 
The anticipated activity level of each tour is noted at the end of the tour description. Please click on each tour description for more information.
A Maidu Way of Life
May 15 Join Farrell Cunningham and other knowledgeable historians and naturalists for an exciting day focused on the Mountain Maidu of Indian Valley. Participants will hear about the Maidu’s fascinating oral history and visit local sites to learn about the Maidu way of life, native vegetation, and food gathering and preparation. The tour will also discuss current and past Maidu land management practices. (Moderate)
 The Ishi Wilderness Trail NEW!
May 22 We'll travel with Beverly Ogle, a Maidu
historian and writer, who will guide us along the trail in
the Ishi Wildernes. Ishi means 'man' in Yana and Ishi
is believed to have been the last Native American in
Northern California to have lived most of his life
completely outside the European American culture.
(Easy)
 Habitat for Birds & Humanity
June 26 Come learn about birds and critical habitat in the Almanor Basin with wildlife biologist Ryan Burnett of Point Reyes Bird Observatory. The tour begins at a mist-net station where we will see wild birds up close and learn the names and markings of the most common species in the basin. We will discuss why this area is critical for birds, and we will learn about some of the major threats to bird habitat and populations in the basin, including implications for land management. (Moderate)
 The Sierra on Fire: the Moonlight Fire tour
July 17 Witness the impacts created by the massive 65,000-acre Moonlight Fire of 2007. Learn about the effects of one of the largest Sierra Nevada fires in recent history, future forest management, and plans for restoration from US Forest Service employees. Hear about a local school’s monitoring program in the severely burned Lights Creek watershed. (Easy)
 Tribal Trails, Wagon Wheels, and Pioneer Parties
July 24 Travel the old, scenic wagon road from Beckwourth to Genesee with Farrell Cunningham, a local Maidu historian, and Dan Elliott, an archeologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Participants will learn about the fascinating history of mountain man Jim Beckwourth, the Clover Valley Logging Company, local ranches, and the Maidu Indians, who lived in the valley for generations before Beckwourth’s wagon road opened the area to European immigrants. (Easy)
 Maidu History of Indian Valley
July 31 Tour Indian Valley with Maidu expert Farrell Cunningham. Participants will explore historically significant sites and learn Maidu history in the valley. We’ll stop at the old Indian mission and boarding school and at Maidu village sites, and learn about the spiritual wars that took place near Arlington Rock above present-day Taylorsville. (Easy to Moderate)
The Salmon of Deer Creek
August 7 Come learn about the effects of fire on riparian habitats and one of the last free-running salmon streams in the Sierra. The tour will visit Deer Creek to learn about the creek’s wild salmon population and discuss the differences between “good” and “bad” fires. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit meadow and forest restoration projects. (Easy to Moderate)
Past, Present, and Future of Humbug Valley
August 21 Humbug Valley has been a special place for the Maidu for hundreds of years. The valley, which once hosted an active stagecoach route for western settlers, is currently owned by PG&E. Join us for a unique and informative tour to learn about the history of Humbug Valley, discuss the possibility for the Maidu to reclaim a piece of their homeland, and enjoy evening fireside storytelling and drumming. (Easy to Moderate)
 Sustainable Forest Management
August 27 This driving and walking tour demonstrates how one company manages its forest to create a sustainable harvest and a healthy forest ecosystem. Tour the Collins Pine Almanor Forest and their state-of-the-art sawmill. While other mills are pulling out of rural areas, Collins had done just the opposite – they’ve invested in one of the most modern mills in the West. Learn how Collins supports a local community from generation to generation. (Moderate)
A Taste of the Season: Foods of Plumas County
September 11 Travel to local farms to learn about local agriculture and sample some of the season’s best foods! This exciting new tour explains why locally grown food is not only delicious, but also important for rural communities. Morning snacks and lunch made exclusively from local foods are included in the tour. (Easy)
A Taste of the Season: Foods of Lassen County NEW!
September 18 Take this tour to learn more about the agriculture of Lassen County. We'll visit local farms and ranches while learning how farming and ranching affect rural communities economically. Morning snacke and lunch made exclusively from local foods are included. (Easy)
 Mining in Indian Valley
September 25 Come learn about the past, present, and future of copper mining just northeast of Indian Valley. This area has long been of interest for its spectacular copper belt. Norman Lamb, President of the California-Engels Mining Company, Robert Wetzel, Project Geologist for Nevoro’s Moonlight Project, and Mike Thornton from the Sierra Fund will guide this tour. The tour will detail current exploratory drilling efforts surrounding the mine sites and the legacy of mining, with possibilities of entering an abandoned mine. (Moderate)
Humboldt Stage Route NEW!
Ocrtober 2 The Maidu people, who have lived in the Northern Sierra for thousands of years, already knew what a wonderfully diverse and beautiful area surrounded Humbug Valley. Various settlers began moving into the area via the Humboldt Stage rouste to harvest timber, run dairies, and settle new places. Again, Beverly Ogle will join us on this tour as we discuss this stage route that eventually took travelersto Susanville, and its richness in history, mountains and valleys. (Easy)
 Water, Power, and Fish
October 22 Follow the water (and the money) on one of our most popular and scenic tours. Explore PG&E’s “Stairway of Power” from the penstock at Prattville intake on Lake Almanor to the powerhouse at Butt Valley Reservoir and on to the Caribou powerhouses and the North Fork of the Feather River. Discuss the impacts of hydroelectric production on fisheries, ecosystems, recreation, and rural communities. (Easy to Moderate)
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