Lakes, Forests, Wildflowers and a Touch of Sierra Club History

4th of July weekend, 2007

By Fran and Dave Gustin

Hiking to the Wonderland of Rocks

We were very excited to join the Wilderness Adventures Section for three days of hiking and sightseeing in the Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake areas. This was our first time with Wilderness Adventures, after three trips with other Angeles Chapter entities.

Our journey began Saturday morning, June 30, when we boarded the bus in Studio City and traveled to Clair Tappaan Lodge near the Donner Summit, north of Lake Tahoe, and far from the devastating Angora Fire that days before consumed many homes and acreage in South Lake Tahoe. The eight-hour bustrip was made easier by frequent stops and video entertainment, such as the Ric Burn’s documentary about the Donner Party, which was a good introduction to the history of the area.
           

Clair Tappaan Lodge is a sprawling, hand-crafted monument to the spirit of the Sierra Club. As you enter it, you become aware of the tremendous resources and history. This has been a gathering place for hiking and trail stories for years. The Tappaan staff were incredibly helpful and organized. We found our accommodations quickly, had a great dinner, and were briefed on everything. We were ready for the hikes.
           

The first hike was the Tahoe Rim Trail. It was about an 8-mile hike with a gain of 1000-1200 feet. We saw the elevation posted on the Martis Peak fire lookout at 8676 feet. The trail winds through a beautiful pine forest and spills out into an incredible view of Lake Tahoe. Along the way are huge meadows of mule ears.

 The second day we boarded the bus and drove down to South Lake Tahoe to play tourist at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. We joined an interpretive walk with a ranger and saw an amazing exhibit titled “under a creek” – essentially a stream passes in front of a walled underground aquarium allowing us to see the under and above the water environment, fish, etc. simultaneously. On our way back to Clair Tappaan, we took in the Pine Lodge tour and visited the Sugar Pine Point Lighthouse (actually a beacon) at Sugar Pine Point State Park located in West Lake Tahoe, which provided an interesting perspective into the lifestyles of the area’s wealthy.
           

The third day was amazing. We hiked the Pacific Crest Trail at Donner Pass and hiked to Mt. Judah (8243’). The trail rises through shifting environments of dark dense pine forests and meadows of mountain wildflowers, with impressive views of Donner Lake and environs. The portion of the Mt. Judah loop trail that connects with the PCT was built in the 1990s by Sierra Club volunteers

The trip leaders led by Jason Lynch had everything planned down to the last details – the trip, the trails, the accommodations, the movies, and the entertainment at night. One of the leaders, Harvey Ganz, is an accomplished West Coast Swing dancer, and was kind enough to teach many of us how to do this fun dance.

What we love most about the Sierra Club trips are the kindred spirits. We are travelers. They are travelers. We met people who had been all over the world. One person in our group was a travel writer who had opened up adventure travel in Australia. Others knew all the trails in California and surrounding areas. Most of all, we love the attitudes—the sense of adventure, the love of hiking, the depth of knowledge, and the exploration. No matter what someone’s age, everyone exhibited a youthful and vibrant demeanor.