Outdoors

BRIDGEPORT, Calif. — The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Bridgeport Ranger District is asking for public comment on a proposal to increase the Hoover Wilderness permit fee for overnight trips on specific high-use trailheads. This fee increase will provide direct funding to aid in the stewardship of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest portion of the Hoover Wilderness and make it more consistent to what other land management agencies charge for overnight use of wilderness areas in the Sierra Nevada Range.

El Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association will host a historical hike Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m. to Devil’s Ladder.

Friday August 5 at 10:30AM, Carson Pass Area Geology Hike. Take a morning walk through the amazing geological formations around the Carson Pass area with EL Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association’s guide Carl Gwyn. The 1.5 mile hike is on a moderate to easy trail, and will take about 2 hours. Call 209 258-8606 in advance to reserve a spot for this hike and meet at the Carson Pass information Station on California Hwy 88.

I often see improper staking of trees, more a strangling than a method of stabilizing the root ball. That’s actually what staking is for, to stabilize the root ball the first year after planting so the tree can establish anchoring roots. However, take a look around and you too will see trees struggling to survive stakes squeezing the life out of them.

Hello fellow anglers. The heat is on and the fish are taking a vacation.

With the recent extreme temps, the rivers are getting lower and the water temps are rising. The fish have not flown south, they have just gone deeper or lay dormant in currents.

This report may not be a favorable one, but I will always give you the truth on what is hot and what is not.

The University of California, Davis, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, or TERC, released its annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Repor on Thursday. The report informs nonscientists about important factors affecting the health of Lake Tahoe and provides the scientific underpinnings for restoration and management decisions within the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Please join us Sunday, August 7 here at Dangberg Historic Park for a presentation by Jason Smith on "The History of Ballooning" with tales of adventures in Carson Valley and beyond! This is a free event for all to attend.

Please bring your own seating and no pets allowed — certified service animals only. Guests are welcome to bring food or beverage, as none will be sold at this event.

On July 27, 28, and 29 the Sand Harbor Boat Beach from the boat ramp to the group area will be closed to the public for a special event. On July 28, the Sand Harbor Boat Ramp Parking Lot will be closed to all parking. Visitors can still access the park through the main entrance until the parking lot is closed for the day due to capacity, or by riding the East Shore Express.

Devil’s Ladder History Hike at Carson Pass: This is a walk down to the where the old highway crosses the Emigrant Trail at Devil’s Ladder. From there we will follow the wagon track to register rocks where the immigrants from the east wrote their names with grease from their wagon wheels. We will also pass the marker of an Unknown Pioneer. This is about 1 ½ miles. Space is limited… Call 209-258-8606 to reserve a spot.

The El Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association is offering an Interpretive Hike, “The Geology of Carson Pass” at 10:30AM, and will start at the Carson Pass Information Station on California Hwy 88. Learn about the amazing geological formations around the area. These hikes are designed for people who can hike a couple of miles and appreciate the rocks as much as the flowers. This is a 1 ½ mile meander on a moderate to easy trail. Space is limited…call 209-258-8606 to reserve a spot.

The Nevada Division of State Lands is excited to announce it has acquired 10.6 acres of land located in the upper Kingsbury area to ensure the long-term management and protection of natural habitat for native plant and wildlife species in Lake Tahoe, and to help reduce wildfire risks. This new conservation area was funded by Tahoe Regional Planning Agency mitigation funds.

My husband recently increased the time on each irrigation station to compensate for the hotter windier days. This was essential for the 50-year-old trees, mostly cottonwoods and pines, which were started when the lawns were put in decades ago. Since tree roots grow where water is, all these old trees have roots throughout the lawns.

RENO — Researchers attempting to help predict how the wildfire hazard will change due to various factors over the next several decades have some good news, and some bad news. Good news is, wildfire occurrence and intensity will likely decrease in several locations in the future. The bad news: decreases may not occur for another 50 years, and wildfire hazard will likely get worse before it gets better.

CARSON CITY — Nearly 50 landmarks tell the story of Nevada’s capital city history along the 2.5-mile Kit Carson Trail. Now, new and repeat visitors to Carson City can stroll through history via a free, online interactive audio tour and enhanced mobile website with a downloadable map and video tour.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Division of State Parks is currently accepting grant project pre-applications in anticipation of the 2023 Federal Highway Administration funding of the Recreational Trails Program. Submittal of a pre-application is required to determine project eligibility. Eligible pre-applicants will be encouraged to submit full funding proposals in the fall of 2022.

Recently, I read something about powdered cinnamon and possible uses as a pest repellant, fungicide, and more. Gardeningknowhow.com had an article which claimed that cinnamon could be used to deter ants in a home or greenhouse because “Ants don’t like to walk where cinnamon powder lays.”

Hello fellow anglers. I started out the year with high hopes: this is the first year I have been able to see Mt Shasta on our trip to Oregon without smoke filled skies; you know how hard it is to drive by a mountain peak that is over 14000 ft tall and not being able to see it because of smoke.

We were almost there this year with clear skies, until last week driving home down highway 395 in the Carson Valley, and there was that awful reminder.

Fire restrictions are in effect as of Saturday, July 9, 2022 on the Eldorado National Forest under Forest Order 03-22-12. Wood and charcoal fires will be restricted to metal fire rings and grills in designated developed recreation sites listed in the order on Exhibit A. All other campfires are prohibited until the end of fire season.

Last week I wrote that hummingbirds love penstemons. Well, so do I. My friend Julie gave me some deep purple penstemon transplants a few weeks ago that are already blooming, even after a bit of transplant shock. She told me this penstemon species, possibly ‘Rocky Mountain’, reseeds readily, so I’m looking forward to having many more of them in the yard in the future.

Join Nevada Department of Wildlife on Wednesday, July 20 at 3 p.m. to kick-off development of the Habitat Conservation Framework and associated Sagebrush Habitat and Wildlife Connectivity plans.

Frank Tortorich, local author, will lead a hike focused on the history of Carson Pass. He will share some stories during a relaxed hour and a half walk. All participants will leave knowing more about Kit Carson, John C. Fremont, and the pioneers of the area. Call 209-258-8606 to reserve/ensure a spot.

Mike Mahoney will lead a hike focused on spotting and appreciating local birds. He will also be pointing out the trees of the area. This will be on an easy trail. The event is about 2 hours. Call 209-258-8606 to reserve/ensure a spot.

Retired USFS Ranger and published author Frank Tortorich leads this hike by asking “Do you see what you are looking at?” and urges people to see glaciation and more in the forest they think they know. A meander over a couple of miles, pausing to appreciate the many hidden treasures of the forest. All participants will leave with knowledge of the forest! This event is 1-2 hours to Frog Lake. Call 209-258-8606 to reserve/ensure a spot.

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space announced it will continue preventative fire measures at the Prison Hill Off Highway Vehicle Area and the motorized trailhead/parking located on Golden Eagle Lane in Carson City. During days when there's a Red Flag wind warning issued, the trail will be closed.

Someone recently sent me a photo of a long-necked flying insect with long transparent wings that had been hanging out on one of her window screens. I recognized it, but couldn’t remember its name, so I googled “long-necked flying insects.”

With the goal of ensuring a safe summer on the water at Lake Tahoe, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Clean Up The Lake and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency recently released a video that delivers tips and resources for boaters and paddlers planning trips to the Big Blue.

I quick trip up the Clear Creek trail just before sunset with a stunning view of Jacks Valley Lane in the distance.

Nevada Department of Wildlife's and its Wildlife Action Plan Revision Team is hosting a webinar at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 30, to share updates on the 2022 revision to Nevada's action plan.

The El Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association will be offering TwO Interpretive Hikes on Saturday, July 2. Both hikes are at 10 a.m. and will start on the Carson Pass Information Station on California Highway 88.

The El Dorado National Forest Interpretive Association will be offering an Interpretive Hike, “The Geology of Carson Pass” @ 10:30AM, and will start at the Carson Pass Information Station on California Hwy 88. Learn about the amazing geological formations around the area. These hikes are designed for people who can hike a couple of miles and appreciate the rocks as much as the flowers. This is a 1 ½ mile meander on a moderate to easy trail. Space is limited…call 209-258-8606 to reserve a spot.