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by Tim Hauserman
A few years ago Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, and an active member of the Tahoe City Downtown Association, came up with the idea of producing a mountain festival centered to highlight what we love to do at Tahoe. The idea was simple: Introduce the public to human powered winter activities at Tahoe such as back country skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing and do so either free or very inexpensively.
The week long Festival is now in it’s third year and unlike it’s first two years, there is plenty of snow to really get everybody excited about all of the offerings. In fact, some of the events have reached capacity and the rest are filling up fast. The Festival runs from February 20-28th, and every day is packed with fun and educational things to do. Here are a few of the daytime activities:
- Classic and skate skiing lessons and tours at both beginner and intermediate level led by experienced local guides and instructors.
- Back country skiing and tours as well as avalanche safety and beacon training
- Yoga classes almost every day to stretch out those tight muscles you just worked
- Recreation information session with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association
- Full Moon Snowshoes and a natural history snowshoe with the Tahoe Institute for Natural Sciences
- Gear Demo Event
- Fitness Skinning-Skiing uphill with skins on your skis with the focus being to increase fitness.
At night the festival has a series of films and events to keep the outdoor vibe going:
- Drawn, the Art of Ascent, a screening by critically acclaimed author and film maker Jeremy Collin
- Tahoe Style Nachtspektakel- A European inspired event with a moderate uphill backcountry ski to a lakeview location where food and a bonfire await.
- Winter Wildland Alliance Backcountry Film Festival
- Alpenglow Film Series with world renowned alpinist Kelly Cordes
- Wine, Women and Wax-Yep a ladies only wine and cheese event focused on improving waxing technique…on your skis.
If you are around Tahoe or Truckee this week, don’t miss the festival, get online today at alpenglowsports.com for the schedule and to register for events.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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View of Lake Tahoe from Tahoe Meadows on Mt. Rose Highway.
By Tim Hauserman
As is the case almost every year, my first chance to glide along on my cross-country skis arrived last week at Tahoe Meadows and Chickadee Ridge. At nearly 9000 feet in elevation, that first decent sized storm almost always brings in snow, even when we are getting rain at the level of Lake Tahoe. As an added bonus, the terrain around Tahoe Meadows is relatively easy, and thus gives you plenty of opportunity to get used to being on skis again. In just an hour or so of skiing you can get the kinks out and enjoy spectacular views.
With just an inch or two around my house, I was a bit concerned about whether there would be enough to ski in Tahoe Meadows, but by the time I drove past 8000 feet the snow depths were starting to rise and there was a solid 6 inches on the ground. I emerged from my car to a quick reminder of the disadvantage of that high elevation, it was 19 degrees with a brisk wind roaring across the meadow.
It didn’t take me too much time skiing in the meadow to decide that in the trees, where I would be blocked from the wind, would be a much warmer experience. I was somewhere in the vicinity of the Tahoe Rim Trail, as I made my way up to Chickadee Ridge, where you find awesome views of Lake Tahoe.
Chickadee Ridge is so named because of the enormous number of very tame chickadees who hang out in the lodgepole and white bark pines on the ridge. While admiring the view, folks have been feeding them, and the birds are happy to sit on your hands, shoulders and head if you will give them something. While signs in the area do warn chickadees to not eat the food provided by humans, apparently some humans don’t read chickadee.
Getting antsy to get on your cross-country skis and the resorts haven’t opened yet? Tahoe Meadows is a good bet.
To get there: Take Mt. Rose Highway 431 in Incline Village towards Reno seven miles to where the road levels off. Park on the wide shoulder and ski off into the meadow and trees.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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