Fewer People And Fall Colors

Fewer people and fall colors have created great hiking and biking opportunities. The mornings are cool, and afternoons are just right. Winds this week have been nil, offering perfect opportunities to be on the lake. Fall is in full gear in the Sierra mountains. Most of my friends are not ready for winter just yet, but snow-filled hillsides are beginning to creep into my mind. I think most Tahoe locals want this beautiful weather to last well into October before the first snowflakes start to fall.

Mountain bike trails are in good condition due to the wet weather we have had over the past few weeks. I rode through Page Meadows the other day, where the meadows have turned from bright green to red, yellow, and brown. Occasionally, I shared the trail with a biker or hiker, but most of the time I just enjoyed the peaceful, uncrowded mountain scenery. The same was true riding through the ski area on dirt roads. Views from the top of the Summit Chair and from the top of the Scott Chair just give me a peaceful, easy feeling.

Even though the ski area is not as scenic as the undeveloped areas in Tahoe, there are still great views and wonderful fall colors to be enjoyed before the slopes turn white.

I drove partway up to the Bradley Hut, a Sierra Club cabin located near Silver Peak. The cabin is about 4.7 miles up the Pole Creek Road, which is accessed from Highway 89 across the road from the old Big Chief lodge (all that remains are fenced-in foundations). I drove about 2 miles up the dirt access road and then walked the rest of the way. This was an easy walk on a dirt road that was vacant of people and cars. The Bradley Hut is used by hikers and backcountry skiers. You can book nights at the Hut online. Here is a short history of the hut.

The Bradley Hut was originally built in 1957 in Five Lakes Basin between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to memorialize Josephine Bradley, wife of former Sierra Club president Harold C. Bradley. In 1997-99, the hut was relocated to Pole Creek after Five Lakes became part of Granite Chief Wilderness.

Preseason real estate sales have been brisk in Alpine. Several homes have new owners. The times they are a-changin’. New homes are becoming larger and more contemporary. Older cabins have been refurbished and expanded. Owners of cabins that did not have garages are now adding garages, some with ADUs attached, to their property. This turn of events is changing the look of our valley from its original concept of small cabins spaced within a forest, with the hope that the forest would remain the dominant feature, to more of a space where buildings are becoming the dominant feature.

Forest management is not helping, as many trees that were meant to remain forever are dying and/or being removed for fire safety and to increase views for new homes. There are very few homes currently for sale in the valley (4 to be exact), but there are a few condominiums, should anyone be interested. At the moment, there are 6 units for sale varying in number of bedrooms at the end of the valley, closest to the ski area. Some with garages and others without. I will mention this only because I just listed the property for friends who purchased it through me 30 years ago.

Alpine Meadows Condominium unit #2 offers fabulous views from its upper-level location. Some upgrades have been done over the past few years to this 3-bedroom-plus-loft, 2.5-bath condominium with a one-car garage. Offered fully furnished at the lowest price for this size unit at $775,000.

Enjoy your day,

Andy