Athletic Brewing All Day Après
March 4th
Chase Sapphire Lounge
March 24th–26th
PTCF Peak 2 Peak Family Fun Race
March 25th
Pain McShlonkey and International Snowblade Day
March 25th
Mothership Classic
March 26th
WinterWonderGrass
March 31st–April 2nd
Guided Snowshoe and Chalet Dinner
Disco Tubing
March 4th and March 11th
Plaza Bar Music Series
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Ikon Pass Thursdays
Every Thursday through the end of the season
submissions
Calendar
Editorial
Entertainment Inquiries: entertainment@tahoethisweek.com
Publisher/Owner
Uncle. We’ve had enough already. With the snowpack now standing at 175 percent of average in the Central Sierra, following the Department of Water Resources snow survey on March 3, I for one have had enough snow for this season. Now, my wish is for our famous Tahoe bluebird days to return so that we can all spend the rest of the season skiing and riding in this fantastic snow rather than breaking our backs in a never-ending cycle of shoveling, road closures, spin outs, ice dams, bare store shelves and empty gas stations. Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge have already extended their seasons until April 23 this year, and I expect many others to follow suit.
To keep you fueled for those epic ski days, Kayla Anderson has expanded on her ongoing series on Tahoe’s best burgers, to include her picks for “Tahoe’s Best Ski Resort Burgers” in this edition. She also recently spent the day exploring the best runs and grub at Northstar California for her feature “Northstar at 50.”
Art Director Abigail Gallup production@tahoethisweek.com
Graphic Designer Lauren Shearer graphics@tahoethisweek.com
Website Manager LT Marketing
Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com
Food & Well Being Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com
Copy Editor Katrina Veit
Delivery Manager Charles Zumpft
If you’re a backcountry skier, you’ll want to read John Crockett’s story “Backcountry Bound,” on using public transit options to access backcountry trails in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. From Tahoe Backcountry Alliance’s shuttle service to TART Connect and the TART bus, there are a range of transit options available to get you into the backcountry without having to worry about scoring one of the few parking spots available at trailheads.
If you’ve never been to the LUNAFEST film festival, I highly recommend going to this year’s festival at the Tahoe Art Haus in Tahoe City. The films are always inspiring and this year’s festival will feature “This is Beth,” chronicling South Lake Tahoe rock climber Beth Rodden and her struggles with body image. Too many women and girls deal with issues of negative body image, often starting at a young age. Bringing these issues to the forefront and talking about them openly helps to combat the negative impacts on women – some of which can last their entire lives. Read more in Tim Hauserman’s feature “Tackling issues of body image.”
SUBSCRIBE
PRINT DELIVERY
TheTahoeWeekly.com/Subscribe
Address changes & questions editor@tahoethisweek.com
E-NEWSLETTER
TheTahoeWeekly.com
EAST SHORE
CAVE ROCK
This iconic sight is part of an old volcano. Take in the view from Cave Rock State Park.
NORTH SHORE
GATEKEEPER’S MUSEUM
(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org
Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and historical memorabilia in Tahoe City.
KINGS BEACH
northtahoebusiness.org
Kings Beach is a popular spot for dining and shopping with the North Shore’s largest sandy beach located in the heart of town. Free parking at North Tahoe Beach, Brook Street, Minnow and the Christmas Tree lot on Hwy. 28.
NORTH TAHOE ARTS CENTER
(530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com
Featuring works by local artists with locations in Kings Beach and Tahoe City.
TAHOE CITY
visittahoecity.com
Popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. Visit the Tahoe Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1908) for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove St., Jackpine St. and Transit Center.
TAHOE SCIENCE CENTER
Tues.-Sat. by reservation
(775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org
University of California, Davis, science education center at Sierra Nevada University. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+.
WATSON CABIN
(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org
Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1908, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places (summer tours).
OLYMPIC VALLEY
HIGH CAMP
(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com
Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, events and more. Ticket required.
OLYMPIC MUSEUM
(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com
Palisades Tahoe, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the Tower of Nations with its Olympic Flame and the symbolic Tower of the Valley at Highway 89. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. Tram ticket required.
SOUTH SHORE
EXPLORE TAHOE
(530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us
Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits and programs.
HEAVENLY
(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com
Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. Ticket required.
LAKE TAHOE MUSEUM
Sat. (closed holidays) & by appt.
(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org
Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. Pick up walking tour maps.
Readings
Lake Tahoe ELEVATION: 6,224.65’ IN 2021: 6,223.93’ NATURAL RIM: 6,223’
Truckee River FLOW AT FARAD: 391 CFS
TROA NET
TAHOE ART LEAGUE GALLERY
(530) 544-2313 | talart.org
Featuring works by local artists & workshops.
TALLAC HISTORIC SITE
(530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org
Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World” as the summer retreat for three San Francisco elite families with the Baldwin Estate, Pope Estate & Valhalla. Grounds open year-round. Tours in summer.
DONNER SUMMIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY donnersummithistoricalsociety.org
At Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40.
EMIGRANT TRAIL MUSEUM
(530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov
The Emigrant Trail Museum features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party (1846-47) at Donner Memorial State Park. See the towering Pioneer Monument.
KIDZONE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Tues.-Sat. | (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org
Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym.
MUSEUM OF TRUCKEE HISTORY
Fri.-Sun. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org
Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhibits cover different eras in Truckee history.
OLD JAIL MUSEUM
(530) 659-2378 | truckeehistory.org
One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses used from 1875 until May 1964 (summer tours). Closed for winter.
TOWN OF TRUCKEE
truckeehistory.org | truckee.com
Settled in 1863, Truckee grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad. During these early days, many historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown.
TRUCKEE RAILROAD MUSEUM
Sat.-Sun. & holidays
truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com
Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot.
WESTERN SKISPORT MUSEUM
Closed this season
(530) 426-3313, ext. 113 | auburnskiclub.org
Showcasing the history of skiing, exhibits include antique ski and snowshoe equipment, and a pair of 8-foot-long skis used by legendary mail carrier John “Snowshoe” Thompson. On Donner Summit next to Boreal.
Eagle Rock, one of the Lake’s most famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. Trail to top is on the south side.
FANNETTE ISLAND
(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov
Lake Tahoe’s only island is in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.)
HELLMAN-EHRMAN MANSION
Parking fee | parks.ca.gov
(530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours
Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion. See boathouses with historic boats and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. Summer tours.
VIKINGSHOLM CASTLE
(530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov | vikingsholm.com
Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle (interior tours closed for season), see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House.
Find more places to explore at TheTahoeWeekly.com
TRANSIT
North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org
ROAD CONDITIONS
California road conditions
quickmap.dot.ca.gov, (800) 427-7623
Nevada Road conditions
nvroads.com, (877) 687-6237 or 511 (while in Nevada)
VISITORS’ CENTERS
East Shore
Spooner Lake State Park (775) 831-0494
Kings Beach
Kings Beach State Rec. Area (Thurs.-Mon., July-Aug.)
Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463
South Shore At Heavenly Village. (530) 542-4637
Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900
Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (530) 587-8808
U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village
855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)
U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe
35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600
U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City
3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)
U.S. Forest Service | Truckee
10811 Stockrest Springs Rd. (530) 587-3558
National Forest access info
fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/RecreationSiteStatus
Read about how the lake was formed, Lake Tahoe’s discovery, lake clarity and more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Explore Tahoe
Learn
TheTahoeWeekly.com
Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years
Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs
Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)
Watershed Area: 312 square miles (808 sq km)
Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F (5.61˚C)
Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F (11.1˚C)
Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F (18.3˚C)
Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet (3,317 m)
Average Snowfall: 409 inches (10.4 m)
Permanent Population: 70,000
Number of Visitors: 15 million annually
About 3 to 5 million years ago, the valley that would become the Tahoe Basin sank between parallel fractures in the Earth’s crust as the mountains on either side continued to rise. A shallow lake began to form in the resulting valley.
Roughly 2 to 3 million years ago, erupting volcanoes blocked the outlet, forcing the lake to rise hundreds of feet above its current elevation, and eventually eroded down to near its current outlet.
Between 1 million and 20,000 years ago, large masses of glacial ice covered the west side of the Tahoe Basin. Current geologic theory suggests an earthen berm (moraine) left by a receding glacier near Olympic Valley acted as a dam, causing the lake level to rise and then draw down rapidly when the dam catastrophically failed. Between 7,000 and 15,000 years ago, a 4-mile segment of
the West Shore collapsed into the Lake causing a massive submerged debris avalanche, widening the Lake by 3 miles and creating McKinney Bay.
The Tahoe Basin is mostly granite, with little topsoil, and therefore few nutrients have washed into the lake to promote the growth of algae and other organisms that make water murky.
As well, 40 percent of the precipitation falling into the Tahoe Basin lands directly on the lake. The remaining precipitation drains through the decomposed granite soil found in marshes and meadows, creating a good filtering system for water.
Urbanization of the Tahoe Basin has eliminated 75 percent of its marshes, 50 percent of its meadows and 35 percent of its steam zone habitats. About 85 percent of all wildlife in the Tahoe Basin use these habitats.
Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California.
LAKE CLARITY:
2021: 61 feet avg. depth (18.6 m)
1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet (31.21 m)
AVERAGE DEPTH: 1,000 feet (304 m)
MAXIMUM DEPTH: 1,645 feet (501 m)
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, or 589 m, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.
VOLUME: 39 trillion gallons (147.6 trillion liters)
There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons (284 liters) of water per day for 5 years.
NATURAL RIM: 6,223’ (1,897 m)
Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. (1,897-1,899 m)
The top 6.1’ (1.8 m) of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water (91,845 m).
SIZE: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide (35 km long, 19 km wide) Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.
SHORELINE: 72 miles (116 km)
Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles (307 km). If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water (.38 m)
Sources: Tahoe Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, “Tahoe Place Names” and David Antonucci (denoted by 1). ©The Tahoe Weekly
The University of California, Davis, operates the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (tahoe. ucdavis.edu), which monitors the clarity of Lake Tahoe. Clarity has been measured since 1968 and was first recorded at 102.4’.
The waters of Lake Tahoe were clear to an average depth of 61’ (18.6m) in 2021. Lake Tahoe is losing clarity because of algae growth fueled by nitrogen and phosphorus.
Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California. It is fed by 63 streams and two hot springs. The Truckee River is Tahoe’s only outlet and flows from the dam in Tahoe City east through Reno and eventually drains into Pyramid Lake in Nevada.
However, water releases are not permitted when the lake surface level falls below the natural rim at 6,223’ (1,897 m). The lowest lake level on record (measured since 1900) was 6,220.26’ (1,896 m) on Nov. 30, 1992.
The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and blue light is scattered back.
The first recorded discovery of Lake Tahoe by white explorers was on Feb. 14, 1844, when John Charles Frémont and Charles Preuss spotted the lake from atop Red Lake Peak. The lake went through many names before it was officially named Tahoe in 1945. Tahoe is a mispronunciation of the first two syllables of the Washo’s word for the lake – Da ow a ga, which means “edge of the lake." n
LUNAFEST, the traveling festival of short films made by women, will appear at the Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema in Tahoe City on March 16. The festival includes the film “This is Beth,” produced by South Lake Tahoe-based filmmaker Sarah Steele about South Tahoe rock climber Beth Rodden and her struggles with body image.
The festival is a fundraiser for Girls on the Run Sierras, featuring seven films about a range of topics. Steele is a filmmaker who has focused on media that empowers new and underrepresented voices. She is a climber and follows the social media of world renowned climber Rodden
“I saw Beth posting on Instagram about body image and how she wanted to stop having so much pressure for her body to look a certain way,” said Steele. Steele was intrigued and felt this was a story that needed to be told. If Rodden, one of the best climbing athletes in the world, is concerned about her body image, what does that mean for other athletes?
“This story is like oxygen to the climbing community. I run a small all-woman
production company and asked Beth to do her story. She agreed, if we could get it out to where younger climbers would see it,” said Steele.
“I agreed because I knew if I had seen a film like this at so many different points in my life it would have had an impact on me,” said Rodden. “Now being a mother, I see how important it is to try and have authentic, real voices. And so, I thought that if making this film had even just a small impact on one person, it would be worth it. I love the climbing community, it has given me so much, but it’s not without room for improvement and I think body image and mental health are two very important areas where we need more voices.”
Rodden and the crew spent a week in Yosemite filming during the height of Covid, which had its challenges, but also left the park less crowded than it normally would have been.
“Working with the all-female crew allowed Beth to open up. We tried to focus on the inner body and body image in the film,” said Steele, but realized that even though Rodden is one of the top climbers in history, she is now a mother in her 40s and younger climbers might not know her, so the film also includes beautiful images of some of Rodden’s most famous climbs. It is both a heartwarming story about coming to
terms with one’s body and an inspiring exploration into the world of rock climbing.
“The conversations we had about body image resonated so much with everyone,” Steele said. “Body image is not just a female issue, it affects everyone.” And it especially impacts top athletes
“This story is like oxygen to the climbing community. I run a small all-woman production company and asked Beth [Rodden] to do her story. She agreed if we could get it out to where younger climbers would see it.”
– Sarah Steelewho are competitive and determined to do their best.
The goal of the film is to pass on the lesson “that a soft body can be a climber body, you don’t need to look a certain way to be a climber. She is
one of the world’s most accomplished rock climbers who had this toxic inner dialog, and she broke free of that,” said Steele, who will be at the showing to discuss the film.
Girls on the Run Sierras is a nonprofit program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. GOTR Sierras has been part of the Tahoe-Reno region since 2007, giving around 5,000 girls the opportunity to gather every spring and fall to have fun while working on life skills such as confidence and humility while staying active.
“We are so thrilled to have Sarah Steele, the producer of the film “This is Beth” with us for LUNAFEST. Similar to our Girls on the Run program, this film explores body image, cultivating confidence and how the path to nurturing our whole self starts from within. It’s exciting that out of all the films submitted to LUNAFEST, this film from two amazing women from South Lake Tahoe was chosen,” said GOTR Sierras executive director Joy Heuer. | tahoearthauscinema.com, lunafest.org n
MARCH
4-10
MARCH
MARCH
Tahoe Boho, Tahoe City
5-9 p.m. | Fat Friday Cajun Cookout | The Bridgetender, Tahoe City
5-10 p.m. | SnowFest So Fresh | Jake’s on the Lake, Tahoe City
7-11 p.m. | Milk Jug Curling Finals | Tahoe City Winter Sports Park
MARCH 11
8-11 a.m. | Pancake breakfast | North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach
9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Alaskan Snow Golf Tournament | Tahoe City Golf Course
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Kings Beach SnowFest Parade
12:30-1:30 p.m. | SnowBall Drop | Tahoe Backyard, Kings Beach
Kings Beach SnowFest! parade. | NTBA
The 41st annual North Lake Tahoe SnowFest!, a family-friendly, mountain Mardi Gras celebration, continues until March 12 with events in Tahoe City and Kings Beach.
Highway 28 will be closed during the Kings Beach Parade on March 11. The parade will start at Secline Street and end at Racoon Street. The announcing stand and judges table will be next to the King Building near the Bear Street Roundabout. Highway 28 will be closed during the parade from the Highway 267 intersection to Fox Street.
Most events are free. Check the website for event updates. | tahoesnowfest.org
12:30-2:30 p.m. | Parade after-party w/keg-rolling races
| Tahoe Backyard, Kings Beach
3-5:30 p.m. | Build your own SnowFest! pennant | Tahoe Boho, Tahoe City
9-11 p.m. | “Home” jazz, blues and funk band
| Tahoe National Brewing Co., Tahoe City
MARCH 12
12-4 p.m. | Snow Sculpture Contest & Closing Ceremony
| River Ranch, Alpine Meadows
12-1 p.m. | I-Did-A-Run Race | Tahoe Donner Downhill
4-6 p.m. | Wing-Eating Contest | Fat Cat, Tahoe City
Walking down the staircase into the Village at Northstar recently, I had a flashback to the first time I skied at Northstar California in the late 80s. My dad carried my skis down the same staircase from these same lots and that excitement of us going into the village to ski, shop and play is still palpable. Even now in its 50th year, Northstar has kept that family-friendly, California-cool vibe while trying to strike a balance between improving the guest experience and being stewards of the community.
Because I got there at 7:30 a.m., I was able to quickly get my lift ticket and hop on the gondola, where I met up with Ashlee Lambert, Northstar’s communications manager. We were at the top of the mountain by 9:15 a.m. and took a few runs down Burnout, the East Ridge and even went through the fun kids’ zone/art sculpture garden. Its new high-speed, six-pack Comstock lift kept the lines moving and I noticed the clear and consistent signage throughout the mountain that kept people safe on the trails.
Lambert and I took a mid-morning break at The Lodge at Big Springs, where I guzzled one of the most delicious hot cocoas I’ve ever had and we talked about the past, present and future of Northstar. Staring out toward the halfpipe accessible from the Vista chairlift, Lambert said Northstar recently hosted the Rockstar Women’s Only
Weekend, which was such a success that attendees are already asking when the next one will be held.
Speaking of women, Tahoe ski industry veteran Amy Ohran just became the resort’s fourth female general manager and it was clear to me that Lambert is proud of where she works and the direction in which Northstar is going.
Even now in its 50th year, Northstar has kept that family-friendly, California-cool vibe while trying to strike a balance between improving the guest experience and being stewards of the community.
Lambert passionately talks about Northstar’s commitment to the environment and how to keep sustainable tourism.
Everyone understands that there are issues with accessibility and capacity into the resort and the need to balance short-term guests and locals. Programs such as TART Park & Ride that Vail Resorts invested in could greatly reduce traffic, if only people used it.
“The traffic you’re sitting in is the same I’m sitting in,” Lambert says. “What’s tough is we have a lot of resources that people don’t realize.”
She explains that a trend this year is that more locals are coming to Northstar than destination group travelers, but that’s also one or two people per vehicle who aren’t as likely to carpool. “We’re trying to figure out how to better incentivize people to use that service. How can we make all those things more efficient and better educate people on that?” Lambert says.
Considering that these types of issues are happening in other destinations driven by increased interest and participation in the sport, we talk about how it’s not just a Northstar problem or even a regional problem, it’s a ski industry problem.
Lambert and I then took a few more runs and headed down to the new Wild Pine restaurant. Its interior pays homage to Northstar’s earlier life as a lumber yard (before relaunching as a ski resort in December 1972) and it has a unique menu of hearty tasty food and a page full of libations. Lambert and I both got Bliss Bowls, hers with roasted chicken and mine with tofu. I couldn’t believe how good mine tasted; I would go back to Northstar just for that.
Lambert admits that the last few years of the pandemic hit the tenants in the Village at Northstar hard, but some have remained and a few new ones have
moved in, providing a new energy/mix of retailers and vendors.
We took the gondola back up to catch Tōst on the East Ridge trail with about 200 other people and with bubbles in our tummies, we went through the terrain park and halfpipe.
Lambert did give me a glimpse into the next 50 years, which could include putting in another gondola from Castle Peak to the Village to ease vehicle issues and continuing to support community stakeholders in their efforts to maintain the quality of life for those who live and work here full time.
“We want to celebrate the history but continue to improve the experience and work with all the different agencies to preserve what other people love about Lake Tahoe. We want to be stewards of this place, look at what sustainable tourism is in Tahoe and how we can contribute to that,” Lambert says. Cheers to the next 50 years, Northstar. | northstarcalifornia.com n
Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com/Events to add your Event for our print & online calendars.
The 2023 Truckee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival is slated for June 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Truckee Tahoe Airport in Truckee. Exhibitors, vendors, volunteers and sponsors are needed. | truckeetahoeairshow.com
Keep Tahoe Blue has plans for a new environment and education center to provide opportunities for the public to learn, appreciate and take part in protecting Lake Tahoe. The project will feature an outdoor amphitheater, native plant educational garden, citizen science laboratory and environmental center open to the public, located at the intersection of Route 50 and Al Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe, off the bike path.
View architectural renderings, learn more about the project and donate on the website. | keeptahoeblue.org
An extensive skiing and Winter Olympics artifacts collections will soon be displayed at The SNOW Sports Museum at Boatworks at Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City.
The exhibits include the Batiste Family collection of memorabilia from the 1960 Winter Olympics, including artifacts from Walt Disney; 19th-Century longboard ski reproductions and authentic waxing artifacts from the Craig Beck collection; and vintage skiing equipment from Auburn Ski Club collection.
Also featured is the photo collection of Official Olympic Photographer Bill Briner and a scale model reproduction of historic Blyth Arena where the American hockey team first won gold in 1960. The first exhibits will be presented by early April. | thesnowmuseum.org
U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is hosting the 2023 Ski with a Ranger conservation education program at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Skiers and snowboarders can take tours that will depart from Tamarack Lodge at the top of the Heavenly Gondola every Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tours last approximately one hour and will continue through the end of March, weather permitting.
Participants must be intermediate level skiers/boarders or better and provide their own lift ticket. No reservations are required. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis and group size is limited to 12. | (530) 543-2790
Sit in the slow crawl of winter weekend traffic and the need to reduce vehicles in Truckee and Tahoe is apparent. Sure, you can take the Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) bus to the resorts from most places around the lake but what about public transit for backcountry access?
This year microtransit options through the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance Shuttle and TART Connect app provide some options as the programs expand to Truckee and South Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe Backcountry Alliance (TBA), the area’s leading advocate for human-powered winter backcountry, expanded its microtransit program this year. The grant-funded program increased available dates this year and offered a South Shore shuttle in February. The shuttle’s service area now covers most of the region including Truckee to Emerald Bay, as well as Incline Village and Mount Rose Summit.
“Our goal with the program ... is really about changing minds and getting people to think about going to the trailheads differently,” says Tahoe Backcountry Alliance CEO Anthony Cupaiuolo.
“Recreational microtransit is something that can make sense in the long run.” His hope is that in the future, backcountry riders will think of taking transit as a primary option.
I pull into the Tahoe City Transit Center early on a Saturday morning and find Michael Keating, owner of Tahoe Sierra Transportation, waiting in a warmed-up Suburban. TBA hires Tahoe Sierra Transportation to drive in North
Lake while Crown Taxi drives for South Lake. Our group loads up gear and we’re whisked down the West Shore, taking in the views and drinking coffee rather than stressing about finding a parking spot or any other white-knuckle concerns.
Our group loads up gear and we’re whisked down the West Shore, taking in the views and drinking coffee rather than stressing about finding a parking spot or any other white-knuckle concerns.
Heading south down the West Shore, the first option for a drop is the top of Ward Creek Road at the bottom of Palisades Tahoe/Alpine Meadows’s Sherwood Chair. Normally requiring an Ikon pass or home ownership to access, a TBA shuttle drop here and an hour or two skin can get you to the southeast facing terrain below Grouse Rock, the short but sweet chute nestled between Twin Peaks, or storm laps in the north-facing trees below Stanford Rock.
On this sunny mid-winter day, our group opts for big views and we continue south. Rubicon Peak is a backcountry ski spot ideal for the TBA shuttle.
The trailhead is nestled in a residential
neighborhood with limited parking, especially on a decent snow year. The route is one of the best tree runs on the lake with a north aspect, 2,000 feet of consistent fall line and relative protection from avalanche hazard.
We ask Keating to take us to the end of the line, the gates at the north end of Emerald Bay. This area between Jake’s Peak and Emerald Bay Chutes offers see-it-and-ski-it options where you can dial up the aspect, from southeast to northeast, according to temperatures and time of day. In a region with countless epic views, this one surpasses them all as wide-open turns flow more than 2,000-feet down to the green depths of Emerald Bay.
Many backcountry trailheads start in neighborhoods where at best, you may tick off some locals and at worst, congestion can cause safety issues. TART Connect, the microtransit service which launched on the North Shore in 2021 and in Truckee this past summer, can alleviate some of these problems and provide door-to-trailhead access, on demand.
The handy app gives you an estimated pick up time before requesting a ride making it easy to time a rendezvous. TART Connect is focused on those in and around town centers so don’t expect a ride to Mount Rose or Brockway Summit. But for in-neighborhood access to great skiing around Incline Village or Tahoe Donner, the on-demand microtransit service is a great option. While current public transit choices may be limited due to range, availability or consistency, the goal is to open minds
and gauge demand. With the combination of reduced stress and less cars on the road, transit-assisted backcountry access is part of the future of Tahoe recreation.
For the best storm day options, take the TBA Shuttle to Stanford Rock or Rubicon Peak on the West Shore (1 to 2 hours with 2,000’ of vertical).
For the best TART options, head to Sunrise Bowl in Tahoe Donner (1 hour, 700’ of vertical) or Rose Knob Peak in Incline Village (3 to 4 hours, 2,200’ vertical). n
North Shore
March 11, 18 & 25
Reservations (530) 550-5300, info@tahoesierratransportation. com
TART BUS
tahoetruckeetransit.com
Placer & Washoe counties and Town of Truckee
TART connect app or (530) 214-5811
Saying goodbye to friends is hard, especially when they’ve become part of the tight-knit ski community. There have been so many recent ski community tragedies, it’s mind numbing.
I lost two friends in two weeks, guys that I competed against in ski events and who ultimately became my friends. They were both giants in skiing and in real life; their presence and accomplishments were admired worldwide. Kyle Smaine, 31, died in an avalanche in Japan on Jan. 29; two weeks before that we lost Jeff Hamilton, 56, to cancer.
This is what I wrote and felt about Kyle in a 2010 piece when he had yet to finish his senior year in high school: “The future of skiing comes from South Lake Tahoe and is presented to us in the human form known as Kyle Smaine. Remember this 18-year-old’s name as this Heavenly Mountain rider is the skier of the year. His race and freeride results for this year alone are unparalleled in the history of winter sports. Kyle took second in Daron Rahlves’ Silver Belt Banzai at Sugar Bowl, first place at the Buckle Up Big Air at Sierra-at-Tahoe, fifth in a NorAm Skiercross, 11th in Heavenly’s Far West Slalom Championship, sixth at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in halfpipe, two firsts and a second in three separate rail jam events and was winner of the High Five’s Trains Slopestyle at Sugar Bowl.
“Luckily for me, I was in the start gate riding with him at three of those events and got to see firsthand his power and ease. Kyle is an amazing competitor, always smiling and charging, a real inspiration to all who hang with him. … The future of skiing is in good hands, thanks to those guys and their massive crew.”
It’s hard now to believe I was hanging with those guys 13 years ago. It doesn’t seem that long, but during that time Kyle matured into a fine man. Part of that crew I referenced includes David Wise, Walter Wood, Davis Souza and Kyle’s best friend and constant ski companion, photographer Brian Walker. In the last 12 years, Kyle went on to achieve many more trophies, trips, photo shoots, a college degree and an ultimate career gold medal halfpipe win in Austria at the 2015 FIS World Championships. These talents enabled him to live a life he truly loved, a life on skis. My heart goes out to his family and his wife Jenna.
Olympic champion, friend, fellow competitor and Truckee local Jeff Hamilton died after a lengthy battle with cancer. During his last days, he balanced survival and family in a most heroic and inspirational way, emblematic of how he lived his life. Back in 1991, Jeff ultimately beat me at Silverton, Colo., during the North American Speed Skiing Championships and Olympic qualifier to make the U.S. Ski Team and I felt I couldn’t have lost out to a nicer guy. He made the U.S. Ski Team and then went on to win a bronze medal in the Olympics when it became a demonstration sport in 1992.
After the Olympics, he further cemented his legacy to the sport by becoming the world-record holder in speed skiing and the first human to break the 150-mph threshold and simultaneously breaking theretofore unknown barriers in science and sport. His coach at Auburn Ski Club said he was always a great glider. A glider can do well in speed events, carrying his or her speed across the flatter portions of a course. He carried that skill to the world stage and made America and the world proud. He was not just a great glider, but a great guy.
Jeff gave and gave to everyone: to his kids, his friends, the Auburn Ski Club, his business and his cherished wife, Carolyn. She returned that love in one way with a most eloquent and heartfelt eulogy published in Moonshine Ink so everyone could enjoy this hero’s last days. She did his life justice and I hope we can continue to give all these fallen skiers the justice they deserve, whether in our hearts or in the annals of sport history. n
In 2023, Truckee Trails Foundation’s work will center on the Sawtooth Trail Network to integrate and expand trail-building projects, balance trail use more evenly across the network, improve session progression from easier trails to more challenging ones, support longer rides and work with High Fives Foundation and Achieve Tahoe to make the existing trails more suitable for adaptive riders, according to the group. Other projects include working with Town of Truckee to enhance connections to Truckee River Legacy Trail and regular trail maintenance. The Foundation also plans to start work on the first piece of Pines to Mines, which will link Truckee with Nevada City. | truckeetrails.org
The snow is deep and the fun is endless! From backyard play to backcountry adventures, Mountain Hardware & Sports has the gear you and your family need to keep making memories this winter season.
Snow Toys & Sleds
/ BLAIRSDEN
WINTER FAMILY FUN
All
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. Closes March 12
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.
Closes March 12
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
*Sno-Park permit required; (916) 324-1222 or ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks.
conditions in advance. TRANSIT North Tahoe & Truckee | laketahoetransit.com South Shore | tahoetransportation.org Featuring a winter menu prepared by the award-winning culinary team, weekly specials with select wine recommendations, a full bar and cozy fireside seating. OPEN DAILY 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT GRANLIBAKKEN TAHOE. PLUS! Cedar Seeds members earn points with every visit! Ts & Cs Apply. Scan for days, times of operation and for the menu Cheers! Eat, Drink & Be irish National Cocktail Day St. Patrick’s Day Enjoy 20% off all cocktails on Friday, March 24 Friday, March 17 Celebrate a tasty Irish feast this RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE ‘22-23 SEASON RESERVE ONLINE AT TCPUD.ORG/WINTER Limited walk-ups will be offered based on availability. CROSS COUNTRY SKIING · SLEDDING SNOWSHOEING · ICE SKATING 530.583.1516 251 NORTH LAKE BLVD. TAHOE CITY Visit tcpud.org/winter for more Know Before You Go tips, details on sessions, season passes, and reservations. Winter Fun for Everyone! LAST DAY of the SEASON SUNDAY, MARCH 12 (conditions permitting)
Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com/ Events to add your Event for our print & online calendars.
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 10:30-11 a.m., (530) 5827846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
Storytime
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 11 a.m., (775) 5886411, library.douglascountynv.gov
Wine & Ice Competition
Gatekeeper’s Museum, Tahoe City, noon to 3 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Ski With a Ranger
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 1 p.m.
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 4 p.m., (530) 582-7846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
West Shore Market Cornhole Tournament
West Shore Market, Tahoe City, 4-10 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
The Giving Fund Winter Speaker Series
The Lodge Restaurant & Pub, Truckee, 5 p.m., (530) 587-9400, tahoedonner.com
Milk Jug Curling
Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, Tahoe City, 7-11 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Golden Meet & Greet
Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District, Truckee, 9:30-10:30 a.m., (530) 582-7720, tdrpd.org
Family Storytime
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., washoecountylibrary.us/libraries/incline-village.php
Preschool Storytime (Tahoe City)
Tahoe City Library, Tahoe City, 10:30 a.m., (530) 5462021, placer.ca.gov/2093/Library
Mother Goose on the Loose South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10:30 a.m., eldoradolibrary.org
Preschool Storytime
Truckee Library, Truckee, 10:30 a.m., (530) 582-7846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
Fifty Classic Adventures in California NOVUS Select, South Lake Tahoe, 5:30 p.m. facebook. com/skirunpresents
Prom Night
Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, Tahoe City, 6-10 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Ski With a Ranger
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, 10 a.m., (775) 586-7000, skiheavenly.com
Interpretive Mountain Tours
Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., (775) 832-1177, diamondpeak.com
Baby Lapsit (Kings Beach Library)
Kings Beach Library, Kings Beach, 10:30 a.m., (530) 546-2021, placer.ca.gov/2093/Library
Ski With a Ranger
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, 1 p.m., (775) 586-7000, skiheavenly.com
“SnowFest so Fresh” Ft. “Ike and Martin”
Jake’s On The Lake, Tahoe City, 4-8:30 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Evening Snowshoe Hikes
Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village, 5 p.m., (775) 832-1177, diamondpeak.com
North Tahoe PUD Pancake Breakfast
North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, 8:30-11:30 a.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Alaskan Open Snow Golf Tournament
Tahoe City Golf Course, Tahoe City, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Donner Snowshoe Historical Tours
Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, 11 a.m., (530) 583-9911, sierrastateparks.org
Snowfest Keg Races and Parade After Party
Tahoe Backyard, Kings Beach, 12:30 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
North Tahoe PUD Dress up Your Dog
Tahoe Backyard, Kings Beach, 1-2 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
Snowshoe Tour & Chalet Dinner
The Chalet at Alpine, Alpine Meadows, 4 p.m., (800) 403-0206, palisadestahoe.com
Twilight Snowshoe Tour Village at Northstar, Truckee, 5 p.m., northstarcalifornia.com
Sierra Speaker Series: History Got It Wrong
Sierra State Parks Foundation, Tahoe City, 5-6:30 p.m., (530) 583-9911, sierrastateparks.org
Snowshoe Star Tour
North Lake Tahoe. Specific trailhead based on snow conditions. , Tahoe Vista, 5:30-9:30 p.m., (530) 9139212
SUNDAY, MARCH 12
Donner Snowshoe Historical Tours
Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, 11 a.m., (530) 583-9911, sierrastateparks.org
Ididarun Sled Dog Race
Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort, Truckee, noon, (530) 587-9400, tahoedonner.com
Snow Sculpture Contest
North Lake Tahoe SnowFest, Tahoe City, noon to 4 p.m., tahoesnowfest.org
MONDAY, MARCH 13
Crawl Space Baby and Toddler Program
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org/hours
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Play & Learn Program
South Lake Tahoe Library, 9 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org/hours
Family Storytime
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., washoecountylibrary.us/libraries/incline-village.php
Golden Hour 55+
North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, 11:30 a.m., (530) 546-7249, northtahoeevents.com
Reading Furends
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 3:30 p.m., (775) 588-6411, library.douglascountynv.gov
Play & Learn Program
El Dorado County Community Hub 5, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m., eldoradocommunityhubs.com/hub-5
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)
Saturn in Pisces will prove extra powerful for you. A transitionary cycle from what was to what will be could prove disintegrating, somehow. At worst, you could end up feeling lost and confused. Positively, you will dissolve lifestyle rhythms that have served their time, limiting attitudes, selfconcepts, and perceptions.
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)
Saturn in Pisces for you will synchronize with a full spectrum of returns based on years of activity and effort, or lack thereof. So, understand the repercussions of what they are. Anticipate the results of if and how you have been negligent, evasive or uncooperative or focused, disciplined, and steadfast.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21)
Saturn in Pisces could prove quite empowering for you. However, with power comes responsibility. You should expect that you will have to make extra efforts and to ‘pay your dues’ both literally and figuratively. Your task list will include the need to face some fears, yet by doing so you will claim gifts they conceal.
Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22)
Are you ready to set sail on an adventurous journey in search of new knowledge and wisdom? Well, ready or not, the ship is leaving the docks and you are on it. Your willingness to travel lighter to travel freer is featured. Be willing to downsize and aim for simplicity and minimalism where possible.
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 23)
A cycle of deep change and transformation has begun within Saturn in Pisces. It will continue for three years until Saturn fully enters Aries. Since resistance is futile, you are wise to focus to be more conscious of what is destined and to cooperate fully. Metaphorically, you will grow wings to fly more freely.
Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22)
The time has come to enter a whole new phase of focus and commitment. New knowledge, research and creativity are featured. Discipline and patient diligence will be required. Aim to be clear with your goals and consistent with your efforts, extending your vision over the long-term.
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
For the sake of your overall level and quality of health, the time has come to be willing to learn new skills and integrate new levels of discipline. Making a healthier lifestyle routine and rhythm your new norm is the key. Focus to do the work mentally, emotionally and physically both inside and out.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Saturn in Pisces could prove quite empowering for you in terms of your creative resolve for the sake of new levels of success.
Yet, you should be prepared to establish a more disciplined flow based on long-term commitment. The flow factor includes your ability to be consistent yet flexible in a nonlinear way.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
You have entered an important and somewhat complex cycle with Saturn in Pisces. Positively, it indicates an extended period of a few years during which time you will be pushed to confront some of your biggest fears. Latent gifts and treasures beneath these fears are ready to be claimed.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
The time has come to put on your critical thinking cap and review all your lessons. Your learning curve will include philosophical perspectives linked to ethics, truth and justice. You will also learn lessons about how to fight and to discern the difference between selfish ends versus fighting the good fight.
Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 19)
Saturn in Pisces will prove complex for everyone. For you, striking the balance between fact and fiction, reality and fantasy, and inner and outer allegiance are examples of your mission. You will be expected to commit and be disciplined yet also to discern where and how to let go and let God.
Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Saturn transiting through your own sign initially implies a prolonged cycle of increased discipline. The more you can set clear goals and objectives, the better. A steady learning curve is implied, and you should be ready and willing to shoulder the responsibility of getting crystal clear regarding desired outcomes.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE14
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Free Blood Pressure Clinic
Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, South Lake Tahoe, 8 a.m. to noon, bartonhealth.org
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 10:30-11 a.m., (530) 5827846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
Puppets With Chris Arth
KidZone Museum, Truckee, 11 a.m., (530) 587-5437, kidzonemuseum.org
Storytime
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 11 a.m., (775) 5886411, library.douglascountynv.gov
Free Blood Pressure Clinic
Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness, South Lake Tahoe, 1-4 p.m., (530) 541-3420, bartonhealth.org
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 4 p.m., (530) 582-7846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
Advocacy 101
Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 5 p.m., sislt.org
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
Golden Meet & Greet
Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District, Truckee, 9:30-10:30 a.m., (530) 582-7720, tdrpd.org
Family Storytime
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., washoecountylibrary.us/libraries/incline-village.php
Mother Goose on the Loose
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10:30 a.m., eldoradolibrary.org
Preschool Storytime
Truckee Library, Truckee, 10:30 a.m., (530) 582-7846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
LUNAFEST 2023
Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema, Tahoe City, 7:30 p.m., (530) 584-2431, tahoearthauscinema.com
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
Play Forever Friday
Boreal Mountain, Soda Springs, 8:35 a.m., (530) 4263666, rideboreal.com
Ski With a Ranger
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, 10 a.m., (775) 586-7000, skiheavenly.com
Interpretive Mountain Tours
Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., (775) 832-1177, diamondpeak.com
Red Bull Slide-In Tour
Boreal Mountain, Soda Springs, rideboreal.com
Ski With a Ranger
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, 1 p.m., (775) 586-7000, skiheavenly.com
Family Dinner & Reading Night
Boys & Girls Club, Kings Beach, 5 p.m., bgcnlt.org
Game Night
North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, 6 p.m., (530) 546-7249, northtahoeevents.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
Red Bull Slide-In Tour
Boreal Mountain, Soda Springs, rideboreal.com
Gold Rush Festival
Royal Gorge Cross Country, Soda Springs, 9 a.m., (530) 426-3871, royalgorge.com
Donner Snowshoe Historical Tours
Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, 11 a.m., (530) 583-9911, sierrastateparks.org
St. Barles’ Day
South Lake Brewing Company, South Lake Tahoe, 2 p.m., (530) 578-0087, southlakebeer.com
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
Red Bull Slide-In Tour
Boreal Mountain, Soda Springs, rideboreal.com
Gold Rush Festival
Royal Gorge Cross Country, Soda Springs, 9 a.m., (530) 426-3871, royalgorge.com
Free Fun Day for Special Needs Families
TubeTahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., (530) 600-2304, tubetahoe.com
Historic Longboard Revival Race Series
Ski Area at Plumas Eureka State Park, Blairsden, 10 a.m., plumasskiclub.org
Donner Snowshoe Historical Tours
Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, 11 a.m., (530) 583-9911, sierrastateparks.org
MONDAY, MARCH 20
Crawl Space Baby and Toddler Program
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
Play and Learn Program
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 9 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org
Family Storytime
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30 a.m., (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us
Golden Hour 55+
North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, 11:30 a.m., (530) 546-7249, northtahoeevents.com
Tea Party
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 2:30 p.m., (775) 588-6411, library.douglascountynv.gov
Reading Furends
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 3:30 p.m., (775) 588-6411, library.douglascountynv.gov
Play & Learn Program
El Dorado County Community Hub 5, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m., eldoradocommunityhubs.com/hub-5
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 10:30-11 a.m., (530) 5827846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library
Storytime
Zephyr Cove Library, Zephyr Cove, 11 a.m., (775) 5886411, library.douglascountynv.gov
RUFF (Read up for Fun)
Truckee Library, Truckee, 4 p.m., (530) 582-7846, nevadacountyca.gov/336/Truckee-Library Find
Swirls of movement, blue and gray images that evoke layers of shapes, some familiar while others look like alien worlds from a far-off galaxy. When I first look at the photograph, it is unclear what I am looking at until I realize what I see is through the lens, a close-up image of ice.
This is the magic Brian Shepp captures in his ice photography. The images of natural beauty offer a magnificent glimpse of nature beyond what the naked eye can see.
I sit across from Shepp in his office as we settle in to discuss his art. Over his shoulder is a framed photograph on the wall behind him. A face of surprise gazes back at me. The photograph makes me smile. I point it out and Shepp says, “That piece is called ‘Oh!’”
I immediately understand why. Shepp has captured joy in the ice.
As Shepp walks me around his home, we explore his art. Many are from his recent art exhibit at Truckee Tahoe Airport. The images he’s captured and created from photos of ice are stunning. It’s as if he captures layers of nature within nature.
He holds up a piece entitled, “Mother and Child,” and there, clear as day, is a mother and child embraced deep in the recesses of the ice.
Shepp moved to Truckee 12 years ago from Los Angeles, where he was an artist and filmmaker. As an artist in LA, he
was a painter and painted large images of faces. In Truckee, the magic of the environment captured his soul.
“When I moved up here, I started taking photographs while I was on walks.
small and the infinitely large create these images,” says Shepp.
He points out that when the edges of the lake or the river freeze and melt with the varying temperatures, new patterns and layers are created.
“My idea is to express the beauty of a region less traditionally. I like photos that have a lot of movement — when it dances,” Shepp says. “There is a whole world hidden in plain sight.”
His self-portraits taken through ice look as if his image is lost to the depths of a frozen world.
According to Shepp, intention is important: “When I am looking for ‘it,’ I look to see whether I can capture ‘it.’ I am seeking an intentional moment in the ice.”
Each tells a story and there in the ice I see it so clearly. It’s as if Shepp’s lens capture the profound shapes of nature within the ice. There in the ice is an image of a squid, images of vertebrae, human and animal figures and faces all caught in a photo of ice. He shows me a framed piece hanging on the wall — the ice portrays the moment of conception as a sperm-like image moves toward an egg. It’s truly magical.
Shepp’s photographs are available on online. Images are printed on acrylic glass or aluminum. His curated triptychs of his artwork are gorgeous. | brianshepp.com n
It started with the lake, sunsets, mountains and trees,” says Shepp, adding that it was ice that eventually caught his interest. “Each photo of ice has intention.”
During the winter, Shepp became curious about how molecules of ice created the images he captured with his camera when Donner Lake would freeze. Even his home on the west end of Donner Lake is like an igloo encapsulated by large icicles.
“I like exploring how the macro becomes the micro, how the infinitely
The “it” is the moment when the artist knows he or she has captured something special. Shepp’s art illuminates something special. He generally goes out early in the morning to take his photos. He looks for unusual patterns in the ice. When the sky is blue, his images tend to be bluer and if it’s cloudy, his photos lend themselves to black and white. Shepp points out that he loves when the crystals dilute. They create unique icy forms or matrix-type images. He waits for the sunlight to move.
Some of Shepp’s work bears titles that make perfect sense, from “Happy Cyclops” to “Deconstructed Mikey,” “Alien Seductress” and “Squid Party.”
“My idea is to express the beauty of a region less traditionally. I like photos that have a lot of movement — when it dances. There is a whole world hidden in plain sight.”
– Brian Shepp
his or her submission may email North Tahoe Arts at info@northtahoearts.org.
For submission information, visit the website. For questions, contact Nathan at (530) 587-1620, opt 4 or art@theofficeboss.com. | theofficeboss.com
The Office Boss is hosting its eighth annual amateur art contest, “pARTicipate 8,” with the theme of “Agua, the Way of Water.” Amateur and nonprofessional artists in two categories: adult and child (age 14 and younger) can apply. Any and all genres that can hang on a wall will be accepted with a maximum size of 24 inches by 36 inches. The submission deadline is March 31.
Those accepted will be notified and the art must be delivered to The Office Boss in Truckee on April 7. There will be an award ceremony/exhibit celebration on April 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All accepted work will be displayed at The Office Boss from April through May. Winners will be offered a special exhibit at North Tahoe Art Center through the month of June.
Anyone needing assistance with
To highlight problems black bears in Tahoe are having existing in a popular tourist area, local filmmaker and photographer Riley McClaughry made the documentary “The Backyard Bears.”
The wildlife documentary features more than 57 days of McClaughry following bears and bear families in the wild — and the not-so-wild, Dumpster diving. He was careful not to stalk, but to keep his distance and learn the daily
habits of bears when possible. The 12-minute film shot throughout the region from Truckee to South Lake Tahoe is available online. | rileymcclaughrymedia.com
City of South Lake Tahoe is launching a pilot program to provide small grants for projects related to arts, culture and tourism. Microgrants will be issued in amounts between $500 and $5,000. Applications for the 2023 Arts, Culture, and Tourism Microgrant program will be open through April 17 to individual artists, arts-oriented groups, event organizers, civic groups, nonprofits with 501c3 status, and public and private school teachers and programs.
The microgrant is intended to be used as seed money or combined with a larger grant or other funding; it is not intended to fully fund projects, but rather to act as a catalyst. | cityofslt.us
Hannah Fridholm: Passed Recollection
Foyer Gallery located in the Fine Arts building at LTCC, South Lake Tahoe, March 8-22, 8 a.m., (530) 541-4660, ltcc.edu
Field Notes Exhibit
Truckee Community Recreation Center, Truckee, March 8-22, 8 a.m., melhopgallery.com
Incline HS AP Art students art exhibit Incline Village Library, Incline Village, March 8-22, 10 a.m., (775) 832-4130
Participate 8 Art Contest
North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City, March 8-22, 10 a.m., (530) 581-2787, northtahoearts.org
Winter in Lake Tahoe
Gatekeepers Museum, Tahoe City, March 8-22, 11 a.m., northtahoemuseums.org
Michelle Sweeney: Wildland
Haldan Art Gallery located in the Roberta Mason library building at LTCC, South Lake Tahoe, March 8-22, 11 a.m., (530) 541-4660, ltcc.edu
At Home: Functional Art in Lake Tahoe Cabins Gatekeepers Museum, Tahoe City, March 8-22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., northtahoemuseums.org
Incline Village Knitters Guild
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Incline Village, Wednesdays, 1 p.m., tahoeepiscopal.org
Winter Art Show Tahoe Art League, South Lake Tahoe, March 9-19, 11 a.m., (530) 544-2313, talart.org
Meet the Artist: Jack Storms
Marcus Ashley Fine Art Gallery, South Lake Tahoe, March 17-18, noon to 5 p.m., (530) 544-4278, marcusashley.com
Riley McClaughry
In1862, against stiff resistance from his Cabinet, President Abraham Lincoln determined that his administration could fight a costly war against pro-slavery Southern states, while simultaneously building the nation’s First Transcontinental Railroad, setting nearly 2,000 miles of train track across the rugged hinterlands from frontier Iowa to distant California.
Lincoln had always been a railroad man. In the 1850s he worked as a lobbyist and attorney for Illinois Central Railroad. Lincoln was a member of the Whig Party whose political platform supported industry and national development of infrastructure to promote economic growth.
Central Pacific recognized the work ethic and impressive productivity of its Chinese corps, but not enough to pay them the same wage as European Americans.
In the Illinois State Supreme Court, Lincoln argued that government land grants were necessary to spur railroad investment. He strongly urged counties to exempt train lines from taxation and successfully defended railroad company rights to build bridges over navigable rivers — against vigorous protests by established steamship companies — all of which set legal precedent that accelerated the development of America’s western railroad system.
During the early years of the California Gold Rush, William Tecumseh Sherman, a California banker and General of State Militia during San Francisco’s 1856 vigilante movement, explored the Sierra Nevada range on horseback searching for a possible rail route.
Sherman had graduated near the top of his class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where students are trained in engineering, as well as other practical skills. He concluded a line over the mountains was impossible, saying that if it is ever done, “it will take the work of giants.” Those titans would turn out to be an army of Chinese men, many only 5 feet tall.
One hundred and sixty years ago, in
BY MARK MCLAUGHLIN1863, during the tragic, bloody days of the American Civil War, California-based Central Pacific Railroad Company (CPRR) began construction of the western portion of the transcontinental railroad, east from Sacramento. The enterprise immediately ran into financial, political and engineering headwinds, although each would be solved in turn. Initially, CPRR’s workforce, like its competitor Union Pacific Railroad, which was working west from Council Bluffs, Iowa, were of European descent, mostly Irish. It wasn’t long, however, before the Irish laborers in California abandoned the backbreaking toil of shovel grading and laying track to seek their fortunes in the mines of Nevada and elsewhere.
The executive directors of CPRR, President Leland Stanford and his associates, Collis Huntington, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins, were facing a critical labor crisis with less than 50 miles of track completed. The federal government was subsidizing the colossal project with generous cash payments and land grants, but if the job was not completed by the contractual deadline, the transcontinental railroad would be taken over by the feds. In that case, Union Pacific and Central Pacific would lose everything. It was a massive gamble.
At the time there were 50,000 to 60,000 male Chinese nationals living in California, many of whom had arrived a decade before to strike it rich in the Gold Rush. Over time they worked as farmers, fishermen, merchants, masons, druggists, cooks, loggers, laundrymen and household domestics for Americans who could afford them. CPRR management was against the use of the Chinese workforce. Crocker wrote, “All our people were prejudiced against Chinese labor, there was a disposition not to employ them.”
The railroad’s construction supervisor, James Strobridge, was also against hiring them, having the bigoted belief that the Chinese did not have the physical or intellectual capacity to do the strenuous work. He also feared that whites would not work alongside them. Later, when he heard that CPRR was going to hire a crew of 50 to test their abilities and endurance, Strobridge remarked, “Good God! Celestials? They can’t handle a pick and shovel, let alone lift one.”
In 1861, Stanford had been elected California’s first Republican governor, running on a hate-filled campaign
against Chinese immigration. As a group Stanford denounced them as “the dregs” of Asia. He would change his tune when his company began to hire them by the thousands. By early 1865, CPRR was advertising in China through local merchants its need for contract laborers to build America’s great railroad. For many it was a rare economic opportunity.
Stanford’s opinion of the Asians miraculously transformed. During the six-year undertaking, CPRR hired an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese workers.
The railroad Chinese workers advanced the line up the western Sierra grade, reaching Clipper Gap in June 1865 and then Colfax on Sept. 4. As the terrain grew more challenging, crews became specialized in grading, tunneling and in the use of explosives. Others were skilled in stone masonry and their expert workmanship is still on display at retaining walls built for the railroad such as the remarkable structure known as China Wall above the west end of Donner Lake.
CPRR’s chief engineer Samuel S. Montague clearly admired his Chinese workers. He reported, “Many of them are becoming very expert in drilling, blasting, and other departments of rock work … the most difficult ever yet surmounted by any railroad in the United States, if not Europe. Heavy rock excavations that should have taken 18 months to complete have been pushed through in four to five months because of the great vigor of the effort.”
Central Pacific recognized the work ethic and impressive productivity of its Chinese corps, but not enough to pay them the same wage as European Americans. When the Chinese went on
strike to protest the financial disparity, Crocker cut off their food supplies and broke the revolt. But the railroad workers disciplined collective action gained grudging respect from Crocker who pledged to not dock pay for the walkout and there is evidence that wages went up for the Chinese workforce.
In the fall of 1866, the railhead reached the Sierra snowbelt. Much like this year, the winter of 1867 opened with powerful atmospheric-river weather events that hit the mountains early and hard. By Jan. 31, 1867, nearly 24 inches of rain had soaked San Francisco, the seventh wettest such period on record. In contrast, headline-making 2022-23 ranks 13th for the same timeframe.
In the alpine environment the daily risks of injury or death from construction accidents or explosive mishaps were magnified by lethal avalanches and bone-chilling cold.
Supervisor Strobridge described how Chinese laborers lived and worked in dark, frigid tunnels dug underneath the deep snowpack. These subterranean camps were sometimes swept away by snowslides, while other men froze to death in their sleep.
Stay tuned for Part II in the next edition; also available at TheTahoeWeekly. com/railroad. n
Watch a documentary on Chinese railroad workers or read more about the Transcontinental Railroad. | TheTahoeWeekly.com/railroad
The Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project | exhibits.stanford.edu/crrw
Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com/ Events to add your Event for our print & online calendars.
COSMIC COUNTRY
March 16-18 | Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats | Truckee
Idon’t like careful,” says Bill Maher. “I like bold. I like honest. I like surprising.”
For more than four decades, the controversial comedian and talk show host has walked a tightrope of honesty and mortality.
Cosmic country crooner Bart Budwig is a rousing trumpet player and cryin’style soul singer from Enterprise, Ore. His music is made up of seemingly incongruous parts: the thrum and strum of country, jazz guitar melodies and R&B vocals. When Budwig sings, he draws words into meditative mantras, wholenote neologisms that keep you hanging on until his raspy voice trails off in a ragged edge.
Like king mystic Van Morrison and melancholy prince Nick Drake, his power comes from vocal idiosyncrasies and dreamy visions weaved in rhyme. He sounds like John Prine, plays like Hoyt Axton and glows like a beatific lawn gnome. | moodysbistro.com
BLUEGRASS
March 18 | Alibi Ale Works
| Incline Village, Nev.
April 1 | Sierra-at-Tahoe | Twin Bridges
“If you asked me what I’m most proud of, that would be it: survival,” he says. “Every week is a test. Sometimes people say to me, ‘How’d the show go?’ If I haven’t been cancelled by tomorrow, then it went great.”
Maher’s willingness to take risks has paid off. Aside from staying in the media spotlight, he’s attracted a steady current of well-informed, fascinating guests to his weekly discussion panels on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” since 2003.
“I could be cancelled very easily,” he says. “Anybody could. But you don’t stay on TV for 30 years unless somebody likes you. There’s definitely an audience for what I do. It’s not like anything else. If you want to hear real honest talk, not tribalism, different points of view, people who talk with each other, listen to each other, there are not a lot of places that do that.”
Maher was born in 1956 in New York City and grew up in River Vale, New Jersey. The son of a radio announcer/ news editor and a nurse, he knew by age 10 that he wanted to be a comedian.
As part of the Ruckrich Family Band, a young Django Ruckrich performed on street corners, radio stations and festival stages across Northern California and even as far as Europe. In Broken Compass Bluegrass, the flatpicking guitarist is joined by fiddler Mei Lin
“My father was funny,” he says. “My mother was, too, but my father really was. I liked seeing him make his friends laugh. This was back in the day when families watched TV together. We’d all see the same kind of comics. You had that power if you could make people laugh. Even at 11 or 12, I remember transcribing comedy routines I saw on television just so how I could see how they looked written down. It was always on my mind. I never really considered doing anything else.”
After majoring in English and history at Cornell University, Maher moved to New York City to work at the comedy clubs.
“It’s certainly a lot more dangerous to be out there now,” he says. “When I was starting there were no cell phones, so you could be as politically incorrect
as you wanted to be and no one would know about it. We always hear the notion of crossing the line. Comedians would say, ‘How do we know where the line is unless we cross it?’ The comedy club was a place where everyone understood you were experimenting. Now I hear a lot about comics who say something and someone tweets it out and that’s it. I’m kind of glad I came up when I did.”
Maher’s original, boundary-pushing talk show, “Politically Incorrect,” first aired on Comedy Central in 1993. He’s advocated for free speech, civil discourse and good comedy ever since.
“At the time, ‘politically correct’ was a big phrase in the news,” he says. “I always thought it was the opposite of honest. Politicians say what people want to hear. It was never meant to be liberal or conservative; it’s just the opposite of bullshit. You might think people want you to say this or that, but what do you really think? What’s the real truth? It’s sort of revolt against that. Unfortunately, I thought I was going to drive a
stake through the heart of the beast and it only grew worse. George Carlin had the seven dirty words you can’t say. Now you can say pretty much all those words, but there are seven ideas you can’t say because they go against the one true opinion, which is a much more dangerous place to be in society.”
In his standup, Maher goes far beyond the political topics for which he’s best known to deliver intelligent, meaningful life discussion paired with old-school laughs.
“Standup comedy is about making people laugh hard,” he says. “Do I deal with serious subjects? Yes, but I go over the place with the stuff I talk about. If you’re faint of heart, don’t come to my show. If you want to laugh your ass off, come to my show. If you want to hear someone not pulling any punches, come to my show. I’m not a humorist. I’m a comedian.” | billmaher.com n
Events are subject to change & cancellation; always check in advance for current schedules.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
Heirendt of West 45 and Boston Ravine, hard-driving mandolinist Kyle Ledson of Cosmic Frog and freewheeling San Luis Obispo bassist Sam Jacobs. It’s a youthful supergroup that puts a new twist on traditional bluegrass with technical bravado and jam-band sensibility.
This is the last stop on the Road to WonderGrass Tahoe concert series before WinterWonderGrass Tahoe from March 31 to April 2 at Palisades Tahoe. | alibialeworks.com
COUNTRY ROCK
March 17 | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
musical elements. They bring a technicolor campfire quality to their hybrid electronic/acoustic arrangements. Each song is steeped in tradition yet polished in a futuristic sheen, joining organic folk, roots rock and old-time blues with modern production. | crystalbaycasino.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
Wild Wild Wednesdays W/Dj
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 11:30 a.m.
Ben Fuller at 22 Bistro
22 Bistro, Olympic Valley, 1 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Winter Music Series
Pizza on the Hill & Alder Creek Cafe, Truckee, 5-7 p.m.
Live Music With Ben Fuller
CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6-8 p.m.
Tahoe National Brewing Company
Tahoe National Brewing Co., Tahoe City, 6-8 p.m.
Wolves & Friends Live
The Good Wolf, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Rustler’s Moon
Bar of America, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Sierra Night
McP’s Taphouse Grill, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Daughter of comedian Rob Schneider and model London King, Tanner Elle Schneider, known professionally as Elle King, broke into the world’s consciousness with her 2015 folk-pop hit “Ex’s & Oh’s.” The vocalist and banjo player grew up in Ohio and later New York City before finding her footing as a bluesy country singer. She released her latest album, “Come Get Your Wife,” in January. | caesars.com
ELECTRO-FOLK
March 14 | Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Friday Night DJ
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 5:30 p.m.
Ben Fuller & Ryan Kinelski
Six Peaks Grille, Olympic Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Karaoke Night
Brewery & Barrel House, Truckee, 6 p.m.
TJ Carter & Band
Duke Theater, South Lake Tahoe, 6-8 p.m.
Alo - Tour D’ Amour XVI
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 7 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Winter Burlesque
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m.
Are You Madd Yet? Tour
Whiskey Dicks Saloon, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.
Live Music
Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Arty the Party
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.
Magic After Dark Starring Robert Hall
From the rugged Kootenay Mountains of western Canada, Nathan Gurley and Sean Rodman of electro-folk duo Moontricks draw inspiration from the cycles of the natural world, seeking solace in the fusion of seemingly disparate
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
Bally’s, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
SATURDAY,
Brunch + Beats
Stateline location, Stateline, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Drag Brunch
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stateline, 10:30 a.m.
DJ Cat
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, noon
DJs at Big Blue View Bar
Big Blue View Bar, Homewood, noon
Live Music
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.
Live Music With Jeff Connor
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 2-5 p.m.
Live Apres Music
Tamarack Lodge., South Lake Tahoe, 3 p.m.
Winter Music Series
Pizza on the Hill & Alder Creek Cafe, Truckee, 5-7 p.m.
Bill Maher
Bally’s, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Alo - Tour D’ Amour XVI
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 7 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Home Is Playing Live at the Hacienda Del Lago!
Moe’s Original BBQ , Tahoe City, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Winter Burlesque
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m.
Earthquake
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m.
Charlie Parr
Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Tahoe City, 8 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.
Live Music
Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
Bally’s, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY,
Brunch + Beats
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Moontricks
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m.
Tuesday Night Blues
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
Wild Wild Wednesdays W/Dj
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 11:30 a.m.
Ben Fuller at 22 Bistro
22 Bistro, Olympic Valley, 1 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
Winter Music Series
Pizza on the Hill & Alder Creek Cafe, Truckee, 5-7 p.m.
Live Music With Vincenzo Thomas Amato
CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6-8 p.m.
Wolves & Friends Live
The Good Wolf, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Andy Frasco & the Un
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 7 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Rustler’s Moon
Bar of America, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Sierra Night
McP’s Taphouse Grill, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.
Bart Budwig
Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
Friday Night DJ
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 5:30 p.m.
Ben Fuller & Ryan Kinelski
12
Stateline location, Stateline, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DJ Tutch Cassidy + His Ski Ranch Posse
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 11 a.m.
DJ Cat
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, noon
Live Music
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m.
9 Ball Pool Tourney
Pete ‘n Peter’s Sports & Spirits, Tahoe City, 6 p.m.
Sunday Bluegrass Jam
Truckee Public House, Truckee, 6-9 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 13
Open Stage Mondays
Truckee Public House, Truckee, 6 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring David Goldrake
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Six Peaks Grille, Olympic Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Karaoke Night
Brewery & Barrel House, Truckee, 6 p.m.
Leftover Salmon
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 7 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
“Heathers The Musical”
North Tahoe High School, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Winter Burlesque
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m.
Elle King
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m.
Bart Budwig
Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Live Music
Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Arty the Party
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.
Magic After Dark Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
Bally’s, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
Brunch + Beats
Stateline location, Stateline, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Drag Brunch
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stateline, 10:30 a.m.
DJ Cat
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, noon
DJs at Big Blue View Bar
Big Blue View Bar, Homewood, noon
Live Music With Patrick Walsh
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, noon to 3 p.m.
Live Music
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.
Live Apres Music
Tamarack Lodge., South Lake Tahoe, 3 p.m.
“Heathers The Musical”
North Tahoe High School, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.
Leftover Salmon
Crystal Bay Club, Crystal Bay, 7 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 & 9 p.m. Winter Burlesque
Bart Budwig
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.
Live Music
Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
Bally’s, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
Brunch + Beats
Stateline location, Stateline, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DJ Cat
Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Lake Tahoe, noon
Live Music
Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.
“Heathers The Musical”
North Tahoe High School, Tahoe City, 2 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 & 7 p.m.
9 Ball Pool Tourney
Pete ‘n Peter’s Sports & Spirits, Tahoe City, 6 p.m.
Sunday Bluegrass Jam
Truckee Public House, Truckee, 6-9 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 20
Open Stage Mondays
Truckee Public House, Truckee, 6 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Kalin & Jinger
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Tuesday Night Blues
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
Wild Wild Wednesdays W/Dj
Sierra At Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 11:30 a.m.
Ben Fuller at 22 Bistro
22 Bistro, Olympic Valley, 1 p.m.
Alex Ramon Magic Show
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
or call 530-546-0952 . Check website for updates: SierraCommunityHouse.org
Afriend called me the other day to ask if it was OK to eat the eggs in her fridge that were past their sell-by date. I asked her what the date was. It was only a few days past the “Sell-by” date. I told her I would eat them. Dates on grocery food pose a conundrum. Is it OK to eat food that has exceeded its labeling date? It depends. The United States wastes 30 to 40 percent of food produced. That waste ends up in our landfills, approximately 133 billion pounds of food waste per year, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Waste of this magnitude poses several problems, especially in a world where millions of people are food insecure. Food waste takes up more space in U.S. landfills than any other type of waste, including outdated food.
The United States wastes 30 to 40 percent of food produced. That waste ends up in our landfills, approximately 133 billion pounds of food waste per year, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Food labeling dates on groceries are not only confusing but may add to the waste in our landfills. More than 80 percent of Americans misunderstand labeling on grocery items and throw food out unnecessarily.
According to the FDA, no uniform or universally accepted descriptions are used on food labels for open dating in the United States. The only exception is infant formula. Even more interesting is product dating is not required by federal regulation. Therefore, it is left to the manufacturers to set dates. The labeling conundrum creates enormous amounts
of discarded garbage while manufacturers make more money.
I opened my refrigerator to explore the labels of groceries. The labels were stamped with “Sell-by,” “Use-by” and “Best-if-used-by” dates. Not one was stamped with “Expired-by” or “Don’tuse-after” dates.
How can you tell whether food is OK to eat beyond the date stamped on the container?
It’s important to always look and smell. Is the cheese moldy? Does the milk smell bad? If so, toss it.
The pantry is another area to explore. That jar of oregano tucked away in the pantry is still fine to use but may have lost some of its zing. Spices get old and lose their potency but won’t make you sick if you use them.
Oils are easy to tell if they are rancid. They smell awful and taste even worse. Ever tasted rancid nuts or chips? They taste terrible. Flour and sugar tend to last forever. Most items with vinegar are prone to last since vinegar is a preservative.
Canned goods also last well beyond their expiration dates. I read a story of a sunken ship discovered in the Missouri River. They found cans of food more than 100 years old. When chemists tested the cans of food, they were still safe to eat.
Perishables are generally easy to determine if they are past their prime. If you look at a bag of prewashed lettuce, that black yucky stuff that occurs on old greens is a sign it’s going bad. Or if you pick up a package of meat and it’s gray, don’t buy it. Meat, poultry and fish are perishable. Open the package and make sure to smell it. If it smells funny or off, return it to the store with a receipt or throw it out.
The same goes for other perishable items that languish in the fridge. Cook perishables before they go bad or freeze them. Meats, cheese, dairy and bread can all be frozen. Most vegetables can be frozen except for celery, cucumbers, potatoes, lettuce and radishes. It is best to blanch vegetables before freezing.
Fruit can be frozen, too. Store berries before they go bad in a sealable freezer bag. They are great for smoothies, compote for pancakes or pie. Even some dinner leftovers can be frozen and eaten later — think lasagna.
Once a container of milk, sour cream, yogurt or deli meat is opened, the product begins to degrade and will eventually go bad.
If you need to throw out perishables, composting is a great way to deal with
waste. Check composting rules in your area.
In Truckee, Slow Food Lake Tahoe offers composting sites in the warmer months and Keep Truckee Green offers multiple compost drop-off sites year round. South Tahoe Refuse in South Lake Tahoe accepts food waste on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visit keeptruckeegreen.org or southtahoerefuse.com for details.
Prepare an ice bath for the vegetables. Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set aside. Bring a large pot with a gallon of water and a dash of salt to a boil. Place 1 pound of vegetables in the pot of boiling water. Submerge the vegetables and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the vegetable (blanching carrots takes longer than asparagus). Place vegetables in an ice bath for 3 minutes. Drain, place in a sealable freezer bag and freeze. n
Courtesy FDA.gov
This date indicates when a product will be of the best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
This date informs a store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. This is not a safety date.
This date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.
This date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
STORY & PHOTOS BY KAYLA ANDERSON
Awell-cooked protein patty served between a bun with all the fixings (often including melted cheese to hold it all together) is the perfect sustenance to keep shredding the mountain the rest of the day after feeding a growling belly. Here are some of my picks for the best Tahoe ski area burgers to do just that. Share your favorite ski resort burger. Tag us @TheTahoeWeekly #thetahoeweekly
Several varieties of grab-n-go burgers are available within the base lodge of Alpine, but employees say that Rocker (named after the late Shane McConkey’s rocker skis) on the Olympic Valley side has Palisades Tahoe’s best burgers. Therefore, after taking a bunch of runs on both sides of the joined resorts, I headed back over to the other side via the gondola to see what the buzz was about. I got its signature one, consisting of a certified Angus beef patty with crispy bacon, melted brie, arugula, rosemary aioli and balsamic onion marmalade on a brioche bun. It burst with interesting flavors, all complementing each other. | palisadestahoe.com
Driving up through the neighborhood at Tahoe Donner, I parked in Lot 1 of the downhill ski area and within minutes was on the slopes. All ski trails end at the base lodge, which served as the focal point and beginning of the Tahoe Donner homeowner’s association in 1971.
At lunchtime the Ski Grill + Bar was bustling, where it seemed like every-
one around us was ordering a burger. It was the ideal thing to bite into after a couple of hours of skiing, a well-done beef patty sharing real estate with sliced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, onions and iceberg lettuce served with thick-cut fries. | tahoedonner.com
Bacon Cheeseburger at Boreal Eatery
After lapping Cedar Ridge lift in untouched snow days after a storm, I was starving by 12:30 p.m. I met Boreal Mountain’s senior manager of food and beverage Keith Levine in the newly renovated base lodge. His earlier food experience in Truckee restaurants shows through in the elevated menu at Boreal Eatery
The bacon cheeseburger is massive: two quarter-pound patties with melted cheddar cheese, sauteed onions, lettuce and tomato nestled in a bun dripping in grease. Grab more napkins than you think you’ll need and enjoy it with a cocktail at the bar overlooking the mountain. | rideboreal.com
Bacon Cheeseburger
Donner Ski Ranch has such a laidback vibe, that it’s easy to spend the entire day just at the Old 40 Bar & Grill, at the center of all the action. This was the first ski resort in Lake Tahoe that allowed snowboarding and its attitude has not changed one bit.
The bacon cheeseburger is heavenly — everything on it tasted so fresh from the medium-rare beef patty to the leafy lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, onion, melted cheddar cheese and savory bacon between its butter brioche bun. A week later, I was still thinking about that burger. | donnerskiranch.com
At one of the two Northstar-managed restaurants within the village that you can practically ski up to, the Bourbon Pub’s Wagyu burger is a notable favorite. Along with the quality of the meat cooked medium-rare, the Louie sauce and melted white cheddar cheese sets this version apart from any others. | northstarcalifornia.com n
A week later, I was still thinking about that [Old 40 Bar & Grill] burger.Read more of Kayla’s Best Burgers Picks at TheTahoeWeekly.com
