Field Trips   

This poses to be Terry McAteer’s wildest field trip. We will carpool to the “towns” (some existing and some just rubble) north of Nevada City. Starting in Bridgeport then moving to French Corral (where the world’s first long distance telephone line was established and the only diamond mine in CA) and stopping at the nearly ghost town of Cherokee (pop 600) to visit the cemetery for some pioneer tombstone rubbings before hitting the Brass Rail Bar in North San Juan which was frequented by Black Bart (Babe’s Place Brothel was upstairs). We’ll continue northward through the “town” of Pike onto the town of Allegany (one of the best gold mining districts in the state) with the famous 16-1 gold mine. We’ll have lunch at Casey’s Place before checking out the Mining Museum in town. After leaving town we’ll head to Forest City to view the dance hall of this mining ghost town (pop. 1400 in 1852) before an afternoon refreshment in the historic town of Camptonville. Our final stop will be an early dinner at the famous Willo Steakhouse just outside of Nevada City to revisit the day’s adventures. A Zoom call prior will establish carpools, etc.. $90 p/p includes lunch, soft drinks, admissions and dinner. Carpoolers will also chip-in for gas. 35 people

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.

In the late 1860’s when the Transcontinental Railroad was being built, Chinese workers stocked a local natural pond near Donner Summit with non-native catfish to supplement their meager diet. Descendants of these fish have survived in this same pond for over 160 years. Terry McAteer will lead you on this relatively flat 1 1/2-mile (roundtrip) hike at 7000 feet elevation to lunch at the pond and feed the catfish. The views are spectacular! Terry will supply some catfish food!

• You should be in good physical condition for this hike.
• Wear good hiking shoes, bring a lunch, hat, sunscreen, and plenty to drink.

Meet at 10:00 am at the dirt parking lot across the street from Donner Ski Ranch on Donner Pass Road. Limited to 35 people.

Make it a full day with Terry! Following this hike is the “Walk Through the Historic Transcontinental Railroad Tunnels at Donner Summit” field trip that begins at 1:00p. If you would also like to participate in this field trip you must register for it separately.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.  

Let’s go see the A’s play ball before they depart for Vegas. Includes ticket, and bus ride…. you supply the beer and hot dogs! Tickets are impossible to get but we’ve got 35 of them!! Join Terry McAteer, an avid baseball fan, for this OLLI Night at the A’s. $75 pp

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.

2 days, 1 night:
Do you need to commune with nature and just get away? If so, I want to take you to a magical and undiscovered gem of California— Sierra County (just north of Nevada County. We will travel via a Sierra College bus to the tiny mining town of Downieville, enjoy a picnic lunch, wander its few streets and see the infamous gallows which adorn the courthouse (the site of the only woman hanged in California). It is then off to Sierra City (population: 99) to tour the historic Kentucky Mine, a perfectly preserved gold mine and mill. This is the best spots to fully understand the entire gold mining process— mining to ingot. We will stay at the rustic Sierra Pines Lodge overlooking the North Fork of the Yuba River in Sierra City. It is a special spot you are bound to return to! The day is capped-off with waterfront cocktails and a five-star dinner at the magnificent Sardine Lake Lodge set amongst the Sierra Buttes high in the Sierras. The next morning, following a hearty breakfast at Sierra Pines (you can catch your fresh trout in their pond and they’ll cook it up), we will drive and tour the quaint red and white colored mill town of Graeagle then drive through the spectacular Sierra Valley on our way to Hobart Mills - the remote Donner Party encampment. A picnic lunch will be provided to enjoy in this beautiful meadow. Minimal walking over the two days.

Note: Because the lodge is small (it is the largest lodging in Sierra County), we can only accommodate double occupancy, so if single— find a friend to share a room or let us know and hopefully there is someone else that needs a roommate. (All meals, transportation and accommodations included; except bar costs at Sardine Lodge).
 
Group leader: Terry McAteer
$260 per person double occupancy
Limited to 32
Sierra College bus will pick up registered members at 9:00am in Rocklin and then head to Colfax Train Station to pick up members at 9:45am. You will be dropped off at each location on the way home.
 

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.  

Join Terry McAteer as he puts a realistic historic interpretation of the industrialized Gold Rush period. After the gold pans and the rocker boxes had been sent to the attic, the later gold rush period (late 1850’s onwards) produced huge amounts of gold to help fund the Civil War and the Gilded Age. Two of the most productive mines in the U.S. sit just a few miles apart in Grass Valley and we will visit both to gain a greater understanding of this glorious industrial era for mine owners but not so glorious for mine workers. Lunch and a tour at the North Star Powerhouse and Mining Museum is also included.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.

Join Terry McAteer as he puts a realistic historic interpretation of the industrialized Gold Rush period. After the gold pans and the rocker boxes had been sent to the attic, the later gold rush period (late 1850’s onwards) produced huge amounts of gold to help fund the Civil War and the Gilded Age. Two of the most productive mines in the U.S. sit just a few miles apart in Grass Valley and we will visit both to gain a greater understanding of this glorious industrial era for mine owners but not so glorious for mine workers. Lunch and a tour at the North Star Powerhouse and Mining Museum is also included.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.

The Grass Valley Museum depicts the rich history from the Gold Rush days to 1930 with displays of furniture, art, objects d’art, clothing, musical instruments and artifacts of the Victorian era. The Museum also features large Old California Style paintings, a Victorian bedroom, Lola Montez’s bathtub, a table used for the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945 and many instruments and medicine from Dr. Jones the first doctor in Grass Valley. Today you can almost hear the echoes of children reciting their lessons as you stand behind the teacher’s desk in the restored classroom.

These tours are limited to six people. There are ten steps to the second floor where the Museum is located. Tours are estimated to last 90 minutes. The Grass Valley Museum is located at 410 South Church Street, Grass Valley, two blocks from the historic downtown. Participants will provide their own transportation to and from the event. Registered members will meet instructor at location.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.  

The Grass Valley Museum depicts the rich history from the Gold Rush days to 1930 with displays of furniture, art, objects d’art, clothing, musical instruments and artifacts of the Victorian era. The Museum also features large Old California Style paintings, a Victorian bedroom, Lola Montez’s bathtub, a table used for the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945 and many instruments and medicine from Dr. Jones the first doctor in Grass Valley. Today you can almost hear the echoes of children reciting their lessons as you stand behind the teacher’s desk in the restored classroom.

These tours are limited to six people. There are ten steps to the second floor where the Museum is located. Tours are estimated to last 90 minutes. The Grass Valley Museum is located at 410 South Church Street, Grass Valley, two blocks from the historic downtown. Participants will provide their own transportation to and from the event. Registered members will meet instructor at location.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.  

Meet your guide Terry McAteer to witness the engineering marvel of the 19th Century— the hand-hewn 1868 Transcontinental Railroad tunnels at Donner Summit. These historic tunnels are a living testament to the Chinese workers who blasted through this solid granite. We will also see the spectacular Chinese Wall along with discussing this important thoroughfare which saw Native Americans, 49ers, Lincoln Highway auto traffic and, eventually, Highway 40.

• The one-mile (roundtrip) hike is flat.
• Bring water
• Bring a headlamp or good flashlight as the tunnels are dark.
• Wear good hiking or tennis shoes.

Meet at 1:00 pm at the dirt parking lot directly across the street from Donner Ski Ranch on Donner Pass Road. Limited to 35 members

Make it a full day with Terry! In the morning before this field trip is our “Hike to the Elusive Transcontinental Railroad Catfish Pond” field trip that begins at 10:00a. If you would also like to participate in this field trip you must register for it separately.

Field Trip Cancellations and Refund Policy

• If we have to cancel a field trip you will receive a full refund.
• If you cancel a field trip:
  • Day Trip: must be canceled at least 2 weeks prior to the field trip to receive a refund (minus a $10 cancellation fee).
  • Overnight field trips require a 45-day cancellation notice for a full refund (minus a $50 cancellation fee). No refunds given after that date.