Your Online Resource for Hiking, Backpacking, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe
“Beginner’s mind” is a phrase that was used often during my dozen years of active training in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. The phrase originated with Zen Buddhism and denotes an approach to learning or, in a broad sense, experiencing life with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the new, unknown, and…
Looking for wildflowers at Lake Tahoe is much like going on a treasure hunt. But the beauty of searching for Lake Tahoe wildflowers is that you’re almost always guaranteed to find some in bloom. This is assuming that you’re looking during the warmer months, of course. Just be forewarned, though, if you do decide to…
Hiking to Frog Lake is an ideal adventure for all ages and fitness levels because the trail to Frog Lake is relatively short and easy. In addition, once you reach Frog Lake you’ll be treated to exceptional views around the Carson Pass area. From Frog Lake, you can see Freel Peak, Hope Valley, and Markleeville…
One unique aspect of Tahoe’s local history is that Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains have provided the backdrop or centerpiece for countless Hollywood movies. In fact, during December of 2018, mega-star Tom Cruise was filming a pivotal winter action scene for Top Gun: Maverick aka Top Gun 2 in Washoe Meadows State…
Many people who come to hike at Lake Tahoe aim for the bigger and more iconic hiking trails such as Mount Tallac, Freel Peak, or Mount Rose. But those hikes are all-day affairs. And sometimes you just don’t have the time or energy to tackle those bigger hiking trails of Tahoe. Or, there’s too much…
In this final installment of my 8-part series of articles about planning your next backcountry trip, I’ll share with you my thoughts on returning home from a backcountry adventure. Undoubtedly, the first thing you’ll want to do is jump in the shower to wash off that trail grime. Then, you’ll probably want to eat a…
Many people equate “adventure” with adrenaline-producing activities involving high risk and steep terrain. Or, they believe adventure can only be found through extended world travel and exposure to exotic locales. This is simply not true. It’s like saying that the cosmos is more expansive than the subatomic level of life. As above, so below ……
People call me weird and bizarre. Some even say possessed. They look at me as if I’d lost all connection with reality as I sit eating my lunch at the local sandwich shop while still wearing my cross-country ski boots. Later in the day I call my best friend to tell him about the morning’s…
When springtime rolls around and normal people are tending gardens, cleaning garages, and planning summer hikes, we mountain folk are still out cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. “How can that be?” you ask. “Aren’t all the Lake Tahoe ski resorts closed by March or April?” Many groomed ski areas at Lake Tahoe do,…
Cross-country skiing at Big Meadow is totally rewarding when the conditions are right. The loop around Big Meadow is approximately 1.5 miles (depending on how far into the woods you want to ski), the terrain is flat, and the area is far less traveled than nearby Grass Lake. And, although Big Meadow essentially sits in…
For similar reasons that I enjoy hiking to Red Lake Peak during the warmer months, I love cross-country skiing to Red Lake Peak in the winter. Those reasons include: ease of access via the north lot of the Carson Pass Sno-Park; line-of-sight travel thanks to the wide open terrain you’ll cover; sweeping panoramic views (again,…
Congratulations! You’re about to embark on the backcountry trip you’ve been planning for months or possibly years. Keep in mind that, for better or worse, you’re about to go on a roller coaster ride. Getting off of that ride can be very challenging depending on the circumstances, so it’s usually best just to see the…
So far in this series of backcountry trip planning articles we’ve established a goal for our adventure (which is to thru-hike the Tahoe Rim Trail), put it to the SMART goals test, and used the decision-making process to guide our research. We’ve gathered relevant information, evaluated it, and hopefully have chosen the best option(s) for…