An Interesting Couple Of Weeks

It has been an interesting couple of weeks in Tahoe. Of course, we had a day of wild weather that included rain, hail, snow, and high winds. Extremely high surf on the lake capsized a boat near the entrance to Emerald Bay, killing six people, with two others unaccounted for at this point. Two people survived the ordeal on a day when waves were reported to be five feet high. The surface of Tahoe can change in a very short time from a smooth, beautiful surface to a raging storm of whitecaps. You should always have life jackets on your boat, and if the weather changes, put them on.

I happened to be hiking the Mt. Ellis trail that day. When the weather turned dark, and I could see it was raining in the distance, I turned around. Thunder could be heard at the point I turned around. I was standing on an open slope with few trees. I was lucky to arrive back at my car just as snow began to fall. Enough snow fell that afternoon to turn green trees into white trees. It looked like the beginning of winter. It was 34 degrees when I arrived back in Alpine Meadows. It was beautiful but cold. I heard of a number of people who were unprepared and reported being extremely cold. It does not take very long to become hypothermic.

On the brighter side, sunshine is filling the Tahoe area today with temperatures in the 70’s. Snow has melted at Five Lakes, offering people the opportunity to take a dip in very cold water. The trail is filling with hikers. Summer has arrived. Traffic has increased as it always does during the summer months. Paddleboarding and kayaking are often best in the early morning when the lake tends to be flat. This also holds for Donner Lake.

Don’t forget rafting on the Truckee. This is a mellow way to spend an afternoon. Commercial rafting between Tahoe City and River Ranch opened for the season yesterday.

Do you need something to help keep the sun from burning your scalp and help keep the sun off your face? My daughter-in-law is producing handmade, quality bucket hats that people seem to enjoy. She makes each one by hand in the Truckee Roundhouse. The Truckee Roundhouse is a non-profit makerspace that supports the teaching, learning, and practicing of a wide variety of crafts. You need one of these cool hats. Contact me for additional information and where you can obtain one.

Enjoy your day,

Andy