Activities sections
This page provides a short description for the each of the Bay Chapter's activities sections. For more detailed information,
visit the sections' web pages. If the section does not have a web
page, you can contact the chapter office.
Backcountry Skiing Section
The Backcountry Skiing Section organizes day tours, hut trips, snowcamps,
and winter mountaineering trips for both Nordic and Alpine tourers. Participants
must provide appropriate equipment for each trip. Leader contact and approval
are necessary before each trip to ensure that essential arrangements have
been made and that the trip members have qualifying experience and necessary
equipment. Leaders must receive trip deposits prior to the trip cutoff
date. A donation may be collected by the leader to support expenses of
the Backcountry Skiing Section. Sierra Club hut usage costs $10 per person
per night. Participants share a mutual interest in organizing challenging
ski tours, and in developing an appreciation for and confidence in cross-country
winter travel. They are encouraged to become actively involved in the
Backcountry Skiing Section.
Backpacking Section
Trips vary from easy trail walking to serious mountaineering. All trips
involve overnight camping in the field unless otherwise stated. Trips
occur during all seasons of the year.
Leader contact and approval is required before each trip to ensure that
essential arrangements have been made and that trip members have qualifying
experience and necessary equipment. No reservation is confirmed unless
payment is made to the leader, immediately upon approval. Refund policies
vary according to the leader, and are subject to leader's discretion.
Cancellations less than seven days prior to trip departure are not subject
to refund.
Central commissary means the leader provides breakfast and dinner as well
as cooking equipment at cost. It is the leader's option to provide
commissary or declare the trip hot water or individual commissary, each
individual to bring and prepare all his/her own food. Trip members will
bring their own lunches and are responsible for cooking and other camp
chores. Carpools are advised with passengers sharing total expenses.
Car Camping Section
The Car Camping Section offers a variety of camping trips in California campgrounds. The usual duration is 3 or 4 nights.
Participants stay in campgrounds and explore the surrounding area. Daily hikes are generally planned by trip leaders.
Pets and children under age 18 are not allowed.
East Bay Dinners (see the Events & Activities section of the
Yodeler)
These dinners, held at the Berkeley Yacht Club, offer informative and
entertaining slide shows about our natural environment, presented by adventurous,
world-traveling guest speakers. Dinner programs are usually scheduled
on the 4th Thursday of each month, except for June, July, and August.
Gay and Lesbian Sierrans Section
The Gay and Lesbian Sierrans enlist the Bay Area's gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender community in local conservation efforts by encouraging
membership in the Sierra Club, conducting a wide range of recreational
programs, and motivating volunteers to address the Club's environmental
priorities. GLS activities are scheduled every weekend and include day
hikes, bike trips, car camping, backpacking, winter sports, and service
trips, as well as occasional natural history and historical tours. Special
events occur frequently throughout the year. Activities are open to all.
Hiking Section
Hikes are open to all, whether or not you are a Sierra Club member, and
they go rain or shine unless otherwise noted. A voluntary donation for
Hiking Section expenses may be suggested, but we do not charge fees for
outings. Leaders will be at the meeting places on time and cannot wait
for latecomers. Hikers should always carry ample food and water; leaders
may exclude ill-equipped individuals.
Canine Hikes
are provided for people and dogs to enjoy
and explore the outdoors together. Dogs hike and play off-leash, but must
be well socialized with other dogs and under voice control at all times.
Always bring the 4 Ls: leashes, litterbags, lunch, and liquids, with extra
water for hiker and dog.
Inner City Outings (ICO)
Inner City Outings provides backpacking, day hikes, car camping, outings,
and river rafting, led by experienced, competent, and motivated leaders,
to segments of the Bay Area community that would not otherwise have the
opportunity to experience Northern California's natural wonders.
These trips go to local state and county parks, national forests and wilderness
areas, and national parks.
ICO's immediate objectives are to promote interpersonal skills,
to improve trip participants' self-esteem through active involvement
with nature, and to have fun. This in turn serves an ultimate objective:
to broaden the base for the Sierra Club's environmental education
efforts. We work with a wide variety of community agencies: junior and
high schools, elementary schools, alternative schools, hiking groups within
a school or a church; drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs; juvenile
delinquent facilities; and group homes and street programs. Most participants
in ICO are young people from urban communities, but we also conduct groups
for disabled persons, abused women, or any population that may not have
access to outdoor activities.
River Touring Section
The River Touring Section offers a wide variety of activities for flat
water and whitewater paddlers. Participants must have prior experience
and must provide their own equipment.
Sierra Couples
Several outings per year especially for families, with or without children.
Sierra Singles
Variety of activities for all adults, especially singles. (Age range:
late 20s-early 60s.) Children welcome at some events as noted. Hikes,
camping, bicycling, softball, social/cultural activities; details in our
monthly newsletter.
Snow Camping Section
Our mission is to provide training in winter backcountry skills for experienced
backpackers, and to extend the usual three backpacking seasons to a fourth
season. The training series includes one day of classroom instruction
(Saturday, January 18, 2003) and two weekend trips (dates tbd) in the
snow. A special group for families with children is also available. For
"graduates" of our series, we offer weekend (and longer) trips
of varying difficulty.
Solo Sierrans
We are singles who care about each other and the environment. We offer
fun, friendship, and an opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor,
social, and cultural activities. Our group is for all ages, with most
participants over fifty. We offer day hikes, camping, bicycling, and potlucks.
All are welcome; you need not be a member.
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