Treasures of the Sierra

Transcription

1 Treasures of the Sierra Kirkwood, CA Wildflowers, Historic Small Towns, and Pioneer Stories Participants 4 Days/3 Nights TRIP DATE July 21-24,

2 Tuesday Departure from San Francisco Bay Area: 9:30 am It s a 2.5 hour drive to small, historic town of Volcano (population 115), the site of the first legitimate theater company in California in the 1850's... as well as many other firsts. We ll enjoy lunch in the garden of the historic Union Inn Pub, dating to the 1880 s. Afterwards, we will have some time to explore the museum, wine shop and park in this interesting little town. Getting back on our way, we will be treated to some amazing scenery as we head up into the Sierra on US designated scenic highway 88, to our final destination, of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. The resort is located in the El Dorado National Forest and in Class I protected Wilderness Area. After settling into our Premium Lodge Rooms at The Mountain Club for our 3 night stay, we will gather for a Meet the Artist, Wine and Cheese. Enjoy a private showing of Chris Kutzscher s watercolor paintings. Dinner to follow in a custom solar home in Kirkwood where a Personal Chef will delight our taste buds with farm to table cuisine. Our Tour Host will give us a preview of the exciting days to come. 2

3 Wednesday We begin with some stories of early pioneer, Melissa Coray, learning about the nearby the peak named after her. Option for a gentle hike in the Kirkwood meadow, or Red Cliffs Trail. Late morning, we will head out to our picnic at Sandy Cove on Silver Lake (5 mile drive), Following our picnic, we will go for an 2 mile round trip hike out to a Secret Spot. You will have a chance to see an uncommonly beautiful, but little known spot, aptly named, the Tubs. After taking time to photograph and enjoy the breathtaking scenery we will meander back to Silver Lake. Our dinner will be a chance to enjoy the delectable cuisine offered at Kit Carson Lodge, where we will eat outside, overlooking the beautiful lake. We will have time to check out the local art in their gallery. 3

4 Thursday WILDFLOWER ADVENTURE TWO OPTIONS: OPTION # 1 Morning: Active Hiker: 3-hour hike in some of the most precious terrain of the Sierra, guided by an extraordinary author and retired Professor, Laird Blackwell. Gentle strolling, mild hiking, and wildflower exploring Exploration of some of Tahoe's most spectacular wildflower gardens and fascinating flowers Flower identification, inside the world of the flower, pollination, microenvironments, plant adaptations, flowers as personalities. We ll have lunch together on the trail in the midst of beautiful scenery. Afternoon: Time to enjoy rambling through the meadow, jump in the hot tub or sauna, and reading and relaxing in the fresh mountain air. 4

5 OPTION #2 Morning: Time to enjoy rambling through the meadow, jump in the hot tub or sauna, and reading and relaxing in the fresh mountain air. Afternoon: Arm Chair Wildflower Show and Tell: Not up for a 3 hour wildflower hike? Join others in a comfortable living room setting in a custom solar home, We ll have lunch, followed by a talk by Laird Blackwell, as he guides us through a photo show of spectacular local wildflowers. ALL: Hope Valley Barbeque, Songs by the Campfire. In time to enjoy the sunset, we will take a scenic drive to Hope Valley, where Kirkwood Sierra Outfitters will immerse us in the pioneer spirit. As we sit by the campfire, we will dine on a hearty, locally sourced, barbeque fare all while listening to guitar accompanied songs of the early pioneers. 5

6 Frog s Lake, Carson Pass Friday After breakfast, we will head out to the Carson Pass (10 minute drive), the location of a Ranger Station where the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) intersects. This is the trail of author Cheryl Strayed. The movie, Wild, based on her book is an Academy Award nominated film. You may even see some PCT ers, who often tell their tales of the wild to curious folks. 6

7 History Talk of the Carson Pass. A ranger talks about the early pioneers crossing over the Carson Pass. You will walk in the footsteps of early pioneers, noting marks in the rocks where they dragged their wagons up the pass. 5 minute easy walk. Caples Lake gentle hike. For those interested, we ll take a Amador County ranger lead, beautiful meander along the west side of Caples Lake for about 1 mile out and 1 mile back. Level, but uneven terrain. Spectacular views of Round Top and Elephant Back Mountains. Departure from Kirkwood. On our just over an hour ride to the historic small town of Amador City, CA, our ranger will share with us stories of national parklands, how lands become public, how we preserve and protect these lands for future generations. After dining al fresco in the charming garden of the historic Imperial Hotel, we ll wander through the town arriving at the Whitney Museum. Here, we will be treated to a demonstration of Native American Basket weaving. Departure from Amador City, 3 hour drive back home. Please be advised that, while as accurate as possible, this itinerary should be considered an approximate indication of schedule and scope of activities and trip routing, rather than an inflexible schedule of events. It is subject to change. This trip is subject to the Limitations of Liability and all the Terms and Conditions listing in the Information tab on site. 7

8 Your Guides: Dr. Laird Blackwell, Professor Emeritus, Sierra Nevada College, 5-time Teacher-of-the-Year as Awarded by Students Author of 8 Wildflower Field Guides including Tahoe Wildflowers: A Month-by Month Guide, Wildflowers of the Tahoe Sierra, and Wildflower of California Laird has an amazing gift as an educator and interpreter, making the wildflower experience an unforgettable one for each of us. Raejean Fellows, Founder and Tour Host, Fellows Geo-Tours, Inc. Raejean, a local Kirkwood homeowner, lends her 12 years of experience with nonprofits, 4 of which were in a leadership role with the nation s largest urban land preserve. Raejean s business experience in Human Resources has helped her gather the most outstanding group of experts to inform and enrich these very unique tours. A wildflower enthusiast, as well as a history buff, Raejean is passionate about helping people connect with the beauty, history and culture of our wilderness areas. 8

9 What s included: 4 Full Days of Activities 3 nights of Premium Lodging, at The Mountain Club (double occupancy- 2 Queen beds) in center of Kirkwood Mountain Resort Plaza. Single supplement available. Fitness center and hot tub Elegant, comfortable transport into the mountains. Quick and easy transport, in and around our tour sites 3 Breakfast Room Service Baskets 1 Personal Chef Dinner, 1 Kit Carson Dinner 1 Barbeque around a Campfire, with entertainment 2 Picnic Box Lunches 1 Lunch at Union Restaurant, Volcano Snacks and Trailbars Private Guided Tours, Hikes, History Talks, Entertainment What s not included: Beer and Wine- available for additional charge Canoeing and Kayaking rental Additional Driver/Guide Tips Food not mentioned in itinerary 9

10 Pricing: We price our tours based on the number of participants: 8 Participants 12 Participants 15 Participants Single Supplement: $ Payment / Cancellation Terms To reserve your tour : 35% deposit* at time of booking 100% payment 60 days prior to trip Cancellation penalties: 35% more than 61 days prior to commencement of trip 100% 60 days or less prior to commencement of trip Travel insurance is recommended. High Altitude: We will be traveling to an area of high altitude (8,000 ). Please consult your doctor if you feel this may be a health factor for you. Availability and pricing are subject to change and can only be confirmed at time of deposit. 10

11 Recommended Gear List: (* Required Items) Weather: *Wide-brimmed hat *Hiking boots, with ankle support. Sneakers, ok *Day Pack, with water bottles *Sunscreen *Lightweight hiking jacket, fold-up rain poncho Walking stick Camera Magnifying glass *Notebook Binoculars The weather in the Sierras in July and August ranges in temperature from 70 to 85 degrees in daytime, and 45 to 55 degrees at night. Keep in mind, the sun is powerful at higher elevations. There can be the occasional afternoon thunderstorm, typically passing through in a couple of hours. In an extremely rare case, there could be hail or snow. Typically, the weather is reliably warm and dry, with beautiful sierra blue skies (bluer due to higher altitude). Recommended book by Dr. Laird Blackwell: Tahoe Wildflowers: A month-by-month guide to the Wildflowers in the Tahoe Basin and Surrounding Areas. 11

12 Keep close to nature s heart and break clear away once in a awhile, climb a mountain, or spend a week n the wood, Wash your spirit clean. -John Muir Fellows Geo-Tours, Inc Beach Street, #103 San Francisco, CA / General Terms and Conditions Please be advised that California has established a Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. This fund is designed to protect consumers from unscrupulous practices. California law required sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. It covers California residents traveling in California only. Fellows Geo-Tours Inc. complies with these California laws and is a licensed Seller of Travel in California, # This business has a surety bond. 12

13 13