Hope Valley Outdoors is centered on healthy lifestyle

Hope Valley Outdoors is still outside, but it's no longer a center.

"I've officially dropped the word 'center' from Hope Valley Outdoor Center," owner Joyce Coker said of the name change for her store/café/school.

In blizzards or wintry sunshine, she rents cross country skis or snowshoes to hardy folks from nearby Sorensen's Resort and others who come to Hope Valley Outdoors to have lessons and guided tours on 60 trail miles in Hope Valley.

Coker plans to organize hiking tours to view Basque sheepherder carvings on aspen trees this summer. She and naturalist Chuck Campbell led us over hill and dale to preview special groves of aspens, with names of lonely Basques cut into the greenish-white bark. Since large aspens have a limited lifetime, these living monuments of times past will be "biting the dust" soon.

Now that summer is upon us, in place of leading outdoor ski tours, Coker is baking pies, stirring pots of chili and spending more time indoors. She not only dishes up sandwiches and tacos behind the counter, but also advice about fishing and hiking, because the West Fork of the Carson River is flowing by her front door, and hiking trails abound in Hope Valley.

Her menu for lunch stresses healthy foods; for example, salmon salad sandwich with homemade creamy wasabi caper sauce, lettuce and tomato, or "CLT" sandwich with chicken roasted in garlic and herbs, served with lettuce, tomato, onions, Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. Salads, tacos and black bean chili are also served during the day. Late in the afternoon, a "Sunset Hour" selection appears: chicken or fish tacos, black bean tostada, chili nachos, chips and salsa. Six microbrew beers are always on tap, along with bottled beer, fruit juices and other beverages.

Famous in outdoor circles for her one-pound cookies and black-and-blue pies, Joyce Coker has just experienced an epiphany.

"If I save the syrup from concocting all of the different combinations of pie fillings, I then can pour these fruit syrups over vanilla-bean ice cream to make unusual ice cream sundaes."

While the filling for her black-and-blue pies is composed of blackberries and blueberries, she also bakes boysenberry, apple, peach, and sour cherry pies, often combining ingredients, including sour cream. Clients can buy slices, the whole pie, or take-and-bake for home.

Photographer Tony Rowell has his "Mountain Light" framed photos displayed on pine-paneled walls in her alcove, and he will be presenting a slideshow of his work this summer.

Having spent her childhood in the Midwest, Coker was so intrigued by the breathtaking landmasses and waterfalls of Yosemite that she worked there for 20 years. In 1997, her enthusiasm for natural surroundings became even more evident as she entered into partnership with Steve Lannoy in the Hope Valley Outdoor Center, buying him out in 2003.

Coker's wish to inspire more people in discovering backcountry activities is outlined in her petition to establish a seasonal system of yurts in Hope Valley.

To begin, Hope Valley Outdoors would like to construct a temporary yurt at Picketts Junction or at Burnside Road as a satellite location for cross country ski rentals and lessons.

In addition, HVO is proposing future yurt lodges near the Burnside Mine, Scott Lake, and Willow Creek, as feasibility is found.

These yurts would be constructed for overnight, backcountry ski/snowshoe treks on permitted cross country trails, and HVO would accept responsibility for all sanitary, safety and environmental concerns.

n Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident. Reach her at ginagigli@gbis.com