Last update: July., 2015
Welcome to the Lodge! It is our vision and intention that your stay here be a time of relaxation, relationship building & restoration. We find ourselves slowing down as soon as we arrive and pray that you find the same sense of peace. We hope you have a blessed time, and to help out we've written this short guide to explain the mysteries of the place.
This guide is presented as a run on sentence that can be read from top to bottom, but is also in sections for quick reference. If you discover something that's not included and want to share it, please let us know (and/or put it in the guest book).
Other handy resources for lodge info:
•Lodge Map & Trail Guide
•Book of Things to Do & Eat in the Area
•Guest Book, photo wall, photo albums
Lodge address | Our home address |
3580 Triangle Road | 26020 Alicante Lane |
Emergency | 911 |
California Dept of Forestry (in case of fire) | (209) 966-3622 |
Sheriff Dept | (209) 966-3615 |
Shelly cell phone | (650) 810-6018 |
Kipp cell phone | (650) 810-6022 |
Shelly email | the.shelly.hickman@gmail.com |
Ken home | (650) 654-2029 |
Ken email | ken@meer.net |
Steve Moore home (our great groundskeeper) | (209) 742-7861 |
Steve Moore cell # (emergencies only please) | (209) 761-4660 |
Your cell phone might not work at the lodge, but should work in Mariposa & Oakhurst.
The lodge uses a septic tank for sewage from all toilets, sinks, drains & washers. This means only biodegradable waste, toilet paper & cleaners should go down them. Please don’t use any products that aren’t labeled “septic-safe.” Some examples of poor choices: any bleach, tampons and some anti-bacterial soaps. The shampoos, soaps and cleaning products we stock around the lodge have all been checked and are open game for use. Best guideline for your own stuff: if you aren't certain, please don't use it.
Kleenex tissues should be burned or discarded in the trash. Do not flush dental floss, feminine hygiene products or like down the toilets.
Tip: keep bags around for paper trash and then burn it in the fireplace. (Except during No Burn days)
Sorry, but you must take all trash & recycling with you when you leave - there is no garbage pickup service for the lodge. You can find plastic trash bags above the dryer in the laundry room.
If you want, you can use the Mariposa town dump (for a nominal fee). The dump is open every day except Tuesday & Wednesday, from 8am to 4pm and is located near Mariposa on Highway 49 about a mile or so from the junction of 140 & 49. The dump does support recycling so you must separate the glass, cans, plastic & paper.
Mariposa Dump: 5593 Highway 49 North – (209) 966-5165
There are four thermostats in the house:
1)Living room – controls heat in living room and kitchen
2)Dining room – controls heat in dining, pine and blue rooms
3)Master bedroom – controls heat in master bedroom
4)Basement – controls heat in basement (also affects master bedroom)
We've programmed the thermostats so their default program minimizes energy use between guests and keeps the pipes from freezing in winter. To warm the place up, go to each thermostat and press the “HOLD" button until the display shows "HOLD" on it. Then use the up/down arrow buttons to set the desired temperature. We do recommend turning down the heat at night before you go to bed.
Before you leave, please return the thermostats to their default program by pressing the "RUN" button on each. You'll know you've pressed it properly if the word "HOLD" disappears and the temperature setting changes to 45 degrees (50 for the basement).
It helps to run the ceiling fans in the living room on low when the heat is on. The control for both is the last knob in the switch bank at the bar.
There’s no A/C, but on warm days the lodge will cool off delightfully if you open up the windows in the evening. All the windows have screens to keep the flying critters out. There are also several portable fans around that you can use to speed cooling.
Please do not leave any perishable foods in the refrigerator as the next guests will not appreciate having to clean the fridge and rid the house of any nasty smells. Also, please don't leave that new bottle of salad dressing you bought for the trip and only used 3 dollops from – they build up quickly and are rarely used.
The refrigerator and freezer have temperature controls which should already be set correctly. If you notice your food freezing in the fridge or melting in the freezer, please let us know. It may mean that the fridge needs repair (but lots of food and guests can also make it act weird).
Check to see that the fridge doors are completely shut – this takes a bit of effort (sorry).
In the bar is a small drink fridge. We ask you not to use it.
Before you make your first fire, please clean out the cold ashes (if any) left behind by the previous guests. There is a metal ash can located in the carport for just this purpose. Please empty the can if it's starting to feel heavy. Cold ashes can safely be emptied onto the brush dump, which is just past the propane tank (see map).
Make sure the flue is open (the handle is up top inside the fireplace and you pull it forward to open it). Build and keep the fire in the back half of the fireplace, otherwise you will fill the room with smoke (we aren’t kidding!). When you add more wood don't throw it, and be careful to not hit the flue handle.
The gas for the fireplace works well for starting fires. Please be careful using it and make sure the gas is fully off when you leave (full right/clockwise).
The safest way to start a fire using the gas:
1)clear ashes off of the gas pipe at the base of the grate
2)stack 2-3 logs on grate
3)put crumpled paper under the logs and on top of the gas pipe
4)light the paper on fire with a match or firelighter
5)get back, close screen, and slowly turn gas key to left about ¼ turn – the gas will light and then you can fine tune the amount
Please leave the wood bin full so that the next guest starts with a ready supply of dry wood (but we understand if you physically cannot). The key for the wood bin door lock is in the keyholder on the wall in the laundry room. The wheelbarrow in the garage works well for bringing wood from the pile (outside the garage on the hill).
On the counter by the breakfast table near the guest books is a small black box with a number of buttons inside for controlling various light on the property. The only one you'll normally need is “6” which controls the lights along the walkway into the front door. Some lights are not working right now, however. You can control this group of lights by first pressing the “6” button and then pressing either the “on” or the “off” button. If you want to turn everything off, you can also press the “all off” button. There is a light switch for the BBQ area on the side of one of the columns.
All the water is filtered well water (all taps, showers, washers, hoses, sprinklers, etc.). It is fine for drinking – we do.
There are two water heaters: one for the kitchen, pine & blue rooms and one for the master bath. This means showers can be taken in the master bath and one of the other baths at the same time. Both water heaters are "tankless," so there’s no limit to the hot water they put out, but they can take a few moments to heat up in the cold weather.
Tip: open the hot tap wide open (don’t worry - the tankless heaters max out at 120 degrees) and then add cold or turn down the hot once it’s running fully hot.
Feel free to use the dishwasher and washer/dryer. Biodegradable, septic-safe detergents are under the sink and above the washer.
The dryer has a screened vent to the outside located directly behind it on the outside wall (the screen keeps critters out). You should check and clean the screen before you use the dryer – the dryer works much better when it's unclogged. NEVER leave clean laundry in the dryer as you leave.
If it’s rainy, snowy or just plain muddy, the screen porch makes a great mudroom. Community umbrellas, mittens, gloves and hats can be found by the front door.
When it snows over a few inches (happens several times per winter), the county snow plow services will usually plow Triangle Road and Darrah-Bootjack Road every 24 hours.
If the power goes out (and it does), you can find flashlights all over the house, and a lantern and candles downstairs in the basement utility closet. Please use your common sense so that you don't start a fire.
The bad news is that the heaters won't work when the power is out. Nor will the lights, stove, water heaters, TVs, etc. Sometimes the phone does. Also, you won't be able to get much water (it will depend on how much water is in the tank and how cold it is because the pipes will freeze once the power goes out). The good news is that you can always make a fire in the fireplace and BBQ to stay somewhat warm and cook stuff or melt snow for water (you laugh – it’s happened).
If you need some power, there’s a car voltage inverter and long extension cord downstairs in the utility closet. It plugs into your car lighter and turns your car into an electricity generator. At 400 watts it can power 5-6 lamps but not a microwave. It can run for many, many hours on a tank of gas – you car just needs to idle.
Keep the kitchen counters clean or you might attract little black ants. Occasionally, bigger carpenter ants are found in the kitchen – these are wood eaters that live in the roof overhead (and sometimes fall) and we’re slowly getting rid of them.
During the spring & summer, bats like to hang out in the rafters outside the pine room and in the garage (among other places). It's a good idea to keep the window facing the cabin closed in the pine room to keep their poop outside. You also might want to keep your car windows closed (unless you like guano in your car).
Occasionally, small pests such as mice, lizards, frogs and bugs get into the house or walls & ceiling spaces (you might hear scratching at night). They’re harmless but can be a bit startling when they dart into view. If you can, help them outside.
There are some mosquitoes in the spring, summer and fall. They’re thickest around the water and in the deep oak thickets along the creek. Repellent can be found in the cabinets in the laundry room above the washer/dryer.
Yes, Virginia, there is poison oak around. Sometimes it's even easy to spot - like when it has 3 leaves that look a lot like oak leaves, or in the fall when the leaves are all red. But in winter it has no leaves and the tendril-like branches can be just as nasty. If you stay on trails, you won't have a problem. There is special scrub in the laundry if you think you might have been exposed – it takes the oil off and prevents the allergic reaction that about 80% of people get when exposed (as proven on Mythbusters!).
In addition to poison oak, there are also ticks on the property. Dogs pick them up pretty easily, people don’t. Best to check behind the kid’s ears though.
Pets are not welcome, nor a good idea to bring to the lodge. It’s not cause we don’t have the love – we do – the reason is that a few of the Hickmans and other guests have some pretty nasty allergies, and we don't need the pet hair/dander to make things worse. Also, your pet may interact poorly with the local deer, coyotes, skunks, porcupines, poison oak and ticks (or just plain run away and get lost). I.e., they can’t stay inside and it’s risky outside, so best to leave them home.
This is difficult so we usually enter by the screened porch and then unlock the front door from the inside. To unlock the mortise lock on the front door, open it and press the raised brass button on the inner edge of the door handle/lock. To relock, press the other brass button.
Aside from the 3 bedrooms, there are beds, fold-out couches and a bunkroom downstairs, as well as a daybed & trundle between the pine & blue rooms. The trundles (or just their mattresses) work well as extra beds in the blue or master bedrooms (or just about anywhere). Air mattresses can be found in the master bedroom closet. The small yellow vacuum in the closet by the TV works well to inflate them (but dump it out first!).
Bring your own sheets and towels, but if you forget, feel free to use the ones in the master closet and the closet opposite the pine room bathroom. If you use them you must wash, dry & fold them before you leave. There are plenty of blankets and pillows (that don’t need to be washed) available – feel free to use as many as you need to stay warm and comfy. These can be found in closets, as well as in the back bunk room downstairs.
Tip: bring your own linens and towels and just take them home to wash.
Locations for various important supplies:
•Toilet paper & tissues: closet by TV
•Paper towels: lower corner cabinet left of sink
•Paper grocery bags: lower tall narrow cabinet left of sink
•Reusable grocery bags: cabinets by kitchen table
•Paper plates & cups: lower corner cabinet right of dishwasher
•Trash bags: laundry room above washer/dryer
•Household cleaners: closet in laundry room
•Vacuums: closet by TV (bags, belts & attachments too)
•Light bulbs & candles: downstairs in utility closet
•Batteries, small hand tools, tape, glue, scissors & pens: drawers on peninsula
•Poison oak scrub & bug repellent: laundry room above washer/dryer
Please let us know if anything runs out or is getting low.
A light selection of rakes, shovels and pruners can be found in the closet in the garage.
Go to the shop (steep-roofed barn) if you want the mega selection of tools (hand & power), axes, mallets, saws, mowers & blowers. To get in the shop, go in the side door just inside the carport to the left of the big double doors. A light switch is on the left wall just inside the door. The shop is disorganized, but there are literally tons of tools & materials in it. After returning the tools to where you found them, make sure you slide the door lock back in and that the lights are off when you're done.
There are two charcoal BBQ grills outside. Supplies (charcoal, starter fluid, etc.) can be found in the closet in the laundry room. Cold ashes can be thrown on the brush dump.
The big built-in BBQ grills don’t currently work.
The shelves and cabinet in the living room are crammed with games, books & puzzles. There’s also a shelf of books on the plants, animals, geology & history of the Mariposa and Yosemite area. Please dig in. Folding tables for puzzles are behind the TV.
Arts & crafts supplies (paper, pens, paints, glue, coloring books, etc.) can be found in the cabinets by the blue room. Shelly loves to see kids' creations up on the fridge!
There are two telephones: one at the TV, and one in the master bedroom. The phone, like the electricity, does occasionally go out (snow, wind…). SierraTel usually gets it back on pretty quickly. If you use the cordless phone in the master bedroom, please leave the answering machine off and the handset on the stand when you leave.
Cell phones are spotty at the lodge. Verizon seems to work but AT&T often does not.
The lodge has TV/Stereo systems upstairs and downstairs. There are pretty instruction cards near each one (and extras in the drawer near the TV upstairs). If something weird happens, the full manual for each component is in the drawer by the upstairs TV.
The upstairs system has DirecTV satellite TV, plays DVDs and CDs, and has a hook up for iPods, computers & game consoles. The satellite TV has music channels, or you can play music CDs in the DVD player. Just turn on the system as if you were going to watch a DVD and insert a music CD instead.
Top troubleshooting tips for upstairs system:
•No picture: the input the TV is displaying may be set wrong – press the input button on the TV remote until the screen shows “S-Video”
•Picture stretched/squished funny: the TV has several aspect ratios – press the “aspect” button on the TV remote until you find one you like
•No sound: the stereo may be muted, or the “input mode” for what you’re trying to listen to (TV, DVD…) may be set wrong. Press the “input mode” button on the front of the Receiver until the display shows “analog input”
•DirecTV satellite signal out or choppy: the dish may have snow on it. It’s on the roof above the garage door to the left when facing garage. Carefully use a broom to brush off the snow (but don’t mess up the alignment!).
The downstairs system only has a VCR, but iPods, computers and game consoles can be hooked to it. There’s also a basic stereo downstairs for listening to CDs.
Feel free to watch/listen to any DVDs, VHS tapes & CDs you find on the shelves.
To hook up your iPod, computer or game console, use the RCA inputs on the front of the Receiver upstairs or TV downstairs. There’s an iPod-to-RCA cable (mini-din to RCA), USB charging block, and an iPod cable in the drawer by the upstairs TV.
The lodge has broadband DSL and wifi for accessing the Internet. The DSL modem and wifi hub (Apple Airport Extreme) are behind the upstairs TV. There’s also a direct Ethernet port at the base of the TV for computers w/o wireless capability. Ethernet cables are in the drawer at the TV.
Wifi network name: Mariposa Lodge Tubes
Buzzing around in the golf cart is a blast! But please be safe (no accidents!). Also, please be aware of what surface you're driving on – dry dirt & leaves can be slippery and fast turns can lead to spinouts and possible rollover. Also, the cart is very heavy to push back should you puncture a tire driving over pine cones. It requires charging after about a day of use (or when it stops going). The battery light will stay on after you start using the cart when it's ready to recharge.
To charge the cart just park it, set the brake, put it in neutral and plug in the charging cable. It's a good habit to plug the cart in between uses so that it's fully charged whenever you're ready to hit the trails. *NEW* Always unplug the cart before leaving.
On the dash of the cart is a light that will glow or blink amber if there’s something wrong with the batteries. If this happens please don't use the cart and let us know.
If you do end up getting a flat tire, we now keep spare tubes in the shop. You'll find them, and a floor jack and wrench and air compressor, near the large door. Please let us know if you use one of the spare tubes so that we can get a replacement.
Please don't let children under 13 drive the cart. For older children, it is the parent's responsibility to "certify" them safe to drive. Please teach them to drive responsibly - going full speed over ditches, for instance, leads to a broken cart. Don't do that!
The entire property is fenced and the trails marked, so you can't get lost (see property map). Please keep the cart on the trails though - we don't want any new ones and nobody wants flat tires.
Before you leave, park the cart, set the brake, turn it off, put it in neutral, make sure the charging cable is hung up on the post where you found it.
There are lots and lots of things to do and see around the property (the Back 40). Check out the Lodge Map & Trail Guide for details.
The closet in the garage is full of sports stuff, such as bats, mitts, balls & frisbees. There’s also ping pong, shuffleboard, croquet, snow sleds and foosball. There are swings outside too, including a bucket seat for toddlers.
If you make a bonfire outside in the firepit, please put it out completely when you leave - there is a long hose on the side of the old green barn for just this purpose. S'mores are known to taste particularly good here! During the summer months when it’s very dry you won't be allowed to have outside fires in the county for fear of forest fires – signs along the roads around town will show current fire risk status.
If you go in to the fenced garden area be sure to leave the gates open so the deer can keep the grasses cropped down (we used to keep them closed, but for now we’re letting the deer in while we figure out what to do with the garden).
Please use barbless hooks if possible, since most of the fish will be too small to keep. You can, of course, keep the big ones, but only if you eat them! An aluminum boat and paddles can be found by the old green barn. Fishing rods, reels and tackle is in the garage & garage closet.
Mariposa is a very small community. The surest way for us to protect the lodge from fires, theft, etc., is to have caring neighbors watching out for it when we aren’t around. The surest way to have caring neighbors is to be friendly and care about them. We ask you to help in that endeavor and be nice to any neighbors you meet in the area.
Sometimes, one of the neighbors (or even the sheriff) may come onto the property to see if everything’s OK and if the people here are supposed to be here. If this happens, be friendly, let them know you’re guests of the Hickmans, ask who they are, and let us know about it when you have a chance. We like to know who stops by.
There is a gas station and mini-grocery at Bootjack, where you turned off 49 onto Darrah Road. For a serious grocery store run, we recommend Pioneer Market in Mariposa on Coakley Circle or Von's in Oakhurst (directly off of Highway 49).
Mariposa also has several hardware stores and lots of antique shops.
Near the bar in a binder cryptically labeled “Things to Do and Eat in the Area” are menus and reviews of the restaurants that various people have tried in Mariposa (about 15 minutes away), in Oakhurst (about 25 minutes away) and in between. Please add menus and opinions as you explore the area.
Please try to leave the place cleaner than you found it - while we do have a house cleaner to take care of the general cleaning, she doesn’t come between each and every visit, so please try to put things back and leave the place clean for the next guests.
You can find vacuums in the closet near the TV. Also, other cleaning supplies can be found in the closet in the laundry room. Don't forget to use only septic-safe cleaning supplies.
Note: Most of this is common sense, but it's helpful to have a list to avoid forgetting something.
Heaters & Thermostats: Make sure the heaters are set properly. To do this just press the "RUN" button on each thermostat as we've programmed them for the right temperature to keep the pipes from freezing in the winter. Make sure you set all four thermostats as listed above in this guide! Also, make sure the bathroom wall heaters are off: they are located in the pine bedroom's adjacent bathroom, and the blue bedroom's bathroom.
Fireplace: Close the heavy solid fireplace door (but leave the flue open). Please make sure the gas key is fully closed by turning it right/clockwise as far as it will go. Leave the ashes in the fireplace for the next guests (we want to make certain that the coals are fully cold before discarding them). Please leave the wood bin full for the next guest.
TV: Please turn off the TV, satellite box, etc. You'll know the TV is off when the little light in the lower left corner is red instead of green (or not visible).
Refrigerators: Please make sure you haven't left any food behind that will spoil. Please read the section regarding proper usage of the refrigerators. Also, please make sure the drink refrigerator in the bar area is turned off (knob full left/counterclockwise).
Lights & Fans: Make sure all the lights and fans are off (living room, dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms). If you used the shop, or played pool, make sure the lights are off there as well.
Laundry: If you used a laundry machine, please make sure it's EMPTY before you leave. Please do not leave anything in the washer or dryer.
Dishes: Please do not leave any dirty dishes. Feel free to start the dishwasher before you leave to take care of the stragglers.
Trash: Do not leave any trash anywhere (bathrooms, kitchen, etc.). Please read the section regarding waste and packing it out and how to find the dump.
Lock up: Please make sure the house is locked up and all windows & doors are closed. The key you used to get in should be put back under the rug inside the screen porch.
Garage & Golf Cart: Make sure the garage door is closed and the light is off. The golf cart should be parked inside its carport, unplugged and covered.
Finally! Close the main gate before you leave. And may God grant you a safe and uneventful journey home!
Please, please have multiple people check these as you leave. While many seem obvious, believe it or not, ALL have been forgotten at one time or another (picture our housecleaner’s face when she showed up to find the house filled with propane cause the fireplace gas was accidentally left on with no flame!)
.Fireplace gas off (key full right/clockwise) & solid door closed
.Thermostats all on RUN – 45 degrees upstairs, 50 down
.Fridge in bar off (dial full left/ccwise)
.Ovens & stove burners off
.All TV components off – lights red or not showing
.No food that can spoil or has no printed expiration date
.No dirty dishes (starting dishwasher as you leave is fine)
.No dirty laundry (a dish towel or two is fine)
.No trash in any rooms (take it all with you)
.All lights & fans off
.All bathroom heaters & fans off
.All windows closed
.All doors locked
.All kids accounted for
.Garage door closed & golf cart parked (unplugged!) & covered
.Main gate closed (as you leave of course!)
.Leaving place as you found it (priceless)
Whew!
We hope you loved the lodge as much as we do.
May God grant you a safe and uneventful journey home!
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