Archive for the ‘Alpine Meadows’ Tag
By Tim Hauserman
Looking for a Tahoe hike away from the crowds on an August weekend with spectacular views? Try spending your morning hiking to the top of Ward Peak like I did this past Saturday. While I only saw two people, I was treated to views of Ward Canyon, the Granite Chief Wilderness and Lake Tahoe along the route and from the 8637’ summit of the peak.
Begin your hike at the base of Alpine Meadow’s Sherwood Chairlift. To get there: Take Pineland Drive off Highway 89 just south of Sunnyside Lodge, and follow it to a Y and a sign that says “Ward Valley.” Follow the road as it winds through Pineland and becomes Ward Creek Blvd.. Soon you emerge from the houses and enjoy a three mile jaunt along Ward Creek climbing through Ward Canyon. The road becomes Courchevel when you reach Alpine Peaks. Follow to the end where you find parking on your left.
The hike follows the Alpine Meadows maintenance road to the top of the Sherwood Chair. It’s a steady, but gentle climb through open terrain with constant views of Twin Peaks, Lake Tahoe and the Pacific Crest above. Enjoy the soft crinkling of drying mule ears rustling in the breeze, as you rise, the views of lake and mountains seeming to get better with each step. Eventually you reach the top of the Sherwood chairlift and the end of the dirt road.
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Now, take a quick steep jaunt up a slope to the remains of an old cat track, which switchbacks further up the ridge towards Ward Peak. A few steep turns and you reach the open nearly flat ridgeline above the famous F-Tree at Alpine Meadows. After about an hour of steady walking this can be your destination as it gives you 360 degree views of Lake Tahoe, Twin Peaks, Ward Peak, Alpine Meadows, and the Truckee River Corridor.
If you got it in ya’, however, take another 15 minutes of ridgetop climbing to reach Ward Peak’s summit. Follow the obvious route and do a bit of rock scrambling and you will soon enough be atop the peak where you find a bunch of cell towers and a helipad. From here, a whole new panorama opens up of Granite Chief Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail below you to the west. Once you’ve had your fill, retrace your steps and go jump in the lake.
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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We here at Your Friend in High Places would like to wish all of you a joyous, memorable and safe Holiday. Snow has arrived, the ski areas are open, restaurants are bustling and the local shops are all ready to welcome visitors for a Very Merry Mountain Christmas.
As we in the Tahoe Truckee area gear up for the busy holiday weeks, it’s important to remember to take some time out to enjoy friends and family and partake of the season’s local festivities.
Here are a few happenings in the area:
SQUAW VALLEY
Dec. 24th and Dec. 26 – The Great Basin Carolers will be singing your holiday favorites in the village from 4-7pm.
Dec. 26 – Dec. 31 – Ski with Jonny Moseley, 2pm at Gold Coast Demo Center
Dec. 31 – Torchlight Parade. Sunset at the base of Squaw Valley
Fireworks at 9pm. New Year’s Eve Party at Plaza Bar.
ALPINE MEADOWS
Dec. 26, 27, 29 and 30 – Ski with Jonny Moseley – 10am at Roundhouse
Dec. 26-28 – Moonlight Snowshoe Tour and Dinner – The Chalet at Alpine Meadows. 1 – 800- 403-0206
TAHOE DONNER
Dec. 25 – Breakfast with Santa- Pancake breakfast at 10am followed by a 1/2 day of skiing at the Downhill Ski Area.
Dec. 29 – Snowball launching contest. 1:30 pm at the Snowplay Area
Dec. 31 – Torchlight Parade – 4:30 pm at the Downhill Ski Area
January 3 and 10 – Equipment Demo Day – 11am- 3pm – at the Cross Country Center
Jan. 5-9 and Jan. 12-16 – Learn to Ski Weeks – at both the downhill and cross country ski areas.
NORTHSTAR –
Dec. 26 and 27 – Star Gazing Snowshoe Tour – 5pm.
Dec. 31 – Annual Fire & Ice New Year’s Celebration – 7-9pm in the Village with music from “Petty Theft” (Tribute to Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers) Followed by fireworks at 9pm.
For more information on the happenings in the area, be sure to click the links to the left for all the ski areas for their full calendar of events as well as the links to the local news sources.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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Why should you consider purchasing a home in the Truckee/Tahoe area?
Because we’re simply The Best!
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Photo by Michelle Portesi
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Those of us who have lived here most of our lives tend to not dwell on that simple fact, but fortunately, we have plenty of media tooting our horns to remind us.
No less than National Geographic voted us as one of the world’s best 25 top ski towns! Here’s a bit of what they had to say about us:
Truckee, California
Best For: Families with aspiring ski or rider rock star kids; also, ski and rider rock stars
In the Sierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe, between Reno and South Lake Tahoe, the old logging and railway town of Truckee has bloomed into a ski mecca, with no less than eight different ski areas within 15 miles. The first recorded ski lift in the U.S. was a Truckee steam-powered toboggan lift in 1910, and the burg still maintains much of its Old West character, with wooden walkways in its historic downtown and a still active, clapboard train station (Amtrak service twice daily). Its population of 16,180 is growing fast, but the relaxed town has managed to eschew the glitz of the larger Tahoe resort scene. This is where the locals live…
To read the rest of the article, go here: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/best-ski-towns
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Old Town Truckee, CA
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…and the horn tooting continues!
Fodor’s Travel just published a “5 Reasons to Go to Lake Tahoe this Winter”…and they are as follows:
- The Mountains
- The Vistas
- The Snow
- The Wilderness
- The Hot Springs
Yes indeed, we have over a dozen ski resorts in the area, (not including the cross country skiing venues) which is impressive enough all by itself, but what we truly have over everyone else, is the views. With Lake Tahoe visible from many of the ski areas, arguably, no one can compete with our awe inspiring panoramas.
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View from Squaw Valley’s High Camp – Photo by Michelle Portesi
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Fodor’s Travel writes:
If skiing isn’t you thing, you can take truly beautiful winter hikes around the lake. The Tahoe basin is laced with snowshoe trails and you can find you way to some incredible winter vistas in very short order. Trails range in difficulty from beginner to truly epic and most ski resorts will rent you the snowshoes and equipment you’ll need. For a mind-blowing view you can enjoy without the hike, take one of the year-round scenic tours offered by Reno Tahoe Helicopters. They offer all kinds of flights, including an hour-long sunset tour. Be sure to bring your camera.
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Photo by Fodor’s
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To read more about what Fodor’s considers our 5 measures of marvelousness, go to this link:
http://www.fodors.com/news/5-reasons-to-go-to-tahoe-this-winter
If you want to get a different type of ‘air-born’ – other than on skis or snowboards, check out Reno Tahoe Helicopters:
http://www.renotahoehelicopters.com/
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Squaw Valley – Photo by Michelle Portesi
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…and speaking of Squaw Valley, the accolades for our fair area continues. Fox News and their viewers have voted Squaw Valley into the top 10 of their ‘Best Ski Resorts in North America’.
Well we can certainly see why. After combining with Alpine Meadows, they have the largest area of ski terrain in the basin, with ski runs that go from downright challenging to the beginner. Combined with the Olympic Skating Pavilion, a charming village for shopping, plenty of dining options and world class lodging, what more could you ask for?
To read more about why they think we’re the best choice for winter recreation, go to this link:
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/11/12/best-ski-resorts-in-north-america/
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So what are you waiting for? Come join us in ‘God’s Country’.
Remember me, Lynn Richardson for all of your Tahoe/Truckee Real Estate needs.
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