Archive for the ‘Tahoe Donner’ Tag
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. 
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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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Sunny skies on Sunday at Tahoe
Yes, it’s that time of year again. When crisp mornings are followed by warm afternoons, and the bright yellow leaves of the aspens and cottonwoods shine brightly against the deep blue skies. But then, just when you are nicely lulled into complacency with the beauty of autumn, the snows of winters arrive, usually with a vengeance with just a day or two of warning. Will you be ready?
-Are the hoses disconnected and stowed away? Has the sprinkler system been turned off and drained?
-Is everything out of the yard that you don’t want covered in snow for the next six months? Kayaks? Lawn chairs? Planters? Bike racks?
-Do you have all your firewood stacked and ready to be easily accessed so you can stoke the flames of winter?
-Has your heater been serviced?
-Have you installed a stop and drain valve to easily shut off the water in your house when you leave for an extended period?
-Have you reorganized your garage so that you can actually get a car in there? And does that car have its winter tires on? Do you need new windshield wipers?
-Is the snow blower ready to go, or the snow poles installed along the driveway so the snow plow company won’t dig up your landscaping?
-And where is that @#*& snow shovel and snow and ice scraper?
View from my office this morning!
Phew, you’ve finished those pesky chores. Now you just have one more fun step before winter. Go shopping. Can’t find your warm gloves and need to get another pair? What about that jacket that died in April? Now’s the time, and the local businesses would love to see you come walking in the door. Or better yet look up the local ski swaps. I’ll have information on ski swaps later in the week so check back in a few days.
Finally, satisfied that you are ready, it’s time to sit back, relax and dream of what that fresh dumping of new snow will bring you: Is it a smooth glide across Euer Valley, or would you prefer to catch a view of Tahoe as you make your turns from the top of the Sherwood Chair? Or perhaps your dream is simply sipping on a hot toddy, sitting close to the crackling fire, and watching the big flakes float to the ground.
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