LAKE ALPINE WEATHER

Need a ride?  Got extra seats? Check out the ride sharing google doc.

How to RSVP

We're sending out RSVP cards with the "real" invitations, but it's most convenient for us if you use our google form. Please fill this out even if you already filled out the planning survey! We need to know food preferences and whatnot. Thanks!

GO TO RSVP FORM

Schedule of Events

Friday, June 29

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
Outer Aisle Catering in Murphys, CA

For folks arriving on Friday, we'll have a welcome dinner to break up the drive up to Bear Valley.  We've booked an event space (Outer-Aisle Catering) right on highway 4 as you enter the town of Murphys.  This is a little over 2 hours from Berkeley when traffic is light, but Friday evening traffic will cost you one or two extra hours getting out of the Bay.  We'll open the place around 5:00 for early arrivals to start congregating, have a buffet dinner served around 6:00 or 7:00, and keep the lights on till 10:00 for the stragglers.  Note that Murphys is at about 2,000 feet above sea level. High temperatures in the 90s and lower 100s are common in the summer, so dress light!

Saturday, June 30

10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Marmot Day Use Area at Lake Alpine
Bagel and Lox Breakfast
Fun Day at Lake Alpine

We'll kick off a day of fun at Lake Alpine with a simple breakfast for everyone.  We'll lay out a spread of Bagels and Lox for brunch at the Marmot Amphitheater (Ceremony site on this map) and take over the area for the day.  Then we'll goof around at the lake all day.  We'll rent out canoes and kayaks from the Lake Alpine Resort boathouse, and for the adventurous Tori and Holly are planning a canoe orienteering course around the lake.  Bring a picnic lunch or eat at the restaurant at Lake Alpine Resort, and don't forget your sunblock!

Please note that parking up at the lake can get tight on summer weekends.  To avoid blocking out other visitors to the lake, we ask that people without small children or mobility issues park their car at the massive lot at Bear Valley Lodge and take our special shuttle between the lodge and the lake.  We'll have multiple runs in the afternoon for anyone who wants to freshen up at the hotel before the ceremony (or just take a nap).  The tentative schedule is below, but we'll make sure to post an updated schedule at the lodge.

Leaving Bear Valley Lodge / Leaving Lake Alpine
10:45 AM / 11:00 AM
1:30 PM / 1:45 PM
2:30 PM / 2:45 PM
3:30 PM / 3:45 PM
4:30 PM /
---Ceremony---
               / 6:00 PM

5:00 PM
Marmot Day Use Area at Lake Alpine
Wedding Ceremony

The main event. A short, simple ceremony. Dress as you please. We mean it.  It's not even clear if Sam is wearing a tie or not.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Bear Valley Lodge
Party

We will eat and stuff.  There shall be cakes. And pies. And ice cream.

10:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Bear Valley Lodge
Bonfire 

We'll wind down the evening making s'mores around a fire out front at the Lodge.

Sunday, July 1

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Bear Valley Lodge Creekside Cafe
Brunch

Bear Valley will open their Creekside Cafe for a breakfast buffet. After breakfast some folks will probably need to head for an airport.  The rest of us will lounge about Lake Alpine or go off on adventures around the area.

Monday, July 2 - Wednesday July 4

All day
Bear Valley/Lake Alpine and surrounding area

We will be staying at the ski condos in Bear Valley for a few days of low-key kid-friendly fun in the area.  Hopefully all of yous with munchins can join us.  We'll plan more specific adventures when we know who'll be around.  

Wednesday, July 4

Afternoon
Lake Alpine
Independence Day Cookout

We'll have a cookout to celebrate the 4th and cap off the gathering.

Thursday, July 5

Backpacking trip in the Sierras

Some of our more outdoorsy friends will join us for a backpacking trip in the Sierras.  The current plan is to go the Ansel Adams Wilderness, we have reserved permits that have room for a few more folks to join, so let us know if you're interested in coming along.

Getting to Bear Valley and Lake Alpine

Bear Valley

Bear Valley is a ski village at 7,000 ft of elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's an out-of-the way place, with beautiful alpine forests and lakes, but without the crowds around Lake Tahoe 50 miles to the north and Yosemite National Park about 100 miles to the south.  The price of that quiet scenery is a 2-4 hr drive from any major airport.  So make sure to plan your ground transportation well in advance.  If you tend to get carsick don't forget your dramamine, as highway 4 is extremely winding.  It's worth it, we promise!

Plan for warm days (70F - 90F) and cold nights (40F - 60F) around Bear Valley.  Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in mid summer, but rare.  Most days will be sunny and dry.

Choose your airport

Sacramento Airport is the best bet for the shortest drive (and least traffic).  Otherwise, drive time is similar from the major Bay-Area airports.  If you wanted to tack on a trip to Yosemite or Kings Canyon national parks, flying into Fresno might also make sense.

Drive time to Bear Valley (without traffic)
Sacramento Airport: 2.5 hrs
Oakland Airport: 3 hrs
San Francisco Airport: 3.5 hrs
San Jose Airport: 3.5 hrs
Fresno Airport: 3.5 hrs

Google thinks it's about 2.5 hrs from the Reno Airport as well, but that is likely an underestimate as there is no cell coverage for large sections of that route over the Pacific Crest.  It is a VERY narrow and winding road, you'll be going about 25 miles per hour for about 30 miles over the pass.  So you probably won't save any time that way, but it would be a very scenic option.  As of May 4, it's been cleared of snow and open for the summer.


Suggested routes to Bear Valley

Getting to the Lodge

Need a ride?  Got extra seats? Check out the ride sharing google doc.

Make sure you set your GPS/Phone to Bear Valley Lodge, not the downhill ski station:
3 Bear Valley Rd
Bear Valley
CA 95223-9997

Be sure to start with a full tank of gas and keep in mind that the town of Arnold is the last chance for services before ~45 minutes of rural highway to Bear Valley.  Electric car owners: Bear Valley Lodge has a charging station.

If you're coming up on Friday night, we'll be hosting dinner in the town of Murphys about an hour west of Bear Valley, so you may want to time your drive to hit Murphys on the way up.  If you're coming up another time and want to stop for a meal, we recommend stopping in Angels Camp, Murphys, or Arnold.  (some restaurants are suggested here).  Keep in mind, things mostly close between 8 and 9 pm up here.  If you're coming in late, Mike's Pizza in Angels Camp is open till 10PM.


Lake Alpine

Lake Alpine is just over 3 miles east of Bear Valley on CA Hwy 4.  It's an easy drive but parking can be limited on busy summer weekends.  We will try to get a shuttle service going to the lake from the Bear Valley Lodge (which has ample parking) on Saturday so we don't completely overwhelm the parking up there.  In past years, Bear Valley has run free shuttle from the lodge to the lake, though they are still negotiating permits with the US Forest Service for 2018.  We are also looking into getting a driver for the day to make several runs with the Bear Valley school bus.

Folks with limited mobility or small children may want to park at the Marmot Day Use Area parking lot (see the map below).  To get there just keep driving east on Hwy 4 past the lodge and past the turnoff for the Bear Valley Ski Area.  Hwy 4 will turn into a tiny little road without even a center dividing line.  Just before the lake there will be a sign for the Lake Alpine West Shore area.  Take this right onto West Lake Alpine Road.  Go past the turn for the Lake Alpine Campground and turn left into the Marmot Day Use Area.  This lot may very well fill up on Saturday so getting there early is a good idea.

The Bear Valley/Lake Alpine Area


Sign for the turnoff for the Marmot Day Use Area

Map of the Lake Alpine West Shore Area









Accommodations near Bear Valley

Bear Valley Lodge

265 Bear Valley Rd
Bear Valley, CA 95223
(209) 753-2327
https://www.bearvalley.com/stay/bear-valley-lodge/

Bear Valley Lodge is the reception site and bad-weather backup ceremony site.  We'll be staying there for the weekend of the wedding.  If enough wedding guests opt to stay here they won't rent any rooms to outside guests, and we'll have the run of the place.  The rooms are simple and spare, but there's a pool, an 'adventure park' for the kids, and nearby options for mountain bike and canoe rentals.  A free shuttle bus runs from the Bear Valley Lodge to Lake Alpine every hour on weekends.

At the moment the whole lodge is blocked off for our group for Friday and Saturday nights. To reserve a room:

1. Go to https://www.bearvalley.com/stay/bear-valley-lodge/
2. Click the "Book Online" button.
3. Click the link "+ Do you have a group code?" and enter "Sam&Lori".
4. Choose your dates*.
5. Choose your room*.

*Note about dates: As far as we can tell, this group code works ONLY for the nights of June 29, 2018 and June 30, 2018. If you want to either start your stay before June 29 or end your stay after the morning of July 1, you will need to call the front desk (209-753-2327) to reserve your room. Be sure to mention that you are coming for Lori and Sam's wedding!

*Note about rooms: If you require anything even remotely out-of-the-ordinary (i.e., you are bringing a dog, you need handicapped accessibility, you want an extra cot in the room, etc.), it's probably best to just call the front desk (209-753-2327) to reserve your room. Be sure to mention that you are coming for Lori and Sam's wedding!


Bear Valley Condos

PO Box 5250
Bear Valley, CA 95223
877-897-8828
http://bearvalleyvacationrentals.com/

An independent company runs a cluster of ski condos in the village around Bear Valley Lodge. They operate out of an office in the commercial center (tiny mall) attached to the lodge.  These condos may be a more comfortable alternative for folks staying after the weekend, as food service gets a bit sparse at the lodge and you'll want a full kitchen.  We'll likely move to one of these condos after the weekend.



Lake Alpine Resort

4000 Highway 4
Bear Valley, CA 95223
(209)753-6350
http://www.lakealpineresort.com/

Lake Alpine Resort rents out cottages and yurts just across the road from the day-use area where we plan to hold the ceremony.



Bear Valley Glamping Tents (rented by Bear Valley Lodge)

2280 State Route 207
Bear Valley, CA 95223

Bear Valley Lodge also rents out some "glamping tents" over by the downhill ski area.  A little too close to some infrastructure for my taste, but the view across the valley is pretty amazing.

Big Meadow Group Campground

On Highway 4 about 10 minutes west of Bear Valley
38.41639, -120.105
38°24'59"N, 120°6'18"W
US Forest Service Website


We have reserved the Big Meadow Group Campground (directly west of the main Big Meadow Campground, see embedded google map below) for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (the nights of June 29 - Jul 1).    The site is right off Highway 4, and well shaded in pine trees.  There are restrooms and drinking water, but no showers.  Anyone in our party who'd like to camp out is welcome to camp here for free.  We can lend out some camping gear to folks flying in as well, if that makes packing easier.  As of mid-May it sounds like at least a few people will be staying here, but not a big crowd.


Several more campgrounds are available on a first-come first-served basis around Lake Alpine, but competition can be fierce for them.






Event Map


Here's a map of planned event sites (red), accommodations (blue), facilities (grey) and suggested fun stuff (purple) around Bear Valley and Lake Alpine



Food Around Bear Valley

Food!

The area around Bear Valley has pretty limited food options, but many of the restaurants that we've tried are quite tasty. Most restaurants close pretty early (around 8 or 9pm), and the hours, especially close to Bear Valley, seem to change depending on the season. Here are some options that were open when we visited the area in June/July of 2017.

Within 10 minutes of Bear Valley Lodge

  • Bear Valley Lodge
    • Creekside Diner
      • Pretty typical American/Californian fair. It's not going to knock your socks off, but it's super convenient (first floor of the lodge) and the ambiance is quite pleasant.
      • Open for dinner.
    • Sky High Pizza and Pub
      • Pizza! We haven't actually had a chance to check this place out yet, but the reviews are decent. It's in the "commercial" section of the Bear Valley Lodge - probably a 2 minute walk from the hotel section.
      • Open for lunch and dinner.
    • Bear Valley General Store
      • Tiny grocery store. Among other things, they sell sandwiches for lunch and muffins for breakfast. Also a 2 minute walk from the hotel rooms.
  • Lake Alpine Resort
    • Restaurant serving American/Californian food.
    • Open for lunch, dinner, and maybe breakfast.

Within 40 minutes of Bear Valley Lodge

The town of Arnold has quite a few restaurants ranging from fast food to a bit more upscale. We've tried a few and they were tasty. There's a reasonably sized grocery store in town, as well as gas stations, convenience stores, etc. 

Within 1 hour of Bear Valley Lodge

Both Murphys and Angels Camp are along Highway 4 west of Bear Valley. Angels Camp is the last place that really feels suburban (ex-urban? even-mildly-urban?), and is the best place to stop if you are arriving late(ish) and need dinner. Murphys is a cute little town with a plethora of wine-tasting.

Activities Near Bear Valley

Some recommended activities near Bear Valley

There are lots of opportunities for fun around Lake Alpine.  Don't forget some water, some sunscreen and a good hat!

Wine Tasting

Of course we're excited by all the outdoor fun, but many of our guests may want to spend a more relaxing day wine tasting in Murphy's (45 minutes from Bear Valley) 

Hiking

There are a nice range of hiking options nearby.  Be sure to pace yourself if you haven't spent much time at altitude before.  All the more reason to hang around after the wedding and acclimatize a bit!

The trail around the south side of Lake Alpine is a nice light hike and there is a short trail up Inspiration Point with great views of the lake and out over the surrounding mountains.

Nearby hikes up to Mt. Reba or Wheeler Ridge are a bit more of a workout, but with great views of the Pacific Crest to the east and the Mokelumne River canyon to the north.

Caleveras Big Trees State Park is about 30 minutes west on Highway 4 which has hikes ranging from 1 to 5 miles through giant sequoia groves.  It's a couple thousand feet lower in elevation, so it's a good option for anyone sensitive to altitude, and the more gentle, shady trails are probably a good place to start with younger kids.

Several more trailheads can be accessed at higher elevations east of Lake Alpine, including more challenging hikes to Bull Run Peak (9200 ft) and along the Pacific Crest Trail.  If we get another big snow year this winter, these trails might be covered in snow though!

Canoeing

Canoes, kayaks and paddle-boards can be rented at the Lake Alpine Resort.

Mountain Biking

Mountain bikes are available for rent in Bear Valley.  The ride up to Lake Alpine and on to Cape Horn is rated intermediate and additional rides up to Mt Reba and down to Utica Reservoir are rated advanced.

Rock Climbing

Of course there are a smattering of popular bouldering spots around Bear Valley.  Bear Valley Adventure Company sells maps with descriptions of some of the more popular spots.

Whitewater Rafting

They're a bit of a drive, but there are a couple of options for whitewater rafting nearby.  This early in the summer the water should be nice and high.  Beginners can raft down the East Fork Carson River over Ebbetts pass.  More advanced paddlers can try their hand at the class IV rapids through Caleveras Big Trees State Park.

Cave Tours

There are some caves with family-friendly tours near Murphys (Mercer Caverns) and Angels Camp (Moaning Caverns).  These might be tourist traps, but they sound pretty fun.

Gold Rush Historic Fun

Columbia State Historic Park is a nearby town with preserved old buildings, exhibits, historical re-enactors and a stagecoach ride popular with kids and European post-docs alike.  You can also try your hand at panning for gold at Columbia SHP, or find some other local guides in the area.

Horsies

It's a bit of a drive, but some of you may want to experience a ramble in the mountains on horseback from Aspen Meadow's Pack Station.

Bear Valley / Lake Alpine Hiking Map

Here's an online topographic map of the Lake Alpine area from Caltopo.com.

Purple dashes are suggested mountain bike routes (open to hikers too, and cars for the forest roads), red lines are some suggested hiking routes.  Note that if you zoom in there are additional trails as mapped by the Forest Service.  Please note that some of these trails may be poorly maintained or hard to follow, though.  For instance we had a hard time following the Emigrant Trail from Bear Valley to the south side of Lake Alpine when tried in the spring.    Most trails are sparsely marked in the Sierras, so if you venture far from the road it's best to have a good map with you.

Dress Code

Humans older than 1 year should wear some clothes in a style of their choosing.

Please come as you wish, including dressing up if you genuinely find that fun for a special occasion. Attire will range from sandals and shorts to suits and dresses. Sam may or may not wear a tie. This event is about celebrating with our family and friends, so just relax and wear what you like. Keep in mind, we hope to have the ceremony outside in the late afternoon/early evening, which can get chilly in the mountains.

Gift Registry

We know this is a big trip for many of you. Your company is your gift to us. Besides, we can't fit any more stuff into our tiny Berkeley apartment anyway. If you really really want to give us something, please consider a donation in our honor to one of these organizations:

The International Rescue Committee
The IRC helps refugees in need around the world.

The American Civil Liberties Union 
The constitution needs a good lawyer, now more than ever.

The Berkeley Food and Housing Project
Helping the neediest in our home town.

Planned Parenthood
Providing essential medical care for women and families.

The National Resource Defense Council
Yeah the earth needs a good lawyer too.

Doctors Without Borders
Providing medical care around the world.
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