BLOG.TAHOEHOUSE.NET

Heli Skiing available this winter in Lake Tahoe

2010-09-07T18:52:00Z

Powder: Tahoe's white gold. It's what drives winter alarm clocks, what sends skiers into a morning freeze, out of warmed cars, into whited parking lots, hands numb, fingers clasping at ski and pole, filing into the resorts and lift lines, waiting, anticipating, calculating the rush and madness of the first virgin run.

It's an experience Tahoe resident Dave Rintala loves and questions.

“The thing that I like to think about is that when skiing was first originated and birthed, it was about powdered snow,” said Rintala.

That vision changed, he said, after skiing ignited and exploded into what is today, a multi-million dollar mega industry. It changed when the lift lines began extending into parking lots and the lumbering rumble of grooming machines echoed into the pines.

Unopposed to progression, Rintala said he understands the need for lifts and grooming in modern resorts but has always hungered for another way, the alternate route beyond the crowds and into the powder.

It's a desire that led him to create Pacific Crest Snowcats, a snowcat ski touring company based in Tahoe City — and new for this upcoming season, Tahoe/Truckee's first helicopter skiing operation, Pacific Crest Heli-Guides.

Rintala said the business — which will operate out out of Truckee Tahoe Airport — will allow skiers and snowboarders to traverse 100,000 acres of remote terrain along the Sierra crest between Interstate 80 and the Sierra Butte. It's a spacious playground considering the skiable acreage of Tahoe's 14 ski resorts totals just fewer than 25,000 acres. With an expected season of Dec. 15 to April 15, Rintala said he anticipates 200 to 260 hours of helicopter time, with 16 guests per day, one guide every four skiers

“I really feel that it's helping the Tahoe area to truly develop into a world-class operation,” he said.

As Rintala sees it, the region has almost every variety of skiing amenity except for heli-skiing. The addition, he said, will fill a gap in the region and be yet another draw for ski tourism.

Yet putting powder at your finger tips comes with a price — $899 per person to be exact, a day trip price large enough to separate the mere recreationalists from the seasoned diehards.

Despite the hefty cost, Rintala said it is comparable for most heli-skiing operations in the country, and brings with it a skiing experience equally comparable with its price tag.

More than just a day of great skiing and laughs, Rintala said his clients will be making an investment in skiing technique and skiing education, as guides will be instructing on topics such as rescue techniques, snow structure and team building throughout the tour.

“What they go home with is a greater level of confidence and greater knowledge of their surroundings,” Rintala said.

When tours get under way, Rintala said he intends to be respectful of other backcountry skiers and animal wildlife, moving locations as needed to preserve snow conditions and reduce encroachment on backcountry skiers who've hiked great distances for similar powder conditions.

“The investment in sweat to get to an area is worth far more than the investment of jet fuel,” Rintala said.

This past winter Tahoe boasted more than 600 inches of snow. Asked about this year's winter conditions, Rintala said he is hoping for the best but is prepared for whatever comes, feast or famine.

The skiing will even be possible during storm cycles when flying conditions are less than optimal or even grounding. To guarantee clients full days of skiing, the company has linked helicopter operations to its snowcat operations.

“I'm expecting the winter to be early, strong and long — but if you ask any of my friends they'll tell you that's what I always say,” Rintala said laughing.

Snow in September!!

2010-08-30T19:26:00Z

Get out your beanies and gloves if you are headed to Lake Tahoe this weekend! A wall of cold air is on its way downfrom Alaska, set to drop Tahoe-area temperatures for the weekend andpossibly even deliver some high-elevation snow.

“This is areally strong low dropping out of Alaska,” said Jim Wallmann, ameteorologist from the National Weather Service office in Reno. “Thelast time something this cold happened this time of year was 10 yearsago — it's really uncommon.”

Saturday will see highs in the 60swith light breezes, then drop into the 50s on Sunday, associated withsome moisture — maybe a quarter of an inch — that could become a fewinches of snow above 8,000 feet, Wallmann said.

The moisture,mostly headed north of Tahoe, could bring some thunderstorms, he said,but with the light winds, meteorologists aren't expecting red-flag fireconditions.

Thursday's red flag warning said critical fire conditions are also possible south of Interstate 80 on Friday.

Atlake level, temperatures will drop into the 20s Sunday night intoMonday morning, Wallmann said, but after that as the low passes, thingswill look a little more like summer and less like winter.

“It will start to warm back up to around 80 by Wednesday,” Wallmann said.

Wine on Water event hosted by Hyatt

2010-08-24T18:39:00Z

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has announced the inaugural Wine on the Water, a food and wine festival set for Aug. 29 in Incline Village.

Featuring 20 wineries and a dozen local restaurants, the event will include tastings of the region's food and wine, live music and a silent auction.

All proceeds generated from ticket sales and silent auction sales will be donated directly to the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe.

“We hope Wine on the Water will be a warm, community-building celebration of our many talented local chefs and regional wine producers,” said Mark Pardue, general manager with Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “By encouraging tax-deductible donations, and keeping the price point low, we hope to make the event accessible to everyone, while still allowing us to make a meaningful contribution to a worthy charity.”

From 1–5 p.m., guests will have a chance to sample vintages from acclaimed Northern California wineries. Top local and regional chefs from favorite restaurants — including Chef Mark May of Lone Eagle Grille — will provide signature bites. In addition to wine and food, Wine on the Water will also feature a silent auction including special wines, dinners and gift certificates. Jeff Jones & Friends will provide live music.

Tickets to the event ware $65 per person in advance, $75 at the door.

For tickets or more information, call 775-886-6889

Do you have kids interested in Filmmaking? Lake Tahoe has you covered.

2010-08-16T17:53:00Z

Youth interested in filmmaking will have the chance to do so during a weeklong class at the Brewery Arts Center where they will receive instruction from experts including a well-known award-winning sound editor.

“It was a huge success last year,” said Donna Walden, who will lead the course. “So it's back by popular demand.”

The workshop is part of the Northern Nevada Film Factory, a club of filmmakers and animators.

During the course of the week, students ages 12 to 20 will write, edit, produce and act in a film that will be screened on the final day of the workshop.

“The demand for kids to learn the art of film is growing,” Walden said. “This age of kids are very proficient with technology. They're very easy to work with.”

John Phillips, award-winning sound editor and designer for Hollywood blockbusters including “Rain Man,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Hoosiers,” and “Big Business” will be making a guest appearance at workshop.

Recipient of a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Best Sound for “Mississippi Burning,” Phillips will be sharing his Hollywood experiences with youth at the workshop.

The course begins Monday at the Brewery Arts Center where participants will be divided into groups to create a script.

During the five days, they will learn basic animation instruction, acting in a dramatic short film, moderating a documentary, proper operation and care of cameras, editing, and working together as a crew.

The workshop will conclude Friday with a screening of their work, which will be open to parents, family and peers. Each participant will leave with a DVD of his or her film.

Independent filmmakers Janie Chesney and Brandon Chesney will return to help with instruction.

The workshop runs 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Cost is $250, Northern Nevada Film Club Members receive a $25 discount.

Work on new Heavenly lodge begins

2010-08-09T19:33:00Z

Heavenly Resort officials celebrated the start of work on the first new lodge in the skii area in over 30 years.

Construction of the lodge near the top of the resort's gondola was hailed as a “milestone” that will change the way visitors experience the 4,800-acre ski area by Blaise Carrig, co-president of Vail's Mountain Division and the former Chief Operating Officer at Heavenly.

“The lodge is transformational for Heavenly's overall resort experience, allowing us to ramp up the quality and variety of our food while increasing comfort for our guests,” Carrig said in a statement. “While many resorts are pulling back, Heavenly is pushing forward, solidifying our position as Lake Tahoe's leading destination resort.”

The 14,980-square-foot restaurant will sit just behind the resort's Tamarack Express chairlift and will include seating for 500 people indoors and 250 outdoors. Forty-foot tall windows will dominate the front of the building, allowing guests to overlook ski runs originating from the Tamarack lift.

Carrig said the outside of the building was kept simple to make the project economically feasible, but said the inside of the lodge is the “real showpiece” of the project.

Resort officials expect to submit the lodge for LEED certification upon completion because of its environmentally-friendly features.

The lodge is scheduled for a Feb. 1 opening, but Carrig was hopeful the lodge could be completed sooner.

Heavenly officials hoped to open the new lodge earlier in the ski season, but an appeal challenging the U.S. Forest Service's approval of the project pushed construction back from June to July, Carrig said.

Washington D.C. resident Robert Coronado appealed the decision by Forest Supervisor Terri Marceron that allowed construction of the lodge, contending the forest service's approval failed to develop an adequate range of alternatives, evaluate all unauthorized routs and did not sufficiently establish National Environmental Policy Act compliance for ground disturbing activities.

Coronado requested an Environmental Impact Statement be prepared regarding construction of the new lodge, and several other activities anticipated at the resort, including new snowmaking and construction of new ski trails.

In a July 2 letter, Regional Forester Robert MacWhorter found the documentation surrounding the projects “demonstrated compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies n light of the appeal issues raised by appellants.” The decision allowed construction of the new lodge to proceed.

Carrig declined to say exactly how much the new lodge will cost, but said Vail has put “millions and millions” into construction of the building.

Vail put more money into the project following the appeal to ensure the lodge could reach completion during the upcoming winter season, Carrig said.

Hot August Nights coming to Reno

2010-08-02T18:45:00Z

The gold paint on Dave Hobson's 1923 Ford street rod shimmered in the morning sun Friday as he wiped off the bugs that had accumulated on the car's front during his drive from Somerset, Calif.

“I think I got all the bugs,” he laughed.

One of the many participants in the inaugural Hot August Nights festival in South Lake Tahoe, Hobson said it was good to be in Tahoe.

“It's closer to home and of course you've got the lake,” he said. “I hope they do it again next year.”

Hobson's ride is parked at the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa and has a custom built chassis, automatic overdrive transmission and 330 horse power.

“It's a lot of fun to drive,” he said.

The car's backseat also comes in handy, he said.

“When my wife wants to back-seat drive, that's where she has to ride,” he said. “Actually, it's for the grandkids.”

Hot August Nights, a celebration of the American car culture of the 50s and 60s, has been a Reno fixture since 1986. Reno's event begins Today and winds down Aug. 8.

South Lake Tahoe was added as a sister event this year, while Long Beach, Calif., will join the roster in 2011 for six year-run.

Three hundred and fifty cars will be auctioned off this weekend in the MontBleu Theatre, a swap meet will be held in Heavenly Mountain Resort's California parking lot, show and shines are set and bands will perform at indoor and outdoor venues.

MontBleu and the Horizon's parking lots will have 650 cars on display from 14 states, including New York and Alabama.

“For us, it's a win for people in our community and stimulating the commerce,” Frye said. “We hope to find other events like this and continue to grow our event base.”

— Lake Tahoe Action Editor Tim Parsons contributed to this report.

New and safe bear boxes for all our South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

2010-07-29T23:11:00Z

No one wants to wake up at their lovely South Lake Tahoe Vacation home and see this! Charles Seidel, owner of Tahoehouse.net vacation homes, has just recently decided that is time to install bear boxes at all three of his vacation rental homes! With a record numbers of bears coming into South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods this year it was time to just take care of the issue once and for all. Now when you are staying with us at one of our awesome Vacation Rentals you will no longer have to worry about where to put excess trash. Bear Boxes are large metal outdoor trash containers that keep the trash in and the bears out. Happy South Lake Tahoe vacationing to all!

Museum features Tahoe water skiing history

2010-07-21T19:38:00Z

The "Calypso Dollies” were the winners of the Tahoe Yacht Club's sixth annual Water Ski Carnival exhibition in 1958. Pictured from left is Gloria Westphal, Sue Good and her sister Stannie Good.

The Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood is hosting a Water Ski Weekend Thursday through Saturday.

There will be a water ski roundtable discussion at 5 p.m. Thursday at the museum, 5205 West Lake Blvd., Homewood. The panel will discuss the history of water skiing at Lake Tahoe and feature Mary Jo Shepherd, Lee Schmidt, Randy Walker, Les Bartlett and Ron Rupp. Admission is $8 adults, free for children under 12 and includes light refreshments.

The On-the-Water Exhibition of Water Skiing will be from 8-10 a.m. Friday at Obexer's Marina in Homewood. The event will feature a demonstration of aquaplaning, slalom skiing, kneeboarding, double skiing, wake boarding and wake skating. View the exhibition from the shore or by boat. Admission is free for all ages.

Living History Day is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum. There will be temporary exhibits, activities for children, raffles and guided tours at noon and 2 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call the museum at (530)525-9253

Crowds gather in wait for scores of celebrity golfers, while MJ still enthralls spectators at the 21st American Century Championship

2010-07-14T18:22:00Z

The sun was bright and the sky was blue on Tuesday morning for the opening of the 21st American Century Championship.

“It's all about getting loose,” Brian Baumgartner said as he twisted his hips before hitting the driving range for a few practice swings. Baumgartner is best known for his role as Kevin on NBC's hit comedy “The Office.”

The first group of celebrities teed off for their practice rounds at 9 a.m. The group included Rick Rhoden, eight-time ACC winner and former MLB All-Star pitcher; Joe Carter, former MLB All-Star outfielder; Brett Hull, former NHL All-Star; John Smoltz, former MLB All-Star pitcher; Joe Theismann, former Super Bowl champion quarterback; Mark Rypien, former All-Pro NFL quarterback; Vince Coleman, former MLB All-Star outfielder; Sterling Sharpe, former NFL All-Pro wide receiver; Jack del Rio, head coach of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars; and former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.

“The greens are hard,” Carter said while signing autographs near the ninth hole. “It's like playing on cobblestones, you just gotta' find the right cobblestone.”

Also coming out early for practice was four-time winner Dan Quinn. “Just playing a few holes,” he told fans. “Just practicing a bit.”

A former center in the NHL, Quinn is no stranger to the Edgewood course. He has been crowned champion of the ACC in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Chris Chandler, former NFL All-Pro quarterback and 2007 ACC champion, was a crowd favorite during the morning practice session. Moving between the driving and putting ranges Chandler happily gave out his autograph to anyone who asked.

For spectators, the ACC is a great chance to see so many of their favorite celebrities in one place. “I'm a big sports fan, so I'm happy to see everybody,” Mike Reznick said.

A resident of Los Angeles, Reznick travels to Tahoe each year with his family. This year, however, is his first time attending the ACC. “I've played the course a few times,” he said. “It's a really fun course. I wish I was out there playing with them.”

Reznick watched the opening practice rounds with his friend Joe Simminack, a native of Canada who came to Tahoe for the event. “It's mostly the baseball guys I'm here to see. I'm a big baseball fan, I still play,” Simminack said.

On the top of Simminack's to-see list are former MLB pitchers Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. “I wish (Tom) Glavine was here for the Big Three,” he said. “That would just be awesome.”

The friends disagreed on who they thought the winner of the tournament was going to be. “I like (Tony) Romo this year,” Reznick said. “Smoltz is going to take it this year. He's going to surprise everyone,” Simminack said.

Agreeing with Reznick was Derek Yeager from Kansas City. “Tony Romo seems to be consistent,” he said.

Derek, along with his brother Nathan and father Ken, first attended the ACC in 2008. This year marks the family's second trip to the tournament.

The ACC provides the Yeager family with the chance to see some of their hometown heroes in a much different setting. “Being from Kansas City, we're looking forward to seeing Matt Cassel, Todd Haley and Trent Green,” Ken said. “And Michael Jordan, too,” Nathan added.

Not surprisingly, MJ's appearance at the ACC was highly anticipated by most, if not all, of the spectators. After arriving at Edgewood, Jordan walked to the putting green using a tunnel below the clubhouse to avoid being swamped by fans.

Once he emerged from the clubhouse, however, fans of all ages rushed over to try and grab an autograph. Smoking his trademark cigar and sporting custom-made Air Jordan golf club covers, Jordan declined to give any autographs during the practice rounds.

The forecast for the tournament promises clear blue skies and a temperature hovering right around 80. Tickets are $15 per day for Wednesday and Thursday and $25 per day for Friday through Sunday. A season badge, good for all days, can be purchased for $60 and children ages 10 and under are free with a paying adult.

Volunteers lead effort to connect the South Shore to the Tahoe Rim Trail

2010-07-09T19:14:00Z

Crew Leader Bill Weik, supervises the removal of a granite slab from a trail that will connect the Van Sickle Bi-State Park to the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Come Sail Away in Lake Tahoe

2010-06-30T15:23:00Z

After the Tahoe Cruz — a 50-foot sailing vessel designed to accommodate 25 guests — motored away from the Tahoe City Marina, the first mate unfurled the main sail and the jib, cut off the engine and the smooth, silent and easy feeling of being on a boat powered naturally by the wind as it knifes through the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe settled over me, two professional sailors and the other 24 guests aboard the ship.

The Tahoe Cruz is run by Tahoe Sailing Charters, and it's co-owned by Jim Courcier and Mike Pavel, who alternate as captain of the ship.

During the late afternoon of Sunday, June 27, the clean golden light unique to the Sierra Nevada range poured down on the guests assembled at the docks outside the marina, as many discussed how tardy summer was in Tahoe this year.

While the muffled tones of a blues concert playing at Commons Beach near the marina bounced between the bobbing boats about 30 minutes prior to a scheduled disembarkation, Courcier, who assumed the helm on this particular excursion, expressed worry about the conditions.

“It's pretty calm today,” he said. “The wind has been blowing at a steady 5-6 knots all day. Most days, around 2:30 p.m., the prevailing south western winds pick up and you get a nice warm perfect breeze from Sacramento.”

Courcier — who has been sailing the surface of Lake Tahoe since 1988 — appeared dubious that such ideal conditions would materialize that evening.

The ideal conditions, apart from clear skies and warm temperatures, consist of a steady wind at around 10-15 knots with sporadic moderate gusts which serve as extra propulsion for the boat.

What separates the experience of sailing on Tahoe as compared to the open ocean or the larger lakes of the Midwest — apart from the lake's unparalleled beauty — is the wind makes for consistent movement without making the water choppy, so the movement is both steady and smooth, said Courcier.

Regarding the consistency of wind, Courcier's earlier fears were soon alleviated as the engine was shut off, the wind picked up to 10-15 knots with occasional gusts of 20 knots and the journey was underway without a hitch.

Guests on the boat hailed from as far away as New York City, and as near as Tahoe Vista. A large party celebrating the 40th birthday of a former Tahoe resident gathered in the cockpit, merrily clinking glasses, sampling the appetizers and drinking Chardonnay and beer.

Among the party were Chris and Jessica Katt, former owners of Tahoe Sailing Supply, who once conducted a reconfiguration of the Tahoe Cruz, making it less of a racing boat and more amenable for chartering purposes.

“This boat is the right choice,” said Jessica Katt. “It's a perfect size for chartering. It has a huge cockpit. It's comfortable, stable and it has a lot of qualities people overlook.”

Katt should know about qualities of a sailing vessel, as she spent the last winter on one, sailing down the Pacific coast of Mexico.

The Tahoe Cruz was designed and built by Bill Lee in Santa Cruz, Calif. He designed the boat to race in the TransPac — a sailing race which runs from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

During original construction, the racing vessel was not configured to provide for the comforts of 24 guests.

“Mike and I bought the boat and rapidly refurbished the entire thing introducing all new elements,” said Courcier.

The renovation was clearly successful, as ample room made for an easy time of it for all 24 members.

The sun began to decline as the boat hugged the western shore and the bow pointed toward Mt. Tallac, and we passed Sunnyside and Homewood before making the turn for home around Sugar Pine State Park.

“It doesn't get any better than this,” Courcier said as we glided into the marina.

“Except for tomorrow. That's what you get in Tahoe.”

Drivers to Lake Tahoe take warning

2010-06-21T20:10:00Z

Two repair projects along Highway 50 are expected to cause delays on South Shore roadways starting Monday.

During the first project, Caltrans crews will fix a segment of wall along Highway 50's Echo Summit portion that was destroyed when a big rig hauling a wide load struck the wall about 4 p.m. June 14, said CHP spokesman Jeff Gartner.

It's unclear whether the driver of the truck realized they struck the wall, Gartner said.

Repair of the wall will be temporary, said Caltrans spokeswoman Rochelle Jenkins. Caltrans will undertake a complete repair of the crumbling barrier along Highway 50 over Echo Summit in May 2011.

The repair work will entail a one lane closure of the highway from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Jenkins said.

The second repair project, between Lake Tahoe Airport and Pioneer Trail, will run 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Jenkins said.

That project will fix a stretch of asphalt damaged during the winter and also involves a one lane closure, Jenkins said.

Jenkins estimated 30 to 40 minutes delays because of the projects, but said hold ups could be longer depending on traffic.

I50 is a dangerous road, don't let something like this happen to you.

2010-06-15T23:29:00Z

A fiery three-car collision near the V&T Railroad bridge on U.S. Highway 50 claimed the lives of two people this morning.

Traffic was stopped in both directions for about an hour after the accident happened in the west-bound lane near Mound House around 6:30 a.m. Two slow-moving lanes in both directions were opened at 7:50 a.m.

Witnesses said a silver Chevy sedan traveling in the east bound lane crossed into the west bound lane and slammed into a pickup truck head on, killing the woman driving the Chevy. The pickup then hit a white Dodge Neon traveling behind it.

The pickup truck caught fire, engulfing the Neon in flames. Rescuers tried to free the driver from the pickup truck, but were unable to as the vehicle burned with him inside.

Two passengers in the pickup truck were evacuated from the vehicle and taken to Renown Regional Medical Center by helicopter.

The driver of the Dodge Neon walked away from the crash.

It appears no children were involved.

Renaissance Faire in South Lake Tahoe this Weekend!

2010-06-07T18:51:00Z

Two knights joust Saturday afternoon at the Valhalla Renaissance Faire.

Lords, ladies, wenches, pirates and gypsies gathered this weekend at the 18th annual Valhalla Renaissance Faire.

The 18th annual celebration of 16th-century romance, merriment and magic included six stages of continuous entertainment, Queen Elizabeth's court, Shakespearian plays and vignettes, and storytelling for children and adults. Arrows from archery tournaments will fill the air, which also will ring with the clash of steel on steel from staged battle scenes and jousting. Squires may purchase historic weapons, while merchants and artisans also will have arts and crafts including clothing, accessories, woodcrafts and jewelry for sale.

For a second year, the festival will stay with a Shakespearean air: Bay Area actor Donald Hardy will return to play the Bard of Avon at the faire.

In addition to the overarching theme of “Shakespeare's Muse,” there will be two different Patron's Weekend themes: Wizards, faeries and elves will lead fantasy scavenger hunts and compete in costume contests — with Shakespeare, author of “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” as the judge — for “Fantasy Alive!” on the first weekend of the faire. On the second weekend, pirate and barbarian hordes will invade, corrupting the tongue and raiment of visitors, and putting the “scavenger” back in the hunts.

Students in area public, private and home schools may experience firsthand Renaissance life, culture and history through educational presentations and performances Friday, June 11. The faire's annual School & Family Day will culminate in a grand joust.

Looks like sping has finally arrived in South Lake Tahoe

2010-06-01T17:41:00Z

It took a while, but it looks like spring has finally arrived to the Sierra Nevada.

The National Weather Service in Reno is reporting mostly sunny skies this week, with high temperatures hovering in the low- to mid-60s. Temperatures are expected to reach the low- to mid-70s during the weekend.

Extended Forecast

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 61. West southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. West southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming west southwest between 10 and 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. West southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. West southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Awesome Summer Discounts on South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals

2010-05-24T19:32:00Z

Summer is upon us in South Lake Tahoe and there are some deals to be had. TahoeHouse.net just announced their annual summer deal of $200 off per night for weekly rentals and $100 off per night for 4 nights! Be sure to book a vacation rental soon so you don't miss out on this great deal!

Local South Lake Tahoe's residents artwork on display

2010-05-17T19:00:00Z

The culmination of a year's work will adorn the hallways of Lake Tahoe Community College this May when the annual student art exhibit opens. The students involved come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

“LTCC's Art Department is great — great staff of successful artists and great space,” Schwiesow said. “I'd like to continue on this ride and make the most of these opportunities. Foremost, I have a lot of fun doing this.”

More than 400 pieces will be on display in LTCC's 2010 Annual Student Art Exhibit. The show will continue through June 19, and is open to the public. Stop by the LTCC campus and place your vote for the “People's Choice” award at the exhibit.

Snow in May!

2010-05-10T19:13:00Z

It is May and it is still snowing in South Lake Tahoe! The National Weather Service is predicting a 90 percent chance of snow Monday that could last through Tuesday. Read a full forecast below:

Extended forecast:

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday: Snow, mainly after 11am. High near 40. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Monday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west northwest 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 47. North wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

South Shore unveils new slogan

2010-05-04T17:51:00Z

Local tourism leaders are urging Bay Area residents to get their vacation on this summer — and they're betting $850,000 dollars that the plan works.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority unveiled its summer 2010 marketing campaign called “Get your vacation on” and gave some business leaders a sneak preview of a new version of its new website (www.tahoesouth.com) this week at a tourism forum. The forum, co-hosted by the LTVA and the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, was held Thursday morning at the Duke Theatre on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College.

The new campaign focuses on what LTVA executive director Carol Chaplin calls “passion buckets” — recreation activities that many in the basin feel strongly about — and could help position South Shore as a vibrant, energetic and active destination. The approach will be different from the former “Blue” marketing campaign and the matching BlueLakeTahoe.com website, which Chaplin said marketed Tahoe as serene instead of vibrant.

“We are really positioning ourselves in the marketplace as fun and vibrant,” she said during the forum. “We're focusing a bit more on the active lifestyle.”

San Francisco-based Duncan/Channon Agency created the campaign after becoming LTVA's agency of record last year after an open request for proposal that included nine firms from the Reno, Sacramento and San Francisco areas, Chaplin said.

The campaign, which will run from May 15 until Labor Day, is aimed at drive market customers in the Bay Area and Sacramento and is meant to differentiate South Shore from North Shore, said account manager Jennifer Corrigan of Duncan/Channon. Many guests from those areas know Tahoe and can differentiate between the North and South Shores, she said.

“We want to keep South Shore top-of-mind for these people,” said Laura Davis of Duncan/Channon.

The humor of the ad is meant to get the attention of the viewers, Chaplin said, and she's pleased with the results.

“I think it really captures the destination's personality, if you will,” she said.

LTCC student Mikhail Strukov, who attended the forum, said he thought the reimagining of the marketing strategy seemed like the right way to go.

“I like this new concept, that they're moving away from the Tahoe Blue thing and starting this niche marketing,” Strukov said. “I think this change is going to be beneficial for marketing.”

Donner Party not Cannibals after all?

2010-04-20T19:37:00Z

Some recent research suggests members of the infamous Donner Party might not have been cannibals — but some experts are having trouble swallowing the idea.

Gwen Robbins, an anthropology professor at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., recently completed inspection of 85 pieces of bone found in Alder Creek and found all the bones to be from animals — cows, horses, deer and one dog bone. These findings followed a smaller dig in 2004 that also didn't find any human bones.

Robbins and her team operated under the assumption they would need to test 105 samples to make a more conclusive statement about the cannibalism, but because many of the bones were fragmented, burned and otherwise damaged, only 85 were found.

“Generally, the preservation is poor,” she said.

The researchers were about 70 percent confident they would find at least one human bone, assuming those human bones were less than 1 percent of the sample and their remains were processed and preserved similarly to other fragments, Robbins said. The human bones would have been on the top of the deposit, Robbins said, but none were found.

“It still appears to be all probably deer, horse, cow and that dog bone,” she said.

The findings don't prove that cannibalism didn't take place, Robbins said, but they suggest that, at the Alder Creek site, cannibalism may have been limited.

“All we can say is that there's not evidence of cannibalism,” she said. “There's no way to know.”

The Donner Party was a group of 87 that attempted to emigrate from Springfield, Ill., to California in 1846-47. The group took the Hastings Cutoff through Utah and the Sierra Nevada and was delayed significantly, only reaching California as serious snows came, and only 46 survived what was the harshest winter in the history of the Sierra, according to the website for PBS's “American Experience” documentary program.

Kristin Johnson, the historian for the Donner Party Archeology Project, said though some anthropological evidence might suggest no cannibalism, the historical evidence “is quite clear” that cannibalism took place.

“There's a saying, ‘absence of evidence is not evidence of absence,'” Johnson said. “The fact that no evidence was found at Alder Creek doesn't have any reflection on what happened in the entire Donner Party.”

Cannibalism took place at four different sites with different groups from the original party, Johnson said, and Alder Creek was a site that saw cannibalism for a short period. The bones found, she said, were boiled and changed into tiny, rocklike bits. Johnson said the human bones would have decomposed, meaning that the physical evidence might not remain.

“The bones that would bear the marks of butchering didn't survive,” she said.

Rescuers of the Donner Party reported cannibalism, Johnson said, and survivors from the Alder Creek campsite testified that they ate human flesh — a bold statement to make.

“There's no reason for people to say that they did if they didn't,” she said.

Rescuers, too, have said they witnessed cannibalism, she said.

Mark McLaughlin, a weather columnist for the Sierra Sun who has written extensively about the Donner Party, said the new findings brought interest to the Donner Party but didn't really change his thoughts about the group's cannibalism.

“I'm not the kind of guy who's going to make a statement that says it proves or disproves,” McLaughlin said.

With the weather conditions at the Alder Creek site as varied as they are, McLaughlin said, the bones would probably not have held up well over time.

“It's going to be unlikely anyway to find a smoking gun,” he said.

Though the study is not conclusive, Robbins said its findings could indicate something about morality if true.

“It would certainly say something about the power of culture to determine what's food, even in the worst of conditions,” she said.