Arrive at Lake Tahoe and intro to snowshoeing!
Meet your guides and fellow travelers in Reno and enjoy a scenic drive to Lake Tahoe. We stop at the Donner Memorial State Park, get a quick fitting of snowshoes and then a great intro to the sport of snowshoeing with a beautiful 3-mile loop by the shore of Donner Lake. If time permits, we do a quick stop at the museum before heading to our cozy accommodations and a wonderful dinner. Dinner included.
Snowshoeing: up to 3.3 miles; Elevation gain/loss 341'; Van Transfer 1.5 hours
Snowshoe the Pacific Crest Trail!
We start our day at a beloved local breakfast restaurant to fuel up for what promises to be a full day of snowshoeing and adventure. Starting at Donner Pass we don our snowshoes and start our gradual but steady climb up the PCT. Here, we really fall into that snowshoe rhythm and begin to find a sync with our surroundings, all the while on the lookout for the winter wildlife that adds to the integral experience of being on snow. You may feel a bit like a snowshoe hare yourself hopping across the snowy landscape. Arriving at the famous Peter Grubb Hut, we enjoy a rest and restorative lunch, while learning more about the history of this hut. Our way back to Trailhead takes us to the top of Andesite Peak, at almost 8,200', we are rewarded with unparalleled 360-degree views of the snow-capped Sierras. Dinner and a toast to new friends and new experiences completes our day's epic odyssey. Stargazing anyone? Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Snowshoeing: 7.5-8 miles; Elevation gain/loss 1,513'; Van transfer: 1.5 hours
Morning magic and afternoon enchantment
This morning finds us with a local experience as we glide along a more sedate path, working out those happy but tired muscles. We re-group for lunch before heading out for our afternoon "Choose your Own Adventure"! Try some cross-country skiing, a shopping trip into old town Truckee, or maybe a visit to the spa is what is calling to massage you into bliss. We meet up for a wonderful dinner to regale our companions in fun with the tales of the day and settle in for our enjoyable last evening. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.
Snowshoeing: 4 miles; Elevation gain/loss 957'
Donner Peak summit & return to Reno
After enjoying our breakfast & loading up luggage, we head out to challenge ourselves with one more epic snowshoe. We once again find ourselves on the PCT for our last summit. Staying warm is not a problem as we ascend, reaching the top at an elevation of 8,000'. The epic vistas of Donner Lake and all the surrounding wintry peaks remind us how extraordinary of a trip it has been, fueling our dreams of future adventure as we toast success before retracing our steps back down the mountain and to Reno. Breakfast and lunch included.
Snowshoeing: 4 miles; Elevation gain/loss 1,003'; Van Transfer 1.75 hours