July 29- August 4, 2020

local. independent. fresh.

july 29-august 4, 2020

crag lake entertainment solo hiking

beaches

eat & drink

& parks

summer fun

music

arts

get outside trippy rhymes of

melting elk

soul of mountain biking on

big chief trail history

tahoe

Not your average

corner store

delivering the fun since 1982

Tahoe Adventure Company Inspiring High Sierra Adventures

• Kayak & SUP Tours • Beachfront Kayak & SUP Rentals • 7010 N. Lake Blvd, Tahoe Vista • Gear Deliveries

• Mountain Bike Tours • Guided Hiking • Backpacking • Family Adventures • Multisport Tours

GROUP & CORPORATE OUTINGS + TEAM BUILDING

530.913.9212 TahoeAdventureCompany.com

R E D I S C O V E R

your best moments

Now is the time we’ve all been patiently waiting for – from enjoying favorite spots around town and eating out, to grabbing a beer and meeting up with friends, it’s time to get outside and help boost our local economy. We look forward to everyone getting back to doing what they love. The North Lake Tahoe community is stronger together and we will bounce back as we start to rediscover our playground for adventure.

GoTahoeNorth.com/TahoeWeekly

fun. unique. everywhere.

July 29-August 4, 2020

in this issue

Volume 39 | Issue 12 TM

14

P.O. Box 87 | Tahoe City, CA 96145 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

SUBMISSIONS

Tim Hauserman

JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2020

6

Events & Entertainment Submit at TheTahoeWeekly.com Click on Events Calendar Editorial Inquiries editor@tahoethisweek.com Entertainment Inquiries entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com

making it happen Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Art Director Alyssa Ganong production@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 106 Graphic Designer Justeen Ferguson graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101 Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com Copy Editor Katrina Veit Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green, Lisa Michelle, Cam Schilling, Alex Silgalis

TAHOE WEEKLY is published weekly throughout the summer and biweekly the rest of the year, with occassional extra issues at holiday times by Range of Light Media Group, Inc. Look for new issues on Thursdays.

Subscribe to the free digital edition at issuu.com/ TheTahoeWeekly. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com.

TAHOE WEEKLY, est. 1982, ©2007. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s express permission is prohibited. Contributions welcome via e-mail. The Weekly is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Member: North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, North Tahoe Business Association, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Tahoe South Chamber of Commerce and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle your copy.

PLEASE SHOP & DINE OUT WITH OUR CLIENTS FROM THE PUBLISHER

I issued an impassioned plea for donations in our last edition to Help Keep Tahoe Weekly Alive as we struggle to keep our local magazine going in these challenging times. I’ve been touched by the donations that we’ve already received and by the many, many emails, phone calls and messages in support of our efforts.

It’s been an emotional roller coaster for me and my staff and contributors, as with many other small businesses in recent months. Putting lives and businesses on hold until it’s safe, opening slowly, then quickly and then closing many local businesses down or severely restricting their operation to the point where I fear many will close permanently. I’m determined not to let that happen to Tahoe Weekly without putting up one hell of a fight. Hence, my call for support.

We’re profiling some of our contributors and staff in this and future editions as part of our outreach campaign to introduce you to some of the many locals, like myself, that put their hearts and souls into every edition of Tahoe Weekly. It’s a joy to work with each and every one of them.

Shop & dine Tahoe I’ve always been a big supporter of the Shop Local movement and that includes dining in Tahoe. Our clients, the ones that buy advertising in each edition of our magazine, need your help, too. They are all struggling like you and I are, and we can support them by shopping at their stores, ordering take out or dining outside if you feel comfortable, buying locally roasted coffee, getting a growler from a local brewery, buying your new mountain bike, hiking shoes or kayak from local outfitters, buying local art, taking an outdoor or virtual yoga class from a local studio, and the list goes on.

Shopping, recreating and dining at our advertisers is what’s going to keep Tahoe Weekly going in the long run.

Please dine out or order take out from Spindleshanks, Christy Hill, El Toro Bravo, Lanza’s, Las Panchitas and Jason’s. Or, make it yourself with fresh produce from Tahoe Food Hub or hire The Seasoned Sage to prepare your meals for you. Hire Lou Phillips to curate your wine collection.

Please take your next adventure with AWS Incline, Tahoe City Marina, Obexer’s, Tahoe City Kayak or Tahoe Adventure Company. Please shop at Steve Schmier’s Jewelry or Mountain Hardware. Play a round of golf at the Tahoe City Golf Course. Go to the drive in or rent a virtual movie from Tahoe Art Haus.

Store your boat this winter at Tahoe Boat Management. Buy Mark McLaughlin, Kathryn Reed and Barbara Keck’s books. Hire Sideshow Bob, Rooster to Cricket, Cut-Rite or Mountain Tree Services for your home needs. Follow TART’s message and ride the free bus. Learn from UC Davis’ Summer Science Speaker Series. Use Tahoe Forest Health System for your medical needs.

Follow the message from Sierra Senior Services to wear your face mask (it’s required). And, as the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association says: “It’s time to get outside and help boost our local economy.”

I ask you to consider making a donation to Tahoe Weekly and support our advertisers. n Donate PayPal.me/TahoeWeekly PayPal.com or PayPal app | publisher@tahoethisweek.com Facebook | Katherine’s Tahoe Weekly Fundraiser Checks to Tahoe Weekly | P.O. Box 154, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148

Lake Tahoe in Diamonds

FEATURES Crag Lake Solo Hike Big Chief Trail Tom Logan, Part III

6 8 11

GET OUTSIDE Sightseeing 4 5 Lake Tahoe Facts Events 6 7 Summer Fun Beaches & Parks 9 FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Crossword

12

THE MAKERS Jonathan Millar The Arts

13 13

THE LINEUP Melting Elk Classical Tahoe Concerts on Commons goes virtual Entertainment Calendar & Live Music EAT & DRINK Corner Markets Wine Myths, Part II Tasty Tidbits Pan Sauce

14 14 15 15 16 17 18 18

on the cover Ashli Lewis tames the Big Chief Trail.

“We had hoped to get this shot nailed quickly and go home. With the sun setting fast and dark skies, we ended up riding down, back up and hustled our butts off to get this shot,” says photographer Ryan Salm in capturing this image for Tahoe Weekly. Read Sean McAlindin’s feature on Big Chief in this edition. | RyanSalmPhotography.photoshelter.com, @RyanSalmPhotography

bears & wildlife BEAR EMERGENCIES BEAR League (530) 525-7297 (24 hours) | savebears.org A bear walking nearby or through your yard is not an emergency unless it is trying to enter your home or car.

INJURED ANIMALS Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center, South Shore (530) 577-2273 | ltwc.org The Wildlife Shelter, North Shore (866) 307-4216

E-NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE

to our monthly e-newsletter at TheTahoeWeekly.com

SteveSchmiersJewelry.com · 530.583.5709 3

LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

Readings taken on Friday, July 17, 2020 ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,227.63 |

6,229.03

C PACITY CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362 CAPA

Explore Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits and programs. South Tahoe

Fannette Island

Emerald Bay

(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov Lake Tahoe’s only island is located in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.)

TART/South Tahoe

Heavenly

West Shore

Tallac Historic Site

South Lake Tahoe

(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 yearround. South Tahoe South Lake Tahoe

Truckee

Kings Beach

North Shore

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. TART

North Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden

Incline Village

Summer | Free (775) 586-1610, ext. 25 | demogarden.org Demonstrations of lake-friendly landscaping using native and adaptive plants, water conservation, soil stabilization techniques, defensible space from wildfires & BMPs. Self-guided tours & clinics. TART

North Tahoe Arts Center

Tahoe City

(530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com Featuring exhibits of work by local artists and works for sale by local artists. TART

Tahoe Art League Gallery

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 544-2313 | talart.org Featuring local artists, workshops. South Tahoe

4

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. TART

Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay

200,000 AF

225

175

150,000 AF

100,000 AF

75

50

25

Gatekeeper’s Museum

Tahoe City

Truckee River | FLOW AT FARAD 672 (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and historical memorabilia. TART

KidZone Children’s OPENING TBD Museum

Incline Village

Tues.-Fri. & by appt. | Free (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org University of California, Davis, science education center at Sierra Nevada College. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+. TART

Truckee Railroad Museum OPENING TBD

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

TROA.NET

Truckee

Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. TART

Truckee

Tues.-Sun. | Locals’ first Tues. half price (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym. TART

Find more places to explore

Lake Tahoe Museum

VISITORS’ CENTERS

South Lake Tahoe

Museum of Truckee History

High Camp OPENING TBD

TROA.NET

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Tahoe Science Ctr OPENING TBD

Truckee

2 PROSSER 11,061 CAPACITY: 29,840 (530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov CAPACITY: C 9,500 5 features exhibits DONNER 4,690 The Emigrant Trail Museum and artifacts on the Donner Party (1846-47) at 8 INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 CCAPACITY: 18,300 Donner Memorial State Park. See the towering Pioneer Monument.

A TART 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY:

Thunderbird Lodge CLOSED

East Shore

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

CAPACITY: C 226,500

Emigrant Trail Museum

(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. South Tahoe

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 (summer tours), see boathouses with historic boats and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. TART

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, events and more.

Ticket required. TART

672

(530) 543-2674 | fs.usda.gov Features Stream Profile Chamber to view slice of Taylor Creek, nature trails & more. South Tahoe

May-October | thunderbirdtahoe.org The former Whittell estate. This magnificent lakefront home features the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, 600’ underground tunnel (with a former lion cage) and Boat House, home to the “Thunderbird,” a 1939 wooden boat. Ages 6+ only.

No on-site parking. Tours by reservation only.

Olympic Valley

STAMPEDE 19,9661

FLOW AT FARAD

6,229.03

200,000 AF

North Shore

Summer | (530) 583-3279 | terc.ucdavis.edu This 1920s-era building features a history of the field station, current UC Davis research projects, interactive exhibits and demonstration garden. Ages 8+. TART

Taylor Creek Visitor Center South Lake Tahoe

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. Ticket required. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Tahoe City Field Station

|

6,227.63 |

175

Eagle Rock, one of the lake’s famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. Trail to top is on the south side. TART

Truckee River C PACITY CAPA CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 0 BOCA 12,362

ELEVATION :

Readings taken on Friday, July 17, 2020

150,000 AF

West Shore

visittahoecity.com Popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. At the junction of hwys 89 & 28, visitors may see the Tahoe City Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1909) for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove St., Jackpine St. and 64 acres at Hwys 89 & 28. TART

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

125

Eagle Rock

North Shore

50

Drive through one of the area’s natural wonders at Cave Rock, the neck of an old volcano.

The area is named for the small caves above Highway 50 that were cut by waves when Lake Tahoe was 200 feet higher during the ice ages.

Tahoe City

25

East Shore

CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8

LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

125

INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

Check schedules & openings before visiting.

Cave Rock

CAPACITY: 29,840 2

Wildflowers bloom along the one-third mile Donner Camp Historic Trail, where the George and Jacob Donner 9,500 5 DONNER 4,690 CCAPACITY:families wintered in 1845-47. Interpretive panels tell their tragic story. | Katherine E. Hill

100,000 AF

ATTRACTIONS

PROSSER 11,061

CAPACITY: C 226,500

75

SIGHTSEEING

STAMPEDE 19,9661

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

225

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Truckee

Thurs.-Mon. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhibits cover different eras in Truckee history. TART

Old Jail Museum

Truckee

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Kings Beach Kings Beach State Rec. Area (Thurs.-Mon., July-Aug.)

Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463 Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591 Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) (530) 587-8808 U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village

Open by appt. | (530) 659-2378 | truckeehistory.org One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses used from 1875 until May 1964 (summer tours). TART

855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)

Olympic Museum OPENING TBD

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City

Olympic Valley

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Squaw Valley, 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 the entrance to the valley. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. TART

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe 35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)

U.S. Forest Service | Truckee 10811 Stockrest Springs Rd. (530) 587-3558

TRANSIT North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org

Parking fee | (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle (summer), see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House. TART/South Tahoe

Watson Cabin

Tahoe City

(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1909, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places. (summer tours). TART

MUSEUMS Donner Summit Historical Society

Soda Springs

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org At the corner of Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART

Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com

July 29-August 4, 2020

lake tahoe facts |

Read about how the lake was formed, Lake Tahoe’s discovery, lake clarity and more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Explore Tahoe.

GRAY ’S CROSSING

COYOTE MOON

TAHOE DONNER

BOCA RESERVOIR STAMPEDE RESERVOIR

ho Ta

N

GRAEAGLE MEADOWS WHITEHAWK RANCH

eR

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

WEST EAST SOUTH

GRIZZLY RANCH

BOAT RAMPS

Tahoe City

LAKE FOREST

Dollar Hill

TAHOE CITY MARINA

Sunnyside SUNNYSIDE

Ta h o e R i m

l

HOMEWOOD

NV

TAHOE VISTA REC AREA

Lake

Spooner Lake

There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons of water per day for 5 years.

Glenbrook

Homewood

East Shore

OBEXER’S

e Ri

Natural rim: 6,223’

m Tr a i l

Meeks Bay

Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. The top 6.1’ of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water.

CA

MEEKS BAY

Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)

Cave Rock

Watershed Area: 312 square miles

EDGEWOOD TAHOE

CAVE ROCK

Zephyr Cove South Lake Tahoe

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F

Emerald Bay

Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F

Eagle Lake

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F

Ta h oe

R i m Tr ail

Stateline

SKI RUN TAHOE KEYS

CAMP RICHARDSON

Average Snowfall: 409 inches

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide

Fannette Island

Cascade Lake

Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet

Permanent Population: 66,000

Carson City

Fallen Leaf Lake

Number of Visitors: 15 million annually

Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.

LAKESIDE

Shoreline: 72 miles

BIJOU

South Shore Meyers

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

Echo Lakes

Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles. If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water.

FREEL PEAK

TAHOE PARADISE LAKE TAHOE

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.

Volume: 39 trillion gallons

Tahoma Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

o Ta h

CASINOS

West Shore

Average depth: 1,000 feet Marlette Lake

SAND HARBOR

Tahoe

Eagle Rock

DEEPEST POINT

NORTH TAHOE

TAHOE CITY

Lake Clarity: 2019: 62.7 feet avg. depth.

1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet

INCLINE VILLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Crystal Bay

COON ST. BOAT LAUNCH

SIERRA BOAT CO.

Alpine Meadows

GOLF COURSES

Incline Village

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK

ai Tr

INCLINE VILLAGE MOUNTAIN

Tahoe Vista

Olympic Valley MARINAS

North Shore

OLD BROCKWAY

NAKOMA FEATHER RIVER PARK

Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California.

i m Tr a

il

SCHAFFER’S MILL

PLUMAS PINES

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PROSSER RESERVOIR

PONDEROSA

DONNER LAKE

The Lost Sierra

Reno & Sparks

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

Donner Lake Donner Summit

OLD GREENWOOD

Truckee

Hope Valley Markleeville

Kirkwood

YOU ONLY NEED ONE CALENDAR

Why is the lake blue?

The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and the blue light is scattered back.

Come Play With Us!

Tahoe Events Calendar at TheTahoeWeekly.com

facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

Fu l

lS

R

er v i c e B

est

ar

Events are in flux, so visit our online calendar to find something in your area

a uran

t

Fun for the whole family!

COVID-19 Restrictions may apply

GolfTahoeCity.com · 251 N. Lake Blvd.,Tahoe City · 530.583.1516 5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

GET outside

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life

Crag Lake Tim Hauserman

FINDING CONTENTMENT ON A SOLO HIKE S TO RY & P H OTO S BY T I M H AU S E R M A N

I

n this time of physical distancing, one of the best ways to stay safe while finding peace in nature is to take a hike by yourself. Hiking alone allows you to truly connect with wilderness in a way that is just not possible while having a conversation with someone else. In addition to a good dose of physical exercise, taking a solo hike can also be therapeutic, giving your brain a chance to take a break from screens and the news.

While many of us have been told never to hike alone, it can be quite safe if you use common sense and take a few precautions.

East Shore parking now paid lot

The Tahoe Transportation District has begun paid parking at the Tahoe East Shore Trail trailhead, located north of Ponderosa Ranch Road in Incline Village, Nev., with hourly paid parking from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

THE TRAIL 10 miles roundtrip | Moderate

Recently, I set out on a solo day hike to Crag Lake in the Desolation Wilderness.

From the Meeks Bay trailhead it’s a 5-mile jaunt (10-mile roundtrip) to the lake with 1,200 feet of ascent. I’d hiked to Crag Lake probably 40 times over the last 40 years, so I was familiar with the route, but every time I’ve hiked it, I’ve found a fresh perspective.

I started out in the early morning to avoid the crowds. Once I’d escaped the drone of traffic on Highway 89, the only sounds were the whistles of birds, squeaky chatter of squirrels and the melodic cornflake crunch of my feet pounding dirt.

The first mile is an easy warmup on an old dirt road, passing low lying lupines and paint brush in the lush meadows. A quick glimpse of the rocky nipple top of Rubicon Peak reminded me of where I was headed.

When hiking alone, your senses are heightened. I noticed the mistletoe hanging from the juniper trees, heard the rhythm of the “cheeseburger” birds (Mountain Chickadees) and saw the fiery red snow plants popping up on the forest floor. I

UC Davis Summer Science Speaker Series July 23, July 30, and August 20 Learn more at https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/ events

6

Along the shore of Crag Lake. | Tim Hauserman

caught the subtle scent of pine and when walking over wet sections of trail listened to the soft squishing of sloppy mud on my boots. The longer I hike in silence, the more I begin to feel that I’m a part of nature, that I’m a character in the middle of the scene that is this piece of the woods. When I’m

silence, the more

attractive Crag Lake. There I found a smooth granite rock at water’s edge and for the next hour sat quietly writing in my journal while taking frequent breaks to ponder Crag Peak and the shimmering lake in front of me. I was practicing a challenging skill that is especially useful this year: sitting alone somewhere in the woods, doing nothing and feeling perfectly content. I haven’t quite mastered it yet, but it does make for an excellent lifelong quest.

I begin to feel that

TIPS FOR HIKING SOLO

The longer I hike in

I’m a part of nature. hiking with others, it feels more like I’m having a dinner conversation while a video of the hike plays in the background.

The trail follows Meeks Creek on a gentle rocky climb, then flattens out and crosses into Desolation Wilderness where permits are required. You can get one at the trailhead for a day hike, but you need to go online and pay a fee for an overnight permit. Soon, you enter a wide, open cathedral where giant Jeffrey pines and red firs form a ring around a sandy flat.

At 3.5 miles from the trailhead, the trail crosses Meeks Creek. The bridge across the creek washed out several years ago. Now a row of rocks bridge the gap. On my solo trip, the water was going over some of the rocks, so I played it safe, doffed my shoes and walked gingerly across the rocky stream bed giving my feet and knees an icy bath. The water level has dropped since then, so you should be able to make your way delicately over the rocks. Hiking poles are recommended.

In another mile, I’d climbed to Lake Genevieve. I kept going just another onethird of a mile to the larger and more

1. Tell someone where you were going, when you will be back and what time that person should start getting worried. While you should bring a cell phone, let your contact person know that if he/she can’t reach you, it could just be that cell service is spotty or nonexistent in the wilderness.

2. Stay within your ability level and add an extra level of caution. Maybe start out hiking a trail you are familiar with and keep the difficultly level within your reach — and stay on the trail.

3. Bring a first-aid kit and know how to use it.

4. Check the weather forecast. Summer afternoon thunderstorms are a frequent occurrence around Tahoe, so plan accordingly and hit the trail early.

5. Bring plenty of water, food, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes and a positive attitude.

A parking ambassador will be available during peak times to answer questions.

Arriving at the lots early in the morning or later in the evening is recommended, as the trail’s popularity makes it particularly challenging to find parking between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. To enhance availability and encourage turnover, parking rates are higher during peak periods, with lower rates occurring outside of peak hours and during the shoulder season.

Only credit cards are accepted at the lot. Parking revenues will be used for the operations and maintenance of trails and parking. | tahoetransportation.org

events Sierra Summer Challenge Virtual challenge South Lake Tahoe | July 29-Aug. 5

Participants register for a friendly comp-

etition to either summit the most Sierra peaks or swim in the most Sierra alpine lakes, all while documenting their adventures and raising donations and awareness for the work that the alliance does to protect and restore the region. | (530) 542-4546, sierranevadaalliance.org

Barracuda Championship (televised) Old Greenwood Golf Course Truckee | July 29-Aug. 2

The Barracuda Championship will take

6. Practice physical distancing by stepping well off the trail to let other hikers or bike riders go by.

place as part of PGA Tour at Old Green-

Tim has been spending his time during the coronavirus working on a book about his solo backpacking adventures. His new book “Tahoe Rim Trail: The Official Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers, and Equestrians” is out now. 

televised event will be aired on the Golf

wood Golf Course in Truckee but will not be open to spectators. The internationally Channel 2. Check local listings for times.

7 a.m.-6 p.m. Free | (775) 322-3900, barracudachampionship.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

July 29-August 4, 2020 GET OUTSIDE ADVERTISEMENT

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Always check operating schedules before visiting.

GEOCACHING

PUBLIC POOLS

OLYMPIC VALLEY

INCLINE VILLAGE

High-tech treasure hunt on mountain using GPS to find 10 caches. Free with Aerial Tram ticket; GPS rentals available. Opening TBD. TART

25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends). Daily rates & memberships available.

CRUISES

OLYMPIC VALLEY

“SIERRA CLOUD”

Catamaran cruises. Daily cruises, parasailing and rentals.

Swimming Lagoon & Spa at High Camp at Squaw Valley, free form lagoon with 50-meter lap lanes, two islands with waterfalls and native boulders. Opening TBD. TART

“TAHOE GAL”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Daily cruises.

25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons.

Opening TBD. BlueGo

DISC GOLF

TRUCKEE

DONNER SKI RANCH

25-yard indoor pool with 6 lanes, 1-meter spring diving board, swim training, hydraulic lift at Tahoe-Truckee High School. Opening TBD. TART

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com

(775) 831-4386 | awsincline.com

(800) 218-2464 | tahoegal.com

(530) 426-3635 | old40barandgrill.com 18-hole course. Free to play; must register at restaurant.

Practice basket.

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com

(530) 542-6056 | citiofslt.com

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

INCLINE VILLAGE

ROCK CLIMBING WALLS

18-hole course at Incline Park at 980 Incline Way. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

TRUCKEE

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com

KIRKWOOD

(209) 258-7277 | kirkwood.com Experience disc golf at 7,800 feet with the notorious DiscWood disc golf course. The 18-hole course weaves through the trees and over mountainous terrain. Free. Scorecards and maps may be picked up at the General Store.

MARKLEEVILLE

(530) 694-2140 | alpinecounty.ca.gov Located at Turtle Rock Park Campground.

OLYMPIC VALLEY

(530) 583-6985 | squawalpine.com 18-hole course at Squaw Valley’s High Camp. Disc rentals. TART

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE A mostly flat and moderately wooded course is located at Bijou Community Park featuring 27 holes covering 8,324 feet. The course features mixed tees with varied fairways with slight elevation changes. On Al Tahoe Boulevard off Highway 50. BlueGo

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com Community Recreation Center offers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available. Opening TBD. TART

SKATE PARKS INCLINE VILLAGE

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com Intermediate/advanced area with two, 5-foot tall bowls with a spine, 3-foot box and 2.5 foot bowl for beginners. Street course on top, with 8-foot flat rail, 6-foot down rail, four stairs and a 10-foot downward ramp. Corner Hwy. 28 & Southwood. Daily dawn-dusk.

TART

Must mention ad at booking & present upon arrival.

TAHOE CITY

Shop at 521 North Lake Blvd.

Rentals on the water at Commons Beach SAND HARBOR STATE PARK

Rentals next to the boat ramp

Reservations 530.581.4336 | TahoeCityKayak.com & SandHarborRentals.com

BOAT RENTALS & FUEL DOCK Fuel dock 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Boat Rentals 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WEATHER PERMITTING

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

WOODWARD TAHOE

18-hole course at Truckee River Regional Park, off Brockway Road. Dogs must be on leash. Free. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

Rentals & Tours

TRUCKEE

18-hole course at North Tahoe Regional Park, off National Avenue. Parking $5. Daily dawn-dusk. TART

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

$5 OFF

Bijou Community Park features a skateboard park on Al Tahoe Boulevard off Highway 50. BlueGo

(530) 546-4212 | northtahoeparks.com

TRUCKEE

NIGHTLY SUNSET KAYAK TOURS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Truckee River Regional Park with several bowls with a spine and channel, a long rail and ledges. Knee and elbow pads and helmets required. Free. Daily dawn10 p.m. TART

TAHOE VISTA

RENTALS | TOURS | LESSONS | SALES | DELIVERY

(530) 426-1114 | rideboreal.com Featuring two skateparks – The Sierra Skatepark and the Eastern Sierra Skatepark. Plus, indoor skate park inside The Bunker.

TRUCKEE

(530) 550-2225

The Zephyr Cove course is 18 holes covering 5,256 feet with holes of varying lengths. On Warrior Way. BlueGo

MARINA

TA H O E C I T Y, C A Truckee Wye

Grove St.

ZEPHYR COVE

TA H O E C I T Y

Homewood

Jackpine

18 holes at Sierra College Campus. Free. Daily dawndusk. TART

Incline Village

TA H O E C I T Y

TA H O E C I T Y

MARINA L A K E TA H O E • C A L I F O R N I A

MARINA

L A K E TA H O E • C A L I F O R N I A

(530) 583-1039 · TahoeCityMarina.com

Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be listed in Summer Fun. 7

TheTahoeWeekly.com

T H E S O U L O F M O U N TA I N B I K I N G O N

BIG CHIEF TRAIL

The view south along the Pacific Crest from Andesite Peak.

S TO RY & P H OTO S BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N

What is the essence of mountain biking?

Is it a silky, flowy trail with breathtaking views or a technical challenge that pushes riders to the extreme?

Whatever your style of back-country pedaling, you can find it on Big Chief Trail.

As nonprofit Truckee Trail Foundation’s newest project completed in 2018, this sensational ride showcases something for everyone. But be warned, it is nothing if not rocky. On my first outing, I traversed it on an oldschool steed and was quivering like Jell-O by trail’s end.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Matt Pederson flies down a massive granite

boulder deep along Lower Big Chief; Matt Pederson weaves his way through the Keyhole on Upper Big Chief; Truckee Trails Foundation crew leaders Filip Grgic and Matt Pederson ride through the sculpted rock work of Lower Big Chief.

This time around I know I need the right tool for the job, so I stop by Bike Truckee on Palisades Drive.

Owner Dennis Elste recommends a Specialized Stumpjumper demo. It’s 2020 version of the first mass-produced mountain bike originally created in 1981.

With state-of-the-art suspension and components, it’s definitely an upgrade from the rigid, heavy frames of the olden days. Yet, it’s lineage makes it the perfect bike for a one-of-a-kind ride to capture the soul of mountain biking.

Amidst the endlessly superb mountain biking of the Tahoe Sierra, Big Chief stands out.

“It’s super technical and, even for the best riders, it’s very challenging,” says Elste. “With killer views, miles of gnarly single track and variety around every corner, it feels like you’re on a real adventure.”

Just up the road from Elste’s shop, Big Chief ends on Forest Service Road 06 at the southern tip of Sawtooth Trail. The top of the ride can be reached by climbing the fire road to Watson Lake, but today we opt for a shuttle up Highway 267 to Brockway Summit. From here, the upper trailhead enters the forest 6 miles down the paved Fiberboard Freeway.

THE TRAIL

8.1-mile downhill single track (one way) Moderate-advanced

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I’m riding with Filip Grgic and Matt Pederson, crew leaders at Truckee Trails Foundation, who spent months building Big Chief as part of a joint venture with the U.S. Forest Service and Northstar California. The $160,000 in grant funding for the project included generous contributions from REI and Vail Resort’s EpicPromise program.

“I like being out in the woods every day running machines and chainsaws,” says Pederson of his work.

“You come up with a plan in your head, create it yourself and see it come to life. Most trails have their own feel and this one is a mesh of everything.”

After completing the legal scoping process, which includes a survey of archeological, biological and endangered species habitats, John Groom of Tahoe National Forest’s Truckee Ranger District spent

“[Big Chief] is super technical and, even for the best riders, it’s very challenging. With killer views, miles of gnarly single track and variety around every corner, it feels like you’re on a real adventure.”

–Dennis Elste

countless hours walking back and forth through the woods identifying key aspects and flagging out the general route of the trail.

“There are 10 steps that happen before the first shovelful,” says Grgic. “You’ve got to find a way to connect the dots while keeping the grade sustainable.”

Once the course was set, the crew logged out a path before clearing away the top layer of duff with an excavator. Down to the mineral soil, the rest of the work is finished by hand. Builders spend hours, if not days, perfecting one specific feature at a time. The remarkable result is a labor of love that features all of the best parts of Tahoe Sierra mountain biking in one place.

A GEM OF A TRAIL Our journey begins with a gently sloping descent through alpine trees reminiscent of the Alps. Before I can enjoy the breathtaking view too much, a slew of rocks and roots beckons my undivided focus. I clear the first big air and drift down the mountainside with easy speed. The riding is technical, yet flowy — a wonderful combination.

Soon we reach our first major obstacle, the Keyhole.

There are three options, all of which require steadfast commitment. The left side weaves its way through a bottleneck tunnel of volcanic rock while the right leads straight over an uncompromising 4-foot drop.

Grgic and I walk our bikes through the maze, while Pederson blazes the center line atop the boulders with graceful confidence.

After crossing the 06, the trail emerges from the forest to a spectacular view of Olympic Valley and the Sierra Crest. Beyond the spectacular rock work of Nathaniel’s Bench where one crew member spent months moving giant slabs with a grip hoist, the rousing trail winds its way through ancient granite boulders, down radical rock rolls, over poppy gap jumps and along an amusing log ride. The energy never lets up as each bend in the road brings a new technical trial or moment of eye-watering beauty.

Along the way, the trail crew stops to inspect problem areas and make note of future repairs.

“It’s starting to break in,” say Pederson. “You never know exactly how it’s going to look until people ride it.”

Big Chief is just one piece of an ever-growing network Truckee Trails Foundation is working to connect throughout the region. Current projects include the systemization of the popular, but formerly unsanctioned Jackass Trail, scoping for a single-track loop on Hole in the Ground Trail and the completion of Carpenter Valley Trail.

“This is all part of our effort to bring greater connectivity and enhanced trail sustainability in this area,” says Executive Director Allison Pedley. “It’s a great time to be involved in trails projects. The enthusiasm is tremendous.”

Riding the last mile through exquisitely sculpted berms I enter the flow state. Somewhere in the distance a raven caws. The wind blows through the trees and the sun peeks out in long beams. I’m alone with my bike in the woods.

As the dirt swiftly passes beneath my tread, I remember why I love to do this. It’s not about the smoothest ride or the sickest air, but an unchecked intimacy with nature, a few moments of connection with something outside of yourself. That’s the gift of the trail: a reminder that no matter how effortless or rocky the path, we’re only passing through. So we ought to be grateful for the ride.

Learn more about Truckee Trails Foundation, how to donate and/or volunteer online. While designed for mountain biking, the trail is open to hikers and equestrians. | truckeetrails.org. n

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VOLLEYBALL

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PICKLEBALL

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TENNIS

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BIKE PARK

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SKATE PARK

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DISC GOLF

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TRAILS

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DOGS OK

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PLAYGROUND

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BBQ/GRILL

BEACH

PICNIC TABLES

RESTROOMS

BIKE TRAIL ACCESS

Beaches & Parks

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

July 29-August 4, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

EAST SHORE

CHIMNEY BEACH & SECRET COVE ROUNDHILL PINES BEACH

Hwy. 50

SAND HARBOR STATE PARK ZEPHYR COVE PARK

5.9 miles south of Incline Vlg.

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3 miles south of Incline Vlg.

Hwy. 50

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Diamonds are forever!

Why not now?

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KINGS BEACH

COON STREET DOG BEACH

Hwy. 28, bottom of Coon Street

KINGS BEACH STATE REC AREA

Kings Beach

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MOON DUNES BEACH

Hwy. 28

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NORTH TAHOE BEACH

Hwy. 28, across from Safeway

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SECLINE BEACH

Hwy. 28, at the end of Secline Street

SPEEDBOAT BEACH

CLOSES AUG. 19 FOR SEASON.

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TAHOE VISTA

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK & DOG PARK Hwy. 28, at top of National Ave.

SANDY BEACH

Hwy. 28, across from the Perennial Nursery

TAHOE VISTA RECREATION AREA

Hwy. 28, at National Ave.

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CARNELIAN BAY

CARNELIAN WEST BEACH PATTON LANDING

Hwy. 28, next to Gar Woods

Hwy. 28, at Onyx Street

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TAHOE CITY

COMMONS BEACH HERITAGE PLAZA

Hwy. 28, Tahoe City behind old fire station

Hwy. 28, Downtown Tahoe City

LAKE FOREST BEACH POMIN PARK SKYLANDIA

Lake Forest Rd, 1.5 miles east of Tahoe City

Lake Forest Road, east of Tahoe City Lake Forest Road, east of Tahoe City

64-ACRES PARK & BELL’S LANDING

South of Tahoe City

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TAHOE CITY DOG PARK

Grove Street

WILLIAM KENT BEACH

2.5 miles south of Tahoe City

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WILLIAM LAYTON PARK & GATEWAY PARK Hwy. 89, south of Tahoe City at Dam

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Located in the Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City · SteveSchmiersJewelry.com · 530.583.5709

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WEST SHORE

D.L. BLISS STATE PARK

17 miles south of Tahoe City

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS PARK EMERALD BAY BEACH KILNER PARK

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18.5 miles south of Tahoe City

Hwy. 89, 3.5 miles south of Tahoe City

MARIE SLUCHAK PARK MEEKS BAY

4 miles south of Tahoe City

Corner of Hwy. 89 & Pine St., Tahoma

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Hwy. 89, 10 miles south of Tahoe City

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

9.5 miles south of Tahoe City

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

BALDWIN BEACH

BIJOU COMMUNITY PARK CAMP RICHARDSON EL DORADO BEACH KIVA BEACH

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Al Tahoe Blvd.

Hwy. 89 Hwy. 50 at Lakeview Commons

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Hwy. 89 east of Taylor Creek

NEVADA BEACH POPE BEACH

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Hwy. 89

Hwy. 50

Hwy. 89

REGAN BEACH

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Hwy. 50

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years

Celebrating 20 Years

of service to the Lake Tahoe Boating Community

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20

e o h a T u o y k Th a n

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TRUCKEE RIVER CANYON

SQUAW VALLEY PARK

At Hwy. 89 & Squaw Valley Road

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TRUCKEE

MARTIS CREEK

Hwy. 267, 1 mile south of Truckee Airport

RIVER VIEW SPORTS PARK

12200 Joerger Drive

TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK

Hwy. 267, Truckee

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DONNER LAKE

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK SHORELINE PARK WEST END BEACH

I-80 Donner Lake exit

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Donner Pass Road, next to the State Park

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West of Donner Lake

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No smoking or vaping of cigarettes, e-cigarettes or marijuana on state beaches or in state parks allowed per state law.

BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES

North Tahoe & Truckee (TART): laketahoetransit.com | South Tahoe: tahoetransportation.org

Call Steve at (775) 287-1089

for our full service, low rate guarantee.

TahoeBoatManagement.com 9

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Shop tahoe

Ads as low as $100 per issue.

E-mail anne@tahoethisweek.com

eve n ts

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

2nd edition

Courtesy League to Save Lake Tahoe

Available Now!

League to Save Lake Tahoe’s

fashion show goes virtual

Wisdom at Steve Schmier’s 530.583.5709

Purchase your copy at Amazon.

Bulk orders available at books@tahoethisweek.com

SUPPORT OUR SENIORS

The League to Save Lake Tahoe, along with long-time event partners Saks Fifth Avenue and Oscar de la Renta, will host a Virtual Benefit Fashion Show to support the League’s efforts to Keep Tahoe Blue from July 30 to Aug. 1. The event is open to the public and free with advance registration online.

A percentage of proceeds from an on-line trunk show and auction, along with individual donations and generous event sponsorships, will support the work of the League to Save Lake Tahoe. These funds allow the League’s team of experts to advance restoration, combat pollution and tackle invasive species to Keep Tahoe Blue. | savethelakefashion.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Truckee Storywalk

BY WEARING YOUR FACE MASK! See the Sierra Senior Services Facebook page for details on how to get a mask like this! www.SierraSeniors.org | www.Facebook.com/SierraSeniors HISTORIAN & AUTHOR

MARK MCL AUGHLIN’S NEWEST BOOK - UPDATED EDITION

Family Meals

HEALTHY. ORGANIC. LOCAL.

the

Seasoned

Sage

theseasonedsage.com

Meal Delivery Service for Individual & WITH

Legacy Trail | Truckee | July 29-Aug. 5

Online South Lake Tahoe | July 30-Aug. 1

can stroll along the Truckee Legacy Trail

long-time event partners Saks Fifth Avenue

for a “Truckee Library Storywalk” through

and Oscar de la Renta, will host a virtual

Aug. 13. The event is based on the book

benefit Fashion Show to support the

“Also an Octopus” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

league’s efforts to keep Tahoe blue. The

The storywalk begins below the Truckee

event is open to the public and free with

Regional Park and continues east for about.

advance registration. 5 p.m. Free

7 miles. Look for the laminated signs.

| savethelakefashion.com

For a unique outdoor experience, families

Tahoe Blue Crew Training Online training Stateline | July 29, 30

Be a part of the solution by joining Tahoe

O rd e r b o o k s d i re c t a t

TheStormKing.com or pick up a copy at: • Geared for Games • Alice’s Mountain Market located at Squaw Valley • Donner Memorial State Park

• Word After Word Bookshop • Gratitude Gifts • Mind Play

(772) 913- 0008

Group presentations · In-home talks

personal menu

(530) 546-5612 · mark@TheStormKing.com

Call to set up your

Online Tahoe City | Aug. 1

Sierra Speaker Series has gone virtual.

Barbara Czerwinski and Heidi Sproat are Truckee-Donner Historical Society members

litter from your Lake Tahoe community.

and researchers. They explore the develop-

You will learn how to become a Tahoe Blue

ment of this rural mountain community,

Crew Leader, adopt a litter hot spot, the

and its survival. Tune in on Sierra State Park

process for scheduling clean-up events,

Foundation Facebook page. A $5 donation

checking equipment in and out and col-

is suggested. 5-6:30 p.m. Free | (530) 583-

lecting data for your site. 4:30-5:15 p.m.

9911, facebook.com

Free | keeptahoeblue.org

Virtual Excellence Boat Showcase Register your boat in the 2020 Virtual

Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance and show-

Draft State Route 89 Corridor Plan Webinar Webinar South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 3

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, USDA

case it to the world with the most acclaim-

Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Manage-

ed and prestigious wooden boat show in

ment Unit and Tahoe Transportation Dis-

North America. Your boat will be featured

trict announce the availability of the Draft

on the Concours website alongside the

State Route 89 Recreation Corridor Man-

iconic Thunderbird where it can be seen

agement Plan. Public engagement and

and appreciated by boat lovers from around

opportunities for agency, stakeholder, and

the globe. $50 | laketahoeconcours.com

public input will be available through Sept-

Birding by Ear, Birds of Lake Tahoe online Online | Tahoe City | July 30

Listen while you lunch and join Rich

Chambers, former Tahoe Institute for natural Science board member, in this four-part

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The Hidden Wonders from Truckee’s Best View (virtual)

Blue Crew and taking action to remove

Online | Tahoe City | July 29-Aug. 5

530.583.5709

League to Save Lake Tahoe, along with

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7846, mynevadacounty.com

Organic

Keep Tahoe Blue Fashion Show (virtual)

online exploration of Tahoe’s Bird Songs and Calls. 12-1 p.m. Free | tinsweb.org

ember. 12-1:30 p.m. Free | trpa.org

July 29-August 4, 2020 HISTORY

Tom Logan: R I S E & FA L L O F A W E S T E R N L AW M A N , PA R T I I I S TO RY BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

I

n the summer of 1902, Nye County Sheriff Tom Logan disarmed a drunk gunman named Wyatt Earp in Tonopah, Nev. Given Earp’s reputation and temper, the bloodless outcome occurred primarily because the two men were friends and both owned saloons. Logan was also backed up by his younger brothers Frank and George that night, both peace officers themselves.

But Tonopah residents viewed Tom Logan as invincible. Word of the encounter spread through the territory, cementing Logan’s reputation as an implacable lawman.

Sheriff Logan’s funeral procession in Tonopah, circa April 12, 1906. | Courtesy Nevada State Library & Archives

Sheriff Logan’s success at law enforcement was a key reason for Tonopah’s stature as a rare frontier mining town where crime was well-controlled.

Sheriff Logan’s success at law enforcement was a key reason for Tonopah’s stature as a rare frontier mining town where crime was well-controlled. Riding a groundswell of admiration and respect, Logan ran for a third term as sheriff in the fall of 1902.

In this election his main challenger was a 28-year-old miner who had no experience as a peace officer but did have the crucial backing of the local miners’ union. James Cushing, from Wisconsin, argued that Logan represented an old-fashioned past, at a time when modernization was sweeping the West.

At the dawn of the 20th Century, automobiles were replacing horsedrawn buggies and industrialization was transforming mining, milling and transportation. Tonopah’s population and economy were booming, but newly elected officials would have significant challenges in expanding municipal services for the rapidly growing community.

It was a tight race, but Logan lost the election by six votes — nearly the same difference that first elected him to the office in 1898. Cushing’s success didn’t last long, however, after he was widely blamed for failing to protect Tonopah’s Chinese community from a union mob attack that killed an Asian washhouse operator. Sheriff Cushing also seemed to shield certain criminals from arrest and trial. After supporting Cushing’s campaign, on Sept. 26, 1903, the Tonopah Bonanza lamented: “The sheriff has proven his utter unworthiness to hold the responsible position which he occupies…his actions tend to reflect discredit on the county and people, it is time to call a halt, and sentiment must give way to the demands of right and justice.”

In the meantime, Logan stayed busy. He remodeled his saloon, invested in promising mining operations and even dabbled in law enforcement for Sheriff Cushing. After an October 1903 jailbreak in Belmont, about 50 miles northeast of Tonopah, the Bonanza observed: “Word was received from Belmont Thursday night that Welsh and Johnson Smith, two prisoners confined in the county jail in Belmont, made their es-

cape by cutting through the outer brick wall of that building. The men’s enjoyment of liberty, however, was brief, as on the following day they were caught in Jefferson Canyon, 15 miles from Belmont, by ex-Sheriff Tom Logan and John McCann.” It appears that Logan’s old-fashioned methods still had value after all.

Tonopah’s silver mines kept producing and the settlement became one of the most modern cities in Nevada. The narrow-gauge Tonopah Railroad arrived in July 1904 to much celebration. By 1905 the town boasted telegraph and telephone connections, paved sidewalks and electric lights and 16-passenger automobile stages that quickly connected travelers with nearby mining communities in Goldfield, Belmont, Rhyolite and Manhattan. The Salt Lake Tribune claimed that Tonopah had “every comfort obtainable even in a city the size of New York.” But along with the amenities came crime.

Despite his earlier setback, Logan decided to run for the sheriff-assessor position again. His opponent was State Assemblyman Tom McCabe. The Tonopah press considered both men to be equally qualified candidates, but this time Logan won by a wide margin. Still, the Bonanza wondered if even Logan could hold the line against the invasion of men streaming to Nye County’s thriving mining camps.

In March 1906, Sheriff Logan rushed to Berlin due to disputes between Portuguese, Italian and Basque workers. Berlin’s solitary mining company had decided to replace its Portuguese laborers with Basque men, which led to violence. Logan arrived with six deputies, rounded up dozens of men and disarmed them. Nearly 30 Basque migrant workers were arrested, tried and fined, before being kicked out of town. Logan’s bold actions attracted national acclaim for averting what was being called Nevada’s race war.

Tom and Hannah’s eight children were growing up; their three eldest daughters were attending business school in California. But Tom had strayed in his marital relationship. On the evening of April 6, 1906, he was relaxing in a private room at a Manhattan brothel called Jewel. Word was that Tom was in a sexual relationship with May Biggs, the madam of this bordello. At dawn the next morning, Biggs asked one of her customers to leave as the transac-

tion had been completed.

Instead of complying, Walter Barieau violently grabbed her wrists and forced Biggs to her knees; she screamed.

The commotion woke Logan who ran unarmed to the parlor dressed in a nightshirt.

Logan marched the fuming Barieau down the hall, out the front door and into the street. While Logan stood weaponless in the doorway, Barieau pulled a gun and fired, shattering a windowpane next to Logan. Incensed, Logan rushed Barieau who shot him five times at point-blank range before the sheriff took him down.

The piano player at the Jewel retrieved Logan’s loaded revolver from his room and ran to the front door. As he leveled the weapon at Barieau, the mortally wounded lawman laying in a pool of blood ordered the musician to hold his fire: “No more shooting! The county court will administer justice.”

Sheriff Logan died two hours later from a ruptured artery. At a coroner’s hearing that night, Barieau pleaded not guilty, but rumors

Read the first two parts at TheTahoeWeekly.com of a lynching by angry townsfolk alarmed officers who quickly escorted the killer to the county jail at Tonopah.

Barieau, a troublesome gambler, was wellknown to California police. He retained two defense attorneys, one of whom was future Nevada Senator Pat McCarran from Reno. McCarran slandered Sheriff Logan’s reputation by linking him to prostitutes, denigrated testimony by eyewitnesses at the brothel and denied Barieau’s frequent run-ins with the law. On July 13, 1906, Barieau was declared innocent and set free.

It was a travesty of justice, but the McCarran miracle launched McCarran’s political career in the Silver State.

More than a century later, in May 2011, the Nye County’s sheriff ’s office posthumously awarded Logan the department’s Purple Heart and Medal of Valor. A hero had been restored. The day after his killing, a Manhattan newspaper had written: “A model sheriff, a good citizen, Sheriff Logan was a man who was a benefit to the world in which he lived.”

To learn more, read Jackie Boor’s book “Logan: The Honorable Life & Scandalous Death of a Western Lawman.”  Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking.com. You may reach him at mark@ thestormking.com.

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Horoscopes

FIRE

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Puzzles

Michael O’Connor, Life Coach Astrologer | SunStarAstrology.com

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)

Keeping busy behind the scenes continues and you are probably fine with that. Although the appeal of social interaction lingers, it is on the lesser end and you are probably happy to keep the company of your family and closest friends only. Meanwhile, you find yourself on a quest to decipher how you can best attend strictly to practical needs in order to strengthen your faith and confidence.

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19)

Building upon new foundations especially in terms of new lifestyle rhythms continues. This process began, perhaps with a bang, at the solstice. Positively, it has activated a more creative and animated mood, on one hand, yet which may also be woven with some uncertainty in terms of entering the unknown.

Positively, your energy levels are running high.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

A deepened sense of social responsibility is percolating within you. These are moving you to exercise a mode of leadership. Yet, you also feel inclined to remain somewhat behind the scenes. The creative resolution for this may amount to participation via social media. In this regard, your focus probably features a balance of philosophical ideal and realistic pragmatism.

A mood to be focused on creative projects close to home continues. It is likely that you are attending to several simultaneously and are enjoying that. Among these is the theme of securing our nest and or making your home environment more beautiful and functional. The Sun in Leo will direct your focus to more practical activity and Mercury following suit in mid-August will increase your focus and resolve.

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Activations in your public and professional sphere continue to be a central theme and focus. Yet, you are dealing with mixed feelings regarding your role and actual participation. While you do want to fulfill a sense of purpose, and the prospect of social interaction may hold some appeal, it is more a matter of practicality and duty that guides above all.

We are all surfacing after a deep and intense dive over the past several weeks. The aftershocks of this cycle will linger for you, yet the Sun in Leo indicates a time when you will make every effort to get in as much fun in the sun as you can. You may also feel itchy to go on an adventure. If you do, your approach may be deemed conservative, so trust that and go for it.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)

A mood to get things done continues. Weaving outdoor activities and practical projects are likely and ideal. You prefer to work with other key players than alone. Creative activities and projects also hold great appeal. Yet, you do reserve a healthy measure of creative license and, if this is not available, you will probably be a bit grumpy and may even walk away altogether.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)

You have been busy taking stock of what you have and what you need. The focus is very much on family needs. You are hardly in the mood to bust the bank and will likely lean towards frugality. Yet, as you cast your sights to the bigger picture, you see ominous storm clouds. So, you are also willing to make any necessary investments to achieve your goals.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)

A lot of deep changes continue to churn within.

Hopefully, these are the kind you want. The entire process may be deemed transformational. Positively, it is leading you to be more social and to increase and improve the quality of your communications with others. This is not the time to be self-determined at the expense of a spirit of cooperation.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

Amidst lingering security concerns, your energy levels will rise noticeably over the coming days and weeks. Given the social atmosphere, moods continue to rise and fall, and the calm water does not appear to be in the forecast. Making the most of it, you will aim to enjoy more playtime, and this could amount to diving into creative projects, in a couple of weeks.

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)

A steady flow of social activity continues yet may be especially focused on family. However, key people who played an important role in your past may enter the stage. These reunions could prove quite emotionally charged and could activate the beginning of a whole new foundation of relationship involvement, especially into the second week of August.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

New Moon # 2 in your sign indicates that the process of taking pioneering leads will continue.

Looking back later, you will realize just how much you advanced somehow in the summer of 2020. This process includes new knowledge and perhaps training for the sake of fixes and repairs. Some may deem your approach to be ‘maverick’. As far as you are concerned: ‘whatever it takes.’

CryptoQuip

What would some mean guys call a technologically challenged person? A nincomputer.

Hocus Focus differences: 1. Tree is fuller, 2. Change belt is different, 3. Fence is longer, 4. Girl’s bow is different, 5. Boy’s shirt has buttons, 6. Girl’s skirt is decorated.

12

July 29-August 4, 2020 THE MAKERS

THE makers

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

creative awareness | arts & culture | the makers movement

Courtesy Trails & Vistas

Jonathan Millar

Tickets on sale for Trails & Vistas film Trails & Vistas is creating a virtual art hike film for its 2020 performance instead of hosting an in-person event. Artists, musicians, dancers and poets started filming for the Virtual Art Hike Film, “Full Circle,” in July. The film will be released in September.

The film features performances and favorite landscapes through the group’s 17-year history with the Trails & Vistas art hikes.

Tickets for the virtual art hike film will be available on Aug. 1. | trailsandvistas.org

R E P U R P O S I N G M E TA L I N TO S C U L P T U R E S S TO RY BY K AY L A A N D E R S O N | P H OTO S C O U R T E SY J O N AT H A N M I L L A R

A

metal downhill skier with a bolt for a head is mounted on a round SKF bearing, sliding down a metal outline of Lake Tahoe. This sculpture, made primarily of nuts and bolts, is one of the dozens of Sports Nuts Sculptures made by Olympic Valley artisan and Squaw Valley cable-lift operator Jonathan Millar.

Most of Millar’s unique sculptures represent what he loves to do most in his free time: downhill ski.

“I moved here in 2004 after going to college in New Hampshire. I knew pretty early on that I’d want to move somewhere to ski and found Tahoe,” he says.

Call for mail

art project

The Glass Garage Collective has issued a call to artists for “We Are All Guests Here” project to all participants to submit art on the theme: People + Place.

“We Are All Guests Here” participants may type or write, draw, collage, compose poems, share secrets, tell stories in letter, post-card, 3-D or mixed-media form.

The entirety of the submission (art + envelope/packaging/box) must be no larger than 11 inches by 13 inches by 5 inches.

“We Are All Guests Here” is a mail art project that aims to chronicle and celebrate the creative culture. Submissions can be signed or anonymous. Submissions may be mailed to S. Wells, P.O. Box 6149, Stateline, NV 89449.| glassgaragecollective.com

t he a rt s Call for Artist Submissions

Glass Garage Collective | Stateline July 29-Sept. 30

1 p.m. | glassgaragecollective.com

Love & Kindness Art Contest Truckee Library | July 29-31

(530) 582-7846, mynevadacounty.com

Voices of Youth

Online | Tahoe City | July 29

5:30 p.m. | eventbrite.com

3 Day Pastel and Oil Plein Air Workshop

North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | July 31-Aug. 2 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | (650) 208-3210, northtahoearts.com

“Black, white, and a hint of...” art show Tahoe Art League Art Center South Lake Tahoe | July 31-Sept. 4

11 a.m.-4 p.m. | (530) 544-2313, talart.org

“My favorite sculptures to make are the skiers and I like that most of them are made of chairlift bearings.

Skiing is my favorite thing to do in Tahoe.”

–Jonathan Millar Millar ended up in Olympic Valley through a loose family connection working on the Squaw Valley Aerial Tram built in 1968. At the time, it was the largest tram in the world. It was a good place for Millar to pursue his passion and he quickly moved up the ranks, starting as a tram driver and moving into lift maintenance.

“Working at a ski resort is definitely fun; I’ve learned a lot being a part of all these huge main lift projects,” Millar says.

During his 15-year tenure at Squaw, Millar has climbed lift towers, changed out sheaves and chairlift wheels. Tram staff regularly maintains the cable lift; about five years ago they replaced the roller bearings in the chairlift towers. During that time, the original SKF bearings that kept the tram running for 40 years were getting switched out. Instead of throwing them out, Millar had the idea to create sculptures out of them.

LEFT: Lake Tahoe Biking Nut;

Thanks to Millar, these repurposed metal parts have been given a second chance at life. “[SKF] bearings are more refined; they’re the top bearing company in the world,” he says.

Remembering the welding class he took in college, he started gathering the discarded pieces and welding them together. He joined the nuts and bolts together to create fun figures doing the things he’s interested in like mountain biking, hiking, exploring the world, surfing, fly fishing — and, most of all, skiing.

“At first it became a way to practice and then I started doing bigger sculptures,” he says.

Millar made sculptures for friends and family in the beginning but started selling them at local art shows as he improved. In 2009, Millar participated in Truckee First Fridays events and selling his sculptures more regularly at Riverside Studios in downtown Truckee. Millar also regularly has a booth at Made in Tahoe Festival usually held Memorial Day Weekend in the Village at Squaw. As of press time, it has been rescheduled for Oct. 10 and 11.

Millar also makes wine racks, wall hangings and other figurines. “My favorite sculptures to make are the skiers and I like that most of them are made of chairlift

ABOVE: Riding the Chairlift Nut.

bearings. Skiing is my favorite thing to do in Tahoe,” he says.

Millar believes he’s made more than 1,000 sculptures since he started, the biggest one being a soaring airplane that was 2 feet high and 2 feet wide.

“I’ll spend one day welding, then one day cleaning and polishing,” Millar says, explaining that he’ll have at least 10 projects in different stages and move them through a process until he completes them. “Ten years ago, it would’ve taken me Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

hours to do one; it’s definitely going much faster now. I like the shiny steel aspect of it. I think bearings are cool and I like the ingenuity of all the steps.”

Millar admits that he’s happy with his business where it’s at, raising three kids all younger than age 6 and trying to keep up with the demand at Riverside Studios.

“This business exceeded what my expectations were. Right now, it’s good. It’s a nice side hobby,” Millar says. | pinterest. com, etsy.com, riversideartstudios.com 

13

TheTahoeWeekly.com

THE lineup live music | shows | nightlife

festivals | entertainment

THE TRIPPY RHYMES OF

Melting Elk S TO RY BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N

C

ollin Wright wakes up in the morning, makes some coffee, smokes a bowl and turns on The Beatles. Then he begins to write hip-hop.

“There’s something in a song will send me down my own side river,” he says.

“Whatever is affecting me in the moment mixed with the music usually turns out to be something new, usually far away from the song I was listening to.”

Wright is the outspoken front man of Melting Elk, a band that’s not afraid to blend genres, break rules and get weird.

“Don’t be afraid to listen to things that other people think are not cool,” he says.

“Do your own thing and let it marinate.”

Growing up in Buffalo, N.Y., Wright discovered hip-hop at the tender age of 9 when he heard “The Riddler” by Method Man from the soundtrack of “Batman Forever.” This began a never-ending journey into the rabbit role of rap as he delved into Wu-Tang Clan, OutKast and other avant-garde slappers of the day.

He adopted the early pseudonym Will Zion and wrote and recited rhymes for his white, suburban, church youth group.

His eventual stage name, Father Baker, was taken from a priest who ran the local orphanage where Wright and his misbehaving siblings were threatened to be sent whenever they acted up.

Years later Wright moved to Kings Beach where he met fellow Buffalonian guitarist and producer TJ “Toyko” Becker.

One summer they took a trip to Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco with $50 in their pockets. Amidst a crowd of 100,000, they stumbled on a permagrinning friend lying stoned in the grass of Golden Gate Park. He dosed them on an unknown amount of LSD from the bottom of liquid vial.

“We were in the birthplace of it all, so we decided to go for it,” says Wright. “We hung out on the street corner for hours laughing our asses off.”

Thus Melting Elk was born as a rare combination of hip-hop and psychedelia.

Watch “UFO” music video

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

“A lot of MCs, all they listen to is rap,” says Wright. “It’s about actually taking things from music that wouldn’t align with hip-hop and throwing it in there because no one really does it. Basically what we’re trying to do is shoot Pink Floyd and The Doors through a hip-hop lens.”

14

Classical Tahoe to livestream chamber series

Classical Tahoe will present an outdoor Chamber Music Series from July 30 to Aug. 16 for the season. The concerts are only open to current subscribers to limit audience size; no tickets will be available for sale. The concerts will be livestreamed, however, and several will be broadcast on PBS Reno at a future date. They will also be available at pbsreno.org and the PBS app.

The Chamber Music Concert Series will feature performances by Classical Tahoe musicians with programs organized by Concertmaster Laurie Hamilton. The concerts, which will last 60 minutes without intermission, will be followed by a facilitated “Meet The Musicians” Q and A. | classicaltahoe.org July 30 | 7 p.m.

Beethoven: Serenade in D Major, Op. 25; Debussy: Danses sacrée et profane; Zabel: Fantasy on Themes from Gounod’s Faust, Op. 12, for solo harp; Works for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano by Mahler, Heggie and Kern; Brahms: Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40.

July 31 | 7 p.m.

HIP-HOP

things. …We use playful motifs and fantastic

Beethoven: Serenade in D Major, Op. 25; Debussy: Danses sacrée et profane; Zabel: Fantasy on Themes from Gounod’s Faust, Op. 12, for solo harp; Brahms: Horn Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 40.

ideas mixed with some serious stuff. We’re

Aug. 1 | 7 p.m.

“It’s about paying attention to spaces in between

basically the definition of abstract.”

–Collin Wright With Rob “Hot Bobby” Kominsky on the drums, this Tahoe trip-hop trio has steadily released original music since 2017. Their singular style is anchored

by Wright’s lucid, bizarre and ingenious lyrics full of non-sequiturs, obscure pop culture references and endless visions of cosmic hypocrisy.

“We definitely have a little bit of political angst to us,” says Wright. “We get frustrated about the state of affairs and we feel like it’s a really nice way to speak on it. There’s a lot of trash in hip-hop. There’s a lot of people that don’t say much. So why not go that way? There’s a lot to say.”

The band recently added keyboardist Webster Moore from Chico funk band Lo and Behold.

“With Webster, we have the sound we’ve been working for,” says Wright.

“He’s like the carpet from ‘The Big Lebowski’ that tied the room together.”

In the atypical steps of The Roots, Portishead and Anderson Paak before them, Melting Elk thrives on mishmash of flippant lyricism, street sensibility and live musical performance.

“It’s about paying attention to spaces in between things,” says Wright. “There are so many things that are overlooked.

We use playful motifs and fantastic ideas mixed with some serious stuff. We’re basically the definition of abstract.”

During quarantine, Melting Elk used their time to put out a string of music videos for previously unreleased material featuring imagery from Danish filmmaker Wilhelm Freddie and cult director David Lynch. “UFO” involves Wright being abducted by aliens amid the ominous cinematography of his brother Colton.

“He’s our fifth member,” says Wright.

After being diagnosed with COVID-19 this spring, their father spent 10 days in the hospital on a ventilator before ultimately recovering.

“I was trying to focus on things that weren’t that,” says Wright. “But I never got the phone call. It was basically a miracle. Now we don’t have a time limit because of all this stuff that’s happening.

We figured with all this crazy shit going on, let’s use it for our benefit.”

Melting Elk plans to release their sophomore album, “Redbowl,” sometime in the near future. | meltingelk.com  Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.

Mozart: Quintet for Horn and Strings in E-flat Major, K. 407; French Pieces for Flute and Harp: Works by Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré; Works for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano

by Mahler, Heggie, and Kern; Franck: Piano Quintet in f minor.

Aug. 2 | 7 p.m.

Mozart: Quintet for Horn and Strings in E-flat Major, K. 407; French Pieces for Flute and Harp: Works by Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Fauré; Franck: Piano Quintet in f minor.

Aug. 6 & 7 | 7 p.m.

Vivaldi: Concerto for Bassoon and Strings in G Major, RV 492; Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K. 370; Bruch: Selections from Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, Op. 83; Piano Solo TBA; Saint-Saëns: Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 65.

Aug. 8 & 9 | 7 p.m.

Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Violin in c minor, BWV 1060; Debussy, arr. K. Cooper: Sonata “No. 5” (World Premiere); Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 1 in c minor, Op. 15.

Aug. 13 & 14 | 7 p.m.

Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge, song cycle for tenor, piano, and string quartet; Dvorák: String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77.

Aug. 15 & 16 | 7 p.m.

Rossini ed. James McSpoon: Sonata a Quattro No. 6 in D Major “La Tempesta”; Songs by Handel, Rachmaninoff, R. Strauss and Schubert; Mendelssohn: Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20.

July 29-August 4, 2020 THE LINEUP

Concerts at Commons

l i ve

GOES VIRTUAL Diggin’ Dirt

Clare Foster | Tahoe City Downtown Association

JULY 29 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.

Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances

JULY 30 | THURSDAY

Our pop-up drive-in runs Thursdays-Sundays for the summer.

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.

Classical Tahoe (virtual) Streaming live, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.

Drive-In: The Breakfast Club July 30-Aug 2

The Mask

JULY 31 | FRIDAY

“Every summer for the past 15 years, the TCDA and the Tahoe City Public Utilities District have produced Lake Tahoe’s favorite live music event, Concerts at Commons Beach. While we are unable to meet in person this summer, we still want to bring rocking music and good cheer to our community,” said Kylee Bigelow, TCDA executive director in a press release.

Concerts at Commons Beach are free shows made possible by the generosity of community sponsors. To support the return of future in person concerts, attendees and community supporters are invited to donate at concertsatcommonsbeach.com. | visittahoecity.org

THE LINEUP Aug. 2 | Lebo and Friends Aug. 9 | Turkuaz Aug. 16 | Poor Man’s Whiskey Aug. 23 | Diggin’ Dirt Aug. 30: Best of Mash-Up

Courtesy Mile High Jazz Band Association

The Tahoe City Downtown Association has partnered with 101.5 KTKE Truckee Tahoe Radio to bring a weekly broadcast and streaming version of the popular Concerts at Commons Beach series to fans for five Sundays from Aug. 2 to 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Featuring a few of the best concerts recorded from previous years, music fans will be able to reminisce and relive memories from their favorite concerts from the comfort and safety of their home, boat, driveway or backyard. The concerts will be broadcast at 101.5 and livestreamed through 101.5 at concertsatcommonsbeach.com.

Aug 6-9

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.

Classical Tahoe (virtual) Streamed live, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.

Rustler’s Moon Gar Woods Lake Tahoe, Carnelian Bay, 8 p.m.

Chile Verde Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.

Virtual

Jazz & Poetry released

Mile High Jazz Band Association recently produced a video, “Virtual Jazz & Poetry: Running Out” featuring six short acts, each consisting of the reading of a poem and the performance of a related piece of music.

Unable to perform the Jazz & Poetry event scheduled for June 9, the Mile High Jazz Band created the Virtual Jazz & Poetry video instead. Several poets, given the theme Running Out, wrote or selected poems to read and band members recorded tunes related to the poems. The video is a compilation of these efforts.

Featured poet/readers are Rita Geil, Lori Bagwell, Wayne Carlson, Ross Cooper, Krista Lukas, Tom Miller, Susan Sara Priest, Timothy Rhodes and Amy Roby. Musicians are vocalist Jakki Ford, bassist Frank Iannetta, trumpeter Bob Souter, saxophonist

Mars Attacks Aug 13-16

Visit TahoeArtHausCinema.com for showtimes, schedule, events + tkts THE COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY, CA | 530-584-2431

AUGUST 1 | SATURDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.

Classical Tahoe (virtual) Streaming live, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.

Chile Verde Bar of America, Truckee, 9 p.m.

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Concerts at Commons Beach (virtual) KTKE 101.5 FM, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.

Classical Tahoe (virtual) Streaming live, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.

AUGUST 3 | MONDAY

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AUGUST 5 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m.

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Watch Virtual Jazz & Poetry

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

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EAT &drink

food & libations | recipes | delicious events

N OT YO U R AV E R AG E

corner store

S TO RY BY P R I YA H UT N E R | P H OTO S C O U R T E SY W E S T S H O R E M A R K ET

W

hile many of us navigate the uncertainty of challenging times, immersing ourselves in nature is one way to reduce stress and explore Tahoe’s beauty.

Whether it’s sitting on Lake Tahoe’s shores, hiking, biking or getting into the back country, food is an essential aspect of spending time outdoors.

When going to the grocery story can fill some with anxiety and you just need a few things, try one of the local general stores and explore some of their unique offerings or grab food to go and enjoy the outdoors.

LEFT: Inside the West Shore Market.

BELOW: Owners of West Shore Market, Scott and Chris Schuster.

Obexer’s General Store & Deli, located at Obexer’s Boat Co., was founded in 1911. Located in Homewood, the familyowned market features groceries, produce, snacks and a coffee bar. The menu features breakfast bagels, specialty burritos, custom-crafted sandwiches — their Brown Sugar Pepper Bacon is made fresh daily. Obexer’s is unique and their food is delicious.

“ We spent a lot of time researching items we

Enjoy the tastes of Tahoe

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

wanted to carry with flavor profiles we wanted

SOUTH SHORE

and items you won’t find anywhere else.”

–Chris Schuster TRUCKEE Sticks Market has been a fixture at Donner Lake for almost 30 years, serving a variety of tasty sandwiches. The market has a wide selection of beer and wine, deli meats and cheeses, fresh produce and the

best dill pickles. Poke on the Lake poke bowls return to the menu soon. They are delicious and perfect on a hot summer day. The market has an excellent location; grab a dock and enjoy your lunch.

Heading up to Tahoe Donner to bike or hike? It’s the perfect time to stop at Z Marketplace Deli on Northwoods Boulevard. With a daily lunch special, they have a variety of sandwiches and wraps. I love their turkey pesto panini and French dip sandwiches. Wednesdays through Fridays, they fire up the grill and barbecue. They also offer fresh produce, a cheese and crackers selection, wines and yummy chocolates. It’s an easy way to grab and go.

Glenshire General Store on Dorchester Road in the Glenshire neighborhood is another gem. It offers beer, wine, fresh burritos and sandwiches, as well as produce and organic groceries.

OLYMPIC VALLEY Planning some outdoor activities in Olympic Valley or Alpine Meadows, visit Alice’s Mountain Market, a family-owned and operated gourmet general store in the Village at Squaw. They have all manner of grab and go pre-packaged sandwiches, chips, and beverages for your Shirley Canyon or Five Lakes hike.

16

WEST SHORE Down the West Shore of Tahoe, West Shore Market is a fantastic neighborhood market at Sunnyside.

“The goal during our remodel was to create a space you want to come into.

It’s comfortable. We spent a lot of time researching items we wanted to carry with flavor profiles we wanted and items you won’t find anywhere else,” says co-owner Chris Schuster.

The coffee bar features a specialty roast created for the market by a roaster in Reno, Nev. Schuster recommends trying the cinnamon rolls and scones: “It’s what we are known for … make sure to try the Leo Leo gelato.”

The deli prepares gourmet sandwiches.

The shelves are stocked with locally sourced items, craft beers, wines, spirits and fresh meats, poultry and fish products.

The organic produce is from Tahoe Food Hub. The market has everything you need, including sundries, cookbooks and kitchen and houseware items.

As you roll into South Lake Tahoe, check out Camp Richardson General Store & Café, which serves breakfast and lunch. The store offers an excellent selection of wines and beer and to-go food items and camping supplies.

Don’t forget to check out its sister stores across the street – the Ice Cream Parlor or Coffee and Confectionary.

I’ll feature local, specialty markets in the next edition and at TheTahoeWeekly.com.  Priya Hutner is a writer, personal chef and workshop facilitator. She is the owner of the Seasoned Sage, which prepares organic artisan meals for dinner parties and events. She also offers in-home cooking classes, parties and local pop up dinners. As a breath meditation teacher and long-time yogi, she facilitates workshops and classes that focus on gaining a deeper awareness of self. Send story ideas to priya@ tahoethisweek.com. | (772) 913-0008, pria78@gmail. com, seasonedsage.com

July 29-August 4, 2020 EAT & DRINK

Wine Myths PA R T I I S TO RY & P H OTO S BY L O U P H I L L I P S

I

Kings Beach

know, the title suggests there will myths de-bunked herein, but these may be more than that. These may actually be dirty deeds being done dirt cheap. (Mea culpa, I could not resist the AC/DC reference.

Food Service on Patio To Go Orders Only

NATURAL WINES ARE BETTER I call this: “Have you had the latest Orange-Pet-Nat-Sulphur-Free wine made from a field blend of Georgian indigenous grapes from which the vines were only treated with whale poop?” Unfortunately, I have. More unfortunately there are plenty more out there, mostly touted by Fedorawearing self-accredited wine experts and wine editors from big-city, tres-chic hipsters, who tell you that you must like them because they are interesting and the new wave. I wish I was joking, or even incorrect, but the facts are the facts.

First of all, there is no accepted definition of natural wine, so there is that.

First of all, there is no accepted definition of natural wine, so there is that. And would someone please show some science that states exactly what is evil or unnatural about adding an appropriate amount of sulfur to wine? Which, by the way, naturally lives on grapes anyway and is one of the main substances that inhibits bad microbes. Stop saying the emperor is clothed. However, if you claim to know what defines natural wine and enjoy tasting through the gamut of wines that are more flawed and yuckier than natural to get to something palatable, get down with your bad self.

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(530) 546-4539 8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach in Kings Beach

Sonoma leads the world in sustainable practices, 2010 Mauritson Cabernet Rockpile Ridge.

One example is vineyard weeding. While sustainable farming may use chemicals for this task, this can be more earth-friendly because organic and biodynamic systems require hand weeding, which needs to be done more frequently and takes more manpower. In many cases those workers need to travel to the vineyard, which means multiple motor vehicle trips per season.

You can see where this can be harder on the overall environment.

This is but one example and my point is if the goal is saving the earth, greater flexibility wins the day. Sustainable is also a commitment to the vineyard and winery workers and includes fair wages and good living conditions for those folks.

By the way, Sonoma County has made a commitment to 100 percent sustainability and is now a world leader in that field; so, buying Sonoma wine is a good way to vote with your dollars. 

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Read Part I

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Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier in Tahoe and his consulting business wineprowest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or wineguru123@gmail.com.

Level 3 (Advanced) Sommelier

Louis Phillips

Call or email today for your no-cost profit consult.

Natural French bubbles, Domain Viking.

ORGANIC & BIODYNAMIC FARMING The next myth: A complete commitment to organic and/or biodynamic farming is better for our planet. This one is often propagated by the same voodoo pseudo-scientists that flap on about natural wine — this myth is about as well thought through as that. A practice called sustainable, which is less dogmatic about specific practices, can be more beneficial.

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FROM CHEF SMITTY’S KITCHEN

Fine Italian Food & Spirits

BY C H E F DAV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

(530) 546-2434 BAR - 4:30 p.m. DINNER - 5 p.m.

7739 N Lake Blvd - Kings Beach

LanzasTahoe.com Sierra Community House Food Distribution We’re delivering perishable food bags weekly in Truckee & North Lake Tahoe.

Delivery staff and volunteers are following best practices and wearing masks. Please follow social distancing and NOT interact.

To sign-up or cancel, e-mail food@sierracommunityhouse.org or call 775-545-4083; Provide full name, address, phone number, birthdate and number of people in the household.

Famous for our Mexican Dinners (530) 587-3557 10186 Donner Pass Rd - Truckee

W

hen I cook dinner for myself, I solve into the liquid creating your stock. normally don’t want to go through If you let that reduce down, you end up any elaborate procedures. I want somewith your demi or, in this case, a great pan thing good and tasty, of course, but most sauce. It really is that simple. of the time I don’t want to go through the You can change the sauce by adding Tahoe City process of making a fancy sauce. Actually, different ingredients such as port, red wine, Farmers Market that isn’t totally true. Sauces are not hard sherry or other alcohol and letting that reCommons Beach to make or time consuming or anywhere Tahoe City | July 30 near as involved as most people think The Tahoe City Farmers Market is every they are.

Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 8.

If you have a good demi, or base, you can make all kinds 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.com of sauces in less than 2 minutes. The key is having that Romano’s demi, which few people will Certified Farmers Market have. Demi glaze is just a beef Sierra Valley Farms or veal stock reduced down to Beckwourth | July 30 a concentrated level that is gelatiThe Farmers Market is every Friday until nous in texture or reduced by about Sept. 11. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | sierravalley10 times the amount you started with, farms.com hence demi, which means 10.

But wait, just because there is no demi, Incline Village doesn’t mean you can’t have a good sauce Farmers Market for the entrée. Most people don’t have a Incline Village Library demi available because they don’t want to You can change the sauce by Incline Village | July 30 take the time to make it. It can take up adding different ingredients The Incline Village Farmers Market is to three days of simmering depending on the size of the batch to get a good demi. every Thursday until Sept. 3. 3-6 p.m. | (775) such as port, red wine, sherry I usually make a good-sized batch and 832-4130, laketahoemarkets.com freeze it in small containers. or other alcohols and letting But let’s backtrack for a second and Truckee that reduce before you add think logically. All a stock is on the basic Certified Farmers Market level is bits of meat and bone browned Truckee River Regional Park the water. off in a pan and then boiled. Reduce that Truckee | Aug. 4 by 10, or whatever, and you have your The Truckee Certified Farmers Market demi. Sure there are other ingredients is every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until duce before you add the water. You also added depending on the chef, but that Oct. 15. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | truckeecertifiedfa. is the main jest of it. Now, we take that can substitute cream for the water for some wixsite.com sauces. The point is, pan sauces are simple over to your normal dinner and what are to make, add a lot of flavor to your entrée you doing? You are cooking the meat, El Dorado County and you get the added benefit of having an which is the browning process, but you Certified Farmer’s Market easier pan to clean because the boiling has obviously leave out the boiling part.

American Legion Parking Lot gotten all the stuff you would have had to This is where the pan sauce comes in.

South Lake Tahoe | Aug. 4 scrape off the bottom of the pan.

Once the meat has been cooked off, the Here’s a pan sauce using cream instead normal thing to do is to simply put it on Certified Farmer’s Market is held at the of water, but you can use water if you a plate and call it done. Once you put American Legion parking lot, on Tuesdays want. Enjoy.  the meat on a plate, you usually place the through Oct. 13. There are new procedures pan in the sink, add some water and let due to the coronavirus that line up with the it soak while you eat, so it is easier to get state and county guidelines for outdoor events Find more of Chef Smitty’s sauce recipes all that hard stuff stuck to the bottom of serving prepared and fresh food. 8 a.m.at TheTahoeWeekly.com the pan off.

1 p.m. Free | eldoradofarmersmarket.com Instead of filling the pan with water David “Smitty” Smith is a personal chef specializing in and letting it soak, put a cup or so of water in it and put it back on the stove to boil. dinner parties, cooking classes and special events. Trained Use a wooden spoon to scrape all the hard, under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, crispy stuff off the bottom of the pan. You Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. will see the liquid getting a nice golden Contact him at (530) 412-3598 or tmmsmitty@gmail.com.

Sunday through Thursday not valid with any other offer | Expires May 22, 2019 brown as all those crispy little specks dis-

tasty tidbits Locals Love Lanza’s!

Pan Sauce

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Lakeview Deck and Patio Open for Dining

PAN SAUCE

From the kitchen of: Chef David “Smitty” Smith 4 servings of beef tenderloin 2 T whole peppercorns 1 T butter 1 t oil 3 oz. cognac 8 oz. heavy cream

JasonsBeachSideGrille.com

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(530) 546-3315

8338 NORTH LAKE BLVD., KINGS BEACH, CA

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Use the bottom of the pan and crush the peppercorns. Lightly salt the beef and coat both sides with the peppercorns. Do not use a coated pan, if possible. Get the oil and butter hot in the pan and sear the meat on both sides so it is rare to medium rare and remove from the pan. Away from the stove, add 2 oz. of the cognac, light it to burn off the alcohol and place the pan back on the stove. Reduce until almost gone. Add the cream and reduce until it coats the bottom of a spoon. Season with salt and add the rest of the cognac to taste.

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