Tahoetopia

Flags fly on September 11, 2008

These pictures were taken outside a small, California fire station on the outskirts of a small town. Today, Thursday, it became a place where many people came to take photos and remember.

A FIRST: Arctic Ocean open around North Pole ice pack

The NASA image below shows the two passages in yellow, passages that were sought by explorers from the 1500’s on, pushed by merchants in Europe who wanted a short route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and the riches of the orient. The black spot in the center of the ice pack is the North Pole.

PLACES: Page Meadows on West Shore

One of my favorite places for beautiful trees is Page Meadows, right in Tahoe City’s backyard. (Some people spell it “Paige” incorrectly, according to the authoritative book Tahoe Place Names, by Barbara Lekisch.)

Lunar Eclipse

On August 16, 2008 the full moon crossed through the shadow of the earth that extends into space on the earth's side opposite the sun. This composite photograph was taken in Athens, Greece by Anthony Ayiomamitis. He also provided the commentary.


PLACES: Chinese Catfish Pond near Donner Pass

The fish were planted to augment fresh food supplies when the Chinese were helping construct the first transcontinental railroad over the Sierra.


EXCLUSIVE #4: Local's Closing Thoughts on Olympics

My "job" was to encourage participating athletes to think about the environment and to try to make a positive impact in their communities around the world. My main event was a talk hosted by Coca Cola at the Village Green Pin Trading Center in the heart of the Olympic Village.

SIERRA HERITAGE: Hiking the Scree & Splendor of Mt. Tallac

This route presents a near-continuous panoply of changing vistas over Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, Emerald Bay, and Desolation Wilderness, all leading to a grand finale atop the summit. Mile for mile, it's one of the Sierra's most magnificent trails and arguably the premier hike of the Tahoe region.

EXCLUSIVE #2: Local at Summer Olympics in Beijing

Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh beat Cuba and men's favorites Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won and move on into the round of 16. During the fun I watched Dutch fans drink an inordinate amount of beer. A can of Bud costs $10 a pop and one Dutch guy returned to his seat with 20 beers. These are wealthy beer drinkers!

EXCLUSIVE #1: Doug Stoup on Beijing Olympics

China has one of the world's oldest peoples and continuous civilizations consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia.

EXCLUSIVE #3: Local at Great Wall near Beijing

Construction of the wall's 25-foot high and 12-foot wide walls was begun during the 3rd century and mostly completed by 1644 during the Ming Dynasty. Just like some of the Olympic events I've been watching, the wall is a powerful statement.


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