader

Deirdre Butler grew up hiking and horseback riding in Dartmoor National Park in southern England. Before taking early retirement, she worked in the medical industry and traveled extensively throughout Asia and the Far East. Deirdre has been involved with Sierra Club in various leadership roles since 2001 and first became involved with the Sierra Club outings program through leading local trips in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. 

She trained as a national outings leader in 2008 and has staffed trips for the International, Rocky Mountain, Midwest and Knapsack subcommittees of Sierra Club. She also is a Wilderness First Responder certified by the Wilderness Medicine Institute. A keen supporter of wildlife, Deirdre takes delight in sharing her knowledge of wildlife rehabilitation and field observations with trip participants. When not hiking, Deirdre barters her labor for organic veggies on a local CSA farm and enjoys spending time at home with her husband looking after their chickens, cats and dog. 

Deirdre believes that outings leadership with Sierra Club is an honor and a privilege. One of the first comments she shares with her trip participants is that her primary goal is to keep everyone safe and have fun! For Deirdre, leading trips and helping participants achieve personal goals, visit places they never would have done by themselves (like climbing Kilimanjaro!) brings a huge sense of satisfaction and really fulfills Sierra Club's mission to explore and enjoy the planet. 

Deirdre feels blessed to have found her vocation in leading Sierra Club trips, each of which extends her circle of close friends and adopted family. Another thing she says at the start of each trip: "We might start this trip as strangers, albeit with a common passion for nature, but we will end this trip as a family through our shared experiences." Deirdre was recognized in 2016 by Sierra Club National Outings Committee as a top leader of the year. 

Photos: On the South West Coast Path National Trail in England, looking back toward Ulfred Point. Credit: Jaap Gaasenbeek (top)
One of the villages along the path, Clovelly Harbour. Credit: Seraina Meier of Switzerland (middle photo)
Photo courtesy of Deirdre Butler (bottom photo)

Check out more Angeles Chapter Travel Adventures.

 

Nepal Sightseeing and Mountain Trek Adventure

Three ways to see Nepal! Reserve early and save $100!

Leader: Fred Dong, (818) 545-3878, madelinesdad@earthlink.net

Oct. 27-Nov. 9, 2017 | 14 days | Nepal Sightseeing Trip | Member price: $1,700 until Feb. 28; $1,800 from March 1

The 14-day trip will take you to the highest mountains in the world. Experience the culture and history of Nepal and the wildlife while visiting many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tour includes sightseeing in old Kathmandu visiting the Durbar, temples, markets, and other places; in Bhaktapur and the Kathmandu Valley as well as Pokhara and Chitwan National Park.

Activity level

Moderate (this is an O-rated trip). Good for travelers passionate about wildlife exploration, cultural immersion. A portion of the trip price supports Angeles Chapter Sierra Club.

Reserve this trip!

Send 2 self-addressed stamped envelopes or e-mail address, home and work phone numbers, Sierra Club membership number and check payable to Sierra Club for full amount to: Assistant Leader Stephanie Gross, PO Box 423, Montrose, CA 91021; (818) 545-3878.

Price

$1,700 per person until Oct. 31; $1,800 per person from Nov. 1. Includes ground transportation and flights within Nepal, accommodations, most meals, park and other admission fees, guided hikes and walks. International airfare is extra. 


Nov. 3-15, 2017 | 13 days | Nepal Mountain Hiking Adventure| Member price: $1,550 until Feb. 28; $1,650 from March 1

See the highest mountains in the world, up close and personal, on this 13-day hiking trip that goes no higher than 10,000 feet in elevation. Highlights include one multi-day hiking trek in in the Annapurna area with spectacular views, no roads and few travelers. Participants stay in tea houses or small hotels and carry a day pack with clothes and other personal items; porters carry gear and food. The tour includes sightseeing in Pokhara and Kathmadu.

Activity level

Moderate (this is an O-rated trip). Good for travelers passionate about hiking and trekking, wildlife exploration, cultural immersion. A portion of the trip price supports Angeles Chapter Sierra Club.

Space is limited. Reserve this trip!

Send 2 self-addressed stamped envelopes or e-mail address, home and work phone numbers, Sierra Club membership number and check payable to Sierra Club for full amount to: Assistant Leader Stephanie Gross, PO Box 423, Montrose, CA 91021; (818) 545-3878.

Price

$1,550 per person until Feb. 28; $1,650 per person from March 1. Includes ground transportation and flights within Nepal, accommodations, most meals, park and other admission fees, guided hikes and walks. International airfare is extra. 


Oct. 27-Nov. 15, 2017 | 20 days | Nepal Combo: Sightseeing and Mountain Hiking Adventure | Member price: $3,200 until Feb. 28; $3,350 from March 1

Combine both Nepal trips -- Sightseeing and Mountain Hiking Adventure -- for a 20 day, non-traditional tour that highlights the beauty and culture of Nepal. 

Activity level

Moderate (this is an O-rated trip). Good for travelers passionate about hiking and trekking, wildlife exploration, cultural immersion. A portion of the trip price supports Angeles Chapter Sierra Club.

Space is limited. Reserve this trip!

Send 2 self-addressed stamped envelopes or e-mail address, home and work phone numbers, Sierra Club membership number and check payable to Sierra Club for full amount to: Assistant Leader Stephanie Gross, PO Box 423, Montrose, CA 91021; (818) 545-3878.

Price

$3,200 per person until Feb. 28; $3,350 per person from March 1. Includes ground transportation and flights within Nepal, accommodations, most meals, park and other admission fees, guided hikes and walks. International airfare is extra. 


Trip Highlights

  • See the best of the capital city Kathmandu in touring monasteries and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit the Durbar, temples, markets as well as the cities of Bhaktapur, Patan, Panauti and Pokhara (Sightseeing Tour).
     
  • Hike to see some of the highest mountains in the world, the Himalayas. Trek in the Annapurna area with just a day pack; porters carry the rest of your gear. You'll also tour Pokhara and Kathmandu. (Mountain Adventure Hiking)

Leader

Sierra Club leader Fred Dong for more than two decades has led trips to Florida, Yellowstone National Park, the Canadian Rockies, Glacier National Park, Alaska, and Colorado as well as China, Costa Rica, Tibet, Borneo, Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, Sumatra, Thailand and Patagonia. Fred’s wide range of outings experience with the Angeles Chapter began in the early 1990s with a newcomer Backpacking Class (which he still organizes each year) as well as multi-day bus trips to national parks in the West and beyond. Since then, he has become an expert on travels to Asia, incorporating hidden gems, cultural visits with locals and national parks into his itineraries. More info.

See also  

Check out more Angeles Chapter Travel Adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 years of trail time with Stag Brown

  • Posted on 10 July 2012
  • By Joe Young

On Sunday, June 3, the Hundred Peaks Section offered a special outing called the “first Sunday in June hike with Stag Brown.” The first of these special outings was conducted on June 6, 1982, so this marked the 30th anniversary of these annual events.

Sierra Club launches new Wind Works campaign

  • Posted on 9 July 2012
  • By Sierra Club reports

The Sierra Club in June launched Wind Works, a new campaign to advocate for renewal of the Production Tax Credit, or PTC, for wind energy. The credit is a federal tax policy that helps level the playing field by providing the certainty the wind industry needs for continued growth.

Japan idles its nuclear power plants

  • Posted on 21 May 2012
  • By John Barry

During the first weekend in May, as the Sierra Club’s No Nukes Team hosted its Summit in Washington, D.C., Japan’s last running nuclear reactor was turned off, leaving Japan without nuclear power for the first time in more than four decades.

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