Archive for September 2013
.
EVENT CANCELLED!
Unfortunately, it turns out that this venue is on Federal Park land, not State Park land. As you no doubt have heard, Congress has decided to shut down the entire country’s PUBLIC lands while they decide whether or not to get their collective acts together.
The fish however, did not get the memo. They will continue doing what they do, which is spawn. The rangers won’t be giving the planned educational tours, and the river viewing area and visitor center will be closed. On the other hand, if you are so inclined, there is nothing wrong with a little civil disobedience I say.
Just stroll right past those ‘Park Closed’ signs, enjoy the fall colors and watch the fish!
.
Spawning Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek
.
Fall is soon upon us, and that means it is time for the annual Kokanee Salmon spawning ritual.
We on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and Truckee tend to forget that there is a whole other half to the lake, with plenty of fun things to do – other than gambling. (Although you can do that too after you’re done with the daytime/outdoor activities.)
The South Shore of the lake will once again play host to the annual ‘Fall Fish Festival’ – (formerly known as the Kokanee Salmon Festival.) The name change is no doubt due to the fact that, hey, there ARE other fish in the Lake…which the Forest Service Biologists will be happy to educate you about from 10am- 4pm on both Saturday, Oct. 5th and Sunday, Oct. 6th.
The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is on Hwy 89 south just past South Lake Tahoe heading towards Emerald Bay. The trails at The Center meander through lovely aspen and pine forest as it follows the stream, which is perfect for viewing the colorful salmon as they make their way to the spawning grounds. Depending on what week in the fall you hit the area at, there will be anywhere from dozens to hundreds of salmon the entire length of the stream. (It’s kind of like trying to catch the height of fall colors in the mountains. It’s never at quite the same time every year.) There is also an underground viewing area that cuts right into the stream bed. There you can see what’s really going on underwater and get a different perspective of the stream than you could get viewing it from above.
Do keep an eye out for bears. There’s plenty of fish, so there are often bears lurking about trying to fatten up on all that plentiful bounty before they go into hibernation for the winter. Be sure to go to the links below and read up on the proper ‘bear etiquette’ while you’re at Taylor Creek.
.
Tallac Historic Site
.
Continue along the trail until you get to the fence that separates the nature center from the Tallac Historic Site. Slip through the gate and wander the estate of a bygone era. While the building tours themselves may be closed for the season, the grounds themselves are pleasantly interesting and home to some of the most lovely ‘Old Tahoe’ architecture to be found at the lake. Walk along the beach, or check out the last vestiges of the gardens as they wind down for the growing season.
.
Tallac Historic Site
.
For more information on The Fish Festival and the Tallac Historic Site, go to these links:
Fall Fish Festival
Tallac Historic Site
tahoesouth.com
.
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
Like this:
Like Loading...
.
It’s been anticipated for months, and now this Sunday, September 22nd, it’s here: The Lake Tahoe Marathon.
In case you are out of the loop, the Lake Tahoe Marathon begins with a 2.4 mile swim in the early morning chill of Lake Tahoe, followed by a 112 mile bike ride from Kings Beach to Tahoe City to Truckee and then it fiddles around in the hills around Northstar before heading back to Kings Beach…before doing another lap and a half to end up in Squaw Valley. Oh, but they are not done yet, then they get to run a marathon.
Who would want to do such a thing? A lot of people in fact, and they paid a pretty penny for the privilege. Included amongst the participants are a fair number of locals, testing their meddle to see if they can be Ironmen…although most of the locals who are participating should more properly be called Ironwomen.
We’ve been watching the athletes prepare for the event all summer. Riding their bikes over the top of Brockway Summit, swimming in groups off the shore of Kings Beach, and running along our beautiful trails. Now they are tapering their training and getting ready for the big event this Sunday. And our community is getting ready as well. Hundreds of local people will be working the volunteer stations for hours on end helping the athletes, and cheering them on. I’m excited that I will be out there with my daughter Skyler’s cross-country running team, helping bikers figure out which way to go.
Ironman also means road closures of course. For the latest info just Google Ironman Lake Tahoe and once at the Ironman site, review the Traffic Impacts section. Then get out there and watch these incredible athletes giving it all for their dreams.
For more information and maps, please go to:
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/lake-tahoe.aspx#axzz2fOMpntJh
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
Like this:
Like Loading...
.
It’s that time of year again. Summer is waning and there is a bit of a nip in the air. While we here in the high country hope for a long ‘Indian Summer’, you just never know what the weather in Truckee/Tahoe will bring – or when.
The local plant nurseries are winding down for the season, and the majority will close completely until next spring. That’s good news for locals and second home owners alike, as it means deep discounts, parking lot sales and special deals on perennials, shrubs and trees. The timing is perfect for adding to your landscaping and outdoor curb appeal. Planting in the fall gives plants a chance to establish root systems in their new surroundings before winter’s snowfall and the plants go dormant. (Planting in the spring can sometimes send a plant into shock just when they’re about to start their new growth spurts or set blooms for the season.)
.
And who doesn’t love adding some fall color before the snow flies? Colorful, golden mums and flowering kale make wonderful fall bedding displays and are resistant to the seasons chillier weather. Adding some pumpkins, corn stalks and creative scarecrows to the mix can make for some stunning front door displays.
Once you have your new shrubs and trees in the ground, fertilize to give them a head start on next springs growth, make sure to mulch around them to protect their roots from a hard freeze, and DO twine up the branches to keep winters heavy snows from breaking them. Come spring, you’re sure to have a happy plant that’s ready to burst forth into the season in all its glory.
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
Like this:
Like Loading...
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 