Archive for the ‘Spring Recreation’ Category
By Michelle Portesi
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve lived at Donner Lake off and on for years, and I’m just now discovering this hike…literally a mile from my home. That’s what’s so great about living here in the Sierra’s – no matter how long you’ve lived here, there is always something new to discover. Coldstream Canyon is actually considered part of the Donner Memorial State Park, with the entrance road literally hugging the campgrounds.
Located right off the I-80 freeway’s Donner Pass Road/Donner Lake exit on the east end of Donner Lake, go straight from the off ramp and drive to the end of the road, park your car and hike up along the creek. This is also a great area for mountain biking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The Truckee River Watershed Council has been working diligently to return this area to its original wetlands and has been an active steward of the creek area, as Cold Creek feeds into the Truckee River. It is still a railroad corridor, and there are plans for housing development in the lower section that was once a gravel quarry.
With so little snow last winter, I was surprised to see the creek still flowing with water. About a mile in you’ll reach meadows and marshland. I didn’t hike in as far as I would have liked this foray, but rumor has it that for a true back country experience, you can make your way to Lost Trail Lodge. It’s completely off the grid, but this is no Quonset hut. In the summer there is a jeep road that can take you all the way up if you have a 4 x 4 but you’ll have to park a 1/4 mile away from the lodge if you only have 2 wheel drive. In the winter however, you’ll be snowshoeing, cross country skiing or snowmobiling your way in and out.
Heavy rains just days before this picture was shot caused a landslide further upstream that made for some murky waters running through the creek. Photo by Michelle Portesi
You can read more about the history of Coldstream Canyon and the ongoing projects on the Truckee Watershed website. Be sure to check their calendar for upcoming events. There will be a River Talk this Thursday, August 21 at 8am and another in Tahoe City on August 25.
You can read an overview of the proposed development at Coldstream Canyon at the Tahoe Daily Tribune
For ongoing updates on the Coldstream Canyon Development, you can check in on the Town of Truckee website.
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Emerald Bay with Mt Tallac in the distance.
Like it or not, the snow appears to be melting, which means that you will soon be seeing freshly popped snowflowers along the hiking trails, and our beloved Truckee area mountain biking trails will be dry. The deep layers of winter sand will soon be removed from our favorite road biking routes and the temperatures will warm up enough to make kayaking on the lake seem like an attractive alternative. Of course it is spring, which also means it might snow like crazy and puts the kibosh on all that good stuff. Anything can happen in April and May, and probably will. Next week could bring daffodils or a fresh dumping of snow.
So just for fun, let’s assume this warm, snow melting weather continues. What do we do?
Kayak/Paddleboard-On a calm, sunny day in the spring you really can have the lake to yourself. At Donner Lake you can put in just about anywhere along Donner Pass Road. At Tahoe, the Common’s Beach in Tahoe City, or Hurricane Bay on the West Shore are easily accessible put ins. But don’t forget, that water is cold in April, so stay out of it.
Springtime Hikes-The first trails to emerge from the snow are south facing, lower elevation trails. The trail to the Vikingsholm and along the south facing side of Emerald Bay is one of the best, and the time to hike it is now, before the summer crowds arrive. Another good springtime hiking choice is the low-lying Tahoe Rim Trail heading north from Fairway Drive out of Tahoe City.
Truckee Trails-One of the first mountain biking (or hiking) trails to melt out is the Emigrant Trail between Prosser and Stampede Reservoirs. This is always a great ride, but especially in the spring when it is the only real game in town. It can get a bit busy on the weekends, so try to find time to get there mid-week if you can.
Sierra Valley-Now is the time to head to Sierraville with your road bike to ride the circuit around the Sierra Valley. A variety of routes in the 20-50 mile range are available on lightly used roads which travel over mostly level terrain. In the spring the valley is wet which means lots of wildflowers and an incredible variety of birds.
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This dessert is a little late in the day for your holiday feast, but these cupcake delights looked so luscious, I just had to post the recipe. Sure to please all your little Leprechauns.
Shamrock Milkshake Cupcakes
Serving size: 1 cupcake
Yield: 20-22 (2-1/2 inch) cupcakes
Prep 50 mins
Stand 30 mins
Bake 350°F 15 mins to 18 mins
Cool 45 mins
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For more great recipes from Better Homes and Gardens:
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Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
- 1/4 cup green creme de menthe**
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 recipe White Chocolate Frosting
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Green food coloring
Directions1. Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line twenty to twenty-two 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup combine the buttermilk and the creme de menthe. Set aside.2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to shortening mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until mixture is combined.3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups.4. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.5. Divide White Chocolate Frosting between two bowls. Tint one portion with green food coloring. Spoon each frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe white and green frostings onto tops of cupcakes to resemble four-leaf clovers. Makes 20 to 22 (2-1/2 inch) cupcakes.
From the Test Kitchen*Test Kitchen Tip:
- For each 1 cup sour milk, place 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 1 cup total liquid; stir. Let stand for 5 minutes before using.
**Test Kitchen Tip:
- If you prefer not to use creme de menthe, substitute a mixture of 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon mint extract, and several drops green food coloring.
Yield: 3-1/2 cups
Cook 30 mins to 33 mins
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 6 ounces white baking chocolate with cocoa butter, chopped
- 1/3 cup whipping cream
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups powdered sugar
Directions1. Place white baking chocolate in a large mixing bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan heat whipping cream just until simmering. Pour over white baking chocolate; let stand, without stirring, for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth; let stand for 15 minutes. Gradually beat butter into melted white chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on medium to high speed, beating until combined. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until frosting reaches piping or spreading consistency. Makes 3-1/2 cups.
For Nutrition Facts (Shamrock Milkshake Cupcakes) – go to Better Homes and Gardens link above.
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