The Sierra's secret season at Clair Tappaan Lodge
Are you one of the thousands of visitors who come each year to Clair Tappaan Lodge, the Sierra Club's rustic and welcoming lodge in Norden near Donner Summit in the High Sierra?
If not, you have a treat awaiting. And even if you have been there, have you tried all the seasons - summer, winter, and the "secret season"? If your answer isn't `all three', you too have some grand experiences to look forward to.
In summer a wide range of activities fills Clair Tappaan with bustling families, groups, couples, and solo-adventurists. Folks come for convenient "out the back door" and other nearby hiking opportunities to scenic destinations such as Lytton Lake, Mount Judah, Flora Lake, Castle Peak, and Donner Lake. Summer guests also enjoy the area's many opportunities for kayaking, swimming, fishing, and biking. Then back at the Lodge guests enjoy the warm communal atmosphere that has been a Clair Tappaan staple since the Lodge was built in 1934, along with the delicious and healthy homecooked meals served family-style in the cozy dining room.
The winter crowd comes for a whole different set of activities revolving around - what else? - snow! Snow transforms the landscape - and the outdoor pursuits. Some come for the groomed crosscountry ski and snowshoe trails or for the safe sledding hill just "out the back door". Others take the shuttle to the nearby downhill ski resorts of Sugar Bowl, Donner Ski Ranch, and Soda Springs (which also offers tubing). Others still come for the miles and miles of trails found at Royal Gorge, the largest crosscountry ski resort in the lower 48. Back at the Lodge winter guests love sharing stories and stoking the fire in the Lewis Clark Room in the same communal atmosphere as in summer. There's also a small, private hot tub that does a good job to thaw chilled bones.
If you've enjoyed Clair Tappaan during just one of these popular seasons, you know only part of the great story that unfolds on Donner Summit over the course of the year. Summer visitors are missing out on the legendary snow and snow activities. Winter guests miss the wildflowers, alpine lakes, and pleasant summer weather at 7,000 feet. So make a resolution that you won't miss out on the Lodge's year-round joys in the coming year.
And then there's the Sierra's "secret season" - autumn - the time after Labor Day and before the first big snowfall (usually just before Thanksgiving) - the time between the summer and winter crowds, a time when you feel like you have the Sierra to yourself. Fall colors take over the entire landscape except for the mighty pine trees and deep blue lakes and sky. Crisp mornings give way to warm afternoons, perfect for hiking and exploring in what feels like a whole new mountain range. Guests who have discovered this secret season have found it to be the perfect time to introduce new people to the Lodge with its even more intimate version of that Clair Tappaan staple, the friendly communal atmosphere.
Sound enticing? It should, and your visit can serve another purpose - to help Clair Tappaan Lodge survive as a Sierra Club institution. The Lodge has been having a good year financially so far in 2008. By paying a visit, or another visit, you can help turn this good year into a great year - and help to ensure the financial viability of the Lodge for future years and generations.
So, the secret is out, and we hope that you can plan a trip to Clair Tappan to experience these special seasons yourself. See you on the summit - this fall or any other season!
WhatYouCanDo
Come visit! Bring your family! Bring your friends! For information, call (800) 679-6775 or see the lodge web page