Spring 2012

THE SIERRA CLUB NEWSLETTER FROM CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE (CTL)

P.O. BOX 36, NORDEN, CA 95724 – PHONE: 530-426-3632

IN SHORT By Pat Mikkelsen, editor; member of the Clair Tappaan

Lodge (CTL) committee.

Theme Weekends The CTL Committee is once again planning and

organizing several "theme" weekends to attract people to

the Lodge. There will be opera appreciation, plein-air art,

yoga, and fly fishing. These two-day events were very

successful last year and helped bring people to the Lodge

during the slower seasons. We also have High Sierra

Serenity with a 12-step focus and daily hikes, from June

24 to June 29, among other events (see page 7).

Into the Woods Fundraiser We have an $8,000 goal for this year’s fundraiser!! Please

join us August 17-19 for some great music, wine, hikes,

lectures, tasty food, and a good time (see page 2).

Weddings, Reunions, Retreats, Meetings Weddings have been popular at the Lodge this year. You

get the entire place for the wedding party to celebrate,

drink, and stay. The reviews have been great, and folks

love the price! (see page 5). Book the Lodge for a weekend

event or weekday business meetings, and add a wilderness

hike and three great meals a day.

Lots of Pictures Rich Johns has created a web page full of pictures of the

Lodge – check it out and add your own:

http://sierraclubatdonnersummit.shutterfly.com.

Also, check us out on:

http://www.facebook.com/clairtappaanlodge

$$$ 2011 Finances $$$ The end-of-year financials showed occupancy at Clair

Tappaan up 5.5% over the previous year. However, the

overall balance was in the red.

Emailing the Goshawk We need your email address for the Goshawk so we can

eventually stop sending out paper copies. Please send to

patplus10@gmail.com.

Send us your thoughts about Clair Tappaan Contribute to the Goshawk. Write about your adventures

at the Lodge and send your thoughts and opinions to the

editor (patplus10@gmail.com) and post your comments

and photos on our Facebook page.

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INTO THE WOODS AUGUST FUNDRAISER SAVE THE DATE – AUGUST 17 - 19 This year’s fundraiser focuses on hikes in the beautiful

Sierra Nevada around the Lodge, which have proven

to be a popular part of these weekends. Hikes will

include a short walk to Lake Flora for swimming,

trekking to the top of Castle Peak, taking the Mount

Judah loop, travelling through old railway tunnels,

among others.

A Friday afternoon hike will be followed by dinner,

and then a talk by Bill Oudegeest of the Donner

Summit Historical Society. He will tell us about

Tunnel 6, part of the 1867 Transcontinental Railway

at Donner Summit. We’ll end the evening with

s’mores and brandy around the campfire.

We will also have a silent art auction for paintings

created by Susan Barry’s Plein Air art classes.

After long Saturday hikes,

imagine drinking wine with

cheese, relaxing beneath the

trees, and listening to a cello

being beautifully played in

the woods. On Saturday

afternoon, at Hutchinson

Lodge, David Eby will

perform on the cello. David

made his public debut as a

cellist with the Pittsburgh Symphony at age 16. He has

since performed around the world.

After the wine and music, join us for a walk along the

Brody Memorial Trail, named in honor of Joel Brody,

a former CTL Committee member (see page 5).

After a very special dinner, our Saturday evening

speaker is Harry Weldon who will discuss his

involvement in the construction of CTL’s wing

additions. An eloquent speaker, at 83 he still serves as

a ski patroller! We will then have music in the living

room that will make you want to get up and dance.

Please join us for a fun weekend, make new friends,

and help raise money for the Lodge. (check

http//ctl.sierraclub.org – Activities - Into the Woods).

THE CTL COMMITTEE The Clair Tappaan Lodge Committee is a group of

people committed to preserving the Lodge. They meet

a few times a year, have conference calls, and organize

the fundraiser and theme weekends. Their goal is for a

year-round Lodge with a focus on educational

programming for school children. Committee

members have been marketing and pursuing all

possibilities to increase occupancy. Below are

comments from some Committee members about

their experiences at the Lodge.

CTL Committee meeting at the Lodge – from left: Pat Mikkelsen,

Peter Lemkuhl (Lodge Manager), Rich Johns, Jerry Risk, Diane

Boyer, Jane Risk, Wally Juchert, Ernie Malamud, Olivia Diaz.

Diane Boyer I was introduced to the charm of Clair Tappaan Lodge

by friends about 25 years ago and have returned every

year since. I love the rustic simplicity, the camaraderie,

the feeling of community and cooperation, and the

locale in the very heart of nature. As a youngster I

enjoyed camping and summers spent at my family’s

cabin near Echo Lake. Later I enjoyed backpacking

and now snowshoeing.

I joined the CTL Committee in 2004 and became

Secretary. Later I shared the role of Chair with others,

and now serve as Chair on my own. I hope to help

CTL continue operating as a recreational and

educational center for our current users and our

upcoming generations of environmentalists. I would

like to see the Lodge become a non-profit center for

learning and practicing the Sierra Club’s motto to

“explore, enjoy and protect the planet.”

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I spent many hours helping renovate Hutchinson

Lodge and have attended several artist workshops at

CTL, as well as volunteering for most of the

fundraisers. The Lodge has become my second home

and last year I averaged one weekend per month there.

I heed John Muir’s message: “The mountains are

calling and I must go.”

Ernie Malamud My involvement with CTL began in 1951 while I was

an undergraduate at Berkeley. From learning to ski

using the old Signal Hill Rope tow, I progressed to

climbing numerous mountains including Denali in

1981.

I joined the CTL Committee in 2004 in reaction to

news that the Sierra Club leadership was considering

selling the Lodge and its 90-acre campus. As Chair,

and with the participation of lots of others, we

forestalled, at least for now, the misguided attempt to

sell Clair Tappaan Lodge, Hutchinson Lodge, and

several of the wonderful parcels of land. As a

committee member, I chaired or co-chaired six

successful August fundraisers, maintained the CTL

web site for several years, edited a five-year Strategic

Plan and a few Goshawks, and participated actively in

committee meetings and undertakings. I still do, and

currently maintain the Activities web page.

Olivia Diaz My husband Ernie Malamud introduced me to CTL

in 1981 as part of our courtship. I was taken with the

Lodge, as well as with him. In subsequent years he

introduced me to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

We moved to Nevada City in 2000 and visited the

Lodge for Thanksgiving. We brought grandchildren to

the mountains to learn to enjoy skiing and snow play.

When we heard the Lodge was in danger of being sold

by the Sierra Club leadership, we jumped into

working with the CTL Committee.

My contribution has been mainly in the area of

publicity but later I co-chaired the CTL Committee

with Diane Boyer for two years. I have been involved

in each of the August fundraisers and continue to be

an active member of the committee.

Jane and Jerry Risk: Jerry and I are both retired teachers. As members of

the Lodge Committee, our main focus has been to

increase the number of educational and youth

programs at Clair Tappaan Lodge. In the 1980s I

brought my middle school students to the Lodge each

winter for a snow trip. Since 2008 we have organized

and led two Sierra Club National Outings based at the

Lodge: ‘Painting Along the Sierra Trails’ and ‘Just for

Grandparents & Grandkids’. I am also the

administrator for a Lodge-based Elderhostel/Sierra

Club intergenerational program. For the past twenty-

five years Jerry and I have been bringing our children,

grandchildren, and many of our friends to the Lodge.

We love its warm, welcoming feeling, the comfortable

living room and library, the family-style meals, and the

interesting people we meet there – people who share

our love of hiking in the Sierra and swimming in

mountain lakes. Clair Tappaan Lodge is our ‘home

away from home.’

Wally Juchert Since I've been on the committee it has had six

different people as chairperson. When Kathy Wells

took over as chair, she asked us to specify our interest

and commit time. I chose to concentrate on

Hutchinson Lodge. Along with the help of many

volunteers I was able to apply carpentry, electrical, and

plumbing skills to make Hutch more comfortable and

safe. When California started writing environmental

education guidelines, I collected as much information

as I could until committee member Jane Risk

spearheaded environmental education at the Lodge. I

support that effort with a monthly contribution.

Through my years on the committee I've come to

understand the great contribution that those who

preceded us made. Volunteers built the Lodge on

Forest Service Land with a 99-year lease. Lincoln

Hutchinson bought property and along with his group

of friends built Hutchinson Lodge. When Lincoln and

his friends grew too old to enjoy the Lodge, they gave

it and the land to the Sierra Club. In the mid 1950s

the Sierra Club did a land swap with the Forest

Service so that part of the Hutchinson property to the

north became Forest Service land and the Forest

Service land on which CTL, Cal, and Heidelman

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lodges sat became Sierra Club land. We owe a great

debt to all the volunteers and most especially to

Lincoln Hutchinson. If not for his contribution

CTL's lease would expire in another 11 years.

Hutchinson and CTL are old and need major

renovations. We who have used and enjoyed the

lodges for years will be called upon to “pay it forward”

for the use and enjoyment of future generations.

Rick Ramos I was first introduced to the Lodge when I assisted on

a National Trip in 1992 and was immediately hooked.

I have lead trips at the Lodge for many years and

volunteered to coordinate the hikes at our fundraisers.

I truly feel that the Lodge is not only a part of the

club’s history, but an icon of what we represent.

Barbara Berg A relative newcomer to the Lodge, I began coming

seven to eight years ago when a friend invited me to

try my hand at snowshoeing. Instantly hooked, I fell

in love with the Lodge, the people, and the snow-

covered surroundings. I have been returning on a

regular basis since and joined the Clair Tappaan

Lodge committee earlier this year.

When I’m not snowshoeing, I enjoy hiking, reading,

travel, and scuba diving. I hold professional dive

certifications, dive for the Monterey Bay aquarium,

and my scientific expedition diving gained me

admission into the highly regarded Explorers Club in

2008.

By day, I’m a psychotherapist and organizational

consultant in private practice in Carmel. In April I

purchased a piano, fulfilling a long held dream of

returning to a passion of childhood. I hope not to

disturb my neighbors in this pursuit.

Stepan and Jing Chen Stadler We joined the Clair Tappaan Committee January

2011. We live and work in Folsom and started visiting

the Lodge in winter 2004, after Jing read about it in a

newsletter that had detailed information on the cross-

country skiing places in the North Lake Tahoe and

Truckee areas. We like to visit the Lodge in

wintertime for skiing, and in the summer and fall

seasons for hiking. We also like to participate in the

yearly fund-raising and “Theme Hike” weekends in

August. In addition, for the past few years, we stayed

at the Lodge during Thanksgiving weekend. It is really

fun to enjoy a delicious meal with good company, and

then go hiking (or in some years, snow-shoeing) to

walk off the extra calories!

Last year, with the help and support from CTL

Committee Chair Diane, Lodge manager Peter, hike

leader Rick, friends, Lodge volunteers, and the Lodge

staff, we organized a Tai-Chi, Yoga, and Hiking

weekend at the Lodge in September. We enjoyed the

experience very much and plan to do another “Yoga

and Hiking” weekend in October this year. Please

check the CTL website (http//ctl.sierraclub.org) for

event details in the next month or so. Thank you!

Pat Mikkelsen The view of the south face of Clair Tappan Lodge in a

Sierra Club newsletter advertising an August

fundraiser caught my eye. I thought it looked like a

beautiful, intriguing place and I decided to check it

out. I found out the Sierra Club was thinking of

selling this beautiful Sierra building, so I joined the

committee to save the Lodge. I eventually took on

editing the Goshawk, preparing the quarterly financial

report, and helping to organize the fundraiser. I have

met some wonderful people who are dedicated to the

Lodge, and I truly

admire all they do. I

also have a great

base for winter visits

to the Sierra,

avoiding the heavy

Tahoe traffic!

Just wanted to add

our thanks to

Committee member

Rich Johns, who

for many years has

done so much work

to keep the Lodge in

good repair. The list

of his tasks every month is amazing. He also puts on a

great New Year’s Eve party.

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HELLO FELLOW SERVICE TRIPPERS It's been over six months since we met at Clair

Tappaan Lodge for our week of service work at the

Lodge and our play days in the Sierra (Work and Play

at Clair Tappaan to improve the health of the forest:

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/brochure

/12324a.aspx). I hope you've had pleasant travels and

adventures since then.

Our work had a major impact on the Lodge. The new

trail that we built has been officially designated the

Brody Memorial Trail. It's named in honor of Joel

Brody, a long-time volunteer at the Lodge and leader

of the Work and Play trip in 2010, who passed away

in 2011. Joel was especially interested in protecting

and enhancing the forest around the Lodge. Since the

purpose of the trail was to provide access to those

enormous Jeffrey pines, it seemed very appropriate to

name the trail in Joel's honor.

This summer, on Saturday, August 18, there will be a

dedication ceremony at the Lodge that will officially

christen our trail. I invite all of you to attend to enjoy

the experience of having your hard work recognized in

such a meaningful way. It would be wonderful to see

you again, but if you want to attend you should make

plans soon. It will be a busy weekend at the Lodge

and all the overnight accommodations will fill quickly.

I suggest you contact the Lodge directly to make your

reservations. Here's the link: http://ctl. sierraclub.org

By the way, the 2012 Work & Play trip is scheduled to

run August 19-25. Does anyone want to come back

for another year of service, or for the first time? If so,

please reserve a space soon because there are only four

spaces left.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that

it is not fish they are after.

-Tom Brown

Lynchburg, VA.

WEDDINGS AT THE LODGE

I would like to thank Peter and the staff at the

Claire Tappaan Lodge for making the Little

wedding on April 21 a fantastic success and

experience. This was my first visit to the Lodge and

hopefully, not my last. Peter and the crew handled

the 120+ crowd professionally and with good

humor. Everyone was very helpful. The food was

great. Everything was done in a very timely manner.

I will gladly recommend the Claire Tappaan Lodge

to anyone for any occasion. Again, many thanks,

especially to Peter.

Tony Sanell (cousin to the groom from Arizona)

GEOTOURISM MAP The new Sierra Nevada Geotourism Map Guide is both

an interactive website (www.sierranevadageotourism.

org) and a print map. What’s different about

“geotourism” guides is that they focus on genuine

experiences and places recommended by locals and

that most directly benefit

local economies and

cultures. It is available at

the general store, the

Summit restaurant, or the

Donner Summit Historical

Society in Soda Springs.

The 20-Mile Museum

(http://www.donnersummit

historicalsociety.org/pages/

20milemuseum.html),

which includes Clair

Tappaan Lodge, is

highlighted.

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STONEBRIDGE-WALDORF SCHOOL VISITED IN MARCH WITH A GRANT FROM THE CTL SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

At Clair Tappaan Lodge, my class had a blast. We

thought it was really fun. It was fun sleeping in the

cabin with friends, on a triple bunk bed! It’s a great

place to bring your class, friends, family, and more!

It’s also fun how you get to help in the kitchen and

how for lunch, you make your food put it in a paper

bag and take it with you for the day!

I loved my class trip to Clair Tappan! Four stars and

thumbs up!

Ben, 5th Grade

This year for one of our field-trips, my 5th grade class

went to the Clair Tappaan Lodge. We stayed there for

a couple days. Although we were only there for a short

time, I had lots of fun!

Our class had a snow ball fight, and that was pretty

fun! (I got hit in the face!) We also went sledding right

outside the Lodge! The sledding was my favorite thing

we did on our trip. I was so glad that I got to go on

this wonderful trip.

Nathan, , , , 5th Grade

On February 29, my class went to Clair Tappaan

Lodge. It was a long drive from Napa. The first day we

arrived people were sledding down a huge hill! Later

that night in the dining room a nice man rang a bell

and explained the rules and responsibilities at Clair

Tappaan to my class.

The next day all the boys in my class had to wake up at

6:30 am and be at the kitchen by 6:45 am to do

chores. At 7 am we made our lunch. All the girls came

down at 7:30 and were still in their pajamas and

looked liked they were hungry. At 8:30 we finished

breakfast and got our snow gear on and went on a

snowshoe hike.

When we got back everyone was served a tasty meal. I

was so tired I went to bed at 7:30. The next morning

we had a yummy breakfast and we left.

Tell your friends and family to go to Clair Tappaan

Lodge!!!

Jack, 5th

Grade

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CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE CALENDAR 2012 CALENDAR 2012 CALENDAR 2012 CALENDAR 2012 (for more information, go to:

http//ctl.sierraclub.org)

June 15 – 17 - Land Navigation Workshop

Learn or polish navigational skills using map,

compass, GPS receivers, and altimeters.

June 24 – 29 - High Sierra Serenity

Clair Tappaan Lodge's longest running program – 20

years! Powerful and life-affirming twelve-step meetings

are held each morning followed by glorious group

hikes in the Donner Summit area.

July 15 – 21 - Outing - All in the Family, A

Multigenerational Adventure in Tahoe National

Forest

Hike and explore the Tahoe National Forest - Enjoy

arts and crafts, and evening campfires - Raft a

mountain stream, skate, swim, and horseback ride.

July 15 – 21 - National Outing - Painting Along the

Sierra Trails, Tahoe National Forest

Explore the outdoors and create works of art.

July 22 – 28 - Sierra Club National Outing -

Introduction to Backpacking in the High Sierra

Learn how to become a confident backpacker - Split

your nights between a cozy lodge and camping near

beautiful lakes.

July 22 – 28 - National Outing - Learn and Play: Fly

Fishing, Hiking, and Kayaking in the Sierra

Learn basic fly fishing skills, then use them in snow-

fed mountain streams - Learn kayaking skills on Lake

Tahoe, the world's most beautiful kayaking classroom -

Hike among an explosion of wildflowers while bagging

peaks in the Sierra Nevada

July 22 – 27 - Road Scholar - Make the Mountains

Glad. An Intergenerational Adventure

Explore the crest of spectacular Donner Summit -- the

early trade routes, emigrant trails, stagecoach roads

and Transcontinental Railroad tunnels. - Kayak, swim

or relax on the shores of Donner Lake and Lake

Tahoe. - Ride the tram to the top of Squaw Valley for

a day of swimming, skating, and hiking.

July 29 – August 3 - Sierra Club National Outing -

Just for Grandparents and Grandkids

Due to popular demand a second section of this trip is

now being offered at the same time.

August 12 – 18 - National Outing - Mountain

Medley, Tahoe National Forest

Explore the rich natural and pioneer history of the

Donner-Tahoe area

August 19 – 25 - National Outing Service Trip -

Work and Play at Clair Tappaan Lodge, Tahoe

National Forest

Improve the environment around Clair Tappaan

Lodge by rehabilitating the forest, restoring streams, or

maintaining nature trails.

September 16 – 22 - National Outing - 50+ Ridge

Top Rambles, Tahoe National Forest

September 27 – 30 - Plein Air Retreat for Artists

Led by Nevada City artist Susan Barry, you will be

introduced to outdoor painting in the mountains.

September 28 – 30 - Fly Fishing

The outing is designed for total beginners but all are

welcome.

October 5 – 7 - Opera in the Mountains: An Encore!

Imagine this: you wake up to the smell of brewing

coffee and the sound of great music—Verdi, Puccini,

and many of the great composers that you love.

October 13, 1 – 4 pm - Wine Tasting

Join us for an inspiring afternoon exploring new wines

and making new friends. Local wine expert Dave Luce

will guide us through a selection of California wines.

October 12 – 14 - Yoga and Hiking

A sold-out weekend in 2011! There is nothing quite

like practicing yoga outdoors. The warm sunshine and

alpine light blend with the sound of the wind blowing

through the pines.

November 22 - Thanksgiving Dinner

December 31 - Gala New Year Eve Party

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Clair Tappaan Lodge

P.O. Box 36, Norden, CA 95724

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

(go to http//ctl.sierraclub.org and click on “Activities” for more information)

• High Sierra Serenity June 24-29

• Into the Woods Fundraiser August 17-19

• Plein Air Artist Retreat September 27-30

• Fly Fishing September 28-30

• Opera in the Mountains October 5-7

• Wine Tasting and Music October 13

• Yoga and Hiking October 12-14