We sometimes hear that prices of goods other than oil are falling. Not so fast. While the inflation rate has dropped, that doesn’t mean prices are lower. Instead, they are just rising at a slower rate. That is why we hear a lot about “affordability.”
The February consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.4 percent annually, which is approaching the Fed’s two percent inflation target. But there is an asterisk. That inflation reading came before the war with Iran and its inflationary pressure.
One of President Trump’s economic beliefs is that low oil prices leads to falling inflation and strong growth. But oil is higher now, at least temporarily, so there are two problems: higher oil prices raise costs and companies will pass much of the cost on to the consumer. The other problem is that high oil costs give companies an excuse to raise prices. Companies with falling profit margins can raise prices and blame it on oil prices. I expect we’ll hear about this during the next earnings season.
Politicians will also offer excuses for the inflation. One month it was because of healthcare costs. The next will be because of a temporary spike in energy costs. Whatever the case, lowering interest rates in an inflationary environment isn’t sound economic policy. For that reason, Wall Street has lowered its projected Fed interest rate cuts to just one this year.
Readers of this column know that I’ve been bullish on the energy stocks, especially infrastructure companies like Williams Cos. and Kinder Morgan. These were first purchased because of their steady revenue streams and high dividend payments. Then, by luck, they become data center energy plays. Now the war highlights yet another reason to own energy stocks: They help insulate portfolios from an energy crisis.
Some bearish events are easily reversible. A year ago Trump placed high tariffs on most countries. After stocks reacted poorly, he quickly lowered them and the bull market resumed. The worst bearish events are those whose outcome is mostly out of people’s control. Think the 2008 Financial Crisis. The war with Iran is somewhere in between. Yes, President Trump can stop the bombing at any time and claim victory. But will Isreal and Iran end hostilities, too? We’ll keep watch.
David Vomund is an Incline Village-based fee-only money manager. Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555. Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
As we in Lake Tahoe know, there are pretty much two seasons at the lake—winter and construction. And construction season is just around the corner. While orange cones may slow cars down, they also help keep Tahoe clear by improving transportation infrastructure. At the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), we’re focused on expanding the region’s transportation system year-round.
Transportation in Tahoe is about more than getting from one place to another. What happens on our roads directly affects lake clarity. Stormwater runoff from roadways can carry fine sediment and pollutants into tributaries and ultimately Lake Tahoe. Connected transportation options can reduce the number of cars on the roads and improve safety. They also protect the environment and recreation experiences that make Tahoe special.
One of the biggest opportunities ahead is improving connectivity. Free, on-demand microtransit services on North and South Shores are showing how much demand there is for greater connectivity. Those systems have provided more than 1.9 million rides since launching a few years ago. With about ten different organizations operating transit services around the lake, TRPA is bringing public transportation partners, as well as private operators like hotels and ski resorts, together to better coordinate services, strengthen governance among transit providers, and identify funding mechanisms that can support operations over the long term.
As lead agency of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP, TRPA helps coordinate more than 30 different funding sources from state, federal, regional, and local agencies and the private sector to support transportation projects. EIP collaboration and combined resources are making progress throughout the Tahoe Basin:
Lake Link microtransit on South Shore – 700,000 free, on-demand rides since its launch in 2022. The City of South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County recently re-committed shared funding for the service.
Nevada State Route 28 East Shore Corridor – more than 400 off-highway parking spaces are moving forward this year. Partners are working throughout the corridor to replace unsafe roadside parking spaces to improve safety, reduce impacts to the lake, and maintain recreation access.
Fanny Bridge replacement in Tahoe City – Federal and state agencies, Placer County, and local businesses helped fund the replacement of the 100-year-old bridge that also delivered pedestrian safety and traffic improvements at the nexus of an award-winning mobility hub, trails, beaches, and downtown Tahoe City.
Emerald Bay Shuttle – The successful launch of the shuttle last year by El Dorado County, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, and transportation agencies will transition to being funded and operated by the Tahoe Transportation District in 2026. The pilot project served nearly 5,000 riders last summer and reduced dangerous roadside parking while providing safer access to one of the lake’s most iconic destinations.
These projects are building upon years of investment by partner organizations that include more than 200 miles of bike paths and numerous pedestrian safety and emissions-reducing projects.
The increased commitment we are seeing from all sectors could not be coming at a more crucial time. As heat waves become more common at lower elevations, Tahoe’s cool waters and mountain air will continue drawing people seeking relief. Growing pressure around outdoor recreation and extreme weather patterns are shaping Tahoe’s transportation needs.
Enhanced transit services, connected trails and town centers, improved technology, and coordinated emergency communication strategies are helping ensure the transportation system works not only during busy weekends, but also when extreme weather or wildfire require safe evacuation routes.
The need for coordinated and connected transit is echoed here in our communities, as up to 20 percent of Tahoe’s population—including youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and lower-income residents—rely more heavily on transportation options beyond personal vehicles.
All of this underscores the importance of building a transportation system that works for Tahoe’s environment and the people who depend on it.
TRPA and regional partners will continue working to improve connections, operations, and long-term funding for transportation in the basin. Community involvement helps shape that work. Watch for upcoming bike events, surveys, and workshops to take part in the conversation. The public is also welcome to join a transportation-focused meeting of the Nevada Legislative Oversight Committee for TRPA on April 10. More information is at trpa.gov/events.
As the days grow longer and Tahoe’s trail network comes back to life, residents and visitors can help by biking, walking, or hopping on transit when possible. It’s good for the lake and our quality of life to slow down, take in the scenery, and enjoy the places that make Tahoe extraordinary.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The No Kings III (NKIII) event in South Lake Tahoe is being jointly organized by 50501 Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe Indivisible. Our groups have come together in partnership, united by a shared commitment to democracy, civic engagement, and peaceful community action. We are collaborating fully in planning and organizing this event to ensure it is welcoming, safe, and impactful for the Tahoe Basin community.
Attendees are requested to bring a food or personal toiletry item to the event to support the Family Resource Center. On April 4th, there will be a follow-up food drive at Grocery Outlet from 10 am to 2 pm. Donations for this drive can also be made through their Paypal link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/U57RG549AJULS
March | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM We will gather at the Ski Run Marina parking lot at 1 pm, where participants can check in, connect with neighbors, and prepare for the march. A community sign-making station will be available for those who would like to create posters and banners on-site.
At 1:45 PM, march leaders will help organize participants and guide us along the accessible bike path toward Lakeview Commons. The route is designed to be safe and family-friendly, allowing people of all ages and abilities to participate. Together, we will march peacefully, visibly, and proudly in support of democratic values.
Rally | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Upon arrival at Lakeview Commons, we will transition into a community rally. The rally will feature:
Live local music
Tents and informational booths hosted by community organizations
Opportunities to connect with advocacy groups and civic leaders
Designated space along Highway 50 for peaceful demonstration and visibility
A community sign-making station.
This portion of the event is designed to foster connection, provide education, and create a strong, visible show of support for democratic institutions and community engagement. The event is family-friendly, welcoming to all ages, and open to anyone who believes in peaceful civic participation.
Both 50501 and Indivisible are firmly committed to peaceful, nonviolent action.
This is a peaceful demonstration.
We expect all participants to act lawfully and respectfully.
We do not engage in or condone violence, property destruction, or confrontation.
Participants are expected to de-escalate conflict and maintain a safe environment for families and community members.
Weapons of any kind are not permitted.
We are gathering to uplift democratic values — not to create harm or division.
Our goal is clear: to stand together, raise our voices responsibly, and demonstrate that the Tahoe Basin community supports democracy, accountability, and civic participation.
We look forward to marching and rallying with you.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters got their first win in franchise history against the Toledo Walleye by a score of 4-1.
In the first period, it was Mitch Lewandowski who got Toledo on the board first as the Walleye took a 1-0 lead. But the rest of the period was dominated by Tahoe as Louka Henault scored his first goal in a Knight Monsters uniform to tie the game at 1, and later in the period, Mike O’Leary scored his tenth of the season to give Tahoe a 2-1 lead after the opening period.
Knight Monsters v Toledo WalleyeProvided
Despite Toledo and Tahoe being two of the highest scoring offenses in the league, it was Jordan Papirny and Toledo’s Nolan Lalonde who took control in the second period, as both teams were held off the scoreboard.
In the third, Kevin Wall scored an insurance goal off of a Toledo turnover in front of their net to go up 3-1, and after Trent Swick scored his 22nd of the season on an empty-net goal, the Knight Monsters earned themselves a 4-1 victory, to force a rubber match tomorrow afternoon.
The Knight Monsters and Walleye face off for the final time tomorrow, with puck drop at 2:15 pm PT. Pregame coverage begins at 2:05 pm PT.
The Knight Monsters return home on Friday, March 27, 2026, to take on the Rapid City Rush at Tahoe Blue Event Center for the Marvel Knight. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm, with pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network beginning at 6:50 pm. Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are now available. For more information, visit www.knightmonstershockey.com
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The City of South Lake Tahoe is accepting applications for the 2026 Community Academy. This is a unique opportunity for residents to learn about the inner workings of their local government. The academy is designed to foster a deeper understanding of municipal operations and empowers residents to engage in their community.
The Community Academy will cover a wide range of topics, including city planning, public safety, budgeting, and community services. Participants will have the chance to interact with city officials, tour municipal facilities, and gain insights into the decision-making processes that shape South Lake Tahoe. Academy sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings and some Saturday afternoons between April 22 and June 3.
“Graduates of the Community Academy leave better informed and empowered to get involved in their community,” said Hilary Roverud, Interim City Manager. “Whether it’s advocating for programs they care about, serving on advisory commissions, or gaining a clearer understanding of how their city operates, participants come away ready to make a difference in South Lake Tahoe.”
Applications for the 2026 Community Academy will be accepted until Friday, April 3. The academy is open to anyone age 16 or older that resides, attends school, or works in the city. To apply, please visit the City of South Lake Tahoe’s official website at: www.cityofslt.us/CommunityAcademy.
Screenshot of Grandview live cam at Sierra-at-Tahoe taken at 3:59 p.m. on March 20Provided/Sierra-at-Tahoe
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As temperatures reach the mid 60s in most of the basin and not a chance of snow is in sight, “Miracle March” is looking to skip Tahoe this year. As snowpack melts, possibly setting a record low, resorts have already begun closing for the season.
Here’s an update on the status of resorts as of Friday, March 20:
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) Board has approved $850,000 in grants to address the threat of aquatic invasive plants and enhance public access and recreation. The Board also approved the Conservancy to acquire a parcel of environmentally sensitive land in South Lake Tahoe, and discussed and took action on multiple Conservancy projects.
At its meeting, which took place on March 19 and 20 in South Lake Tahoe, the Board also elected new officers.
Tahoe RCD will survey wetlands for aquatic invasive species.Tahoe RCD / Marine Taxonomic Services
Grant Funding for Aquatic Invasive Plants, Recreation and Public Access
The Conservancy Board approved the following grants:
$200,000 in Tahoe for All Grants: $110,000 to Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) for the Wilderness Education-Washoe Partnership Program, $60,000 to the City of Richmond for the Pathfinders: Youth Outdoors Program, and $30,000 to the Golden Gate Bird Alliance for the Birding for Everyone Fellowship. The grantees—LTCC, City of Richmond, and Golden Gate Bird Alliance—will provide opportunities for underserved people to develop leadership and naturalist skills, explore environmental career pathways, and experience the health benefits of spending time outdoors at Lake Tahoe.
The Board approved the Conservancy to acquire a 1.9-acre property at 3621 Blackwood Road in South Lake Tahoe. The property is in the Bijou Park Creek watershed, contains mountain meadow and wetland habitat, and is adjacent to Conservancy and USDA Forest Service land. Bijou Park Creek runs through the property. The Board approved up to $440,000 for the Conservancy to acquire the property and to demolish and remove a small shed, a generator, and fencing.
Conservancy Restoration and Public Access and Recreation Projects
At the same meeting, the Board discussed multiple Conservancy projects:
Upper Truckee Marsh South project: The Conservancy is exploring ideas for wetland restoration, public access improvements, and vegetation management along the Upper Truckee River and its floodplain near U.S. Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe, including the site of the former Motel 6.
Upper Truckee River, Reach 6 Restoration Project: The Conservancy plans to address past impacts from development, grazing, and fire suppression by rehabilitating meadow surfaces, removing conifers, and stabilizing riverbanks on Conservancy land near Elks Club Road in El Dorado County. The Project will increase climate resilience, enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and improve water quality.
Van Sickle Bi-State Park Improvements: The Conservancy proposes public access and recreation improvements for the California side of the park. Planned improvements include new sections of shared-use trail, a new entrance plaza, new picnic areas, and other features.
The Board also authorized the Conservancy to accept and expend up to $8 million in state, federal, and other funding to implement the Upper Truckee River, Reach 6 Project.
Also at the meeting, the Board members elected Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson as Board Chair, to succeed Assembly Public Member Adam Acosta. El Dorado County Supervisor Brooke Laine takes over as Vice-Chair for the Board.The Board also discussed 2025 accomplishments by the Conservancy and its partners.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s Dr. Todd Cutler has been named the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 2 Superintendent of the Year. The award was presented on Friday, March 13, during a celebration at Sun City Lincoln Hills, recognizing outstanding educational leadership across a region representing approximately 90 school districts.
Since joining LTUSD in 2020, Dr. Cutler has led the District through a period of growth focused on strengthening schools, supporting staff, and enhancing the educational experience for students. His leadership has emphasized improving student achievement while investing in professional learning, building a culture of continuous improvement, and providing high-quality instruction.
Dr. Cutler and ACSA Region 2 President, Christine McCormickProvided / LTUSD
Dr. Cutler’s commitment to equity and access is reflected in initiatives such as the Elevated Digital Learning Academy, which provides flexible, personalized learning pathways for students with diverse needs. He has also expanded professional development through the “Leaders and Learners” series and strategic partnerships that support effective, research-based practices.
LTUSD has also advanced key facility improvements and energy sustainability projects, creating modern learning environments while promoting responsible stewardship of resources.
A defining aspect of Dr. Cutler’s leadership is his focus on fostering a positive and inclusive culture. Grounded in the belief that everyone matters, the District continues to prioritize connection, belonging, and mutual respect for all students, staff, and families.
“While we are proud of the progress made, our work continues,” said Dr. Cutler. “We remain committed to building a district where every individual feels they matter and is connected to a shared purpose of supporting student success.”
Dr. Cutler credited the award to the LTUSD team, noting that it reflects “the incredible staff who make everything possible for our students each day.”
The evening served as a celebration of educational leadership across the region, highlighting the impact of administrators dedicated to their communities. LTUSD looks forward to continuing this momentum and partnering with the community to support student success.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Lions from the Carson City Nevada Host Lions Club and the Higgins Diggins Lions Club in Grass Valley are launching a multi-faceted community initiative to improve vision care access and expand local service opportunities throughout the South Lake Tahoe and Stateline region.
As part of this effort, Lions will provide free vision screenings at the Community Health Fair on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kahle Community Center. The screenings aim to promote early detection and raise awareness about the importance of eye health.
A new Lions Club is forming in the South Lake Tahoe / Stateline area.Provided
In addition to on-site services, Lions have placed eyeglass recycling boxes at local businesses across the community. Donated glasses are refurbished, prescriptions analyzed, and distributed to individuals in need around the world—turning unused eyewear into life-changing resources.
Locations currently hosting recycling boxes include SaveMart, Tahoe Sports Ltd., Dog Dog Cat Pet Store, Imagine Salon, Boys & Girls Club of South Lake Tahoe, Barton Skilled Nursing Facility, American Legion, and Lake Tahoe Eye Care Optometry.
Looking ahead, the Lions of District 46 are working to establish a new Lions Club in the South Lake Tahoe and Stateline area, focused on health and well-being, environmental initiatives, and youth development.
Community members are invited to attend a Meet and Greet on April 4 from 2-4 p.m. at the El Dorado County Library to learn more about becoming charter members.
“This initiative brings together immediate service in health and well-being as well as long-term growth in service to the community,” organizers shared. “We’re not just providing care—we’re building a stronger future through service to the South Lake Tahoe and Stateline area.”
As the U.S. Senate debates the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer Amy Burgans has been preparing for the possibility it will be enacted into law.
She said the Act as currently written won’t affect voters who are already registered.
“Everyone who is on the rolls, will stay on the rolls,” she said.
Because the Act takes effect upon passage, states will have 30 days to enact laws implementing it. In Nevada, that means a special session of the Legislature, Burgans said in an interview with The Record-Courier on Tuesday morning.
HR 22 being debated in the U.S. Senate revises the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer Amy Burgans spoke to The Record-Courier about the SAVE Act on Tuesday.Record-Courier
“The key provisions would require states to require documentation such as passport or birth certificate, or military with proof of birth in the U.S. to allow an individual to register to vote,” she said.
Noncitizens would be removed from voter rolls, and it would allow private individuals to sue, and if successful, impose criminal penalties on officials who registered voters without the required proof.
Concerns about what additional documentation women registering to vote would need if the name on their photo ID doesn’t match their birth certificate aren’t directly addressed in the bill.
“The law does not specify that; however, my assumption would be that if the name on the photo ID did not match the proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate), then we would need other documents, such as a marriage license, to show that it is the same person,” she said.
Burgans pointed out that Nevada’s Real ID is not proof on its own of citizenship under the act.
“It is proof of who you are,” she said. “I have a very close friend who is not a citizen and is not able to vote, yet she has a real ID because she has proven who she is.”
A drivers license, military ID or Native American ID could be paired with a certified birth certificate to allow someone to register, but the birth certificate has to be stamped.
“These documents must be presented in person,” she said. “That’s a problem because there is no wriggle room for our military, disabled or tribal members. The only thing the law states is that reasonable accommodations will be made for an individual with a disability but does not define what those are. Reasonable accommodations are always something we struggle with when the law is vague.”
Burgans said that poses a problem for servicemembers, like her son and daughter-in-law, who are registered to vote in Nevada but are living in Georgia.
“How would they present in person?” she said. “That bothers me. Or for tribal members. In Douglas County, our tribe is in the middle of the county, but in Elko County and Nye County there are tribal members who live hours off the beaten path. They would have to come in to register.”
Burgans said that the goal is to prevent noncitizens from voting in elections, but she feels that the law might be more than required.
“There has been a lot of talk about the large number of noncitizens on the voter rolls across the nation, but people need to understand there are some states and jurisdictions that allow noncitizens to vote in nonfederal elections,” she said.
Nevada doesn’t allow noncitizens to vote at all, but Arizona, Maryland and Washington DC allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.
“In those states that have done a deep dive into their voter rolls, there has been no evidence of widespread fraud,” she said. “I’m not condoning noncitizens voting. I’m just saying it’s not as big an issue as some have claimed.”
Her concern is that the law will raise so many barriers to voting that people aren’t willing to register.
“Does the law make sense considering the barriers that it will create for people to register to vote versus the amount of fraud we are trying to eliminate?” she asks. “Not as it is currently written or in the manner it is being rolled out.”
A constitutional amendment requiring voters to show an ID when they vote in person is on November’s ballot.
Question 7 passed in 2024, and if it passes in November it will go into effect for elections in the future.
The question allows those voting by mail to verify their identity by using the last four digits of their drivers license or Social Security Number.
She said that the association of election clerks is working on drafting legislation for the 2027 session to implement the amendment.
LAKE TAHOE BASIN, Calif. / Nev. — The blue waters of Lake Tahoe shimmer when sunlight hits the surface and glow with warm shades of orange as the sun dips behind the Sierra Nevada. The view is often enough to stop people mid-sentence, caught in a quiet moment of awe. But what, exactly, is happening beneath that feeling?
During the summer of 2025, Paul Piff and his research team from the University of California, Irvine turned to Lake Tahoe to explore that question. Their work is featured in the docuseries Beyond Awe Struck: The Scientific Search for Connection, which examines the science behind one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — human emotions.
Piff, an associate professor of psychology, has spent more than a decade studying awe and its psychological and social effects.
“We’re trying to map out the ways in which experiences of awe and experiences of nature help people solve essential problems in their lives,” Piff said on the film’s website.
Through a combination of controlled experiments and surveys involving more than 1,000 participants, the team measured how people responded to Tahoe’s landscapes. Across seven studies conducted around the lake, they found a 34% increase in reported feelings of awe. Even brief moments mattered: just two minutes of mindful appreciation of the lake led to a 33% increase in happiness.
The effects extended beyond individual emotion. Participants also showed a 20% increase in their desire to protect the environment, suggesting awe may play a role in fostering environmental stewardship.
To better understand how awe functions in real-world settings, researchers designed a series of place-based experiments around Tahoe. At the Heavenly Gondola, participants were asked to spend two minutes taking in sweeping views. At Emerald Bay State Park, researchers explored whether awe can be shared between people. On the water, a Clearly Kayak Tahoe tour experiment examined whether awe lingers after the moment passes. Meanwhile, along the Van Sickle Bi-State Park trail, researchers studied how an “awe-enhanced” hike influenced emotional well-being.
The documentary also follows a diverse group of individuals whose lives intersect with awe in different ways, including Matthew Billet, a postdoctoral fellow studying how cultural worldviews shape responses to global challenges like climate change, and Adrian Ballinger, founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, who leads expeditions designed to evoke awe in high-altitude environments.
Taken together, the research suggests awe is more than a fleeting feeling. It is measurable, repeatable, and deeply tied to how people connect — to each other, to themselves and to the natural world.
The first episode of the docuseries is available on VisitLakeTahoe.com and Outside TV, with additional episodes set to be released March 23 and March 30.
At Lake Tahoe, that connection may begin with something as simple as pausing to take it all in
New docuseries Beyond Awe: The Scientific Search for Connection explores awe and its emotional and social impact.Provided / Visit Lake Tahoe
DENVER, CO – Rocky Talkie has opened applications for its 2026 Search & Rescue (SAR) Award, committing $150,000 in grant funding to volunteer search and rescue teams across the United States and Canada.
Now in its seventh year, the SAR Award provides direct financial support to nonprofit, volunteer-led teams that respond to emergencies in the backcountry. The program is funded in part through Rocky Talkie’s pledge to donate $2 from every radio sold to search and rescue teams.
Since launching the program, Rocky Talkie has donated $260,000 to 27 volunteer SAR teams. Funding has gone toward technical rescue equipment, avalanche and medical training, communication tools, rope systems, rigging gear, and other operational needs identified by the teams themselves.
“Rocky Talkie was born from our love of the outdoors. As members of that community, we have made it part of our mission to give back to the volunteer teams that keep us safe and raise awareness about the chronic underfunding of an absolutely essential service for the outdoor community,” said co-founder Alex Page.
The program is made possible in part through partnerships with the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), the American Alpine Club (AAC), and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). Rocky Talkie builds radios designed for backcountry use — reliable, rugged, and straightforward to operate. The radios are designed and tested in the Colorado Rockies and used by guides, patrollers, climbers, and outdoor professionals.
Volunteer SAR teams in the United States and Canada can apply during the open submission window: March 1–31, 2026. Full program details and application information are available at https://rockytalkie.com/pages/sar-awards
Pasta is one of those dishes that can translate across all ages and all taste buds. And with so many different types (each with their own special purpose), there’re countless ways it can be prepared. In this feature, I try to span as far and wide as possible and make you as excited to try each one as I was to taste. Yes, I dove into each dish and yes, I finished every one of them. You want quality control, right?
Dish: Mushroom Ravioli
Place: Sapori Italian Kitchen (Stateline)
Straight from the kitchen of the Carano family, this dish is a showstopper – especially for you mushroom lovers – and one of the best-selling at the restaurant. With a lineage like that, how doesn’t this dish make its way to your bucket list?
The whole egg pasta used in this dish was developed in the Eldorado Resort Casino pasta room back in the 80s. Once it’s rolled out and cut, the raviolis are stuffed with a trio of mushrooms (porcini, cremini and oyster) along with some secret ingredients that I am, unfortunately, not family enough to know, or share with you.
The raviolis are tossed in an amazing cream sauce that is accented with a little porcini powder and fresh thyme then topped with roasted wild mushrooms (cremini and oyster) before the shaved garnish of Parmesan Reggiano is added.
The synchronization in flavor with the earthy and rich mushrooms partnering with the light and creamy sauce is what makes this dish magic and one of my favorite ravioli dishes ever. Yes, ever.
The dish eats light, so you won’t be leaving the table feeling overwhelmed, which is direct result of the balance of ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, whatever those secret ones are, they sure do pull their weight.
Dish: Linguine all’ Aragosta
Place: Osteria Sierra (Incline Village)
Like many of the other dishes on this list, the linguine in this recipe is made in house at Osteria Sierra (as are all their other pastas) but when this plate hits your table, you know that it’s not like any other pasta dish.
It’s cooked al dente and bathed in a saffron velouté giving you a creamy and fragrant sauce that is perfectly delicate to compliment the cold-water lobster tail. The lobster is rolled out with olive oil and lemon before getting poached and placed on the plate with a topping of fresh herbs (tarragon and parsley). The crowning of the dish comes in the form of a squid ink coral (lacy and crispy garnish) for a stunning presentation.
The saffron flavor is up front and personal and because it is steeped in the velouté, it makes for a gorgeous golden-orange color. The fresh herbs add a pop of freshness and while there are many layers to this dish, it manages to stay light and let the lobster flavor shine.
The best way to get everything together is to break up the coral piece and let it mix with the pasta, sauce and seafood to add a briny and savory punctuation. However you want to eat this dish, I’m sure if you’re a seafood fan, you’re going to love it.
Dish: Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce
Place: Primo’s (South Lake Tahoe)
If you go down the rabbit hole of the origins of vodka sauce, it’s one that is hotly contested as to exactly where it was born. But if you don’t care about its history, and you just want an amazing representation, then this is the dish.
Before getting into the sauce, let’s start with the pasta. It’s handmade and very straightforward using only flour and water so the rigatoni shape holds up well and the ribs on the outside can trap the sauce for a more complete coating. The sausage in the dish is hand crafted with ground pork and their house made seasoning and it gets added to the sauce (along with mushrooms and pasta) before serving.
The vodka sauce is essentially an extension of their marinara. Once the vodka is added and flamed out, heavy cream is added which creates a nuanced balance between the acidity of the tomatoes and the richness of the cream. After a finish of Parmesan cheese, everything is mixed and placed in the bowl along with a topping of grana cheese.
This is one of the best rigatoni dishes you’re going to eat. While the vodka sauce could easily be jarred and sold, the fact that it’s penetrating everything on the plate ensures that any bite you take is hitting the palette with maximum flavor. The dish as a whole is comforting in a way that makes you feel like family, which is when Italian food is at its best.
Dish: Lumaconi
Place: Lanza’s (Kings Beach)
A house favorite that comes from a recipe that was passed down by a grandfather who was serving this dish while in the Italian army.
The process begins with large shell pasta boiled until they are soft enough to stuff. The mixture that fills the shells is a combination of ground beef, garlic, onion, spinach, eggs, Parmesan, and spices. Once the order of five is ready, they are wrapped in deli paper until ready to order.
Once ordered, the serving dish gets an initial coat of their slow-cooked meat sauce, then the shells delicately placed on top. More sauce is added over top along with a hearty helping of their cheese blend (mozzarella and Monterey Jack). That goes into a screaming hot oven until bubbling and ready to eat.
Every bite of this dish feels like a warm hug from the grandfather that created it. The ratio of cheese to sauce to pasta is perfect and when you grab a little bite of the toasted cheese on top, it highlights the depth of every other flavor.
Each of the shells are stuffed and bursting at the seams while the spinach gives a nice subtle pop of sweet and earthiness that counterbalances the richness of the other components. The ground beef stays juicy, and you can really feel the love cooked into not only the red sauce, but the entire dish.
Dish: 20 Layer Lasagna
Place: Bruschetta (Stateline)
Not long ago, my wife and I tried for the first time, a lasagna recipe at home using fresh noodles. After that experience we both said moving forward that the only lasagna we want is one that uses fresh noodles. The hard part is, it’s time consuming. Or you can just go to Bruschetta and try theirs.
You may think 20 layers sounds like a lot, but the restaurant originally was shooting for 100, so 20 sounds tame in comparison. The key to the layers is the ultra-fine sheets of fresh pasta that are blanched first before starting the construction. The other layers consist of a bechamel sauce, and a ragu featuring pork, veal, prosciutto, and pancetta with the final topping layer of focaccia breadcrumbs for added texture.
Bruschetta’s 20 Layer LasagnaGardnerville cyclist dies after fall
If you’re wondering where the cheese is at, it’s mainly melted into the bechamel (with a little inside the layers for added flavor). Sharp white cheddar and mozzarella are blended for a velvety smooth texture that helps punctuate the saltiness of the meats.
Sure, there is also plenty of garlic, Parmesan, basil, onions, and other spices throughout, but for this dish, it’s all about the taste and how each bite seemingly melts in your mouth. And if you’re lucky enough, because these are cooked in large pans, you might get a piece that has lasagna’s signature crispy edges.
With as many people as I talk with around town, and the reputation this dish has garnered amongst locals, when the idea of doing pasta dishes for the magazine came up, this was the first one I thought of. Now I know it was for good reason.
Dish: Tagliatelle with Ragu Bolognese
Place: Great Gold (Truckee)
At Great Gold, the pasta making process starts every morning. In this noodle’s case, it’s 100% egg yolk (no whites), which makes for a richer flavor and springier texture. The dough is rolled out and hand-cut, forming a pasta that’s similar to pappardelle, but skinnier in width.
This pasta’s partner in crime is a prosciutto Bolognese. While prosciutto is not your typical Bolognese protein, it does add a saltiness that balances the rest of the ingredients out perfectly. There’s also a little beef and pork that are added to the fray, but everything gets grinded together along with carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and fennel.
Great Gold’s TagliatelleLarge crowd jazzes up first Live at Lakeview concert
Everything goes into a stock pot with white wine and house-made chicken stock for a low and slow cook lasting about six hours. Heavy cream is added for another two hours before getting finished off with sherry vinegar to help cut through the richness. The pasta is boiled off and added to the sauce along with a touch of butter and fresh basil then topped with an avalanche of freshly grated Parmesan.
Some of the best Italian food in the world is straightforward and simple with a focus on the process and ingredients and this dish is no different. Everything is intentional with layers and layers of flavor. The sauce infiltrates every noodle in the bowl with nothing going uncoated, and while there is a richness to it all, it never feels overbearing. The meat is luscious and the veggies ultra tender and if given the opportunity to eat another bowl directly after finishing my first, I’d strongly consider it.
Dish: Spätzle
Place: Himmel Haus (South Lake Tahoe)
The curveball on the list. But I assure you this German pasta is indeed pasta. It is made from scratch every morning with egg, flour, nutmeg, white pepper, and salt. However, this dough doesn’t rest like most, it’s rather more like a wet noodle dough that is pushed through a strainer into boiling water creating a free-forming pasta. After about 10 minutes it’s plunged into an ice bath to stop the cooking and get ready for order.
Once that happens, it is sauteed in clarified butter with onions, salt and pepper, along with a little parsley – a very traditional preparation. You have the option to add in bacon or wurst (or both) and you cannot go wrong with either.
The unique texture of this pasta allows for the bacon flavor to soak into each piece beautifully, transferring that salty/smoky flavor of the bacon into the entire dish. If choosing the wurst, you get your choice of Bratwurst (pork) or Bockwurst (veal), each of which are grilled and set atop the pasta. If you want something a little less German, assorted game sausages or Kielbasa are always also available.
For the pasta, that uniqueness shines through with a striking balance of crispy and chewy with a slight sweetness from the onion, which also pulls double duty as a texture component. Adding in the protein makes this quite the meal and I would suggest going big and pairing with one of their many German beers on tap – oh, and don’t forget the mustard.
Dish: Birria Mac & Cheese
Place: Gar Woods (Carnelian Bay)
Birria and mac and cheese? Yes, you are not dreaming. The pairing of this comfort food super duo is as dynamic and delicious as you think it is and it all gets ramped up with beef short rib braising for about four hours in a bath of ingredients like soy, chilis, garlic, celery, orange juice, among others.
The “mac” is a bowtie pasta and the “cheese” in this sauce is a combination of three (Manchego, Gruyere, and American), with the Manchego doing the heavy lifting. It’s melted down to a creamy consistency with the addition of chipotle for a slightly smoky burst. Once that is plated up, it’s topped with the birria meat, a black bean and corn salsa, freshly sliced avocado, and a jalapeno ranch drizzle.
If you couldn’t guess, this dish explodes like a flavor volcano but surprisingly, none of them are screaming out for attention. Instead, each of them picks up where the other leaves off for a harmonious and layered bite.
The meat is ultra tender and there’s easily enough to spread throughout until your final bite. While some mac and cheese dishes can feel heavy, there’s a lightness here that allows you to devour the entire thing (if you really wanted).
When it comes to mac and cheese, this dish might come with the best view of Tahoe in the entire basin … which makes for a pretty tempting offer.
Dish: Seabass & Arrabbiata Pasta
Place: Maggie’s (South Lake Tahoe)
When people say you eat with your eyes first, this is the type of dish that gives you a full belly at first glance. Its playful colors are a precursor for what you are about to have hit your tastebuds.
Starting with the pasta, the vegan bucatini (slightly thicker spaghetti) is crafted in house with the addition of saffron which gives it a slightly sweeter flavor. It’s wrapped in a spicy arrabbiata sauce which includes fresh tomatoes, Calabrian chiles, garlic, red and white wine before getting tossed with a little bit of cream, guanciale, and sun-dried tomato. Once twirled on the plate, it’s topped with a seasoned and grilled Chilean sea bass and topped with curled bell peppers.
The sea bass is cooked to a perfect medium and with its buttery flakiness, provides a stellar canvas to let the pasta and sauce shine. But even with the slight heat and layers of flavor from the sauce, the delicate flavor of the fish is not lost.
The combination of the fresh and sun-dried tomato can write the book on being balanced. Along with the creaminess, the salty punch you get from the guanciale makes this one of the best sauces in this list. I am an extreme lover of sun-dried tomatoes, so take that for what it’s worth.
Anytime you can give me seafood and pasta, I’m going to have a good time. But when it’s elevated like this, it’s time to party.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025/26 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) held its fourth annual state of the district on Wednesday, March 18, which saw keynote speaker Michelle Trujillo and results from the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) surveys.
Superintendent Todd Cutler gave an overview of the board priorities and the vision of the district, which included looking to the future, forming strong connections and improving performance.
Dr. Todd Cutler speaks during the State of the District.Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Cutler also touched on the Measure U bonds, which have recently been used for the softball field at South Tahoe Middle School. Up next are projects at Tahoe Valley Elementary School and South Tahoe High School, with Phase 2 including Meyers and Sierra House.
Future facilities projects are also looking to increase sustainability. They have a $22 million project for updating the boilers, windows, lighting and installing solar panels across the district.
Associate superintendent Alan Reeder noted that Cutler was nominated for the upcoming awards for the Association of California School Administrators in region 2, which would add another award for the year in addition to their Golden Bell Award.
Reeder noted that there’s been an increase in proficiency across math, science and English/Language Arts, though they are still looking to reduce chronic absenteeism in the district. The district experienced a decrease in overall students this year, and the school’s current budget is about $64 million, according to chief financial officer Kelly Buttery.
This year, the school is also undergoing a study and audit for its special education programs, with results sometime in May or June, after interviews with parents and students in special education.
During the table discussion, LCAP survey data was presented on the three topics: high expectations for all students, family engagement and 95% attendance for all students. There was an increase of 5% for students reporting that school is preparing them for future success, bringing the total to 86%. 92.7% of parents also report feeling welcome, up from 87%, though 27% of parents report they do not have opportunities to provide input. Still, 36% of students say they don’t like going to school every day, though 95% of staff report actively building connectedness with students.
Michelle Trujillo speaks to the attendees.Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Michelle Trujillo, the keynote speaker, is the co-founder of Center for Learning and Well-Being, an author and lifelong editor. She grew up and taught in Carson City, and said, “Very rarely do I get to work with a district I feel connected to.”
Trujillo spoke to the importance of strong and intentional connections, along with believing in students. She praised the district for cultivating connections and noted that she used to teach with Cutler back in the day.
Cutler ended the night by saying, “We’re not always going to agree, but we have to work together,” and urging people to keep momentum going.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The days are beginning to stretch, and the stirrings of nature show first signs of spring. To call in the season, healers Lauralynn Vineyard, aka Featherpistol, Craig Newman and Paddle House Brews co-owner Tanya Fairclough are hosting Spring Equinox Sound Healing on March 20 in the backyard garden of Paddle House Brews. The event offers attendees a break from the hustle of daily life to enjoy a night of celebrating spring while clearing the mind, body and spirit.
The night will consist of guided meditations, light yogic movement, bottomless hot tea and a variety of sound healing styles such as sound bowls, tuning forks, and wind chimes.
“The idea behind our Spring Equinox Sound Healing event is to offer a sound healing journey to mark the moments of the earth and how she shifts every six weeks,” said Vineyard.
Vineyard originally found herself connecting with sound and spirituality while taking dance fitness classes in Los Angeles during her time as a performance artist. Her curiosity led her to a nine-month sound healing certification program in San Francisco at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).
“I basically moved from Los Angeles to San Francisco in order to study this and it changed my life,” said Vineyard. “What I found in this program is we had teachers from all over the world coming as guest speakers and talking to us about different cultures and religions and the spiritual beliefs around the world,” Vineyard said. “Every major religion across the globe has an element of sound, or voice, or music healing as an essential part of their beliefs.”
Vineyard notes that the power of sound acts as a common thread bringing others together, and over the last 15 years, she’s been providing sound healing services online.
“The power of these [in-person] events is that I now know a couple of other really great healers that have become my friends, and through kismet, we’ve all connected here in South Lake Tahoe.”
Lauralynn Featherpistol, Tanya Fairclough, and Craig Newman at Winter Solstice Sound HealingProvided/Lauralynn Vineyard
Tanya Fairclough, certified theta practitioner, yoga instructor and co-owner of Paddle House Brews, is providing the space for this year’s Spring Equinox Sound Healing session. She will be guiding guests through light, gentle yogic movement to connect with their bodies and will lead a guided meditation to enhance creativity.
Vineyard will be working with tuning forks, which she refers to as ‘tuning up’ the body and mind. She’ll also be leading a guided meditation centered on the spring equinox, highlighting deities, plants, animals and energy connected to the spring season.
Craig Newman is a holographic sound healing practitioner, and he will be focusing on pain relief, deep restoration and release using verbalization, sound bowls and other sound implementations.
The session will take place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the private and enchanting backyard garden at Paddle House Brews, offering a cozy area under a canopy of quaking aspen trees and towering Jeffrey pines. Outdoor heaters will be provided if the weather is chilly.
Paddle House Brews backyard garden provides a serene space for sound healing eventsProvided/Lauralynn Vineyard
“Spring Equinox is when the length of day and night are equal. In the Southern Hemisphere it is simultaneously the Fall Equinox as they are heading into the darker months. Simply by recognizing our earth’s shifts, we can connect across hemispheres and more importantly, connect across our differences. That is the power of these seasonal shifts, they offer us a chance to connect when we otherwise wouldn’t.”
Vineyard will continue seasonal sound healing sessions throughout the year, with the next one happening during Beltane on May 1.
Tickets to the Spring Equinox Sound Healing event on Friday, March 20 can be purchased online prior to the event or at Paddle House Brews upon arrival. There are a limited number of tickets due to max capacity so be sure to purchase soon.
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Investigations are ongoing into the deadly Feb. 17 avalanche near Perry Peak. The Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC) continues to release new details as their investigation unfolds.
Recently released details include angles related to the avalanche, particularly the slope angle and alpha angle.
Here’s what these angles mean.
Slope angle
The slope angle is a value of steepness and key factor in determining the likelihood an avalanche will occur on a slope.
Around 76% of avalanches take place on slopes between 34 and 45 degrees.
Slopes greater than 50 degrees are typically so steep that small avalanches occur frequently, making larger avalanches rare.
Slopes less than 30 degrees typically aren’t steep enough for an avalanche to occur. However, if connected to steeper slopes, it is possible larger avalanches could run onto such low angle terrain. How far out onto low angle terrain an avalanche can run varies. That’s what the alpha angle measures.
Alpha angle
The alpha angle is a measure of how far avalanches run from their start zone to the bottom of their debris piles.
Small avalanches may start in steep zones but not travel very far down a slope. As avalanches get bigger, they may travel further down a slope and as mentioned above, even onto lower angle terrain.
The greater the avalanche and further out it runs, the smaller the alpha angle number.
Alpha angles for extremely large “100 year” avalanches are typically in the 18-20 degree range, depending on specific mountain ranges and other factors. Some sources put them between 18 to 22 degrees.
Alpha angles also give backcountry users an idea of how far to stay away from steeper slopes when traveling near them in certain conditions.
Staying less than 18 degrees from a potential avalanche starting zone reduces the likelihood of getting caught in a large slide. The American Avalanche Institute recommends at times of extreme instability, to be as far away as 15 degrees, particularly when choosing a campsite.
Angles of the Castle Peak avalanche
SAC says the slope angle in the area where the avalanche likely started ranged from about 36-40 degrees.
Given it is within the angles in which most avalanches occur, SAC executive director, David Reichel says, “This is expected but also one of the things that we confirm in accident reports.”
Their report reveals that the victims in the avalanche were buried near the toe of avalanche debris.
SAC calculated the alpha angle from the burial location to the estimated starting zone as 22 degrees when measured on the ground and 25 degrees when calculated on a map.
According to maps with the burial site marked, the location appears to be within low angle terrain.
Where the ski group was just prior to the avalanche is currently unknown or has not been released.
The group consisted of 15 members on a guided multi-day backcountry hut trip. The avalanche occurred on the group’s return journey.
Questions continue to circulate regarding the decision to return despite an active heavy winter storm and high avalanche danger.
Both the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Cal/OSHA continue to investigate the incident.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Heavenly Ski Resort is set to go to trial sometime next winter after a San Francisco family is suing them for scalding their 5-year-old with hot chocolate.
The lawsuit was filed by Brittany Burns and Joshua Moran Burns, who say that two winters ago, their daughter was badly scalded and permanently scarred after being served a beverage that was too hot.
During a ski break at the Sky Deck café, Burns says she ordered hot chocolate for her daughter, which was then served at the takeout counter. According to the filed complaint, the cashier sprayed whip cream on top and then gave the drink, without a lid, directly to the child at the takeout window.
When she attempted to drink it, she spilled the drink inside her ski suit. This trapped it against her body and led to burns down her chest and abdomen, which have scarred over.
Personal injury attorney Roger Dreyer, who is representing the family in the case, told the Chronicle, “You’re not assuming they’ll cook the hot chocolate to a temperature that’s not consumable to a human being.”
While the complaint doesn’t specify the temperature of hot chocolate at the ski resort, the lawsuit claims they “knew and should have known that such hot beverages posed a great hazard of causing just this type of incident and injuries.” It also alleges that serving a hot beverage to a minor constitutes known, intentional, malicious conduct without due care for the injury.
The history of hot beverages and lawsuits raise questions about consumer protections. The McDonald’s coffee lawsuit of 1992 saw Stella Liebeck receive $640,000 in damages after the chain’s coffee gave her third-degree burns that required skin grafting.
Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks and even Southwest Airlines have faced lawsuits for hot beverages in the past two decades, especially around ensuring the hot liquid won’t spill on consumers. Last year, Starbucks was ordered to pay $50 million to a delivery driver, who was burned badly when an employee failed to secure a drink lid.
According to the court docket, a cross complaint was filed by Vail and Heavenly Mountain Resorts in July of last year. However, Vail does not provide comment on pending litigation.
Tahoe athlete, Claire Hewitt-Demeyer, will be featured in a film produced by Tahoe Backcountry Alliance Executive Director Anthony Cupaiuolo – Photo by Anthony CupaiuoloProvided/Anthony Cupaiuolo
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For the first time ever, the Backcountry Film Festival will be visiting the South Shore. On March 20, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance is partnering with Lake Tahoe Community College’s (LTCC) Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership Program to host the film festival at Duke Theater. The night will consist of showing winter films celebrating backcountry experiences while offering attendees a chance to participate in a raffle to win some amazing prizes.
“The films celebrate human powered backcountry adventures and feature a mix of great action and beautiful scenery along with several that hit on some deeper themes,” said Anthony Cupaiuolo, Executive Director of Tahoe Backcountry Alliance. “There’s even one short film that I produced featuring local pro athlete, Claire Hewitt-Demeyer, that showcases Claire’s snowboarding skills on snow…and sand.”
Hewitt-Demeyer is a snowboarder from South Lake Tahoe. She specializes in splitboarding, a backcountry method using a board that splits into two skis for traversing uphill and then reconnects as a snowboard to shred downhill.
Hewitt-Demeyer will be featured alongside others, sharing stories of hope, the love for snowsport and the love for nature.
Claire Hewitt-Demeyer photographed by Anthony CupaiuoloProvided/Anthony Cupaiuolo
Local nonprofits including Tahoe Backcountry Alliance, Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Keep Tahoe Blue and Sierra Nevada Alliance will be at the event talking to attendees, answering questions and spreading awareness regarding ways to get involved.
After eight or so short films totaling two hours, folks have a chance to win an assortment of raffle prizes ranging from Rocky Talkie Radios, outerwear from Flylow and Patagonia, as well as backcountry-specific gear from Sports LTD. Gift certificates to local businesses like Summit to Shore Chiropractic can also be won, with Cupaiuolo noting that more items are coming in daily to be added to the raffle.
For the past seven years, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance has been hosting the Backcountry Film Festival in Truckee and Incline Village.
“We’re really excited that the first South Shore screening is at the Duke Theater at LTCC. It’s a perfect venue and the Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership Program is the perfect partner. The classes they teach help people learn how to recreate safely and responsibly in our amazing backyard. With this being our first year hosting it on the South Shore, we’re looking at it as a ‘base building’ event and hope to grow the event going forward.”
Doors to the Backcountry Film Festival open at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The films will start at 6:30 p.m. and by 8:45 p.m., the films wrap up and the raffle winners will be announced.
To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
Milk and cookies, bagel and cream cheese, or even peanut butter and jelly – when you think about classic combos those are usually towards the top of the list. So is this week’s feature: surf and turf. While there are almost endless combinations that could fit this mold, what’s included in this dish is a perfect representation.
Frescana’s Surf N Turf BurritoRob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
The surf portion of this burrito comes in the form of PMD (plump, moist and delicious) shrimp while the turf is represented by perfectly seasoned beef brisket. They are rolled up in a flour tortilla along with mixed greens, a purple sweet potato mash, seasonal veggies, green crema, and a house-made chile-churri slaw. As you can imagine, the veggies and the greens do most of the heavy lifting in the texture department, but they also bring the flavor. Actually, everything brings the flavor so it’s more of a pick your poison when it comes to trying to single any one out.
For me, the brisket is the star. There’s such a deep and rich beefy flavor that is the main counterpoint to the rest of the ingredients. I could literally sit in front of the television binging my favorite show with nothing but a gallon of that meat and be perfectly at peace.
In the words of Benjamin Franklin this burrito has “a place for everything and everything in its place.” While they may seem like a strange combination on their own, when everything comes together, it’s as enjoyable a fit as the last piece of a puzzle.
Frescana Mexican Bistro is located at 3141 US Highway 50 Ste. C in Meyers. For general information, menu, or ordering, you can reach them online at frescanalaketahoe.com or by phone at 530-363-0230.
Daily Live Music – 12-8 p.m., Gunbarrel Tavern. Daily live music at multiple locations in the Village, including the corner stage at Azul Latin Kitchen, Basecamp Pizza, and Gunbarrel Tavern. Additional dates: 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, 3/23, 3/24, 3/25, 3/26. For more information, visit https://theshopsatheavenly.com/event/live-music-gunbarrel-tavern/2026-03-20/.
Jose “Manny Maze” DJ Meza – 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m., Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary. For more information, visit https://tahoemusic.live/?page=6.
Ski With A Ranger at Heavenly – 1-2 p.m., Heavenly Village, Heavenly Village Way. Ski With A Ranger program returns to Heavenly Mountain Resort. Participants will also learn about natural resources and environmental stewardship. For more information, visit https://sierranevadaalliance.org/events.
Saturday, March 21
Snowshoe Cocktail Races – 5-9 p.m., The Grove, 1900 Jameson Beach Rd. Camp Richardson Resort’s friendly, laugh-out-loud winter snowshoe competition returns to the beach in front of The Grove restaurant 1/17, 2/21 & 3/21 2026. Racers are invited to try their luck and skill at racing with cocktail trays in hand through obstacles. The winner is the fastest and cleanest, with trays and drinks intact. No experience is required, but a hefty sense of balance is helpful. Registration is free, and there are multiple race categories, including men/women’s sprint, obstacle and team. Competitors can win prizes that range from day-use lift tickets from Sierra at Tahoe, to dining certificates, stays, and merchandise. For more information, visit https://camprichardsonresort.com/event/snowshoe-cocktail-races/2026-03-21/.
South Lake Tahoe Friends of the Library Book Sale – 10 a.m.-3 p.m., South Lake Tahoe Library , 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. Looking for a new read at a great price? Then stop by the library for our Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale- Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10 am – 3 pm! Priced individually or an entire bag full for $10. Special curated book bundles and “Blind Date with a Book” books also for sale. Members are invited to the Preview Sale at 9 am. Not a member? Join now or the morning of the sale. Become a member now at: https://eldoradolibraryfriends.org/south-lake-tahoe-friends-of-the-library/
Spring Summit Pop Up Bar – Diamond Peak Ski Resort, 1210 Ski Way. Quench your thirst at the Spring Summit Pop Up Bar, located at the top of Crystal Ridge on Saturday, March 21. We’ll have a selection of canned beverages and packaged snacks for sale (credit cards only) with views of Big Blue.The party continues down at the base on the Loft Bar deck with a DJ. More details coming soon… * The Summit Bar is only accessible to intermediate/advanced skiers and snowboarders via the Crystal Express Chair. Must have a valid lift ticket or season pass and ski/snowboard equipment to load the chair and be able to ski/snowboard down Crystal Ridge. Sorry, no footloading or scenic lift rides are allowed. Please drink responsibly. For more information, visit https://www.diamondpeak.com/event/spring-summit-pop-up-bar/ or call (775) 832-1177.
Tahoe Club Crawl Fall/Winter 25/26 – 8-11 p.m., Tahoe Club Crawl, 31 US HWY 50. Tahoe Club Crawl is an organized VIP nightlife tour of the Tahoe South. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a welcome shot at 3 out of 4 stops, appetizers, free indoor games at Tipsy Putt and VIP entrance into Peek Nightclub, Lake Tahoe’s hottest Club! You will meet amazing people and have the night of your lives. We meet every Saturday at 8:00 PM Aleworx Stateline, unless told otherwise. Be Sure To Check Out our Ice Cream Shop, Aloha Ice Cream Tahoe “Winner of Best Ice Cream in Tahoe 7 Years In A Row” (Opened Seasonally) For more information, visit https://tahoeclubcrawl.ticketsauce.com/e/tahoe-club-crawl-fall-winter-25-56?aff=cityspark.
Tentacle Difficulties Tour – 8 p.m., 14 State Route 28. lespecial – Tentacle Difficulties Tour Sat. Mar. 21st 2026 I Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm I Tickets: $22 ADV / $27 DOS I Ticket Link: https://tixr.com/e/171629 lespecial is redefining the term “power trio”. The multi-instrumentalists from Connecticut continue to push the boundaries of what a three-piece band is capable of both live and in the studio ahead of their latest album, “Odd Times”. The band’s signature blend of “heavy future groove” combines headbanging metal riffage and surgical rhythmic precision with bone shaking 808s, sub synths and ethereal vocal stylings for a dance floor that welcomes moshing, dancing and hip swaying alike. Listeners are taken on a journey to the musical netherworld through esoteric soundscapes punctuated by raw, primal power. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/829740700042717/.
Sunday, March 22
Hippie Sabotage: Give and Take Tour – 7:30 p.m., Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Highway 50. Sale Dates and Times: Public Onsale : Fri, 30 Jan 2026 at 10:00 AM Spotify Presale : Thu, 29 Jan 2026 at 10:00 AM Caesars Rewards Presale : Wed, 28 Jan 2026 at 12:00 PM Ticketmaster Presale : Wed, 28 Jan 2026 at 12:00 PM Social Presale : Wed, 28 Jan 2026 at 12:00 PM Citi® Cardmember Presale : Wed, 28 Jan 2026 at 10:00 AM For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/922140946910199/ or call (800) 427-7247.
Hippie SabotageProvided
Intro to Metalwork: Stacking Rings – Snowflower Studios Even Timings – 5-7:30 p.m., Description Join us for a hands-on jewelry workshop with Aurora of Snowflower Studios, where you’ll learn the fundamentals of metalworking while creating a set of sterling silver stacking rings from start to finish. In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll work with high-quality sterling silver to form, solder, texture, and polish your own set of three handcrafted stacking rings. Materials for one 6mm gemstone ring are included in the cost of the workshop, giving you the option to add a subtle pop of color and personality to your final pieces. Aurora will guide you through each step of the process, making this workshop approachable for complete beginners while still engaging for those who are already comfortable using jewelry tools. Additional charms or stones may be purchased during the workshop for further customization. Sip drinks, enjoy light snacks, and settle in for a relaxed, creative evening. You’ll leave with a meaningful set of handmade rings that are perfect for stacking, gifting, or wearing every day. Details Price: $110/$135 per person Age: 16+ Optional Upgrade: Gold filled rings, +$25 Includes: All tools and materials for three sterling silver stacking rings, one 6mm gemstone, snacks, and drinks Skill Level: All levels welcome No experience necessary – Just bring your curiosity and creativity For more information, visit https://business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/intro-to-metalwork-stacking-rings-snowflower-studios-even-timings-1634638?sourceTypeId=Hub.
Photo Snowshoe – 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Echo Lake Sno-Park, Echo Summit Rd. For more information, visit https://tahoerimtrail.org/event/photo-snowshoe/.
Monday, March 23
Blue Ribbon Cutting: Mountain High Recovery Center – 4-5 p.m., 2494 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite B7. Blue Ribbon Cutting: Mountain High Recovery Grand Opening. Join the Tahoe Chamber as we celebrate the grand opening of Mountain High Recovery at their new location on Thursday, March 23, 2026! Join us in welcoming this important new resource in our community, enjoy light appetizers and refreshments, meet the team, and reconnect with fellow Chamber members and friends. It’s a great opportunity to show your support and learn more about the services Mountain High Recovery offers! Thursday, March 23, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM 2494 Lake Tahoe Blvd Suite B7, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 Light apps & refreshments provided We look forward to celebrating with you! For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/blue-ribbon-cutting-mountain-high-recovery-center-26077.
Ski with a Ranger – 1-2 p.m., Kirkwood Mountain Resort, 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr. Join Us for Ski with a Ranger at Kirkwood! The Eldorado National Forest is offering free guided tours at Kirkwood on Mondays, from February 2 through April 6, 2026. Led by Forest Service staff and volunteers, these tours explore the local natural environment and the forests here at Kirkwood. How to Participate: Visit the Forest Service table in Red Cliffs Lodge between 10am and 1pm to sign up for the tour. The tour runs from 1pm to 2pm on Chair 1. Attendance is first-come, first-served and limited to 10 participants. Tour attendees must have their own lift ticket and gear. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1647014879610676/1647014906277340/?active_tab=about.
Tuesday, March 24
Speed Dating: The First Sip – 5:30-8 p.m., South Lake Brewing Company, 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Dating apps are tired, let’s do this in real life. Join us for an inclusive, safety-first Speed Dating night at the Brewery on Tuesday, March 24th. All genders and sexual preferences are welcome. Whether you’re here for romance, friendship, or a little flirtation with fate, grab a drink and see where the night takes you. The event will run from 5:30-8 PM at our Brewery located at 1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd. The $18 admission price includes a pint of beer or seltzer of your choice. Space is limited so sign up in advance to guarantee your spot. For more information, visit https://www.southlakebeer.com/brewery-events or call (530) 578-0087.
Tom Hamilton – Red Room – 8 p.m., 14 State Route 28. Tom Hamilton will be playing an intimate show in the Red Room. $20 ADV/DOS I Doors: 7pm Show: 8pm I Ticket Link: https://tixr.com/e/165147 For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1322077522580070/.
Medicare 101 with Craig Wilcox – 5-6 p.m., Douglas County Public Library–Lake Tahoe Branch, 233 Warrior Way. Join us at 5:00 p.m. for a no-cost Medicare 101 seminar hosted by Craig Wilcox. For more information, visit https://library.douglascountynv.gov/calendar or call (775) 588-6411.
Wednesday, March 25
Tahoe Line Dancing at Cascade Kitchens – 7:30-9:30 p.m., Cascade Kitchens, 1030 Tata Ln. Description Dust off your boots, it’s time to dance! Starting 10/8, we’re hosting Line Dancing every Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 PM. No cover, all ages welcome, and beginner-friendly! We’ll sprinkle in a few lessons so everyone can join the fun. Come kick up your heels with us! For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/line-dancing-03-25-2026-24759.
Trail Talk – 6-8 p.m., South of North Brewing Co., 932 Stateline Ave. For more information, visit https://tahoerimtrail.org/event/trail-talk/.
Thursday, March 26
“CBC Comedy Night” Sam Tallent w/ Tba – 8 p.m., Crystal Bay Casino, 14 Highway 28. For more information, visit https://devildogshows.com/event/cbc-comedy-night-sam-tallent-w-tba/ or call (775) 833-6333.
VALHALLA TAHOE PRESENTS ANOTHER DINNER & IMPROV AT LAKE TAHOE GOLF COURSE – 6-9 p.m., Lake Tahoe Golf Course, 2500 Emerald Bay Rd. What happens when you have a fun night of improv with dinner that sells out? Why, you schedule another one! A night where you will laugh all the way home. This legendary local troupe has been cracking up Tahoe since 1993, making them the longest-running comedy show in town. The show is smart, silly, and family-friendly, so yes—bring the kids… and your sense of humor. For more information, visit https://valhallatahoe.com/events/ or call 530 318 5458.
Chamber Mixer at The Idle Hour – 5:30-7 p.m., Description For more information, visit https://business.tahoechamber.org/events/details/chamber-mixer-at-the-idle-hour-26078.
Harnessing Communications to Educate and Engage Community of Trail Volunteers – 10-11 a.m., There’s an entire audience out there that you might not be reaching only through on the ground activities. Social media opens an entirely new avenue to develop a community of volunteers, and to sustain the ones who are already along for the ride. This webinar will cover how to create a basic communications plan for your organization. Additionally, learn how to prioritize social media platforms, develop a newsletter and blog to supplement communications, and what content attracts volunteers and engagement. For more information, visit https://sierranevadaalliance.org/events.
As we approach the one-month commemoration of the avalanche at Perry’s Peak on Feb. 17, the Truckee/Tahoe community continues to grieve deeply after what is to date the deadliest avalanche in modern California history.
Nine individuals — six women who were part of a friend group on a backcountry skiing trip, and three mountain guides (two men and one woman) — were killed by an avalanche during whiteout winter conditions. All were described as passionate and skilled backcountry skiers.
Many questions remain, the most significant of which centers on why a group of knowledgeable skiers elected to venture out at all, and to take the path they did during dangerous winter conditions and amid an active avalanche warning. While the event itself remains under investigation on a multitude of fronts, with the possibility of lawsuits, enough core information about what took place exists to create a timeline of events.
Moonshine Ink conducted numerous interviews, reviewed reports, and sorted through volumes of information to better understand what happened on that snowy Tuesday in mid-February.
Sunday, Feb. 15, to Monday, Feb. 16
In the days leading up to Sunday, Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters note weak snowpack structures and flag them as “a concern for future storm-loading events,” adding that such layers in the past have contributed to avalanches.
At 6:49 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 — a few short hours before four Blackbird Mountain Guides are scheduled to meet the groups they will guide —the Sierra Avalanche Center issues its first backcountry avalanche watch since Dec. 25, 2025.
“A powerful multi-day winter storm arrives this evening,” notes the report. “Snowfall is forecast to begin tonight and continue for several days.”
THREE DAYS LATER: On Friday, Feb. 20, helicopter crews were finally cleared to fly over the site of the Feb. 17 avalanche. By the time of this photo, additional snow had covered up signs of the avalanche (upper middle of this shot) and its debris. Mitigation efforts to curtail additional avalanches had not yet been performed. Photo courtesy Sierra Avalanche Center
Blackbird itself also calls for vigilance. On a social media post the same day, Blackbird guide Jan Czyzewski and founder and guide Zeb Blais post an observation from Mount Rose near Incline Village, saying, “Pay close attention to @savycenter and use extra caution this week!” and referencing a buried, weak, faceted layer in northerly aspects. “This weak layer could lead to some unpredictable avalanches!” reads text on the video. “Typically we’d expect small amounts of faceting between big storms, but with a crust and extended dry period for the month of January into February, faceting has been a driving force in the snowpack.
“The result is a particularly weak layer in many northerly aspects, across various elevation bands. As we move into a large storm cycle this week, pay close attention to places where faceting has been particularly strong — avalanches could behave abnormally, and the hazard could last longer than normal.”
Blackbird’s day-one itinerary for Frog Lake huts trips is to meet at a trailhead off I-80 in the morning, venture to the huts, unpack, and tour the area. “After we’ve had our fill of riding for the day,” the trip-specific website states, “we’ll settle back into the huts and prepare for dinner.”
According to Strava data from Blackbird guide Niki Choo, one of two who guided the group of eight female friends, Choo’s group begins its tour from the Donner Summit SNO-Park. About 4 miles later, after slipping down into the Frog Lake basin via Frog Lake Notch (a steep gully beneath Perry’s Peak), they likely drop gear off at the huts before setting out for another 2.5 mile-loop around Perry’s Peak, back to the notch, and down to the huts.
The following morning, Feb. 16, Choo’s Strava data shows another tour, this one 5 miles long in the Horse Hill area northeast of Frog Lake. While Monday begins the start of a five-day snowstorm that will become the third-snowiest on record, only 2 inches fall on this day, according to OpenSnow.
Horrific conditions, just whiteout conditions. It’s a known area where we have a lot of search and rescue missions — that Castle Peak, Peter Grubb Hut, Frog Lake Hut area — so we train in that area; they knew the terrain. That doesn’t make it easier for them with the snow conditions and wind conditions. What was going through my mind is hopefully they can get there, to the six that were sheltering in place.”
~ Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon
Three modern huts are available for booking at Frog Lake, a circular, subalpine lake northwest of Donner Lake by about 3.5 miles, all owned and managed by Truckee Donner Land Trust. In total, 20 guests can sleep across the huts, each of which provides electrical outlets, flushing toilets, hot and cold water, gas stoves, and other amenities.
Serving as the communal space is the Eschenbach Backcountry House, providing a kitchen, fireplace, sitting areas, and map room for planning out recreation options. The Ginger Hut is a renovated summer cabin from before the land trust purchased the site, and is where “hutmeisters” stay to offer a mixture of hospitality and maintenance for guests.
TDLT staff said the majority of reservations are claimed months in advance, with any remaining spots filling in from there.
“[There are] closed periods in the spring and fall for maintenance, admin, and the general challenges of getting there in between [seasons],” said Greyson Howard, communications director for the land trust. “We’ve typically seen both summer and winter over 80% to over 90% occupancy.”
Various guide service options are available, though not required, to reach Frog Lake, particularly helpful for those with “concerns about safety or navigation in visiting the backcountry huts,” as stated on the land trust website, which also lists the following guide options (completely separate from land trust operations): North American Ski Training & Climbing, Alpenglow Expeditions, Alpine Skills International, Tahoe Mountain School, Blackbird Mountain Guides (which offers gear/food porter services), Backcountry Babes, and Dirt Gypsy Adventures (a trailhead shuttle).
Such guiding companies will make reservations for groups just like any guest would.
THE VIEW FROM THE NOTCH: Skier Miles Barker looks out over Frog Lake in December 2024. Routes into the area via trails from the north and northwest often result in skiers dropping down into what’s called Frog Lake Notch, the top of which is pictured here. Courtesy photo
Tuesday, Feb. 17
The Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC) is one of 14 Forest Service avalanche centers in the U.S.
Forecasting and potentially issuing avalanche watches and warnings starts with daily field work and monitoring the snowpack from the beginning of the winter to late April. SAC observers go out into the forecast area, which comprises 1,500 square miles in the greater Lake Tahoe area, from Yuba Pass on Highway 49 to the north to Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4 in the south. Forecasters observe the weather, the snowpack, and any other signs of instability in the snow.
Next, SAC takes the day’s observations, along with their expertise, and uses a tool called the Conceptional Model of Avalanche Hazard. The CMAH identifies the key components of avalanche hazard and structures them into a systematic, consistent workflow for hazard and risk assessments. There are four sequential questions to answer when assessing avalanche hazard:
What type of avalanche problem(s) exists?
Where are these problems located in the terrain?
How likely is it that an avalanche will occur? and
How big will the avalanche be?
“From that, we can figure out our avalanche problems and move from there to the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale,” SAC lead forecaster Brandon Schwartz said.
The NAPADS is a system that rates avalanche danger and provides general travel advice based on the likelihood, size, and distribution of expected avalanches. It consists of five levels, from least to highest amount of danger: 1 (low), 2 (moderate), 3 (considerable), 4 (high), and 5 (extreme). Danger ratings are typically provided for three distinct elevation bands. Although the danger ratings are assigned numerical levels, the danger increases exponentially from one to the next. In other words, the hazard rises dramatically in the higher levels on the scale.
Also factored into SAC’s forecasting is the snowpack history of the season to date combined with what occurred at weather stations overnight, such as wind. SAC works closely with the National Weather Service in Reno. In the afternoon, avalanche forecasters meet to discuss the information gathered that morning and see what other observations come in over the course of the day.
“And then the following morning, the forecaster who was authoring the [forecast] is looking at what happened overnight on weather stations in terms of temperatures, winds, snowfall, looking at cloud cover,” Schwartz said. “And then looking at the day’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service, getting on the phone with them for any clarifying questions, potentially jumping into an online chat with other forecasters to get consensus about any last-minute variables that may be dependent upon the weather forecast, and then moving forward on authoring the day’s avalanche forecast.”
The forecasts are issued by 7 a.m. every morning.
Avalanche watches are issued first, in advance of anticipated storms. Warnings, meanwhile, are issued the same day as dangerous, extreme conditions are occurring or highly likely. Avalanche warnings are pushed out through the National Weather Service on high (4) and extreme (5) days because of its reach to the media, according to Schwartz. If a storm fizzles out or changes direction or intensity, the watch expires and no warning is issued.
“Then the cycle starts over again and we go back in the field, try and get information to verify the day’s forecast, and gather more information to move forward to the next 24-hour cycle,” Schwartz said.
6:29 a.m.
Early the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, SAC rates the avalanche danger a 4 at all three elevation levels (above, near, and below treeline). A critical warning, authored by Schwartz, is issued for the Tahoe/Truckee area:
“Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours. Large avalanches may run through treed areas. If attempting travel today in non-avalanche terrain, be certain that there are no steeper slopes connected to the terrain you are traveling, either above or to the side.”
An additional line in the avy report reads: “Anticipate that any organized rescue efforts may be significantly delayed or may not occur if you experience a mishap in the backcountry under these conditions.”
HUNKERED DOWN: The three huts available for rent opened for visitors in 2022, though the Truckee Donner Land Trust was considering the general concept of hut construction even before the June 2020 land purchase. Twenty guests total can sleep in the trio of buildings. Photo courtesy land trust
During winter, SAC’s daily avalanche report is available to Frog Lake guests. Some told the Ink the report is printed out and posted in the Eschenbach Backcountry House each morning, others said an iPad with internet access is available for guests’ use, and the report is accessible from there.
The Truckee Donner Land Trust lists three winter over-snow routes to reach the Frog Lake huts: from the Castle Peak and Johnson Canyon trailheads, and a Donner Summit Rest Area route. (Based on Choo’s Strava data, the group did not follow any of these trails exactly to reach the huts on day one, though the Donner Summit Rest Area route is closest in alignment.)
No route recommendations are provided to groups by hutmeisters.
At 7:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol – Truckee announces the closure of Interstate 80 to big rigs at Alta eastbound and Nevada stateline westbound. By 11:05 a.m., the freeway is completely closed “due to whiteout conditions and poor visibility.”
Checkout of the huts is by 10 a.m., though based on reporting by the New York Times, the 15 skiers — two touring groups combined into one for the departure — reach the ridge of Perry’s Peak, 500 feet above the huts, around 10 a.m.
“Guests are able to stay at the hut longer in the event of conditions preventing them from leaving,” the land trust shared in an email. “There is emergency food/water available.”
Jim Zellers — a pioneering big-mountain snowboarder and mountaineer who holds first snowboard descents of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Kenya, and New Zealand’s Mt. Cook, among others — has been based in Truckee/Tahoe for most of his adult life.
“I was out [Feb. 17] too,” Zellers said of a backcountry tour he and his wife, Bonnie, went on in Ward Canyon. “It was pretty much a whiteout, so if you were too far from your partner you couldn’t see them.”
He possesses vast backcountry experience in, and knowledge of, the Castle Peak area where the avalanche occurred. He has been to the Frog Lake huts “maybe 40 times,” both stopping in on day trips as well as for multiple-night stays.
“I’ve hiked up exactly where it took place,” he said of the avalanche site. He pointed out its unique and dangerous cross-loaded nature — the snow not exclusively accumulating directly over the ridge and vertically, but from side-to-side as well, adding pressure to the snowpack. “It was a few years ago, we skinned right across it. Bonnie and I got up there and we were like, ‘Whoa, this is a whole cross-loaded slope.’ It’s not super obvious from afar, but when you’re right there in it, you can definitely see it and feel it.”
Perry’s Peak is the 8,320-foot-tall peak overlooking the north-northwest side of Frog Lake. The name, not an official U.S. Department of Agriculture-recognized one, is an honorific to Perry Norris, former longtime executive director of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
Zellers stated that he knows other skiers and riders who have also experienced what he and Bonnie felt that day on the slope, but that it has remained a relatively widely traveled exit path from the huts.
“I love going out that way,” he said. “It’s truly one of the more peaceful, beautiful ways going out.”
Roughly 11 a.m.
As of press deadline, it remains unknown what triggered the Perry’s Peak Avalanche, since ongoing snowfall after the event covered evidence.
What is known is that while the group is passing downslope of Perry’s Peak, close to the Red Dot Trail, the avalanche breaks loose — ending up the length of a football field and 6.5 feet deep, classified as a D2.5 soft-slab slide (a D3 avalanche is powerful enough to destroy a building).
Thirteen members of the 15-person party are caught in the slide, which descends 400 feet from the peak on a 38-degree slope. With terrain traps on the sides, all the snow is funneled into a very narrow area and condensed considerably into a depression, resulting in a debris field in a small box area of less than 30 by 30 feet.
According to New York Times interviews, one buried individual — Anton Auzans — digs himself out and he, along with the two not caught in the avalanche, including Jim Hamilton, unburies others, among them three alive.
Those under the snow have about a 47% chance of survival upon initial burial, according to the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education. After 10 minutes completely buried, those odds drop significantly.
11:30:58 a.m.
The Times further reported that Auzans is the one who calls 911 dispatch to report the avalanche and that nine or 10 people remain buried.
From there, incident details obtained by Moonshine Ink show the steps taken to maintain communication with the party, coordinate additional responders, and home in on the exact location of the survivors for rescue.
Within five minutes of the 911 call, requests for assistance start rolling out to Cal Fire, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Forty-six personnel begin to respond immediately.
The Garmin emergency beacon belonging to one party member’s husband is activated and reported to Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Between 12 and 1 p.m., incident command (IC) is established at the Alder Creek Adventure Center, about 4 miles away from the avalanche site as the crow flies. Boreal Mountain California (about 3 miles away) serves as the staging area.
“We staged at two areas because we deployed ski teams from two areas — both Alder Creek Adventure Center and Boreal,” shared Nevada County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Quadros in an email. “Reaching the survivors as soon as possible was the goal to prevent further loss of life. IC locations vary by incident and could be at a staging area or at a different location altogether depending on the circumstances at hand. Accessibility and available resources for IC are common factors.”
12:41 p.m.
The party of six survivors stays in contact with dispatch via call, text, and satellite phone. It’s about 20 minutes before 1 p.m. that the surviving guide, who serves as the main point of contact, informs 911 that they’ve moved away from the avalanche debris to a spot among trees.
Snow continues to fall heavily, with low visibility.
Victims are buried beneath between 5 and 8 feet of snow. Per the AIARE, a 6-foot deep burial requires moving at least 10,000 pounds of snow. The survivors also face the threat of another potential avalanche sweeping in from above.
Off the mountain, search and rescue teams are permitted by Caltrans to pass through traffic control on I-80.
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HEADING OUT: On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at about 3 p.m., search and rescue teams deployed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center, each a few miles away from the incident location. Their goal: to extract the six known survivors. A Sno-Cat team also launched from the adventure center. Photos courtesy Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
HEADING OUT: On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at about 3 p.m., search and rescue teams deployed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center, each a few miles away from the incident location. Their goal: to extract the six known survivors. A Sno-Cat team also launched from the adventure center. Photos courtesy Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
3 p.m.
The following is recorded on the incident’s event log by NCSO:
[Search and Rescue] teams are deploying from Boreal as well as from Alder Creek Adventure Center (editor’s note: a Sno-Cat team also launches from Alder Creek). [A unit] is in contact with iPhone emergency services as they are in good satellite text contact with one of the subjects in the field. Advised six subjects are accounted for out of the group. The six are remaining put, one subject advised he was coughing up blood, no other injuries reported.
The subjects advised they cannot pinpoint the location of where subjects are possibly buried due to snowfall.
The six subjects are in the trees at the base of the avalanche and possibly made a makeshift shelter with a yellow tarp.
Also part of this update is the arrival of two Blackbird Mountain Guides members at the incident command center. These two want to deploy into the field but are advised not to. “The guides deployed into the field anyway,” is noted in the log. Blackbird did not respond to Moonshine’s request for comment.
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ANNOTATED TRAGEDY: Photos and illustrations provided by the Sierra Avalanche Center show the likely start zone and debris field of the avalanche. Courtesy photos
ANNOTATED TRAGEDY: Photos and illustrations provided by the Sierra Avalanche Center show the likely start zone and debris field of the avalanche. Courtesy photos
5:36 p.m.
More than six hours after the avalanche, search and rescue makes contact with the survivors. The Sno-Cat team from Alder Creek advances 2 miles, then skis in the remainder of the way.
“Horrific conditions, just whiteout conditions,” Sheriff Moon describes. “It’s a known area where we have a lot of search and rescue missions — that Castle Peak, Peter Grubb Hut, Frog Lake hut area — so we train in that area; they knew the terrain. That doesn’t make it easier for them with the snow conditions and wind conditions. What was going through my mind is hopefully they can get there, to the six that were sheltering in place.”
First aid is administered, eight deceased individuals in total are accounted for, and the group is escorted out back to the Sno-Cat. Two of the six, explains Moon, are not mobile; they cannot walk because of their avalanche injuries. “We were able to safely get them the 2 miles from that location to the Sno-Cat and four others were able to get to the Sno-Cat themselves.”
A little before 11 p.m., Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reports the rescue of six avalanche survivors, and that two of the six have been transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Estimated snowfall calculations for Tuesday at Castle Peak, per OpenSnow: 22 inches.
THE INCIDENT: Locations and routes taken by those involved in the avalanche at Perry’s Peak on Feb. 17. Alleged exit route is based on reporting by The New York Times. Information presented is to the best of our knowledge. Map courtesy Google Earth/illustrated by Lauren Shearer/Moonshine Ink
Wednesday, Feb. 18, to Thursday, Feb. 19
The six survivors have been rescued, but there is still more work to do for responders. They need to safely access the avalanche zone to recover the nine bodies of those killed in the slide — one of whom has not yet been located.
Adding to the complexities, several feet of additional snow have fallen since the avalanche occurred. Thus, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, lead agency on the incident, must evaluate the scene and ensure that the area is safe for searchers before sending them back out again. This includes avalanche mitigation.
“We have to reach people before we can help rescue people,” Moon says. “And those decisions are made on-scene by the folks that are going to be getting deployed and making sure they have the right equipment, the right training, and the confidence that they can reach the folks … Last night, I commend them for knowing that they had six people that had survived and they wanted to get there as soon as they could. They took some risks, clearly.
“Today, looking at it, the risk is still as high with the mission moving to a recovery; we want to really make sure that our first responders are safe.”
As of 6:52 a.m. Wednesday morning, the SAC’s avalanche warning remains in place, stating “increased uncertainty exists with ongoing reactivity of these buried weak layers under this large storm snow load. The potential continues for large to very large avalanches occurring in the backcountry today.”
Weather, too, remains a challenge. Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo says, “Unfortunately we’re kind of at the will of Mother Nature at this point, and going to have to wait for hopefully a decent break in the weather and make sure we get every last soul off that mountain.”
Just after 8:30 a.m., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is notified. When a workplace incident results in a death, or a serious event causes the hospitalization of three or more employees, an immediate, mandatory OSHA investigation is triggered.
At about 11 a.m., Sheriff Moon says Blackbird “has been very cooperative, providing us the individual information from their trip. They also had members arrive at our location when we deployed into the field and they responded with us. They wanted to do everything they could to assist.”
Multiple attempts to deploy helicopters to perform reconnaissance of the incident area, check for travel routes, and search for the remaining individual have failed.
The National Guard and California Highway Patrol are marked as “unable to fly.” Placer County Sheriff’s Office’s Falcon 30 “is unavailable.”
Initially, Care Flight Truckee plans to fly out two observers, but by 3:30 p.m., that reconnaissance is also delayed. Washoe County Sheriff’s Office: unable to fly.
“Due to hazardous weather conditions,” Quadros shares in a press release, “avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today.”
Circa 10 minutes to 4 p.m., the National Air Guard is established as accepting helicopter recon for Friday, Feb. 20.
Thursday morning, the U.S. Forest Service issues a closure on National Forest lands and trails near Castle Peak. The closure is planned through March 15 or until public safety measures are mitigated.
“Due to the current instability of the snowpack and need to prioritize first responder access to the area, members of the public are prohibited from entering the closure area during search and rescue operations,” the announcement says.
OSHA opens its investigation.
In the late afternoon on Thursday, families of six avalanche victims release a statement, which reads in part:
We have many unanswered questions, but here is what we know at this time: Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake huts outside Truckee, California. The trip had been organized well in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
~ From the families of Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt
That evening, Blackbird founder and local Zeb Blais releases a statement that all guides were either trained with American Mountain Guides Association or certified in backcountry skiing, and that each was an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
“In addition,” the release stated, “guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions. There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened. It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway.”
Friday, Feb. 20, to Saturday, Feb. 21
The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reports that from Feb. 16 to the morning of Friday, Feb. 20, a total of 111 inches of snow have fallen, making it the third-snowiest five-day period on record.
To ensure the safety of search and rescue teams recovering the remaining bodies, the sheriff’s office considers several methods for performing avalanche control leading up to Friday, including use of explosives, according to Quadros. The agency that answers the call in the required timeline is none other than California’s largest utility company.
“Ultimately, PG&E ended up being the quickest viable option,” Quadros wrote in an email.
DANGER ZONE: Avalanche mitigation operations on Feb. 20 were conducted in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric, using two helicopters with Bambi Bucktes. Crews relied exclusively on water dumps to improve snow stability. Courtesy photo
Friday brings clear skies, meaning flights are a go. First, CHP and Care Flight conduct reconnaissance missions of the Castle Peak area above Frog Lake. On board the Care Flight helicopter are two ski patrollers: Chad Weiland, a Care Flight paramedic and Sugar Bowl patroller, and Ivan McGurk, a Palisades Tahoe patroller and volunteer with Nevada County Sheriff Search and Rescue. McGurk is also a member of the Care Flight Crew Card program, which authorizes specially trained personnel to be transported by Care Flight to incidents such as the Castle Peak avalanche.
The flight lasts about 20 minutes, from 11:19 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
“We flew to the scene and assessed the slope for avalanche hazards,” Weiland said at the Feb. 20 NCSO press conference. “We circled Perry’s Peak several times and flew into the valley to survey the full avalanche path. The purpose of the flight was to provide aerial visibility of the terrain features and recommendations for appropriate avalanche mitigation.”
Weiland told Moonshine Ink that he and McGurk observed that the slide path was heavily wind loaded.
“We saw the primary avalanche path on that slope, it was north-northwest facing,” he said, explaining that the face gets a lot of wind scouring. “The wind loading was definitely more pronounced than I expected it to be on that slope.”
The Care Flight crew could not see the debris from the avalanche since it was in the trees and it had snowed more since the incident, nor could they see the crown at the top. But Weiland said he was surprised that the avalanche path appeared smaller than he expected it to be.
“It’s a well-known avalanche path, but it’s relatively small,” he said. “It connects to other potential avalanche paths, sort of skiers’ right of that path. The size of the path … almost was undersized for the incident, is how it felt to me.”
Close to 3 p.m., NCSO alerts the public that avalanche mitigation is beginning.
After the recon information is relayed to PG&E, the company flies two of its helicopters — a UH60 Black Hawk and a Bell 407 — from its base at the Red Bluff Airport 36 miles south of Redding to Truckee. The helicopters conduct an overview of the scene before starting PG&E’s unique form of avalanche control — rather than explosives, using buckets of water.
The Black Hawk helicopter is equipped with a 150-foot-long line attached to a Bambi Bucket, which is used to pick up 660 gallons of water from a small, nearby lake that isn’t frozen for a series of seven water drops, resulting in a total of 4,600 gallons of water.
A Bambi Bucket is a lightweight, collapsible, helicopter-slung device used for aerial firefighting, capable of carrying anywhere from 72 to over 2,600 gallons of water.
While these water drops are routinely implemented to fight fires, since 2023 PG&E has also used them for avalanche control at its Helms Pumped Storage Facility located at 8,100 feet in the Sierra National Forest above Fresno.
“Our goal was making the area safe for the search and rescue teams to go in and recover the victims,” said Pete Anderson, PG&E senior manager of helicopter operations, in a press release.
Anderson, who has been with PG&E for 29 years, described this as his proudest moment at the company.
“We played a small part in helping these people get back with their families,” he said.
Using water drops for avalanche mitigation is rare.
“This was the first I’d ever heard of it being used,” said Weiland, a seven-year ski patroller. “It’s really creative, but it’s sort of an unstudied mitigation technique.”
SAC reports that no additional avalanches are triggered by the water drops, making it safe for rescuers to enter the area and retrieve the bodies.
Five of the nine deceased individuals are recovered, and the last body is located.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announces its launch of an investigation into whether there is criminal negligence involved with the event.
The following day, Saturday, Feb. 21, the National Guard and CHP recover the last four bodies through a combination of aerial operations and snowcats driven to Frog Lake. The multi-day search-and-rescue effort concludes at 10:58 a.m.
The nine deceased individuals are identified and their information is released to the public:
Andrew Alissandratos (34) of Verdi, Nev.
Carrie Atkin (46) of Soda Springs
Nicole (Niki) Choo (42) of South Lake Tahoe
Lizabeth (Liz) Clabaugh (52) of Boise, Idaho
Michael Henry (30) of Soda Springs
Danielle Keatley (44) of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.
Kate Morse (45) of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.
Caroline Sekar (45) of Soda Springs and San Francisco
Katherine Vitt (43) of Greenbrae, Calif.
Alissandratos, Choo, and Henry were Blackbird Mountain Guides.
The agencies involved with response, rescue, and avalanche mitigation were: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office; Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue; Placer County Sheriff’s Office; Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue; Washoe County Sheriff’s Office; Washoe County Search and Rescue; California’s Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; California Highway Patrol Air Operations; Care Flight Truckee, a service of REMSA Health; Pacific Gas & Electric; United States Forest Service; California State Parks; Truckee Fire; OpenSnow; Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center; Boreal Mountain Ski Resort; Truckee Tahoe Airport; Town of Truckee; Truckee Police Department; Truckee Donner Land Trust; and California National Guard.
IN REMEMBRANCE: Roughly 500 people showed up the evening of Sunday, Feb. 22, to a vigil in downtown Truckee to commemorate the avalanche victims. Photo by Ted Coakley III/Moonshine Ink
Sunday, Feb. 22
A vigil, hosted by the Town of Truckee, is held Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at the eagle statue in Downtown Truckee to commemorate those lost in the avalanche. An estimated 500 people attend.
Monday, Feb. 23
The U.S. Forest Service lifts its closure on all Tahoe National Forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area.
Friday, Feb. 27
SAC forecasters and search and rescue teams return to the avalanche site. SAR members dig out the victims’ remaining equipment — mostly skis and poles — while the forecasters gather additional data on the terrain.
Ongoing (as of press deadline)
SAC continues to work on the incident report, which will document the details of what the forecasters have named as the Perry’s Peak Avalanche, including contributing factors to the event.
Blackbird Mountain Guides issue a sorrowful statement on the loss of its three guides, and stated it is not accepting new reservations at this time.
The incident remains under investigation through the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, as well as by OSHA — limiting many individuals in speaking with Moonshine Ink.
“We are looking to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence,” Quadros wrote. “It is too early to know if criminal charges will be applicable, as the investigation is preliminary and remains active and ongoing.”
This winter was a wake-up call for me. The unseasonably warm temperatures that became ubiquitous with every weather report, the fall weather that dragged into the end of December, and rain instead of snow all led me to an uncomfortable realization — climate change is here. Now I find myself grappling with the reality of our changing climate as both a ski industry professional and an environmental journalist. I am beginning to find these markedly separate careers colliding in ways I hoped they never would.
In 2023, when I first began my foray into journalism and transitioned from full-time ski patroller to full-time student and part-time patroller, I wrote an article for a science reporting class at UNR on a study published in the scientific journal Climate Dynamics. My article was titled Must Go Higher: New Study Predicts Warmer Winters and Higher Snowlines for the Tahoe Basin. I thought the portrait of a Tahoe that was impacted by climate change was still in a very far-off future. I was wrong.
When I found more dirt than snow this past December and opted for hiking and biking in place of skiing, I couldn’t help but think back to the lines I wrote just a few seasons ago:
“A study tracked the snowpack in the Sierra over the past 70 years and found a stark rise in snowlines … Under unabated climate change conditions, the Sierrawill lose approximately 57 percent of their snowpack in the second half of the 21st century.
“Most of this snow loss is predicted to happen during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring, and at mid-elevations. Not only would the ski season window shrink, but so will the area of skiable terrain as snow becomes relegated to the highest and coldest of elevations and the chilliest of months.”
This fall, I kept waiting for that feeling of a cold breeze on my face or a frosty morning with the delicious crunch of frozen earth underfoot to tell me winter was on the horizon. When halfway through December the mountains were still mostly bare and instead of snow I had fresh strawberries in my garden in Carson City and confused irises sprouting out of the earth, I began to officially freak out.
A small bit of solace came from scientist Benjamin Hatchett of Colorado State University. He reminded me that recency and confirmation biases can play a large part in our perception and that unless I had specific long-term data surrounding said strawberry harvest, it could have some aspects of natural variability entwined in it, alongside climate change.
One piece of relief came when I asked him about the long dry spells we had earlier this season. He had run the numbers.
“So, I just took the longest dry spell period of each winter and then you see if there’s a long-term trend there. And, so, we don’t see a signal for the dry spells getting longer with time, which is good. There is a lot of variability, which is not surprising,” Hatchett said.
GOT DIRT? Dirt patches dot the southeast-side face of a peak in the Tahoe National Forest this winter.
Although that high pressure system may have turned out to just be a dry spell, it did also serve as a potential dry run for what we may see under a warmer, less snowy future.
“We should learn from what happened in these low snow years because that’s what we expect to see more of,” said Hatchett. “So, how do we manage that in different ways? How do we try to ski what you can? And use the water more wisely?”
Whether a dry spell is a dry run for the future or not, this winter’s warm start gave many of us a run for our money, literally. Seasonal workers can relate to the anxiety of a shoulder season that drags on. As a seasonal employee, you rely on stacking cash in the peak summer months to squeak through the lean season into winter where the promise of work awaits come November.
But halfway through December this year, most mountains were only operating at a fraction of their footprint, if at all. The high season was around the corner, but we were missing a very important element — snow. For many, it was either get another job, dig into savings — if there are any — or fill out unemployment paperwork.
This loss of revenue is costing the economy millions: around $252 million annually to be exact, according to the 2024 article How Climate Change Is Damaging the US Ski Industry. The piece, published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Issues in Tourism, found that by the 2050s, ski seasons are projected to shorten between 27 to 62 days under unabated climate change, resulting in a loss of over a billion dollars annually. This is for the industry as a whole, but I fear what the local implications will be.
A FINE LINE: Much of the area’s terrain is at mid-elevations.
I return to my words from seasons ago:
“Much of the Tahoe Basin’s skiable terrain is at mid elevations, but it is these precise elevations that are now hanging in a delicate balance, dancing a fine line between above and below freezing temperatures.
“The Central Sierra snow line currently sits at an average between 7,380 – 8,200 feet above sea level during the peak snow season. In the second half of the century, that number is projected to rise to between 8,690 and 9,020 feet.
“This spells trouble for the Basin, as the majority of Lake Tahoe’s skiable terrain is between lake level at 6,225 feet and around 9,000 feet.”
Put simply, we are going to run out of mountain.
Andrew Schwartz, director of the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory and Protect Our Winters science alliance member, already sees the writing in the snowpack.
“We are starting to see our winter precipitation switch to more rain than snow,” Schwartz said. “We see the shoulder season — months like October, November, May, April — those are transitioning really quickly. Even December is moving very quickly towards a rain-dominated month. And those signals are from the 1970s forward. They’re also accelerating.”
It’s not just scientists who are witnessing this but many other ski and snow professionals. Brennan Lagasse, a professional ski guide with decades of experience in the Sierra and a sustainability professor at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, said: “You’re losing quite a bit of skiing from lake-level up right now. In Lake Tahoe, a great but sad example is Homewood … Homewood skis right down to lake level. Over the past few years… we’re getting much more rain on snow events than we have in the past.”
The probable future of snow in the region is laid out in stark detail in the 2021 scientific paper A Low-To-No Snow Future and Its Impacts on Water Resources in the Western United States, published in Nature. And for someone who loves and relies on snow for enjoyment and employment, the future is pretty damn bleak.
The paper stated that the onset of low-to-no-snow seasons will occur in the 2060s for most basins in the American West, but in California this will appear in the late 2040s. And under unabated climate change, or business as usual conditions, we have between 35 and 60 years before low-to-no snow becomes persistent across the West. In addition, the article found that in the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada, around 45% of losses are expected by 2050.
In other words, unless drastic reduction in emissions happens, and fast, our snowpack is f*cked.
The authors did caution that the exact time frame of the emergence of these low-to-no-snow conditions is highly variable based on the models used. Regardless, the question is no longer if but when.
“Realistically speaking in the West, we’re kind of at a tipping point. We’ve seen climate change impact our winters. We’ve seen that start to accelerate,” Schwartz said. “Around 2025 to 2035 is when this is going to really shift how our winters look in California and the Western U.S.”
He added that although there is not necessarily an average year, especially with the boom-and-bust nature of the Sierra Nevada snow patterns, that as climate change progresses there will be even larger variability.
“It’s not to say that we won’t get snow, but it’s going to be kind of punctuated by bigger periods of rain and warmer temperatures,” Schwartz explained. “I think this year’s a really good analog for what we’re going to see more of in the future before we transition to being rain-dominated towards the end of the century.”
Having the understanding I do of snow and how resorts function through my experience as a patroller both within the Tahoe Basin and internationally, to say I am concerned is an understatement. I don’t think people realize how quickly this is barreling toward us. I know I didn’t.
“I always tell people, if you want to know what is to be expected for the future of winter, look at what all the ski resorts are doing, and they’re all installing mountain bike trails,” Schwartz said.
The Tahoe Basin is changing. Our snowpack is changing.
EARLY SPRING: Thin snow cover is seen above Donner Lake and along highway 80 in early February. Photo courtesy Kat Fulwider
Perhaps it is apropos that when I wrote that initial article, it too marked a transition in my career from the ski world to journalism. Just a couple of seasons ago, the impacts of climate change seemed far away. Somehow it feels closer now. I knew I would always worry for the next generation’s future, but it’s happening before our eyes. And this season it hit me, and now I worry about not only my future, but that of my friends and my colleagues, and for our careers.
Now as I revisit this original article again, likely with many more climactic and personal transformations looming on the horizon, I am discovering yet another newfound perspective. Among all this worry and fear, there also lives an inextinguishable spark of hope, of joy for the sport in whatever form it takes. And even as the future warms, this spark is stoking a fire in me to get after it, and to ski ’em while I got ’em.
A stacked astrological deck greets us March 12 in the ephemeral, dreamy, mutable waters of Pisces — as Mars, the north node, Mercury retrograde, and the sun are all now moving through it. Aries, Pisces’ neighboring and fiercely initiating cardinal fire sign, holds a lineup of Neptune, Saturn, Venus, and Chiron. With most planets in their two territories, these powerful and fundamentally different archetypes will shape the astral tides of this season. You may feel pulled to meditate, dream, and commune with universal truths one day while sensing an urgent desire to act, to initiate, and to take charge the next day.
March 18 brings a sweet, creative new moon in Pisces. Mercury remains retrograde in Pisces until March 20, the very day the sun enters Aries to mark the spring equinox. The following day, the sun joins with Neptune — amplifying imagination, vision, and the collective consciousness. Inspiration will run high, but clarity will require discernment, both personally and in the world at large.
On March 24 the sun meets Saturn, the planet of responsibility and structure. This might feel like a “testing energy,” with extra effort being required to both keep your cool and maintain forward progress. A beautiful full moon in the Venus-ruled sign of Libra invites balance, beauty, and harmony on April. 1.
NATURAL MAGIC
The ancient Celtic name for the spring equinox is Ostara, and it is a beautiful time to plant seeds while naming intentions for the coming cycles of your life. On the morning of March 20, gather seeds, soil, containers, a small bowl of water along with paper (divided into small pieces), and a pen.
Write out at least four qualities that you wish to cultivate, such as peace, love, connection, and/or prosperity. Place the pieces of paper in the bottom of your container and gently layer soil on top of them. Hold one seed at your heart for each intention and, as you plant them one by one, name the energy you are planting. Press the seeds into the soil, and water them in. As you pour the water, recite aloud, “As these plants grow from soil, so do my intentions manifest in my life.”
Under the Libra full moon on April 1, light a white or pink candle. Write one relationship pattern you are ready to release and one pattern within yourself you wish to strengthen. Offer gratitude for the opportunity to grow and to be of greater service to those you love — and then burn the paper.
Feed your cult fascination with Chasing Nirvana by Priya Hutner
Priya Hutner first hinted to me about her book-to-be back in October 2024, at the inaugural Tahoe Literary Festival. It was a quick pitch, but boy, was it effective: “I was in a cult, and I’m writing a book about it.”
What a lead-in, right?
Hutner’s Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation hit shelves March 3. In it, she shares her experience from the age of 14 to 47 as a member of the Kashi Ashram, an interfaith community with ties to Hinduism and Buddhism that is, as Hutner states, a cult (and still exists today).
“What fascinates people about cults? I think for many of them, it’s out of their reality,” Hutner said. “It’s out of their norm; ‘I would never be in a cult.’ And I would say, everyone’s in a cult of some sort, because it’s about your inherent beliefs … I thought I was helping humanity. I wanted to be enlightened.”
Chasing Nirvana comes from journals Hutner kept during her time, working her way up from a cook to the CEO, in which she became the “worldly” connection to ashram leader Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati (“Ma”).
“When you think about cults in general, you think about control,” Hutner said. “There is an element of control. There’s rules that we have to follow. For me, you were controlled through your diet. You were controlled through your clothing, and you were controlled through sex because we were celibate teaching.”
Hutner added readers might especially enjoy chapter 20 — “That’s where we had a dead body in an RV in the back of the woods and hundreds of people chanting around it. And the sheriff shows up.” Or the chapter where Ma exorcised a woman, or the one with Hutner’s dream (featuring rapper Eminem) that made her realize she needed to get out.
Overall, the book is, in Hutner’s words, a “spiritual adventure story” and a cautionary tale of how humans become hooked.
What is something you hope readers will take away from your book?
“Question everything. Really deeply question everything, including your own beliefs.” ~
Winter in the High Sierra by Robert Brighton: A cold-out-there-but-
warm-in-here escape into locally-based historical fiction
People enjoy reading fiction because it’s an escape, right? What if that escape came in the form of a massive snowstorm in November 1899 that leaves broken-hearted belle Louisa MacGregor stranded?
Enter rugged but respectful mountain man “Bandit” and his loyal pup, Mutt, to provide Louisa shelter and company until the deadliest winter in 50 years is over. What stems from there is a mutual awe for nature, the ability to process grief and heartache, and a seed of trust that unexpectedly thrives.
Winter in the High Sierra gives a taste of life in our very mountains nearly 130 years ago and shows that a love for these mountains transcends many trials. Think clean romance, immersive settings, and, of course, a love for dogs.
The book has reached Amazon #1 Bestseller status, as well as many accolades from seasoned reviewers. Brighton himself is a long-time historical fiction author, and you can bet he knows his stuff about life and language in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
As the San Francisco Book Review put it, “Robert Brighton’s Winter in the High Sierra is a beautifully rendered historical romance that immerses readers in the rugged, snowbound wilderness of 1900. With lyrical prose and meticulous historical detail, Brighton crafts a compelling tale of survival, redemption, and unexpected love. This is a thoughtful, deeply human story that lingers long after the final page.”
What is something you hope readers will take away from your book?
“I might say that the message … is encapsulated in my little preface to the book:
‘Whether in the trackless wilderness of the High Sierra, or in the sometimes-bewildering depths of our own hearts and minds, I believe that — while we may wander for quite a while — we are never truly lost, unless and until we give up.’
That message of resilience in the face of hardship — human or natural — rings throughout the book.”
Looking for a day or two of basking in creative literary works from talented folks (for free)?
The second annual Truckee Literary Crawl happens next month throughout downtown Truckee. From fiction to poetry to book lovers of all genres, hundreds will trickle in and out of such venues as galleries, pubs, and theaters to hear more than 40 local and visiting writers read their works aloud. Saturday evening will cap off with an open mic showcase.
The Lit Crawl serves as the springtime companion to the Tahoe Literary Festival, the third annual of which will be held this Oct. 9 and 10 in Tahoe City.
“I think the most important thing for me, personally, is, yeah, you want your keynote, you want to have a draw, [but] I want to shine the light on emerging authors,” co-founder Priya Hutner said. “The publishing industry — they want their money. They want to do celebrity. I understand that. Some people have gotten picked out of a slush pile, but it’s so hard. That’s how the Truckee Lit Crawl got born from this festival. I’m like, well, let’s just crawl around and have people read their stuff and let’s have it be free.”
A necessity with celebrating such arts is finding funding for them. Hutner says she and fellow co-founder Katherine Hill are constantly on the lookout for additional funding opportunities. “All of the arts are suffering because of our current administration,” she said, referring to such actions under the Trump Administration as canceling and terminating National Endowment for the Arts grants. “But, we have a lot of money in this community. How do we find that?”
To learn more, attend, donate, or volunteer at the Lit Crawl, click here.
(Pssst — Alex, the writer of this column, will be reading one of her own recently published short stories at this event!)
Tragedy has a way of drawing attention far beyond the place where it happened. And when the cameras arrive, journalism is forced to confront one of its hardest questions.
In the days following the Castle Peak avalanche, national media descended on Truckee, some of them knocking on doors, cold-calling businesses in search of anyone connected to the victims, and even stopping search and rescue volunteers as they headed out to do critical, dangerous work.
Yes, journalism plays a vital role in keeping the public informed, especially during moments of crisis. But when a community is grieving, the question becomes unavoidable: Where is the line between reporting the news and exploiting the pain around it?
It’s not an easy question to answer.
From the journalistic side, our responsibility is to help the public understand events that affect the community. When official channels fall silent or communication is limited, reporters must reach out to other sources to piece together what happened and report accurately.
The public deserves to know what happened with the avalanche, why it happened, and how similar tragedies might be prevented. Transparency rarely arrives on its own; journalism exists in part to insist on it. When authorities cite ongoing “investigations” or “potential litigation” as reasons they can’t comment, those realities do not erase the public’s need for information.
At the same time, tragedies like the avalanche near Perry’s Peak carry a crushing emotional toll. Journalists must remember that behind every headline are families, rescuers, and neighbors trying to process unimaginable loss. A community like ours is shaken to its core. The responsibility of journalism is not only to seek the truth, but to do so with care for the human beings living inside the story.
HEARTACHE: The collective grief of the community is still palpable and will certainly ripple out for years to come. Photos by Ted Coakley/Moonshine Ink
We saw this tension four years ago when young Truckee resident Kiely Rodni went missing one summer night. Speculation spread quickly across social media while television crews flooded the region as the community held its breath. After two long weeks, Kiely and her car were found at the bottom of Prosser Reservoir. When her family later hosted a celebration of life, Kiely’s mother asked that the media respect the privacy of attendees — many of them teenagers like Kiely. Moonshine Ink was invited. It was a quiet reminder that trust within a community matters.
To many here in Tahoe/Truckee, some of the recent national coverage felt intrusive — even predatory — as reporters chased every lead in the race to be first.
And yet some of those efforts revealed critical pieces of the Castle Peak avalanche story. The New York Times’ detailed account from two survivors deepened the public’s understanding of what happened that day. Without that persistence, those details might still be unknown. Was the aggressive reporting worth it? That is a question each of us must answer for ourselves.
History reminds us that grief and understanding unfold on different timelines. Survivors of the avalanche at Alpine Meadows in 1982 did not speak publicly for decades; some only felt ready when the documentary Buried revisited the tragedy nearly 40 years later. Even then, the pain was palpable — avalanche forecaster Jim Plehn, who worked at Alpine in 1982, can be seen in the 2021 film still carrying the weight of that day.
Some stories take years before those closest to them are ready to tell them.
In the case of the Castle Peak avalanche, speculation spread across the world almost immediately. Even while cautioned against conjecture, people continue to ask the same questions: “What happened? Why?” and share opinions and rumors.
It’s part of being human. It’s part of remembering those we lost. And it’s part of trying to learn from tragedy so that we can do better next time.
Truth be told, we may never fully answer every question.
After the Alpine Meadows avalanche, litigation followed. Three years later, a jury in Auburn heard sharply divided testimony from avalanche experts about whether the disaster could have been predicted — a reminder that courts also struggle to resolve the uncertainties of mountain hazards. In the end, the jury found for the defense.
There is another truth that we often overlook: it is humans who bring the drama. The mountains simply do what they have always done. Snow accumulates and releases. Wind scours ridges. Trees sway. Granite slowly erodes over millennia.
In a fraught democracy, we need all forms of journalism — national outlets and small independent papers alike. Each plays a role in the broader information ecosystem. The difference for local journalists, however, is that we live in the communities we cover. The people in the story are also our neighbors.
As we reflect on the tragedy of Feb. 17, we hold two truths at once: the need for clarity and the need for dignity for those who suffer. Our commitment is to pursue the facts while honoring the humanity of the people living through them — telling the full story without losing sight of the community at its heart. In the end, journalism should illuminate the truth, not deepen the wounds.
There’s a group of snowboarders led by local ex-pros in their 40s and 50s — and they’re still making films. Or rather, even though they’re past their athletic prime and the big paychecks stopped coming in over 20 years ago, they are making films again.
Started by Blaise Rosenthal and Chad Otterstrom, the group rides as Midlife Crisis (MLC), and they shot their first full-length film, Fast Forward, last winter. Per the organization’s website, theirs is “a movement that aims to extend the shelf life of every shredder out there, and a philosophy that says no matter what generation you’re from, you belong.”
“It’s all about community and about getting people out snowboarding,” Rosenthal said.
MLC is out to spread the stoke of making turns all through life. Rosenthal, now 52, grew up in the foothills, found great passion for snowboarding early on and moved to the mountains at his first opportunity.
“It was kind of natural; if you wanted to push snowboarding, you moved to North Lake Tahoe,” he said.
GETTING THEIR SHOT: Mike Burton existing in a frictionless world. Photo by Clay Green
He pushed it hard and got good and became a pro. In the ’90s and 2000s, Rosenthal enjoyed a prolific riding career, with seminal segments in films like Stomping Ground and Simple Pleasures by Mack Dawg Productions and The Revival and Destroyer from Kingpin Productions — but noted that after a while, as he grew older in a young person’s sport, the “industry burned him out.”
When the paychecks stopped coming, he moved to Santa Cruz and didn’t snowboard at all for a few years. “It felt like you were losing the thing you cared about most by aging out,” he said. “It was kind of just easier not to be around it.”
Rosenthal returned to Tahoe/Truckee a few years ago and started snowboarding again, once more finding the ability to have fun in the sport he loved. “Now I snowboard every day,” he said. “And I feel like I’m snowboarding better every day. I’m more open minded, the data base is bigger, and the ability to collect and process more information is better.”
There is still little to no holding back when we ride. It’s just more calculated and thought-out. Not much room for error these days.”
~ Mike Burton
MLC’s Fast Forward is an old-school-style snowboard film shot in Tahoe and throughout the Sierra, the Mountain West, and Japan. It is a park and big-mountain-pow focused film with a soundtrack ranging from rap to Paul Simon that features some hilarious antics and lots of seriously skilled riding. The snowboarders did let all-time skiing great Tanner Hall join in some segments, but the film is snowboard-led, to say the least, and features middle-aged human beings going big and getting after it.
In fact, if you skipped the movie’s opening scene in which the riders humorously chop it up about how old they are, you probably wouldn’t think you were watching athletes in their 40s and 50s.
TWO MIDLIFE CRISIS snowboarders showing us how life can be circular and that there’s no one way to ride it. Photo by Mike Burton
The group has been filming all winter for its second full-length movie. “Oh yeah, were making another film this year,” Rosenthal said enthusiastically. “We don’t have a title for it yet, but we have new riders we’re bringing in. I just tend to reach out to people [of my era] and be like, ‘hey, let’s do a video part.’ [Our films] are a reflection of the time period we grew up in.”
The behind-the-camera work is a shared team effort, and riders have been eager to accept Rosenthal’s invitations.
SNOWSPRAY: Blaise Rosenthal carving his signature and finding joy on snow in his 50s. Photo by Mike Burton
One such Midlife Crisis snowboarder is Mike Burton, who’s on-screen stoke in Fast Forward is palpable. “Snowboarding brings me so much joy,” he said. “It’s an instant escape from your everyday life. As soon as you strap it in, all goes out the window, and you are in the present moment.”
He credits staying active over the past 30-plus years in snowboarding as a key factor in keeping him young at heart.
“There is still little to no holding back when we ride. It’s just more calculated and thought-out. Not much room for error these days,” he joked.
MLC also sells merch, hoodies, and T-shirts, and Rosenthal puts on snowboard camps both locally and around the world.
The riders spoke about how snowboarding has allowed them to meet and interact with so many people and places in their life. MLC is about not quitting something that you love to do just because you’re getting older.
Rosenthal summed it up this way. “I mean, if you told me when I was 25 that I would still be snowboarding at 52 and doing some of the same tricks — and be better at some of them — I’d be like, ‘that’s pretty cool.’”
~ To learn more about MLC’s projects, to watch Fast Forward, or to check out the merchandise or other content, visit midlifecrisissnow.com.
As we move through winter, the Lake Tahoe real estate market continues to reflect steady buyer demand, though performance varied by region. In February, sales volume increased 30% in the Incline Village MLS, while the Tahoe Sierra MLS experienced a 17% decline. Compared to February 2025, active inventory remains limited across most markets, and days on market declined in Nevada, reinforcing ongoing buyer strength. Median sales prices decreased year over year in the Tahoe Sierra MLS and Lake Tahoe Basin, while Incline Village saw a notable rise in median price, driven by several high-end sales.
