A yurt by any other name

At the junction of highways 88 and 89 in Hope Valley, Alpine County, stands a curious structure. It's a portable, insulated, fabric covered, wood lattice framed structure much like those used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia and is called a yurt, or gher, or jirga, or kherga, depending on one's country of origin. Joyce Coker, of Hope Valley Outdoors, calls it a yurt and erects it in the early winter, smack dab on the Burnside Lake Road once the road is closed by snow.

The yurt houses a cross-country skiing and snow shoe operation where Joyce and her staff provide a variety of experiences for the snow loving public. Besides offering top quality skis, boots, and snowshoes to rent, Hope Valley Outdoors provides ski and snowshoe lessons and guided tours over 60 miles of trails for all levels of experience. For those forgetful among us, gloves, caps, and mittens can be purchased, and some of their equipment can be purchased, too. Maps of the area are also available. Because the facility is not set up to process credit cards, customers must pay with cash or check.

Ski tours in the moonlight are featured as well as a tour in March commemorating the legendary Snowshoe Thompson and his exploits. Back in the 1800s, that one-of-a-kind man delivered the mail over Carson Pass, on skis, in the dead of winter. Also featured, with some perverse pleasure experienced by the participants I believe, is the Women's Winter Tour which is scheduled every year on Super Bowl Sunday. Proceeds from that tour go to the local women's centers.

Because of the yurt's location, the operation needs the approval of the Alpine County public works department which has joint jurisdiction with the U.S. Forest Service over the Burnside Lake Road. The commercial use occurring there also requires a special use permit from the county planning commission. And, because the trail system lies on national forest land, with some on California State Fish and Game land, permission is required from the forest service and fish and game.

When snow closes the road and she is cleared to go, Joyce and her crew can erect the yurt in about a week. With no power or telephone lines and no cell phone coverage in the area, this location is truly an outpost for those seeking winter fun.

Joyce points out the features of her operation that reflect her environmental awareness. Solar panels provide the power for the minimal demands for electricity, she provides a portable toilet for those using the area, the skiing and snow shoeing experience she provides leaves no impact on the land, and when the snow disappears, so does the yurt.

Visit www.hopevalleyoutdoors.com, for additional information.