2025 Lake Tahoe Clarity Report Released; Supervisors Approve Balanced $1.5 Billion Draft Budget; Rep. Kiley Joins NYT Editorial Board in Calling For Congressional Action on Election Reform; More

by Moonshine Ink Staff | Jun 13, 2026 | Uncategorized

Sunnyside to Change Hands

by Melissa Siig | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

The sun is setting on Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge as the community has known it for almost four decades. The longtime operator of the restaurant, T S Restaurants, is stepping aside in the fall to make way for a new operator — chef and restaurateur Mark Estee of Local Food Group.

T S Restaurants, which currently operates 13 destination restaurants in Hawaii and California, has run both the Sunnyside restaurant and hotel since 1987. T S CEO Jackie Reed said the decision was a mutual one made with the property owner, Tahoe Sunnyside Partners.

“It was a very difficult decision, but it felt time to return Sunnyside to a more local operator,” she said, “to do what was best for Sunnyside for the future.”

Estee has opened numerous restaurants in Tahoe and Reno, including Burger Me! and Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats (though he is no longer involved with either). Before that, he served as the executive chef at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s Lone Eagle Grille. His group currently owns four restaurants in Reno — seven if you count Great Basin Brewery’s four locations.

Although Reed noted it’s been a difficult few years for the restaurant industry, she said the decision to part ways with Sunnyside was not a financial one. Mike Dumke, managing partner of Tahoe Sunnyside Partners, said the same thing.

“It’s been a great relationship with T S for 39 years, almost more like a partnership than a landlord relationship,” he said. “We both mutually came to the conclusion that it may be better to have them transition out and have a more local operator get involved in the property.”

Dumke said Estee plans on putting a fresh spin on the menu but will retain the theme of American fare as well as seafood and great burgers and adding some smoked items.

The new partnership also marks the beginning of significant investments across the property. Sunnyside will shut down Oct. 5 for renovations with plans to re-open April 1, 2027. The Local Food Group will remodel the restaurant, which includes an expansion of the kitchen and private dining spaces, while the ownership group plans on refreshing the 23 hotel rooms with new paint, carpet, and furniture, but no new construction. Tahoe Sunnyside Partners, which also owns Sunnyside Watersports & Marina, will manage the lodge going forward.

T S’s presence in Tahoe City began in 1978 with Jake’s on the Lake, then Sunnyside nine years later. Jake’s sold to a T S founder’s brother, Chris Thibaut, in 2005. Despite T S leaving Tahoe in the fall, Sunnyside will retain its storied name.

“It’s an emotional and bittersweet time for us,” said Reed, who noted T S is focusing on the Summer Send-Off celebration, with plans still in the works. “Not a lot of restaurants can say they operated for 39 years.”

Glyphosate Has its Foot in the Door. What’s Next?

by Addison Wingate | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

The latest environmental controversy in Tahoe isn’t a development project, a wildfire, or a fight over lake clarity.

It’s a weed killer.

A proposal to use glyphosate in portions of the Caldor Fire burn scar has triggered mounting concern among residents and environmental advocates, opening a broader conversation about the herbicide’s health risks, ecological impacts, and growing presence throughout the region.

It all started with nonprofit news outlet Mother Jones’ yearlong investigation into the expanding use of herbicides in California forests. Released in May, the article dove deep into the worlds of wildfire management and recovery, industrial pesticide production, and complex federal bureaucracy. Among other projects, the article highlighted Forest Service plans to use herbicide as a vegetation management tool in the burn scar of the 2021 Caldor wildfire.

The final environmental assessment and decision notice for the Caldor Fire Restoration Project — to be spearheaded by the Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) — was released in March of this year. The project will thin tree stands in and around the burn area, remove damaged trees, and reforest burned areas, all within an approximately 11,700-acre project footprint.

Part of that preparation and reforestation is slated to include potential herbicide treatment. In the environmental assessment, LTBMU notes that “herbicides may be used to aid site preparation before tree planting and to manage competing vegetation after planting when manual treatments are ineffective or expected to be insufficient.”

At the top of the list of intended herbicides? Glyphosate.

Public reaction to the Caldor Restoration Project

The Mother Jones investigation analyzed more than 5 million California pesticide-use records, finding that approximately 266,000 pounds of glyphosate were applied in California forests in 2023 — nearly five times the amount used two decades earlier. The article characterized forest applications as the fastest-growing use of glyphosate in the state.

Public opposition to the use of the chemical in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin has quickly mounted, and pressure is on for local agencies.

In response to public outcry around the use of glyphosate in the Caldor Fire Restoration Project, a change.org petition began to circulate. It quickly garnered well over 22,000 signatures by the time this article was written, with public comments and support pouring in from across the country. Conspicuously absent from the body of this petition, however, are any concrete demands to address the titular demand, “Stop glyphosate spraying in the Tahoe Basin.”

This missing piece may be a reflection of the confusing decision-making associated with this project — in this particular instance, it seems few people know exactly how to effect change within our local bureaucracy.

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Frustrated, concerned, and confused, the public has swarmed to social media and rallied at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) governance meetings to demand regulatory change. But that’s just not how it works, Jeff Cowen, public information officer at TRPA explained to me. At least, not anymore.

To understand the decision-making process behind environmental projects like this one, one must go back to the start. In 1969, TRPA was formed to help manage the two states, five counties, and three national forests that all wanted decision-making power over Lake Tahoe. Soon after, LTBMU was formed to consolidate national forest management in the region.

“It’s … been a partnership from the start,” Cowen said of the relationship between TRPA and LTBMU. But with 79% of land in the Basin owned and managed by the Forest Service, there are limitations on TRPA’s influence.

Those limitations have shifted over time, perhaps the most notable of which came as a result of the 2007 Angora wildfire. Inefficiencies, silos, and redundant regulatory procedures, Cowen explained, were identified as sticking points in the fire’s cause and magnitude. To address these hindrances, about 20 agencies came together to streamline environmental decision-making in the Basin.

Among the outcomes of this streamlining was an expanded memorandum of understanding between TRPA and LTBMU. For major projects like the Caldor Fire Restoration Project, TRPA is no longer a permitting authority, but instead an advisor to the decision-making process.

Cowen emphasized the efficacy of this decision, sharing that he feels that a “regulatory framework is really ineffective and not needed,” between the two agencies. “Because the Forest Service has very similar goals … they basically get to the point where they’re just adopting [our] goals and implementing them through their own plans.”

Together, the agencies have treated 80,000 acres across the Basin for wildfire prevention in the past two decades. But he also acknowledged there are “big, federal, overarching principles and direction that they also have to follow.”

As of late, these overarching principles seem somewhat murky.

How we got here: A noxious government love affair

In February of this year, the Trump administration made a sweeping move with the issuance of an Executive Order unambiguously named “Promoting the National Defense by Ensuring an Adequate Supply of Elemental Phosphorous and Glyphosate-Based Herbicides.”

This explicit prioritization of glyphosate production and use by the executive branch is a conveniently-timed declaration of support for the lawsuit-ridden Bayer company — and it’s no mystery as to why, Nathan Donley from the Center for Biological Diversity explained.

Our government has and continues to validate the use of glyphosate and other pesticides — despite the widely documented risks — because of the immense lobbying power of agricultural and agrochemical industries, Donley said. And it is far from isolated to the Trump administration.

“It’s been an absolute full court press from Bayer on all levels of government,” he explained. “Not just the executive and legislative branches. I mean, Clarence Thomas was a former Monsanto employee.”

And he’s not the only agrichemical-employee-turned-political-appointee. As of President Trump’s first year in office, all four of the top positions in the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention — the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Assistant Administrator, Deputy Assistant Administrator for New Chemicals, and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticides — have been filled by former executives or lobbyists of chemical and agricultural companies. The EPA and most other pesticide regulatory agencies continue to assert that glyphosate does not pose a health risk when used according to its label.

As Donley said, “the tendrils run deep … in the levels of influence that this company, Bayer, has in our government.”

Just how deep they run on initiatives like the Caldor Fire Restoration Project remains somewhat opaque. In the project’s environmental assessment, the herbicide use is identified as a way to expedite reforestation and “achieve silvicultural objectives.” These objectives? Conifer stands.

The assessment names three target species that, if not for herbicide use, could otherwise outcompete reforested conifers: western whitethorn, greenleaf manzanita, and ceanothus, or California lilac.

These native, fire-adapted species are known as pioneer species, meaning they are often the first to appear after wildfire events. Their fast-growing roots help to stabilize fire-impacted soil and prevent excess erosion, while also providing species-specific benefits like returning nutrients to damaged soils and quickly regenerating important habitat for pollinators and other species.

But while targeted elimination of native species may raise eyebrows, the Forest Service has an explanation. They are “not taking a wholesale targeting approach to these shrub species,” but instead targeting them only in the immediate vicinity of conifer seedlings. This will help ensure the area includes enough established trees to prevent full conversion to a montane chaparral environment, which could otherwise ignite easier and burn faster in future fire seasons.

Still, there is time before glyphosate use is slated to begin in the Basin.

“No herbicide application is planned for 2026 or 2027,” the Forest Service’s Region 5 media team stated. “Reforestation is an activity that will occur after initial entry (such as mechanical or hand treatments to remove overhead hazards and perhaps prescribed burning or mastication as site preparation) and occurs later in the project implementation timeline.”

Of the 11,700 acres of Forest Service land included within the project area, herbicide treatment is only proposed on a portion of the 2,400 to 3,600 acres where reforestation efforts will take place.

It’s a common pesticide. What’s the big deal?

Well, ain’t that the $11 billion question.

Health and environmental concerns associated with glyphosate use and exposure have been bubbling up for over a decade.

And despite being the most widely used herbicide globally, glyphosate wasn’t originally poised to become a pesticide at all. The chemical was first developed as a boiler and pipe cleaner agent. It wasn’t until 1974 that Monsanto, an American agrochemical and biotechnology company, discovered its efficacy as a herbicide. Monsanto quickly patented the discovery and sold glyphosate as the active ingredient in its crown-jewel herbicide product — Roundup.

For over 25 years, Roundup products filled shelves at hardware and home garden stores, farming co-ops, and major industrial retailers as the sole glyphosate-based product. Touting its unique success as a versatile weed-killer, products were marketed and sold in a variety of forms, from ready-to-use herbicides for home gardens to commercial-grade concentrates designed for agricultural, industrial, and heavy-duty landscaping use. The substance was applied with everything from handheld bottles to backpack devices to large-scale aerial sprayers.

In 2000, Monsanto’s patent for exclusive use of the chemical expired in the United States. Other manufacturers began to flood the market, introducing their own glyphosate-based herbicides. Public use skyrocketed and, for the better part of two decades, glyphosate products flew off shelves.

Then in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), published a scientific evaluation of the carcinogenicity of several market herbicides, glyphosate among them. As a result, glyphosate was designated as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”

Months later, the first lawsuit to allege Monsanto’s Roundup products were causing cancer proceeded to trial in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a groundskeeper for Benicia Unified School District argued Roundup had caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The case, Johnson v. Monsanto, became the first of approximately 125,000 similar claims filed by 2020, with the California court ultimately ruling in Mr. Johnson’s favor. The jury awarded the plaintiff $289 million in compensatory and punitive damages, an amount that was later reduced by the judge to $78 million and then $21 million.

At the same time, proponents of glyphosate products began to vehemently defend both its safety and usage.

One such advocate named Patrick Moore, a former environmentalist turned TED-talking-climate-change-skeptic, even went so far as to claim Roundup was safe to drink. Moore was featured on air in a CBC News segment on the 2015 WHO findings, where he stated that “you can drink a whole quart of [Roundup], it won’t hurt you.” However, when offered a glass of the chemical by his interviewer, Moore declined to substantiate his claim in real-time, repeatedly saying “No, I’m not stupid.”

In 2017, a multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California consolidated the surge of federal lawsuits against Monsanto for its Roundup products. The litigation revealed a body of evidence that the leading study cited to defend Roundup’s safety for human exposure — Safety Evaluation and Risk Assessment of the Herbicide Roundup and Its Active Ingredient, Glyphosate, for Humans, published in 2000 by Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology — was in large part shaped and steered by Monsanto employees. The suit exposed email exchanges between Monsanto employees offering congratulations to one another for their “hard work” on the study and hopes that it would become “the reference on Roundup and glyphosate safety.”

Ultimately, the journal retracted the study, citing significant ethical concerns. But the damage was done, and the study still ranks among the top references justifying glyphosate use and claims to its safety.

In 2018, Monsanto was acquired by Bayer, a German pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical company. Bayer continued to sell Roundup but quickly discontinued the use of the Monsanto brand name, which was becoming increasingly tied to unfavorable litigation.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California found Monsanto liable for another case of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in Hardeman v. Monsanto Co. in 2019, initially awarding Mr. Hardeman $80 million in damages — a total subsequently reduced to $20 million. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the decision in 2021, finding that the EPA’s approval of a pesticide label does not immunize a manufacturer from being held liable. This case ultimately became the first (and at this point, only) federal decision on the issue.

Despite Bayer phasing out glyphosate as an active ingredient in its residential Roundup products in 2023, it remains present in commercial and agricultural formulas. Lawsuits have continued to arise, with substantial damages and fees awarded to plaintiffs whose exposure to Roundup resulted in non-Hodgkin, follicular, T-cell, or other forms of lymphoma.

As of the time this article is being written, Bayer has paid over $11 billion in settlements for Roundup-related lawsuits and proposed a nation-wide class action settlement that would cap current and future claim payouts at $7.25 billion, to be used for declining payments for up to 21 years. The class action is heavily opposed by plaintiffs and environmental and public health organizations who have described it as a liability “shield.” A decision from the federal Supreme Court on its constitutionality is expected later in June. If approved, it will become one of the largest legal fee awards to date.

Public health and environmental impact

Cancer is far from the only public health risk posed by glyphosate use and exposure.

Studies have found potential ties between glyphosate exposure and various medical conditions such as liver disease and reproductive disorders including PCOS, endometriosis, and disruptions to fertility. What’s more, a growing body of research is finding that glyphosate exposure may be a trigger for various gastrointestinal diseases and conditions, including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

But despite these alarming associations, it remains unclear how much exposure is required to pose a real health risk to humans. In the vast majority of legal cases, affected plaintiffs are groundkeepers, farmers, or dedicated recreational gardeners — folks routinely subjected to highly concentrated forms of glyphosate.

In all likelihood, the exposure any individual may experience as a direct result of a relatively remote use such as the Caldor Fire Restoration Project would not cause substantial human harm. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, the half-life (time needed for a chemical to reduce to half of its initial amount) of glyphosate is particularly variable, landing somewhere between 2 and 197 days in soil, and between “a few days” and 91 days in water.

The chance of human exposure narrows further upon consideration of where the Caldor Fire Reforestation Project’s proposed herbicide treatment areas lie. In an email, the Forest Service’s Region 5 media team noted that “for the Caldor Fire Restoration Project, herbicide use is proposed only on a subset of the area proposed for reforestation, where other reforestation site preparation methods will not work. For example, manual removal equipment is not permitted in project areas with steep slopes, locations far from existing roads, [or] sensitive soils.”

But the questionable human health impacts of this project are not the sole consideration in this instance. An even greater risk is the ecological devastation that glyphosate wreaks on habitats, plants, and wildlife.

Donley at the Center for Biological Diversity noted that so long as glyphosate is present, it poses an environmental risk. This is particularly true after any precipitation, where stormwater runoff “goes into the nearby river, lake, or stream of that watershed and contaminates it with high pulses of pesticide.”

Donley emphasized that most animals do rely on these waters, whether they are woodland animals seeking drinking water, wetland species like migratory birds, or aquatic animals that then have no choice but to suffer through 24/7 exposure to contaminated water. While this can be lethal, he added, there are other effects as well. “It can lead to chronic harms like reduced reproductive capability or developmental defects, so it can affect subsequent generations and ultimately lead to population decline or even collapse for certain species,” he explained.

The Environmental Protection Agency found that glyphosate use was likely causing harm to 1,676 of the approximately 1,700 plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Where the Caldor Fire Restoration Project is concerned, LTBMU will be taking some precautions to prevent this catastrophic runoff. “Herbicide applications will not take place within six hours of predicted rainfall that has a high probability of producing measurable runoff, or as requested by the Forest Service aquatics biologist,” the Forest Service shared via email. Additionally, the project will use backpack sprayers or other low-volume methods, as opposed to aquatic or aerial application, which produces greater concern for pollinator species.

But slip-ups or insufficient margins of time between application and precipitation could be catastrophic for some species that call the Tahoe area home.

In 2021, the federal Environmental Protection Agency found that glyphosate use was likely causing harm to 1,676 of the approximately 1,700 plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. Impacted species include the Sierra Nevada red fox, California spotted owl, and Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, all of which are listed in the federal Endangered Species Act and live in our area.

Hitting close to home

While proposed glyphosate use in the Caldor burn scar has created quite a stir for the public, it appears as though our community remains blissfully unaware that glyphosate made its debut in the Truckee/Tahoe area long ago.

According to its most recent annual data, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) ranked glyphosate the sixth most used pesticide in the state in 2023. Of herbicides (plant-specific pesticides) used statewide, glyphosate ranked number one both by pounds applied and total acres treated – 10.7 million and 4.8 million, respectively. About 270,000 pounds alone were used to spray California’s forest land, a figure that has been steadily increasing each year.

Agriculture remains a top use, with glyphosate the pesticide of choice for a variety of crops, from cotton to nuts to citrus and even — put down your glass of pinot here — wine grapes. Neighborhood gardens also pose a risk; DPR data excludes residential use, but despite Bayer’s 2023 phaseout of glyphosate from its residential products, the compound remains the active ingredient in competitor products. Nationwide, the EPA estimates residential and non-crop glyphosate use at several million pounds per year.

While glyphosate is most closely associated with agriculture, it is also widely used in non-agricultural settings, including rights-of-way corridors, landscape maintenance, parks, athletic facilities, golf courses, utility infrastructure, and other managed public spaces.

Individual county reporting provides insight into current uses regionally. El Dorado County, which encompasses the Eastern side of Folsom to the California-Nevada state line in South Lake Tahoe, applied over 9,500 pounds of glyphosate in 2023 for forest and timberland applications, and just over 6,000 along rights of way areas like roads, highway corridors, sidewalks, and curb areas. Placer County, on the other hand, reported over 9,000 pounds used for rights of way areas, just over 4,600 pounds for forest and timberland areas, and just under 4,000 pounds for landscape maintenance. Nevada County clocked in with significantly lower rates, at  just over 2,000 pounds used for rights of way areas and a similar amount for landscape maintenance topping the list in 2023.

These numbers encompass more than public agency use. Private landowners are also obligated to report use to DPR, and glyphosate has become industry-standard for a number of vegetative fixtures. For example, on its website, NV Energy notes herbicide use as a mechanism for vegetation management under its power lines.

A recent follow-up article from Mother Jones opened with investigative journalist Nate Halverson standing in the middle of a run at Sierra-at-Tahoe that “clearly had been doused in glyphosate,” pointing to the area being “devoid of spring flowers; the bushes leafless, brittle, and dead by all appearances.” Sure enough, Halverson had found that the “Forest Service posted maps online showing it had sprayed glyphosate around and within Sierra-at-Tahoe in spring 2025.” This spraying was a part of a separate Caldor Fire Restoration Project, managed by El Dorado Resource Conservation District and taking place outside of the Basin, with a much larger footprint approved for herbicide use.

Patrick Lacey, public relations manager at Palisades Tahoe, said the resort does not use any chemicals, herbicides, or pesticides for vegetation management. Instead, he explained, its vegetation management crews use the mechanical removal of smaller trees and bushes to focus on “reducing ladder fuels on the forest floor and skier safety; the combination works synergistically.”

Marc McMullen, the golf course superintendent at Northstar California Resort, told me he does use glyphosate as well as fungicide to manage vegetation on the Northstar course. While total use during the season is relatively low, McMullen emphasized that the compound used is a harsh enough product that it is not available off the shelf and requires a pesticide applicator license through both the state and county.

University extension publications and turf-management literature routinely identify golf courses as a significant use category for the herbicide for vegetation management, cart-path edging, weed control, and renovation projects.

Moonshine Ink reached out to other land managers of community spaces, but many did not respond to the inquiries.

While debate continues over where and when glyphosate should be used, its presence in the modern landscape is difficult to avoid entirely. That reality raises a practical question for residents: What steps, if any, can individuals and communities take to reduce exposure?

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot

Options range from personal choices to participating in public discussions.

First and foremost, eating food grown using organic practices whenever possible is one of the leading ways to reduce glyphosate exposure and mitigate its harms to human health, researchers say.

A 2020 study published in Environmental Research found that diet is a main source of glyphosate exposure for humans. What’s more, researchers found glyphosate levels in children prior to making the switch to organic foods were approximately five times higher than adult levels. The good news? Transitioning to organic food had a near-immediate impact on the amount of glyphosate in subjects’ systems, reducing levels by over
70 percent.

Water, too, can be a potential source of glyphosate exposure. In the Basin, where most household drinking water comes from surface waters, regional water purveyors regularly test for pesticides. Sarah Vidra, the Executive Director at Tahoe Water Suppliers Association, confirmed that “pesticides are … monitored as part of the Synthetic Organic Chemicals (SOC) program.” Currently, she added, “the Association is not aware of any pesticide detections exceeding drinking water standards in Lake Tahoe source water supplies.” Vidra confirmed the SOC testing TWSA uses detects glyphosate.

Truckee tap water is substantially more removed from potential contamination, as the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) sources all water from deep underground aquifers. “The average age of our drinking water predates many modern chemicals,” Alex Spychalsky, TDPUD Communications Program Manager, explained via email. “For example, the rain we saw fall in our region last week won’t reach our aquifer for decades.”

But Donley said there’s more to be done than relying on water purveyors. “Regardless of how clean you think your water is, everyone should have a good water filter in their house,” he advised. “Because I don’t care how clean you think your water is, it’s not.”

While limiting glyphosate exposure in private spaces like kitchens, yards, and gardens can help mitigate risk, navigating more public areas that are outside of one’s control can be more complex. A simple rule of thumb, Donley suggested, is don’t play — and don’t let your loved ones play — where dandelions don’t grow. Weeds and other landscaping imperfections are natural. Allow them to be a sign of safe, glyphosate-free spaces.

Locally, questions about herbicide use may be addressed through existing regulatory and planning processes. As for the standards by which TRPA advises projects, those can be changed, though Cowen noted that “the path to what action [TRPA] can take is a relatively long one.” While it typically responds to emerging issues through scientific review, Cowen suggested the level of public interest surrounding glyphosate may warrant further examination. In the case of herbicide use in the Tahoe Basin, he said, “public concern is probably enough for us to start looking at it.”

Whether glyphosate is ultimately used as part of the LTBMU Caldor Fire Restoration Project remains to be seen. What is already clear is that the proposal has sparked a broader conversation about forest management, wildfire recovery, herbicide use, public health, and environmental stewardship — one that is likely to continue well beyond the boundaries of the burn scar itself.

Truckee Fire Sues Placer County Over Decades of Unpaid Property Tax

by Alex Hoeft | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

For decades, Truckee Fire Protection District has provided fire and emergency medical services to some of the region’s most affluent neighborhoods. According to the district, however, it has never received the full share of property tax revenue that should be tied to those responsibilities.

Now, after years of unsuccessful negotiations, Truckee Fire has taken Placer County to court, arguing that a decades-old property tax allocation error has deprived the district of roughly $40 million since the mid-1970s. The lawsuit could reshape how millions of dollars in property taxes are distributed among local agencies, drawing 10 other districts into the dispute.

Property tax collection for select special districts across Truckee/North Tahoe play a significant role in revenue streams. Some, like Truckee Sanitary District and Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, rely on property taxes for more than 60% of their operating revenue.

This is common in California: Revenue from the 1% property tax is the foundation for most jurisdictions, from counties and cities down to schools and special districts.

Which means if there’s a piece of the highly precious property pie tax missing, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Nearly 75% of the Truckee Fire Protection District’s 2025/26 revenue comes from taxes, or $14.1 million of its total $19.8 million budget. That number, alleges the district, should be $4 million more.

The district officially brought a case before the Sacramento Superior Court in February 2025 to right a “historic wrong,” according to court documentation.

Placer County, through outside counsel, has so far called into question the legal validity of the entire case, disputing each of the four causes of action submitted by Truckee Fire that make up its argument. Judge Jennifer K. Rockwell ruled against the county’s claims as recently as May 14.

As of press deadline, the ball is in Placer’s court: it has until July 6 to file a formal response to Truckee Fire’s demand for court action and a legal ruling.

Because of the active litigation, both entities provided brief statements to Moonshine Ink:

“Truckee Fire looks forward to having our day in court and to an expeditious, fair, and complete resolution to this matter,” Chief Kevin McKechnie said.

“The county disputes the claims brought by the district and will defend its position in the litigation,” shared Steven Wilson-Maggard, public information officer.

How did we get here?

The red tape that’s causing so much back and forth stems from California’s Proposition 13, passed back in 1978.

This ruling put a 1% tax rate cap of a property’s assessed value and limited yearly assessment increases to 2%. (Prior to ’78, the state’s average property tax rate was 2.67%.) Further, property reassessments bringing up a property to current market value can only take place when there’s a change in ownership or new construction.

Assembly Bill 8 (AB 8), enacted in 1979, determined how that 1% tax was divided up among local governments. County auditors were required to base this distribution on the average property tax revenue received by local governments in the few years preceding Prop 13.

The crux for Truckee Fire is that a few years prior to Prop 13, the district began providing fire protection and medical services to a piece of land known then as the Woolverton Property and known now as Zone 7, annexed into the district in 1974.

Zone 7 currently comprises Martis Camp, Schaffer’s Mill, part of Lahontan off Snowshoe Thompson Circle; a portion of Sierra Meadows off Pine Cone and Ponderosa drives, and Golden Pine Road; as well as a section of Ponderosa Palisades on Silver Fir Drive west of Thelin Drive.

The Woolverton agreement limited taxation to the value of improvements (or development), not the underlying land, and allowed property owner Bertha Joerger Woolverton “to continue to live on her property unburdened by taxes but to support the District’s services as she sold her land for development,” as stated in Truckee Fire’s complaint.

In board meetings, Placer County supervisors have called this deal of taxing Zone 7 at a reduced rate as a mistake made by Truckee Fire, leading to the district receiving only partial property tax from that area during three critical years before Prop 13. That taxation level was locked into place in 1978 — and has stayed that way through today.

During the 2024/25 tax year, across the TRAs in Zone 7, Truckee Fire received between 0.60% and 0.75% in AB 8 property tax allocation. A nearby TRA shows Truckee Fire receiving 11.58% of the distribution.

There have been some negotiations in the intervening years. Truckee Fire formally requested its share of AB 8 funding in 1997, 2011, 2018, and 2023. In 1997, Placer’s Auditor Controller Jayne Goulding sent a letter to Truckee Fire stating the revenues had been corrected, but that change never took place.

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In 2019, the county allocated the district funding from an adjacent bucket: Placer County executed a voluntary tax share agreement allowing Truckee Fire to receive a portion of fire control fee collected from Zone 7 property taxes, amounting to about $300,000 annually. Truckee Fire considers this agreement irrelevant to the larger situation, according to court documentation.

In June 2024, the Placer County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation about the fire control fund and whether to continue with a subsequent funding method or not.

Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes pointed out in June 2024 that Truckee Fire could have corrected the issue in part during the county’s 2003 general plan update but did not do so: “This sets a precedent … This takes money out of our general fund to supplement a district that failed to take action when the opportunity was there for them.”

The item was not up for action, and ended with unclear steps for the future. Eight months later, Truckee Fire filed its case.

What specifically is being asked for?

Truckee Fire’s legal reasons for suing Placer fall into two camps: three focus on the failure of property tax allocation (as described previously), while the fourth focuses on the county’s failure to comply with the Placer County General Plan and Martis Valley Community Plan.

This second camp claims the county approved real estate developments such as Martis Valley, Schaffer’s Mill, and part of Lahontan neighborhoods in Zone 7 without funding fire service in conjunction.

In early 2024, Truckee Fire alleges in the complaint, the district stated on an early building permit for a townhome development in Schaffer’s Mill that as the serving fire protection district, it would “withhold approval of a Certificate of Occupancy until it received adequate funding to provide fire services to the development.” The district also requested that the county restrict further development in Martis Valley until the funding issues at hand could be rectified.

On March 26 of that year, Placer amended its county code to allow fire-protection district approval to come from either Truckee Fire, Placer County Fire, or Cal Fire.

Over a year later, the Placer County Planning Commission modified the Schaffer’s Mill Conditional Use Permit language to allow either Truckee Fire or Placer County Fire’s signature for plan approvals.

Placer demurred to the district’s complaint on all causes of action. A demurrer essentially means that even if, in this case, Truckee Fire’s claims are true, they do not warrant a lawsuit. Judge Rockwell overruled two of the three demurrers, while sustaining the third demurrer on the fourth cause of action, but allowed the district time to amend its legal stance.

Truckee Fire did so, submitting an amended complaint — to which Placer demurred once again on the fourth cause of action. The judge overruled this demurrer in mid-May, leading to the current wait for Placer County’s response, due by July 6.

From there, the case will likely enter a discovery phase, during which both sides will exchange information, evidence, and witness interviews.

Among its requests for ruling, Truckee Fire hopes for legal mandates to the county to allocate and pay the district its AB 8 share of Zone 7 property tax revenue; a permanent injunction from denying Truckee Fire its AB 8 share; and a declaration that Placer’s decision to approve development in the Martis Valley area without general plan compliance violates the law.

What other districts are involved (and whose side are they on)?

If Truckee Fire is allotted any amount of AB 8, which is a limited pot of money, other entities receiving property tax from Zone 7 will take a hit.

When it first filed its complaint, Truckee Fire did not include other taxing entities involved in Zone 7 who could be impacted. Placer called this out in a demurrer, requiring an amended complaint to include the following as real parties in interest:

Truckee Tahoe Airport District, Placer County Resource Conservation District, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, Sierra Community College District, Placer County Office of Education, Placer County Water Agency, Tahoe Forest Hospital District, Tahoe Truckee Sanitation Agency, Tahoe City Public Utility District, and Truckee Sanitary District. All 10 are listed as parties on the side of Placer County.

Of the parties, the airport district, Tahoe City PUD, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, Placer County Office of Education, and Truckee Sanitary District have filed joinders at some point, formally aligning themselves with Placer’s arguments. For the latest set of demurrers, the school district and office of education did not file joinders while the remaining three did.

Why other parties of interest didn’t file a joinder can be for many reasons, including being able to benefit from a decision without the cost or exposure; different interests than defendant’s strategies; and taking a wait-and-see approach.

“While the core of this dispute is between the fire district and the county, the legal remedy sought, a reapportionment of ad valorem property taxes, carries an outsized potential impact on a broad coalition of local public agencies that provide essential services to our community,” TTAD General Manager Robb Etnyre wrote in an email. “Because property tax revenue is a ‘zero-sum’ system under California law, any significant shift in these percentages means the funding must be drawn from the existing shares of other local entities.”

In its 2026 budget, TTAD anticipates receiving about $10 million in property tax revenue — about 55% of its revenue for the year.

Etnyre added that the airport district’s participation in the case, as well as the other parties with interest, “is intended to ensure that the pursuit of fire protection funding does not inadvertently destabilize the budgets of our schools, our hospital, or our regional infrastructure.”

Truckee Fire has said in public statements about the case, “Placer County would prefer we ask taxpayers districtwide to approve a new property tax so that the district can have sufficient funds to fund services in Lahontan, Martis Camp and Schaffer’s Mill … Placer County has already collected substantial tax revenue, they just need to allocate it.”

In the current court case, the district is requesting its AB 8 share from the date of the final court order forward. Meanwhile, it is also asking for historical records of what it received from 1975 to 1978, which would play a role in determining the full amount Truckee Fire might have collected since the mid-1970s.

Sherry McConkey: Giving Back, One Challenge at a Time

by Ella Clifford | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

Sherry McConkey is widely known in Tahoe/Truckee as the wife of the late, famed skier and ski-BASE athlete Shane McConkey, as founder of the Shane McConkey Foundation, and a popular yoga teacher. But the story of how Sherry became such an active part of the Tahoe community started on the other side of the world.

Born to a South African mother and Persian father, Sherry entered the world under complicated circumstances. Her mother, who was a model, gave birth in an adoption home in Ireland because in the 1960s, it would have been complicated to have a mixed-race child in South Africa. When Sherry was born with blonde hair and blue eyes, her mother was able to bring her back to South Africa and raise her there.

After spending her first years in Iran, Sherry grew up near the coastal city of Durban in South Africa. By age 21, she was ready to see more of the world.

“When I was 21, I decided to travel the world and find my birth father,” Sherry said.

With South African currency stretching only so far abroad, she found herself working, traveling, and working again as she made her way across Europe.

“I had some insanely amazing adventures, great and bad, beautiful and crazy,” Sherry said. “Three years of a very innocent, naive young South African traveling the world.”

Along the way, she saw snow for the first time while visiting Switzerland and immediately fell in love with the mountains. Eventually, her search for her father led her to North America.

But shortly before she planned to meet him, everything changed.

“As I was about to come to the States to meet my dad, he left without telling me,” Sherry said. “Basically, I was like, ‘Screw you. I’m done looking. I’m done trying.’”

Without a destination in mind, Sherry followed recommendations from friends and found herself driving to Tahoe.

“I found it miraculous,” she said. “As I drove up the West Shore and the harvest moon was coming out of the lake, I was like, ‘Oh my god, this place is amazing.’”

What was supposed to be a single winter stay has now turned into 36 years.

Tahoe became even more meaningful after she met professional skier Shane McConkey. Together they built a life and raised their daughter, Ayla. When Shane died in a ski-BASE accident in Italy in 2009, Sherry considered leaving the region.

“When Shane died, the community just wrapped their arms around Ayla and me,” she said. “It was like a family around me. I was like, ‘How am I ever going to leave this?’”

The years that followed were marked by loss throughout the community. Many longtime locals remember the early 2000s as a period of repeated tragedies.

“I got to a point where I was like, ‘How much more can I take?’” Sherry said. “But when I looked at other places to go, I would realize I couldn’t leave my Tahoe family.”

Instead, she stayed and poured her energy into giving back.

In the years following Shane’s death, Sherry helped establish the Shane McConkey Foundation. What began as a way to support environmental causes the couple cared about grew into programs that are now nationwide. Since its founding in 2011, the nonprofit has donated one million dollars to environmental causes, kids health and wellness, and projects that impact the Tahoe/Truckee region.

“When I first started the foundation, I think I was still in shock,” Sherry said. “We didn’t quite know what to do.”

One of its most successful projects grew from a student environmental initiative led by a teacher at Donner Trail Elementary partaking in the Shane McConkey Eco Challenge. Today, the foundation’s Don’t Drop the Top program operates lid collection sites throughout the region that have diverted 8,200 pounds of plastic from local landfills.

“The kids partaking in the Eco Challenges are mind-blowing and so amazing,” Sherry said. “It gives me hope for the future.”

For Sherry, the foundation reflects the same philosophy that defined Shane’s life: maximizing enjoyment in life.

“The foundation, in a nutshell, is a combination of fun and not taking life so seriously, but then intense and taking life really seriously,” she said. “A good balance.”

After decades in Tahoe, that balance continues to guide her. The woman who once crossed continents searching for connection ultimately found it in a mountain town that became family.

“My hope for Tahoe is to become the most environmentally conscious town in the world,” Sherry said. “It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and you only have one life. Live it.”

Soccer, Songs, International Relations: The Story of the Home Team String Band

by Jon Grant | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

It’s midnight in the middle of nowhere on the Trans-Siberian Railway but sleep is far from mind. Russian train-riders are gathered in the bar car, laughing and dancing around the ragtag string band that’s swigging vodka and making up funny songs on the spot.

The bandmembers are a bunch of Americans, in-country for the 2018 World Cup, and rather than geopolitical hostilities there’s a warmth of human connection forged around global sport and the universal language of music.

“We ended up being the house band on the Trans-Siberian for a week,” guitarist Ryan Salm remembered. “It was before the war [in Ukraine]. We ended up befriending generals and regular people, just singing songs and staying up all night.”

Salm is a founding member of the Home Team String Band, the Tahoe/Truckee-based group that’s traveled to the last four World Cups — bringing an open-armed vibe of music, good times, and cross-cultural connection as they celebrate the unifying power of soccer’s biggest stage.

This year’s World Cup will be played in North and Central America from June 11 to July 19, with the bulk of the matches taking place in the United States.  

“We’ve been welcomed wherever we’ve gone,” said Dan Hurley, the group’s unofficial musical coordinator who, along with Salm, also plays in the Tahoe-based band The Inappropriators. “I’m most looking forward to hosting, and to giving back to the world what they’ve given for us. We are going to show a welcoming spirit.”

To do so, the band bought an old Bluebird school bus and undertook a group-effort, custom build-out, readying their “Schoolie” to be a traveling home, fan-zone (with two TVs and a projector screen), music venue, and cultural welcome center. They’ll make and hand out grilled cheese sandwiches and throw parties, aiming to be a gathering place where people from all over the world can hang out before, during, or after the games and have a good time.

“We’ll play a bunch of songs and hope to get people to join our band along the way,” Salm added.

Folks may join the band forever, for a day, an hour, or even just one song. After all, impromptu additions to the group are what created the Home Team in the first place. The band is now 12-plus humans strong, but it all started back in 2010 with three Tahoe locals who just wanted to go the World Cup in South Africa. 

Salm arrived on the continent before the event began and traveled overland from Ethiopia (guitar and harmonica in tow) to South Africa. He knew Paul Raymore and Hurley independently, and they all made plans to meet up before the matches began.

Prior to linking up with them, Salm was checking out of a bungalow in Malawi just as another guy with a guitar was checking in. He was from L.A., and Salm told him he lived in Tahoe. The guy’s first question was, “Have you been to High Sierra Music Festival?”

Salm smiled. “I go every year,” he said. The connection was instant and the two made sure they’d reconnect in South Africa — and boom, Jeremiah Kent was added to the roster. 

Similar serendipity ensued at the USA vs. England game in Rustenberg when an American approached the group and it was discovered they had a mutual friend in Tahoe. He introduced himself as Pete Blanchard and they all hung out that night. “We had an empty spot in our car,” Salm said, “and the next day Pete was part of the crew.”

They met Tahoe-ite Trevor Husted at the USA vs. Algeria knockout match and the group of travel-seeking, soccer-loving musicians started writing funny songs about their World Cup experiences. The bond was tight, and the Home Team String Band was born.

Everyone has a nickname. Someone who joined eight years ago will always be New Guy (Dane Halter). Added in 2014 were Hulké (Martin Cavada), Hylando (Rylan Cordova), and Maximus (Kurt Beckering). Then there’s Godfather (Paul Raymore), Captain Jebbers (Kent), and Handsome (Hurley), among others.  

The nicknames are written on the back of the bandmate’s personal Sweatsedo — a sweet, custom-made velour track suit — in the local language of whatever country they are in. Sometimes the names get lost in translation. In Russia, for example, Trevor Husted’s “T-Bone” read as “T-Steak.” 

Eight years later, Husted is still T-Steak.

Blanchard earned his original nickname, Granada (Spanish for grenade), due to his proclivity for explosive late-night antics, but on the Trans-Siberian he turned sweet. On a short stop, he ran out and bought flowers for the Russian bartendress. She received them well and started calling him Pupsik — a term of endearment either romantic or maternal meaning something akin to “cutie.” The boys couldn’t resist that one either, and his nickname forever changed to Pupsik.

There’s an origin story, of course, for the nicknames. In 2010, the original crew was driving on a dirt road in Lesotho, the small, mountainous nation landlocked by South Africa, when a couple of locals boys threw a small rock at the vehicle. “Stop the car!” boomed Salm’s voice. In a flash he was running into the African plains after the half-laughing, half-screaming perpetrators. 

The team was beyond impressed by Salm’s speed. Right then and there he became “Cheetah” — and the naming began. 

The young-adult sons of Raymore and Halter, Ethan and Nathan respectively, will hop on the bus for their first Home Team action this World Cup. “They’re good kids but they haven’t done much yet,” Hurley said. “They’ll be known collectively as JV until they prove themselves worthy of joining the varsity and earning a nickname.”

Not your typical band

The group’s gigs aren’t pre-booked shows in concert halls, rather impromptu busking-type sessions played in crowded subways, outside stadiums, and on bustling city streets. 

“My favorite thing about it is that most of our material is written in the moment,” Hurley said, noting that the chord progressions are made up on the spot and the lyrics freestyled. “You write a song about a new person you’re hanging out with or the score of the game, a funny time at the bar or the street scene in Brazil we’re looking at.”

Many of their stream of consciousness songs, in a nod to true art, only ever exist once. Some, however, are played again and refined over time to become part of the band’s growing catalogue. 

“We want people coming into it to feel welcome. It’s about the fun, the merriment, the global soccer-sports-music brotherhood that we’ve all come to know and love so much.”

~ Dan Hurley, unofficial musical director of The Home Team String Band, on the 2026 World Cup

And while they’ll mix in some covers — “California Dreaming,” “Hotel California,” and “Born in the U.S.A” are oft-requested when overseas — there’s never anything like a planned-out set list, which appeals to Hurley’s artistic sensibilities. “It’s total musical freedom,” he said.

In addition to the soccer and the music, adventure is a big part of the Home Team’s overall gameplan. On their World Cup-focused trips, they’ve hiked in national parks in Africa, explored the Amazon in Brazil, and embarked on multi-day, self-guided paddleboard trips around Russia’s Lake Baikal (the largest freshwater lake in the world and Tahoe’s sister lake), and the Arabian Sea, including in the Strait of Hormuz. 

When Beckering joined the band for the 2014 Cup in Brazil, he brought along his banjo. The circular part of the instrument was white. One day he drew black markings on it to make it look like a soccer ball, and The Soccer Ball Banjo came to be.   

“If there was a symbol of our band, that would be it,” Raymore declared.   

The band was hitting their stride, but four years later the unthinkable happened: The U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. “It was shocking,” Salm said. “We didn’t know what to do.”

After some debate, the performers decided the show must go on — a decision that led to perhaps the band’s greatest moment, those days and nights of song and merriment as the house band on the clickety tracks of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The 2022 World Cup, held in Qatar in Nov. and Dec. ’21 to avoid the region’s stifling summer heat, featured another changeup: The vodka-swigging, beer-crushing Home Teamers found themselves in a dry country. So, they traded booze for bikes and began cycling to the games, oftentimes two matches a day, and from place to place with their instruments and antics. “A lot of people over there hadn’t seen anything like us,” Salm said.  

So, what do these 2026 home games mean for the Home Team String Band?   

“We want people coming into it to feel welcome,” said Hurley, who recently wrote a song called “Host the World,” which can be found on YouTube. “It’s about the fun, the merriment, the global soccer-sports-music brotherhood that we’ve all come to know and love so much.”

The Tahoe kickoff party takes place on June 12 at Alibi Ale Works in Truckee to watch Team USA’s opening game against Paraguay. The match starts at 6 p.m., with the pre-party starting at 4 p.m. The bus will be on site for tours and photos, and the boys will play tunes. All ages are welcome and bringing instruments is encouraged. “We’d love to see the biggest street band we can make in downtown Truckee,” Raymore said. 

After that game, the Home Team will put the bus in gear and start attending matches in person. First, it’s down to San Francisco where Levi’s Stadium hosts Qatar vs. Switzerland on the 13th and Austria vs. Jordan on the 16th. Then it’s up to Seattle for Team USA’s highly anticipated June 19th match against Australia. 

But the true destination is the journey — being on the bus and spreading the vibe like some version of the Merry Pranksters with a Pelé predilection and well-tuned instruments. 

“We’ll stop anywhere from a town square to a dive bar or a trailer park,” Salm said. “It doesn’t need to be a million people. We’re not an arena band, it’s about intimate.”

From Seattle, the Home Team dips north of the border to catch New Zealand vs. Egypt on the summer solstice in Vancouver. Then the bus will turn around and meander south to get to L.A. in time for Team USA’s final group match June 25 at Sofi Stadium against Türkiye. 

After group play the teams with the best records will advance to the knockout stages, the details of those matches being unknown until the completion of the first round. “We don’t have any idea yet where we’ll go,” Salm said, the band perhaps leaning into its ability to play things by ear. “We’ll try to follow the USA if we can.”

The Beautiful Game 

Estimates are that 5.8 billion people, roughly 75% of the world population, will view the 2026 World Cup in some form — making it the most watched sporting event in human history. 

Soccer, like music, is truly a global language. While there have been historical instances of violence breaking out between different fanbases, the majority of the sport’s power lies in unification. 

“We may be enemies on the pitch, but before and after let’s put the differences behind us and hang out,” Salm said. 

Not every minute of the band’s travels, however, has been filled with kumbaya. In Qatar, the boys were on a bus before the USA vs. Iran game. The bus was pretty much all Iranians. Some back-and-forth jarring started up that quickly turned heated, the fans at each other’s throats. “For a minute, you thought there was going to be a brawl,” Salm relayed. “But then we came together, like ‘hey, we’re all just human beings here.’”

The two countries are now at war. 

There was a similar time on the Trans-Siberian Railway. “We met this guy who looked like a giant ogre, and we were all kind of intimidated,” Hurley recalled. But that mean-looking Russian played the guitar. And the guys bought him some beers. “By the end of the night he was kissing us on the forehead,” Hurley continued.

The Home Team is about getting past stereotypes, about breaking down barriers of preconceived notions of this country or that culture. 

“Our adventures are a good chance to be face-to-face with people you don’t think you’ll get along with,” Hurley said. “Then you watch some soccer together and play some tunes and see what happens next.”

Mark Twain wrote that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” It seems like the Home Team String Band has picked up on what the author was putting down. Over the past 16 years, the group has set out across the globe to take in four World Cups, creating innumerable moments of beautiful connection between humans of different cultures.  

They have always been visitors in a foreign land, yet wherever they have gone the Americans have been welcomed. This summer, they play host — ambassadors of our nation, doing what they can for international relations and having a good time doing it — one goal, one song, one new member of the Home Team at a time.  

The Sawmill Off Highway 50 Has Been Quiet. Here’s Why.

by Alex Hoeft | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

A Moonshine reader recently mailed us a letter, asking if we could figure out why Tahoe Forest Products (TFP), the relatively new sawmill facility in Carson City just off Highway 50, wasn’t producing. “They’re well stocked with Caldor Fire trees but no sawdust,” he wrote. “I’ve heard rumors, but what are the facts?

Indeed, the facility opened on Dec. 18, 2023, to quite a bit of fanfare — local publications, as well as Bloomberg, reported on just how critical Tahoe Forest Products would be in supporting healthy forests, fire recovery efforts, the local economy, and more.

But our reader is right. Two and a half years later, and TFP is sitting silent. I reached out to Kevin Leary, CEO of Hallador Investments, which is the primary investor in the facility, to understand the latest. ~ AH

There were rumors in late 2025 that the facility was closing and/or reporting bankruptcy. A Carson Now article reported that wasn’t the case, and that the facility was in the process of “retooling and upgrading” operations and machinery. Is that still the status, and how far along are those updates? Will the facility operate at full capacity soon?

Kevin Leary, CEO of Hallador: TFP did pause production in mid-2025 and it remains paused. The sawmill facility was originally designed using the lowest-possible cost machinery, meaning old and heavily used, which was a mistake. Too many breakdowns and too slow a production pace meant the initial facility was not financially sustainable. We also paused construction of the planer mill (which will sit to the north of the sawmill building, closer to Highway 50), to avoid making the same mistake twice. We expect to commence upgrades in June, and to be in production a year from now. More modern improvements will enable the facility to operate sustainably.

“Too many breakdowns and too slow a production pace meant the initial facility was not financially sustainable.”

~ Kevin Leary, Hallador Investments CEO

How is the facility funded, and are there concerns for ongoing financial support?

The company is funded by local private investors who care deeply about our region’s forest health, water quality, recreation, and cost of living (including home insurance costs), and who want to support the local economy. TFP will continue to have the support of the owners as long as the prospect of sustainable operations remains.

How is TFP working to address complaints by neighbors, including noise and bright lights?

Several of our neighbors have direct communication access to on-site management at TFP. In the past, we have worked with neighbors to address specific concerns, including repositioning lights and replacing diesel generators with fixed power. We engaged a local landscaping company to install several hundred thousand dollars [worth] of trees and plants along Bucks Way to the south and west.

We should add that occasionally complaints are directed at us that are not of TFP’s making. There are other tenants on the same parcel, and we have received complaints (e.g. dust) that are outside of our lease area or control. In other cases, loud nighttime noises or truck lights might be attributed to TFP but have nothing to do with the mill.

Is the facility feeling impacts from national changes to the U.S. Forest Service, which is undergoing massive restructuring?

TFP tries to maintain close relationships with the USFS at both the local and national levels. In our view, the goal of the changes underway is to move decision-making to the local level and empower local leadership, accountability, and action. There are layers of hierarchy and bureaucracy that probably should go away, like there are in any organization that has been around over a century. (If the readers want an analogy, they can listen to Jon Stewart interview Ezra Klein, co-author of Abundance, on the rollout of rural broadband, administered by a different federal agency. [Editor’s note: Listen to Why We Can’t Have Nice Things with Ezra Klein on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart wherever you listen to podcasts.])

Locally, we have seen some disruptions, and certainly some over-extended and tired USFS friends picking up more responsibilities. But our hope and expectation are that the changes result in a localized, commonsense approach to forest management. To that end, the USFS recently awarded our partner, the Washoe Tribe, a 20-year Master Stewardship Agreement to empower the tribe and partners to take on a larger role in planning and implementing forest health treatments.

Are trees from the 2021 Caldor Fire still on site?

Yes, but very few. The logs received in the past two years are from fuels reduction treatments (i.e., green trees, not burned or salvaged) in the Tahoe Basin and surrounding national forests (Inyo, Humboldt Toiyabe, Eldorado, Tahoe) plus a smaller number from neighborhood and HOA fuels reduction projects.

Operating on Moonshine Time

by Alex Hoeft | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

One of the biggest shocks to my system when I — a type-A queen all about quick turnarounds and addressing issues exactly when they arise — joined Moonshine Ink back in May 2019, was adapting to what we at the office call “Moonshine Time.”

As our readers likely know, we are a free, independent monthly print publication with a (again, free) website that includes both print content as well as online exclusives. We put out a roundup of news briefs every Friday, touching on various happenings during the preceding week, from special district decisions to free events to key hirings or departures and so on.

But what we really sink our teeth into is the print edition. The news articles especially are where we dive deep, exploring topics critical to our Truckee/North Tahoe community in ways that haven’t been addressed by any other news organization.

As Mountain Gazette editor and owner Mike Rogge wrote in 2023, “[Moonshine Ink is] holding up a mirror to who we are as a community.”

But as a primarily monthly focused newspaper with a core staff of eight, we have the tricky challenge of considering each edition’s timeline. For example, this edition, June 2026, runs June 11 to July 8. That means we’re planning for July 4 content in early May, when we sit down to discuss the June edition.

When news stories capture the nation’s interest, like the Liberty Utilities and NV Energy debacle earlier this year, we end up in an odd limbo state of watching approximately 1 million other outlets cover the situation while we’re working in the background to pull as many pieces together as possible for a publication date a few weeks out. My story, A Shock to the System, came out a few weeks after said 1 million outlets reported on the situation.

There’s also the controversial herbicide glyphosate being used to treat forests and more in our region. Again, this has been reported on by broader outlets — but we offer an in-depth lens on Truckee/Tahoe impacts.

It can be frustrating, yes (especially for this type-A queen), but I actually don’t mean for it to come off that way. It’s more so an opportunity to educate our readers about how our brains at Moonshine operate. About 80% of the time, we are thinking about what will come out the second Thursday of each month (except January; collective relaxation time for staff), and how our articles will both be as up to date as possible and highly informative.

Does that mean we don’t produce breaking news content? Not at all. We turn out articles on timely information quite often. Most recently, there was the approval of the Village at Palisades development, and the tragic Castle Peak avalanche. In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, we were constantly updating our readers with daily online updates on the situation. But we only have so many staffers, and as much as I wish otherwise, there are only 24 hours in the day.

To keep up and even expand our ability to cover more and increase publication of those online-exclusive stories, I urge you to consider becoming a Moonshine Ink Member. Like I wrote in a November 2023 Membership update, we want to cover more stories in-depth, but we need help to get there.

Moonshine Ink Vintage 24 Nip 4

by Moonshine Ink Staff | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

To view the PDF of the print edition, click here

Sierra Watch: What’s Next?

by Tom Mooers | Jun 11, 2026 | Uncategorized

The gavel dropped and the conflict was over.

After 15 years of fighting, on May 12 the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the downsized development project for Palisades Tahoe. And the movement to keep Tahoe Truckee True had succeeded: we cut more than 70% of the original development proposal and kept a massive indoor waterpark out of Olympic Valley.

“What’s next?” someone turned to me and asked. “What’s next for Sierra Watch?”

The answer is spelled out in our mission. It’s what we do day after day, year after year: “Sierra Watch secures conservation outcomes to protect the natural resources, mountain communities, and timeless values of the Tahoe Sierra.”

We can see the results in our shared landscape; places like Donner Summit, where we can hike the Sierra Watch Trail to the crest of the mountains and gaze upon Royal Gorge, which was once threatened with luxury development, but is now protected and open to the public.

It’s manifested in Martis Valley, on Waddle Ranch Preserve — once slated for golf courses, shopping malls, and subdivisions — now secured as wildlife habitat, scenic trails, and open space.

And now, in Olympic Valley, where there will never be a giant indoor waterpark.

We’ve achieved incredible results since local residents started Sierra Watch in 2001. But what about the next 25 years?

To answer that question, we’ve been debriefing our strategies and successes, interviewing partners and colleagues, and thinking through how we can best apply what we’ve learned to accomplish more in the decades to come. We’ve got three top priorities.

First is finishing the job — fulfilling our commitments to further the success of our long-term campaigns.

In Olympic Valley, we maintain our presence to make sure that development fits into the limits established in our settlement agreement and that no new proposals threaten the values we’ve worked to protect. In Martis Valley, where Sierra Watch got its start, that means working with our conservation allies to secure the capstone to more than 20 years of strategic and disciplined commitment: permanent protection of the 7,500-acre Tahoe Martis headwaters property on the rim of the Tahoe Basin.

And for White Wolf, between Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, we remain vigilant, ready to further engage in the public planning process for the proposed resort on the 275-acre property. 

Second, Sierra Watch is committed to assessing emerging threats in the Sierra and identifying strategic opportunities. In the months ahead, we’ll take a proactive approach to identifying landscapes at risk and determining where we can apply our proven formula for conservation advocacy.

Third, we will make sure we are telling our story. We get calls from folks all over the American West, from Taos to Tetonia, who want to know how local communities can stand up to developer excess and, in the immortal words of local hero Robb Gaffney, “honor mountain culture.” We — not just Sierra Watch but the entire Tahoe/Truckee community — have a great case study of grassroots success to share with the world. We offer hope and provide proof that we can indeed work together to protect the places we love.

It’s a commitment and a legacy we can all be proud of. And because what we strive to protect is timeless, these past 25 years are just the blink of an eye. It’s our moment in a multi-generational commitment to mountain values.

And we’re just getting started.

~ Tom Mooers has been a leader in defending great places in California for more than 30 years. Before joining Sierra Watch as founding executive director in 2001, he was trained at Green Corps and worked for the Greenbelt Alliance and the League to Save Lake Tahoe. He lives in Nevada City.

Four Seasons of Play in South Lake Tahoe

by Ian Ferguson | May 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

A Planner’s Guide to Year-Round Sports Events

The tournament is why they come. South Lake Tahoe is why they come back.

For sports and meeting planners, finding the right host destination is a balancing act. You need the infrastructure to run a seamless event, and you need enough beyond the schedule to make athletes, families, and coaches glad they made the trip.

South Lake Tahoe checks both columns. With 16 soccer fields, 13 baseball and softball fields, 15 indoor basketball and volleyball courts, a new aquatics and recreation center, and one of the most versatile indoor event venues in the Sierra Nevada, the South Shore is built to host. The alpine scenery, the lake, the trails, and the après-competition energy are everything else.

Here is how it plays out, season by season.

Spring: March to May

Best for: Soccer, lacrosse, flag football, aquatics, and swimming.

Spring is the shoulder season that serious planners already know about. Rates are friendlier, venues are more available, and the destination is in a genuinely dramatic state: snowcapped peaks, wildflowers starting to push through, and a lake that looks like it was designed to make your tournament photos go viral.

For outdoor multi-sport events, the LTCC Community Play Consortium fields offer a multi-field outdoor complex with a one-stop booking system that removes the usual scheduling headaches. For aquatics and indoor competition, the newly built South Lake Tahoe Recreation and Aquatics Center features a lap pool for swim meets, a collegiate-sized gymnasium with two high school cross courts (bleacher seating for 320), and a dedicated event space purpose-built for this use.

If the snowpack cooperates (and in early spring, it often does), a gondola ride or snow play day at Heavenly Mountain Resort makes an effortless team reward after competition wraps. Trails are starting to open. The South Shore is waking up, and the crowds have not arrived yet.

Planner tip: Spring break (late March through mid-April) creates a hotel crunch that can catch planners off guard. Either lean into the school break window intentionally and book room blocks six or more months out, or schedule around it entirely. The shoulder window outside of spring break is where the real value lives.

Summer: June to August

Best for: Basketball, indoor and beach volleyball, baseball and softball, paddleboard racing, open water swimming.

Summer is the most compelling sell and the most competitive window. The days are long, the weather is about as good as it gets anywhere, and families need very little convincing. The South Shore’s beaches, paddleboarding, and boating do the promotional work for you: parents stop thinking of the weekend as a tournament trip and start thinking of it as a vacation. 

The Tahoe Blue Event Center is the anchor for indoor summer competition — an NBA-regulation basketball court with seating for 4,650 and 27,000 square feet of flexible floor space built to handle multi-court tournament formats and large-group draws. For beach volleyball, Regan Beach offers sand courts on the lake, space for spectators, and a backdrop that no gymnasium can replicate.

Planner tip: Nine to twelve months of lead time is standard for summer. Start your room block conversations early, and lead with the “vacation upgrade” angle in team communications.

Fall: September to November

Best for: Soccer, cross country, flag football, tennis, cycling.

Fall is the sleeper season, and planners who know it treat it like a trade secret. After Labor Day, the summer crowds clear out, rates soften, and the South Shore enters arguably its most beautiful stretch of the year. The foliage turns, the light goes golden, and the whole destination becomes a genuine visual asset for team photos, highlight reels, and the social content your athletes and their families will be posting for weeks.

Athletically, it is also the strongest performance window. Cooler temperatures produce better times and faster play, and the fields reach peak condition. It’s ideal for multi-bracket soccer formats and cross-country staging alike.

Planner tip: If your event calendar has any flexibility, make the fall case to your organization. You get a premier destination at off-peak pricing with conditions that peak-season visitors would pay a premium for. It is one of the stronger value arguments in the sport tourism calendar.

Winter: December to February

Best for: Alpine skiing and snowboarding, ice hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, wrestling, cheer, and dance.

Winter flips the script in the best way. Instead of working around the season, you build your event into it.  A youth ski or snowboard competition at Heavenly Mountain Resort offers 4,800 acres of terrain, with race infrastructure built for competitive alpine events at every level, and a recruiting argument no spring soccer tournament can touch. Kids talk about it more. Parents plan for it earlier.

For non-snow sports, the Tahoe Blue Event Center delivers an NHL-regulation ice rink with seating for 3,900 alongside flexible floor space for gymnastics, wrestling, and cheer under the same roof. The combination of ice and multi-sport indoor capability in a single venue is genuinely rare and worth building a tournament weekend around.

Planner tip: Weather is a factor in winter, so build contingency plans into your schedule and communicate them clearly. For many families, though, snow is part of the appeal, not a drawback.

Get Game Day Ready

No matter what season is the best fit for you and your crew, we’re here to help from the get-go. Ready to start planning? Submit an RFP with the Visit Lake Tahoe sports planning team andexplore all available sports venues to start building your event.

The post Four Seasons of Play in South Lake Tahoe appeared first on Visit Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Tournament Ready

by Madden Media | Apr 22, 2026 | Uncategorized

A No-Stress Guide to Youth Sports in Lake Tahoe

Early mornings. Racing from one matchup to the next. The thrill of keeping a swirl of moving pieces right on track, with enough breathing room to soak it all in. You know the drill when it comes to planning a youth sports tournament. You’ve just never seen it like this. The South Shore of Lake turns the whole logistics dance into a dream setting, where the stunning view alone feels like absolute victory. 

Imagine pine-fresh air greeting families as they arrive, the deep blue of the lake dazzling in sunlight, and the majestic Sierra peaks towering overhead. No wonder game days feel brighter here. Between matchups, the magic is in the pause: laughter on a stroll, world-class recreation at North America’s largest alpine lake, and core memories in the making for players and families.

What if those early morning warmups led straight into lakeside afternoons? Here, tournaments double as getaways with awe (and then some). Step away from the “what’s next” scramble. Wander, and your next adventure beckons beyond the bend. High spirits feel like an instant classic with stunning vistas, some available right from the roadside, but hiking and biking trails abound. Welcome to your game plan for keeping the trip shimmering right by turquoise pools in a family-friendly playground: smooth, simple, and blissful, from gleeful arrival to the final blow of the whistle.

Game Central: Play It All at These Vibing Venues

Dribbling, spiking, skating. From indoor showdowns to outdoor matchups under sweeping skies and sweet pine, South Lake Tahoe’s sports facilities keep the action rolling, with a splash of Tahoe magic just past the sideline. It’s easy to plan a small or full-scale, multi-sport weekend. These venues? Collegiate-sized hoops, high-school cross courts, and fully convertible arenas built for every spike, slam, and swoosh. Go for tournament logistics that feel effortless, leaving you free to celebrate every epic match-point marvel.

Tahoe Blue Event Center

4,400 seats. The MVP of indoor sports, Tahoe Blue flexes its convertible arena space to host basketball, volleyball, cheer, hockey, wrestling… anything you dream of. Think professional locker rooms, spectator seating, and fan‑friendly spots to rally that make tournament logistics feel effortless — all with postcard-worthy Sierra views you’ll carry with you. Stay here, and you’re right in the heart of downtown, close to all the action.

Outdoor & Community Facilities

Athletes ready to move. Families here for the fun. Nearby, the new 64,000-square-foot STARS (South Tahoe Recreation & Aquatics Center) brings full-sized courts and gym space for basketball, volleyball, and team practice. Outdoor fields pick up the pace with warmups or extra scrimmages, so multi-sport weekends flow smoothly.

Between games, spots like Bijou Community Park welcome you with open turf for picnic breaks, impromptu soccer kicks, or a little pre- or post-game play under the pines. There’s even a full-on BMX track for the adventurous. Sunlit tennis, pickleball, and high-school gym courts round out flexible spaces that fit right into tournament schedules, helping every player stay active and energized.

Where to Stay: Cozy Game-Day Rooms, Minutes Away

Hop off the bus (or out of your car) and feel that recharge-your-spirit relief: everything is within reach. South Lake Tahoe’s walkable hotel cluster keeps teams and families just steps away from heart-racing match-day buzz. Full-service resorts with pools, spa perks, and lakeside dining. Charming, smaller properties for a short-and-sweet tournament retreat, with quick access to courts and fields. Thankfully, there’s a comfy spot for every squad to kick back and relax. 

Planning for larger teams? Total breeze. Groups can split across nearby hotels, where coordinating practice times, breakfast runs, or post-game debriefs feels second nature when it’s blocks away. Families love that everyone can land, unpack, and instantly feel part of the weekend hustle and bustle — whether it’s cheering on with signs from the stands, joining in scenic group activities, or winding down lakeside after a glorious day.

For right-in-the–action access, check out Harrah’s Lake Tahoe (plenty of rooms and amenities in this 18-story tower), Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe (family-friendly with spacious rooms, mountainside), or Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (spread across multiple blocks together for a full weekend tournament), all easy walking distance from the Tahoe Blue Event Center.

Hit the Alpine Road (or Sky) to South Lake Tahoe

Getting to and around South Lake Tahoe is a quick swing in, whether you fly or road trip your way to the Jewel of the Sierra. Fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport, then grab a shuttle or arrange a private ride straight to the South Shore and arrive ready to own the game. Part of a team driving in from California? You’ll be happy to know paradise has scenic highways that lead directly into town, with room for every ride near the main venues.

Once you get here, find everything just where you need it: courts, fields, hotels, and restaurants all clustered together. Teams and families can move from game to getaway in a flash. Short walks, quick rides, or spontaneous adventures between venues. It’s relaxing to navigate South Lake Tahoe.

What Happens Between Games? Sweet Downtime

Take a post-game nap with a view of this mountain haven. Swap stories over a waterfront breakfast. Share laughs while wandering your hotel. When a stay feels this awesome, your tournament becomes one of those rare, escapade-made weekends. Already counting down to game-day?

Well, South Lake Tahoe is a place to play, and a place to experience. Between games, teams and families can revel in a two-for-one breathtaking natural playground (hello, exhilarating family vacation). On the crystal-clear water (diamonds? No, that’s the sun lighting up Lake Tahoe), beaches call for downtime, paddleboarding adds a splash of friendly competition, and kayaking lets everyone glide across Lake Tahoe’s famous crystal-clear blue waters.

In the idyllic mountains, hiking and biking trails invite spirited adventure, with lake and mountain views that will have everyone snapping their new favorite photos. Catch your breath and savor true awe. These scenic views? Absolutely rejuvenating. Feel the scenery as it refreshes and revives you. For moments when the team wants to take it easy together, explore casual dining spots, family-friendly cafes, and laid-back joys — where everyone can delight in cherished bonding (without over-scheduling).

These in-between moments are just as magnetic as the rush of competition. Sunset paddles. A lush trail hike, full of woodsy wonder. That invigorating meal after a big day on the field. South Lake Tahoe gives the gift of precious time. On the court, off the court, memories this elevated feel extraordinary. Just awestruck.

The post Lake Tahoe Tournament Ready appeared first on Visit Lake Tahoe.

Family-Friendly Hotels in Lake Tahoe

by Anne Sutterfield | Apr 21, 2026 | Uncategorized

Planning a trip to Lake Tahoe with kids? This guide is designed to help you find the best family-friendly hotels in South Lake Tahoe, so you can spend less time researching and more time enjoying your vacation. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, school-age kids, or teens, choosing the right place to stay can make a big difference. Family-oriented hotels often offer conveniences like larger rooms, kid-friendly amenities, pools, easy beach or outdoor access, and activities that keep everyone entertained. From laid-back lakeside properties to resorts near attractions, this page highlights options that make traveling as a family smoother, more comfortable, and a lot more fun.

Top Family-Friendly Resorts (The All-Rounders)

These are the places that really check every box for families, comfortable rooms, thoughtful amenities, and easy access to things to do. If you want a stay where both kids and adults are happy (without constantly leaving the property), these are your best bets.

Marriott Grand Residence Club Lake Tahoe

Located right in Heavenly Village, Marriott Grand Residence Club Lake Tahoe is a go-to for families thanks to its condo-style suites with kitchens, separate living spaces, and walkable access to shops, dining, and the gondola. The pool and on-site amenities make it easy to relax after a full day out. Great for families who want convenience, space, and a central location

Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe

A full-suite resort where every room includes a separate living area, with larger options like two-bedroom family suites that can sleep groups comfortably—ideal for families who want space plus a fun, central location near Heavenly Village. Great for families who want resort energy, big suites and walkability.

Best for Space: Hotels with Kitchenettes & Suites

When you’re traveling with babies, toddlers, or even picky eaters, having a kitchen or kitchenette can make all the difference. These South Lake Tahoe properties offer extra space plus essentials like microwaves, fridges, and full kitchens—giving families flexibility for meals, snacks, and downtime.

Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village

Known for its large multi-bedroom suites that can accommodate bigger families, this property combines space with a prime walkable location and amenities like pools, hot tubs, and game areas that keep kids entertained. Great for families who want room to spread out and walk everywhere.

Desolation Hotel

A boutique, eco-conscious hotel with a cozy cabin feel, Desolation Hotel offers spacious accommodations, full kitchens, and outdoor areas that give families room to spread out. Its location near the lake and trails makes it ideal for active families who want both comfort and adventure. Great for families who want a quieter, nature-forward stay with modern amenities.

Best for the Budget

Traveling with family doesn’t have to mean overspending, especially in Tahoe. These properties strike a sweet spot by offering suite-style space, family-friendly amenities, and solid value, making them great picks for budget-conscious trips without sacrificing comfort.

Stardust Lodge

A longtime family favorite, this lodge offers suite-style rooms with kitchenettes (microwave, fridge, cookware) along with perks like free breakfast, multiple pools, and hot tubs. Its central location near Heavenly Village means you can walk to activities, saving both time and money. Great for families who want maximum value and tons of included amenities.

The Americana Village

Known for its cozy, apartment-style suites, this property includes kitchenettes, free breakfast, and family-friendly extras like a playground, pool, and game areas. It’s a quieter, budget-friendly option that still keeps you close to major attractions. Great for families who want affordable comfort, space and kid-friendly extras.

Tip: Budget-friendly hotels in Tahoe often provide the most value through included perks, like breakfast, parking, or kitchenettes, which can save a surprising amount over the course of a family trip.

Best for the Active Family

For families who don’t just want a place to sleep, but a place where kids can play, explore, and stay entertained, these activity-driven resorts are a great fit. From game rooms and kids’ clubs to pools and organized activities, these properties help turn your hotel stay into part of the vacation.

Hilton Vacation Club Lake Tahoe Resort South

This resort is built for active families, with a children’s activity program, game room, and activity center offering crafts, movies, and games to keep kids engaged. It also features both indoor and outdoor pools, plus nearby year-round adventures like hiking, skiing, and lake activities, making it easy to stay busy in any season. Great for families who want on-site activities and easy access to outdoor adventure.

Tahoe Beach & Ski Club

Located directly on the lake, this resort combines the feel of a vacation rental with resort-style amenities, making it a strong pick for families who want space and easy access to outdoor fun. Guests can enjoy a private sandy beach, year-round heated pool, hot tubs, and on-site activities like volleyball, all just minutes from Heavenly and downtown. Most accommodations are condo-style suites with kitchenettes or full kitchens, giving families the flexibility to cook meals while still enjoying a full resort experience.

The post Family-Friendly Hotels in Lake Tahoe appeared first on Visit Lake Tahoe.

Less Shuttle, More Tahoe

by Ian Ferguson | Mar 24, 2026 | Uncategorized

Three Ways to Plan a Walkable Meeting Near Tahoe Blue Event Center

When your attendees can move from keynote to cocktails without waiting on a shuttle, everything clicks a little more easily. And when the lake is just down the block, even the space between agenda items starts to feel like part of the experience instead of time lost in transit.

That’s what makes meetings in South Lake Tahoe stand out. Tahoe Blue Event Center gives planners a flexible, state-of-the-art home base for conferences, conventions, sporting events, and large-scale gatherings, all within a walkable entertainment district filled with hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and lake views.

Below are example pairings based on planners’ most frequently requested event needs. The beauty of Tahoe’s ultra-walkable district is that these plans are simply starting points. Hotels, dining, and after-hours experiences can be mixed and matched to create the flow that fits your group best.

Option 1: Closest to the Action

Best for: Tight agendas, limited walking, and schedules that need everything right there.

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe and Bally’s Lake Tahoe Resort Casino put your attendees just steps from Tahoe Blue Event Center, making them especially convenient for expo-heavy programs, general sessions, and packed agendas where every minute matters. When people can get from their room to the venue in just a couple of minutes, the whole day feels easier.

Perfect pairings include:

• Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe: 500+ rooms, about a 2-minute walk from Tahoe Blue Event Center
• Bally’s Lake Tahoe Resort Casino: 430 rooms, about a 2-minute walk and shares a parking lot with the event center
• Ciera Steak + Chophouse: A AAA Four Diamond Award-winning steakhouse option for a more elevated group dinner
• The Oyster Bar: A choice seafood spot inside Golden Nugget that adds variety without sacrificing convenience
• Lucky Beaver Bar & Burger: A casual late-night option that’s open 24/7, perfect for your night-owls and early-risers.

Option 2: Dining, Nightlife, and Built-In Energy

Best for: Multi-track meetings, flexible agendas, and groups that want built-in dining and after-hours options.

Maybe you want walkability, but you also want more built into the experience. More breakout flexibility. More dining options. More ways for the evening to keep going once the badges come off.

Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe and Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino make that kind of setup easy. Both are within a short walk of Tahoe Blue Event Center, giving planners room to build an event that feels connected without feeling confined. This is a great approach for meetings with layered agendas, multiple session types, or groups that want after-hours options baked right into the destination.

Perfect pairings include:

• Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe: 400 suites, about an 8-minute walk from Tahoe Blue Event Center
• Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe: 742 rooms, about a 7-minute walk from Tahoe Blue Event Center
• Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen Lake Tahoe: Perfect for a splashy hosted dinner
• Wolf by Vanderpump: A stylish choice for VIP dinners or high-energy evenings
• Lake Tahoe AleworX and Noel’s Apothecary: Go-to nightlife spots for post-event socializing without adding transportation to the mix
• This option gives attendees options while keeping everyone in the same orbit. It lets your event expand naturally without losing that all-together feel.

Option 3: Lake-Centered Experiences

Best for: Executive gatherings, incentive-style programs, and events that want more of Tahoe built into the experience.

If you want attendees to feel Tahoe in a bigger way, consider staying nearby at The Landing Resort & Spa or Edgewood Tahoe Resort. Both keep Tahoe Blue Event Center close, but position the lake front and center in your overall program.

These properties are a natural fit for executive retreats, incentives, and programs with welcome receptions, VIP moments, or built-in scenic downtime. Edgewood delivers a luxury experience with direct lake access and golf course views, while The Landing offers a boutique, lakeside setting with a quieter, more intimate feel. As the furthest walk on this list, The Landing pairs well with Lake Link, Tahoe’s free on-demand shuttle, for easy transfers.

Perfect pairings include:

• Edgewood Tahoe Resort: 154 rooms plus villas, about an 11-minute walk from Tahoe Blue Event Center
• The Landing Resort & Spa: 82 rooms, approximately a 15-20 minute walk to Tahoe Blue Event Center. Lake Link recommended for some groups
• JWB Prime Steak and Seafood: An upscale option for hosted dinners or executive groups
• Lakeside Dining: California-inspired cuisine on the waterfront and on property at The Landing Resort.  
• Brooks’ Bar & Deck: A relaxed lake-and-golf-course atmosphere with unmistakable Tahoe character

This is where business and backdrop start to blur in the best way. A morning session can lead to a lakeside lunch. A productive day can end with sunset views and a dinner your attendees will actually remember.

A Smarter Way to Plan in South Lake Tahoe

Regardless of what you choose, South Lake Tahoe makes it easier to create meetings that feel connected, attendee-friendly, and distinctly elevated. Tahoe Blue Event Center gives you the anchor. The surrounding hotels, restaurants, and after-hours options help everything else fall into place.

Start your RFP with the Visit Lake Tahoe meetings team and plan a walkable agenda around Tahoe Blue Event Center for your next South Shore event.

The post Less Shuttle, More Tahoe appeared first on Visit Lake Tahoe.

The Ultimate All-Ages Family Guide to Lake Tahoe

by Anne Sutterfield | Mar 6, 2026 | Uncategorized

Parents often discover that the South Shore of Lake Tahoe offers a rare mix of scenery and activity, where a peaceful lakeside morning can easily turn into an afternoon of exploration and an evening full of family fun. One moment you might be lingering by the water, and the next you’re heading out for a trail walk, mountain views, or an afternoon adventure before winding down with pizza, bowling, or a show. This guide brings together family-friendly activities organized by age group, plus a five-day itinerary to help you plan a trip that keeps everyone engaged—from toddlers discovering the beach for the first time to teens looking for something adventurous.

If you’re looking for inspiration for a Lake Tahoe family vacation guide, this is a great place to start.

Get Inspiration for Activities by Age

One of the best things about South Lake Tahoe is how many activities naturally work for multiple age groups. Beaches, scenic trails, and mountain viewpoints can be enjoyed by just about everyone. A few spots are especially great depending on the ages of the kids in your group. If you’re traveling with toddlers, young explorers, or adventure-seeking teens, these suggestions can help you plan your days more easily.

The Littles (Infants & Toddlers: Ages 0–4)

Families traveling with young children quickly discover that Tahoe has plenty of places where little legs—and strollers—can keep up.

For beach time, Pope Beach is a favorite thanks to its tall pines that provide natural shade throughout the day. Parents appreciate the wide sandy shoreline and calm water. Regan Beach is another excellent option, especially if you’re looking for grassy areas where toddlers can crawl, roll, and explore comfortably. There is also a small playground. Both beaches provide ample parking that is a short distance from the beach itself, as well as public restrooms.

For gentle outdoor adventures, the Taylor Creek Rainbow Trail is an easy half-mile loop that works well with strollers and young walkers. Lam Watah Trail is another smooth, scenic option for families who want a stroller-friendly walk without too much elevation.

When it’s time to burn off energy indoors, Tahoe Tot Spot offers a safe play environment designed for younger children. The Slime Kitchen is also an excellent pick when you need a little break from the sun or the cold. Kids and (kids at heart) can create their own custom slime, complete with glitter, fragrances, and all kinds of other options.

Dining with toddlers is refreshingly easy around town. Elements Eatery & Bar offers casual dining with lake views, while Lake Tahoe AleWorX at the Y has spacious outdoor seating and a lively patio where kids can move around while parents relax.

Young Kids (Ages 5–12)

Once kids reach elementary school age, Tahoe starts to feel like a giant playground.

Zephyr Cove Beach is a great starting point. The shallow water and interesting rock formations naturally encourage exploration. Kids can spend hours climbing around the shoreline while parents enjoy the views.

One of the most memorable stops for this age group is the Taylor Creek Stream Profile Chamber, often called the “fish window.” Visitors walk underground to a viewing window where fish can be seen swimming through the creek.

Families looking for active fun can book horseback riding at Camp Richardson, which lets kids experience the forest from a new perspective. Another classic option is Magic Carpet Mini Golf, a colorful, retro course that is serious fun for the whole family. With two different courses to choose from, you could even hit this one twice.

For meals, FiRE + iCE Grill & Bar is a hit with kids thanks to its interactive cooking experience, where diners build their own stir-fry creations. Later in the evening, families can catch the Magic Fusion show at The Loft, a G-rated magic and comedy performance that’s entertaining for both kids and adults.

Teens (Ages 13–15+)

Teens often look for something that feels adventurous or social, and Tahoe delivers.

One of the biggest highlights is Epic Discovery at Heavenly Mountain Resort, where the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster and zip lines combine thrill rides with panoramic mountain views. It’s one of the most exciting ways to experience the mountain outside of ski season. Surprisingly, the Mountain Coaster is open most of the year, with short seasonal maintenance closures in May and October.

On the lake, clear-bottom kayaking offers a unique way to explore Tahoe’s famously clear water. Evening “night glow” LED tours add another layer of excitement with illuminated kayaks that glide across the lake after sunset. If you happen to be visiting near a new moon, the stars will be incredible.

Teens also gravitate toward social hangouts like The Hangar, a lively venue with games and casual food, and Heavenly Village, which has everything from shopping to arcades. Retroactive Arcade, located in the Heavenly Village, is another popular stop filled with classic games that parents may remember from their own childhood. The best part? You pay an admission fee and get unlimited gameplay. Even better? They serve beer. It’s a win-win-win.

For meals, Tipsy Putt blends dining with indoor mini-golf and interactive entertainment, making it an ideal place to keep the evening fun going. Another super fun option that’s nearby is Yosemite Axe-Throwing. Definitely best suited for older kids and teens, test your axe-hucking ability while releasing any pent-up tension you may have, in a safe and healthy way.

Your 5-Day South Lake Tahoe Family-Focused Itinerary

Planning a family vacation can sometimes feel like balancing several trips at once. Parents want relaxation, kids want adventure, and teens want something memorable enough to talk about later. This five-day itinerary blends those elements, offering a mix of lake time, mountain views, and interactive experiences.

Day 1 – Arrival & Village Vibes

Start with a short walk along the Lam Watah Trail, an easy path that works well for strollers and young kids. The gentle trail winds through forest and meadow landscapes and offers a peaceful introduction to after your travels.

By afternoon, head to Heavenly Village, one of the main hubs of activity on the South Shore. Families can browse everything from outdoor gear shops to unique souvenir stores while grabbing snacks or ice cream along the way. Depending on the season, you will find miniature golf or ice skating, and live music is a year-round staple. All right in the Village.

Dinner at Base Camp Pizza Company is practically a Tahoe tradition. The lively atmosphere, generous portions, and live music make it a place where both kids and adults feel welcome. Plus the pizza is truly delicious – the Thai Curry Pizza is a unique option, not to mention a local favorite.

In the evening, walk over to The Loft to catch the early Magic Fusion show. The performance blends illusion, comedy, and audience participation in a way that keeps the whole family engaged. It’s a fun and easy way to wrap up the first day of your trip.

Day 2 – The Lake Experience

A visit to Lake Tahoe isn’t complete without a full day by the water.

Start your morning at Zephyr Cove Beach, where the shallow shoreline makes it easy for younger children to splash safely while older kids explore the rocky edges of the beach. Equipment rentals are available for families interested in paddleboards, kayaks, or other water activities.

Pro tip: Arrive early in the morning to claim a premium spot.

Lunch can be as simple as a picnic on the beach, dining at the Zephyr Lodge restaurant, or grabbing sandwiches from Yellow Submarine before you head to the beach for a premium picnic.

After lunch, families with younger children often appreciate a quieter afternoon. While toddlers nap or relax, older kids and teens might enjoy climbing sessions at Blue Granite Climbing Gym, an indoor bouldering space that offers a fun challenge.

Dinner at FiRE + iCE Grill & Bar brings everyone back together. Kids love building their own custom meals, and the upbeat atmosphere keeps things lively.

Day 3 – Mountain Heights & Scenic Moments

Begin the morning with a ride on the Heavenly Gondola. As the cabins rise above the treeline, sweeping views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada open up in every direction.

Teens and adventurous kids can continue the excitement at Epic Discovery, where zip lines and the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster add an adrenaline boost to the day. Families with younger children can instead enjoy the observation deck, short scenic trails, and open space around the summit area.

In the afternoon, head to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and the famous Stream Profile Chamber. The easy half-mile walk makes it accessible for all ages, and the underground viewing window offers a fascinating look at fish swimming through the creek.

Dinner at Lake Tahoe AleWorX at the Y is a relaxed way to end the day. The large outdoor patio has space for kids to play games like giant Jenga while parents enjoy craft beer or wood-fired pizza.

Day 4 – History, Horses & Beach Time

By day four, families are often ready for a slower pace mixed with a little adventure.

Spend the morning at Camp Richardson, a historic lakeside resort area with plenty to explore. Older kids can experience the forest on horseback with a trail ride through the Camp Richardson Corral, while younger children may prefer the open grassy areas at nearby Regan Beach.

For families with active teens, the BMX track at Bijou Community Park offers another fun outlet.

No visit to Camp Richardson feels complete without a sweet stop. Grab ice cream at the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor or pastries from the Coffee & Confectionery.

In the afternoon, head to Pope Beach, where towering pines provide cool shade and plenty of space to spread out. Older kids and teens can try clear-bottom kayak tours, which allow paddlers to see directly into the lake’s famously clear water.

Dinner at Cascade Kitchens, a food hall with multiple restaurant options, makes it easy for everyone to find something they love.

Day 5 – One Last Tahoe Adventure

For your final day, plan something memorable.

The M.S. Dixie II paddlewheeler cruise offers a relaxed way to experience Emerald Bay without needing to hike or paddle. The climate-controlled boat makes the ride comfortable for families, and the views of Fannette Island and the surrounding cliffs are unforgettable.

In the afternoon, younger kids can burn off one last burst of energy at Tahoe Tot Spot or challenge the family to a round of mini golf at Magic Carpet Golf.

Before heading home, consider a final friendly competition. Tahoe Bowl offers classic bowling fun, while Tipsy Putt combines indoor mini golf with casual dining.

It’s the kind of ending that leaves everyone smiling—and already talking about the next trip.

For even more ideas, explore our family activities in South Lake Tahoe page to keep building your itinerary.

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Worst Weather Prediction for a Storm in 19 Years?!?

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 18, 2025 | Uncategorized

If you’ve been following OpenSnow’s Bryan Allegretto for his Lake Tahoe forecasts, you know he’s passionate about accurately predicting what the surrounding mountains will get. He’s the voice of reason when other news outlets and weather services hype up FEET of snow, only for the reality to fall far short. But even for “BA”—as he’s known—the storms in the first week of February 2025 were way off, and by a huge margin. In fact, it was his worst prediction in his nineteen-plus-year career. I had the chance to chat with him to get the inside scoop on what went wrong.

BA’s Soul Crushed

BA takes his forecasting seriously—so seriously that he’s been keeping a scorecard to track just how spot-on (or not) he’s been. Over the past nine seasons, his predictions for every storm across the Tahoe Basin have been off by just 1.5 inches on average. But during the first week of February, things went way off course. He was off by anywhere from 5.5 to 12.9 inches, with some mountains missing the mark by as much as 2 feet! Normally, when he’s that far off, it’s because the storms delivered more (think: colder, fluffier powder). This time? As far as he can remember, it was the first instance they delivered way less.

Atmospheric Rivers are Tough

Lake Tahoe’s weather is infamous for its feast-or-famine cycles, and a big reason is that up to 50% of California’s precipitation comes in the form of an atmospheric river. These intense bands of moisture originate from the tropics and slam into the Sierra. If Lake Tahoe is lucky enough to be on the cold side of it, we get huge snowfall. But if not, it means rain—LOTS of rain. And that’s exactly what happened during the first week of February.

Alarm Bells Ding

As the storms began to arrive in the 5-day window, BA was already mentioning how concerned he was about the forecast. First, the band of moisture was narrow at only 50 miles wide which is tiny in the scope of the globe. If the storm moved even a few miles north or south, the amount of liquid we get would be drastically cut. Then there was the problem of temperatures. It set up a battle royale of two giants – cold air to the north and the warm subtropical air flowing into the northern Sierra. Depending on who wins and when, this “could make a BIG difference in snowfall totals.”

Worst Case Scenario Happened

And that’s exactly what happened. Instead of the storm staying focused on Tahoe, it quickly moved north. While the National Weather Service predicted 30 inches of liquid and BA estimated 22 inches as a conservative forecast for the week, the greater Lake Tahoe area only received a meager 6-12+ inches. The moisture tap shut off before the cold air could move in, and the snow ratios—usually around 10:1—were closer to 7:1. The result? A rude awakening after the storm passed.

“Biggest Temperature Gradients as Far as I Can Remember”

A lot of this came down to how cold it was to the north—a real tease for weather forecasters. It was snowing all the way to the beach in Oregon and even in Susanville. With that much cold air up north, it seemed like it would force its way south, but it didn’t. Instead, the warm air took over. Not just in Tahoe, but across the entire West, where everyone got hit with rain. Jackson Hole was in the 50s, and even Utah saw rain!

Models Aren’t Gospel but a Tool

The best tool for weather forecasters today is still the weather models. But as BA pointed out, “These are global models. Each micro-climate has its own set of errors. You need to understand these nuances and apply them to your forecast.” Take the GFS, for example. The U.S. model, affectionately known as “snow porn,” always assumes snow ratios are way too high, predicting crazy amounts of snow—and it’s nearly always wrong. Then there’s the Canadian model, which tends to underforecast how much snow places like Mt. Rose will get. The real voice of reason? The European model. Statistically, it’s proven to be the most accurate, and now with A.I. to help fix its errors, it’s getting even better.

OpenSnow Will Learn and Get Better

In the end, BA summed it up best: “It’s hard to forecast storms in the mountains.” But that’s exactly what drew Bryan to this field in the first place—the challenge of forecasting and getting it right. Sometimes, like the week of February 1st, 2025, you get it wrong. But that’s an outlier, and the team at OpenSnow is using it as a learning tool. Instead of taking a back seat, they’re constantly working to improve their product. They’ve even hired a full-time A.I. developer to create their own OpenSnow A.I., which is processing 40+ years of data to correct model errors and improve predictions.

And it’s not all about enjoying the summer for pickleball. The folks at OpenSnow use the “off season” as a chance to reflect and improve. That’s when they discovered the Canadian model’s issue with the Mt. Rose snow forecast. They’re always striving to get better.

We get how tough forecasting can be, and we hope this behind-the-scenes look helps explain the challenges involved. Big kudos to him—and to all of the OpenSnow team—for the hard work they put in!

The post Worst Weather Prediction for a Storm in 19 Years?!? appeared first on Local Freshies.

The Great Escape From Lift Lines – McCall Idaho Skiing

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 13, 2025 | Uncategorized

When looking for a skiing destination, one of the factors that typically comes into everyone’s mind: “Is there more than one ski area to visit?” The answer when talking about the cozy town on the shore of Payette Lake is a wholehearted YES! In fact, McCall Idaho skiing has the perfect amount of resorts big and small to fit everyone’s budget, plans, or vision of what they think a ski town is all about.

 

McCall Idaho Skiing – Covers All Needs

Within half and hour from the center of McCall, you have access to three vastly different ski areas. The closest is the Little Ski Hill which is only a few minutes away, offering affordable skiing and schussing under the lights. Less than nine miles away, you have the flagship resort: Brundage Mountain. Not just a ski area but rather a basecamp to outdoor fun such as snowmobile excursions to Burgdorf Hot Springs. The furthest away, but a MUST for all visitors, is Tamarack. This resort is now coming into a renaissance due to a new owner. Both Tamarack AND Brundage are a powder hound’s dream especially during mid-week. You’ll pretty much have each place to yourself. The best part is both of these offer lift-accessed backcountry skiing if you have the gear, knowledge, and fortitude to step outside into the wilderness.

The Little Ski Hill – For 1^st Timers & Ski Addicts

As T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia said, “Big things have small beginnings” and the Little Ski Hill in McCall, Idaho is the greatest example of this. Founded in 1937 for local forest workers to recreate during the winter, this quaint area doesn’t have one or two Olympians but SIX who got their start here. Although it may only have a 405-foot vertical drop, it makes sure that every inch of it is maximized. They do this by offering night skiing, a legit terrain park, AND a kid-first attitude that families love. How do you know it’s good? By hearing the laughter and whoops on the slopes. If you’re looking for a fountain of youth or just affordable skiing, this place is it. How affordable? Well, an adult day pass goes for only $30 or hand out $140 and get a SEASON PASS!!!! College students can pick up a season pass for $80 and kids 5-17 can get one for $50.

 

Little Ski Hill Hours:

Monday: 3:30pm-8:30pm
Tuesday: 3:30pm-8:30pm
Wednesday: 3:30pm-8:30pm
Thursday: 3:30pm-8:30pm
Friday: 3:30pm-9:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm-9:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Tamarack Resort – Idaho’s ‘Untapped’ Ski Resort

Compared to other ski resorts throughout the country, the road to Tamarack isn’t treacherous. Heading due south from McCall on Highway 55, follow the massive ridgeline until you pass through Donnelly. We HIGHLY recommend making a pit stop here for breakfast at the Flight of Fancy Bakery. Besides serving tasty pastries and other scrumptious options, their baked oatmeal is the BEST oatmeal you’ll have anywhere.

 

If you pull into Tamarack’s parking lot mid-week, it will feel as though it’s your own private resort. Although it might have less in-bounds acreage than its cousin Brundage, the 2,800’ of vertical skiing will make sure your legs are screaming especially that you can lap the mountain without stopping. For those that have knowledge about the backcountry, the lift-accessed terrain is MASSIVE since the resort sits on a ridgeline making for easy pickings. That’s just a few of the many reasons you should visit Tamarack Resort.

Brundage Mountain – McCall’s Classic Resort

Last, but not in any way the least, Brundage Mountain Resort will always be near and dear to our hearts. Looking at the trail map and statistics, you’ll think that it isn’t very big or that it’s pretty mellow. Well, you’d be wrong. Just like all Idaho skiing, you have to look in-between the lines or rather in the glades to find the challenging stuff. For example, from looker’s left, the trails or rather “zones” of the Hidden Valley area holds some amazing steeps you’d find in places like Kirkwood. And if you have a few extra dineros in your pocket, we HIGHLY recommend booking a backcountry guided tour via a snowcat. At over 18,000 acres to explore, the snowcat tours will make sure you find some untracked pow to shred.

Nordic Skiing

Although we’re focused on the gravity fed version, we have to give a nod to the McCall Idaho skiing version known as nordic skiing. Instead of an afterthought, cross-country skiing here is big. So much so that there are multiple nordic centers that maintain and manage trail networks. The jewel on the crown is Ponderosa Park. It’s located on a 1,000 acre peninsula that splits Payette Lake. Featuring heavily forested trails with rolling topography to ridge tops offering up spectacular views of the lake. The newest edition, opened in 2005, is Bear Basin which contains 30 km of trails to explore. You’ll also find trail networks at Tamarack Resort and the summer activities hot spot for mountain biking at Jug Mountain.

 

As the throngs of skiers and snowboarders head to busy destinations like Vail, Park City, or Whistler, you may want to consider McCall, Idaho for your next ski vacation. From consistent snowfall, thousands of acres of skiing, and fun winter activities like the McCall Winter Carnival, you’ll understand why we consider not just McCall but ALL of Northern Idaho – the last frontier of skiing. If you want to learn more about McCall like what’s there to do, what places to eat, and even insider tips on how to get there be sure to read our insider’s guide:

McCall Idaho Travel Tips

The post The Great Escape From Lift Lines – McCall Idaho Skiing appeared first on Local Freshies.

The Next Hotbed of Skiing in Hokkaido & It’s Bonchi

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 11, 2025 | Uncategorized

Japan. Its snow is so legendary that it has coined its own term: ‘JaPow.’ It has become a part of every skier’s and snowboarder’s lexicon. Ranking up there with Steamboat’s “Champagne Powder” and Bozeman’s “Cold Smoke.” We understand if you want to experience where this term originated at Niseko’s ski resorts. But if you’re like us and want to go where no one else is going, we’ve learned that it might be time to go skiing in Hokkaido and experience its ‘Bonchi.’

Table of Contents

• Hokkaido Powder Belt
• Tomamu
• Furano
• Kamui Ski Links
• Other Ski Areas
• Where to Stay & Tips

 

Hokkaido is Bigger Than You Think

A map of Japan might make you think that the northern island of Hokkaido is small compared to the rest of Japan, but you’d be surprised to find out it’s nearly one-quarter of the country’s landmass (~22% to be exact) and roughly the size of the state of New York! And there’s more to skiing in Hokkaido than the well-known resorts of Niseko or Rusutsu. There are over 100 resorts to explore in the Hokkaido region alone! On our trip this winter, we learned about a magical place called the “Hokkaido Powder Belt.”

Hokkaido Powder Belt

On Hokkaido, most of the resorts that people visit are on the western side, surrounding the city of Niseko. The Hokkaido Powder Belt, however, is in the center of Japan’s northern island. Using Asahikawa or Furano as base camps, you can access a variety of different-sized ski areas, each offering something unique.

Bonchi – Another Kind of JaPow

As we mentioned in “10 Things I Wish I Knew Ahead of Skiing in Japan,” the sea effect is what makes Japan’s snow so consistently great. While Niseko, being closer to the ocean, benefits from this effect and stays warmer, Hokkaido’s Powder Belt lies further inland. This means it receives slightly less snowfall than Niseko, but the quality of the snow more than makes up for it.

To set it apart from the rest of “JaPow,” central Hokkaido is now calling its snow “Bonchi Snow.” “Bonchi” means “bowl” in Japanese, referring to Furano’s basin-like topography. It also plays on the word “bon,” which means “good” in French, giving it a playful twist—suggesting that this is the land of the best snow, the kind of powder you crave.

Authentic Japan in Hokkaido

From every person I’ve spoken to, the Niseko ski resorts feel as if you could be at a Colorado resort just as much as you’re in Japan. On the other side of the spectrum, you have the Tohoku ski areas, which are located in the northern part of the main island. There’s a high likelihood you’ll be the ONLY Westerner at these resorts, and without someone who speaks Japanese, it can be difficult to get around. The Hokkaido Powder Belt is the perfect medium between the two. It still feels authentically Japanese, yet you’ll probably run into people who speak English, especially at resorts, hotels, and restaurants.

 

Experience Over Pow

On our trip this winter, what started as one of the coldest and snowiest seasons in Japan turned into something unexpected. When we arrived in Hokkaido, a high-pressure system sat over almost the entire country, providing sunny, warm-ish (still below freezing) conditions for skiing throughout our entire trip. The locals told us that a week without snow is unheard of. Even without fresh snowfall, the rich Japanese culture we experienced and the stunning scenery made the trip worth it.

Tomamu

Photos and videos can leave quite an impression before you even set foot on the slopes. But I’ll admit, the pictures of those two massive towers surrounded by nature felt so foreign to me. I imagined that with two giant skyscrapers, there’d be a sprawling village beneath them just as big. Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Rather than creating a massive village that stretched across the entire valley, the resort chose to build up, preserving as much of the natural surroundings as possible.

The Skiing

Like many Japanese ski areas, this mountain spans two peaks. From the base, it looks like you’d need to shuttle between them, but in reality, the trails connect the two effortlessly. Tower Mountain, located next to the Towers, is the more mellow of the two. It’s home to night skiing on certain days and “Hotalu Street.” But no matter what the snow’s like, you’ve got to make sure you at least bomb down “Hotalu Street” once. The snow-covered avenue feels like you’re in the video game Skate or Die, weaving through a charming Japanese village.

But the real skiing is on Tomamu Mountain. Right off the Unkai Gondola, head skier’s left, and you’ll find wide-spaced birch trees on a steep pitch just begging to be shredded.

The Ice Village

I’ve seen countless photos of ice villages in places like Iceland and Norway, but I never had the chance to experience one in person—until Tomamu. It was truly magical and something you need to take in if you visit here. Inside, you’ll find an Ice Post Office where you can send a postcard. An Ice Bar serving Japanese whiskey cocktails in glasses made of ice. And if that’s not enough, there’s even an Ice Chapel where, according to the resort staff, there’s at least one wedding everyday throughout the season!

Oh, and there’s an Ice Ramen Restaurant… and let me tell you, that was an experience. The frozen egg in the ramen was like a ramen-flavored gobstopper—definitely something you’ve got to bite into to understand.

Local Freshies® tip: I can tell you right now, whatever you wear normally snowboarding or skiing, be sure to add a layer if you visit the ice village. After a day of skiing, the ice from the village felt as if cold was emanating from the structures.

Furano

Even from a distance, its hulking face is impressive. Out of all the dozen or so ski areas we visited in Japan, Furano stands out with the rowdiest terrain—probably why it’s the most popular in the region. The steep slopes are made for expert shredders. The resort itself feels like a mix of different resorts rolled into one. The Ropeway’s cable car reminded me of Jackson Hole’s tram, while the fall-line skiing following the mountain’s natural topography brought to mind Taos’ classic trail system. A shining example of this is the A-3 trail: a fun, steep, twisty, tight run that bounces down the fall line as if it were trying to reenact how a waterfall would flow if it were made of snow.

Through it all, Furano still maintains its authentic Japanese vibe.

On sunny days, the views are stunning. Across the long valley, you can see the massive, treeless peaks looming over the snow-covered farmland below.

 

Danger Lurks

With each new angle, the mountain reveals more big lines you didn’t catch from the last perspective—and, at the same time, more danger. From the top of Kitanomine, looking toward the backside of the Furano zone, we saw huge fractures that looked like glide avalanches just outside the resort’s boundaries.

Kamui Ski Links

Some mountains stand tall, practically yelling at you, “You got what it takes?” while others are more comfortable in their own skin. Kamui Ski Links is definitely one of the latter. It wasn’t the first impression that blew me away—it was what we discovered once we got to know the place.

 

Mom & Pop Feel

Out of all the mountains we visited, Kamui Ski Links was our favorite. Why? It has that “Mom & Pop” ski area vibe we all crave. There are almost no “Gaijin” around, just a true community spirit, with race clinics on the mountain and locals enjoying cheap meals of soba and chicken curry with rice in the lodge.

And then there’s the terrain. From the base, it looks like the slopes are short, but that’s not the case. Turns out, their gondola accesses nearly 2,000 vertical feet of skiing. While the terrain might not be as steep as Tomamu or Furano, what it lacks in steep shots, it more than makes up for with a laid-back vibe (aka fewer crowds), accessible glade skiing, and a relaxed boundary policy.

Other Ski Areas

While we didn’t get to explore every ski area, the region is packed with some seriously unique spots. Asahidake is a one-hit gondola that opens up access to Mt. Asahidake’s epic backcountry terrain. Then there’s Kurodake, another one-lift wonder, featuring cliff bands to huck off, chutes to tackle, and steep fall-line skiing that’ll make experts feel right at home. And let’s not forget about Sahoro, which offers an all-inclusive resort experience along with its tree-lined slopes—perfect for some solid tree skiing. Then there’s Pipu, Canmore (not the Canadian one), and Santa Present Park to round out the list.

Where to Stay

Resort Living or City Experiences

Depending on the kind of experience you’re after, that will dictate where to stay. If you’re looking for the all-inclusive resort vibe, you’ve got that option. Staying close to the slopes means you’ll be spending most of your time at the hotel, where nightlife is pretty much nonexistent. But if you’re the type who wants to expand your horizons, staying in one of the nearby cities is a great choice. It’ll give you the chance to sample local cuisine, check out shops, and soak in the local scene. In that case, staying in a city might be more your style.

 

Asahikawa – City Experiences

The town’s architecture feels like if Milwaukee went full-on Japanese and then got dropped next to a bunch of massive mountains. Staying in a real city means you’re in for an authentic experience—straight-up local vibes. For a general rundown of things to try and do along with some tips, check out our Japan Guide. For Asahikawa, here’s what to expect:

Local Cuisine

The city’s known for its ramen, and you’ll find spots serving it all over. But if you want to do a side-by-side ramen showdown, check out the Asahikawa Ramen Village, where eight of the city’s most famous ramen joints are all in one place. Another regional delicacy? Soba noodles. Made from buckwheat, Hokkaido produces nearly 40% of Japan’s supply. These brownish noodles are a staple in Japanese meals, with a nutty flavor and chewy texture. You’ll find them served both hot and cold—perfect for whatever vibe you’re feeling.

Sanroku gai – Nightlife

The Japanese live that New York lifestyle—work hard, play hard, and trust us, they work HARD. As the sun sets, Asahikawa’s entertainment district, Sanroku Gai, really comes to life. This area is packed with over 1,000 restaurants lining the tiny winding walkways, serving up fresh seafood caught right off the local waters. Plus, you’ll find plenty of drinking spots to keep the vibe rolling into the night.

OMO7 Hoshino Resort

For part of our trip, we stayed at the OMO7 Hoshino Resort in Asahikawa. As the name suggests, it’s a resort right in the heart of the city. The lobby features a “wax bar” stocked with high-end waxes and tools, so you can tune up your skis on the spot. Downstairs, there’s a beautiful onsen with soaking tubs, a cold plunge, sauna, and a giant whirlpool—perfect for easing those post-ski aches and pains. We didn’t get a chance to try breakfast, but friends who’ve stayed rave about it. The iconic dish? Waffles topped with salmon. It might sound odd, but apparently, it totally works.

The resort’s central location made it the perfect spot to dive into the local culture after a day on the slopes. Plus, it’s a great basecamp with Kamui Ski Links, Asahidake, and Kurodake all under 90 minutes by car, and even Tomamu just over two hours away.

Tomamu Hoshino Resort- Resort Living

As part of our trip to hit up Tomamu, we stayed at the towers. If you’re coming with a family and don’t feel like resort hopping, Tomamu Hoshino Resort would be the ideal basecamp. Besides the incredible skiing, the resort offers an insane amount of other activities, such as horseback riding in the snow (Jaime sooo wanted to experience this), snowmobile tours, ice fishing, and even curling, to name a few. Inside the towers, you’ll find rooms that are absolutely massive—even by American standards, let alone Japanese. A standard room includes a separate family area alongside a huge bedroom.

Join Local Freshies® in January 2026!

This trip definitely sparked the itch for some more JaPow, especially after seeing what these mountains have to offer. After our last visit in 2023, where we got to experience Japan’s legendary snow (and got totally skunked on our Hokkaido visit), we’re ready to go back to Hokkaido for round two!

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Japan, come join us for the 10-day Hokkaido Indy Trip. More details will be dropping in April 2025.

The post The Next Hotbed of Skiing in Hokkaido & It’s Bonchi appeared first on Local Freshies.

One Off or the New Normal? Sierra-at-Tahoe Slammed

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 10, 2025 | Uncategorized

Ever since Caldor ravaged Sierra a few years ago, the resort has become a powder hound’s dream. Storms would dump feet of snow, and only a few hundred locals would be out shredding it. The question on everyone’s mind was, ‘Will Sierra-at-Tahoe survive?’ If the crowd on Saturday, February 8th, is any indication, it’s returning to its former glory.

Back to the Good ‘Ole Days?

In town, the roads were eerily empty. But as we turned left at 8 a.m. onto the access road this Saturday morning, the drive up to Sierra became a slow crawl, with hundreds of cars winding their way up the mountain. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen so many people heading up to ski. By 10 a.m., all parking was at capacity, with cars waiting at the entrance for spots to open up. Talking to friends in town who have been skiing here for years—long before Caldor and the pandemic, during the busy 2015-2017 seasons—they said days like this used to be the norm. In fact, things would get so crowded that they’d call all the ski shops and hotels to let them know the resort was full, sending out text alerts and the whole nine yards.

The Perfect Storm

Without access to data, we can’t be absolutely sure why it was so crowded but can make some educated guesses. Here’s a list of potential factors that may have contributed to the crowds on Saturday, February 8th.

Drought Winter

For the 2024-25 season, January saw little to no snowfall, leading to a build-up of demand for some fresh, soft turns.

Hype Train For The Storms

The Sierra Nevada mountain range is notorious for the hype generated by media outlets. Social media, news stations, and various other platforms were predicting that Tahoe would receive 6 to 9 feet of snow. While this didn’t exactly happen, it certainly fueled the excitement to get up here.

Super Bowl Weekend

Despite not being an official holiday, Super Bowl weekend is one of the most popular times to visit Tahoe, especially with the opportunity to head to the casinos and bet on the big game.

Multiple Events

In addition to everything else, Sierra hosted several events, including a USASA Boardercross competition and a local snow camp aimed at getting young kids on the slopes.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Joins Ikon

The biggest news of the season is that Sierra has joined the Ikon Pass. But is this something locals wanted? Every local we’ve spoken to has shared a similar sentiment: “It sucks, but if it keeps the lifts running, it’s the lesser of two evils. I just hope it doesn’t ruin Sierra and turn it into another crowded South Shore ski area.”

Unlike Epic, which is owned by a publicly traded company, the Ikon Pass is backed by a privately held fund, so any insights about its impact are largely anecdotal. Was the Ikon Pass a factor in the crowds returning? Everyone we spoke to on the lifts had a Sierra-at-Tahoe season pass or another product, like a three-pack. While this may be true, it’s also like a surf break—people might not always tell the full story.

Is this the New Normal?

While it’s refreshing to see Sierra returning to its glory days, every local is thinking the same thing: Will powder days become as crowded as those at other Tahoe ski resorts? Only time will tell. At the end of the day, here’s hoping Sierra continues its comeback after the Caldor fire.

The post One Off or the New Normal? Sierra-at-Tahoe Slammed appeared first on Local Freshies.

Don’t Leave Home Without The Skiing Essentials

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 9, 2025 | Uncategorized

You’ve packed perfectly for your ski vacation by following a ski trip packing list. The alarm rings and you jump out of bed pushing the shades open. It’s blue bird, and there’s over two FEET of fresh snow. Today’s going to be epic! Quickly scarfing down breakfast, you rush out of the cabin for first chair. Music’s blaring. You and your friends are beyond stoked. Today’s the day! Pulling up to the slopes, you jump out and open the tailgate. Your stomach drops. This is when you realize you’ve forgotten something. If this is your first ski day or one of many, learn from our mistakes and use this quick day of checklist to make sure you have all your skiing essentials BEFORE you rush out the door.

 

Printable Checklist

Once was enough when I forgot a pair of goggles and had to drop another thirty bucks for a pair because it was storm day. Instead of letting this happen again, we created a checklist to make sure we have everything we need before we step out the door. Learn from our mistakes and download our FREE skiing essentials checklist:

Yes, I want my FREE checklist!

Clothing

The first and quite possibly most important piece of gear is what you’re going to wear. If you wear the right stuff, you’ll be warm on cold days. Cool on sunny spring adventures. Dry when Mother Nature throws a curve ball, and it’s raining/sleeting. To learn about what features to look for in each type of garment, how to identify waterproofness, and a rundown of what to wear in any weather condition, head over to our comprehensive clothing guide:

The Emperor's New Ski Clothes - What To Wear For Skiing

Socks

There’s nothing worse than having cold feet. NEVER ride with cotton. Instead, pick up a pair of merino wool blend or ones specifically designed to keep you warm and wick away sweat like Primaloft or Thermolite. Whatever you do, don’t double up on them either. Just get a pair of ski socks that are a bit beefier like a mid-weight variation.

 

Base Layers

Think of this as your second skin. Base layers are designed to be snug so that it keeps you warm, but at the same time easily wicks perspiration from your skin. If you grew up in a colder climate, you’ll know these as “Longjohns.” They’ve advanced quite a bit in their technology over the years and feel less like a piece of chainmail and more like a soft satin covering.

Mid Layer

Being based out of Tahoe, this is the layer we don’t always wear but have in the car just in case. Mid layers are things like a fleece or a puffy. It’s that extra bit of warmth on those cold days. This doesn’t have to be for your upper body only. For some reason, my lower body (i.e. feet) gets colder quicker so I typically wear a mid-layer on the bottom and not on my upper body.

Ski Pants

The barrier between you and the elements. Nearly every pair comes with gaiters on the bottom to make sure snow doesn’t go up your leg but from there things begin to vary. If you’re looking for a touch more protection from the wind and snow on the back but with the freedom of no waistband, then you may enjoy going the bib route.

Ski Jacket

Instead of a heavy insulated jacket, we prefer to go with a shell and then layer underneath. If the sun does come out or the temps suddenly begin to rise, you can quickly shed layers and stay comfy. For a deeper dive on what features to look for in a jacket and some recommendations, be sure to check out our article: Unzip On What To Look For In The Best Women’s Snowboard Jacket.

Gloves

Like most other pieces of ski equipment, gloves or mittens can get pricey rather quickly. It’s not unheard of to spend upwards of $200. If you’re only going out for a handful of days, you don’t need to spend that much. Invest those $$$ on more critical items like the jacket or pants. A great budget friendly glove is the Gordini Gore-Tex Storm Glove or for a few more bucks the Black Diamond. Gordini’s entire mitten and glove offerings are Snow Joke If It’s Freezing Outside. Founded in 1956 and fiercely independent to this day, their focus is less on marketing spend and more about pushing the envelope on technology, offering them to you at an affordable price.

 

Neck Gaiter / Face Mask

Normally, we carry two neck gaiters. A warmer one that’s a bit heavier in weight for those cold storm days like the Smartwool Merino 150 Neck Gaiter. And then another that’s incredibly breathable that we could use even on a warm spring day like the Buff CoolNet UV+ line. Note: The Buff CoolNet is so breathable you could even use it in a warm climate like Costa Rica if you wanted to protect your skin.

Skull Cap / Balaclava

Although a helmet has insulation to keep you warm, you’ll be grateful to have that bit of extra wind protection when you have a skull cap. Another option is to skip the neck gaiter and go full balaclava.

Equipment

Out of all the skiing essentials, your equipment has A LOT to do with personal preference and skill level. We have MULTIPLE articles going into how to identify the best equipment for you such as Rocker Vs Camber – Which Is Best For You. We suggest starting on our ski & snowboarding equipment homepage and go from there:

Helmets, Mitts, Boots, & Ski Suits – Equipment For Skiing & Snowboarding

Skis / Snowboard

Do a quick once over to make sure each bolt is tight and nothing’s broken. I’ve had a few times where my high back somehow lost a screw. I’ve seen and heard countless times where friends don’t feel comfortable on their snowboard — here’s how to Get Yo Stance Dialed – Snowboard Binding Setup so that you can rip with the best of them.

 

Snowboard / Ski Boots

Check the laces and latches to make sure nothing’s out of order. Frustrated with your current boots? Here’s 7 Things To Look For In The Best Womens Snowboard Boot based on our findings that will help both men AND women.

Ski Poles

If you’re renting or buying a pair of poles, the easiest way to find the right size is to flip them over and hold them underneath the basket. Your forearm should be at a 90 degree angle to the floor with the upper arms comfortably on your sides.

Helmet

The most expensive item in your entire kit is your brain so it’s a good idea to rock a helmet. I learned this the hard way by getting a few concussions in my youth. At a minimum, a helmet protects you from scratches and bruises from a random tree branch sticking out. At its best, the helmet will make sure that if a stray skier, snowboarder, or boulder hits you or you hit it, your noggin has some extra protection. Jaime LOVES her new Drift Wildhorn Helmet. It fits her googles, stylish, and a fraction of the price compared to some of the others on the market.

Goggles

While ski goggles are one of the skiing essentials to have, this is yet another example of something you don’t need to drop big coin on if you aren’t spending thirty days on the slopes. Focus on the basics. Do they fit your face and helmet appropriately? At a minimum, you want them to reduce glare and block the wind from making your eyes water. We delve into how to find the best pair for you and review all the brands on the market in Get Your “Eye” On The Best Ski / Snowboard Goggles Out There.

Accessories

While some of these are truly skiing essentials like your season pass, others are not as much. But, you’ll be glad you have them such as sun block on those sunny spring days.

 

Lift Pass

Regardless if you’re a season pass vet or a day pass junkie, there’s a good chance you have to print out something to bring with you when you get to the resort.

Snacks

When the snow is good, you don’t want to waste your time having to stop for food. Just like the Snickers commercial croons “Hungry? Why wait”, stuff your pockets with jerky and granola bars.

Backpack

We don’t normally ride one with one if we’re only going to be out for a few hours. But on those epic storm days where it just keep snowing and snowing, we can’t bare to pull ourselves from the slopes. You can of course ski with a regular backpack, but there’s a good chance you’ll feel like you have a cat attached to your back attempting to toss you over the handlebars. If you’re going to ride with one, we recommend picking up one that’s light and designed to carry a water reservoir like the Osprey Kamber 20 L Snowpack for men or the Kresta for women. It isn’t bulky, and you won’t even notice that you’re riding with it.

Wax

Not as critical mid-winter, but on those warm spring days we typically carry a bit of warm weather paste wax such as Maxiglide or MountainFLOW quick wax and a tiny bit of citrus base cleaner to fend off any stickiness.

Tool

It is true ski resorts typically have a wrench at the bottom of each lift but normally they’re really a pain to use. Instead, have something like a Dakine Torque Driver Tool in your pocket. It has all the different sized bits and will work WAY better than what’s available on the slopes.

Lip Balm

Don’t let the wind and sun leave you with pain. Protect those speakers from the elements with some lip balm.

Sun Block

You’re most likely going to be up higher in elevation which means closer to the sun. Even if it’s cloudy, make sure to dab on some sun screen. Sure, goggle tans are cool but you don’t want to look like a red panda when you get home.

GoPro

If a snowboarder or skier lands a backside 360 in the park and it wasn’t caught on film, did it happen?

Headphones

Mother Nature is all we need on the slopes, but I know for some music is what makes skiing & snowboarding fun.

Ski Trip Packing List

If you’re planning to go on a ski vacation, you need a lot more gear than what we highlight above. Besides the skiing essentials, you’ll also need other items like beanies, flip flops, toiletries, and even a swimsuit. To make sure you don’t forget all those items, use this ski trip packing list to save a week of misery on the slopes.

The post Don’t Leave Home Without The Skiing Essentials appeared first on Local Freshies.

Dermizax vs Gore Tex – Waterproofing War – Which Is Better?

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 6, 2025 | Uncategorized

In outdoor gear, Gore-Tex membranes are the gold standard for protection against the elements. We’ve hailed this material in many of our articles including our backcountry ski jacket guide. And to this day, there are very few proprietary brands from companies like Patagonia or North Face that can provide that kind of protection. A fabric that has started to bubble up as a competitive alternative to Gore-Tex is Dermizax by Toray. We take a deep dive into Dermizax Vs Gore Tex to see how they stack up.

Verdict

When comparing Dermizax vs Gore-Tex it comes down to what you’re looking for in your outerwear. Personally, for 95% of the time I like the Dermizax material. It offers more flexibility and a soft feel, similar to a softshell. It also provides excellent breathability when I’m sweating on the skin track and performs exceptionally well in most snowstorms. On the other hand, Gore-Tex is what I want on a wet Sierra Cement or Cascade Concrete day when the flakes are instantly turning to liquid as they touch me. Jaime, the Local Freshies® Gal, wants superior protection at all times and so she would never part with her Gore Tex Pro regardless of the conditions.

How We Compared Dermizax vs Gore Tex

We’ve done a side-by-side full season test with Jaime using a Norrøna Lofoten Jacket which comes with Gore-Tex Pro and while I used the Ortovox Ortler 3L with Dermizax NX in the exact same elements. Although it wasn’t a perfect comparison since they both use different fabrics on the exterior, it did give us an idea of how they stack up.

Waterproofing

On paper, Gore-Tex Pro has a whopping 28,000+ mm waterproof rating versus Dermizax NX which is rated at 20,000 mm. In simplest terms that means the Dermizax NX material can withstand 20,000 mm of water pressure before it starts to leak versus the Gore-Tex Pro can withstand up to 28,000+ mm. Just to give you an idea how impressive that is — most ski resort jackets come with a 10-15,000 mm waterproof rating.

The Monsoon Test

They say a 20,000 mm jacket can protect you from rain in a hurricane, and that’s exactly what we did. We had the fortunate (or unfortunate) opportunity to test it during a three-hour monsoon at a New York Giants game. Jaime’s Norrøna Lofoten Jacket with Gore-Tex Pro kept her dry, while my Ortler 3L with Dermizax NX performed well for most of it — though I still ended up a bit damp. In “normal” winter conditions, the Dermizax NX performed just as well as Jaime’s jacket.

Winner: Gore-Tex Pro

Breathability

The next important factor is breathability. When you begin to get soaked with sweat in a cold environment, it can lead to a dangerous situation. One of the easiest ways to solve for this is to wear moisture-wicking breathable materials including your jacket. Gore-Tex Pro has a breathability rating of 25,000 g/m2. This means that 25,000 grams of water vapor (I.e. sweat) can pass through a square meter of Gore-Tex Pro in a 24-hour period. Although Toray the manufacturer of Dermizax NX doesn’t provide a breathability rating, we’ve read that it provides anywhere between 30,000 – 50,000 g/m2.

Testing on the Skintrack

Within a ski resort, sweating might not be a big deal but it’s a different story on the skin track. Climbing up a mountain can you get warm pretty quickly. On a spring day with temperatures starting well below freezing and hitting highs in the upper 40s, I was blown away with the Dermizax NX membrane. I believe the breathability rating is spot on. Even though I’m the sweaty type, it kept me comfortably cozy in the full range of activities without having to keep taking it on and off. While Jaime, on the other hand with her Gore-Tex Pro, was constantly going on and off with her shell.

Winner: Dermizax

Feel

The final feature that most don’t talk about is “feel.” We’re not talking about Fernando’s Hideaway “dahling” on how you look but how the material feels when you’re moving on the mountain. Do you feel inhibited? Does the fabric make it sound as if you’re crumpling up a piece of paper? For many it isn’t a big deal, but it’s something to at least consider.

Marketing Hulabaloo or Legit?

Gore-Tex fabrics combined with bullet proof denier are notorious for how stiff they feel hence the name “hardshell.” One of the Dermizax NX fabric’s chief competitive advantages that they market is its multi-directional stretch capabilities. Is it REALLY that big of a deal? Before I tried it, I could really care less about feel. I was chasing the “protection against the elements” bug. I can tell you that Dermizax’s multi-stretch abilities aren’t malarkey but legit. Instead of buying a size up, I’m able to rock a more form fitting jacket and still get the protection I need. Jaime, while she cares about the feel, doesn’t care enough to EVER part with her jacket. In fact, she uses it all year long on EVERY adventure from mountain biking to backcountry skiing.

Winner: Depends

Just a few years ago, I would’ve said that there isn’t any waterproofing material that could compete against Gore-tex. It may still be the #1 brand but as you can see from Toray’s Dermizax offering, it might not be the best tool for all situations. It comes down to what you’re looking for.

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Is Indy Idaho Skiing in Trouble? Supreme Court Puts it in Jeopardy

by Alex Silgalis | Feb 4, 2025 | Uncategorized

One of the things we love about skiing and snowboarding in Idaho is that it’s home to some of the few truly independent ski areas left in the West. Resorts like Magic Mountain and Lookout Pass have a special charm that keeps us coming back year after year. However, a tragic incident at Sun Valley has brought the issue of ski area liability to the forefront. After a skier died, his widow filed a lawsuit against the resort. The Idaho Supreme Court’s ruling in this case is setting a new legal precedent, which could lead to significant changes in the future.

What Happened?

In November 2019, a 65-year-old doctor named Stewart Milus from Boise was skiing at Sun Valley. The resort has two main ski areas: Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. Bald Mountain itself is divided into two sections: River Run and Warm Springs. According to court documents, Stewart was skiing down the lower River Run.

Lay of the Land

We’ve skied this run before—it’s a wide, groomed trail that leads to the River Run Lodge. As the primary route to the base, it can get crowded. On this particular day, it was moderately busy. The court noted that Stewart was skiing “with poor control.” He crossed into the path of another skier, skied across the backs of their skis, yelled, then fell and crashed head-first into a tall, yellow-padded snowmaking tower in the middle of the run. He was taken to Wood River Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Lawsuit Puts Law into Question

Afterwards Stewart’s widow filed a lawsuit against Sun Valley. While the lower courts upheld a 1979 statute, as has been the case for decades, the Idaho Supreme Court took a different stance. The court ruled that a jury should decide whether the ski resort could be partially at fault, regardless of the skier’s actions.

What’s Next

Even though Idaho’s Supreme Court has already made a decision, they are set to hear arguments in February about possibly reconsidering their unanimous ruling. This could return the interpretation of Idaho’s law to how it was before the court’s December 2023 ruling.

Eerily Similar to Mt Hood Ski Bowl’s Mtn Biking Case

Alternatively, the ruling could stand. And if it does, it feels similar to what happened with mountain biking at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl a few years ago. In Oregon, businesses don’t have the same legal protections as those in Idaho. As a result of a lawsuit, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl was forced to shut down its bike park permanently. While larger resorts like Sun Valley and Schweitzer are likely safe, it’s the smaller ones we love—like Pomerelle—that are most at risk. In the worst case, this could lead to closures similar to what happened in Vermont when a lawsuit hit their industry in 1978.

There is a Silver Lining

We like to hold a glass half full perspective. So even if the Supreme Court stands, it may not mean the end for Mom & Pops. There are various outcomes from this ruling that could happen. For example, a new bill could be introduced, similar to the one last February that was proposed by Rep. Barbara Ehardt at the urging of the ski industry. Although the bill didn’t receive a hearing, it aimed to clarify the existing law by adding a clear statement that ‘no standard of care’ applies to the duties of ski areas. In summary, stay tuned as this story develops over the course of the month.

For an in-depth write-up of the entire story, check out Idaho Capital Sun’s article.

The post Is Indy Idaho Skiing in Trouble? Supreme Court Puts it in Jeopardy appeared first on Local Freshies.

Simple Yet Perfect – Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket

by Jaime Pirozzi | Jan 30, 2025 | Uncategorized

Calling a jacket perfect is pretty subjective and hard to defend. And yet it’s the first thing I put in the title. I have a lot of outdoor gear that I like but very few items make it on the love list. But the Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket is one of them covered in crayon hearts and googly eyes.

Jack(ie) of all Trades

Most would argue that being decent or even good at lots of things isn’t a desirable quality. You’d want to be great at something and leave the mediocre part behind. But what if you could be great at lots of things? I know. It sounds like a load of fairy dust. But I say dump it on my head and call me a princess because this coat exceeded any expectations I had about it.

My first thought was I might use it for spring skiing or just throw it over my puffy to stay dry in a rainstorm. And I will wear it for both of those, but it also lines up with hiking, trail running, biking, resort snowboarding, and especially backcountry splitboarding. What I’m saying is, the Mammut Taiss HS Womens Jacket will be a top go-to choice for all the outdoor activities I do. That’s my bold statement… and here’s why.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a moderately priced jacket that can cross many seasons and sports, this is a solid choice. When a piece of gear is versatile, that can help with the cost as you’ll get more use and potentially need less gear overall. I put this Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket in the same functional category as my previously mentioned Norrøna Lofoten backcountry jacket. And while they aren’t a 1:1 comparison, the Mammut is half the price of the Norrøna but will get just as much, if not more use across the year.

Mammut Taiss HS Specs

• Mammut Dry Expedition 3-Layer
• Weight: 15.3 oz (per Mammut’s website)
• Waterproof Rating: 27,000 MM
• Breathability: 48,000 G/M²
• Price: $385
• Buy from Mammut, REI, Backcountry.com or Amazon

The Softest Hardshell You’ll Ever Meet

Preferences on a hardshell span wide when it comes to jackets. This jacket might be named HS and hold the durability, waterproof, and breathability of a hardshell but it is as soft-feeling as you can get. It actually feels silky smooth. No crunchy sounds. No weird creases against your arms when you bend. Just plain enjoyable to wear.

Two is the Right Number… of Pockets

More pockets doesn’t make a jacket better. It just means more zippers. More random places to stuff things, like a junk drawer that’s out of control. For me, where the pockets are and their size are MUCH more important than how many pockets it has as a whole. This jacket’s pocket game is simple. Two pockets on the chest, deep in extending to mid waist and a small interior pocket. That’s it. And that’s all it needs.

In action sports, pockets that sit low on the waist can hamper your stride when loaded, making hinging at the hips uncomfortable and conflicting with backpack waist straps. These two chest pockets sit at a height that won’t constrict breathing if filled or impede a backpack chest strap or chestie mount. For me personally, I need deep pockets to stash cameras. If I’m forced to put my cameras or video equipment in my backpack, I have a higher likelihood of not capturing a moment because I don’t want the hassle of taking off my bag. These chest pockets are deep enough to hold GoPros with sticks, small DSLR cameras and even cell phones with gimbals or handheld grips.

Rolls Up to Travel Size

When outdoor galavanting whether it be on feet, wheels, or snow, you might not want to wear the jacket all the time. That means you need to be able to take it off and stash it somewhere small, either in a pocket or your backpack. The Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket squishes down to a handful that can easily be stuffed anywhere. You never have to choose whether to bring it or not because taking it off won’t be a hassle to carry.

A Hood for a Big Head

Well not a big head, per se. But when you have a helmet on but want to pull your hood over it comfortably so your neck still bends, swivels, and you aren’t choking or feel like you have blinders on, this jacket does it. I tried pulling it over both a snowboard helmet and mountain biking helmet and both were still comfortable to see and wear. That’s a nice bonus if you get caught in a rain storm and want to keep water out of your neck and eyes. One word of caution though. If you have an underneath layer that also has a hood, be aware that it may make the outer Mammut hood too tight or not fit as comfortably as it would with no additional hood fabric wadding up behind your neck. Too many hoods can be a bad combo.

No Throat Zipper Choking

A great jacket can be ruined when you zip it up all the way to the top and the material is so rigid and abundant under your chin that it feels like you’re choking. The ultra soft texture of this jacket helps alleviate that feeling completely. There is enough material under your chin that you could pull it over your lower face to block weather or it can curl under your chin out of the way as if it wasn’t even there.

Two-way Underarm Zipper for Flexibility

Underarm ventilation is mandatory on any outdoor coat, regardless of what you’re doing. Sometimes you just need to let in some air. It’s a nicety to have dual zippers, letting you choose if you want to directly let your armpit breathe or open from the bottom for more side venting. But when it comes to backpacks, you must have the dual option to easily let you vent without having to remove your pack to find a zipper. When my backcountry pack is on, it blocks the lower section of the vent so having the upper zipper as an option makes venting very easy without touching my backpack at all.

A True Year-Rounder with Credentials

Mammut markets this jacket as a hardshell for year-round use. And I fully agree with that description. The flexibility to move allows you to use it for many sports throughout the year. And with performance, it rates the highest at 6/6 by Mammut standards for water impermeability, breathability, and windproof. That’s hard to beat. The Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket also rates high at 4/6 for durability, packability, and lightweight. Since I don’t do rough sports like climbing, I can’t argue durability as I won’t be scraping it across sharp surfaces. But I do think they are being a little hard on themselves for packability and lightweight features when I can roll it up in my hand and it feels like I’m wearing nothing when it’s on. But I know if you count grams and mm for size, they do have jackets that are smaller and lighter.

Layerability

This jacket is stated as Mammut’s Regular Fit. They describe it as “comfortable to wear with plenty of movement… perfect for layering.” They also offer different jackets in another fit called Ski Regular. The difference in description is that the Ski Regular is better for underneath warm layers, helmets, and transceivers. So naturally, I would say I want the Ski Regular instead of just Regular. But that’s not the case. The Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket, with its Regular Fit rating, allows me to do everything the Ski Regular calls out and with comfort. This jacket is comfortable over a helmet, has plenty of space for an underneath transceiver, and I always wear a base layer AND a Patagonia puffy under my shells. I can fit all of this underneath this Regular Fit coat with no complaints.

Sizing

I think it’s a female thing, but I always worry about what size to get. Two-dimensional drawings of measurements never pan out in the real world for me. I always take my measurements as they recommend and then I still worry I bought the wrong size. And many times I do.

For this jacket, I sit right at the upper range of Medium but could technically sit in the Large (on paper more comfortably.) My first thought was to size up and get the Large so I could be more roomy and comfortable. But there’s always that nice feeling when you get the actual right size and it fits just how you want, without feeling like you’re wearing a garbage bag just in case you put on four more coats underneath. I have another backcountry coat, the Norrøna Lofoten, which is very similar in style and function. I went with my real-life example and picked the Medium for the Mammut because the Norrøna is a Medium as well and fits spot on with all my layers and cameras.

The final verdict on size: the Medium was the right choice. I can put all the layers I want underneath as well as my camera equipment and still move freely outdoors. And if I just want to wear it out to the store or on a winter’s day, it looks like it fits and isn’t ridiculously oversized.

Even Perfect isn’t Perfect

As you can tell, I am stoked on this jacket and plan to use it a lot across the seasons. My vote is it’s in the WIN column and a recommended buy. But this review wouldn’t be balanced if I didn’t have something I wish was improved. Nothing is ever perfect-perfect.

More Color Please

When it comes to creating visuals, there’s nothing worse than dark colors, especially black. Nothing black looks good outdoors in photos or videos. There’s no pop. No pizazz. Just blah. Sadly, this coat is Marine Black which is the darkest blue possible before actually being black. Most companies today don’t make bright, electric colorways anymore and that sucks. Nothing like the 80’s. Everything was neon! I will wear this coat a lot, but I will have to think twice when on photo/video shoots because of its dark, un-photogenic color. I can only dream of a bright green, orange, blue, or yellow even!

A Bit Extra Length

With constant movement whether it’s by biking, running, or snowboarding, a little extra length is nice just to keep things from creeping up. If I could just get an inch extra on the back of this coat, I would be beaming with joy. So far in wearing it, it has stayed put with my backpack and when running around in it, but a girl can wish for just one more inch in the caboose to keep things covered 100% of the time.

Not everything is price driven when you buy gear, as warranty, durability, special use, etc. all matter tremendously. But, many times it really does come down to cost. Will it last as long as a jacket twice the price and with a longer warranty period? That’s to be seen, but for now, I will enjoy wearing it as much as I can.

The post Simple Yet Perfect – Mammut Taiss HS Hooded Womens Jacket appeared first on Local Freshies.

Rocker Vs Camber Debate – Which Is Best For You

by Alex Silgalis | Jan 28, 2025 | Uncategorized

Regardless of whether you’re a skier or a snowboarder, camber and rocker are two terms that have likely been introduced into your vocabulary. We’re taking a close look to define what they are, how they differ, and to help you determine whether rocker or camber is better for you. But first things first: let’s start with what they actually mean.

What Is Camber

Merriam-Webster’s definition of camber is “a slight convexity, arching, or curvature, as of a beam, deck, or road.” In this case, it refers to the curve on a pair of skis or a snowboard. If you lay a board or skis flat on their base and look at them from the side, you’ll see what appears to be a reverse arc.

Why Do They Have Camber?

The reason for this arc is that it provides increased contact against the snow and springiness between your feet. The result is it allows you to make the perfect arc when carving. Another advantage is that it gives the rider or skier a natural “pop” when ollieing.

How Traditional Camber Came To Be

Snowboard technology over the years hasn’t lived in its own bubble but rather looked around at other board sports like surfing and skateboarding. One of the ideas that was influenced by skateboarding was camber. Longboards with camber were designed so that when weight was applied, it created a reverse arc making it easier to carve a continuous “S” path by just leaning left and right.

Skis Adopted Camber

Snowboarding may have drawn inspiration from other sports, but skiing’s use of camber dates back much further, all the way to the 1840s. Camber made it possible to create thinner, lighter skis. What skiing did borrow from snowboarding, however, was the concept of camber combined with a more aggressive sidecut, which led to the creation of what were known as “parabolic skis.” This innovation was such a significant leap forward in technology that many at the time claimed it “revived” the sport. Whether or not that’s true, it undeniably impacted skiing, introducing a whole new way of sliding down the mountain that the two-plank crowd hadn’t experienced before.

Rocker – The New Style

For decades, camber was the only shape that dominated the market, and there was no debate over rocker vs camber. That all changed when Lib Tech sparked the “rocker revolution” by introducing the Skate Banana. This was when the flip side of camber—rocker, or reverse camber—was introduced. From the side, a ski or board with rocker will appear to “smile” at you.

McConkey – The Man Who Brought Rocker To Skiing

The rocker shape was introduced by Shane McConkey on the skier side with his Volant Spatula Skis. When they came out, reviewers used terms like “fun”, “easy”, and saviors to the sports of skiing/snowboarding. This “banana” shape made it extremely easy to ride fresh powder when it was deep due to the natural arc already formed.

The Waterboy Argument

These two vastly different ski and snowboard designs had created a passionate debate between rocker vs camber. It’s like the scene from the movie Waterboy where Bobby Boucher has the argument on water versus Gatorade. I’ve heard friends on both sides make statements like:

“You can’t land on the bolts when it’s a rocker. I feel like I’m fighting a wet pig in the park. Camber all the way.”

“Deep pow on a camber? No way! All the board wants to do is dive like a submarine and make me tomahawk.”

What’s Better Rocker Or Camber?

So, which shape is better in the eternal rocker vs camber argument? Unfortunately, it isn’t an easy answer. For those with the money, a “quiver” might be your best option. A quiver is a set of decks or skis that you can pick and choose from depending on the conditions and skill level.

Rocker In Your Arsenal

If you’re going heli-skiing, cat-boarding, or wake up to 3 feet of deep powder, floating in the bottomless snow is VERY critical. A good choice for this is the Rocker. The natural “U” shape allows you to float easily through the snow without having to lean far back to get through it. It will provide effortless float. This includes Lib-Tech’s original banana profile and Arbor’s Rocker Profiles.

The Cons To The Rocker

Personally, a full rocker board feels a little squirrelly at high speeds. Locking into a turn, the board feels “soft” and loose more like a skid instead of a carve.

Locked n’ Loaded For A Camber

On the other hand, if your focus is on carving groomers or shredding through resort powder that’s only a few inches deep, at best a camber deck might be the funnest shape for you. As a purist, the ability to make a perfect carve and explode out of your turn allows you to exit faster than you went in.

World Of Camber Hurt

For friends who’ve started snowboarding for the first time, a bigger camber and/or sidecut could cause you to get frustrated. Think of it like tight suspension on a sports car. The design provides a more responsive ride, which means you could easily catch an edge. In addition, a true camber’s flex will make it a bit more difficult to keep the nose afloat in deep snow.

The Rocker Revolution Brings Hybrid Designs

Luckily, the answer doesn’t have to be one or the other. After the dust had settled with rocker vs camber shapes, there has been an explosion of all kinds of different ways of thinking. Both skiing and snowboarding manufacturers have begun to push the envelope on what’s possible with the arc. Shapes from a “flat” board to all sorts of hybrid combinations coming together into one deck.

Goldilocks Would Like Hybrid

If you’re looking for one board to rule them all, a hybrid is what you want. Is it the best in all conditions? We’ll be honest… when Lib Tech released the “banana” boards, we loved the different surfy feeling to it. Over the years though, we’ve gone the hybrid route for any days with soft snow and a true camber board for groomer days or spring.

Most Popular Hybrid Styles

Despite having an infinite amount of combinations, there are certain styles that are more prevalent than others. Here’s a few of them:

Hybrid Camber

This is when the design is primarily a camber between the feet but rocker at the nose and tail. Snowboarders or skiers that love a camber design but want a little help keeping the board afloat in deep snow will love it. For beginners, this will also help keep you from catching an edge.

Hybrid Rocker

The opposite of the Hybrid Camber is the Hybrid Rocker profile. Instead, it has rocker in the center and camber on the tips. In addition, both the nose and tail are still off the ground unless the board is weighted (i.e. someone standing on it). Hybrid Rockers still help with float but also ride better than a traditional rocker at higher speeds.

For Burton, this is the Flying V design and the C2 for a Lib Tech, which includes decks like the T. Rice Orca and Skunk Ape.

Directional Camber

As the name states, these are designed to primarily ride in one direction. The natural binding location is usually setback a bit. The focus is on camber from the tail of the board/skis to the front bindings. The nose is longer with a pronounced rocker uplift. This style provides stability like a classic camber, but the tip allows you to float easier in powder.

Good examples of the directional camber are the Jones Hovercraft and the classic Burton Custom.

Flat Variations

Within this category, there are a few different profiles. Overall, the base it flat from tip to tail. At the nose and tail is where the unique flavors come in. Some have minor camber. Others have a few millimeters of rocker on each end. Others are flat for most of it and only have rocker from the front bindings through the nose to help with float. This is an awesome option for those who like to hit park, rails, or tinker around on kickers.

An example of a flat profile is the Capita Ultrafear or for those who want a boost in technology, we recommend checking out the Bataleon TBT profiles. Not quite flat. Not a true rocker. They’re their own design that’s been patented.

What To Look For In A Hybrid

As you can tell, picking the type of snowboard you ride is a purely personal preference. For example, Jaime LOVES a board that has WAY more camber than I do but with a bit softer flex. Me, on other hand, for years looked for a camber-rocker-camber design such as the Orca. This allows the board to carve well but at the same time helps keep the nose afloat. Is it perfect? Nope, but it’s a great go-to option on most days.

Consider ALL Snowboard Shapes

As I personally came to realize when picking your snowboard or skis, the rocker vs camber debate is just one factor to consider. You also need to think about all the other shape and technology features, such as “magna-traction,” sidecut, and whether the board is “volume-shifted.” Our detailed article, Shape Up or Ship Out on Snowboard Shapes: Types, Terms, & More, covers all of these factors in depth. Ultimately, there are many choices when it comes to brands. Now that you have a better understanding, get out there, demo some new boards, and let us know what you think!

For more tips about gear from finding the right jacket to a pair of goggles and more, be sure to visit our Skiing & Snowboarding Gear homepage.

The post Rocker Vs Camber Debate – Which Is Best For You appeared first on Local Freshies.

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