Off the grid and recharging on Lower Lake Sardine.
Too often our lives are dictated by schedules, connectivity and phones. Vacation in a lot of cases is simply a change of location for connectivity, not removal from it. It’s ironic how the one thing you don’t think you can live without is exactly what you need to remove (at least temporarily) to gain perspective.
Last year I made plans to vacation in the Sierra mountains near Sierra City with the warning that cell phone coverage would be spotty. I departed for vacation with a deadline pending for an article due to a magazine publisher, armed with an air card and confidence that spotty would do. The concept of disconnecting completely for vacation was foreign to me as I tend to have problem enough disconnecting for dinner each work day.
Arriving in Reno, NV we drove for 90 minutes through the Sierra Valley through Truckee, CA to an elevation of 6,500 ft to the Sardine Lake Resort and lodge.
Sardine Lake Resort a place to unplug.
When we arrived I was awestruck by the beauty of this mountain oasis with a reputation for outstanding trout fishing, excellent hiking and a lodge that served gourmet dinners 5 days a week with a cocktail hour at 5 pm in Poor George’s boat house on the lake. As a city kid from the Midwest and East Coast, I’d seen mountains before, but never slept beneath one for a week.
Lower Lake Sardine with a view of the Sierra Buttes.
There's a Ranger station at around 8,500 ft at the very top.
Cell phone coverage was far from spotty, it was non-existent. In anguish, with the article complete, I remember hurriedly asking the attendant at Bassett Station general store where to stand to get a signal and she laughed and responded smiling casually, “What do you need a cell phone signal for?”. Almost as if she recognized that I was chained to the network and system and needed to take it all in for a minute. Puzzled by her question and still in the rapture of getting my email out I ventured down the mountain 20 minutes toward Sierra City and got a signal while driving. I pulled over on the side of the mountain road, booted up my computer and air card and fired off my story. I returned a few voice mails and caught up on emails on my Blackberry. Driving back to camp I felt a sense of release as I could finally start to enjoy my vacation and did.
Sardine Lake Cabins (2br) with hot water, electricity, heat and no flat screens.
View from the cabin front porch.
This year we returned again and I was fully versed in how to vacation off the grid. Removed from the internet and the constant of ringing phones I settled into vacation mode much sooner. Surrounded by mountains, lakes and streams I returned to take advantage of the breathtaking natural beauty that invited me to settle in, chill out and enjoy. I came to look forward to morning coffee (spiked with a touch of Bailey’s) and fishing before breakfast by the spillway. I hiked to snap pictures and just take some deep breaths of mountain air. We had 17 members of our family in cabins and 15-20 more at the campground in tents and RVs and had amazing meals both at the lodge and our cabins and hit the bed exhausted by 9-9:30 p.m. as there was no cable, TV or radio to speak of either.
Sand Pond at Lake Sardine exclusively for swimming (with giant tadpoles).
Mountains have an amazing ability to provide perspective on life. In a world of big egos and larger than life media footprints it all seems small when you stand at the base of a mountain that was there long before you laid eyes upon it and would remain long after your time on earth is gone. Bald eagles nested at a corner of the lower lake and we watched them circle and swoop down on the lake to retrieve trout and return to the nest. An amazing sighting that was much better than 1080p HD on any size flat screen. I shared with one of my sons that most people only see that on National Geographic or Animal Planet so appreciate it.
Western Jay and Chipmunks abound at Sardine Lake
Waiting to be kissed a frog in the stream below the spillway.
When our family ventured down to the local town of Graegle, CA (with cell phone coverage) to go to the grocery store or horseback riding I was anxiously posting pictures to Facebook and updating Twitter about the beautiful surroundings I was camping in. I posted a photo of myself on horseback and a college friend whose husband and I have exchanged fishing stories, commented on the post, “Vinnie says less recreation and more fishing!”. While I wasn’t posting the abundant stringers of trout pics like I did last year it did seem like I was starting to understand vacation better, off the grid (sort of). It felt like an accomplishment and a secret I wish I knew about many years before.
View of Lower Lake Sardine at Sunrise with Fog on the Water from the Upper Lake.
Clear view of the Lower Lake after the Fog Burned off. Brief hike up from the cabins.
Ironically, I meant to make this post last year to remember, share images of a place that is special to our family and primarily encourage others who are as connected to their computers, phones and televisions as I am to venture out of cell phone range and coverage for vacation. But in my return to the hustle and bustle of business never made the time. Better late than never, I encourage you to use the time off the grid to connect to more valuable assets such as family, friends and the divine proof of a higher power in the beauty of nature.
Beauty even in death.
For more information about Sardine Lake Resort or to make dinner or cabin reservations (often booked months in advance) call 530-862-1196 or Click Here for more information.
Nuance Marketing Blog
