Tahoetopia

East Wind Whips up Lake Tahoe

This was the scene along the West Shore from Homewood to Tahoe City.

PLACES: Drive to Sierra Crest up beautiful Blackwood Canyon

1. The Truckee Canyon that holds Highway 89 and meets the lake at Tahoe City. 2. Next, comes Ward Canyon, which meets the lake at Sunnyside. 3. And finally, a couple of miles south of Sunnyside, there is Blackwood Canyon--a treasure unknown to many.

PLACES: Hike to Five Lakes between Truckee & Tahoe City

Go north or south on Highway 89 from Tahoe City or Truckee to Alpine Meadows Road. Proceed up the road two miles toward the ski area to the west. There is roadside parking at the trail head. And trail signage is good.


BUSINESS MATTERS: Clear Thinking in a Nightmare Economy

Climbers, skippers, and pilots internally want to hug the earth in difficult circumstances, but this is usually, exactly the wrong thing to do. Climbers need to push back from the rock face so their boot soles have the maximum traction. Skippers need to head offshore, away from the rocks, reefs, and solid earth. Pilots need to gain altitude, to give them space to maneuver and time.

PLACES: The Donners Alder Creek campsite near Truckee

Overview
On May 19, 1846, the Donners and Reids joined a large wagon train headed for Oregon and California. For the next two months the mid-westerners followed the Oregon Trail. When they reached the Little Sandy River, in what is now Wyoming, they decided to take a new route to California, the "Hastings Cutoff,” named after its promoter, Lansford Hastings.

PLACES: Where is this?

In pioneer days (1840s-50s), this place was known as Truckee Meadows, a relatively fertile valley. Gold was discovered in the area (in Virginia City) and thus began the transition of this place from agriculture to commerce.


Scenes of the end of Summer

turn to yellow, with an occasional red splash here and there. The air is different--dry and empty, awaiting the flakes of winter.

Autumn is a great time in the Tahoe Region. Below are a few pictures that convey the spirit of the time.


The Moment of Tahoe Marathon Start

The picture below is of the 8:30 a.m. start with smoke from the starter's shotgun still hanging in the quiet morning air. The race course was from Tahoe City all the way along the West Shore to South Lake Tahoe.


PLACES: Where is this?

Years ago sheep owners would bring their flocks up to Lake Tahoe from the Sacramento Valley and the Carson River Valley nearby in Nevada. The sheep would be taken to high, mountain pastures where there was ample grass. Sheepherders would stay with the sheep over the summer mouths and then return the sheep to the valleys over winter.

PLACES: Tahoe City on the Lake

Miners from the Comstock Lode in Nevada traveled though Tahoe City to get to California. Passengers from the intercontinental railroad left the train in Truckee and went to Tahoe City to visit the lake. The town is bright with history and scenic wonder in all seasons.

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