March 2021 Northwoods Tahoe

TA H O E

March 2021 Serving Truckee & Tahoe

Ski Brigade 1910

Courtesy of The U.S. Library of Congress

Northwoods Tahoe

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CELEBRATING OVER

WINTER SPORT

By Mark Mclaughlin

It’s hard to believe, but one of the most thrilling sports known to man, downhill skiing and big mountain snowboarding, started with just a couple of shaped, fragile sticks of wood or bone and probably leather straps. When humans first invented skiing for transportation thousands of years ago during the last glacial recession, the harsh winter landscape took on a whole new meaning. No longer would snow hinder critical winter travel for hunters, fishers and trappers; skis would help provide a more reliable supply of protein and firewood for prehistoric people hunkered down for the winter.

Today’s advanced skiers and boarders scream down precipitous steeps, rip through deep powMan on skis at The Summit House at Dutch Flat And Donner Lake Wagon Road - 1866 Courtesy US Library of Congress

der with ease, pull stunts and jam half pipes and park features like it’s been done for generations. But take a step back and you’ll notice that it’s been the radical revolution in ski gear and equipment over the past 20 years or so that has launched the sport to the extreme, where experts push the boundaries of reason and defy physics. Instead of mass-produced wood and leather, modern equipment is often constructed using space age materials with boutique models produced by loving craftsmen, in small custom batches designed for every individual style. The last two decades have seen more change to boots, skis, boards and bindings than the past 5,000 years.

In the fifth century B.C., the Greek historian Herodotus described inhabitants of the Lapland region of northern Scandinavia using snowshoes and skis for cross-country winter travel. With long distances between small, isolated communities and hard, snowy winters, skiing became important as a means of keeping in social contact with each other. But it wasn’t until the mid-nineteenth century that some major improvements in ski and Continued on page 4

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REVOLUTION

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Continued from page 3 binding technology originated in Norway and transformed skiing from simple transportation to exhilarating sport. The word “ski” is a Norwegian word that comes from the Old Norse word “skid,” a split length of wood.

In 1850, the cambered ski was invented by craftsmen and ski enthusiasts in the Morgedal Valley, in the province of Telemark, Norway. In order to increase performance and maneuverability, local woodworkers tweaked their skis from a heavy, flat plank into a springy, bow-shaped arch up toward the center, thereby distributing the weight of the skier more evenly across the length of the ski. The new flexible design dramatically improved a skier’s ability to move forward in soft snow, increased turning execution, and allowed for a much thinner, lighter ski.

In 1868, Sondre Norheim, a legendary ski pioneer from Morgedal, unveiled the Hjalmar Hvam Photo Courtesy of US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

Telemark ski, a shorter board with a pronounced sidecut. This was the first ski which was carved narrower underfoot, cambered at the waist and wider at the tip and tail. This curved sidecut greatly increased the ski’s flexibility and floatation over soft snow, and enabled a skier to turn more easily by angling the ski along its edge.

Like the ski itself, the ski binding system developed in stages over time, another evolution attributed to Sondre Norheim.

In 1850, he developed the first heel-stabilizing bindings when he discovered that twisted willow from the birch tree root could hold a skier’s feet snug in the corded toe band, at the same time providing heel support for better control of the ski.

For thousands of years, only a toe strap had been used. Now skis could be turned and maneuvered like down-mountain ice skates. Norheim also invented the Telemark and Christiania turns, the latter being the first functional turn for controlling steep descents. With his shorter, curved skis and improvised heel bindings, Norheim dazzled crowds throughout southern Norway with power turns and soaring leaps. Spectators observed, “With legs drawn up he flew like a bird.”

These innovations in ski and binding design opened the door to dynamic turning, jumping, and alpine skiing, which Norheim introduced to the Norwegian public with extraordinary performances on hillsides and in jumping competitions. Sondre Norheim is known as the “Father of Modern Skiing”, recognized for his efforts to really push skiing for recreation and sport. In the 1930s, Alf Engen, a Norwegian-American champion ski jumper who established the first ski school at Alta, Utah, planed his

Sondre Norheim 1880 wooden skis so they would bend and float in “cold smoke” Utah snow. Engen also helped further modern powder skiing when he developed a two-footed deep-snow turn, which enabled him to rip down 1,000 vertical feet in just a few arcing turns.

Over time but especially after World War II, a steady evolution of structural changes to both skis and bindings slowly made skiing safer, more dynamic and much more fun. Skis made from solid wood became laminated for better performance, and later skis were constructed with layers of aluminum, plastic and fiberglass.Modern hightech skis are now made with various manmade materials, shaped and contoured for easy turning and getting wider every year as “fatties” are now preferred for both powder and groomed runs.

Toe iron bindings, a system that bound the boot with leather straps to a rigidly anContinued on page 6

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Continued from page 4 chored toe piece, became popular in the 1890s and dominated the heel cable binding styles through the 1930s. Before WWII, there were few chairlifts in America to whisk skiers up the mountain. If the ski hill didn’t have a rope tow, skiers climbed for each run by attaching sealskins to the bottom of their skis to keep them from slipping backward during the ascent. Bindings were fashioned out of heavy copper plates with their edges bent up around the skier’s boots.

Leather straps were laced through slots in the skis, and then wrapped around the foot as a type of safety binding. The segmented metal edge for skis was invented in 1928, but it had to be screwed into the ski in pieces and tended to come loose frequently.

Most skis were homemade. Cross-country skis were old alpine skis cut down and then routed out from underneath.

As skiers pushed the limit, however, the fixed binding caused many leg injuries and produced that familiar ski resort figure, the leg-cast casualty. In 1939, Portland skier Hjalmar Hvam invented the first binding with a safety release device; an idea that was greatly improved in 1952 when the heel and toe release binding was introduced. In 1963, ski brakes on bindings prevented the risk of runaway skis and eliminated the need for dangerous safety straps.

Bigger changes came about in the late 1980s with more radically shaped skis that were shorter and wider to make turning easier and less of a challenge in inconsistent snow conditions, especially for the casual skier. Since then, equipment improvement has set a pace that even NASA would be proud of. Simple leather boots have morphed into four or five-buckle, plastic high-tops with custom-molded foam injection for the ultimate in comfort.

Today’s skiers and riders may not realize it as they fly down the mountainside on their hi-tech boards, but they all benefit from the equipment modifications that Norheim and others introduced so many years ago.

Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at www.thestormking.com. You can reach him at mark@ thestormking.com

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The Big Sleep is Over

If the whole of the surrounding bear population hasn’t come out of hibernation by the time you read this, I’m sure our hefty, furry friends will all be awake in the next few weeks. This year we cheer the end of winter, along with our hibernating neighbors.

Let’s go back to our love affair with bears.

We can never say enough about protecting our sleepy-eyed friends from the time they come stumbling out of their dens to when they are eating their weight in food, in anticipation of hibernation. They are so hungry, they will go after the first food they smell. April means it is time for us to put that food away!

For residents in the Lake Tahoe region this means keeping all of our trash in bear-resistant bins, and not even taking the trash out to the bins until it is actually collection day. We know of Tahoe Donner homeowners personally, who took their ripe trash out two days before collection and a bear simply pulled the bin door off its hinges to get to the leftovers inside…we did say “bear resistant”.

Putting food away also means in our homes, especially anything out on a porch, or on the kitchen counters if the windows are open. Bears have a great memory for the homes and neighborhoods that offer easily accessible food and with their keen sense of smell, they will begin to realize that there is also food inside the houses they’ve been hanging around. At that point, the bear will simply come inside and help itself to the goodies. Local residents have

walked in on bears in the act of raiding their kitchens and both parties have been overwhelmed by the incident.

Unfortunately, a black bear cannot unlearn where the food is and they will continue to come back and pose a danger to residents. At that point, a permit is issued and the bear is destroyed because its learned behavior puts him or her in our path. It is a sad and wasteful occurrence, especially since we live around bears and see them in all of their majesty.

Below are some of the more amazing facts about black bears in our country. We think after reading them, you will become a bear lover too!

• Most of the bears in the Sierra Nevada are a cinnamon or brown in color or black with white on the chest, paws or snout.

• Wild male black bears of breeding age usually weigh between 125 and 500 pounds, depending upon age, season, and food. Very well fed bears can be heavier.

The record is 880 pounds in Craven County, North Carolina, and a close second from northeastern Minnesota weighed 876 pounds on September 5, 1994. Wild females usually weigh between 90 and 300 pounds with the heaviest known female weighing 520 pounds in northeastern Minnesota on August 30, 1993.

• Mating season runs usually from late May until early July. In the eastern deciduous forest, mating season can extend into August.

• Cubs are birthed in January or early February. They weigh 1/2 to 1 pound, and the number in the litter is usually 2 in the Western U.S. and 3 in the Eastern U.S.

Litters of as many as 6 have been reported in the East. By the fall of that year, cubs may weigh anywhere from 15 to 165 lbs., depending on food supply.

• Cubs usually stay with their mother for about 17 months. One to six days before the mothers are ready to mate in late May or June, they force their yearlings to stop traveling with them.

• Lean bears can exceed a running speed of 30 mph uphill, downhill or on level ground. Fat bears in winter coats overheat and tire quickly. Their daily activity period normally runs about ½ hour before sunrise through the day, with a few short naps, until sunset.

• The length and depth of hibernation is genetically programmed to match the regional norms of food availability. Hibernation is deeper and can last over 7 months in the northern portion of the black bear range where abundant, high quality food is available only from May through August.

There, some bears hibernate so deeply, especially the leaner bears after a summer of unusually scarce food, that a person can jostle them for several minutes before they wake up. However, in southern states where food is available year-round, some do not hibernate at all, and those that do are easily aroused.

• The potential life span for black bears is 21 to 33 years or more.

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How to Plan for a Future Vacation After a long year stuck at home, many people are dreaming about when they can travel once again. While counting down the days may feel like torture, planning and booking a vacation for later this year can give you something to look forward to.

Now may be the perfect time to start thinking about your next adventure. Consider these tips for planning a future trip – even if you’re not certain exactly when you’ll take it.

Research Travel Restrictions For any kind of travel, it’s important to make sure you’re up to date on any restrictions your potential destinations may have in place. Though the vaccine may help lessen restrictions in some places, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain updated guidance and travel warnings based on the risk level of certain areas, which can help you make decisions. Once you’ve booked travel plans, it is prudent to check in frequently as your trip approaches and prepare a backup plan.

Account for High Demand Many hotels, vacation rentals and resorts may already be booked for summer in popular locations due to optimism around the vaccine, increased demand for domestic travel and families planning multiple trips this year. In fact, travelers are locking in private Vrbo vacation homes at top summer destinations earlier in 2021. Less than half of vacation homes in some locations are still available for July, which is a more than 25% increase in demand year-over-year. To better your odds of securing your desired travel dates, accommodations and activities, booking earlier can help off-set the increased demand.

“In years past, we’ve recommended families book their summer vacations by late April to stay ahead of the curve, but this year there are several reasons why families are eager and ready to book,” Vrbo President Jeff Hurst said. “These signs are telling us families should start looking for the perfect vacation home now before options become more limited.”

Take Advantage of Deals with Longer Stays Many sectors of the travel industry offer special deals for reserving trips in advance, and some of the best deals can be found by bundling airfare and lodging or booking extended weekor month-long stays. These longer vacations can lead to fewer available dates to choose from, but some travel companies offer search filters that help travelers find discounts for staying longer periods of time.

Opt for Flexible Booking If you’re eager to plan a vacation right away, be sure to review and understand cancellation policies for your preferred accommodations, airline and activities. Many have changed their policies due to the pandemic, so be sure to know how long you have to cancel or change dates without incurring additional fees or penalties. For example, when booking a vacation rental through Vrbo, where hosts set their cancellation terms, you can use the “free cancellation” filter to search for properties with flexible policies, some of which allow cancellations up to 14 days before check-in for a full refund.

Start Saving Now While it may not be practical for everyone to save money amid uncertain times, setting even a small amount aside for your vacation can be worthwhile. Consider setting up a dedicated travel savings account or directing the change from each transaction made with your debit card to a separate account.

Being able to periodically check the balance of the account can also help increase excitement for your upcoming adventure.

Find more tips and start planning your next getaway at Vrbo.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Upgrade Your Home, Downgrade Energy Usage: 7 efficient home

improvement projects

The best home upgrades not only make spaces more livable and energy-efficient but are also cost-effective. Making energyefficient improvements is a savvy way to save money on utility bills, curb energy usage and add to the house’s value.

Consider a variety of home improvement projects, both big and small, that can reduce the financial burden of maintaining your home throughout the year and improve energy efficiency.

Add Insulation A cost-effective way to save on heating and cooling bills is adding a layer of insulation in the attic where heat loss is typically greatest due to hot air rising.

While many newer homes are adequately insulated, those that are several decades old (or older) may benefit from an upgrade in not only the attic but other common problem areas where air can escape such as basements, crawl spaces, fireplaces and ductwork.

Seal Doors and Windows Windows and doors are common culprits for energy loss. While a complete replacement of doors and windows can be pricey, adding exterior caulk and weather stripping to fill in gaps where air can escape around these openings can make a noticeable difference for a fraction of the cost and make it cheaper to heat and cool your home.

Install Skylights Skylights are a cost-effective option for transforming any room in the home with natural light while also delivering energysaving benefits. For example, Sun Tunnel Skylights from Velux can be installed in as little as 90 minutes and funnel natural light from the roof through the attic and into the room below with an aesthetic that resembles recessed lighting. Customizable with six diffuser film styles to complement interior design, the skylights can make a home more energy-efficient by reducing reliance on artificial lighting. An optional daylight controller makes it easy for homeowners to adjust natural light entering a room, and a solar nightlight provides a moon-like guiding light at night. Installed with the solar nightlight, the skylights qualify for a 26% federal tax credit on solar property.

Add Reflective Window Film When the sun shines through windows, it can heat up the home’s interior quickly and trigger the air conditioner to turn on. Window coverings, such as blackout curtains, can help, but adding low-e reflective window film to your windowpanes, particularly southern-facing ones, can provide an additional shield from the sun’s hot rays and reduce energy costs.

Install a Programmable Thermostat A programmable thermostat is an efficient way to control the climate inside your home, and those with smart technology take programming to a whole new level.

Today’s smart thermostats not only let

homeowners control temperatures from their smart devices while on-the-go but can also learn daily habits and adjust the temperature accordingly with no other manual adjustments necessary.

In addition, some utility companies offer incentives like money back at the end of the year for installing a smart thermostat because the energy savings are so substantial.

Replace Appliances Because appliances like refrigerators and ovens, among others, are major energy users, investing in more efficient models provides both cost and energy savings.

Additionally, homes more than 15 years old could benefit from updates to the air conditioner or heater as systems 15-20 years old or older may be candidates for replacement as they’re inefficient by today’s standards.

Add Ceiling Fans In comparison to running your air conditioner consistently, the cost of running a ceiling fan (or several) is significantly less. Particularly on days that may not require cooling the entire house completely, fans can provide a gentle breeze and circulate air in the spaces you use most often. Simply adjust the switch to the counterclockwise position to ensure it’s pushing air downward during warmer months.

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You can almost feel spring in the air, and with the warmer weather comes delicious, delectable foods. From casseroles to fresh fruits and wholesome vegetables, a change of season offers something to look forward to for nearly every foodie.

A spring dish that is sure to impress is this Cheesy Asparagus Tart. It has melty cheese, cooked asparagus and an under layer of puff pastry baked to golden brown perfection.

Start by cooking your asparagus on the stove top in 5 cups of water for 5-8 minutes. Then soak it in an ice bath until cooled.

Transfer to a mixing bowl to add vegetable oil, salt and pepper for tasty, seasoned veggies.

Now it’s time to work with your puff pastry. Sprinkle some flour on a flat countertop. Roll out the thawed puff pastry to a 16-by-10inch rectangle. Move to a lined baking sheet and prick with a fork to create a thin, flaky texture. Bake around 12 minutes and cool.

The final steps: mix the cheeses, shallots, egg yolks, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Spread this mixture across the pastry and lay asparagus over the top. Bake 5 more minutes.

For a little extra flavor, add lemon zest over the tart.

This tart is a perfect appetizer before Sunday brunch or to cut up and take outside for some al fresco dining this spring.

It’s got gooey, melted cheeses, is seasoned well and has hearty asparagus on top. Plus, it’s a yummy way to add vegetables to your kids’ diet (and yours, too).

Find more spring recipes and dining ideas at Culinary.net.

Cheesy Asparagus Tart Servings: 8-10 5 1

2 1/4 1/4 1 1 1 1 2 3 1/4 1

cups water pound asparagus ice water teaspoons vegetable oil teaspoon salt, plus additional, to taste, divided teaspoon pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided flour, for dusting sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed cup grated fontina cheese cup grated gruyere cheese tablespoon shallot, minced egg yolks tablespoons milk teaspoon nutmeg lemon, zest only

Heat oven to 400 F. In large skillet, add water and asparagus. Cook 5-8 minutes until asparagus is bright green.

Drain asparagus and soak in ice water.

In large bowl, mix drained asparagus, vegetable oil, salt and pepper until combined.

Flour surface area. Using rolling pin, roll out pastry to 10-by-16inch rectangle. Transfer pastry to parchment-lined baking sheet.

Prick pastry with fork. Bake about 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool slightly on baking sheet.

In large bowl, mix fontina cheese, gruyere cheese, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste, until combined.

Spread cheese over pastry, leaving 1 inch around edges. Lay asparagus over cheese mixture.

Bake 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Sprinkle lemon zest over tart and serve.

February 2021

A Seasonal Spring Surprise

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