Northwoods Tahoe August 2021

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AUGUST 2021 Serving Truckee & Tahoe

Lincoln HighWaY Photo by Aaron Jones

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Part IV

By Philip I. Earl The third transcontinental auto run that summer (1903) was made by Lester Lee Whitman, an automobile enthusiast and Eugene Irish Hammond, a former bicycle racer who had come to California in 1902 to engage in motorcycle racing. Both were working for an Oldsmobile dealer in Los Angeles in 1903 and commuting from

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CELEBRATING OVER

Archive Photo Credit: Library of Congress

Pasadena by interurban trolley. A conversation one evening turned to the possibility of crossing the continent by motorcar. Whitman believed that the 800-pound Curved Dash Olds Runabout could accomplish such a feat and wrote to Ransom E. Olds, Vice-President and General Manager of the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, Detroit. Olds agreed to sponsor a run, offering the pair a standard, production line model “R” Curved Dash Oldsmobile Light Runabout and $1,000 and expenses if they could actually get it to New York. Olds had previously backed a 700-mile endurance run from Detroit to a show in New York in 1901. Publicity from the trip generated increased sales for his 1902 production models and he was considering a coast-tocoast trek when Whitman’s letter arrived.

Continued on page 4

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Continued from page 3 The Olds was offloaded with a carload consignment on June 26 and delivered to Shettler’s Oldsmobile Motor Works the next day. The standard radiator had been replaced by a larger one since Olds feared overheating problems, which might occur in crossing the western mountains and deserts. He also had the fenders removed to lighten the load and free the area around the wheels in case the drivers might find it necessary to shovel sand, snow or mud in the course of their journey. The vehicle had also been equipped with a large luggage box back of the driver and passenger seat which Olds had stenciled with the words, “Oldsmobile—En Route from San Francisco to New York”.

For the next three days, Whitman and Hammond took the vehicle on shakedown runs. Whitman also did interviews with several newsmen, most of whom were skeptical. “In the year 1903, a trip of this kind was looked upon as an attempt to reach the South Pole,” he later recalled. “The many dangers enumerated would discount the African explorations of Stanley and Livingston!

We would not only run the risk of being eaten by mountain lions or die of thirst in the desert where the searing sun was sure to burst our tires, but we could easily drown while trying to ford the many unbridged rivers!” Elliott Evans, president of the recently organized Pasadena Auto Club, was also doubtful.

In an interview, he said, “I don’t think he will get very far. He is attempting the impossible. He may get across the Sierras, but the desert will stop him. The trip has often been attempted, but for the present, it will never be completed. The rainy season makes the roads impassable while the sun will boil the water in their reservoir and explode tires.”

On the morning of July 1, 1903, Whitman and Hammond drove to the harbor at Redondo where the little runabout was hoisted aboard the lumber schooner Coronado for the trip up the coast to San Francisco. Arriving three days later, July 3, the vehicle was unloaded at Pier 10 and they drove it to the local Olds dealership, Pioneer Motors Oldsmobile Agency. Before leaving Pasadena, they had outfitted themselves with Khaki suits, leather coats, chauffeur’s caps and canvas leggings. In San Francisco, they picked up the rest of their gear—a spare tire, a pump, a bag of tools, a spare steering spindle, gaskets, nuts and bolts, an extra spark coil, several dozen spark plugs, a small can of grease, a hatchet, a compass, a pistol, dry batteries, a tow rope, blankets, goggles and a first aid kit. Whitman also purchased an 1897 Model No. 4 Eastman “Kodet” cartridge Kodak to record

Birds Eye View of Residence Section from State Capitol, Sacramento CA. Circa 1900

Photo Credit: Sacramento Then and Now

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“

”

Credit: Chronicling America, Library of Congress, UNLV Library: “Morning Appeal July 11, 1903, page 1”

On July 5, they drove out to the ocean and ceremoniously backed the rear wheels of the Olds into the incoming tide.

The next morning, they checked out of their hotel and made arrangements to ship a box of spare parts, an extra set of batteries, and a tire to Reno and another box of batteries and a case of oil to Winnemucca by rail. They picked up Mayor Schmitz’s letter at 11:00 a.m. and drove to the San Francisco post office where they had it stamped by hand. At 3:00 p.m., they left the Ferry Building with the Olds aboard for the trip across the bay. In Oakland, they stopped by the post office for a second cancellation on Mayor Schmitz’s letter and were off for Benicia, where they were to spend the first night out.

They drove to Sacramento the next day, only to learn that the route to Reno by way of the Southern Pacific right-of-way would be more difficult than a run through Placerville, the south end of Lake Tahoe and Carson City. In Placerville, they were told of Krarup and Fetch’s visit some three weeks earlier, the first they had heard of anyone preceding them. On July 10, they spent the night at Strawberry Glen. At Myers Station, they picked up a can of gasoline they had arranged to ship ahead by freighter. Staying over there, they drove to Carson City by way of Daggett Pass, putting up at the Park Hotel.

“As the Olds barked up the street with an open muffler,” Whitman later wrote of Carson, “we soon had many inhabitants behind us in hot pursuit. When we stopped in front of the hotel, we were quickly surrounded by a winded, panting crowd, eyes bulging, mouths agape.” They were again told of Fetch and Krarup and were asked if a race to New York was underway. A newsman from the Carson City Morning Appeal noted that they seemed to be making better time, but was unimpressed otherwise. “An automobile came into town last evening,” he wrote on July 11, 1903. “They are becoming rather common and before long some ambitious Carsonite will possess one.”

Editor’s Note: Be sure to read Part V and our last installment of Mr. Earl’s history-rich recounting of California’s noteworthy road pioneers.

August 2021

their upcoming venture across the country. He also prevailed upon San Francisco Mayor, E.E. Schmitz to give him a letter to Mayor Seth Low of New York City. “ We wanted to carry the first U.S. Mail ever to go from coast to coast by auto,” he recalled.

5

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5 Tips for Remodeling in Today’s Market In the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown, labor shortages and access to certain products affects numerous industries, including remodeling. Even so, after extra time at home and delays caused by the pandemic, there is high demand for home renovation projects.

If you’re planning a home remodel or construction project, consider these tips from professional remodelers to avoid frustration and ensure your vision comes to life.

Do Research and Plan Ahead Mapping out your project early and thoroughly can help you avoid delays.

This is especially important when it comes to materials, said John Brown of Bliffert Lumber and Hardware.

“The quicker a homeowner can make selections, the sooner we can get it on order and get it in,” Bliffert said.

Some contractors are adjusting the way they approach planning to offset delays.

For example, selecting materials and finishes at the outset, instead of as you progress through the project like you normally would, may mean the materials are available when you need them.

“The design process has really changed,” said Robi Kirsic of TimeLine Renovation and Design. “We’re still designing based on homeowners’ wishes and dreams, but we’re also modifying by providing options based on what’s available.”

Know Where You’re Willing to Compromise Whether you’re able or willing to compromise often comes down to why you’re doing the renovation in the first place.

“Some homeowners are specific about what they want,” Kirsic said. “They’ve been waiting for a long time to do this project and they’re not doing it to compromise. Others have a time constraint for one reason or another; they don’t have the luxury of waiting.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by others, who caution that you may be able to get an item you have your heart set on, but you may need to be willing to wait.

“If you have your heart set on a certain bathtub, it might be a 6- or 8-month wait, but another one might be available sooner,” said Jason Hensler of Marvin Windows and Doors.

Avoid Making Changes Once your plans are set and your materials have been ordered, avoid unnecessary delays by changing your project scope or material selection. In this environment, project timelines are extremely tight and even minor changes can create significant disruptions,

especially if there’s a delay in obtaining different materials or your new ideas require a different crew that wasn’t already scheduled for your job.

Choose a Trustworthy Partner While these are unusual times, having a reliable contractor can make the project run more smoothly and help you feel more comfortable as the project progresses.

“Use someone you trust, someone who is part of a reputable group like the National Association of the Remodeling Industry,” Brown said.

That way, if you encounter unexpected bumps along the way, you can be confident they will be handled professionally and appropriately.

Brown encourages his teams to communicate early and often, which helps homeowners understand and trust they’re doing everything possible to keep the job on track.

Be Patient Above all, understanding these are unusual times can go a long way toward a more successful project.

“Patience will help it go a lot smoother,” Hensler said. “That may mean accepting longer wait times than you anticipated and a later completion date than you hoped.”

The sooner you get your project started, the sooner your contractor can start mapping out a project timeline. Find contractors in your area at RemodelingDoneRight.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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TRUCKEE

SEPT 9, 2021

Truckee Thursdays Summer Street Festival Downtown Truckee 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

https://www.truckeethursdays.com/ Truckee Thursdays is a feel-good event that beckons the community to enjoy some exuberant downtown summertime energy. Offering a stage with live music; a food court with an eclectic selection of eats; children’s activities; a beer garden; and a wide variety of artisan vendors, it’s no wonder this lively event is on both locals’ and visitors’ must-do list. In addition, attendees will find sidewalk sales and other activities hosted by downtown merchants, offering the opportunity to reacquaint with all Historic Downtown Truckee has to offer year round!

SEPT 18-19, 2021 Adventure Van Expo

Homewood Mountain Resort 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

https://neil-morse-gpef.squarespace. com/lake-tahoe Are you in the market for adventure gear, a custom van, a camper, an offroad tent trailer or roof top tent? Come to the Adventure Van Expo to check out these awesome companies: Storyteller RV, Specialized Bike, 4wheel camper, Caleche Customs, Aluminess, RB Components, Touring, Paradigm vans, Momentum, Roambuilt, Flarespace, Benchmark vehicles, Glamper Van, Sportsmobile, Brutek, Gone Mobile, Geovans, (see full list on each page). This is going to be your chance to see some incredible displays! Come talk to the experts about the products they represent all in one location. Find out about gear and designs you didn’t even know existed. Buy accessories for your rig.

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

SEPT 10, 2021

https://sierra-community-house.networkforgood.com/ events/30606-32nd-annual-tahoe-chocoloate-wine-festival Join us in our gratitude garden as we raise a glass to our supporters. This year’s event will be held outdoors on the Cottage Green at Hyatt Lake Tahoe in a spectacular garden setting.

Guests will enjoy a unique wine and chocolate pairing experience, food

by Hyatt Chefs, and tantalizing items in a silent and live auction. All money raised will support safety net services for our community including hunger relief, crisis intervention, legal support, and family strengthening programs.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Click or tap on any event to go to the event’s website. The information in the calendar was up to date as of time of publishing. Please verify details of events as changes happen due to COVID-19 restrictions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

AUG 19, 2021 Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

Virtual/Online 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

https://takecaretahoe.org/ events/25th-annual-tahoe-summitvirtual/ This one of a kind bi-state summit brings together elected officials, policy makers, federal agencies, the private sector, and locals to collaboratively address environmental problems facing the Tahoe Basin. The partnerships forged through the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program have been critical to the development of sustainable regional environmental planning, land use and restoration, aquatic invasive species protection and eradication, transportation planning and implementation, and forest health and management.

AUG 21, 2021

Tahoe Chocolate & Wine Festival: Gratitude Garden Party Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SEPT 25, 2021 Tahoe City Oktoberfest

Commons Beach

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

https://visittahoecity.org/event/ tahoe-city-oktoberfest/ TAHOE CITY OKTOBERFEST WILL RETURN THIS YEAR FOR ANOTHER FUN CELEBRATION OF FALL IN TAHOE CITY. Featuring craft beers from some of the region’s best microbreweries, live music, great food, traditional Bavarian-themed games, and a craft vendor village. Check back soon for the full details on the 2021 event!

Tahoe Jerky Festival Heavenly Village 11:00 am - 3:00 pm https://jerkyfestival.com/ Ready for the first annual Tahoe JERKY FEST? Join us for fresh beer, live music and plenty to chew on! After all – there’s no such thing as too much jerky right? We’ve brought together some of the best jerky artisans – and rustic meat makers – both locally and nationally for your sampling delight. All of the vendors will be offering samples for you to treat your meat-craving (or not – there’s vegan jerky too!) little tastebuds.

AUG 28, 2021 Tahoe Brewfest

Lake Tahoe Community College 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm http://tahoebrewfest.com

Tahoe Brewfest is back for 2021!

VIP will be from 12p-4p and General Admission is from 1-4p. At the Lake Tahoe Community College. Tahoe Brewfest celebrates all that is special about our mountain culture; our beer, our crafts, our environment and most of all, our community. Mark Saturday, August 28, 2021, in your calendars when we welcome beer lovers from all over the world again to enjoy a beautiful day of brew in South Lake Tahoe. The 4th Annual Tahoe Brewfest is adding a whole hour of unlimited samples and with that, adding more breweries.

SEPT 18, 2021 Sample the Sierra Farm-to-Fork Festival

Bijou Community Park 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

http://samplethesierra.com/ Sample the Sierra brings together local chefs/restaurants with neighboring growers/producers to turn out scrumptious samples craftily paired with the appropriate wine or brew. The festival marketplace includes locally made goods such as jam, soap, honey, and olive oil along with specialty products created right here in the county, such as fine art, jewelry, and crafts. This year’s event is designed to liven up an autumn afternoon and revel until sundown. Gather with your friends and family once again to enjoy great food, drinks, art, music, and company in Lake Tahoe’s farm-to-fork festival. This year will be more intimate and elevated in its return to an in-person event.

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RENO

AUG 21, 2021 Northern Nevada Dragon Boat Festival Sparks Marina http://gwndragonboat.com/nevada Celebrate an ancient Chinese sporting tradition with your whole family at Sparks Marina! Decked out in bright and colorful designs, each dragon boat features teams of 20 paddlers who are synchronized to the rhythmic pulse of a ceremonial drummer. Along with catching all the action and excitement on the water, this annual festival includes a health and wellness village, vendors, food trucks, artist exhibitions and so much more, you won’t want to miss it!

SEPT 10-12, 2021 The Great Reno Balloon Race Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

https://renoballoon.com/ Soaring high above the Reno skyline, upwards of 80+ beautiful hot-air balloons take flight. It has been one of Reno’s most colorful and spectacular events for over three decades and is located just 2 miles from downtown Reno! Sure, it might be a bit earlier than you’re used to, but it’s worth the wake! The Great Reno Balloon Race is free to the public and spectators have the ability to explore balloons up close on the field.

SEPT 15-19, 2021

STIHL National Championship Air Races

Reno Stead Airport

AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS EDITOR’S NOTE: Click or tap on any event to go to the event’s website. The information in the calendar was up to date as of time of publishing. Please verify details of events as changes happen due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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SEPT 11, 2021

The National Championship Air Races combines the world’s fastest motorsport with spectacular military and civilian air entertainment to offer the most unique air racing event in the world. This exciting, one-of-a-kind event showcases six different classes of race planes and up-close access to aircraft, pilots and crews in the “pits.”

Gather your friends and family and experience the roar of planes as they streak past you at just 50 feet from the ground. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!

El Dorado Hills Brewfest 2021

Village Green/ Serrano Visitor Center Lawn 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

https://www.universe.com/events/ el-dorado-hills-brewfest-2021-tickets-el-dorado-hills-360FQW?fbclid=IwAR0rnxQUCFcCJktFsayhEC8xiT El Dorado Hills Brewfest is coming to El Dorado Hills for 2021! EDH Brewfest will take place at “Village Green/ Serrano Visitor Center Lawn” on Saturday, September 11th, 2021 from 3-7 PM. The event is brought to you by the El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Beers In Sac. El Dorado Hills Brewfest will feature 45+ breweries, cideries, and wineries, with local food vendors, and music/entertainment. Come and take in the sights at EDH and join us for a night to remember at this community-focused and inspired event.

CARSON VALLEY

SEPT 18, 2021 Douglas County Rodeo

Douglas County Fairgrounds

http://DouglasCountyNVRodeo.com 4:00pm – Kids Day Begins, Vendor Booths, Food Trucks 6:30pm – Mutton Bustin’ 7:00pm – Rodeo Kickoff 10:00pm – Concert – Three Bands!

SEPT 25-26, 2021 Candy Dance Arts & Crafts Faire Genoa, NV

http://www.genoanevada.org/visitors/ candy_dance/candy_dance_faire.php Saturday & Sunday, September 25 & 26, 2021. The 2021 Genoa Candy Dance Faire will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is FREE for visitors who attend. A number of special events occur throughout the year in Genoa.

None are bigger than the Annual Candy Dance Arts & Crafts Faire which has over 300 craft and food vendors and draws thousands of people to Genoa during the two-day event.

EL DORADO

AUG 27-28, 2021 Dry Diggings Festival

El Dorado County Fair & Event Center

http://drydiggingsfestival.com The Dry Diggings Festival is a music, camping, and beer festival that will take place at the El Dorado Fairgrounds at the base of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range just 45 miles east of Sacramento and 65 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. The idea behind the event was to create a festival where we could offer people a refuge where they could enjoy camping, music, and some of the finest beers in the region.

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Since 2017, a team of divers has been treating 62 acres of lake bottom for aquatic invasive species (AIS), and a team of divers is employing established procedures to control a 100-acre weed infestation outside of the Tahoe Keys. Innovative methods, such as the utilization of a specially equipped vessel with big UVlight panels, are being expanded. Despite this, the Tahoe Keys remain a hotspot for aquatic invasive plants. Property owners in the area have spent millions of dollars attempting to control AIS and have asked for licenses to test a variety of control technologies in the hopes of finally turning the tide.

UC Davis in conjunction with Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) and Desert Research Institute (DRI) have been studying the effect and saturation of plastics, specifically microplastics in the Lake Tahoe and its contributing watersheds.

Per UC Davis microplastics are “defined as any type of plastic fragment that is less than 5 mm in length”. Microplastics come from a variety of sources with a majority coming from these four sources: nylon from clothing, polyethylene from micro-bead exfoliants washed down drains, synthetic rubber from car tires, and cellulose acetate typically found in cigarette filters. A team in the Spring of 2019 led by

Monica Arienzo from DRI was in search of microplastics in Lake Tahoe. They collected water samples from six beaches along Lake Tahoe, including extensively urbanized locations like the Tahoe Keys and more sheltered areas like Emerald Bay, which is located within a state park. Arienzo also took water samples from both the upper and lower Truckee Rivers to examine what kind of plastics were being transported in and if the same plastics were washing out on the other side. They discovered them on all six sites. After discovering microplastics in her water tests, Arienzo turned her attention to snow melt.

She decided to have a look at a sample from Sagehen, a research institution set on the mountains above Lake Tahoe.

Because the area was not open to the public, it should have been pristine. What she found was jaw dropping. “The number of threads I was seeing was astounding,” Arienzo said, adding that she eventually identified 215 particles of microplastics per liter of snowmelt. The amount of fibers in the snow contrasted with her preliminary discoveries in the water, which appeared to be derived from a wider range of plastic kinds.

As summer comes to a close in Tahoe we shouldn’t let complacency regain control.

Keeping Tahoe blue is a year round job; visitors and full timers alike have a responsibility to keep lake clarity and watershed health a goal for generations to come. For more in depth information the Annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held as a virtual event on August 19th, 2021; click the link in the events calendar for more information.

Sources: trpa.gov cleanupthelake.org ucscsciencenotes.com

August 2021

THE STATE THE LAKE

This summer’s scorching heat is making it difficult for watercraft inspectors to keep new aquatic invasive species out of the Tahoe region. They are intercepting an alarming number of vessels with invasive species onboard as more people turn to boating to escape the heat. According to TRPA, by mid-July this year, boat inspectors had decontaminated 24 vessels harboring invasive quagga or zebra mussels,

By Aaron Jones surpassing prior years and barely halfway through the season.

As searing heat waves hit the Western United States and Lake Tahoe sets new The ongoing clean up that persists temperature records the Tahoe Regional through all seasons is trash found in and Planning Agency (TRPA) and the UC Davis around the lake. Clean Up The Lake has Tahoe Environmental Research Center removed a total of 8,122 pounds of trash released a study on Tahoe’s yearly clarity including plastics, rubber, and glass. measures, which highlighted the effects Twenty-two of the total 72 miles of lake of rising temperatures. While lake clarity, a have been completed as of August 4th, critical indicator of the health of the water2021. “Our NPO’s flagship project is the shed, averaged 62.9 feet in 2020, that is first ever man powered circumnavigation within the range of the previous ten years, of Lake Tahoe using SCUBA, and projectthe pattern of clarity readings suggests a ed to be the largest trash-clean up in Lake concerning seasonal divergence. In the Tahoe’s history.” (CleanUpTheLake.com) winter, clarity is stable, but in the summer, The project is presented by Tahoe Blue it is deteriorating.

Vodka and the Tahoe Fund.

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