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Category: Natural History

Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot

May 1, 2022
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Woolly Mule's Ears (Wyethia mollis) and Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata)

I first met Lake Tahoe’s ubiquitous Woolly Mule’s Ears in 2006. Since that was my first summer living at Lake Tahoe, I was eager to learn about this new home of mine. So I enrolled in a basic mountaineering course at Lake Tahoe Community College. This seemed like a great way in which to gain…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers

Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Tips for Finding Wildflowers at Tahoe

April 14, 2022
| 1 Comment
| Blog, Natural History
Columbian Monkshood - Aconitum columbianum

Looking for wildflowers at Lake Tahoe is much like embarking on a treasure hunt. But the beauty of searching for Tahoe wildflowers is that you’re nearly always guaranteed to find some in bloom. This is assuming that you’re looking during the warmer months, of course. And that you don’t mind looking really closely at the…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers 1 Comment

Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Two Major Factors that Determine Peak Bloom Times for Wildflowers at Tahoe

April 12, 2022
| 8 Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Copyright © 2014 Jared Manninen

The United States is obviously composed of multiple climates. And, spring weather manifests at various times around the country. But May is usually the month that most Americans expect to see blooming flowers. This is evidenced by our use of the old English proverb April showers bring May flowers. The Sierra Nevada Mountains at Lake…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers 8 Comments

Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: The Sinister Mustard Flower Rust

April 7, 2022
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Mustard Flower Rust (Puccinia monoica) Copyright © 2015 Jared Manninen

I always stop to appreciate Sierra Nevada wildflowers while hiking. However, my love of specifically hunting for them comes and goes like the seasons. For example, during some years I’m active in my search for the small treasures. In other years, however, I’m more interested in logging bird species or hiking miles. But one of those…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers

Trees of the Sierra Nevada: The Gentle Jeffrey Pine

January 14, 2022
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Copyright © 2005 Jared Manninen

Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) trees are the most common trees of the Lake Tahoe Basin. However, that fact doesn’t diminish their regal beauty and dignified stature. One reason for their abundance is their resilient nature in the face of adversity. These coniferous evergreens can live for 400-500 years. And they’re tolerant of many stressors such…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged trees of the sierra nevada

Wildfires and Smoke at Lake Tahoe (Considerations for Traveling in the Tahoe Backcountry during Summer)

May 1, 2021
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Living at Lake Tahoe and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains is like living in a dream. There’s plenty of sunshine in the summer and powdery snow in the winter. The finest outdoor recreation is literally outside your front door. And, despite the massive influx of visitors that come to Lake Tahoe during the…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking Tagged backcountry travel considerations, east tahoe, north tahoe, south tahoe, west tahoe

Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek (via SR 89 in South Tahoe

October 1, 2020
| 2 Comments
| Blog, Local History, Natural History, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2014 Jared Manninen

Don’t get me wrong. I have absolutely no problem with Lake Tahoe’s scenery during the fall. The views are as idyllic as any mountainous locale in the world. Really, I’m not complaining. It’s just that I have this one minor, teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy gripe. And this is coming from an artist, mind you, so take it…

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Posted in Blog, Local History, Natural History, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged short hike, south tahoe 2 Comments

Birds of Lake Tahoe: The Tree Cleaving Pileated Woodpecker

August 26, 2020
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Pileated Woodpecker perched on the side of a tree looking for insects

The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is one of my absolute most favorite birds. It’s not necessarily rare or endangered. However, it’s an elusive bird nonetheless. And it’s impossible not to feel wonder and awe when you see one in the wild thanks to its large black body contrasted by a striped face and red-capped head….

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged Birds of Lake Tahoe

Birds of Lake Tahoe: How Woodpeckers Contribute to Healthy Forests at Lake Tahoe (and other fun facts)

July 20, 2020
| 6 Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Hairy Woodpecker takes a break from pecking on an old, dead tree

For many people, woodpeckers conjure up imagery ranging from the annoying. Those pesky birds that perforate the sides of homes new and old. To the absurd. Woody Woodpecker up to his usual hijinks. To the industrious. Woodpeckers are considered by many as the lumberjacks of the bird world, after all. There’s no question that they…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged Birds of Lake Tahoe 6 Comments

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2020 Frank Wells Last Best Place Award - Jared Manninen

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Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Mount Rose (via Mount Rose HWY/SR 431 near Incline Village, NV)
Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Hiking Tahoe Meadows (via Mount Rose HWY/SR 431 near Incline Village, NV)
Hiking Winnemucca Lake (via Carson Pass in South Tahoe)
Hiking Meeks Creek Falls (via SR 89 at Meeks Creek in West Tahoe)
Hiking Washoe Meadows State Park (via Lake Tahoe BLVD in South Tahoe)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Tips for Finding Wildflowers at Tahoe
View from last night's wildflower hunt excursion 🤗
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #southlaketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #tahoesnaturalists #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #mountainculture #wildernessculture #sierranevadamountains
Another nice spot to search for wildflowers, just Another nice spot to search for wildflowers, just at a much lower elevation than my previous night's location 🤗
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Patreon.com/JaredManninen
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PayPal.me/JaredManninen
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #southlaketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #tahoesnaturalists #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #mountainculture #wildernessculture #sierranevadamountains
View from last night's post-work workout aka anoth View from last night's post-work workout aka another wildflower hunt 😆
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YouTube.com/JaredManninen
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Patreon.com/JaredManninen
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PayPal.me/JaredManninen
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #southlaketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #tahoesnaturalists #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #mountainculture #wildernessculture #sierranevadamountains
Whether you're doing a Big Year for birds or wildf Whether you're doing a Big Year for birds or wildflowers, the experience becomes all-consuming 😆
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Prairie Smoke aka Old Man's Whiskers 🤗
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2022 is a Tahoe Wildflower Big Year (hosted by @tahoesnaturalists). Submit your observations to https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/tahoe-wildflower-big-year-2022
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #prairiesmoke #tahoesnaturalists #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #wildflowerphotography #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #sierranevadawildflowers #mountainculture #wildernessculture #wildflower
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Self-portrait of Jared Manninen
Jared Manninen has been a Tahoe local since 2005. He began building Tahoe Trail Guide (c. 2017) in order to inspire people to embrace the outdoors as a place in which to learn and play.

Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Tips for Finding Wildflowers at Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Two Major Factors that Determine Peak Bloom Times for Wildflowers at Tahoe
  • Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Trails

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