hiking

February 09, marks a special day in the life of yours truly.

It is my one-year anniversary writing about the Great Outdoors at Internet website Carson Now.

Time certainly flies when you are having fun, and it has been both a totally enjoyable and a totally memorable year of writing about all kinds of activities in the Great Outdoors, both near and far away.

Extreme snow sports legend and Transformers film wingsuit stuntman JT Holmes has finished shooting promotional TV spots for the Tahoe Fund’s Plate for Powder program, which gives purchasers of California and Nevada

Carson City and Muscle Powered (a community group dedicated to making Carson City a better community for bicycling and walking) have been working with the US Forest Service and the public for many years to develop a trail system along the foothills of the Carson Range with connectivity to Carson City.

On January 7, 2012, Janet Sylvia MacDonald died peacefully surrounded by her family after battling Parkinson’s disease.

Born Janet Sylvia MacDonald May 6, 1941 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Jan moved to Nevada in 1959. As a single mother with a young son, she attended the University of Nevada, Reno during the day and worked evenings to support her family. It was during this time that Jan danced and performed with famous Bertha the Elephant in the main showroom at John Asquaga’s Nugget.

The snow forecast to hit the Lake Tahoe region during the next few days is expected to give the Tahoe Fund's Plate for Powder program a boost along with Sierra ski resorts and businesses. Drivers who purchase a California or Nevada Tahoe vehicle license plate will receive two free ski lift or Nordic tickets to the resort of their choice. New Tahoe plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada.

South Shore native Darcie Goodman-Collins has been named the new executive director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, officials announced today. She replaces Rochelle Nason who resigned last September.

The operator of BlueGo, the South Lake Tahoe area public transportation system, has installed four new bus shelters and will put up three more in spring to provide riders safety, convenience and comfort.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Jan. 4-11. The report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

It’s the very first part of January and this is a good time for all of us to make some personal resolutions for the year 2012. Most importantly, remember that if you do make any resolutions, be sure to follow through with what you resolve to do in this new year. I have a number of things I would like to accomplish this year, so without any further ado, here are my resolutions:

The unseasonable warm weather around Carson City makes it ideal to get out and take advantage of some of the area’s outdoor activities including ice skating, hiking, mountain biking and golf. Check out the latest blog from the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The U.S. Forest Service and organizers of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month are working together to promote and recognize the event at Lake Tahoe and elsewhere, highlighting the health benefits of winter outdoor activity.

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.

Here is this week's fishing report through Oc. 26 for Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.

As part of Granlibakken’s commitment to health & wellness, the annual Lake Tahoe Women’s Wellness Weekend – a long standing community event previously coordinated by the Tahoe Forest Hospital - will now be hosted by Granlibakken, Nov. 12-13, 2011. The event fuses Eastern tradition with Western practices to offer a balanced weekend interactive clinics on skin screenings, body/muscle testing; inspirational and informative seminars on health, nutrition, aging; recreational activities along with food and wine.

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.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Sept. 21-28. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

By the Nevada Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Plan to participate in the region’s only art hike. Experience live performances and installation art along a gentle 2.5 mile guided trail around Spooner Lake. This is a one of a kind blending of art and nature with thirty fellow hikers during Trails and Vistas 2011 art hike along the Spooner Loop Trail.

Experience a unique blend of art and the natural world during the eighth annual Trails and Vistas art hike on Sept. 17 and Sept. 18. The hike, modeled on the theme of “Reflections and Rhythms,” takes place at Spooner Lake in Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park (Glenbrook, NV ) – just fifteen from Incline Village and less than a one-hour drive from Reno, Carson City, South Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

By the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association
Healthy living is a way of life that many seek to experience and practice on a regular basis in today’s often hectic and demanding world.
For those looking to slow down a bit and experience inner peace, then the Shasta Cascade region is a great place to do just that.
Many of the majestic mountains, along with the spring water found throughout the region are said to have special powers and qualities by local Native Americans.

By Kristi Boosman
LAKE TAHOE — A federal judge has dismissed a suit against the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Sierra Colina project that was brought on by the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Brenda Hunt has joined the Carson Water Subconservancy District staff as its new Watershed Coordinator. She replaces Genie Azad who left the district after nine years. Genie will continue natural resources work as a consultant.
Hunt earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters of Art in Environmental Science from Monash University located near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

If you’re someone like me, summer’s sweltering heat is not much fun.

I am an outdoors person who dearly loves the cold, frost, ice and snow of winter, and I absolutely and totally wilt at this time of the year.

I am miserable and grouchy during these hot weather months.

I hate the weather anytime it gets past 80-85 degrees. So, when it gets hot, I either hide in the tree shade in our backyard, stay indoors where it is delightfully air conditioned or go high in the Great Outdoors to avoid the miserable heat, especially in the month of August.

Here is the Northern Nevada, Northern California, Southern Oregon and the high Sierra fishing report
For the week of August 10-17:

Last week, I wrote about the large snow drifts and huge snow fields that Elaine and I encountered on our hike toward Winnemucca Lake from the top of Kit Carson Pass on California S.R. 88.

Our purpose for the hike was three-fold: To walk on snow (which we did), to photograph some wildflowers (which we did) and to fish for Brook and Kamloop trout at Winnemucca Lake (which we did not, due to too much snow and too much wind).

This week, I am suggesting that you take the time to hike on that same Winnemucca Lake Trail to admire and photograph the wildflowers.

Here’s how to do so:

I haven't been doing hiking of late because of a back problem, but with my new electronic "tickle belt" I'm able to hit the hills again.

I recently returned to my old favorite Dead Man's Creek on Eastlake Boulevard about 5 miles from downtown Carson. It was 90-plus that day so I turned back burned out before reaching the gazebo that perches at the end of the trail, but I did discover a new sign at the trailhead, courtesy of Nevada Division of State Parks. It's one of the best trail signs I've seen in recent times.

With our summer temperatures currently in the 90-100 degree range around Carson City, it is unbearably hot for this poor, sweltering soul.
I am a winter person, not a summer person, and do not like hot weather!
Thank goodness for those of us who live in this part of the United States, we can temporarily escape that miserable summer heat by finding coolness at the higher elevations of our nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Last Wednesday morning (July 20), Elaine and I did just that.

We traveled to Kit Carson Pass on California S.R. 88 with a three-fold purpose in mind:

By Don Quilici
After a record-breaking year of many major-sized snowstorms this last winter, the Davis Lake area, just north of Portola, California has some spectacular displays of colorful wildflowers blooming at the present time.

By the Nevada Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
We have finally had some significant snowmelt and can now update access and trail conditions into Marlette-Hobart Backcountry.

By the California Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds people enjoying the Lake Tahoe Basin to take precautions to avoid black bear encounters. This area is prime black bear habitat, and many of these wild animals are not afraid of humans.
Recently, a bear had to be killed after a man in his tent was injured as the bear tried to break in.
Bears are constantly searching for food, which humans inadvertently make obtainable to them.