Archive for the ‘Lake Tahoe’ Category
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From left to right- Meryl Davis & Charlie White (Ice Dancing), Mikaela Shiffrin (Alpine Skiing), Shani Davis (long track speedskating), J.R. Celski (Short Track Speedskating), Shaun White (Snowboarding…and now calls Northstar his home mountain), Tracy Gold (Figure Skating) and Ted Ligety (Alpine Skiing)
(Photo via NBC Olympics Facebook Page)
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While the Winter Olympics in Sochi will be fun for everyone to watch, for those of us with Tahoe-Truckee connections, we also have a big home team to get excited about. Six skiers and eight snowboarders with strong Tahoe connections will be competing for Gold in Sochi.
Tahoe-Truckee folks wish all the athletes a safe and incredible journey, and if you can bring home a bit of gold, silver or bronze, that would be some nice icing on the cake.
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SKIERS
Three time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso, Marco Sullivan and Travis Ganong, were all born and raised Squaw Valley/North Tahoe kids who will be competing in Alpine events. Joining the Alpine team is Tim Jitloff from Reno, who started skiing Tahoe resorts when he was just a little tyke. David Wise from Reno, and Maddie Bowman from South Lake Tahoe, are coming off Gold medal performances in the recent X Games and now are on their way to Sochi to be a part of the first ever Olympic half-pipe skiing competition.
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3 Time Olympian Nate Holland
(Photo: NBC Olympics)
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SNOWBOARDERS
Truckee based Nate Holland and Olympic Gold Medal winner Hannah Teter, who lives in South Lake Tahoe, are the two senior members of the impressive Tahoe snowboarding contingent. Others include Tahoe transplants and Slopestyle racers Chas Guldemond, Ryan Stassel and Karly Shorr, as well as half-pipe competitor Danny Davis. Finally, the Tahoe snowboarding team is graced with South Lake Tahoe born and raised Slopestyler Jamie Anderson.
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NORDIC SKIERS
While there are no Tahoe cross-country skiers headed to Sochi, the Tahoe cross-country skiing community will be cheering on American’s Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins, who have a legitimate shot at medaling in cross-country this year. These two ladies came to Tahoe last spring to be a part of a program called Fast and Female, and made an incredibly positive impression on local girls who cross-country ski.
*For a full roster of the American Athletes competing in Sochi, their photos and profiles, go to this link for NBC Olympics:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/team-usa-who-has-qualified-2014-sochi-olympics?ctx=team-usa
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And don’t forget to follow the athletes at NBC Olympics on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics
(Many of the athletes have facebook pages as well. Great fun being taken along for the ride on their Olympic journey.)
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Think of me, Lynn Richardson, for all of your Truckee/Tahoe Real Estate Needs
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Yes, it’s that time of year again. When we take stock of 2013, and make plans for the steps we want to take in 2014. Let’s not call them resolutions, because we know those usually don’t work. What if instead, we just look at doing a few things in 2014 that will make us feel good, while maybe doing good for the community as well:
1) Find a local organization to support: While giving is an important part of what makes the winter holidays special, how about continuing that spirit of giving all year round? In fact the organizations that do good around these parts probably need our help even more once the soft glow of Christmas giving has flittered away. Whether it’s a financial donation or a gift of your time, it will be greatly appreciated and will brighten up the lives of those in need. Hands on Tahoe is a wonderful organization that connects volunteers to the community.
Community Christmas Food Drive
2) Try a new sport: Have you paddleboarded, kayaked, road biked, cross-country skied or snowshoed? Or thought about trying something a little more daring like snow kiting or rock climbing? The Sierra is loaded with different ways to enjoy what nature has given us, and there are lots of folks who can rent you the equipment and teach you how to do your new sport right. Who knows, perhaps it will become your new favorite.
Hiking in January above Donner Lake
3) Find a new trail: If you’ve hiked or biked much of the Tahoe Rim Trail or the Donner Lake Rim Trail, how about finding a new and different trail to explore. There is nothing quite as cool as that first time on a lovely ribbon of single track.
4) Seek out a new business. There are many small businesses that show off the work of local artists, or put out a delicious cup of joe. Go out there and experience something new. In the process you will help a few Tahoe/Truckee folks bring in some money, which they will then turn around and spend to support other businesses and our little towns.
5) Still want to make a resolution to lose ten pounds? What if instead you call it a “get outside every day and do something active in our beautiful place” resolution? It’s amazing how being outside in the wilderness where there are no refrigerators just makes the pounds drop off.
Have a very Happy New Year, and go have some fun!
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Winters in the Sierra are unpredictable. While we almost always get plenty of snow, we don’t necessarily get it early enough for your Christmas plans. In case the white stuff doesn’t step up to the plate and make a quick appearance, here are a few alternatives to get through the holidays and have some fun:
Snowshoeing at Mt Rose
Using the snow we have
Even when there isn’t enough snow for some great powder skiing or a 20 kilometer jaunt out to Point Moriah, at Royal Gorge there is still some around for playing.
Get High: Head up to Tahoe Meadows, at the summit of the Mt. Rose Highway. At nearly 9000 feet there is plenty of snow to make Snow Women or build forts. I was out snowshoeing along the Tahoe Rim trail last week and it was beautiful. You don’t even need snowshoes, good hiking boots will work, but watch the slippery trails. The views are outstanding!
Take a hike up into Coldstream Canyon out of Donner Lake. You can hike or snowshoe. Cross country skiing is a bit tricky since there are rocks and dirt to scoot around.
The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park is located on the summer grounds of the Tahoe City Golf Course. There must be something about snow sitting on grass that allows for good skiing without much snow, because this might be the best place to skate ski until the next big storm arrives.
Sledding is limited, but there’s the park at Boreal and Granlibakken. Or find a shaded hillside and there’s probably enough snow to have fun on.
Other outdoor ideas
I’ve been seeing people out fishing at Donner Lake and kayaking and canoeing at Tahoe and Donner. Be careful since you don’t want to take a swim.
There’s ice skating at Northstar and Squaw and the Villages are fun to stroll – good shopping and eats.
Take a bike ride. You still need to dress warm and mid afternoon is the warmest time of day.
Walking out by Boca, Prosser or Stampede Reservoirs. These lakes are east of Truckee and don’t get as much snow as some areas and there’s lots of sunshine.
Shop Local
Tahoe and Truckee have a host of small businesses that support local artisans. Four stores which consistently display unique and interesting gifts are Bespoke and Riverside Studios on Commercial Row in Truckee, The Trunk Show in The Cobblestone in Tahoe City and Jai-Yen in the center of Kings Beach. Truckee’s old downtown is a great place to check out the local shops and great restaurants.
Get good eatin’s
Try the new Picnic, a take-out place for delicious sandwiches, salads and paninis in Tahoe City near the Safeway. Marty’s Café in Downtown Truckee has large servings of amazing food. For more healthy appetites try Wild Cherries and Whole Treats which are located in Truckee on Donner Pass Road as you are driving towards Donner Lake.
Go to the lake
Head to the shores of Donner Lake or Lake Tahoe. The lakes are easier to get to when the shoreline is not buried in snow. Take a book, a warm jacket and a comfy fold-up chair and enjoy the water lapping along the shore.
Finally, once you’ve enjoyed all that the region has to offer, set yourself down in front of a warm fire, and sip a mug of mulled cider or hot cocoa. Ahh. Now you’re talking. 
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
YOUR FRIEND IN HIGH PLACES 