Family Fun Guide | 2023 Winter Edition Tahoe

Sugar Rush Tubing | Sugar Bowl

Sledding

Trash, Traffic Persists Broken sleds, illegal parking plague region

BY PRIYA HUTNER

“During the winter of 2020-21, prior to [League to Save Lake Tahoe] funding a Dumpster and portable toilets at the Spooner sled hill, Tahoe Blue Crews collected a total of 1,981 pounds of litter.”

— Chris Joseph

Following a recent snowstorm, I needed to drive to Donner Summit. As I made my way down Donner Pass Road in Truckee to access Interstate 80, I saw a group of people sledding off the side of a hill onto the busy, icy road. I slowed down. The group didn’t seem to notice or care about vehicles. Did they realize it’s difficult to stop a 4,500-pound car on a snow-covered road? With many places to sled in the Tahoe Sierra, why would people put their children on a fast-moving contraption and sled into a busy winter road? After an unprecedented number of people flocked to the Tahoe Sierra during the height of the COVID pandemic starting in 2020, Tahoe Weekly began reporting on the impacts of overtourism in the region including on trash, traffic, wildlife and wildfires, as well as the escalating problems at non-designated sledding areas in the winter

When asked if the issue has improved in the last few years, California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Falkowski, replied with one word, “Nope.” He points out that illegal sledding and parking are still a huge problem, particularly on Donner Summit.

“People still use rest areas as snow parks, pulling off the freeway and sledding in unsafe areas. If a sign says keep out, no parking, then do it,” Falkowski

says. Tickets can cost anywhere from $80 to $250 depending on the offense, but have done little to curb problems.

Illegal sledding and parking create multiple issues, such as obstructing emergency vehicle access, hampering snow removal operations and causing traffic. Falkowski also points out that the amount of litter left behind continues to plague the area.

“People leave behind barbecue grills, cases of empty alcohol bottles and cracked sleds,” says Falkowski. He is baffled with people choosing to sled off Soda Springs Road under high-voltage wires.

Two of the most highly trafficked sled areas in the Tahoe Basin are Spooner Summit and Tahoe Meadows along Mt. Rose Highway. Although there has been some progress, the litter battle remains a problem.

According to Katie Sheehan, executive director of the nonprofit Clean Tahoe, during the winter of 2020-21, the organization collected 13,000 pounds of sled trash at Spooner Summit at the junction of Highways 28 and 50 on the East Shore. Clean Tahoe is contracted by Nevada Department of Transportation, [NDOT] to pick up trash at the top of Spooner as well as on Mt. Rose.

“We visit these sites five days a week to clean

and trash all year round,

as well as clear away illegal dumps,” explains Sheehan.

“The League to Save Lake Tahoe paid for a Dumpster and two porta-potties to be installed and serviced up at Spooner Summit, adjacent to the sled hill,” says Chris Joseph, communications director for League to Save Lake Tahoe.

Unfortunately, the solution is shortterm as the Dumpster and bathrooms are paid for out of the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s budget. The League’s Tahoe Blew Crews also collect garbage from the Spooner sled hill.

“During the winter of 2020-21, prior

to the League funding a Dumpster and portable toilets at the Spooner sled hill, Tahoe Blue Crews collected a total of 1,981 pounds of litter. During the winter of 2021-22, with a League-funded Dumpster and two portable toilets in place, the same Tahoe Blue Crew collected 126 pounds of trash. The Dumpster intercepted approximately 2,000 pounds of would-be litter. In short, Dumpsters and toilets work at keeping litter out of the Tahoe environment,” wrote Joseph in a follow-up email to the Tahoe Weekly.

SLED RESPONSIBLY

• Sled at designated sled hills, Sno-Parks & tubing areas

• Don’t sled along roadways

• Purchase non-plastic sleds (tubing areas provide sleds)

• Carry doggie bags & pick up after your dog

• Pack out broken sleds, trash, food & doggie bags

• Expect closed or no restrooms at Sno-Parks

• Practice the Leave No Trace Principles

Responsible sledding Tahoe Fund, League to Save Lake Tahoe and Take Care Tahoe created a Slediquette Campaign during the pandemic to combat the debris left behind by broken plastic sleds. The campaign encourages people to clean up and recycle broken sleds or snow tubes using its sled corrals and to pack out all trash.

Along with the visible trash left behind by broken sleds, those broken pieces will degrade even more if not picked up and become microplastics contaminating the environment, including local waterways as Tahoe Weekly reported in our story Tahoe’s tiniest trash.”

“We are in the middle of updating our sled corral program. We will be installing new signs at all of the corrals and working with some volunteer groups to maintain them throughout the winter,”

wrote Noah Shapiro, program and outreach coordinator for Tahoe Fund, in an email to Tahoe Weekly. “We are changing our focus this year to emphasize only leaving broken sleds in the corrals instead of trying to get people to leave their functional sleds behind for others to borrow.”

“The bottom line is the problem persists. People are still buying cheap sleds, the sleds are still exploding and people are still sledding on non-sanctioned sled hills,” says Joseph.

He recognizes that sledding is a great recreational option and suggests one solution is to encourage people to purchase more durable sleds. Joseph adds that although the more durable sleds are

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com/trash for links to report trash issues a little more expensive, they last for a long time.

Local officials also urge people to use established tubing hills with free options available at Sno-Parks throughout the region, as well as at many ski resorts and tubing areas. The Tahoe Weekly prints a complete list of all local tubing areas in every edition in the winter and it’s also available at TheTahoeWeekly. com/winter.

Educating the public

How do organizations committed to battling the litter issue in Tahoe communicate with visitors and educate them about trash and sledding safety?

“Trying to reach people is a tough nut to crack. We’ve been working with destination management organizations. They’ve been good about communicating messaging about being good environmental stewards,” says Joseph.

League to Save Lake Tahoe trains volunteers for its Tahoe Blue Crew program, where people adopt a region and keep it clean and free of the trash.

“We’ve been working with the SOS Outreach, a youth program for local kids. They are part of the Tahoe Blue Crew program. The kids adopted Van Sickle State Park,” says Joseph.

After the teens noticed how much sled trash was being left behind in the park, Van Sickle Bi-State Park became one

of their cleanup initiatives. Joseph also pointed out that the young people went to local businesses to stop the sale of plastic sleds. As a direct result, Raley’s in South Lake Tahoe and Truckee now stock metal discs and wood and metal toboggans.

The problem of accessible sledding with adequate infrastructure to accommodate people who want to recreate in the snow for free remains a conundrum for the Tahoe Sierra and its visitors.

Sledding in Tahoe continues to be a balance between access and managing its impacts. n

REPORT TRASH ISSUES

Citizen Science app | citizensciencetahoe.org

Click Fix app (Truckee) | townoftruckee.com

EL DORADO COUNTY

Eastern Slope area | (530) 573-3450, edcgov.us

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Code Enforcement Office | (775) 782-6214, douglascountynv.gov

NEVADA COUNTY

Illegal dumping | (530) 265-7111, mynevadacounty.com

PLACER COUNTY

Garbage complaints | (530) 581-6240, placer.ca.gov

Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal | (530) 583-7800, waste101.com

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

City of South Lake Tahoe | (530) 542-6000, cityofslt.us

South Tahoe Refuse | (530) 541-5105, southtahoerefuse.com

Clean Tahoe Program | (530) 544-4210, clean-tahoe.org

TRUCKEE

Town of Truckee Trash complaints | townoftruckee.com

Keep Truckee Green | (530) 582-7700, keeptruckeegreen.org

Truckee-Donner Recreation & Parks District | (530) 582-7720, tdrpd.org

WASHOE COUNTY

Garbage complaints | (775) 328-6106, washoecounty.us

Snow Toys & Sleds

Art piece made from broken sled trash. | Clean Tahoe

Fun for Babies & Toddlers

& PHOTOS BY LEAH PIVIROTTO

I’m drinking my kid’s hot chocolate, wondering if I subconsciously packed it for myself. I hold out a steaming, sugary cup when he walks to the top of the sled hill. He brushes it aside and collapses into his sled, drifting down the hill, pretending to sleep.

I think that’s “thee-teen” for “leave me alone, I’m playing.” So instead, I drink the four servings of hot chocolate and huddle with the rest of the parents. My baby girl catnaps in her sled; I have nothing left to do but enjoy watching young kids play at full tilt.

It’s never too early to introduce your kids to classic cold-weather activities. The noble arts of gracefully falling downhill and twinkle-toeing on ice, swears them into the alliance of winter lovers.

A word on planning: In the adventure world, it is good style to identify all your participants’ ability levels and plan accordingly. I’m sharing my list of activities for my whole family. Find details on these local activities in the Winter Family Fun chart in this edition or at TheTahoeWeekly.com/winter.

STORY

Beatrix Fox Pivirotto at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park. | Leah Pivirotto

ICE SKATING

NORTH SHORE

NORTHSTAR (530) 562-1010 | northstarcalifornia.com

Open air rink. Free access.

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK (530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com

Ice skating & rentals. Clubhouse.

OLYMPIC VALLEY RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK (530) 584-4024

Ice & hockey skate rentals available. Call for schedule.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE EDGEWOOD TAHOE (888) 769-1924 | edgewoodtahoe.com

Open air rink. Daily 4-9 p.m. Rentals available.

HEAVENLY VILLAGE (530) 542-4230 | theshopsatheavenly.com

Open air rink.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE ICE ARENA (530) 542-6262 | cityofslt.com

Indoor facility open year-round.

TRUCKEE TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK (530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

Skate rentals, ice dancing & hockey lessons.

SLEDDING & TUBING

EAST SHORE

SPOONER LAKE (775) 831-0494

State park open for snow play. Bring equipment. Parking fee.

HOPE VALLEY AREA CARSON PASS (209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

HOPE VALLEY (775) 882-2766

Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Bring equipment.*

MEISS MEADOW (209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

NORTH SHORE

INCLINE VILLAGE

On Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau.Bring equipment.

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK (530) 546-0605 | northtahoeparks.com

End of National Avenue off Hwy 28. Rentals not available.

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK (530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com

Sledding & cross-country trails. Rentals available. RSVP required.

OLYMPIC VALLEY

OLYMPIC VALLEY PARK placer.ca.gov

Free snowplay area. Bring equipment.

PALISADES TAHOE (530) 452-4511 | palisadestahoe.com

Tubing area. Disco Tubing with DJ & lasers at night.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN (530) 659-7217 | adventuremountaintahoe.com

Machine-groomed sledding, tubing & snowplay.

ECHO LAKE (530) 644-2324

Highway 50 at Echo Lake Road. Bring equipment.*

HANSEN’S RESORT (530) 544-3361 | hansensresort.com 400-foot-long groomed tube run on Ski Run Blvd.

HEAVENLY skiheavenly.com

Tubing at top of gondola with four lanes.

KAHLE PARK (775) 586-7271 | douglascountynv.gov Off Highway 207. Bring equipment.

SAWMILL POND

On Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bring equipment.

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE (530) 659-7453 | sierraattahoe.com

Lift-accessible tubing lanes, snow play and sledding area.

TAHOE SNOWMOBILE TUBING (530) 542-3294 | tahoesnowmobiles.com

At Tahoe Paradise & Stateline, Nev. Reserve online.

TAYLOR CREEK (530) 543-2600

Hwy. 89, north of Camp Richardson Road. Bring equipment.*

TUBETAHOE (530) 600-2304 | tubetahoe.com

500 feet of machine-groomed tubing lanes in Meyers.

TRUCKEE BOREAL MOUNTAIN rideboreal.com

RSVP in advance. Night sessions available.

DONNER SKI RANCH donnerskiranch.com Tubing hills with moving carpet.

DONNER SUMMIT (530) 587-3558

South side of I-80, Castle Peak exit. Bring equipment.*

KINGVALE RESORT (530) 427-5090 | kingvaleresort.com Bring sleds or sleds available to buy.

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA northstarcalifornia.com TART Tubing lanes in the Village.

SODA SPRINGS skisodasprings.com Up to 10 lanes. RSVP in advance.

SUGAR RUSH TUBING sugarbowl.com 10-lane tubing area at Sugar Bowl.

TAHOE DONNER (530) 587-9437 | tahoedonner.com

At Trout Creek Recreation Center. Reserve online.

YUBA PASS (530) 994-3401

Highway 49 at Yuba Pass. Bring equipment.*

WEST SHORE

BLACKWOOD CANYON (530) 543-2600

Sno-Play area off Hwy. 89. Bring equipment.*

GRANLIBAKKEN (530) 581-7533 | granlibakken.com Machine-groomed snow play area. Reserve online.

SLEDDING & TUBING

Some sled hills have height requirements that might preclude little ones. All the areas listed here do not. Plus, these slopes are established, often-groomed runs with safe parking areas and some include a lift to the top of the hill.

South Shore

Heavenly Lake Tahoe | On weekends, a mini-tubing area is open at the top of the gondola.

Tube Tahoe | Ages 3 to 5 must ride in a tube with a paying adult.

Hansen’s Resort | Age 4 and younger tube free when accompanied by paying adult.

Adventure Mountain | The highest elevation tubing area in the region at 7,400’ includes a snow play area.

Sawmill Pond | Free with a gentle slope.

Sierra-at-Tahoe | Blizzard Mountain offers two lift-accessible tubing lanes (with tow ropes) and snow play area.

North Shore

North Tahoe Regional Park | Small kid sled hill located at entrance, across from the kiosk. Bring your sled.

Tahoe City Winter Sports Park | Reserve spots online; sled provided.

Granlibakken Tahoe | Snow play area and saucer sled included in price, age 3 and younger sled for free.

Truckee

Donner Ski Ranch | Tubes provided and moving carpet.

Kingvale Resort | Bring your own sled (no tubes).

Northstar California | Kids sled. You watch from beside the fire.

Tahoe Donner Snowplay | Kids under 36 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult.

Truckee

Northstar California | Access is free if you have your skates. Skate rentals are available. Open daily from 12 to 9 p.m. and there’s fire pits.

Truckee River Regional Park | Offering public skating and rentals.

Tahoe City

Ice skating

Stepping onto the ice with blades under your feet for the first time can feel as wobbly as re-learning how to walk. But mastering the glide gets addictive and boosts a kid’s confidence. Ice skating is accessible to everyone, even if your participation maxes out at sitting on the sidelines and heckling.

Tahoe City Winter Sports Park | Reserve spots online. Rentals and learning equipment are available. Enjoy the hot chocolate from Café Zenon.

South Shore

Heavenly Village Ice Rink | Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. $20 for adults, $15 for children (ages 4 to 12) and $5 off if you bring your skates.

Tahoe Ice Arena | Full-service indoor skating rink, NHL-sized sheet of ice, locker rooms, snack bar, retail store, arcade and party rooms.

Sno-Parks

Sno-Parks give children a rugged winter experience. So, I use them as an act of reciprocity between my kids and me. Our adventures look like this: I cross-country ski with a pulk sled packed with them, a picnic and toys (Read: get exercise.). Then, we hang out in a private area where my kids get unstructured outdoor playtime (Read: freedom), all with the security of a plowed parking lot and restrooms at some locations.

Permits are required to park and can be purchased online for $15 per day or $40 for season passes. Visit bit.ly/ ca_snoparks for details and a list of local vendors.

Sno-Parks are located at Blackwood Canyon, Donner Summit, Yuba Pass, Echo Lake, Taylor Creek, Carson Pass, Hope Valley, Iron Mountain, Meiss Meadow. n