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FFSC has been graced with utilization of this facility each year because two of our members, Lee Yamada and Phyllis Cole, are California Alpine Club (CAC) members and Echo Summit Lodge hosts. The Lodge is now experiencing financial distress. The letter below is from Lee and Phyllis regarding assistance to the Lodge.
Hello FFSC Members,
Over the decades, many FFSC members have enjoyed Echo Summit Lodge, with it’s beautiful scenery and vista. We have found mountains of boletes and a close and enduring comraderie of spirit.
As the years have gone by we’ve appreciated the small changes that help to make the Lodge such a pleasant place (e.g., matching pillow cases and bedspreads in each room, the BBQ with its shelter, wine glasses - there were LOTS last September) as well as the major changes to the Lodge (e.g., updated water system, water heaters, kitchen and dining room floor covers, new fireplaces, kitchen update, new paint and siding, and now the handicapped ramp).
As a condition of the California Alpine Club keeping it’s lease, the U.S. Forest Service has required major changes and upgrades. The projects - expensive to begin with - often went up in price after they were started. For example, in the middle of the 2008 paint and siding project, the County Building Inspector decided to increase shear strength by requiring the entire building be sheathed in thicker plywood: this added 2 weeks labor for 10 workers plus the materials. Also, the 2009 ramp project revealed several huge granite boulders that were too difficult to move. Revising the design to include the boulders meant additional engineering drawings, reviews and approvals that added $25,000 to the cost of $155,000.
As a result, Echo Summit Lodge has had to borrow $35,000 to keep afloat. California Alpine Club is appealing for donations from its members and affiliates. We hope FFSC members will join in the effort to keep Echo Summit Lodge viable. Many of us are stretched financially, but small amounts add up! Please make donations if you're able to. Donations are not tax deductible since CAC is a “Social Club” not a 501C charitable organization.
Thank you for your consideration,
Lee Yamada and Phyllis Cole