Dec. 29, 2021-Jan. 11, 2022 Tahoe Weekly by Tahoe Guide (Tahoe Weekly)

local. independent. fresh.

december 29, 2021-january 11, 2022

the original guide to tahoe & truckee since 1982

tasty

winter eats

know

your snow

leftover salmon

brand-new good old days

brutal winter of 1951-52

Tahoe Sierra nordic ski & snowshoe guide

15 th annual

winter 21-22 edition

LIVE MUSIC EVENTS OUTDOORS & RECREATION FOOD & WINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SIGHTSEEING VISITOR INFO

Re-Fuel the Stoke Drop in on over 50 unique shops restaurants and watering holes in The Village at Palisades Tahoe

Dining

Shopping

Auld Dubliner Coﬀeebar Euro Crepes/Euro Snack Euro Sweets Euro Fresh Fireside Pizza Company PlumpJack Café Rocker The Slot Bar Starbucks Sun Bowl Tremigo Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar Twenty-Two Bistro & Bar Uncorked Wine Bar

Alice’s Mountain Market Gallery Keoki Kalifornia Jean Bar KTees Logo Wear Lather & Fizz Bath Boutique The Ledge Board Shop Mind Play The North Face Oakley Parallel Mountain Sports Patagonia PlumpJack Sport Spirits of the Valley Spruced Gift & Home Surefoot Custom Bootfitters Village Demo Center Palisades Tahoe Logo Company Palisades Yoga

Learn more at palisadestahoe.com

fun. unique. everywhere.

P.O. Box 154 | Tahoe Vista, CA 96148 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

in this issue

Northstar Tahoe

DEC. 29, 2021-JAN. 11, 2022

FEATURES

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

SUBMISSIONS 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

A HAPPY TAHOE NEW YEAR

making it happen Publisher/Owner & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Art Director Abigail Gallup production@tahoethisweek.com Graphic Designer Lauren Shearer graphics@tahoethisweek.com Website Manager LT Marketing Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food & Well Being Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com

FROM THE PUBLISHER

I’m so happy 2022 is knocking on the door. 2021 was much better than 2020 for many reasons including a life-saving vaccine that most of us can now take and the beginning of a recovery for businesses hit hard by the pandemic. But so long 2021. There’s still a long road ahead for many businesses, including building back The Tahoe Weekly, but thanks for our amazing readers, new and long-time clients, and many generous donors, we are looking forward to a bright future. At this time a year ago, I really didn’t know if Tahoe Weekly would make it through 2021. While our readership is at an all-time high, we’re still hard at work building back our financial health as we move into 2022. If you love and enjoy the Tahoe Weekly as so many of you tell me, I ask that you support our advertisers, who in turn support this locally owned and operated magazine. 40TH ANNIVERSARY

In February, we’ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of our first edition of Tahoe Weekly (called North Tahoe Week back then). We’re planning some fun projects to celebrate in 2022 and hopefully we’ll be holding an anniversary party later in the year (depending on this persistent pandemic). NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

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 Wednesdays. 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.

Did you know that the Tahoe Sierra has the largest concentration of Nordic ski areas in North America? It’s true. There are 20 Nordic areas in the region offering ski and snowshoe trails from one of the largest cross-country ski areas in the country (Royal Gorge) to nonprofit-run and community-owned trail systems to local state parks with a variety of both groomed and marked (ungroomed) trail systems. And half of them offer free trail access. You’ll find profiles on 18 of the areas (2 remain closed this season) in our 15th annual Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Guide in this edition. You’ll also want to read Tim Hauserman’s Nordic snow conditions glossary in his “Know Your Snow” feature along with his tips for skiing in different conditions. Happy New Year!

on the cover Skiers enjoy a beautiful day in Euer Valley, part of the Tahoe Donner Cross Country trail system. Read our 15th annual Tahoe Nordic Ski & Snowshoe Guide in this edition to enjoy one of the 18 Nordic areas in the Tahoe Sierra. Photography by Ryan Salm | RyanSalmPhotography.photoshelter.com, @RyanSalmPhotography

Nordic Ski & SnowshoeGuide

Know Your Snow

Brutal Winter of 1951-52

GET OUTSIDE

Sightseeing

Lake Tahoe Facts

Events

Ice Skating & Tubing

Winter Paths Snow Trails

9 14

THE LINEUP

Leftover Salmon

Live

FUN & GAMES

Horoscopes & Puzzles

THE MAKERS

Will & Ivey The Arts

24 24

EAT & DRINK

Tasty Winter Eats

Tasty Tidbits

Wine Resolutions

Chicken Cacciatore

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 e-newsletter at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Tahoe

music, events & festivals

Courtesy Winter Wondergrass

Nevada Nordic

Volume 40 | Issue 26

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

winter edition

AVAILABLE ONLINE

| thetahoeweekly.com + issuu.com/TheTahoeWeekly 3

LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

Readings taken on Thursay, December 23, 2021 ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,223.84 |

IN 2020:

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

Eagle Rock

West Shore

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

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.)

Heavenly OPENS NOV. 19

South Lake Tahoe

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Find more places to explore

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

North Tahoe Arts Center

$10 parking | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion (open for tours in the summer), see boathouses with historic boats, and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. TART

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

Tahoe City

449 Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

CAPACITY: C 226,500

6,225.65

225

200,000 AF

175

IN 2020:

TROA.NET

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Museum of Truckee History

Truckee

Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay

200,000 AF

175

CAPACITY: 29,840 PROSSER 11,061| truckee.com truckeehistory.org Thurs.-Mon. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org The historic town of Truckee was settled Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhi9,500 5 DONNER 4,690 CCAPACITY: in 1863, and grew quickly as a stagecoach bits cover different eras in Truckee history. TART 8 stop and route for the CentralCCAPACITY: Pacific 18,300 Railroad. INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 During these early days, many of Truckee’s Old Jail Museum CLOSED Truckee CAPACITY: A 20,400 4 MARTIS 1,052 and historical homes buildings were built in(530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org cluding The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses | FLOW FARAD 449 Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS) Truckee River tour of historic downtown. Paid AT parking downof its kind in the West used from 1875 TROA.NET until May 1964 (open for tours in summer). TART town. TART

Olympic Museum

Olympic Valley

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

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com Palisades Tahoe, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the symbolic Tower of Nations and Olympic Flame at the entrance to the valley. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. TART

Watson Cabin CLOSED

Tahoe Science Center

South Lake Tahoe

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

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

Tallac Historic Site West Shore

North Shore

Truckee

FLOW AT FARAD

Donner Summit, just west of Truckee, holds the record for the United States’ snowiest April. On April 1, 1880, a storm dumped 4’ of snow on the Sierra Nevada west slope within 24 hours. A massive snow slide near Emigrant Gap buried Central Pacific Railroad’s tracks under 75’ of snow, ice and rock. For the rest of the month, storm cycles continued to flow in, dropping a total of 298”.

6,223.84 |

150,000 AF

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

Truckee

Truckee River C ACITY CAPA CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 BOCA 12,362 STAMPEDE 19,9661

Kings Beach

ELEVATION :

125

Donner Summit

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

Readings taken on Thursay, December 23, 2021

100,000 AF

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, ice skating, events and more. Ticket required. TART

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.

CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8

LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 4 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

150,000 AF

INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

Olympic Valley

High Camp

CAPACITY: 9,500 C 5

125

DONNER 4,690

East Shore

CAPACITY: 29,840

Snowshoeing at Skylandia Beach on the North Shore on Dec. 15 with Geno Brager. | Anne Artoux

Cave Rock

CAPACITY: C 226,500

100,000 AF

ATTRACTIONS

PROSSER 11,061

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

SIGHTSEEING

STAMPEDE 19,9661

6,225.65

225

TheTahoeWeekly.com

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

Tahoe City

Tours in summer only (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. TART

Donner Memorial Visitor Center

Truckee

(530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov The Donner Memorial State Park features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party (184647) at the visitor center, and see the towering Pioneer Monument. TART

Soda Springs

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org Museum at the corner of Old Highway 40 & Soda Springs Road. Take the 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART

Gatekeeper’s Museum

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

MUSEUMS

Donner Summit Historical Society

Incline Village

Tahoe City

(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and local historical memorabilia. TART

KidZone Children’s Museum

Truckee

Wed.-Sat. (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org For kids up to age 7 with interactive exhibits, science & art classes, the BabyZone & the Jungle Gym. TART

Truckee

Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. Exhibits include the train’s role in logging, fighting snow on the railway, the role of Chinese emigrants and a children’s area. TART

Western SkiSport Museum

Donner Summit

Closed for the season | Free (530) 426-3313, ext. 113 | auburnskiclub.org Showcasing the history of skiing, exhibits include antique ski and snowshoe equipment, and a pair of 8-foot-long skis used by legendary mail carrier John “Snowshoe” Thompson. TART

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

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Museum

South Lake Tahoe

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

35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City 3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)

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

TRANSIT Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com 4

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

National Forest access info fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/RecreationSiteStatus

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 YOUR BUSINESS COULD

lake tahoe facts | AUBURN SKI TRAINING CENTER

CLAIR TAPPAAN

BOREAL

Donner Summit

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

Your business’

Reno & Sparks

PLUMAS-EUREKA STATE PARK

TAHOE DONNER

Truckee Donner Lake

SPONSOR THIS PAGE

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

SKY TAVERN MT. ROSE

WEST EAST SOUTH

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

anne@tahoethisweek.com for details

NEVADA NORDIC ra Rim T

DONNER SKI RANCH

LOGO here

h Ta

SUGAR BOWL SODA SPRINGS

Tahoe Vista

PALISADES TAHOE SQUAW CREEK

DEEPEST POINT

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

Tahoe City

Ta h o e R i m

Eagle Rock

CASINOS

Spooner Lake

Tahoe

West Shore

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet (501 m)

Lake

Sunnyside

Glenbrook

Homewood

There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons (284 liters) of water per day for 5 years.

East Shore

e Ri m Tr a i l

Tahoma

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Meeks Bay

Natural rim: 6,223’ (1,897 m)

Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)

Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. (1,897-1,899 m) The top 6.1’ (1.8 m) of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water (91,845 m).

Cave Rock

Watershed Area: 312 square miles (808 sq km)

Zephyr Cove

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F (5.61˚C) Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F (11.1˚C)

Emerald Bay

Fannette Island

Eagle Lake

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F (18.3˚C) Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet (3,317 m)

CAMP RICHARDSON

South Shore

Average Snowfall: 409 inches (10.4 m) Permanent Population: 66,000

South Lake Tahoe

Ta h oe

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide (35 km long, 19 km wide)

Stateline

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

HEAVENLY

Cascade Lake

R i m Tr ail

Fallen Leaf Lake

Number of Visitors: 15 million annually

Meyers

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, or 589 m, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.

Volume: 39 trillion gallons (147.6 trillion liters)

o Ta h

Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs

Carson City

NEVADA NORDIC

HOMEWOOD

Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

Average depth: 1,000 feet (304 m)

Marlette Lake

Dollar Hill

GRANKLIBAKKEN

a Tr

Lake Clarity: 2020: 63 feet avg. depth (19.2 m) 1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet (31.21 m)

Crystal Bay

TAHOE XC

CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA

SNO-PARK

Incline Village

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

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

DIAMOND PEAK

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Olympic Valley

DOWNHILL SKI AREA

North Shore

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

ROYAL GORGE

BIJOU PARK / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

Shoreline: 72 miles (116 km) Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles (307 km). If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water (.38 m).

FREEL PEAK

ECHO LAKES

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Kirkwood

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

HOPE VALLEY

Hope

Markleeville Valley

KIRKWOOD

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.

NOW AVAILABLE 2nd edition

Wineries of the

Sierra Foothills All sales benefit Tahoe Weekly

Purchase your copy at Amazon. Bulk orders available at publisher@tahoethisweek.com

“ When I dream of Tahoe I see the sun and snow.” THE TAHOE COLLECTION Reversible pendant shown.

pendants • earrings • charms • more collections

I VAW I N T O N J E W E L R Y . C O M 5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

GET outside

the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life

After a year-long hiatus, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s has partnered with Tahoe Institute for Natural Science and the Sugar Pine Foundation to offer guided winter outings.

New Year’s Eve C E L E B R AT I O N S

Trekkers will be treated to impressive scenery while learning Tahoe’s long and storied natural history at little to no cost starting on Jan. 6 and running through April 2. | RSVP tahoerimtrail.org

Lila Lapanja | Tahoe Ski Girl

Help Lapanja go to Olympics Tahoe Ski Girl, a Tahoe apres-ski apparel company for girls and women, has launched a fundraiser to help local athlete Lila Lapanja, the reigning U.S. Alpine Combined Champion, to go to the Winter Olympic Games in February. Lapanja has been part of the U.S. Ski Team for 6 years and represented the USA in this year’s inaugural FIS World Cup slalom race at Levi, Finland.

Courtesy Northstar California

elebrate New Year’s Eve with celebrations for everyone from family friendly events and guided snowshoe tours to late-night parties and fireworks. Read our outside and entertainment calendars in this edition for live music and outings in the area or online at TheTahoeWeekly.com; click on Events.

at 7 p.m., followed by live music on the KT deck from 7 to 9 p.m. Register for the parade online. | palisadestahoe.com

Mt. Rose | Celebrate New Year’s skiing

South Shore | Enjoy live music at Heavenly Village’s Main Stage on Dec. 30 and 31. Heavenly Holidays reaches its zenith on New Year’s Eve with a gondola drop coordinated with the midnight ball drop in New York City’s Time Square at 9:00 p.m. PT. The party continues into the night at casino nightclubs and local venues. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe will ring in 2022 with fireworks at midnight. | tahoesouth.com, hardrockcasinolaketahoe.com n

at Mt. Rose followed by an après kick-off launch of 2022 with a cat parade and kids’ torchlight parade at 5 p.m. and fireworks at 5:45 p.m. | skirose.com

Tahoe Donner | Enjoy the Light Parade

for skiers ages 10 and older followed by the annual fireworks show. Snowbird Chairs loads at 6:15 p.m. for the show followed by the fireworks. Register before the parade. | tahoedonner.com

year

’s

Lapanja has designed a Team Lila T-shirt and hat for Tahoe Ski Girl that is available for sale online with all the profits going directly to the skier. | tahoeskigirl.com

a family-friendly evening with live music at 7 p.m. and a fireworks show at 9 p.m. | northstarcalifornia.com

eve

fireworks

5:45 p.m. | Mt. Rose 6:30ish p.m. | Tahoe Donner Downhill

Courtesy Northstar California

Discounted tickets benefit

schools

A limited number of discounted lift tickets are on sale now for Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California. All proceeds will benefit the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation. Starting Jan. 1, tickets will also be available to Homewood Mountain Resort, Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross-Country areas, and Tahoe XC.

Straight A Pass returns Sierra-at-Tahoe has announced a new partnership with Vail Resorts to continue to honor academic achievement by offering South Shore school students the opportunity to ski or ride at Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar with a Tahoe Local Pass through the EpicPromise program. Since 1999, Sierra-at-Tahoe has rewarded students with a complimentary unlimited season pass if they complete an entire school year with straight As through the Straight A Pass Program. With reopening for the 2021-22 winter season still uncertain at Sierra-at-Tahoe, the ski area has partnered with Vail Resorts to offer the program at Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar. “Evaluations continue as Sierra works to repair and restore the mountain, with the goal of a limited reopening in the Spring of 2022,” according to the press release. | epicpromise.com

Northstar | Ring in the New Year with

Palisades Tahoe | Join an LED Torchlight Parade on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m. on Exhibition. Fireworks will be

new

Join winter outings on TRT

Downhill tickets may be purchased at Tahoe Dave’s shops or online at exined. org for Northstar only. Cross-country tickets are available at Paco’s in Truckee and Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City.

Discounted tickets

for students, educators

Students and Educators Local students and educators receive discounted lift ticket pricing at Northstar California for the 2021-22 season. Student tickets are $22 and educator tickets are $42. The tickets area valid on non-holiday Sundays and minimum-day Wednesdays, during Ski Skate Week and any declared snow day and includes all Tahoe, Truckee, Incline Village and Reno students and school district staff. Bring a student or school employee ID or a current report card to the Northstar ticket office. Check availability in advance of visiting. | northstarcalifornia.com

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 GET OUTSIDE

Christmas Wonderland + No Fee Pet Adoptions Pet Network Humane Society Incline Village | Dec. 29-31

10 a.m. Free | northernlightstahoe.com

Twilight Snowshoe Tour Northstar California Resort | Truckee Jan. 1, Jan. 8

5-8 p.m. $55-$75 | (800) 466-6784 northstarcalifornia.com

AIARE Avalanche Training Ferris Wheel Heavenly Village | S.Lake Tahoe | Dec. 29-31

Donner Summit | Truckee | Jan. 4-6 avtraining.org

11 a.m.-9 p.m. $5 | tahoesouth.com

Baby Story Time Heavenly Holidays Heavenly Village | S. Lake Tahoe | Dec. 29-31 10 a.m. | skiheavenly.com

Incline Village Library | Incline Village Jan. 4, Jan. 11 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Free events.washoecountylibrary.us

Lego Robotics Incline Village Library | Incline Village | Dec. 29 3-5 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130 events.washoecountylibrary.us

Tuesday 55+ Snowshoe Hikes area venues | Incline Village | Jan. 4, Jan. 11 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $17-$21 yourtahoeplace.com

Northern Lights area venues | Incline Village | Dec. 29-31 northernlightstahoe.com

RUFF Truckee Library | Truckee Dec. 29, Jan. 5, Jan. 12

4-5 p.m. | (530) 582-7846 madelynhelling.evanced.info

Wednesday 55+ Ski Clinics Diamond Peak Ski Resort | Incline Village Jan. 5, Jan. 12 8 a.m. | (775) 832-1177

Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley | Jan. 6 7 p.m. Free | alpenglowsports.com

Ski, ride and apres ski w/Jonny Moseley

Nordic Tour Among the Trees

Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley | Dec. 29-31

Tahoe Meadows South Trailhead New Washoe City | Jan. 6

2-6 p.m. | (800) 403-0206 palisadestahoe.com

9-11 a.m. Free | tahoerimtrail.org

Snowshoe Stargazing Tour

VR Studio

Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Dec. 29

Incline Village Library | Incline Village | Jan. 6

Stuff A Bear

Lake Tahoe Backcountry Demo Week

Heavenly Village | S. Lake Tahoe | Dec. 29-31

Palisades Tahoe | Alpine Meadows Jan. 8, Jan. 9

5-7:30 p.m. $28-$82 | (800) 466-6784 northstarcalifornia.com

1 p.m. $15 | tahoesouth.com

Winter Carriage Rides Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley | Dec. 29-31 2-5 p.m. Free | (800) 403-0206 palisadestahoe.com

Your Favorite Characters Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe Dec. 29-31 3-6 p.m. | tahoesouth.com

Preschool Storytime Truckee Library | Truckee | Dec. 30, Jan. 6

4-5:30 p.m. | (775) 832-4130 events.washoecountylibrary.us

9 a.m.-3 p.m. | (800) 403-0206 alpenglowsports.com

Motorized Avalanche Rescue Mt. Rose Meadows | Incline Village | Jan. 8-9 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free sierraavalanchecenter.org

USASA North Tahoe Series Rail Jam Homewood Mountain Resort Homewood | Jan. 8

9 a.m.-4 p.m. | (530) 525-2992 skihomewood.com

10:30-11 a.m. | (530) 582-7846 madelynhelling.evanced.info

Eastern Sierra History Talks Wylder Hotel Hope Valley | Markleeville Dec. 31, Jan. 8, Jan. 9 2 p.m. | wylderhotels.com

New Year’s Eve Light Parade and Fireworks Show Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Truckee | Dec. 31 tahoedonner.com

Holiday Movie Skate Night Northstar Village | Truckee | Jan. 1 6-8 p.m. Free

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS FOR FREE Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to add your Event for our print & online calendars. Click on Events; then the blue Add Event button.

Snowball Festival Soda Springs Mountain Resort | Soda Springs Jan. 1-2 skisodasprings.com

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Ice Skating & Tubing EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Find more family-friendly activities to enjoy.

ICE SKATING

HANSEN’S RESORT

(530) 544-3361 | hansensresort.com

EDGEWOOD TAHOE

(888) 769-1924 | edgewoodtahoe.com Open air rink. Rentals available.

HEAVENLY

HEAVENLY VILLAGE

(530) 542-4230 | theshopsatheavenly.com Open air rink. South Tahoe

(530) 562-1010 | northstarcalifornia.com Open air rink. Free access. TART

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

Blizzard Mountain offers two lift-accessible snow tubing lanes, snow play and sledding area.

Ice skating & rentals. Clubhouse. TART

(530) 542-3294 | tahoesnowmobiles.com

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com

Two locations at Tahoe Paradise & Stateline, Nev. Reserve online.

At Truckee River Regional Park. Skate rentals, broomball leagues, ice dancing & hockey lessons. Skate rentals & season passes available. TART

TAYLOR CREEK

SLEDDING & TUBING

(530) 543-2600

Highway 89, north of Camp Richardson Road. Bring equipment.* South Tahoe

TUBETAHOE

(530) 600-2304 | tubetahoe.com

OPEN AS CONDITIONS PERMIT.

500 feet of machine-groomed tubing lanes in Meyers. Equipment provided. South Tahoe

EAST SHORE

SPOONER LAKE

TRUCKEE & BEYOND

(775) 831-0494

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

BOREAL MOUNTAIN rideboreal.com

Tubing open to everyone 42” and taller; smaller children are limited to snow play area only. Personal sleds not permitted. Night sessions available. Reserve online.

HOPE VALLEY AREA

CARSON PASS (209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

DONNER SKI RANCH donnerskiranch.com

Tubing hills with moving carpet.

HOPE VALLEY (775) 882-2766

Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Bring equipment.*

DONNER SUMMIT (530) 587-3558

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

MEISS MEADOW (209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

KINGVALE RESORT

(530) 427-5090 | kingvaleresort.com Snow park open Friday-Monday. Bring sleds. Plastic sleds available to buy. Tubes not allowed. Parking & snow park fee, cash only.

NORTH SHORE

INCLINE VILLAGE Snow Play Area on Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau, on the driving range. Bring equipment.

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA northstarcalifornia.com TART

SODA SPRINGS

MOUNT ROSE Near the Mount Rose summit, enjoy sledding in Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431. Bring equipment.

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

(530) 546-0605 | northtahoeparks.com End of National Avenue off Hwy 28. Rentals not available this season. TART

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

Sledding & cross-country trails. Rentals available. Clubhouse. Reserve online. TART

skisodasprings.com Mountain Adventure offers kids tubing carousel, all-age tubing, Snow Jeep rides, Start Park, snow play area and mini snowmobiles. Reserve online.

TAHOE DONNER

(530) 587-9437 | tahoedonner.com At Trout Creek Recreation Ctr. No personal sleds. Reserve online.

YUBA PASS

(530) 994-3401 Highway 49 at Yuba Pass. Bring equipment.*

WEST SHORE

OLYMPIC VALLEY

PALISADES TAHOE

(530) 452-4511 | palisadestahoe.com Tubing area. TART

BLACKWOOD CANYON (530) 543-2600

Snowplay area off Hwy. 89, 3 miles south of Tahoe City. Bring equipment.*

SQUAW VALLEY PARK placer.ca.gov

Free snowplay area. Free parking to access cleared walking paths in Olympic Valley to Tahoe City. Bring equipment. TART

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

GRANLIBAKKEN

(530) 581-7533 | granlibakken.com Machine-groomed snow play area; no tubes or toboggans allowed. All ages. Reserve online.

HOMEWOOD ADVENTURE CENTER

ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN

(530) 659-7217 | adventuremountaintahoe.com On top of Echo Summit with machine-groomed sledding, tubing & snowplay. First-come, first-served.

(530) 659-7453 | sierraattahoe.com

TAHOE SNOWMOBILE TUBING

TRUCKEE

(775) 832-4404

Off Highway 207. Bring equipment. South Tahoe

Indoor facility open year-round. South Tahoe

(530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com

petnetwork.org

(775) 586-7271 | douglascountynv.gov

On Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bring equipment. South Tahoe

(530) 542-6262 | cityofslt.com

adopt & save a life at

Tubing at top of gondola with four lanes.

SAWMILL POND

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

is waiting.

skiheavenly.com

KAHLE PARK

NORTHSTAR

your

400-foot-long groomed tube run on Ski Run Blvd. First-come, first-served.

ECHO LAKE

(530) 525-2992 | skihomewood.com

At Homewood Mountain Resort with Magic Carpet. Reserve online. Opening TBA

TAHOE CITY

Gentle slope on Highway 89 South, one-eighth mile south of the wye. Bring equipment. TART

(530) 644-2324 Highway 50 at Echo Lake Road. Bring equipment.*

ALL ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT. * Sno-park permits required. Go to ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks or find locations at (916) 324-1222. BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES

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

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 GET OUTSIDE

Winter Paved Walking Paths

bring your

other Season Pass ticket deal DOGS OK

BOOT-PACKED PATH

PLOWED PATH

PAVED MULTIUSE TRAILS CHECK CONDITIONS AT TAHOEBIKE.ORG.

• Keep dogs leashed • Pedestrians must yield to bikes • Don’t stop on the trail; move to the side • E-bikes allowed on most paths; check in advance • Cyclists call out when passing pedestrians • Limited service in winter. Pack out all trash, including dog waste bags.

Save

$20

BIKES OK

OLYMPIC VALLEY

OLYMPIC VALLEY Easy | 4 miles RT | tcpud.org A 2-mile trail runs beside Squaw Valley Road to the ski area from the Squaw Valley condos to Victoria Road, with views of the meadow and surrounding peaks. Public parking at Squaw Valley Park or Village at Squaw. Electric assist OK. TART SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

AL TAHOE BOULEVARD Easy | 3.2 miles RT Connections Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Highway 50) and Pioneer Trail with access to Lake Tahoe Community College.

EAST SHORE

EAST SHORE TRAIL Easy-moderate | 6 miles RT | tahoefund.org Runs along Lake Tahoe and connects to Hwy. 28 from south end of Incline Village, Nev., to Sand Harbor State Park. Parking near Ponderosa Ranch Road. Electric assist OK. Paid parking. TART NORTH SHORE

CAMP RICHARDSON BIKE PATH Easy | 6 miles RT The trail parallels State Route 89 (Emerald Bay Road) for more than 3 miles, offering access to a number of local historic and recreational amenities. Limited parking.

SAWMILL TO MEYERS

INCLINE VILLAGE Easy | 7.4 miles RT | washoecounty.us Walking path runs along Hwy. 28 through Incline Village. Access to shopping and parks. Paved between both intersections of Southwood Blvd. Boot packed between east intersection of Southwood Blvd. and Country Club Drive. TART

LAKESHORE BOULEVARD

Easy | 7 miles RT Section cleared along Sawmill Road starting at Lake Tahoe Boulevard then connects to run along Highway 89 to Meyers ending at Luther Pass Road.

Easy | 1.2 miles RT Connects from Lake Tahoe Boulevard to Barbara Avenue.

SKI RUN BOULEVARD

NATIONAL AVENUE

Easy | 7 miles RT | cityofslt.us Follow the bike trail along South Shore, with sections along Lakeview Commons, Reagan Beach and playgrounds. Public parking at Parks and Recreation lot on Rufus Allen Boulevard.

PINE DROP TRAIL Easy | 3 miles RT | northtahoeparks.com Located at North Tahoe Regional Park the trail connects to to Pinedrop Lane off Highway 267. Parking fee.

TAHOE CITY TO CARNELIAN BAY Easy-moderate | 8+ miles RT | tcpud.org First 2.5 miles mostly level with a half-mile climb up Dollar Hill. Cross Highway 28 to access 2.2-mile section to Fulton Crescent above Carnelian Bay. Public parking at 64 Acres, Commons Beach, Jackpine and Grove Street. Electric assist OK. Section from Dollar Hill to Fulton Crescent bootpacked only. TART

TRUCKEE RIVER CANYON Easy | 9+ miles RT | tcpud.org 4.5 miles from the Tahoe City wye to Alpine Meadows Road, with trails continuing to Olympic Valley. The trail is scenic, separate from the highway, and is mostly flat terrain with a few short, gentle grades with trout fishing, river rafting and picnicking along the way. Connects with Squaw Valley Road or continue to Truckee. Public parking at 64 Acres and Squaw Valley Park at Squaw Valley Road. Electric assist OK. TART

DiamondPeak.com

SIERRA BOULEVARD

Easy | 5 miles RT | washoecounty.us Runs along Lake Tahoe Boulevard and connects to Hwy. 28 at each end of Incline Village. Park at Preston Field on Hwy. 28. Electric assist OK. TART

Easy | 1.8 miles RT Starts on shore of Lake Tahoe at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area and continues up National Avenue past Grey Lane. Parking at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area. TART

Online purchase required for BYOP tickets (Not valid for peak periods or child tickets)

Easy | 1.2 miles RT Connects from Lake Tahoe Boulevard to Pioneer Trail.

SOUTH SHORE BIKE PATH

Textured gold, shiny diamonds, what a great combination!

TRUCKEE

DONNER PASS ROAD Easy | 5.4 miles RT Runs through the heart of the town of Truckee from the west end to historic downtown Truckee.

DONNER PASS ROAD TO MOUSEHOLE Easy | 1.8 miles RT Runs along Highway 89 connecting Donner Pass Road to the Mousehole.

JOEGER DRIVE Easy | 1.2 miles RT Connects from Soaring Way and runs along Joeger Drive to River View Sports Park.

STEVENS LANE TO ALDER DRIVE Easy | 2 miles RT Runs from Stevens Lane along Donner Pass Road, turns down Rue Ivy to connect to Alder Drive. Park at U.S. Forest Service office on Stevens Lane.

TROUT CREEK TRAIL Moderate | 3 miles RT Wooded path from Trout Creek Park (paid parking) in downtown Truckee to Northwoods Boulevard (parking free).

WEST SHORE

TAHOE CITY TO MEEKS BAY Moderate | 25+ miles RT | tcpud.org Mostly separate from the highway, the trail includes a few miles of highway shoulder and residential streets. Terrain is varied with a few steep sections. Access to picnicking, beaches and playgrounds. Public parking at 64 Acres. Electric assist OK. TART

TRUCKEE LEGACY TRAIL Easy | 10 miles RT | tdrpd.org Stretches from downtown Truckee to Truckee River Regional Park, River View Sports Park and Glenshire. Park at either park or East River Street. Electric assist OK. TART

BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES

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

S i n c e 19 7 7 . L o c a t e d i n B o a t w o r k s M a l l a t t h e Ta h o e C i t y M a r i n a Steve S c hmie r s J ewe lr y.c o m . 5 3 0 . 5 8 3 . 5 70 9

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Know Before Visiting Carry a face mask at all times & use it when close to others or indoors. Masks are required for everyone in California and for most counties in Nevada regardless of vaccine status as of press time for this guide. | covid19.ca.gov, nvhealthresponse. nv.gov Some resorts may require proof of vaccination for ages 12 and older for indoor dining. Buy a pass for the best deal. Purchase all tickets, rentals and lessons in advance online. There will be limited or no on-site sales. Some resorts may require ordering food in advance online or through an app. Download ski area apps in advance of visiting. Be prepared & dress for being outdoors all day, including eating outdoors.

note:Clair Tappaan and Grover Hot

Avoid long traffic lines and limited parking by taking shuttles or public transportation to ski areas.

Springs State Park will not be open for the 2021-22 winter season.

biathlon

cat skiing

dog friendly

gondola

food

hot springs

Stay home if you’re not feeling well or have been in contact with someone not well.

nordic ski

camping

tubing & sledding

back-country access

night skiing/ snowshoeing

back-country huts

ice skating

ropes course

mini snowmobiling

fat tire biking

snow shoeing

long boarding

downhill skiing

Courtesy Nevada Nordic

Carry a credit card. Many resorts use cashless systems.

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

Courtesy Auburn Ski Club Courtesy ASC Training Center

asc training center

50 20

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain

SKI.BIKE.RUN

kilometers

25 # of trails

20 grooming

25km warming huts

Events Dec. 31 | NYE Night Race Jan. 9 | Snowshoe Thompson Classic March 26 | Nordic Skier X The ASC trails are open to the public with the 25km trail system groomed nightly to competition standards providing an always-perfect snow surface. Wide, overlapping loops accommodate all abilities with a lot of terrain options that keeps skiers no more than 5km from the lodge. At 7,200 feet elevation, its season is the longest in the Sierra. Night skiing | ASC is introducing cross-country night skiing for the 2021-22 winter season as part of a

pilot program with 1km of lighted trails available Wednesday and Friday until 7:30 p.m. through early January. Regular trail passes are also good for night skiing. ASC is in the planning stages for a permanent project to install highintensity LED lighting on 2.3km of cross-country trails in 2022 with plans for another 3.88km in the future.

Connect with Friends. Connect with Nature.

Day passes & equipment | Day passes are available for purchase in the lodge office. For the 2021-22 season no daily rental equipment will be available due to supply chain issues. Call ahead for updates. n

Groomed trails with Lake Tahoe views

asctrainingcenter.org

FREE skiing for youth and 70+

Lessons, clinics, and rentals

tahoexc.org | 530.583.5475

bijou community park

kilometers

4 warming huts

0 Bijou Community Park features 4km of marked trails that is mostly flat and great for beginners centrally located in South Lake Tahoe. Free access | There is no fee for skiing or snowshoeing. No rentals or services are available on site. Fun for all | The park features a historic railroad exhibit, skateboard park and fenced dog park. n

(530) 542-6056, cityofslt.us

Visit www.asctrainingcenter.org to learn more about our Nordic, Biathlong, Snowboarding, and Alpine opportunities for youth and athletes of all levels. Interstate 80, Castle Peak exit · 530-426-3313 · info@asctrainingcenter.org 11

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Know Your Snow BY T I M H AU S E R M A N

ack in 2007 I wrote the book “Cross Country Skiing in the Sierra Nevada.” The most fun section to write was about the different names we come up for the types of snow encountered by cross-country skiers in the Sierra. Here is an abbreviated version that is geared toward skate skiers. Boilerplate | This is that rock-solid, shiny-as-a-piece-of-quartz snow. Snow might be a misnomer as it is closer to ice. Boilerplate occurs early in a ski season when there has not been that much snow and the little amount there is fell a few weeks ago. And it is cold. This icy snow is hard to edge and requires you to ski on top of your skis. It can be downright dangerous, especially on steep downhill sections. The only way to avoid boilerplate conditions is to ski later in the day when it has had a chance to soften up. Better yet, stay home and pray for snow.

This icy snow is hard to edge and requires you to ski right on top of your skis. It can be downright dangerous, especially on steep downhill sections. The only way to avoid boilerplate conditions is to ski later in the day when it has had a chance to soften up. Hardpack | One step softer from boilerplate is hardpack. While still firm and icy, you can usually get a bit of an edge and are less likely to slide off the trail into a tree. In springtime, hardback is often called crusty or morning crust. Skiers who like hardpack call it fast as in: “Yeah, the conditions were fast this morning.” Skiers who don’t like hardpack call it boilerplate. Firm | Next up on the firmness scale is firm. For skate skiers, firm is usually pretty good skiing and for striders, as long as the terrain is not too difficult, it can be good skiing, as well. Soft and Buttery, Silk, Butter, Just Right, Awesome, Corn | The better the snow for skiing, the more names it has. For cross-country skiing, this is as good as it gets. Not too hard, not too soft, but right in the middle. Goldilocks, who obviously was a big cross-country skier, thinks it is just right. Often snow will be hardpack, then firm, then just perfect as the day pro-

Courtesy NLTRA

gresses. Silk snow is fast but forgiving and will always put a smile on your face. The problem with just right snow is that it often doesn’t last long. Once the snow becomes flawless it will soon change to soft and sticky. In the morning, you may encounter several different types of snow. Hardpack in the shade of the trees, soft and buttery where the sun just hit, and soft and sticky in the areas that have been sunny all morning. Soft and sticky | Once the sun really hits the snow it can get sticky. The right wax can help but it’s best to be off the trails before the snow brings your skis to a halt. The initial phase of soft and sticky snow is still fast and fun to ski in, but as the hours progress and the temperatures rise, the snow slowly turns into the dreaded … Glob, mashed potatoes, glue | This is the snow that really fits its name. Soft, dirty, sticky, gluey, messy — yuck. It’s best to avoid if possible. This snow is also known as Sierra Cement. It is once again time to pray for snow. When your prayers are finally answered and a big storm brings in a fresh new load (also known as a major dump) it is time to experience several other types of snow. Powder or groomed powder | During or right after a big storm, the snow is cold and dry: beautiful but slow conditions for a skate skier. This is the time to classic ski or if you ski both downhill and cross-country, this is the day to hit the downhill slopes (except for the fact that everyone else in the world will be at the downhill slopes). If there has been more than 1 foot of snow and the trails have only been groomed once or twice, you may punch through with your

skis not staying on top of the snow. Slow, slow, slow. It is, however, a great workout and if the snow is really coming down, it can be spectacularly beautiful, but don’t expect to set any speed records. Firm powder | A day or two after the powder, when the snow has been groomed at least a few times, you will find firm powder. The downhill resorts call this packed powder and they still call it packed powder three weeks later when it has progressed to boilerplate. While firm powder is not as fast as hardpack, it has sped up a bit and you will no longer punch through the snow. This is a great time to be skiing — especially if the trees are still laden with snow and the air is crisp and cool.

OTHER TYPES OF SNOW Off-piste skating | Skate skiing is best done on groomed skating lanes, except for a brief period when the off-piste (offtrail) conditions set up perfectly. If it hasn’t snowed in a few weeks and it is freezing at night and above freezing during the day, a flat meadow can firm up to the point where you can ski around without sinking. Be sure to take full advantage of these blissful conditions. Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area’s Antone Meadows (off Red) and Stump Meadows (off Gold) are good choices for off-piste, along with Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431, Meeks Meadows on the West Shore and Van Sickle BiState Park on the South Shore. Sun Cups | Late in the spring, after lots of warm days and cold nights without any new snowfall, the snow surface can start to look like a giant golf ball. The sunny flats and slopes are covered with little round dimples known as sun cups. They can be

anywhere from a few inches deep to 1 foot or more. Skiing across a meadow full of sun cups is a rough and bouncy affair, sort of like water skiing outside the wake on a rough day. Since sun cups occur late in the spring when much of the snow has melted, they are nature’s way of telling you to tune up your mountain bike. Frozen ruts | In the spring, skiers, snowshoers and dogs make deep tracks in the mashed potatoes during the day. These ruts then freeze overnight. At groomed ski areas an evening groom of the trail deals with this problem. This is perhaps the worst snow condition. The ruts catch your skis and are treacherous. Sugar | If snow has been groomed many times and the temperatures are still cold you get sugar. It looks and acts like fresh sugar granules (except it will not improve the taste of your coffee). Skiing downhill or on the flats in the sugar can be fun, but if it is deep and you are going uphill it can be a struggle.

Plan Your Day Early winter | If there has not been that much snow for a while and the days are cold, watch out for boilerplate. Ski later in the day when the snow has had a chance to soften up and hope for a big dump. Midwinter | After a big storm, you might want to stride the first day and skate after that. Springtime | Get out early, but not too early. You want to make sure you enjoy that brief period of butter but be close to home by the time it turns to glob. n

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

& marina

state park

Courtesy Donner Memorial State Park

Courtesy California State Parks

historic resort

donner memorial Courtesy Camp Richardson

camp richardson

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

67 20

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

kilometers

16+

Events Feb. 18 | Donner Relief Expedition

# of trails

Donner Memorial State Park has more than 16km of trails throughout the park. Although the trails are not groomed, visitors can make his or her own route to Schallenberger Ridge, Coldstream Canyon or along the shores of Donner Lake.

grooming

10km

warming huts

Camp Richardson’s Mountain Sports Center provides 10km of groomed and marked trails for beginners to experts.

Donner Party anniversary | The park is named for the infamous Donner Party that was trapped on or near the grounds of the present-day park during the winter of 1846-47. This winter marks the 175th anniversary of those tragic events. Read more about the Donner Party in Tahoe Weekly’s ongoing series available at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Donner Party under the Explore Tahoe menu.

resort and along the shores of Lake Tahoe. The Beacon Bar and Grill and General Store are both open for the winter. n

Several trails head out from the center looping through the open forest to the shores of Fallen Leaf Lake. Two other shorter trails meander through the grounds of the

parks.ca.gov camprichardson.com

Free trail access | Access to the trails is free; parking is $5 for the winter. Dogs are welcome but must be on leash and are not allowed on marked ski trails. Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year. Available in the museum or at parks.ca.gov. Donner Project | The Sierra State Parks Foundation is fundraising to restore the more than 100-year-old Pioneer Monument at the park. Donate at sierrastateparks.org. n

parks.ca.gov

kirkwood cross country Courtesy Granlibakken Tahoe

granlibakken tahoe

75 25

& snowshoe center 60

0 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain

kilometers

7.5

# of trails

Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Celebration

grooming

1.5 miles warming huts

Cross-country skiers and snowshoers can explore the historic resort’s 74 acres. Follow a 1.5-mile trail around the property and a groomed access trail to Paige Meadows (flat-groomed, without stride-skiing tracks) when weather and snow conditions permit. All tickets for skiing, riding and tubing must be purchased in advance online. Family Fun | The resort offers popular tubing lanes served by

snowmaking systems along with the Benny the Bear snow play area, which is open daily in the winter. Skiing & Riding | The ski hill and ski school are open Friday to Sunday during the season and daily during holidays. There is also a Nordic trail around the property and an access trail to Page Meadows. Kids sled free | Kids younger than 3 sled for free. Treetop park | The Tahoe City Treetop Park located at the resort offers aerial adventures for ages 5 and older. n

17 grooming

80km warming huts

Events Dec. 31 | Torchlight Parade TBA | Banked Slalom Jan. 29-30 | Freeride Junior Tour

Kirkwood is for the avid adventurer looking for back-country opportunities with a range of clinics and private guides.

Offering 80km of groomed trails at 7,800 feet, Kirkwood features three interconnected trail systems and two trailhead facilities with parking areas.

Masks | Face coverings will be required in indoor settings including in restaurants, lodging properties, restrooms, retail and rental locations, and on buses. Face coverings will not be required outdoors, in lift lines, or on chairlifts or gondolas, unless required by local regulations.

Fat Bikes | Rent a fat bike or bring your own to explore three interconnected trail systems. Dogs welcome | Dogs are allowed on the High Trail located behind the Kirkwood Inn and the Outer Loop on the meadow. Kids ski free | Kids ages 4 & younger ski free. Expedition: Kirkwood | Expedition:

granlibakken.com

kirkwood.com

Dining | Guests will be required to book a reservation to eat at many onmountain restaurants. As well, guests 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to dine at indoor, on-mountain quickservice (cafeteria-style) restaurants. n

Courtesy Kirkwood Mountain Resort

The Donner Relief Expedition will reenact the 1st Relief Party mission to save the pioneers from Feb. 14 to 18. | forlornhope.org

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Snow Trails

Courtesy LTCC

ltcc nordic center

SKI TOURING, SNOWSHOEING & SNOWMOBILING Explore more snow trails at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on the Winter tab under the Get Outside menu. See the Events calendar for guided snowshoe treks.

CABIN CREEK TRAIL Easy to moderate

Marked route follows old logging roads and Cabin Creek Road for 3 to 6 miles. The terrain has gentle, rolling slopes. Cabin Creek Road south of Truckee on Highway 89. The unmarked trailhead is 1 mile from the highway. Limited parking is available in a road cut, when plowed.

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK Easy | (530) 582-7892 or parks.ca.gov

The park is mostly flat and open year-round. Skiers can enjoy the forests and boulder fields, glide down to the lake and meander through the park. Unmarked, 9.6-km, skier-packed trail starting near the Emigrant Trail Museum. For the more adventuresome, glide over the hills into Coldstream Canyon. Parking fee. TART

LITTLE TRUCKEE SUMMIT

Easy to advanced | (530) 994-3401 or fs.usda.gov Marked routes with 110 miles of groomed trails follow roads to Webber Lake and Yuba Pass, Rim and Ridge Loops, Bald Ridge Loop and Treasure Mountain, Pass Creek Loop, Independence Lake Loop, Meadow Lake Loop and Jackson Meadow. Trailhead at Jackson Meadow Road, 14 miles north of Truckee on Highway 89. Overnight camping OK in parking area. Heavy use.*

PETER GRUBB HUT & CASTLE PEAK

Moderate to advanced | clairtappaanlodge.com A marked Nordic ski trail begins at the Castle Peak/Boreal interchange on Donner Summit off Interstate 80, west of Truckee. Take the Castle Peak exit and follow it for one-quarter mile to the intersection for the trailhead to the north. Follow unmarked trail to Peter Grubb Hut. Overnight parking available at the Sno-Park*. For overnight stays at the hut, call (530) 426-3632 for reservations.

POLE CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM Easy to strenuous

Unmarked trails follow roads along Pole Creek and Silver Creek Drainages. Trailhead 6 miles south of Truckee on Highway 89. Some parking on west side of highway.

TAHOE MEADOWS Easy to advanced

On Mount Rose high above Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Meadows offers an expansive area where skiers can stretch their legs. Head up Highway 431 from Incline Village until you reach the meadows before the summit. South side designated for skiers and snowshoers, while the north side is designated for snowmobilers. Heavy weekend use.

WEST SHORE

BLACKWOOD CANYON Easy to advanced

The meadows in Blackwood Canyon offer a great place to get into the wilderness off Highway 89 on the West Shore. Follow Highway 89 south from Tahoe City and park at the Kaspian Recreation Area. Skiers can glide along the road (not plowed) or through the meadows. Snowmobilers should follow the road about 2.5 miles, then take a left across the bridge and continue up Barker Pass Road to large open areas, steep bowls and many roads. Limited parking.*

The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to cross-country ski or snowshoe among the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 18 km of marked ski trails. Three groomed trails begin at the campground, 9 miles south of Tahoe City, with two skier-packed trails on the lake side of the park, accessed from the Day Use entrance. Winter camping available. Guided tours and programs. Parking fee. TART

Easy to moderate

Steep canyon and side slopes at lower end of trail with 7 miles of groomed access. Upper elevations feature ridges and bowls. Route follows Rattlesnake Road to Magonigal Summit. Trailhead at Cisco Grove exit north off Interstate 80.*

Developed for beginners, this well-marked series of trails allows skiers to explore the area. Terrain is mostly flat and is good for the entire family. Take Highway 89 to Cathedral Road and park in the Sno-Park. Marked trails start at the parking lot with three trails near Fallen Leaf Lake. On the lake side of Highway 89, follow the road to access the Tallac Historic Trail.*

Brockway Summit off Highway 267 offers an abundance of areas to ski with turnouts on both sides of the highway where Nordic skiers and snowshoers can follow logging and utility roads. For snowmobilers, the best access and limited parking about one-quarter mile north of Brockway Summit below the top of Highway 267 on the Truckee side. No groomed trails, but many old lumber roads exist. Take a good map, as it’s easy to become turned around.

PAGE MEADOWS Easy to moderate

Ski or snowshoe along an old road that meanders through a forest and into a cluster of meadows. Take Highway 89 south from Tahoe City, then turn right on Pine Avenue and right on Tahoe Park Heights Road. At the crest of the hill, take the middle fork, which becomes Big Pine Road, then take a left on Silver Tip. The parking area is at the top of the road.

warming huts

Dogs are welcome; dogs must be leashed at trailheads and in parking lots. The center offers a variety of day and season passes. A grooming report and trail map are available online.n

ltccnordiccenter.weebly.com

nevada nordic

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

TAYLOR CREEK

Easy to advanced

5-7km

Easy to moderate | (530) 525-7982 or parks.ca.gov

RATTLESNAKE

BROCKWAY SUMMIT & MARTIS PEAK

grooming

The Nordic Center on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College provides 5 to 7km of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing with views of Freel Peak and Job’s Sister. The center is operated by volunteers, and trails are groomed two to three times a week.

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Sno-park on the south side of Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Much of Hope Valley is open to snowmobiling, but some areas are not; stay in designated areas. Ungroomed routes to Willow Creek (8.5 miles) and Tamarack Lake (1 mile) and groomed routes to Blue Lakes (11.5 miles) and Forestdale (3.5 miles). Stage from Hope Valley Sno-Park.*

NORTH SHORE

Meeks Meadows on the West Shore off Highway 89 offers a vast area to ski. The trailhead is across from the Meeks Bay Fire Station; look for the log cabin with red trim. Follow the U.S. Forest Service road or meander through the meadow and down to Meeks Creek.

An unmarked route follows the road to the creek bottom. Lateral roads offer many side trips. Trailhead at Sagehen Summit on the west side of Highway 89, 8 miles north of Truckee. Limited parking.

Easy to advanced

# of trails

Easy | fs.usda.gov

HOPE VALLEY

CISCO GROVE

5-7

MEEKS MEADOWS

SAGEHEN SUMMIT Easy to moderate

kilometers

Courtesy NevadaSki Nordic Courtesy Johnsville Bowl

TRUCKEE

Easy | (530) 573-2600 or fs.usda.gov

MT. ROSE SYSTEM kilometers

17 # of trails

9+ grooming

17km SPOONER SYSTEM kilometers

LOST SIERRA

YUBA PASS

Easy to advanced | fs.usda.gov The route north from Yuba Pass off Highway 49 is popular for snowmobilers, and shares the trail system with Nordic skiers for the first mile before branching off. For skiers and snowshoers, the route goes north for 2 miles with views of the Sierra Valley, then leads west for 1 mile and rejoins the snowmobile trail. For a short loop, go south (a left) on the snowmobile route back to Yuba Pass. Alternately, you can continue west through a meadow for 1.5 miles, then head south (a left) onto the Lunch Creek Ski Trail 1.25 miles, then north (a left) on 3 Knobs Trail for 1.5 miles. 3 Knobs Trail ends back at the snowmobile trail. Snowmobilers can head north from the branch 1 mile in and travel through Gold Lake Highway. Then, head south to Bassett’s or north to Gold Lake. This route offers a variety of terrain and beautiful views of the Sierra Buttes and the Lakes Basin. More than 100 miles of trails. Take Highway 89 north of Truckee, and then take Highway 49 to Yuba Pass. Trailhead parking is 6 miles east of Bassett’s Station.*

8 # of trails

5+ grooming

8km

Nevada Nordic is a nonprofit organization bringing a groomed cross-country ski presence back to the state of Nevada. Trails are offered at several locations in the region and are groomed and open depending on conditions. Donations are needed to continue to offer groomed trails and may be made online. Tahoe Meadows | Trails are operated at Tahoe Meadows near the Mount Rose summit off Highway 431 with 17km of groomed skating and striding trails, including grooming up to Chickadee Ridge this year. The Lower Loops will be closed in February to protect Goshawk breeding area. Dogs are allowed on the trails, but owners must pack out all dog waste.

* SNO-PARK PERMIT REQUIRED; (916) 324-1222 OR OHV.PARKS.CA.GOV/SNOPARKS.

nevadanordic.org

Parking is available along Highway 431 on either end of the trail system. There is no parking fee and detailed driving instructions are available on the website. Spooner Lake | Eight km of trails are groomed by volunteers at Spooner Lake State Park on the East Shore. Trail access is free but there is a $10 parking fee. New groomer | New for the 2021-22 season, the nonprofit was purchased a new Pistenbully 400 Snowcat and a new classic track setter to ensure pristine classic tracks at the Tahoe Meadows system. Grooming updates | Visit facebook. com/inclinemeadowsxc. n

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

north tahoe

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

name top line Courtesy NTPUD

regional park

name cont’d second line

10 NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

WINTER ADVENTURES

% of terrain

FOR ALL AGES & ABILITIES

kilometers

Events Fridays | Sunset Snowshoe Tours Jan. 14, Feb. 20 & March 4 | Snowshoe Star Tours Jan. 17-April 16 (select dates) | Full Moon Snowshoe Tours

grooming

6km warming huts

The North Tahoe Regional Park offers 6km of groomed trails for skating and classic skiers, as well as snowshoeing and walking. All the trails are open to dogs.

Sledding | Sledding and snow play is allowed throughout the park. Both the larger sled hill near the soccer field and the smaller children’s sled hill near the entrance are available for public use. Sled rentals not available. Snowshoe tours | Guided snowshoe tours are offered through Tahoe Adventure Company including

at the NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

full moon, sunset and star tours. | tahoeadventurecompany.com Treetop Adventure Park | The adventure park offers a treetop rope, platform and zip line tour with nine courses for all abilities for ages 5 and older. | tahoetreetop.com Free access | Access is free, but parking is $5 parking fee or visitors must have a NTPUD Resident Sticker or Park Supporter Sticker.

Cross-Country Skiing Snowshoeing Tahoe TreeTop Adventure Course Year-Round Soccer Field

Year-round soccer | The NTPUD also maintains the region’s only yearround synthetic turf soccer field and is cleared of snow as conditions permit. Grooming updates | Visit the North Tahoe Recreation & Parks on Facebook and Instagram for weekly updates. n

6600 DONNER RD., TAHOE VISTA, CA 96148

northtahoeparks.com

cross country telemark and snowshoe center 47

name top line Courtesy Northstar Cross Country

northstar california

name cont’d second line

TAHOE’S BEST XC

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

35 # of trails

20 grooming

35km warming huts

Events Until March 26 (Sat.) | Live Music Dec. 29-March 5 (select dates) | Snowshoe Stargazing Tours Dec. 31 | New Year’s Celebration Jan. 1-March 12 (select dates) | Twilight Snowshoe Tours Northstar California provides 35km of Nordic terrain right in the middle of a world-class downhill ski resort. Northstar is one of the few resorts offering a full line of downhill telemark equipment and instruction, along with fat tire bike rentals. Snowshoe Tours | Enjoy guided Snowshoe Stargazing Tours lead by Tony Berendsen or guided Twilight Snowshoe Tours on dates throughout the season.

northstarcalifornia.com

Kids ski free | Kids 5 and younger ski free. Masks | Face coverings will be required in indoor settings including in restaurants, lodging properties, restrooms, retail and rental locations, and on buses. Face coverings will not be required outdoors, in lift lines, or on chairlifts or gondolas, unless required by local regulations. Dining | Guests will be required to book a reservation to eat at many onmountain restaurants. As well, guests 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to dine at indoor, on-mountain quickservice (cafeteria-style) restaurants. n

TAHOE DONNER CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER VOTED BEST CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA IN NORTH LAKE TAHOE + TRUCKEE

6 YEARS IN A ROW

Over 100 km of groomed trails across 3,000+ acres of diverse terrain 65 trails climbing as high as 7,729 ft Pristine grooming for skating + classic skiing

Professional ski school offering lessons, programs + clinics Top-of-the-line rental + demo gear The best XC-specific facility in Tahoe, including cafe, bar + shop

VISIT TAHOEDONNER.COM/XC FOR MORE INFORMATION 15

TheTahoeWeekly.com

plumas-eureka state park

resort at squaw creek

Courtesy Resort at Squaw Creek

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

Courtesy Johnsville Ski Bowl

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

kilometers

12 # of trails

Events Jan. 16, Feb. 20 & March 20 | Longboard Revival Races

grooming

12km

Plumas-Eureka State Park in the Lost Sierra offers 12km of groomed trails for skating and classis skiers, along with three designated snowshoe trails that are snowmobile groomed. The trail system is managed by Plumas-Eureka State Park Association volunteers and trail maps are available at each trailhead. Visit plumas-eureka.org for grooming report, a trail map and information on the trails.

warming huts

% of terrain kilometers

10 # of trails

Free trail access | The use of the trails is free, but donations are requested to maintain the trails for $5 per day or $20 for the season.

grooming

10km

Longboard races | The Plumas Ski Club hosts the Historic Longboard Revival Races each year at the Plumas Eureka Ski Bowl at Johnsville in the park. The races are open to everyone. Check in advance before visiting at plumasskiclub.org for details and conditions. n

warming huts

parks.ca.gov

Resort at Squaw Creek offers 10km of groomed Nordic trails for a quiet refuge from the crowds of Olympic Valley where the views of the mountains are spectacular with cross-country and snowshoe rentals available onsite.

the Sun Plaza deck at the base of the slopes to check gear back in.

Self-service ski check | Guests staying at the resort can drop off ski equipment with the bell staff, who will deliver it to the ski check for storage. A ski attendant will be available for assistance. Guests may retrieve equipment with the ski check before heading to the slopes. At the end of the day, use the ski valet on

Ice skating | Glide around the resort’s outdoor ice rink with a view of Olympic Valley’s six peaks. Rentals for figure and hockey skates, as well as helmets, are available. n

Sledding | Enjoy a day of sledding on the designated hill beyond the Resort chairlift. Sleds can be rented at the Recreation Center.

squawcreek.com

Courtesy Sierra State Parks Foundation

sugar pine point state park Courtesy Royal Gorge

royal gorge

50 18

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

kilometers

140 # of trails

92 grooming

140km warming huts

Pam Emmerich | NTPUD

% of terrain

20 # of trails

One of North America’s largest cross-country resort, Royal Gorge offers six distinct trail systems featuring eight warming huts across 6,000 acres and integrated with the Village at Sugar Bowl. From classic striding to cross-country skating, snowshoeing and dog trails, Royal Gorge offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy scenic winter adventures with some of the finest views in the Sierra. The resort also celebrates its 50th anniversary this season. Lift tickets & rentals | All trail passes, rentals and lessons need to be purchased in advance online again this season.

royalgorge.com 16

kilometers

Dog trails | Royal Gorge offers 30.1km dog-friendly trails with a ticket office located at Van Norden Trailhead to access the dog trails. Check conditions in advance to ensure the dog trails are open and groomed. Dogs are only allowed on designated trails in the Van Norden Meadow. Dogs are not permitted in Summit Station lodge or on the deck. The Royal Gorge | One of the most breathtaking experiences in the Tahoe Sierra is skiing to The Royal Gorge. The Gorge is one of the natural wonders of the Sierra – a 4,417-foot-deep gorge that is the namesake for the ski area.n

5 grooming

no warming huts

Events Jan. 15, Feb. 12 & March 12 | Full Moon Snowshoe Tour The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to crosscountry ski and snowshoe along the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 20km of marked trails for all levels. However, the five trails are not groomed and are user packed. A trail map is available on the website. The park is also a popular sledding location. Free trail access | Use of the trails is free; it is $5 to park. Dogs on leash are allowed only on the paved,

parks.ca.gov

cleared paths; they are not allowed on the trails, the beaches or in the Nature Preserve. Restrooms are available in the parking lot. Winter camping | Sugar Pine Point is one of the only winter campgrounds open year-round in the Tahoe area, offering 16 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. Annual parking pass | Purchase a Tahoe Regional Parking Pass for $75 good at all the state parks in the Tahoe region for a year – D.L. Bliss, Donner Memorial, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay and Kings Beach State Recreation Area. Available at parks.ca.gov. n

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

tahoe city

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

Winter for Fun Everyone!

name top line Courtesy TCPUD

Courtesy California State Parks

winter sports park

name cont’d second line

kilometers

4 # of trails

2 grooming

4km+ warming huts

The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park offers ice skating, sledding, crosscountry skiing and snowshoeing and is a great spot for family fun.

Dual trail access | Passholders to Tahoe XC also receive a free trail access pass to Tahoe City Winter Sports Park.

Tickets | Reservations for recommended in advance for all activities, with limited day tickets available. Season Passes are also available.

Kids ski free | Kids 14 and younger receive free access to the trail system.

Trail access | The park provides 4km for both skating and striding, as well as a snowshoe loop/walking trail. Dogs are allowed on the trail system.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING · SLEDDING SNOWSHOEING · ICE SKATING

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE ‘21-22 SEASON

Limited walk-ups will be permitted, but not guaranteed.

Webcam | Check out the webcam of the action on the ice rink at tcpud. org/winter-webcam. n

RESERVE ONLINE AT

TCPUD.ORG/WINTER Visit tcpud.org/winter for more Know Before You Go tips, details on sessions, season passes, and reservations.

wintersportspark.com

tahoe donner

name top line Courtesy Tahoe Donner

cross country

40 36

530.583.1516 251 NORTH LAKE BLVD. TAHOE CITY

name cont’d second line

Cozy Up.

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

100+ # of trails

65 grooming

100km+ warming huts

Events Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Snowshoe Tour March 27 | Sierra Skogsloppet

Lessons | Group lessons are back in addition to private lessons for skating and striding this season, along with cross-country ski programs and clinics.

Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center offers more than 100km of world-class trails open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The resort also offer 7km of dog-friendly trails (dog season pass is required). Fat biking is no longer allowed on the trails.

Snowmaking | A snowmaking project was started at the ski area in 2021 but was not completed due to supply chain issues, heavy smoke from wildfires and early winter storms causing frozen ground. The resorts plans to offer snowmaking for the 2022-23 season.

Grooming & trails | Tahoe Donner has expanded its grooming fleet with new Pisten Bully 400 machines. And summer trail improvements will allow more snow to hit the trails for better coverage and grooming.

Assisted skiing | Ski for Light, which provides a cross-country skiing experience for the blind and visually impaired, will offer a guided outing from Feb. 26 to 28. Volunteer guides are needed. | Apply srsfl.org n

tahoedonner.com

Après-ski Snowshoeing Bonﬁres Cozy Cabins Hot Food Stiff Drinks This is How We Do Winter. Come on By. Wylder Hotel Hope Valley 14255 CA-88 Hope Valley, CA 96120 530.694.2203 wylderhotels.com 17

NORDIC SKI & SNOWSHOE GUIDE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy LTCC Courtesy Wylder Hope Valley

50 20

wylder hope valley Daphne Hougard | Tahoe XC

tahoe xc

NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED

% of terrain kilometers

50 # of trails

21 grooming

50km warming huts

Events Jan 17 | Old Skool Klassic Ski Race Jan 23 | Pass Holder Pancake Feed Jan 30 | Tahoe Rim Tour Feb. 13 | Shooter Bowl Laser Biathlon Relay Feb. 14 | Valentine’s Day Ski Feb. 24-27 | Alpenglow 20k Race March 6 | The Great Ski Race Tahoe XC was recently named the 2nd Best Cross-Country Ski Resort in North America in the USA Today Readers’ Choice awards. The nonprofit ski area offers stunning lake views along the trails making it one of the area’s best spots for cross-country skiing. Fat tire bikes are not allowed on the trail system. Expansion project | The Tahoe XC expansion project was approved by the TCPUD Board of Directors in late February to relocate the base area

from its current location to property next to the North Tahoe Middle & High Schools and reconstruct the historic Schilling Lodge on the property to serve as the new main lodge with rentals, a cafe, lockers and community meeting areas. The project still needs approval from Placer County and the TRPA before it can move forward. | tahoexclodgeproject.com Ski free | Youth ages 18 and younger ski for free, as well as seniors ages 70 and older.

kilometers

70 # of trails

11 grooming

20km warming huts

Dog trails | Dogs are allowed on the 9km of dog trails only. Trail cam | Navigate to all the web cams, weather and snow gauge by clicking the camera icon on the top corner of the website. n

tahoexc.org

name top line

name cont’d second line

Nordic ski and snowshoe trails will once again be groomed in Hope Valley for the 2021-22 season. Wylder Hope Valley, which purchased and renovated the former Sorenson’s Resort in Hope Valley, has also started grooming local trails. Rentals available | Stop by The Ski Shop inside Wylder Hope Valley’s General Store to rent crosscountry skis or snowshoes. Joyce Coker, former owner of Hope Valley Outdoors, joined Wylder’s team in 2020, bringing her extensive crosscountry and back-country knowledge to the resort.

Free trail access | Enjoy free access to 11 trails including trails leaving from Wylder, as well as along Highways 88 and 89 including trails to Burnside, Grass and Winnemucca lakes. Trails maps are available at The Ski Shop and online. Parking permits | Trail access is free but most of the trailheads are in the Hope Valley Wildlife Area and require a California Department of Fish & Wildlife Lands Pass, which is available online and from participating vendors. There are no permits available at the trailheads. | (800) 565-1458, wildlife.ca.gov Winnemucca Lake access | The Winnemucca Lake Trail requires a California Sno-Park parking pass available for purchase online or from participating vendors. Permits are not available at the trailhead. | (916) 324-1222, ohv.parks.ca.gov n

(530) 721-2015, wylderhotels.com/hope-valley

name top line

name cont’d second line

consulting & software development

Events Dec. 31 | New Year Snowshoe Tour Dec. 31-Feb. 20 (select dates) | Eastern Sierra History Talks Ongoing | Live music Ongoing | Moonlight Snowshoe Tours

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 HISTORY

The Brutal Winter of 1951-52 PA R T I BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

ven after 70 years, the winter of 195152 is remembered as one of the most brutal in its impact on the Tahoe Sierra. The 812 inches of snow — 67.7 feet — measured near Donner Pass that season ranks No. 2 on the Top 10 list — just 7 inches shy of the prevailing record set 14 years before in 1938. The 83 inches of precipitation tallied during the 1952 water year is the 10th wettest since 1871. The stories of human drama and heroism that winter make 1952 among the most memorable of them all. The Storm King pummeled the region with relentless and powerful blizzards that spawned deadly avalanches, overwhelmed passenger trains and closed essential roads for weeks at a time. The unusually severe winter hit early, blanketing Donner Pass with a foot of snow the week before Halloween. The early snow temporarily shut down vital trans-Sierra highways 40 and 50. During November, more storms added to the growing snowpack in the high country above 7,000 feet. In early December a powerful Pacific

The Storm King pummeled the region with relentless and powerful blizzards that spawned deadly avalanches, overwhelmed passenger trains and closed essential roads for weeks at a time.

with 23 feet of snow for the month. Highway 40 remained open, but drifts and avalanches blocked Highway 50 at Echo Summit and between Carson City, Nev., and Lake Tahoe.

Trapped at Sky Tavern At Sky Tavern Ski Resort near Mount Rose, it stormed for a week. Wind gusts at almost 100 mph sculpted towering drifts and the main access road to the ski area was blocked by snow 20 feet deep. Seventy people were marooned at the resort. Sky Tavern opened in 1945 and was popular with Hollywood movie stars, such as Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman and Rita Hayworth, along with sports celebrities such as legendary Sun Valley ski instructor Sigi Engel and ski-flick impresario Warren Miller. As a Christmas gift for his family, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio rented a small cabin at Sky Tavern so that he, his ex-wife Dorothy and their son Joe Jr. could enjoy a few days of peace and quiet in the High Sierra. But instead of sun and fun, they were among those stranded by the severe storm. It took four days for a rotary plow to chew its way up Mount Rose Highway and open the road to the resort. Never in danger and well-supplied with food, the snowbound skiers nonetheless greeted the arrival of the plow with loud cheers. DiMaggio’s bad knees kept him off the hickory skis, but he never lost his sense of humor. After observing hundreds of anxious slope-bound skiers parked along the road, “Joltin’ Joe” remarked, “After what I’ve seen the last few days, I’m convinced skiers are worse than baseball fans. Some of them were even sleeping in their cars waiting for the road to be opened. They just don’t quit.”

Avalanches across the Sierra storm slammed the region with gale force winds that forced United Air Lines to cancel all passenger flights over the Sierra into Reno’s Hubbard Field. Truck and automobile wrecks clogged Highway 40 over Donner Pass while heavy snow buried Truckee and Tahoe City. By mid-December, the snowpack stood 6 feet deep on Donner Pass. On Christmas Eve, a potent system roared in from the Gulf of Alaska. Heavy snow closed mountain roads and trapped crowds of tourists on holiday in Tahoe City and Truckee. Communication was lost when telephone lines snapped under the weight of clingy wet snow. Avalanches took out high-voltage towers that blacked out Tahoe City. By Dec. 29, Highway 40 was down to a single lane over Donner Pass. Eventually the California Highway Patrol closed the road to all eastbound traffic and convoyed desperate motorists from Truckee west to California. The storm dumped 57 inches of snow on Tahoe City and by New Year’s Day, the snowpack there was almost 7 feet deep. Nearly 8 feet fell in Truckee in December 1951 while Donner Pass was bombarded

At Echo Summit south of Lake Tahoe, the blizzard turned lethal on Dec. 31 when James Swafford, a state highway maintenance man, died after being crushed by a 200-ton avalanche. The 20-foot-deep slide buried a rotary, a push plow and a pickup

Tahoe Science Center

Hands-on science activities, Guided tours & 3-D movies Open Tues.-Fri., 1–5 p.m. (or by appointment, closed all holidays)

TahoeScienceCenter.org (775) 881-7566

truck. Swafford’s co-worker Frank Krek was also engulfed by snow and knocked unconscious, but he survived after 50 men spent two hours digging him out with hand shovels. On Jan. 2, 1952, a 10-year-old named Lydia was sick in bed with a cold when she heard “a high-pitched wail, accompanied by a deep roar.” Suddenly her family’s house in Sierra City, below the towering Sierra Buttes, began shaking while the trees outside whipped back and forth. Her window shattered hurling glass, snow and a large tree limb onto her bed. Miraculously, she escaped injury. Lydia ran from her room and discovered the parlor windows were smashed and the front door blown open. On top of 5 feet of snow that covered the floor were her two pet dogs that had ridden the rubble into the house. Outside a deep slide zone filled the entire block of her street, the snow was studded with debris including home furnishings, a bathtub, toilet, chairs, pots, and pans. The massive slide destroyed several homes and buildings and damaged the oneroom schoolhouse. Fortunately, none of the 32 enrolled students had shown up for class that day. A deadly avalanche at Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) ski area took the life of employee Joe Carson. Assigned to spend the night at the upper terminal of the resort’s summit chairlift, Carson panicked when extreme winds shook the building he was sheltered in. He rejected radio orders to stay where he was and took off down the mountain on snowshoes. Minutes later a massive slide swept down the face of Squaw Peak destroying a lift tower and burying Carson.

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.

LEFT: 1952 Rotary Clearing of Highway 40 | Courtesy Mark McLaughlin Collection RIGHT: 1952 Dynamite Crew | Courtesy NHS

Search parties led by Tahoe City constable Harry Johanson assembled at the mountain, but their efforts were called off due to extreme danger from more slides. Subsequent avalanches took out other towers, rendering the resort’s top-to-bottom double chairlift useless during the busy holiday period. Carson’s body was not found until six months later when the snow finally melted. As the New Year began, residents at Soda Springs reported an 11-foot snowpack, compared to a normal depth of 38 inches for that date. Skies were sunny, but a deep

freeze invaded the area. In Reno, the temperature fell to 1 degree above zero. Truckee fell to minus 18 degrees, while at the Bureau of Reclamation Station at Boca east of Truckee, the temperature plummeted to 42 degrees below zero — just 3 degrees shy of California’s state record of minus 45 set at that same location on Jan. 30, 1937. Stay tuned for Part II in the next edition and at TheTahoeWeekly.com. n 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.

HOME

I M P R OV E M E N T Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be included in Home Improvement.

SIDESHOW BOB’S Window Cleaning Since 2000

Residential & Commercial

581-2343

(530) CA & NV Licensed & Insured

TheTahoeWeekly.com

THE lineup live music | shows | nightlife

festivals | entertainment

Leftover Salmon B R A N D - N E W G O O D O L D D AY S BY S E A N M C A L I N D I N

New Year’s Eve with Pimps of Joytime | Dec. 30-Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. | Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.

rew Emmitt is in the midst of a sound check at Washington’s music club in Fort Collins, Colo. Thirty-two years into his career as mandolinist, lead guitarist and singer for jamgrass icons Leftover Salmon, he still loves his job as much as ever. “It’s my favorite thing to do,” says the free-wheeling, long-haired musician. “I feel very blessed to be able to do this for a living. It’s just a joy.” As one of the original jamgrass acts, Leftover Salmon was first cooked up when two Boulder County party acts, Left Hand String Band and the Salmon Heads, joined together for a 1989 New Year’s Eve show at The Eldo in Crested Butte. Over the years, they grew from cover band to perennial festival headliner with a vast repertoire of original material and a penchant for mingling musical genres from bluegrass to rock, country, Celtic, Cajun and zydeco. “We changed tons, especially from the early days when we were a ski town band,” says Emmitt. “I think we’ve all really grown as songwriters. Over the course of time, we developed the nuances of being together and playing together. It’s definitely a process, for sure. There are not a lot of bands that stay together this long. We are very grateful and amazed to still be doing this.”

growing and still finding new ways to do this. Everyone is developing on their own as musicians. It’s enriching. It feel like it’s a better band than it’s ever been. There’s been some great eras, but this might be the best we’ve ever had.”

~ Drew Emmitt

While personnel has come and gone through the years, the heart of the act remained the same: the virtuosic Emmitt and his hilarious sidekick, Vince Herman. “We know each other pretty well by this point,” says Emmitt. “He’s like family. I think we complement each other because he’s a really great front man and one of the funniest people around. He’s a nut — the pied piper of partiness. The way he can entertain people is awesome. It gives me a chance to focus more on what I do, which is write and sing and play. We’ve been singing together for over 30 years and have gotten to point now where our voices blend really well.” The rest of the core lineup has been 20

locked in for a while now, too, with Greg Garrison on bass, Andy Thorn on banjo and Alwyn Robinson on drums. After pianist Eric Deutsch left for The [formerly Dixie] Chicks, the group was joined by Jay Starling this summer. Son of The Seldom Scene frontman John Starling, Leftover Salmon’s freshest member plays keyboards and lap steel, but is best known for his work on dobro. He’s previously played with bluegrass 80s cover act Love Canon, Jeff Austin Band and Keller Williams. “He’s coming from bluegrass royalty,” says Emmitt. “He is really taking the music in some great new directions. He’s quite a player and we’re real excited to have him. I love that we’re still having fun, still growing and still finding new ways to do this. Everyone is developing on their own as musicians. It’s enriching. It feel like it’s a better band than it’s ever been. There’s been some great eras, but this might be the best we’ve ever had.” The band released its 11th album “Brand New Good Old Days” earlier this year. “It’s kind of a different record for us, more of an Americana record,” says Emmitt. “It came together, like a lot of the records we do, out of thin air. It’s like okay — let it fly. It was awesome the way it flowed and developed as it went.” Although the LP was recorded at Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, N.C., prior to the pandemic, the sentiment of the

album title became prescient by the time the record came out and the world had changed. “To be off of tour for a whole year was pretty amazing,” says Emmitt. “It’s given us a whole reset. So it is a like a brand new time. Hopefully, we come out of it completely. With all the intensity in the world right now, I think all you can do is be positive. To me, that’s what ‘Brand New Good Old Days’ is all about. In this face of all this adversity, you have to keep on playing music. Ski, ride, mountain bike, turn off the TV, turn off the news. Things like that.”

Leftover Salmon performs Dec. 30, 31 and Jan. 1 at Crystal Bay Casino. After all these years, they’re back playing in a ski town, just like they always have. “They are the most beautiful places and people have the best time in the ski town,” says Emmitt. “They’re our roots. It’s where we got started, so that’s why we keep coming back.” | leftoversalmon.com n 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.

Courtesy FestiAddict

“I love that we’re still having fun, still

Festival veterans Leftover Salmon has been feeding audiences with polyethnic Cajun slamgrass since 1989. | John Ryan Lockman

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 THE LINEUP

live DECEMBER 29 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Christmas With The Filharmonic Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

DECEMBER 30 | THURSDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Christmas With The Filharmonic Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. NYE Leftover Salmon w/Pimps Of Joytime Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m.

DECEMBER 31 | FRIDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. NYE Celebration Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 2 p.m. Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. NYE w/Hip Service Village at Northstar, Truckee, 7-9:30 p.m. NYE w/Hot Buttered Rum Moe’s Original BBQ, Tahoe City, 8 p.m. Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Light Up the Night! Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m. Dueling Pianos Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic After Dark: Robert Hall Unfiltered The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. DJ Arty the Party Harrahs Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m. NYE Leftover Salmon w/Pimps Of Joytime Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 9 p.m. CHANGO Live Bar of America, Truckee, 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. NYE Celebration The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9:30 p.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. DJ David Aaron Bally’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m. Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 1 | SATURDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. DJ Cat Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 12-2 p.m. Winter Music Series Northstar Village, Truckee, 2-5 p.m.

Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Christmas With The Filharmonic Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Pimps of Joytime w/Leftover Salmon Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 2 | SUNDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Sunday Mountain Jam w/The Johnson Party Donner Creek Brewing, Truckee, 3 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Christmas With The Filharmonic Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 3 | MONDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 4 | TUESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Night Blues Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 5 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 6 | THURSDAY

JANUARY 9 | SUNDAY

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Music At The Pines Sierra Pines Resort, Sierraville, 2-5 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 7 | FRIDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. Dylan Casey’s, Zephyr Cove, 5-8 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic After Dark The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. Live DJ Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 8 | SATURDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. DJs at Big Blue View Bar Homewood Mountain Resort, Homewood, 12-3 p.m. DJ Cat Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 12-2 p.m. Winter Music Series Northstar Village, Truckee, 2-5 p.m. Live Muisc Whiskey Dicks, South Lake Tahoe, 2-11:30 p.m. Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. Mudd Bonz Casey’s, Zephyr Cove, 6-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Tahoe Adventure Film Festival Bally’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 8-11 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. D.J .Williams’ Shots Fired, Polyrhythmics, & Josh Hoyer Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.

JANUARY 10 | MONDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 11 | TUESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Tuesday Night Blues Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

JANUARY 12 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Support our Work HELP SUPPORT LOCAL, INDEPENDENT MEDIA THAT IS OWNED BY LOCALS, RUN BY LOCALS, EMPLOYS LOCALS AND SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

Donations welcome at

paypal.me/tahoeweekly

delivering the fun since 1982 21

TheTahoeWeekly.com

YOUR BUSINESS COULD

SPONSOR THIS PAGE

Michael O’Connor, Life Coach Astrologer SunStarAstrology.com

Your business’

LOGO here

important new opportunities by June. These will spur your ambitions which will come to a peak by late summer. All the while, you will be reaching for higher ground; to advance to the next level, or two.

anne@tahoethisweek.com

for details

FIRE

EARTH

Horoscopes Puzzles

AIR

WATER

Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) You will be drawn inward as 2022 begins. Gathering information from outer sources will shift to include more inner access. Your focus will turn to fortifying foundations. Counting and cutting losses is part of the plot. This taking account process may include friendships and associations you no longer deem beneficial. Consolidation is a keyword.

Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) Increasing your network will prove important this year. This comes as a feature of a renewed drive for power and leadership. Strategic diversity regarding key contacts and allies will strengthen your resolve. A new sense of spirituality will be both your call and summons. Yet, you will learn that not everyone will follow.

Gemini (May 21 – Jun 21) You could emerge as a spiritual leader this year. Yet, you may have to safeguard against becoming a source of unfounded intrigue and consequent hysteria. Directing your focus to a larger whole will grow steadily. Health concerns could emerge and you are wise to remember that pure water food is the best medicine.

Cancer (Jun 22 – Jul 22) Some cycles ask us to let go and let God and you have entered one of them. While self-control is within our power, it pretty much ends there and we certainly cannot control the natural order of things. Focusing to make contributions to larger realities could also result in activating your personal power and leadership.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 23) 2022 stands to be a time of returns and this could manifest as some form of inheritance, but not necessarily financial. Mergers and joint ventures will hold more appeal and could lead to notoriety and greater professional success. Your focus will become increasingly practical, aim for precision and refinement.

Virgo (Aug 24 – Sep 22) Get ready for expansion and increase in your relationships, both personal and professional. The pace could prove strong and steady leading to some

Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) Your overall state of health will come into focus this year. This includes your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Understanding that each supports or defeats the other will play a strong role. The financial flow could also waver, requiring creative thinking to overcome. Change is a keyword and you are wise to cooperate with it fully.

Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Jupiter in Pisces will bless you with creative inspiration. It is important that you catch the wave early, though. It will lead to new levels of independence and confidence as the year progresses subject to a measurable process of personal transformation. On the other hand, you will experience a renewed sense of commitment to business and love.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) You will enter mystic waters early on in 2022 in which you will feel quite confident to swim. Each stroke will increase your confidence levels which will build steadily all year. This will manifest as practical ambitions if simply to improve your skills even in your hobbies. Make the most of this go-ahead year.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Get ready to be busier tending to a variety of fronts. The more able you are to handle the pace, the more progressively confident you will feel. This will support creative interests, choices and actions leading you forward and each will uplift the other. Your command and authority will also increase supporting you to feel and act with greater integrity.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 19) Your spiritual life will experience a boost this year. This will manifest as also contributing to practical activities elevated by your ability to transcend attitudes and self-concepts that may have previously held you back. Much activity will be directed to home and family. You will realize that the time for needed changes has arrived and you will rise to the occasion.

Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20) Jupiter in your sign will trigger an expansive, adventurous and enthusiastic attitude. This vibrant wave will remain strong through mid-May and can be harnessed for the blessing that it is. Bringing thoughts, ideas, innovations and visions down to earth is part of the plot. Your resolve to accomplish goals will be strong.

decree. them the third monarch gave mands, the livid his two compeople ignored When the

CryptoQuip

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022

Shop Local Holidays

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS

FOR THE

Ads as low as $100 per issue. E-mail anne@tahoethisweek.com

Organic

Meal Delivery Service Individual & Family Meals for

custom made live edge, epoxy river tables TAHOE TABL E C OMPAN Y.C OM

HEALTHY. ORGANIC. LOCAL. WITH

775-287-2499 tahoetablecompany@yahoo.com

the

Seasoned

Sage

theseasonedsage.com

ting ts Accep now Clien ws S w ado e Ne M a rr in Sie

(772) 913- 0008

Call to set up your

personal menu

Local Dealer sales & service

two-wheeled tractors 35 attachments available

ORDE

NOW!

EasyFarmSupply.com EasyFarmSupply.com

(831) 428-2077 11070 BROCKWAY RD., TRUCKEE

LEFFLER LEATHER GOODS

Diamonds From Heaven

LOCATED AT THE

COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N. LAKE BLVD, TAHOE CITY, CA

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

MENTION THIS AD AND GET

30% OFF ~ or ~

SHOP ONLINE w/COUPON CODE:

TAHOE 30 FOR 30% OFF! Offer expires 1/15/2022

LOC ATED IN THE

Resort at Squaw Creek

OPEN FOR

Holiday Shopping! Daily 10am-6pm

HAS ARRIVED

Praxis Handcrafted Skis Lake Tahoe USA FACTORY | 848 Tanager St., Incline Village, NV

530.583.1874 400 Squaw Creek Road Olympic Valley, California 23

TheTahoeWeekly.com

THE makers

creative awareness | arts & culture | makers’ movement

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS FOR FREE Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to add your Event for our print & online calendars. Click on Events; then the blue Add Event button.

Will & Ivey C R E AT I N G C O M F O R TA B L E C L OT H E S F O R K I D S BY K AY L A A N D E R S O N

he’s excited to be back home in Tahoe. Will & Ivey owner and fashion designer Sandra Ney is just closing her shop for the day in Stateline, Nev. She opened the boutique children’s clothing shop in early October and has already seen remarkable success. The clothing line offers durable, breathable, soft clothes for babies and toddlers that move with them and keep them looking adorable. Ney spent her childhood vacationing in the cabin her grandfather built in 1939 in Carnelian Bay. She originally grew up in the Bay Area and when school would get out her family would head up to the lake. After graduating high school, Ney went to college at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. That’s where she got her start in making clothing, learning

Courtesy Town of Truckee

Call for Truckee art

“I loved my son’s face and wanted to create a clothing line where

Will & Ivey’s clothing creations for children. | Sandra Ney

the child’s face is the art piece.”

- Sandra Ney

everything from the history of fashion to sketching, illustration, pattern making, sewing and more. At the end of her senior year, Ney got to be part of a runway show; she handmade all her clothing and chose the models who presented them. After graduating, Ney worked as a graphic design artist, creating T-shirt designs for popular brands such as Limited Express, Gap and Eddie Bauer. Ney eventually became the head designer for the women’s clothing company Beverly Hills Polo Club, specializing in creating comfortable women’s ready wear. Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Ney met her husband Karl in Los Angeles in the late 1980s. Even though her heart pulled toward Tahoe, sadly her family sold their Carnelian Bay cabin in 1987. Karl was the drummer for a Christian rock band, which was signed to a record label and the couple went to Nashville. The Neys had their first son Hunter in 1991. Ney found that the baby clothing available had snaps and buttons in uncomfortable places, not ideal for an active infant 24

or toddler. Children’s clothing also featured busy patterns, detracting from the best part of the child’s outfit. “I loved my son’s face and wanted to create a clothing line where the child’s face is the art piece,” she says. However, she couldn’t find anyone to help her with her clothing line, so she eventually hung up all her patterns and handmade clothes in the closet and moved on to another opportunity, becoming the wardrobe stylist for a TV show. She says that the experience was fun. In 2012, her friend started designing men’s jeans, called Southern Blues, and enlisted Ney’s help. It became obvious that Ney liked the clothing company more than her friend did, though, and he offered to sell her the company. However, she didn’t accept the offer. Instead, it prompted her to go to her closet and pull out her children’s clothing patterns. At the time, the Neys had their fourth and youngest child William and when thinking of ideas of what to call her line, Will & Ivey just rolled off her tongue. “My friend and I looked it up and the

name William means ‘strong defender of eternity,’ so it just made sense,” she says. One of her former contacts in the clothing industry agreed to help her launch her brand and in 2015, Will & Ivey was born. Ney never forgot about Tahoe. Two years ago, when the COVID pandemic started, her husband lost a lot of his work because bands weren’t touring. It turned out to be an exciting time to make a change. The family decided to start looking at homes in the Tahoe Basin. A house popped up for sale in Zephyr Cove, Nev., and a friend told her that if they were serious about moving to Tahoe they needed to do it immediately. “The history we have here is so sweet to me, it never left me,” she says, adding that her great-grandparents also built a camp in the Bijou area in 1913. The relocation to Tahoe also allowed her to open her first brick-and-mortar store on Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, Nev. “In Nashville, we’d do pop-ups and festivals. Before, we were doing all sales online direct to consumer, but I found that it’s nice when people come into the store and can see and feel the fabrics,” she says. Now Ney is excited to display her comfortable, minimalistic children’s clothing line to Tahoe residents and visitors — and eventually figure out how to give back to the local foster care community. “I’ve already had so much fun meeting locals and connecting with moms and dads. I maybe want to have more events here, have someone come in and play music, do arts and crafts or just make this a place for mommy time,” she says. | willandivey.com n

The Public Art Commission of Truckee is requesting proposals from an artist or artist team to create an outdoor artwork for a newly installed concrete retaining wall in downtown Truckee. The artwork will be installed on the retaining wall on Brockway Road that sits below Cottonwood along the Legacy Trail. The submission deadline is Jan. 14. Details at bit.ly/3dPuqS7. Questions may be sent to bbucar@townoftruckee.com.

the art s FOREST=FIRE Exhibition TD Community Recreation Center | Truckee | Dec. 29-Jan. 30 8 a.m. | nevadacountyarts.org

Holly Arts Fair North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | Dec. 29-Jan. 7

11 a.m.-5 p.m. | (530) 581-2787 northtahoearts.com

Holiday Celebration Gallery Keoki | Olympic Valley | Dec. 30 5-8 p.m. | gallerykeoki.com

Word of the Year Workshop with Julie Steiner North Tahoe Arts | Kings Beach | Jan. 8

12-3 p.m. | (530) 581-2787, square.link

EAT &drink

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 EAT & DRINK

food & libations | recipes | delicious events

Tasty Eats F O R A TA H O E W I N T E R BY P R I YA H UT N E R

anuary is a time for new beginnings, fresh starts and an opportunity to reset with healthful eating after weeks of holiday revelry. We make resolutions, undertake new diets and exercise programs and plan to lose the holiday pounds. Balance is the key to helping reset and regroup during meal preparation. Taking a break from sugary foods and carb-heavy meals will support the systems of the body and ultimately make you feel lighter. POST-HOLIDAY CLEANSE There are some relatively easy ways to reset. Consider a winter post-holiday cleanse. It takes some discipline. The simplest way to get back on track and clean up a diet is to omit alcohol, sugar, flour, all processed foods and caffeine for a minimum of five days and up to 21 days. It’s not always easy, but if you are suffering from overindulging, this can help. Coffee is one of the hardest things to omit. If you can’t bear to skip coffee, simply eliminate everything else. The key is to be gentle to yourself. If omitting things from a diet is too challenging, consider preparing healthy

Winter is a good time to lean into hot soups, stews and one-pot meals when it comes to making nutritious meals. meals without processed ingredients. Eating healthy does not mean sacrificing flavor. EAT TO SUPPORT THE BODY Tahoe can be a harsh winter environment. Eating to support the body in this environment is essential. Raw vegetables and salads can be challenging for the digestive system. Raw foods are generally best to eat in warmer weather. I tend to eat more cooked vegetables in the cold weather months. Most people living and visiting Tahoe are incredibly active: skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, snowshoeing

— burning a lot of energy. It’s vital to eat accordingly. Winter is a good time to lean into hot soups, stews and one-pot meals when it comes to making nutritious meals. They are healthy and easy to prepare for one person or for a crowd. Clean proteins and veggies, along with whole grains, are wholesome and satisfying. Chili is a delicious one-pot meal. There are numerous ways to make chili. It can make your head swirl. Traditional beef chili, wild game chili, white chicken chili or vegetarian bean chili, the combinations and flavors are endless. Stews also make a onepot meal. Instant Pots and slow cookers make these types of meals ridiculously easy to prepare. The most laborious thing is prepping the ingredients. Want to impress? Turn beef stew into beef bourguignon or prepare a chicken

cacciatore, a delicious Italian stew. A Chicken Paprikash is a fabulous coldweather meal and lentil stew is excellent for vegans and vegetarians and can appease carnivore types, as well. Add vegetables of choice to any of these stews and serve over rice or quinoa. Hearty soups can serve as a main meal. My go-to winter soups include chicken vegetable soup, minestrone, Aztec soup, miso vegetable soup with tofu, Italian wedding soup and split pea soup. These are some of my favorite cold-weather soups. They are delicious and nourishing. Most of these soups are gluten-free and dairy-free. Some of my other favorite soups include roasted root vegetable soup. Parsnips add a nice dimension to this soup. Butternut, acorn squash, carrots and sweet potato are excellent to create a thick and hearty soup. For many of these soups, I add ginger, garlic and black pepper for an extra immunity boost. Spiraled zucchini or baked spaghetti squash are great ways to substitute pasta in a meal. Cauliflower rice is delicious with a touch of olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh parsley and can replace rice or pasta, as well. Keeping meals simple and healthy can be beneficial for overall wellness and allows for more time to play in the snow and enjoy the Tahoe lifestyle. n Priya Hutner is a food writer, personal chef and owner of The Seasoned Sage, a local meal delivery and catering company. Priya has been creating and preparing meals from an early age. She has worked in the restaurant industry in New York City, attended catering school, and was the head chef and executive director of a nonprofit spiritual community in Florida. Visit her website at TheSeasonedSage.com. Send your comments, story ideas and food tidbits to priya@tahoethisweek.com.

EASY

BEEF STEW From the kitchen of Priya Hunter 3 T olive oil 2 lbs. beef chuck or eye round, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 large onion, rough chopped 5 cloves garlic, sliced 3 carrots peeled & cut into 1-inch chunks 2 large potatoes, quartered 2 stalks celery, sliced 1 large can diced tomatoes 2 C beef broth 1 C dry red wine 1 bay leaf 3 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme 1½ t kosher salt 1 t black pepper

Heat oil on sauté function of the Instant pot, slow cooker or Dutch oven. Add beef and sear on each side. Remove from pot. Add onion and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add all of the ingredients and seared beef to the Instant Pot or slow cooker. Use the slow cook function for 8 to 12 hours or the stew function. If using a Dutch oven or large pot, simmer on low heat for 3 to 4 hours or until beef is tender.

TRY PRIYA’S RECIPE FOR

CHICKEN CACCIATORE IN THIS EDITION

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Wine resolutions for 2022 BY L O U P H I L L I P S

Courtesy Champagne & Chocolate

Champagne

& Chocolate opens

Champagne & Chocolate Co., a new desserts, wine, coffee and gifts shop recently opened in the Heavenly Village on the South Shore. The shop is a new and revamped take on the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, which was purchased by Champagne & Chocolate Co. in November.

y hope is that the above title is more than just a catchy, if kitschy, one. This is one writer’s attempt to bring you some fun, adventure and joy to your world, by encouraging you to use your love of wine as a painter’s palette to splash on. Take this as guide to soul-lifting exercises using wine as a medium. These resolutions are also a playful way to learn about wine, whether you are a beginner or a wine geek. And can’t we all use a little more play in our lives right about now? HAVE FUN As the era of excessive seriousness comes to a close — and I have officially deemed it over by the way — let your wine times skew to the fun side. A good way to go is to play wine games with friends. There are plenty of these available online, but how about one you can make yourself. I suggest renaming Monopoly board destinations with equivalent wine regions. Park Place becomes Romanée-Conti in France, low-cost properties become Puglia, Italy, or California’s Central Valley, railroads squares become famous wine region trains such as Napa Valley Wine Train and so on. Then all you need is to roll the dice and imbibe.

EMBRACE THE NEW This is especially effective when applied in familiar wine places and situations. For example, if you always order an Oregon Pinot when dining out, try one from Chile or New Zealand. Or try a different wine that has similar characteristics, such as Cru Beaujolais. Another idea is to start each wine shopping trips with new eyes. This only needs to take a minute — perhaps on

These resolutions are also a playful way to learn about wine, whether you are a beginner or a wine geek. the way to the store or any time you want a quick mental vacation. Use those new eyes to engage your intellect and creativity to select something unique.

MAKE THE ORDINARY SPECIAL How about celebrating a friendship or a beautiful sunset by getting a special bottle and inviting friends to share? SPEND SMART Getting bang for your buck is an experience that never fails to bring joy to just about anyone and wine lovers are no exception. Getting a stellar wine at a surprisingly quality price ratio (QPR) not only makes one feel extra smart but makes the wine taste especially delicious. Refer to well-respected media reviews or challenge your local purveyors or knowledgeable friend to recommend their absolute best bang-for-yourbuck bottle. By the way, this can happen at any price point that works for you. So go ahead and leap out of your wine-buying box with these four resolutions. Consider them my resolutionary gifts for 2022 with wine love from me to you. n 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.

Champagne & Chocolate offers a full chocolate shop along with homemade fudges, caramel apples, coffee, wine and champagne. Owner Cesar Fausto is also planning on adding a year-round outdoor patio with four firepits and tables, enhancing the menu with small appetizers and plates, and a create-your-own chocolate bar, according to a press release. | @champagnechoco

tasty tidbits NYE Midnight at the Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner West Shore Cafe | Homewood | Dec. 31

8-11:30 p.m. $159 | (530) 525-5200 westshorecafe.com

Wine Tastings The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe Jan. 5 5-8 p.m. | (530) 600-3304, tahoesouth.com

TAKE-OUT, INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING

Snowshoe Tour & Dinner The Chalet at Alpine Meadows | Tahoe City Jan. 8

Fine Italian Food & Spirits

4:30 p.m. $95 | palisadestahoe.com

Young Eagles, Pancake Breakfast EAA Chapter 1073 | Truckee | Jan. 8 8-9 a.m. | eaa1073.org

First Tracks Breakfast

Famous for our

Locals Love Lanza’s! (530) 546-2434 7739 N Lake Blvd - Kings Beach

LanzasTahoe.com

BREAKFAST DAILY 9AM-2PM

LUNCH DAILY 11:30AM-3PM

DINNER 5PM CLOSED MONDAY EVENINGS

spindleshankstahoe.com 400 Brassie Ave. · Kings Beach · (530) 546-2191

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

Homewood Mountain Resort | Homewood Jan. 9 8-10 a.m. | (530) 525-2992 skihomewood.com

December 29, 2021-January 11, 2022 EAT & DRINK

F RO M T H E S E AS O N E D SAG E

CHICKEN C A C C I AT O R E BY P R I YA H UT N E R

EST. 1982

Authentic Mexican made from scratch daily

Kings Beach

Indoor & Patio Dining 12:00pm-8:00pm

Full Bar

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

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

hicken Cacciatore is a delicious Italian hunter’s stew. I learned how to make it from a former boyfriend’s Italian mother. It’s one of my favorite chicken dishes. I’ve tweaked it over the years. It is a perfect dinner on a cold winter night. Serve over pasta or rice with a side of seared lemon garlic broccoli and sop up the sauce with warm, toasted garlic bread. So good.n

Cooking is a meditation for Priya, it is from that place she curates her menus and recipes to create delicious and nutritious meals for The Seasoned Sage, her company catering to client’s culinary preferences and dietary restrictions. She is also working on a series of cookbooks. Visit her website at TheSeasonedSage.com or contact her at priya@theseasonedsage.com.

Lakeview Dining OPEN DAILY 12-9PM

FEATURING: Slow-Roasted Prime Rib | Baby Back Ribs | Full Bar

Steaks | Seafood | Pasta | Gourmet Hamburgers | Kid’s Menu

jasonsbeachsidegrille.com

•

(530) 546-3315

8338 NORTH LAKE BLVD., KINGS BEACH, CA

CHICKEN CACCIATORE From the kitchen of: Priya Hutner 1 T olive oil

¼ C fresh basil

2 lbs. chicken thighs & drumsticks

1 T fresh oregano

1 large onion, diced

1 C red wine

3 to 4 cloves garlic, sliced

1 T capers

2 carrots, peeled & sliced

1 C mushrooms, sliced (baby bel-

2 stalks celery, sliced

las, porcini or both)

1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes with juice

2 t salt

1 C chicken stock 1 t fresh rosemary

be kind be calm be helpful

1 t fresh ground pepper Salt & pepper to taste

3 to 5 fresh sage leaves

Pat chicken dry. Heat olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven. Or use an Insta Pot on the sauté function. Sear chicken on medium heat. Turn to sear on all sides, about 10 minutes. Set chicken aside on a plate. Add onions, sauté for 8 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 3 minutes. Add carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until reduced, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes with the juice, chicken stock, capers, rosemary, sage, salt and pepper and simmer. Add chicken back into pan and mix with sauce. Cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. If using an Insta Pot, after sautéing the onions and garlic, add all remaining ingredients and cook on the stew function for 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to gauge if chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F for either method. Serve over pasta or rice.

EARTH TO TABLE ChristyHill.com 115 Grove St., Tahoe City CA 530-583-8551 27

Dec. 29, 2021-Jan. 11, 2022 Tahoe Weekly

Articles inside

Horoscopes & Puzzles

Tasty Winter Eats

Leftover Salmon

New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Chicken Cacciatore

Know Your Snow