Kit Carson

Happy New Year. This is the first day of January and this is also a good time for all of us (including me) to make some personal resolutions for the year 2014.

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. Resolutions are easy to make, but sometimes hard to accomplish.

At 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning a group of well bundled people met in downtown Carson City for the Fall Art Walk. If you missed the walk or forgot to take notes, here is a brief recap.

1) Comma Coffee – The “Backseat Gallery” in the back was featuring art by Barry Mitchell. It was a great opportunity to get a hot coffee too.

2) Legislative Grounds – A viewing of the statues of Kit Carson and Abraham Curry and the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial along the beautiful ground of the Nevada State Legislature.

This is my annual reminder to enjoy the spectacular displays of the colorful leaves on quaking aspen trees, also known as 'quakies' at this time of the year.

On Sunday morning, Elaine and I took a drive to Hope Valley, California to see those colors and they are spectacular. If you want to see them, do not delay — you better hurry because they are at their prime.

It’s now officially Fall and it's that unique time of the year again.
This is when the days are very noticeably shorter, the weather is much crisper and Old Man Winter is lurking just around the corner, with all of his cold, frost, snow and ice.

If you were not aware of it, The Sierra Nevada Mountains got their first snow of the year this last Saturday! Winter is on its way!

So, if you would like a last try at fishing some of our higher altitude lakes before they freeze up or are closed for the 2013 season on November 15, here are some suggestions on where to go:

On September 24, 2013 the Northern Nevada Development Authority held their Pioneer Awards event, recognizing new businesses that have relocated to Nevada along with those that have expanded in the past 12 months. This signature event also saw the largest attendance for this event in NNDA history with over 340 celebrating these announcements. In addition to this annual recognition businesses were selected in 9 different categories. For six weeks NNDA collected over 50 nominees in those categories with the winners being announced at the Pioneer Awards Banquet.

With Nevada’s 150th birthday celebration about to kick off, the Nevada State Museum in Carson City is offering interested volunteers a chance to make friends, learn history and become part of the party.

Tour guide training begins at the museum Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m.
No experience is necessary but volunteers are asked to be available at least four hours per month and bring curiosity and enthusiasm for Nevada’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

The second Free Fishing Day in 2013 in California will be Saturday, Sept. 7. The first was way back on Saturday, July 6.

On Sept. 7 you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need for a fishing license. However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever water(s) you will be fishing.

Be sure to obey those rules and regulations, and don’t do something illegal. If you do, and if you get caught, it could be a very expensive experience.

Sigh, it’s that time of the year again.

This is my annual reminder that if you’re someone like me, summer’s sweltering heat is not much fun. I do not like summer months.

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.

And, especially, right now, with our record-setting temps in triple digits.
I am miserable and grouchy during hot weather months.

To be honest, I dislike the weather anytime it gets past 80-85 degrees.

“I inquire if the correct name of this place is Carson City,” asked M.G. Parker of Silver City during the second Nevada State Constitutional Convention in July 1864. Delegates were preparing to approve Carson City as the proposed state capital of Nevada.

California has two Free Fishing Days in 2013 which are close to holidays. The first Free Fishing Day in 2013 is today, July 06 (associated with the Fourth of July) and the second is on September 07 (associated with Labor Day).

So, on Saturday, July 6, you will be able to fish wherever you like in California, without the need for a fishing license.

However, you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever water(s) you will be fishing.

A vintage two-story brick building sits on the southwest corner of Curry and King streets in Carson City. Local lore and a Kit Carson/Blue Line Trail sign near the entrance have it that the structure at 102 S. Curry St. dates back to 1859-60, shortly after the town was founded in Eagle Valley, Utah Territory.

Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about the wildflowers blooming along the paved highway in the Davis Lake area of Plumas County, California.

This week's article is about a high-altitude hike that Elaine and I took to little Frog Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness Area of California, as our way to celebrate Father's Day on June 16.

Our purpose for that Sunday hike was three-fold: To walk on snow fields (which we did), to photograph wildflowers (which we did) and to fish for rainbow trout (which we did).

Wagons Ho! Just imagine an SUV trek for the entire family that traces the same route used by 8,000 early pioneers in more than 1,500 covered wagons from 1849 to 1852 that brought a flood of immigrants to California, most of whom had the Gold Rush fever.

The overland emigrant trip would take five to six months crossing mountains, deserts, rivers, and some of the most hostile country in the world.

Time is running out for you to submit your photo or photos for the “Carson Memories” contest. The deadline is Friday, March 22, 2013. Photos selected will become part of an historic mural exhibit on display at the Carson Nugget. The mural is being painted by renown Gardnerville artist, Beverly Caputo.

The three top submissions selected will win prizes; 1st is $500; 2nd is an iPad; 3rd is a Kindle Fire.

The white walls on the second floor, outside the banquet rooms of the Carson Nugget, are in the process of being transformed. Right now they contain the mural paintings of Kit Carson, V&T Railroad, Dat So La Lee, the Carson Mint, Carson Nugget, Roosevelt’s Speech Capital Building, Carson Brewery and Capital Building; but soon those walls could contain so much more.

“The hope is to show Carson City’s uniqueness as well as the love and pride we have for our home and community,” said Gardnerville artist Beverly Caputo.

After 21 years serving as executive director of the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Executive Director Candy Duncan has announced her retirement.
She will officially retire on Jan. 1, she told the board in a letter. During her tenure, Duncan oversaw the transformation of Carson City as a travel destination, changing the tourism paradigm by highlighting the area's rich history and modern amenities as attractive attributes to luring visitors to the capital city.

Kit Carson Toastmasters will celebrate their 55th Anniversary Wednesday, October 17th at 6:00pm at the Governor’s Mansion here in Carson City, Nev.
For the past 55 years the Kit Carson Toastmasters Club has been a part of the world leading organization that is Toastmasters International, an organization that has helped millions develop their communication and leadership skills through a hands on, mutually supportive and constructive feedback program.

It's that time of the year for my reminder to enjoy the spectacular color of the leaves on Quaking aspen trees (Quakies) in Alpine County, Calif.
And, based on our photography trip on Monday, Oct. 8, you had better enjoy that display, as soon as possible, because four of us (Mary Bottoms, Mary Morris, Elaine and I) found the following color conditions:

As I noted earlier this year, one of California’s two Free Fishing Days will be on Sept. 8. The other Free Fishing Day was way back on July 7. You can fish, all day, without a fishing license on Saturday.
You will be able to fish wherever you like in California, without the need for a fishing license.

It’s that time of the year again. This is my annual reminder that if you’re someone like me, summer’s sweltering heat is not much fun. I do not like the summer months.
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 hot weather months, especially August.
To be honest, I dislike the weather anytime it gets past 80-85 degrees.

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.

One of many piles of pine tree slash the U.S. Forest Service was burning on Thursday, January 05, along California S.R. 88 between Kit Carson Pass and Caples Lake.
Photo by Don Quilici

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:

Downtown Carson City celebrated the start of the holiday season with the annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights.

Streets were closed off as throngs of people gathered in front of the state capitol to watch as the lights for the two giant Christmas trees were turned on.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on the back of an antique fire truck, with Mayor Bob Crowell riding shotgun. After the state's trees were turned on, the crowd headed over to the First Presbyterian Church where the city's Christmas tree was turned on.

The traditional lighting of the Christmas trees – both State and City – has been on-going here in the capital city for well over 22 years. This year, Silver & Snowflakes Holiday Tree Lighting is becoming a new tradition, Silver & Snowflakes Festival of Lights and it begins on Friday evening, December 2nd.

This my annual reminder that many nearby California waters will close to
fishing on November 15…that’s this coming Tuesday.

That’s only six days from now, so if you want to fish any of them, you better
hustle because you are running out of time.

Those waters will not re-open until the last Saturday in April next year
(April 28, 2012), and that is a long time to wait to wet your line.
Here is a partial list of some of the nearby waters that will be closing:

Alpine County:
The East Carson River (with the exception of the stretch from Hangman’s

This is my annual reminder for you to enjoy the spectacular displays of the colorful leaves on quaking aspen trees (quakies) at this time of the year.
If you would like to see and/or photograph those colors, here is a list of my top seven, personal favorite locations, all in Alpine County, Calif., in the Woodfords Canyon – Hope Valley – Red Lake areas.
To reach these locations, just drive south from Carson City on a combination of U.S. 395, Nevada S.R. 88 and California S.R. 88.

In Woodford’s Canyon:

In honor of retired state archivist Guy Rocha's 60th birthday today, I want to aid him in one of his favorite pursuits, busting myths about Nevada.

In this case, locals commonly make the mistake of saying Brunswick Canyon when they are actually talking about Carson River Canyon. I make this mistake, and I see many instances of this also coming out in arrest reports and press releases from the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

CARSON CITY, Nev. — As I noted earlier this year, one of California’s two Free Fishing Days will be over the Labor Day holiday weekend on Saturday, Sept. 3.
The other Free Fishing Day was back on July 2. You can fish, all day, without a fishing license.
You will be able to fish wherever you like in California, without the need for a fishing license. However, you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever water(s) you will be fishing.

Follow friendly spirits on a two-hour stroll through the eerie historic district of Carson City. Fact and spooky legend combine for colorful tales, told by pale apparitions. Discover the secrets of those who lived (and died) in the 1800s Victorian-style homes along our Kit Carson Trail.

Tours depart from 3rd and Carson St. next to the circa 1900 St. Charles Hotel. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the walk. To get yours before they vanish, stop by the Visitors Center, 1900 S. Carson St., or call (775) 687-7410 or 800-NEVADA-1.