Archive for September 2015
By Tim Hauserman
For a number of years I was perfectly content to get my “be out on a lake” fix via kayak. You get a nice workout, while enjoying the quiet beauty of paddling along one of our gorgeous mountain lakes. I saw a lot of paddleboarders, but when I tried it I felt tippy and my feet hurt, so I went back to my bulky but still manageable one person kayak.
Then, it seemed that paddleboarders were everywhere, and if I wanted to play with friends I better get one. I went out a few times on borrowed boards, began to get the hang of it, and dove in and purchased one. While I’m still a bit timid and feel off balance, I love the feel of the board. I love the stroke of powering your way through the water which is similar to paddling a canoe. I love that the boards are lighter and easier to maneuver then kayaks, and I especially love being able to look down through the crystal clear Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake water to the bottom of the lake. It feels like flying.
The key for me to having fun paddleboarding is to consider the conditions before going out. You want glassy calm waters and as few boat wakes as possible. Which is why, I’ve been having so much fun this fall. If you get out in the morning mid-week you often can paddle for an hour without getting assaulted by a monster boat wake.
So what do you do when you have the time to get out but the wind has come up or the lake is full of boat wakes? The solution is obvious. Kayak. Each tool has it’s place in your quiver of Tahoe toys. Now you just have to find room for it all in your garage.
Where to Go:
Lake Tahoe: Similar to a kayak, it is best not to have to carry your board too far. Here are three public choices on Tahoe’s North and West Shore that give you that opportunity:
Waterman’s Landing at Carnelian Bay: In addition to easy access, they rent boards, give lessons, and have food and restrooms.
William Kent Campground Beach: Next to Sunnyside. A very short walk…IF you can get one of the prized parking spots that are also coveted by Sunnyside patrons or employees.
Hurricane Bay: Four miles south of Tahoe City, just park along the road walk 100 feet and you are on your way.
Donner Lake: Pick your public pier or access point along the lake’s North Shore.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
lynnrichardson.net
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By Tim Hauserman
If you don’t live at Tahoe you might not be aware of a great secret the locals keep from you. Hopefully they will not ostracize me and take away my locals credentials for passing it on here: September is better than August. It is just as beautiful, but the kids are back in school and the crowds are gone. If you can just find a way to get yourself here on a clear blue sky Wednesday morning in September you will know you have reached heaven.
Paddleboarding or kayaking:
Instead of having to get up at the crack of dawn to avoid the water skiers and wake boarders, who of course are getting up early to avoid the other water skiers and wakeboarders, you can take your time. Have a relaxing breakfast and another leisurely cup of coffee and let the temperature warm up a bit before heading down to Hurricane Bay or Tahoe Park, or along the shore of Donner Lake. There you can carry your board down to the empty beach, head out into the glassy water, and perhaps see one or two boats while you paddle joyfully for an hour.
Bike riding
Whether you are riding to the top of Barker Pass, from Donner Lake to Cisco Grove, or just along the Truckee River, the number of cars you will encounter on our favorite road rides is dramatically reduced this time of year. The same holds true for getting out on the mountain bike and riding the Emigrant Trail in Truckee, or the trails at Tahoe Cross-Country in Tahoe City. Pretty soon you will find lots of fall colors, but not lots of people.
Spend the night in the wilderness
The trails into the Desolation Wilderness are amazingly beautiful any time of year, but if you head out for a backpacking trip in September, you just might have one of Desolation’s prettiest lakes all to yourself.
Lie down on the beach and do nothing
Of course once you are done paddle boarding or kayaking or bike riding or hiking, you can drag a chair and a book and your favorite refreshment down to the beach. Then with the lake all to yourself alternate between reading a page and gazing out onto our favorite patch of big blue. Yep, now we are talking.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
www.lynnrichardson.net
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by Tim Hauserman
Photo taken from Tahoe Ironman website
Ironman Lake Tahoe returns to the region September 20th. While the race is this weekend, the racers have been training here all summer long. You’ve seen them riding there beautiful tri bikes over Brockway Summit, swimming along the shore of Lake Tahoe, and running on the Truckee River bike trail.
When race day finally arrives, for Ironman participants it is the final culmination of years of training and for many the realization of a dream.
What is Ironman:
The race begins with an early morning 2.4 mile swim from Kings Beach. Next comes a 112 mile bike ride that includes climbing over Brockway Summit, twice. Finally, the racers take on a marathon length 26.2 mile run along the Truckee River. The difficulty of the bike course and the high altitude of the entire event make Ironman Lake Tahoe one of the most challenging Ironman’s on the world circuit.
Photo from Ironman Lake Tahoe Website
Who will do it:
Several thousand athletes will compete in both the full and half Ironman. In addition to athletes from around the world, there is a smattering of local folks taking on the challenge who will be cheered on joyfully by their local fans.
Where do I watch it:
Pick up a copy of the Sierra Sun or North Tahoe Weekly for information on where to see the racers, traffic restrictions and road closures. The swim is in Kings Beach. The bike goes from Kings Beach to Tahoe City to Truckee, then out to Glenshire and back to Kings Beach on a Triangle loop that is repeated twice. The run starts in Squaw Valley and follows the Truckee River bike trail to Tahoe City, then goes back to Squaw, then heads back out on the bike trail for another half lap.
New route through Truckee:
This year’s Ironman has a new addition to the bike route. It will head out on Glenshire Road to Glenshire and then return to Truckee via the Truckee Legacy Bike Trail. The narrow Legacy Trail should be an excellent spot to watch the riders roar by.
Volunteer:
One of the best ways to see the event is to volunteer to help the athletes.
Use this link to get the details on volunteering. You can also contact a local service organization such as Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Area who organizes volunteers and benefits based on the number of volunteers they recruit.
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/lake-tahoe/volunteer.aspx#axzz3lf7AA01l
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
www.lynnrichardson.net
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