downhill

Heavenly Mountain Resort has done it again, opening more skiing and snowboarding terrain on the strength of the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

“We’ve enjoyed a continuous machine-made snowstorm for the last four days,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “We’ve put a lot of time and expense toward creating the best possible ski and snowboard experience for our guests. We’re extremely excited to have the California side of our mountain open in time for the Christmas holiday.”

Two of Lake Tahoe's most popular ski and snowboarding icons, Daron Rahlves and Jeremy Jones, have finished shooting public service ads this week for the nonprofit Tahoe Fund's Plate for Powder program (photos).

The Tahoe Fund announced today that 12 major Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts are offering two free Alpine or Nordic tickets for every purchase of a California or Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate between December 12 and April 15.

Squaw Valley USA, the iconic Lake Tahoe-area resort that has been home to some of the country’s top downhill skiers, is joining operations with neighboring Alpine Meadows. See story here. Here is the official press release dated today:

From Carson City I've probably hiked Dead Man's Creek opposite Washoe State Park at least 20 times, spring, summer and fall and once in mid-winter. It's about a 2-mile round trip with 300 feet of altitude gain.
At the end of the trail is a gazebo which looks out serenely on Washoe Lake and Slide Mountain. Last Sunday when I hobbled up (bad back) the gentle trail (Park Rangers call it "moderate"in difficulty) the westerly winds were steady and strong as is usual with the sweep of the valley allowing winds to gain strength.

This is an annual reminder that a number of nearby fishing waters will be closing for the year at sunset on September 30. Those waters include the following:

LAKE TAHOE — If another La Nina visits the Sierra this winter – all-time records were approached in 2010-11 with more than 700 inches of snow – Tahoe South ski resorts are ready to roll on another epic season.

Before summer segues to fall, Tahoe South will celebrate a Labor Day last call: an amped-up holiday weekend of non-stop activities on and off the water including a food and wine festival, sternwheeler race, outdoor and showroom concerts and a fireworks extravaganza.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Here’s an advance notice of something very special in the Outdoor world that will occur in just 10 days:
Draw a great big red circle around the date of Saturday, June 11 on your calendar and then plan to have a fun-filled day in the Great Outdoors.

In Carson City and Carson Valley, golf courses are vibrant green, fairways lush and putts are rolling smoothly at Divine 9 layouts – the golf season is here and the big winter a distant memory.

Hobart Reservoir, a small, high-mountain reservoir, located at an elevation of 7,600 feet in the mountains between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, will open for the 2011 fishing season on May 1.
Because of its high elevation and location, this reservoir is normally covered with ice, and surrounded by deep snow drifts, when it opens on May 1.

It will remain open to fishing through September 30.

Seven fun-loving people from this area spent last Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13, traveling on the Amtrak passenger train between Reno and Sacramento, Calif.

--See Don Q's Outdoor report

Those seven were: Mary Bottoms, Bob “Slick” and Lynda McCulloch, Elaine and I, all of Carson City; and Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton.

by Scott Schrantz Source: http://aroundcarson.com/2010/06/08/hwy_395_widening

by Scott Schrantz Source: http://aroundcarson.com/2010/05/11/road_construction_starting

It's time for the skinny skier, skiers, snowshoers and fit bodies race up the mountain in the Annual Billy Dutton Uphill, in honor of late local luminary, Billy Dutton. The original “run what ya brung” race is an uphill answer to the famous ‘Chinese Downhill’ of the 70s. Starting from the bottom of KT-22, the course climbs 2,000 vertical feet over 3.2 miles to the finish at High Camp, at 8,200 feet.
It's enough to take your breath away just thinking about it.
The Billy Dutton Uphill race is open to Nordic skiers, snowshoers, runners and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

The rocker ski is with us now
By The Senior Skier