TRUCKEE, Calif. – After an extended dry stretch, rain and snow are expected to return to the Truckee area early next week, bringing a renewed burst of winter conditions to the northern Sierra.
Dry weather is forecast to hold through at least Sunday, March 29, and possibly into the daytime hours on Monday, March 30, according to OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto. However, a shift in the pattern is expected Monday night as a pair of storms moves through the region.
The systems are projected to impact the northern Sierra from Monday night through Thursday, April 2, delivering colder air, lowering snow levels, and the potential for significant snowfall — especially over higher elevations like Donner Pass.
Snow levels may initially sit above 7,000 feet Monday evening before dropping to 6,000 – 6,500 feet on Tuesday, near 5,000 feet by Wednesday, and as low as 4,000 feet by late Thursday into Thursday night.
“We could see several inches of snow accumulate in the lower elevations, with up to 2–3 feet of snow possible over the top of Donner Pass,” said Allegretto. “Winter is coming back, and driving conditions could be slow and wintry with chain controls Monday night through Thursday.”
In addition to snowfall, gusty winds are expected to develop across the Tahoe region on Tuesday and Wednesday, which could reduce visibility and create hazardous travel conditions.
Travelers planning to cross the Sierra are advised to monitor weather updates and prepare for winter driving conditions throughout the week.
The storm system is expected to taper off by Friday, April 3, followed by a return to drier, more seasonal weather patterns, with a chance of occasional spring showers.
A class action lawsuit filed in federal court this week claims that Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co. — the two biggest ski companies in the U.S. — have unlawfully inflated pass prices and suppressed competition.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Denver on Monday was brought by four skiers — three from Colorado and one from Massachusetts — who claim that the two ski giants have coerced customers into buying expensive multi-resort mega passes by setting single-day lift ticket prices artificially high.
“For years, skiers have been told that soaring lift-ticket prices, reduced choice and overcrowding are simply the new reality,” said Greg Asciolla, an attorney for the plaintiffs, in a statement. “Our complaint alleges that these outcomes are not the result of healthy competition, but of exclusionary conduct by two companies that dominate access to the most desirable destinations.”
The 74-page complaint claims that Vail Resorts and Alterra have violated antitrust laws, including the federal Sherman Act and Colorado’s Antitrust Act of 2023, resulting in the two companies unjustly enriching themselves. The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of a class of potentially millions of skiers and snowboarders who have purchased lift tickets or season passes from the two companies.
Vail Resorts spokesperson Kelsey Pietranton said in a statement that the company believes “these claims are without merit.”
“We launched the Epic Pass in 2008 to make skiing and riding more accessible,” Pietranton said, claiming that the mega pass reduced the price of a season pass significantly. “… We’re proud that 18 years later, it’s still one of the best values in the industry.”
A spokesperson for Alterra declined to comment on the litigation.
Over the last 30 years, the complaint states, “the ski resort business has changed dramatically” with mergers, acquisitions and partnerships resulting in “two — and only two — behemoth ski resort” companies.
Across the world, Vail Resorts owns or operates 42 ski resorts and contracts with partners to provide access to another 30, while Alterra owns or operates 18 ski areas and contracts partners to provide access to about 70 more, according to the complaint. The complaint argues that the two companies have “locked up” ownership of nearly every major destination ski resort in the U.S. and also own or partner with some of the country’s most popular regional ski areas. There are about 486 ski areas in the U.S., according to the National Ski Areas Association.
In Colorado, which usually sees about 20% of the nation’s annual skier visits, Vail Resorts owns or contracts with Keystone Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Alterra owns or contracts with Copper Mountain, Eldora Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Steamboat Resort, Winter Park Resort and Aspen Snowmass.
Because the two companies own such a large share of the industry, they have been able to raise daily lift ticket prices — sometimes to more than $300 at destinations like Vail and Steamboat — to push customers to purchase expensive mega passes, according to the complaint.
Vail Resorts offers access to its resorts on the Epic Pass, while Alterra offers access to its resorts on the Ikon Pass. For the 2026-27 season, a full Epic Pass starts at $1,089 for adults and a full Ikon Pass starts at $1,399. The complaint states that Epic Pass prices have risen about 37% over the past six seasons, while Ikon Pass prices have increased about 40%.
“Vail Resorts and Alterra make every effort to drive more and more people to purchase their respective Mega Passes,” the complaint states. “But in order to do so, they each have resorted to an anticompetitive scheme that, as alleged herein, violates the antitrust laws.”
The complaint notes that Vail Resorts CEO Robert Katz previously told the New York Times that “Vail’s lift-ticket prices have been ‘intentionally’ aggressive” to push customers to buy the Epic Pass.
Katz told investors last month that passholders who purchase lift access ahead of the season make up about 75% of Vail Resorts’ annual visitation, providing “meaningful stability” for the company, even in a low snow year like this season. He said owning and contracting with resorts in different geographic regions also helps insulate the company when one region experiences bad conditions.
Pietranton noted in the statement from Vail Resorts that the company reduced Epic Pass pass prices by 20% in 2021.
Pietranton pushed back against claims that the mega pass bundling scheme disproportionately hurts casual and lower-frequency skiers, noting that as Vail Resorts acquired smaller resorts, it also began offering “new, lower-priced pass products” like the Epic Day Pass for one to seven days of lift access and the Epic Local Pass aimed at those that live in resort communities.
“We will always give the best value to our pass holders who commit ahead of the season,” she said. “But that said, we have also been intentional to price our lift tickets, sold in season, on a resort-by-resort basis, including numerous discount opportunities this past season.”
Competitive gaming has developed into one of the most visible forms of modern entertainment. Tournaments now fill arenas, global broadcasts attract massive online audiences, and professional teams operate under structured organizations similar to traditional sports clubs.
Spectators follow rivalries, championship runs, and major tournament moments in the same way fans track football or basketball seasons. Viewers no longer need to play the games themselves to understand the action. Esports now sits at a point where audience size, media attention, and financial investment continue to rise.
Industry projections suggest that global esports revenue could grow from about $4.3 billion in 2024 to roughly $5.7 billion by 2028. Hundreds of millions of viewers continue to interact with competitive gaming content every year.
Streaming Platforms and 24/7 Digital Engagement
Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube are central to esports’ rise as a spectator activity. These services let matches reach global audiences without the limits of cable networks or subscription barriers. Viewers can watch live events, catch replays, or follow players in real time, no matter where they are.
Esports doesn’t follow a fixed schedule like traditional sports. Matches happen across all time zones, and major finals often bring in millions of live viewers from different countries at once. The “games-as-a-service” model used by most competitive titles adds another layer.
Games receive regular updates, ranked seasons, and new content. This keeps players involved and encourages spectators to stay engaged with the same titles over time. A fan might play Valorant in the afternoon and then watch a pro match that evening.
This level of access has even drawn interest beyond typical viewing on gambling platforms. The always-on nature of esports, its steady match schedule, and worldwide availability have made it easy for those who want to track outcomes and odds more closely. Win.gg is one international platform that supports this kind of coverage. Here, users can see betting options on win.gg to follow events through market data tied to live competitions.
How Global Numbers Show a Growing Spectator Market
Recent market statistics underline how rapidly esports audiences and revenue are expanding. In 2022, the global esports market generated around $1.64 billion in revenue. This grew to nearly $1.98 billion in 2023. Analysts mention that the number reached about $2.4 billion in 2024 and almost $2.9 billion in 2025.
Forecasts also suggest that in 2026 the figure could hit roughly $3.5 billion. Longer‑term projections see it growing past $7.5 billion by 2030 and potentially exceeding $9 billion by 2031. These numbers reflect the increasing value of live broadcasts, sponsorship deals, media rights, and digital content tied to competitive titles.
Viewership figures also continue to climb year after year as more people tune in to finals, season runs, and major invitational events. Different regions contribute to this global picture. The United States alone leads in national revenue figures, exceeding $1 billion.
China, Canada, Germany, and other countries also register strong esports markets, each reinforcing how widespread competitive gaming has become. This scale suggests the spectator base is no longer limited to niche segments but spans diverse audiences across the globe.
Competitive Formats That Define the Spectator Experience
Esports audiences have grown because the competition formats are easier to follow and regularly broadcast. Individual tournaments spotlight player rivalry. Fighting game events, like those seen at the Evolution Championship Series, build stand‑alone narratives where one player’s performance can define a weekend and generate widespread online discussion.
Team competitions serve as another major pillar. Multiplayer online battle arenas and tactical shooters use structured seasons and world championships. The League of Legends World Championship regularly draws millions online and sells out large arenas. Its format allows fans to track teams through qualifiers, regional stages, and the global finals.
Seasonal league play also adds familiarity. Viewers follow ranked standings, mid‑season matches, and playoff runs similar to how traditional sports leagues operate. The result is a consistent schedule that keeps audiences engaged over months rather than only during marquee events.
This structure creates long arcs of competition and helps turn casual viewers into regular spectators. They know the teams, understand the stakes, and look out for upcoming clashes. Each title and format contributes to a broader competitive calendar that keeps people watching regularly.
Investment, Sponsorship, and Commercial Attention
Financial interest in esports has widened alongside its audience. Sponsorship deals now appear across team jerseys, event broadcasts, and media segments. Technology companies, hardware brands, and consumer firms regularly sign on to support leagues, tournaments, and individual teams.
Media rights also contribute to the commercial picture. Streaming platforms compete for exclusive access to certain events. Those agreements help push wider distribution and bring additional funds into the ecosystem. Meanwhile, publishers organize and fund major competitions directly, creating standardized seasons designed to attract viewership.
Large events show how far esports has moved toward commercial relevance. Recent Counter‑Strike tournaments broke viewership records while also attracting brand support from major sponsors. Other titles have explored alternative event formats that mix competition with entertainment, drawing additional eyes to the broadcast.
As investment grows, so does the ability for organizers to scale events, amplify media presence, and deliver regular competitive content. While challenges remain, the expanding commercial structure shows that esports is increasingly treated as a long‑term live entertainment category rather than a transient online hobby.
Regional Growth and Shifts in U.S. Hosting
Esports in the United States has seen notable shifts in where events take place and how infrastructure develops. While coastal cities like Los Angeles hosted many early major events, the landscape has broadened. Chicago and other central cities have gained prominence thanks to their ability to host national competitions and serve visitors from multiple regions.
Collegiate esports programs across the Midwest have also contributed to this shift, as universities build teams and facilities that compete in organized tournaments. This regional growth reflects how interest in competitive gaming has expanded beyond traditional centers.
Large arenas and convention spaces now host major esports weekends in cities across the country. Attendance figures from recent U.S. events show substantial live audiences, indicating that on‑site viewership remains strong even as online streaming continues to dominate.
These developments suggest that the physical map of esports is becoming more distributed within the United States. Cities that once saw few competitive gaming events now regularly appear on the calendar. The shift points to broader audience participation, deeper engagement from sponsors, and a growing demand for live esports experiences across varied locations.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Incline High School swim team kicked off its first home meet of the season on Saturday, March 21, in impressive fashion, highlighted by multiple first-place finishes, personal best performances, and a strong wave of new regional qualifications. The Highlanders delivered a win against Sparks, securing an overall team victory.
Leading the way in the relay events, the girls’ 200 medley relay team of junior Sady Kelly, senior Katie Ferrall, freshman Elizabeth Hansen, and freshman Haddie Rudd captured first place with their fastest time of the season. The momentum continued in the girls’ 200 freestyle relay, where the A team—Ferrall, Kelly, Rudd, and Hansen—claimed another first-place finish with a season-best time of 2:04.43. The B team, consisting of senior Ashley Siminov, freshman Bellini Hane, sophomore Olivia Kranz, and freshman Justine Daniel, also delivered a strong performance, finishing third.
The Incline High School swim team at their first home meet on Saturday, March 21. Provided
In individual events, several swimmers turned in standout performances. In the girls’ 200 freestyle, freshmen Elizabeth Hansen and Justine Daniel placed third and fourth, respectively, while juniors Jayden Mendoza and Grant Safford mirrored those results in the boys’ 200 freestyle.
A highlight of the meet came in the boys’ 200 individual medley, where freshman Finn Hadden competed in the event for the first time, finishing second and earning a regional qualifying time of 2:45.43—more than a minute under the qualifying standard.
The Incline High School swim team at their first home meet on Saturday, March 21. Provided
Sprint events also showcased the team’s depth. Junior Sady Kelly won the girls’ 50 freestyle, with freshman Haddie Rudd finishing fourth; both swimmers qualified for regionals. On the boys’ side, sophomore RB Bruce drew cheers from the crowd as he completed his first-ever 50 freestyle race.
Head Coach Meagan Ballew praised the team’s effort and determination. “I was very impressed with how our swimmers competed today,” Ballew said. “We saw a lot of personal bests and a number of athletes qualify for regionals. It’s a great way to start the season.”
With a strong opening meet behind them, the Highlanders look ahead with confidence as they continue to build momentum toward the regional championships in May.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — An understory (broadcast) prescribed burn is scheduled to begin on March 30 in the Tunnel Creek area of Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park. The project aims to reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin. If weather is favorable, burn operations are scheduled to conclude on April 3, 2026, but may be postponed as needed.
The project is an interagency effort, involving the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, Nevada Division of State Parks, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada Division of State Lands, and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, as part of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (TEIP) and Nevada’s Understory Burn Project. It will be the first understory burn conducted in the Tunnel Creek area since 2014.
Spooner Lake Backcountry State ParkProvided / NSP
“This project is an example of a collaborative approach to natural resource management, embodied by the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team. Working together, we aim to restore ecosystem health and resilience, improve wildlife habitat, and protect communities from catastrophic wildfires” said Kevin Fromherz, Nevada Tahoe Resource Team Program Manager. “Understory burns are a tool to accomplish these goals.”
Prescribed understory burns are low-intensity fires that help restore natural fire processes in fire-adapted ecosystems, recycle nutrients into the soil, and promote new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife habitat They are a critical forest management tool that helps improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Trail and Access Impacts
For public safety, portions of the Tunnel Creek area will be temporarily closed during active burning operations. Closures include:
East Shore Trail (from the Tahoe Transportation District Tunnel Creek parking lot to the Hidden Beach underpass)
Tunnel Creek Road (from the entrance near Tunnel Creek Café to the Incline Flume Trail)
All Tahoe Transportation District Tunnel Creek parking lots
Closures are expected to last a minimum of one day and up to three days, depending on conditions. All areas will reopen as soon as it is safe for public access.
Visitors may see smoke in the area, particularly affecting Incline Village and along Nevada State Route 28. Fire crews and equipment may remain on site after trails reopen. Visitors are asked to remain on designated trails following the burn to protect exposed soils and allow vegetation to recover.
What to Expect
Smoke is a normal and expected part of prescribed fire operations and may be visible for several days. Compared to wildfire smoke, prescribed fire smoke is typically shorter in duration and less intense. Smoke may settle in low-lying areas during the evening and early morning due to temperature inversions.
Prescribed fires are carefully planned and conducted under specific environmental conditions to ensure safety and effectiveness. These efforts help protect Lake Tahoe communities and surrounding forests from the threat of severe wildfire.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Mountain High Recovery Center (MHRC) celebrated its opening in South Lake Tahoe with a Blue Ribbon Cutting this week, expanding access to local substance use treatment and prevention services. Hosted by the Tahoe Chamber, the event brought together community members, partners, and supporters to recognize MHRC’s impact and ongoing commitment to recovery in the region.
Mountain High Recovery Center celebrated its opening in South Lake Tahoe with a Blue Ribbon Cutting in March 2026.Provided
Founded to provide affordable, community-based care, MHRC offers outpatient treatment, DUI services, adolescent prevention and early intervention, and family support. The new space allows the organization to grow alongside increasing demand for services in the region. MHRC plays a critical role in supporting local youth, currently serving referred adolescents through the school system and acting as a primary provider for these services.
In addition to direct care, the organization is leading efforts to strengthen collaboration among local nonprofits and human service agencies. MHRC is helping form a regional coalition focused on identifying service gaps, aligning resources, and pursuing grant funding to improve access to care.
As the organization continues to grow, Mountain High Recovery Center is also seeking to expand its leadership by welcoming a board member with strong financial expertise. This role will support strategic planning and fiscal oversight as MHRC advances its mission to provide accessible, community-based care. Those interested in learning more about the opportunity are encouraged to contact Executive Director Allison Hibbard at ahibbard@mountainhighrecovery.org or 530-600-6505 for additional information or questions. To learn more about the organization, visit www.mountainhighrecovery.org.
STATELINE, Nev. – The legend of Tessie is getting amped up. Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe and Clique Hospitality have announced an early summer 2026 opening of Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords, an all-new cocktail lounge and live music destination inspired by the mythical serpent said to inhabit the depths of Lake Tahoe. Located in the heart of the casino floor, Tessie’s is where rock ‘n’ roll energy meets elevated mixology and Sierra Nevada soul.
Designed by New York-based Celano Design Studio Co., Tessie’s channels the rugged romance of mountain life through an immersive aesthetic that blends vintage ski lodge charm with contemporary sophistication. Antique mahogany, white oak plank walls, black basalt, aged bronze and worn leather set the stage for a warm yet electric gathering place. A monolithic 1886-vintage fireplace anchors the cozy lounge, while tufted leather sectionals, rustic wood tables and cowhide rugs create intimate pockets throughout the room.
Renderings of the new Tessie’s Cocktails and Chords.Provided / Clique Hospitality
At the center of it all hangs a dramatic multi-headed serpent chandelier; a tribute to Tessie herself, fitted with programmable color-changing light that shifts the atmosphere from an inviting amber glow during early evening to a theatrical, concert-ready setting as the night progresses. A Brunswick triple-arch “Empire Bar” from the late 1800s, crafted from mahogany with Corinthian columns, ornate arches and mirrored detailing, serves as a stunning centerpiece, complete with leather stools and two restored horse saddles repurposed as barstools, nodding to Tahoe’s frontier spirit. At the rear, a live performance stage framed with blue velvet drapery and custom serpent-inspired lighting rounds out the space.
“We conceptualized Tessie’s to capture the heartbeat of Tahoe with great music, cocktails and local beers, and rock and roll energy,” said Andy Masi, Founder of Clique Hospitality. “It’s a place for anyone ready to trade an ordinary night for something legendary.”
Renderings of the new Tessie’s Cocktails and Chords.Provided / Clique Hospitality
Tessie’s will serve as a breeding ground for emerging musicians and a stage for top-tier talent, with live music seven nights a week. During ski season, Tessie’s will extend the experience with an Amped Après experience from 3 to 6 p.m. daily, giving guests a high-energy wind-down after a day on the slopes before the evening entertainment kicks off.
The bar menu at Tessie’s spotlights cocktails, champagnes, beer selections and more designed for settling in for a solo act or dancing through last call. Cocktails will include classic preparations alongside signature creations built on elusive and carefully sourced spirits. Guests will find an extensive selection of local draft beers on rotating tap alongside other imports and domestics.
“Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords is the soul of what we’re building at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe. We wanted a space that felt authentic to the region and to the music, the mountains and the stories people have been telling about this lake for generations,” said Karie Hall, SVP and General Manager of Harrah’s and Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe. “Partnering with Clique Hospitality to bring that vision to life gives us a venue unlike anything else on the South Shore, and we can’t wait to open the doors this summer.”
Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords marks Clique Hospitality’s second collaboration with Caesars Entertainment, following the acclaimed opening of Caspian’s Cocktails & Caviar at Caesars Palace Las Vegas in late 2024. The lounge is one of five new bar experiences coming to Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe as part of Phase Two of the property’s $200 million transformation.
Tessie’s Cocktails & Chords is scheduled to open in early summer 2026. For more information, visitCaesarsRepublicTahoe.com.
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.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Catalyst Community, the Resource and Referral Agency serving El Dorado County since 1976, presents the annual Kids Expo Tahoe on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Lake Tahoe Community College. This popular event, formerly called Day of the Young Child, is over 30 years old and started as a celebration of Month of the Young Child.
Parents who once attended the event as children are now bringing their own children to share in this amazing community experience. Whether it’s sitting behind the wheel of a school bus, spinning prize wheels, watching a performance, or getting happy faces painted, families and children are able to participate in a wide variety of free creative activities while learning about community services, educational programs, businesses, and extra-curricular activities.
The Kids Expo will be held May 30. Provided
Kids Expo Tahoe would not be possible without the generous support of the community. The local agencies and organizations that provide sponsorships or sign up for spaces to provide free activities for kids make this event one of a kind. It’s the perfect opportunity for family-oriented agencies and businesses to share information about their offerings and resources all while spending a fun day interacting with hundreds of families in the community.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – A longtime restaurant space in Incline Village has been given new life under local ownership, as Paxton’s focuses on fresh ingredients, seasonal menus and community ties.
The restaurant, which replaced Austin’s, across the street from the Hyatt Regency, was taken over about five months ago by co-founders Cole Dunbar (Executive Chef) and Jordan Armstrong (Beverage Director) who said they saw potential in the location.
“One of the biggest things was just seeing what the place could be,” said Dunbar. “We just needed direction, consistency and a clear identity.”
Left to right: Jordan Armstrong and Cole DunbarProvided
The transition began roughly eight months ago, when the previous owner approached Dunbar about taking over the business. After an informal evaluation period, the partners decided to move forward, ultimately opting for a full reset that included new staff, a rebrand and a revamped menu.
The restaurant was renamed to Paxton’s, a nod to Dunbar’s son. The name, he said, translates to “peaceful village,” a concept they hope to reflect in both the atmosphere and the dining experience.
Rather than maintain elements of the previous restaurant, the owners said they wanted to start fresh.
“We didn’t want to carry over anything from before,” Dunbar added. “This is a completely new restaurant with its own identity.”
The updated concept emphasizes scratch cooking and locally inspired dishes. Menus change frequently – sometimes multiple times a week – depending on ingredient availability and customer response. The bar program has also shifted away from pre-made mixes to fresh juices and house-made syrups.
“We wanted to bring everything in-house and focus on quality,” Armtrong said. “Simple, fresh ingredients done well.”
The owners said building trust with local customers has been a key priority, particularly in a small community where dining habits can be slow to change. Early feedback, both online and through word-of-mouth, has been largely positive.
“It’s about consistency,” said Dunbar. “We want people to come in and know they’re going to have a great experience, even if the menu changes.”
Paxton’s has also leaned into its neighborhood identity, prioritizing local hires and aiming to create a gathering place for residents. Weekly specials, such as ramen nights, have helped draw in repeat customers, while tourism traffic continues to provide a steady flow of new diners.
Looking ahead, the owners plan to expand offerings with outdoor service, pre-packaged options for beachgoers and potential additions like coffee and early morning cocktails.
Despite the growth, they said their approach to promotion will remain understated.
“We believe good food and good service speak for themselves,” added Dunbar.
As word of the restaurant spreads beyond the Lake Tahoe Basin – with visitors from cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco already taking notice – the team hopes Paxton’s will continue to establish itself as a staple in Incline Village’s evolving dining scene.
Paxton’s Settlement is located at 120 Country Club Drive #24 in Incline Village, NV. For more information visit them online at paxtonssettlement.com or reach them by phone at 775-298-7900.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Chef Virat Vij of Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has been named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation High Sierra Chefs Association, recognizing his leadership, service, and contributions to the regional culinary community.
“As President of the association, I deeply admire Chef Virat’s tenacity and enthusiasm, particularly in his efforts to strengthen the foundations of LTCC and his continued outreach in supporting our local community. His passion and efforts have made a positive impact on all of us,” said Jay Rathmann, CEC, CCA President, High Sierra Chefs Association.
Chef Virat Vij of Lake Tahoe Community College has been named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation High Sierra Chefs Association.Provided / LTCC
The annual award honors culinary professionals who demonstrate excellence, mentorship, and industry leadership. The association’s Board of Directors selected Vij for his service on the board and his support for fundraising efforts benefiting aspiring chefs.
At LTCC, Vij serves as director of the Culinary and Hospitality Program and is pursuing a tenure-track faculty position. He teaches in the college’s culinary arts program, where students gain hands-on experience in professional kitchens and build skills for careers in the food and hospitality industry. His work connects classroom learning with real-world industry expectations, helping students transition into the workforce.
“Chef Virat brings real-world experience and a deep commitment to student success into every classroom and kitchen,” said Brad Deeds, Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction at LTCC. “This recognition reflects the impact he has on our students and the broader culinary community.”
Vij also supports the next generation of chefs through his involvement with the High Sierra Chefs Association, including efforts that expand opportunities for junior and aspiring culinary professionals.
“I’m honored to be recognized by the High Sierra Chefs Association,” said Vij. “Supporting students and helping them build careers in this industry is the most meaningful part of my work.”
The honor recognizes Vij’s leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact on his students and the regional culinary community.
For more information on the LTCC’s culinary program, please visit ltcc.edu.
Meet Calibri, a sweet and mellow four-year-old cat who is ready to find a loving home of his own. Calibri can be a little shy when meeting new people, but with a bit of patience and kindness, his gentle personality truly shines and he is so sweet and such a great snuggle buddy.
Once he feels comfortable, Calibri is incredibly affectionate and loves being pet. He’ll happily lean in for more attention and enjoys spending quiet time relaxing near his favorite person. A cozy spot to curl up and a calm home where he can feel safe would make him very happy.
Calibri is this week’s Pet of the Week. Provided / HSTT
Calibri is the kind of cat who forms a special bond with his people. With a little time, plenty of pets, and a few treats along the way, he’s sure to become a devoted and loving companion.
If you’re looking for a calm, sweet cat who will reward your patience with lots of affection, Calibri may be the perfect addition to your family.
If you are interested in meeting Calibri or learning more about him, please get in touch with one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. Let’s get this handsome boy the home he deserves. He is neutered, vaccinated, and up to date on his vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit, www.hstt.org.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The City of South Lake Tahoe is inviting residents to participate in a Community-Wide Survey to measure the quality of life and government services in the community. The survey offers residents a direct way to share their perspectives and help shape the future of South Lake Tahoe. The City will use the results to guide strategic planning initiatives and align its goals with the community’s priorities.
The National Community Survey (The NCS) was developed by National Research Center at Polco. The survey captures opinions on the economy, mobility, community design, utilities, safety, natural environment, inclusivity, engagement, and other elements of South Lake Tahoe’s overall livability. Results will highlight the City’s strengths, identify areas for improvement, and show how South Lake Tahoe compares to other communities nationwide as well as the City’s 2024 Community Survey results.
Mailed surveys have been sent to randomly selected households and residents are encouraged to follow the enclosed instructions to complete the survey. Those who do not receive a mailed invitation will have the opportunity to participate starting April 15, when the survey becomes available online for the entire community.
“We strongly encourage all residents to take part in the Community Survey,” said Hilary Roverud, Interim City Manager. “The feedback we receive is essential for understanding what matters most to our community. It helps us improve our services and plan initiatives that truly reflect the priorities and needs of South Lake Tahoe residents.”
For more information on this process and to access the online survey once it goes live on April 15, please visit www.cityofslt.gov/CommunitySurvey2026. The survey closes on Wednesday, April 29.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Liberty Utilities, which supplies electricity for the Tahoe Basin, will be entering the energy market to seek new suppliers. NV Energy, which has previously supplied 75% of the energy to Liberty, will be providing service until the Greenlink Nevada transmission project completes in spring 2027.
According to both Liberty Utilities and NV Energy, NV Energy sold electric system assets to Liberty in 2009, agreeing to provide energy and generation capacity for a transition period. A spokesperson for NV Energy said, “From the beginning, it has been understood that Liberty Utilities would eventually secure its own transmission access and energy supply so it could serve customers independently.”
Local Liberty president Eric Schwarzrock said that Liberty had requested transmission service in the past. NV Energy had also extended the transition period until the end of 2025. “As a good neighbor and in the interest of continued reliability for customers, NV Energy agreed to keep providing service until Liberty’s transmission service is available.”
Liberty has now requested an update to its resource plan from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as part of this change. Schwarzrock said, “This gives us an opportunity to go to market where there are more options in general.” He added that Tahoe is a good region to match with other energy loads in the market, as the peak season hits during winter.
The Greenlink West transmission project, which is expected to come online in 2027, is NV Energy’s project spanning from Las Vegas to Yerington. On their website, they state, “This creates a renewable energy highway that allows access to Nevada’s resource-rich renewable area zones.”
“Once operational, Greenlink West will allow Liberty to use NV Energy’s transmission system to purchase and deliver its own energy, as originally intended,” said NV Energy’s spokesperson.
While Liberty considered connecting to California, Schwarzrock said that it would require a transmission line over the Sierras, which would take considerable time and effort to build. Liberty is more likely to seek power outside of California, potentially in Utah or Idaho. “It’s about using the facilities in place efficiently and effectively.”
Liberty is prioritizing the opportunity to increase their renewable options, as well as affordability to customers. “We’re hopeful that we can bring the prices down and we’re looking for it to be as cheap as possible for customers,” said Schwarzrock.
Schwarzrock told the Tribune that the year was plenty of time to figure out their RFP (Request for Proposal) on energy suppliers. “You can run an RFP in a few months. We wanted to give ourselves as much time as possible before and after it.”
He also said, “Most customers would have no idea anything changed once we go through this. If there was an effect for bill changes, we would certainly notify our customers.”
Both Liberty and NV Energy said they wanted to remain as transparent as possible with customers through this transition. Liberty will have more information in the coming days on their website, and customer care representatives will also be able to share information with the public.
Local advocacy groups TAHOE SPARK and the Tahoe Climate Change Action Network are interested in regional action among agencies, especially around renewable energy and energy reliability. The Tribune will be following up with these groups in a future story.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On Thursday, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for special education in Alpine and South Lake Tahoe’s school districts decided they will be moving forward with new bylaws and an application for the committee members.
Following an incident at the previous CAC meeting, this meeting was convened to address compliance with the California Department of Education and the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). Bill Roderick, who previously served as the SELPA director but is currently serving as interim superintendent at Alpine County, was present at the meeting.
Chairman Darrell Miller and Roderick discussed the SELPA administration making a concerted effort to address training for writing individualized education plans (IEPs). Previously, Jesse Kravchuk and Miller shared with the Tribune that many staff who could have benefited from the training were not made aware of it happening.
Miller also addressed that he had heard concerns around retaliation towards staff for issues they felt should be looked at. “We want to direct those staff members to talk to their union representatives.”
A union representative present at the meeting said that she was unsure about where those complaints were coming from, but noted that special education teachers could talk to the union.
The committee also discussed the current study and audit from School Services of California (SSC), which looks at the district’s special education program. Interviews with SSC will be taking place in the next few weeks.
Miller and Roderick collaborated on new bylaws for the CAC, which included that the CAC should set their own agenda, that the committee would have an odd number of members and that members would serve a two-year term with no limits. They also specified a non-retaliation clause and support for recording and online hosting of meetings to increase accessibility.
The bylaws also include a mechanism for a back and forth with the SELPA governance council, which require the council to respond within seven days to acknowledge submitted recommendations. Within a 30 day period, the council must state if they will accept, modify or reject recommendations or place the item on the next agenda.
The CAC created a new, simplified application form for the membership and officers of the CAC, but ultimately decided to elect new members after the board approved the bylaws and associated term-limits.
Miller will schedule another meeting with relevant parties to review the SELPA documentation together. He will likely continue to serve as the chairman, meaning he will sign off on the SELPA documentation for the California District of Education.
What’s with the lack of snow this winter in Truckee/Tahoe, and will it change the business of snow down the line?
These questions typically surface every time there’s a relatively warm winter, and/or one with little snow, and that has certainly been the case for winter 2025/26. Compared the 1991 to 2020 stretch of measurements, on March 22, 2026, the accumulated snowfall taken at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab was 75 inches shy of the median.
A 25/26 WINTER PREDICTION: The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center issued a forecast for the 2025/26 season in November 2025, anticipating a La Niña year, which yields stronger trade winds pushing warm water toward Asia. The movement of cold water tends to bring drought in the southern U.S. and heavier precipitation in the north and Canada. Courtesy graphic
This winter was anticipated to be a La Niña year — a natural climate pattern known for colder sea temperatures, with wetter conditions in the northern parts of the U.S. and Canada, and warmer, drier conditions in the southern parts of the U.S. The Truckee/North Tahoe area held an equal chance of experiencing either set of conditions.
“The season started slower than expected with relatively dry conditions until the new year, when we saw as much as 10 to 12 feet of snow in a few days,” wrote Ski California President John Rice in an email. “Most resorts went from zero to 100, reminding us that it can take just one storm in the Sierras to get it started. We did not experience much weather between that event and the second major storm cycle that brought another 10 feet of snow, only to be followed up with several inches of rain.
“The season is not over yet,” he added. “We could still see a March Miracle or an April Fools snow event. The East Coast was favored by Mother Nature this winter over the West.”
AN EAST WIND: Jan. 8 at Palisades Tahoe featured a new east wind — seen here blowing snow from Headwall face toward and into Sun Bowl — signaled the onset of the high-pressure ridge that lasted until mid-February. Photo by Jon Grant/Moonshine Ink
Still, many local ski resorts are ending their seasons earlier than usual. Sierra-at-Tahoe closed March 22, its second-earliest closure ever after the 2014/15 winter. It’s impossible to separate low snow from our economies’ reliance on tourism — more than 60% of the Tahoe Basin’s economic output, the Tahoe Prosperity Center reports, relies on it. And in Truckee, tourism supported roughly 1,670 jobs and generated $63.7 million locally in 2024. With a 4.5-degree Fahrenheit increase in average daily minimum (nighttime) temperature since 1911, and increasingly fewer days when it’s even cold enough to snow, as the Tahoe Environmental Research Center reports, the business of winter can’t be static.
“The East Coast was favored by Mother Nature this winter over the West.”
~ John Rice, Ski California president
Various local resorts speak to their realities of the collectively less-than-impressive 25/26 winter, and what their mindsets are for future spring shoulder seasons that bloom earlier and earlier. Moonshine Ink reached out to multiple ski shops for additional comment, but they declined to comment.
“Despite being open only 84 days, it felt like a really great season,” said Molly Casper, the marketing and communications coordinator for Tahoe XC in Tahoe City, which closed on March 11. “We had some really great events … If you have enough packed snow and cold temperatures overnight, skiing is fantastic at Tahoe XC. The groomers were incredible. We stayed open as long as we could.”
Tahoe XC operates year-round, with mountain biking programming, nature camp, and other summertime opportunities. The nonprofit is also in the process of raising funds to open a new lodge near North Tahoe High School, “where we can support a more year-round business model and create longer-term employment for our employees,” Casper said. “I think that’s the real downside of being a seasonal business is not being able to sustain employment for as long as we want. The community really shows up and it’s impossible to say we had a bad winter with all that support but it’s bittersweet to end the season and not see each other every day.”
Even without snow, Tahoe XC is still hosting the Tahoe Nordic Expo on April 4. Casper said it was always known there might not be much snow by then, but events are happening regardless, including biathlon training, a backcountry clinic, a virtual panel, and a ton more.
Such warmer-weather approaches are common among “every resort in business today,” per Rice. “Some [are] more aggressive than others [in opportunities], with investments in mountain biking, sightseeing, hiking, events, weddings, and other activities,” Rice wrote. “Mountain playgrounds are in demand year around and ski resorts, especially those on public land, are ready to provide outdoor recreation without snow. Since ski resorts have the most to lose regarding climate change, we don’t get into the politics of the debate, rather focus on sustainability practices and use our position to educate our guests and employees to do their part to take care of our environment.”
8,260 FEET: With its high base elevation, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe received all snow (no rain) in the late-December storms and was fully open for the Christmas-New Year’s week, when this photo was taken. Photo by Jon Grant/Moonshine Ink
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has a different outlook on this winter, literally and figuratively.
“We do have our clear advantages during leaner times,” said Mike Pierce, marketing director for the resort, which has the area’s highest base elevation at 8,260 feet.
He said that his team is “fighting the PR battle” on the general perception that conditions aren’t ideal and it’s been a short winter. With about 240 inches of snow this season, Mt. Rose will likely stay open until April 26.
In general, he noted December was unique, with more competing ski teams from other resorts on the slopes than usual.
“The community really shows up and it’s impossible to say we had a bad winter with all that support but it’s bittersweet to end the season and not see each other every day.”
~ Molly Casper, Tahoe XC Marketing and Communications Coordinator
As for eyeing future warming, Pierce said Mt. Rose will continue its investment in snowmaking: “We have 80 guns on the hill, and we will continue with that.”
Rice echoed this snowmaking sentiment. “Snowmaking has come a long way with new technologies and ways to convert water to a frozen, non-consumptive use. As snow is stored on mountain slopes, it returns to the groundwater and rivers during as the snow melts.
Despite a slow start and few weather events, as well as tragedies like the avalanche at Castle Peak, Rice said the season has shown “a normal pattern of activity” and encouraged ongoing education, like through Ski California’s Mountain Safety Guide.
“Having worked in the ski industry for over 40 years, I have witnessed low snow, normal snow totals, and extreme snow seasons,” Rice wrote. “Weather is always changing, and the ski industry is always adapting. It’s important to remember that one season doesn’t signal a trend.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service wants community input on a proposal to remove several aging historic structures at Round Hill Pines Resort on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Under the National Historic Preservation Act , federal agencies need to consider feasible alternatives before demolition of historic structures.
The proposal calls for demolishing nine aging buildings within the Round Hill Pines Resort Historic Cabin District — a guest house, dining hall, caretaker’s house, garage/laundry facilities, boiler house, gardener’s house, and three employee cottages. Based on their condition, five buildings would be retained for adaptive reuse purposes, including the grand lodge.
To provide input regarding the proposed removal of the aging buildings or to propose viable alternatives, email alexandra.wenzl@usda.govwithin 30 days of this announcement. All comments will be reviewed to help evaluate feasible options.
History of Round Hill Pines
Located on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore, Round Hill Pines was developed in the 1920s as the private summer estate of Norman DeVaux, a well-known cross-country cyclist turned major West Coast automobile distributor who helped establish Chevrolet and Durant Motors. DeVaux constructed a lodge, guest cabins, service buildings, and recreational features as the core of the property. Additional structures were added after the estate changed hands in 1931.
In 1951, the property was converted into the Round Hill Pines Resort, a commercial vacation destination with motel units. The resort closed in 1969 due to sewage issues. In 1985, the Forest Service acquired the site, including the beach, marina and 28 buildings. The resort provides public access to Lake Tahoe and operates under a special use permit through the Forest Service.
PLACER COUNTY, Calif. – At about 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening, an aircraft traveling to Truckee Tahoe Airport went down southwest of the Olympic Valley area.
At approximately the same time the aircraft disappeared from radar, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received an Apple crash alert in the area. With the assistance of the CHP – Air Operations and Care Flight, an aerial search was initiated, and the downed aircraft was found.
Due to the remote and rugged terrain, Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team Inc personnel were deployed. Some crews, including deputies, were flown into the area, while others responded by ground to reach the crash site.
Tragically, one person was located deceased inside the plane. The pilot is believed to have been the sole occupant.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Caesars Republic/Harrah’s HEROs (formerly known as Harrahs’/Harveys’ HEROs) stands out as one of the longest and most consistent sponsors of Bread & Broth’s Adopt A Day of Nourishment program. The Adopt A Day (AAD) sponsorship program, launched in 2011, funds and encourages participation in Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal. Since early 2012, the HEROs have demonstrated an ongoing commitment by sponsoring these meals.
Throughout the years, the AAD crew members from the HEROs group have consistently excelled. Their background in hospitality, as casino and hotel team members, enables them to handle every meal setup task with skill and enthusiasm. Their warm smiles and kindness towards dinner guests help create a welcoming and positive experience for all attendees.
Left to right: Darlene Winkelman, Jen Cisneros, Sherry Newberge, Devon Falk, Mark McDonaldProvided
The Caesars Republic/Harrah’s HEROs is the employee organization at the casinos that encourages members to support community events and projects. Their first AAD sponsorship of 2026 took place on Monday, March 16th. The HEROs volunteers for this Monday Meal were Jenn Cisneros, Devon Falk, Mark McDonald, Sherry Newberger, and Darlene Winkelman. Darlene, Casino Operations Manager, has played a key role in coordinating HEROs’ AAD sponsorships since their inaugural event in 2012. She continues to assemble a dedicated and enthusiastic crew for each sponsorship event.
The HEROs AAD team members found serving the vulnerable in the community to be inspiring. “I loved it,” shared Jenn Cisneros. “I didn’t know we had so much need in our community.” That evening, Bread & Broth’s Monday Meal served 117 dinners with 8 dinner guests going back for seconds servings of the chicken, potatoes, green bean casserole, and green salad. Experiencing his first stint as an AAD volunteer, Devon shared that “Overall, a lot more people than I expected. Happy to see there was plenty of food for everyone. Good to see a sense of community with everyone.”
Thank you to the HEROs organization and the support they receive from Caesars Republic/ Harrah’s in their efforts to be involved in the betterment of the community. Bread & Broth looks forward to their upcoming Adopt A Day of Nourishment sponsorship on May 4th.
To learn more about Bread & Broth or make a donation, please visit www.breadandbroth.org or follow Bread & Broth on Instagram or Facebook.
In the US, over one-third of daily calories come from food prepared away from home, and these meals are consistently higher in calories, saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, and sodium. For individuals managing weight, cholesterol, blood glucose, and other diet-related markers, restaurant habits matter both metabolically and behaviorally.
Although dining out can enhance social and emotional well-being, the available food choices may work against physiological health if approached without intention.
Pre-meals to Manage Hunger
Skipping meals in anticipation of dining out often backfires. Elevated ghrelin increases hunger and amplifies reward-driven eating, making refined carbohydrates and high-fat foods less resistible. In contrast, consuming a small, nutrient-dense meal beforehand, such as vegetables, legumes, or a high-fiber snack, can stimulate satiety hormones including GLP-1, peptide YY (PYY), and cholecystokinin (CCK), improving appetite regulation.
This is not about eliminating enjoyment, but preserving decision-making capacity. When hunger is controlled, the prefrontal cortex is better able to prioritize long-term goals over immediate reward. The purpose of eating out is social and emotional, not to meet caloric needs.
Choose the Restaurant Intentionally
If possible, select a restaurant that offers at least one goal-promoting option. Full-service restaurants are more likely than fast food establishments to provide minimally processed dishes such as grilled proteins, vegetables, and customizable salads.
The overarching dietary targets remain consistent: saturated fat below 10% of total calories and added sugars below 10%. Restaurants that emphasize whole foods, seafood, vegetables, legumes, and simple preparations make these targets more achievable.
Overconsuming high saturated fat animal products simply to meet protein goals is a poor trade-off, particularly for cardiometabolic health. Again, dining out is often about social interaction, not nutritional completeness, and protein intake can be distributed across the day.
Make Strategic Choices Within the Restaurant
Seafood is generally low in saturated fat and supports cardiometabolic health; however, larger predatory fish like swordfish and some tuna should be limited to 1 to 2 servings per week due to mercury exposure.
Restaurants are increasingly accommodating when it comes to dietary preferences. Sauces can be ordered on the side and substitutions and cooking adjustments can often be accommodated. Steamed vegetables are even often available even if only upon request. A plain baked potato or sweet potato can also be a satiating, minimally processed choice that supports fullness without excess saturated fat or refined carbohydrates. Although a white baked potato, especially without the skin, has a relatively high glycemic index, pairing it with a lean protein such as chicken breast or fish can help slow the rise in blood sugar.
Refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta-heavy dishes, and desserts should be approached with caution. Even on special occasions, these foods, particularly when combined with saturated fats, can strongly stimulate reward pathways in the brain, reinforcing patterns that make long-term adherence more difficult. Choosing alternatives more consistently helps shift these patterns over time. Many restaurants offer simple options like whole fruit in place of dessert when requested.
Summary and Conclusion
Restaurant dining does not need to conflict with health goals. By eating beforehand to regulate hunger, choosing restaurants with viable options, and making deliberate selections once there, individuals can maintain alignment with metabolic targets including weight, lipid, and glycemic.
More importantly, these selections reinforce neural pathways that support consistency. Over time, healthier choices become easier through repetition.
About the Author
Patrick Traynor, PhD, MPH, RD, CSOWM, CPT, is a registered dietitian and founder of MNT Scientific, LLC (MNTScientific.com), an insurance-based nutrition practice serving South Lake Tahoe, CA; Minden, NV; and Ashland, OR. He holds the Interdisciplinary Specialist Certification in Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM) from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Virtual appointments are available via telehealth. For inquiries or appointments, visit MNTScientific.com, dial (530)429-7363, or email info@mntscientific.com.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The ‘Pie Shop’ boulders, named after a pie shop that used to be on the trail, may become inaccessible to the public if a residential development permit is approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Located near Sawmill Road, the boulders have been a popular climbing spot for visitors and residents alike, and the Tahoe Climbing Coalition is requesting the public to comment at the meeting.
The TRPA is reviewing a permit application for a residence at 1663 Sawmill Road for a single-family residence. The application came in on February 2025 and because the local plan area lists residences as special use, they will require a public hearing. That hearing will take place on April 2.
The Pie Shop boulders are a popular local climbing spot.Provided / Tahoe Climbing Coalition
The property is located south of a large parcel of Forest Service land, as well as near public parcels from the USFS and California Tahoe Conservancy. While the property itself has been private for some time, people have been climbing on the boulders since the 1970s and using the site as an entrance. The parcel contains eight documented boulders and an existing trail. According to the Tahoe Climbing Coalition, “Approval of the project could result in the loss of a historic, heavily used local climbing are and set a concerning precedent for recreation access in the Lake Tahoe Basin.”
Maxwell Dergosits, a board member of the Tahoe Climbing Coalition, told the Tribune that the site was fairly popular. “I know people there who have been climbing at the Pie Shop boulders since the 80s. It’s a great spot to bring beginners or people new to the sport.” The site is also more accessible than other bouldering spots in South Lake Tahoe, as it’s through open forest.
“It’s not just a select few people who climb here, it’s one of the more popular areas, and it’s got a history,” said Dergosits. “With more development there, it could make it less appealing to climb, since people are doing that to get out in nature.”
Plenty of people were surprised to learn that the access point was on private land, and there are concerns that development in the area could make recreation less accessible and set a precedent for more development near Forest Service lands. “It could make it potentially more enticing for the USFS to sell land if housing is built there,” said Dergosits.
The Tahoe Climbing Coalition’s mission is to protect and improve climbing in the Lake Tahoe Basin through mentorship and stewardship. “We want to make sure we’re an organizing point for the community and serve as a conduit for people to put their energy out there,” said Dergosits. “We are not anti-development, and we are interested in reaching out to the homeowners or speaking to the TRPA to express that we want to preserve access there.”
The owners of the parcel responded to the Tribune via email and said the TRPA had made them aware of their concerns and the petition. “As long-time admirers, skiers, hikers and part-time residents of the Lake Tahoe Basin, we feel fortunate to have purchased a beautiful property to call home. This has been a privately owned parcel since at least 1963. We deeply respect the natural beauty of the area, and have spent significant time and resources ensuring our project surpasses the already rigorous environmental and planning standards of El Dorado County and TRPA.”
“We also deeply respect the climbing community and the passion it holds for the Pie Shop Boulders. We have no intention of preventing climbers from passing through our property to access the fully surrounding National Forest and its boulders. Our goal is to be respectful neighbors and to coexist with the recreational culture that makes Tahoe so special to us, and to the climbing community. While we are moving forward with plans for our sustainable home, we are committed to open communication to ensure our private residence is integrated thoughtfully into the landscape and its culture,” they continued.
The property owners will be present at the TRPA public hearing on April 2, and the Tahoe Climbing Coalition mainly wants to ensure that the public has a chance to speak at it. Dergosits said, “This is an opportunity to make your voice heard.”
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters earned a series victory on the road as they defeated the Toledo Walleye 4-3 in overtime on Sunday.
In the first period, Tahoe got on the board first as Linden Alger scored his second goal of the season to make it 1-0. Later in the frame, it was Kevin Wall, who kept his scoring streak alive to give the Knight Monsters a 2-0 lead going into the second.
Knight Monsters v Walleye night three. Provided
In the second period, on a Toledo power play, Devon Paliani and Kevin Wall teamed up for a shorthanded goal to put Tahoe up by 3. The goal was Paliani’s 28th of the season. Later in the same power play, Toledo would get on the board as the reigning two-time ECHL MVP Brandon Hawkins scored to make it 3-1 Tahoe to end the second period.
In the third, Garrett Van Wyhe scored on the power play to cut Tahoe’s lead to 1, and then just 13 seconds later, Brendon Michaelian scored again to tie the game at 3. After timely saves from Tahoe goaltender Dominic Basse, the game would head into overtime.
In OT, it took Sloan Stanick just two minutes to find the back of the net on a rebound in the far circle, giving Tahoe their second win in the overtime period this season.
The Knight Monsters return home on Friday, March 27, 2026, to take on the Rapid City Rush at Tahoe Blue Event Center for the Marvel Knight. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm, with pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network beginning at 6:50 pm. Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are now available. For more information, visit www.knightmonstershockey.com
As we approach the one-month commemoration of the avalanche at Perry’s Peak on Feb. 17, the Truckee/Tahoe community continues to grieve deeply after what is to date the deadliest avalanche in modern California history.
Nine individuals — six women who were part of a friend group on a backcountry skiing trip, and three mountain guides (two men and one woman) — were killed by an avalanche during whiteout winter conditions. All were described as passionate and skilled backcountry skiers.
Many questions remain, the most significant of which centers on why a group of knowledgeable skiers elected to venture out at all, and to take the path they did during dangerous winter conditions and amid an active avalanche warning. While the event itself remains under investigation on a multitude of fronts, with the possibility of lawsuits, enough core information about what took place exists to create a timeline of events.
Moonshine Ink conducted numerous interviews, reviewed reports, and sorted through volumes of information to better understand what happened on that snowy Tuesday in mid-February.
Sunday, Feb. 15, to Monday, Feb. 16
In the days leading up to Sunday, Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters note weak snowpack structures and flag them as “a concern for future storm-loading events,” adding that such layers in the past have contributed to avalanches.
At 6:49 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 — a few short hours before four Blackbird Mountain Guides are scheduled to meet the groups they will guide —the Sierra Avalanche Center issues its first backcountry avalanche watch since Dec. 25, 2025.
“A powerful multi-day winter storm arrives this evening,” notes the report. “Snowfall is forecast to begin tonight and continue for several days.”
THREE DAYS LATER: On Friday, Feb. 20, helicopter crews were finally cleared to fly over the site of the Feb. 17 avalanche. By the time of this photo, additional snow had covered up signs of the avalanche (upper middle of this shot) and its debris. Mitigation efforts to curtail additional avalanches had not yet been performed. Photo courtesy Sierra Avalanche Center
Blackbird itself also calls for vigilance. On a social media post the same day, Blackbird guide Jan Czyzewski and founder and guide Zeb Blais post an observation from Mount Rose near Incline Village, saying, “Pay close attention to @savycenter and use extra caution this week!” and referencing a buried, weak, faceted layer in northerly aspects. “This weak layer could lead to some unpredictable avalanches!” reads text on the video. “Typically we’d expect small amounts of faceting between big storms, but with a crust and extended dry period for the month of January into February, faceting has been a driving force in the snowpack.
“The result is a particularly weak layer in many northerly aspects, across various elevation bands. As we move into a large storm cycle this week, pay close attention to places where faceting has been particularly strong — avalanches could behave abnormally, and the hazard could last longer than normal.”
Blackbird’s day-one itinerary for Frog Lake huts trips is to meet at a trailhead off I-80 in the morning, venture to the huts, unpack, and tour the area. “After we’ve had our fill of riding for the day,” the trip-specific website states, “we’ll settle back into the huts and prepare for dinner.”
According to Strava data from Blackbird guide Niki Choo, one of two who guided the group of eight female friends, Choo’s group begins its tour from the Donner Summit SNO-Park. About 4 miles later, after slipping down into the Frog Lake basin via Frog Lake Notch (a steep gully beneath Perry’s Peak), they likely drop gear off at the huts before setting out for another 2.5 mile-loop around Perry’s Peak, back to the notch, and down to the huts.
The following morning, Feb. 16, Choo’s Strava data shows another tour, this one 5 miles long in the Horse Hill area northeast of Frog Lake. While Monday begins the start of a five-day snowstorm that will become the third-snowiest on record, only 2 inches fall on this day, according to OpenSnow.
Horrific conditions, just whiteout conditions. It’s a known area where we have a lot of search and rescue missions — that Castle Peak, Peter Grubb Hut, Frog Lake Hut area — so we train in that area; they knew the terrain. That doesn’t make it easier for them with the snow conditions and wind conditions. What was going through my mind is hopefully they can get there, to the six that were sheltering in place.”
~ Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon
Three modern huts are available for booking at Frog Lake, a circular, subalpine lake northwest of Donner Lake by about 3.5 miles, all owned and managed by Truckee Donner Land Trust. In total, 20 guests can sleep across the huts, each of which provides electrical outlets, flushing toilets, hot and cold water, gas stoves, and other amenities.
Serving as the communal space is the Eschenbach Backcountry House, providing a kitchen, fireplace, sitting areas, and map room for planning out recreation options. The Ginger Hut is a renovated summer cabin from before the land trust purchased the site, and is where “hutmeisters” stay to offer a mixture of hospitality and maintenance for guests.
TDLT staff said the majority of reservations are claimed months in advance, with any remaining spots filling in from there.
“[There are] closed periods in the spring and fall for maintenance, admin, and the general challenges of getting there in between [seasons],” said Greyson Howard, communications director for the land trust. “We’ve typically seen both summer and winter over 80% to over 90% occupancy.”
Various guide service options are available, though not required, to reach Frog Lake, particularly helpful for those with “concerns about safety or navigation in visiting the backcountry huts,” as stated on the land trust website, which also lists the following guide options (completely separate from land trust operations): North American Ski Training & Climbing, Alpenglow Expeditions, Alpine Skills International, Tahoe Mountain School, Blackbird Mountain Guides (which offers gear/food porter services), Backcountry Babes, and Dirt Gypsy Adventures (a trailhead shuttle).
Such guiding companies will make reservations for groups just like any guest would.
THE VIEW FROM THE NOTCH: Skier Miles Barker looks out over Frog Lake in December 2024. Routes into the area via trails from the north and northwest often result in skiers dropping down into what’s called Frog Lake Notch, the top of which is pictured here. Courtesy photo
Tuesday, Feb. 17
The Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC) is one of 14 Forest Service avalanche centers in the U.S.
Forecasting and potentially issuing avalanche watches and warnings starts with daily field work and monitoring the snowpack from the beginning of the winter to late April. SAC observers go out into the forecast area, which comprises 1,500 square miles in the greater Lake Tahoe area, from Yuba Pass on Highway 49 to the north to Ebbetts Pass on Highway 4 in the south. Forecasters observe the weather, the snowpack, and any other signs of instability in the snow.
Next, SAC takes the day’s observations, along with their expertise, and uses a tool called the Conceptional Model of Avalanche Hazard. The CMAH identifies the key components of avalanche hazard and structures them into a systematic, consistent workflow for hazard and risk assessments. There are four sequential questions to answer when assessing avalanche hazard:
What type of avalanche problem(s) exists?
Where are these problems located in the terrain?
How likely is it that an avalanche will occur? and
How big will the avalanche be?
“From that, we can figure out our avalanche problems and move from there to the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale,” SAC lead forecaster Brandon Schwartz said.
The NAPADS is a system that rates avalanche danger and provides general travel advice based on the likelihood, size, and distribution of expected avalanches. It consists of five levels, from least to highest amount of danger: 1 (low), 2 (moderate), 3 (considerable), 4 (high), and 5 (extreme). Danger ratings are typically provided for three distinct elevation bands. Although the danger ratings are assigned numerical levels, the danger increases exponentially from one to the next. In other words, the hazard rises dramatically in the higher levels on the scale.
Also factored into SAC’s forecasting is the snowpack history of the season to date combined with what occurred at weather stations overnight, such as wind. SAC works closely with the National Weather Service in Reno. In the afternoon, avalanche forecasters meet to discuss the information gathered that morning and see what other observations come in over the course of the day.
“And then the following morning, the forecaster who was authoring the [forecast] is looking at what happened overnight on weather stations in terms of temperatures, winds, snowfall, looking at cloud cover,” Schwartz said. “And then looking at the day’s weather forecast from the National Weather Service, getting on the phone with them for any clarifying questions, potentially jumping into an online chat with other forecasters to get consensus about any last-minute variables that may be dependent upon the weather forecast, and then moving forward on authoring the day’s avalanche forecast.”
The forecasts are issued by 7 a.m. every morning.
Avalanche watches are issued first, in advance of anticipated storms. Warnings, meanwhile, are issued the same day as dangerous, extreme conditions are occurring or highly likely. Avalanche warnings are pushed out through the National Weather Service on high (4) and extreme (5) days because of its reach to the media, according to Schwartz. If a storm fizzles out or changes direction or intensity, the watch expires and no warning is issued.
“Then the cycle starts over again and we go back in the field, try and get information to verify the day’s forecast, and gather more information to move forward to the next 24-hour cycle,” Schwartz said.
6:29 a.m.
Early the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, SAC rates the avalanche danger a 4 at all three elevation levels (above, near, and below treeline). A critical warning, authored by Schwartz, is issued for the Tahoe/Truckee area:
“Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours. Large avalanches may run through treed areas. If attempting travel today in non-avalanche terrain, be certain that there are no steeper slopes connected to the terrain you are traveling, either above or to the side.”
An additional line in the avy report reads: “Anticipate that any organized rescue efforts may be significantly delayed or may not occur if you experience a mishap in the backcountry under these conditions.”
HUNKERED DOWN: The three huts available for rent opened for visitors in 2022, though the Truckee Donner Land Trust was considering the general concept of hut construction even before the June 2020 land purchase. Twenty guests total can sleep in the trio of buildings. Photo courtesy land trust
During winter, SAC’s daily avalanche report is available to Frog Lake guests. Some told the Ink the report is printed out and posted in the Eschenbach Backcountry House each morning, others said an iPad with internet access is available for guests’ use, and the report is accessible from there.
The Truckee Donner Land Trust lists three winter over-snow routes to reach the Frog Lake huts: from the Castle Peak and Johnson Canyon trailheads, and a Donner Summit Rest Area route. (Based on Choo’s Strava data, the group did not follow any of these trails exactly to reach the huts on day one, though the Donner Summit Rest Area route is closest in alignment.)
No route recommendations are provided to groups by hutmeisters.
At 7:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol – Truckee announces the closure of Interstate 80 to big rigs at Alta eastbound and Nevada stateline westbound. By 11:05 a.m., the freeway is completely closed “due to whiteout conditions and poor visibility.”
Checkout of the huts is by 10 a.m., though based on reporting by the New York Times, the 15 skiers — two touring groups combined into one for the departure — reach the ridge of Perry’s Peak, 500 feet above the huts, around 10 a.m.
“Guests are able to stay at the hut longer in the event of conditions preventing them from leaving,” the land trust shared in an email. “There is emergency food/water available.”
Jim Zellers — a pioneering big-mountain snowboarder and mountaineer who holds first snowboard descents of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Kenya, and New Zealand’s Mt. Cook, among others — has been based in Truckee/Tahoe for most of his adult life.
“I was out [Feb. 17] too,” Zellers said of a backcountry tour he and his wife, Bonnie, went on in Ward Canyon. “It was pretty much a whiteout, so if you were too far from your partner you couldn’t see them.”
He possesses vast backcountry experience in, and knowledge of, the Castle Peak area where the avalanche occurred. He has been to the Frog Lake huts “maybe 40 times,” both stopping in on day trips as well as for multiple-night stays.
“I’ve hiked up exactly where it took place,” he said of the avalanche site. He pointed out its unique and dangerous cross-loaded nature — the snow not exclusively accumulating directly over the ridge and vertically, but from side-to-side as well, adding pressure to the snowpack. “It was a few years ago, we skinned right across it. Bonnie and I got up there and we were like, ‘Whoa, this is a whole cross-loaded slope.’ It’s not super obvious from afar, but when you’re right there in it, you can definitely see it and feel it.”
Perry’s Peak is the 8,320-foot-tall peak overlooking the north-northwest side of Frog Lake. The name, not an official U.S. Department of Agriculture-recognized one, is an honorific to Perry Norris, former longtime executive director of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
Zellers stated that he knows other skiers and riders who have also experienced what he and Bonnie felt that day on the slope, but that it has remained a relatively widely traveled exit path from the huts.
“I love going out that way,” he said. “It’s truly one of the more peaceful, beautiful ways going out.”
Roughly 11 a.m.
As of press deadline, it remains unknown what triggered the Perry’s Peak Avalanche, since ongoing snowfall after the event covered evidence.
What is known is that while the group is passing downslope of Perry’s Peak, close to the Red Dot Trail, the avalanche breaks loose — ending up the length of a football field and 6.5 feet deep, classified as a D2.5 soft-slab slide (a D3 avalanche is powerful enough to destroy a building).
Thirteen members of the 15-person party are caught in the slide, which descends 400 feet from the peak on a 38-degree slope. With terrain traps on the sides, all the snow is funneled into a very narrow area and condensed considerably into a depression, resulting in a debris field in a small box area of less than 30 by 30 feet.
According to New York Times interviews, one buried individual — Anton Auzans — digs himself out and he, along with the two not caught in the avalanche, including Jim Hamilton, unburies others, among them three alive.
Those under the snow have about a 47% chance of survival upon initial burial, according to the American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education. After 10 minutes completely buried, those odds drop significantly.
11:30:58 a.m.
The Times further reported that Auzans is the one who calls 911 dispatch to report the avalanche and that nine or 10 people remain buried.
From there, incident details obtained by Moonshine Ink show the steps taken to maintain communication with the party, coordinate additional responders, and home in on the exact location of the survivors for rescue.
Within five minutes of the 911 call, requests for assistance start rolling out to Cal Fire, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Forty-six personnel begin to respond immediately.
The Garmin emergency beacon belonging to one party member’s husband is activated and reported to Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Between 12 and 1 p.m., incident command (IC) is established at the Alder Creek Adventure Center, about 4 miles away from the avalanche site as the crow flies. Boreal Mountain California (about 3 miles away) serves as the staging area.
“We staged at two areas because we deployed ski teams from two areas — both Alder Creek Adventure Center and Boreal,” shared Nevada County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Quadros in an email. “Reaching the survivors as soon as possible was the goal to prevent further loss of life. IC locations vary by incident and could be at a staging area or at a different location altogether depending on the circumstances at hand. Accessibility and available resources for IC are common factors.”
12:41 p.m.
The party of six survivors stays in contact with dispatch via call, text, and satellite phone. It’s about 20 minutes before 1 p.m. that the surviving guide, who serves as the main point of contact, informs 911 that they’ve moved away from the avalanche debris to a spot among trees.
Snow continues to fall heavily, with low visibility.
Victims are buried beneath between 5 and 8 feet of snow. Per the AIARE, a 6-foot deep burial requires moving at least 10,000 pounds of snow. The survivors also face the threat of another potential avalanche sweeping in from above.
Off the mountain, search and rescue teams are permitted by Caltrans to pass through traffic control on I-80.
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HEADING OUT: On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at about 3 p.m., search and rescue teams deployed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center, each a few miles away from the incident location. Their goal: to extract the six known survivors. A Sno-Cat team also launched from the adventure center. Photos courtesy Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
HEADING OUT: On Tuesday, Feb. 17, at about 3 p.m., search and rescue teams deployed from Boreal Mountain Ski Resort and Alder Creek Adventure Center, each a few miles away from the incident location. Their goal: to extract the six known survivors. A Sno-Cat team also launched from the adventure center. Photos courtesy Nevada County Sheriff’s Office
3 p.m.
The following is recorded on the incident’s event log by NCSO:
[Search and Rescue] teams are deploying from Boreal as well as from Alder Creek Adventure Center (editor’s note: a Sno-Cat team also launches from Alder Creek). [A unit] is in contact with iPhone emergency services as they are in good satellite text contact with one of the subjects in the field. Advised six subjects are accounted for out of the group. The six are remaining put, one subject advised he was coughing up blood, no other injuries reported.
The subjects advised they cannot pinpoint the location of where subjects are possibly buried due to snowfall.
The six subjects are in the trees at the base of the avalanche and possibly made a makeshift shelter with a yellow tarp.
Also part of this update is the arrival of two Blackbird Mountain Guides members at the incident command center. These two want to deploy into the field but are advised not to. “The guides deployed into the field anyway,” is noted in the log. Blackbird did not respond to Moonshine’s request for comment.
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ANNOTATED TRAGEDY: Photos and illustrations provided by the Sierra Avalanche Center show the likely start zone and debris field of the avalanche. Courtesy photos
ANNOTATED TRAGEDY: Photos and illustrations provided by the Sierra Avalanche Center show the likely start zone and debris field of the avalanche. Courtesy photos
5:36 p.m.
More than six hours after the avalanche, search and rescue makes contact with the survivors. The Sno-Cat team from Alder Creek advances 2 miles, then skis in the remainder of the way.
“Horrific conditions, just whiteout conditions,” Sheriff Moon describes. “It’s a known area where we have a lot of search and rescue missions — that Castle Peak, Peter Grubb Hut, Frog Lake hut area — so we train in that area; they knew the terrain. That doesn’t make it easier for them with the snow conditions and wind conditions. What was going through my mind is hopefully they can get there, to the six that were sheltering in place.”
First aid is administered, eight deceased individuals in total are accounted for, and the group is escorted out back to the Sno-Cat. Two of the six, explains Moon, are not mobile; they cannot walk because of their avalanche injuries. “We were able to safely get them the 2 miles from that location to the Sno-Cat and four others were able to get to the Sno-Cat themselves.”
A little before 11 p.m., Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reports the rescue of six avalanche survivors, and that two of the six have been transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital.
Estimated snowfall calculations for Tuesday at Castle Peak, per OpenSnow: 22 inches.
THE INCIDENT: Locations and routes taken by those involved in the avalanche at Perry’s Peak on Feb. 17. Alleged exit route is based on reporting by The New York Times. Information presented is to the best of our knowledge. Map courtesy Google Earth/illustrated by Lauren Shearer/Moonshine Ink
Wednesday, Feb. 18, to Thursday, Feb. 19
The six survivors have been rescued, but there is still more work to do for responders. They need to safely access the avalanche zone to recover the nine bodies of those killed in the slide — one of whom has not yet been located.
Adding to the complexities, several feet of additional snow have fallen since the avalanche occurred. Thus, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, lead agency on the incident, must evaluate the scene and ensure that the area is safe for searchers before sending them back out again. This includes avalanche mitigation.
“We have to reach people before we can help rescue people,” Moon says. “And those decisions are made on-scene by the folks that are going to be getting deployed and making sure they have the right equipment, the right training, and the confidence that they can reach the folks … Last night, I commend them for knowing that they had six people that had survived and they wanted to get there as soon as they could. They took some risks, clearly.
“Today, looking at it, the risk is still as high with the mission moving to a recovery; we want to really make sure that our first responders are safe.”
As of 6:52 a.m. Wednesday morning, the SAC’s avalanche warning remains in place, stating “increased uncertainty exists with ongoing reactivity of these buried weak layers under this large storm snow load. The potential continues for large to very large avalanches occurring in the backcountry today.”
Weather, too, remains a challenge. Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo says, “Unfortunately we’re kind of at the will of Mother Nature at this point, and going to have to wait for hopefully a decent break in the weather and make sure we get every last soul off that mountain.”
Just after 8:30 a.m., Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is notified. When a workplace incident results in a death, or a serious event causes the hospitalization of three or more employees, an immediate, mandatory OSHA investigation is triggered.
At about 11 a.m., Sheriff Moon says Blackbird “has been very cooperative, providing us the individual information from their trip. They also had members arrive at our location when we deployed into the field and they responded with us. They wanted to do everything they could to assist.”
Multiple attempts to deploy helicopters to perform reconnaissance of the incident area, check for travel routes, and search for the remaining individual have failed.
The National Guard and California Highway Patrol are marked as “unable to fly.” Placer County Sheriff’s Office’s Falcon 30 “is unavailable.”
Initially, Care Flight Truckee plans to fly out two observers, but by 3:30 p.m., that reconnaissance is also delayed. Washoe County Sheriff’s Office: unable to fly.
“Due to hazardous weather conditions,” Quadros shares in a press release, “avalanche victims cannot be safely extracted off the mountain today.”
Circa 10 minutes to 4 p.m., the National Air Guard is established as accepting helicopter recon for Friday, Feb. 20.
Thursday morning, the U.S. Forest Service issues a closure on National Forest lands and trails near Castle Peak. The closure is planned through March 15 or until public safety measures are mitigated.
“Due to the current instability of the snowpack and need to prioritize first responder access to the area, members of the public are prohibited from entering the closure area during search and rescue operations,” the announcement says.
OSHA opens its investigation.
In the late afternoon on Thursday, families of six avalanche victims release a statement, which reads in part:
We have many unanswered questions, but here is what we know at this time: Eight close friends planned a professionally guided, two-night backcountry hut trip to Frog Lake huts outside Truckee, California. The trip had been organized well in advance. They were experienced backcountry skiers who deeply respected the mountains. They were trained and prepared for backcountry travel and trusted their professional guides on this trip. They were fully equipped with avalanche safety equipment.
~ From the families of Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, Kate Vitt
That evening, Blackbird founder and local Zeb Blais releases a statement that all guides were either trained with American Mountain Guides Association or certified in backcountry skiing, and that each was an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
“In addition,” the release stated, “guides in the field are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions. There is still a lot that we’re learning about what happened. It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but investigations are underway.”
Friday, Feb. 20, to Saturday, Feb. 21
The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reports that from Feb. 16 to the morning of Friday, Feb. 20, a total of 111 inches of snow have fallen, making it the third-snowiest five-day period on record.
To ensure the safety of search and rescue teams recovering the remaining bodies, the sheriff’s office considers several methods for performing avalanche control leading up to Friday, including use of explosives, according to Quadros. The agency that answers the call in the required timeline is none other than California’s largest utility company.
“Ultimately, PG&E ended up being the quickest viable option,” Quadros wrote in an email.
DANGER ZONE: Avalanche mitigation operations on Feb. 20 were conducted in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric, using two helicopters with Bambi Bucktes. Crews relied exclusively on water dumps to improve snow stability. Courtesy photo
Friday brings clear skies, meaning flights are a go. First, CHP and Care Flight conduct reconnaissance missions of the Castle Peak area above Frog Lake. On board the Care Flight helicopter are two ski patrollers: Chad Weiland, a Care Flight paramedic and Sugar Bowl patroller, and Ivan McGurk, a Palisades Tahoe patroller and volunteer with Nevada County Sheriff Search and Rescue. McGurk is also a member of the Care Flight Crew Card program, which authorizes specially trained personnel to be transported by Care Flight to incidents such as the Castle Peak avalanche.
The flight lasts about 20 minutes, from 11:19 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
“We flew to the scene and assessed the slope for avalanche hazards,” Weiland said at the Feb. 20 NCSO press conference. “We circled Perry’s Peak several times and flew into the valley to survey the full avalanche path. The purpose of the flight was to provide aerial visibility of the terrain features and recommendations for appropriate avalanche mitigation.”
Weiland told Moonshine Ink that he and McGurk observed that the slide path was heavily wind loaded.
“We saw the primary avalanche path on that slope, it was north-northwest facing,” he said, explaining that the face gets a lot of wind scouring. “The wind loading was definitely more pronounced than I expected it to be on that slope.”
The Care Flight crew could not see the debris from the avalanche since it was in the trees and it had snowed more since the incident, nor could they see the crown at the top. But Weiland said he was surprised that the avalanche path appeared smaller than he expected it to be.
“It’s a well-known avalanche path, but it’s relatively small,” he said. “It connects to other potential avalanche paths, sort of skiers’ right of that path. The size of the path … almost was undersized for the incident, is how it felt to me.”
Close to 3 p.m., NCSO alerts the public that avalanche mitigation is beginning.
After the recon information is relayed to PG&E, the company flies two of its helicopters — a UH60 Black Hawk and a Bell 407 — from its base at the Red Bluff Airport 36 miles south of Redding to Truckee. The helicopters conduct an overview of the scene before starting PG&E’s unique form of avalanche control — rather than explosives, using buckets of water.
The Black Hawk helicopter is equipped with a 150-foot-long line attached to a Bambi Bucket, which is used to pick up 660 gallons of water from a small, nearby lake that isn’t frozen for a series of seven water drops, resulting in a total of 4,600 gallons of water.
A Bambi Bucket is a lightweight, collapsible, helicopter-slung device used for aerial firefighting, capable of carrying anywhere from 72 to over 2,600 gallons of water.
While these water drops are routinely implemented to fight fires, since 2023 PG&E has also used them for avalanche control at its Helms Pumped Storage Facility located at 8,100 feet in the Sierra National Forest above Fresno.
“Our goal was making the area safe for the search and rescue teams to go in and recover the victims,” said Pete Anderson, PG&E senior manager of helicopter operations, in a press release.
Anderson, who has been with PG&E for 29 years, described this as his proudest moment at the company.
“We played a small part in helping these people get back with their families,” he said.
Using water drops for avalanche mitigation is rare.
“This was the first I’d ever heard of it being used,” said Weiland, a seven-year ski patroller. “It’s really creative, but it’s sort of an unstudied mitigation technique.”
SAC reports that no additional avalanches are triggered by the water drops, making it safe for rescuers to enter the area and retrieve the bodies.
Five of the nine deceased individuals are recovered, and the last body is located.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office announces its launch of an investigation into whether there is criminal negligence involved with the event.
The following day, Saturday, Feb. 21, the National Guard and CHP recover the last four bodies through a combination of aerial operations and snowcats driven to Frog Lake. The multi-day search-and-rescue effort concludes at 10:58 a.m.
The nine deceased individuals are identified and their information is released to the public:
Andrew Alissandratos (34) of Verdi, Nev.
Carrie Atkin (46) of Soda Springs
Nicole (Niki) Choo (42) of South Lake Tahoe
Lizabeth (Liz) Clabaugh (52) of Boise, Idaho
Michael Henry (30) of Soda Springs
Danielle Keatley (44) of Soda Springs and Larkspur, Calif.
Kate Morse (45) of Soda Springs and Tiburon, Calif.
Caroline Sekar (45) of Soda Springs and San Francisco
Katherine Vitt (43) of Greenbrae, Calif.
Alissandratos, Choo, and Henry were Blackbird Mountain Guides.
The agencies involved with response, rescue, and avalanche mitigation were: Nevada County Sheriff’s Office; Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue; Placer County Sheriff’s Office; Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue; Washoe County Sheriff’s Office; Washoe County Search and Rescue; California’s Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; California Highway Patrol Air Operations; Care Flight Truckee, a service of REMSA Health; Pacific Gas & Electric; United States Forest Service; California State Parks; Truckee Fire; OpenSnow; Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center; Boreal Mountain Ski Resort; Truckee Tahoe Airport; Town of Truckee; Truckee Police Department; Truckee Donner Land Trust; and California National Guard.
IN REMEMBRANCE: Roughly 500 people showed up the evening of Sunday, Feb. 22, to a vigil in downtown Truckee to commemorate the avalanche victims. Photo by Ted Coakley III/Moonshine Ink
Sunday, Feb. 22
A vigil, hosted by the Town of Truckee, is held Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at the eagle statue in Downtown Truckee to commemorate those lost in the avalanche. An estimated 500 people attend.
Monday, Feb. 23
The U.S. Forest Service lifts its closure on all Tahoe National Forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area.
Friday, Feb. 27
SAC forecasters and search and rescue teams return to the avalanche site. SAR members dig out the victims’ remaining equipment — mostly skis and poles — while the forecasters gather additional data on the terrain.
Ongoing (as of press deadline)
SAC continues to work on the incident report, which will document the details of what the forecasters have named as the Perry’s Peak Avalanche, including contributing factors to the event.
Blackbird Mountain Guides issue a sorrowful statement on the loss of its three guides, and stated it is not accepting new reservations at this time.
The incident remains under investigation through the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, as well as by OSHA — limiting many individuals in speaking with Moonshine Ink.
“We are looking to determine if there were any factors that would be considered criminal negligence,” Quadros wrote. “It is too early to know if criminal charges will be applicable, as the investigation is preliminary and remains active and ongoing.”
This winter was a wake-up call for me. The unseasonably warm temperatures that became ubiquitous with every weather report, the fall weather that dragged into the end of December, and rain instead of snow all led me to an uncomfortable realization — climate change is here. Now I find myself grappling with the reality of our changing climate as both a ski industry professional and an environmental journalist. I am beginning to find these markedly separate careers colliding in ways I hoped they never would.
In 2023, when I first began my foray into journalism and transitioned from full-time ski patroller to full-time student and part-time patroller, I wrote an article for a science reporting class at UNR on a study published in the scientific journal Climate Dynamics. My article was titled Must Go Higher: New Study Predicts Warmer Winters and Higher Snowlines for the Tahoe Basin. I thought the portrait of a Tahoe that was impacted by climate change was still in a very far-off future. I was wrong.
When I found more dirt than snow this past December and opted for hiking and biking in place of skiing, I couldn’t help but think back to the lines I wrote just a few seasons ago:
“A study tracked the snowpack in the Sierra over the past 70 years and found a stark rise in snowlines … Under unabated climate change conditions, the Sierrawill lose approximately 57 percent of their snowpack in the second half of the 21st century.
“Most of this snow loss is predicted to happen during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring, and at mid-elevations. Not only would the ski season window shrink, but so will the area of skiable terrain as snow becomes relegated to the highest and coldest of elevations and the chilliest of months.”
This fall, I kept waiting for that feeling of a cold breeze on my face or a frosty morning with the delicious crunch of frozen earth underfoot to tell me winter was on the horizon. When halfway through December the mountains were still mostly bare and instead of snow I had fresh strawberries in my garden in Carson City and confused irises sprouting out of the earth, I began to officially freak out.
A small bit of solace came from scientist Benjamin Hatchett of Colorado State University. He reminded me that recency and confirmation biases can play a large part in our perception and that unless I had specific long-term data surrounding said strawberry harvest, it could have some aspects of natural variability entwined in it, alongside climate change.
One piece of relief came when I asked him about the long dry spells we had earlier this season. He had run the numbers.
“So, I just took the longest dry spell period of each winter and then you see if there’s a long-term trend there. And, so, we don’t see a signal for the dry spells getting longer with time, which is good. There is a lot of variability, which is not surprising,” Hatchett said.
GOT DIRT? Dirt patches dot the southeast-side face of a peak in the Tahoe National Forest this winter.
Although that high pressure system may have turned out to just be a dry spell, it did also serve as a potential dry run for what we may see under a warmer, less snowy future.
“We should learn from what happened in these low snow years because that’s what we expect to see more of,” said Hatchett. “So, how do we manage that in different ways? How do we try to ski what you can? And use the water more wisely?”
Whether a dry spell is a dry run for the future or not, this winter’s warm start gave many of us a run for our money, literally. Seasonal workers can relate to the anxiety of a shoulder season that drags on. As a seasonal employee, you rely on stacking cash in the peak summer months to squeak through the lean season into winter where the promise of work awaits come November.
But halfway through December this year, most mountains were only operating at a fraction of their footprint, if at all. The high season was around the corner, but we were missing a very important element — snow. For many, it was either get another job, dig into savings — if there are any — or fill out unemployment paperwork.
This loss of revenue is costing the economy millions: around $252 million annually to be exact, according to the 2024 article How Climate Change Is Damaging the US Ski Industry. The piece, published in the peer-reviewed journal Current Issues in Tourism, found that by the 2050s, ski seasons are projected to shorten between 27 to 62 days under unabated climate change, resulting in a loss of over a billion dollars annually. This is for the industry as a whole, but I fear what the local implications will be.
A FINE LINE: Much of the area’s terrain is at mid-elevations.
I return to my words from seasons ago:
“Much of the Tahoe Basin’s skiable terrain is at mid elevations, but it is these precise elevations that are now hanging in a delicate balance, dancing a fine line between above and below freezing temperatures.
“The Central Sierra snow line currently sits at an average between 7,380 – 8,200 feet above sea level during the peak snow season. In the second half of the century, that number is projected to rise to between 8,690 and 9,020 feet.
“This spells trouble for the Basin, as the majority of Lake Tahoe’s skiable terrain is between lake level at 6,225 feet and around 9,000 feet.”
Put simply, we are going to run out of mountain.
Andrew Schwartz, director of the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory and Protect Our Winters science alliance member, already sees the writing in the snowpack.
“We are starting to see our winter precipitation switch to more rain than snow,” Schwartz said. “We see the shoulder season — months like October, November, May, April — those are transitioning really quickly. Even December is moving very quickly towards a rain-dominated month. And those signals are from the 1970s forward. They’re also accelerating.”
It’s not just scientists who are witnessing this but many other ski and snow professionals. Brennan Lagasse, a professional ski guide with decades of experience in the Sierra and a sustainability professor at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, said: “You’re losing quite a bit of skiing from lake-level up right now. In Lake Tahoe, a great but sad example is Homewood … Homewood skis right down to lake level. Over the past few years… we’re getting much more rain on snow events than we have in the past.”
The probable future of snow in the region is laid out in stark detail in the 2021 scientific paper A Low-To-No Snow Future and Its Impacts on Water Resources in the Western United States, published in Nature. And for someone who loves and relies on snow for enjoyment and employment, the future is pretty damn bleak.
The paper stated that the onset of low-to-no-snow seasons will occur in the 2060s for most basins in the American West, but in California this will appear in the late 2040s. And under unabated climate change, or business as usual conditions, we have between 35 and 60 years before low-to-no snow becomes persistent across the West. In addition, the article found that in the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada, around 45% of losses are expected by 2050.
In other words, unless drastic reduction in emissions happens, and fast, our snowpack is f*cked.
The authors did caution that the exact time frame of the emergence of these low-to-no-snow conditions is highly variable based on the models used. Regardless, the question is no longer if but when.
“Realistically speaking in the West, we’re kind of at a tipping point. We’ve seen climate change impact our winters. We’ve seen that start to accelerate,” Schwartz said. “Around 2025 to 2035 is when this is going to really shift how our winters look in California and the Western U.S.”
He added that although there is not necessarily an average year, especially with the boom-and-bust nature of the Sierra Nevada snow patterns, that as climate change progresses there will be even larger variability.
“It’s not to say that we won’t get snow, but it’s going to be kind of punctuated by bigger periods of rain and warmer temperatures,” Schwartz explained. “I think this year’s a really good analog for what we’re going to see more of in the future before we transition to being rain-dominated towards the end of the century.”
Having the understanding I do of snow and how resorts function through my experience as a patroller both within the Tahoe Basin and internationally, to say I am concerned is an understatement. I don’t think people realize how quickly this is barreling toward us. I know I didn’t.
“I always tell people, if you want to know what is to be expected for the future of winter, look at what all the ski resorts are doing, and they’re all installing mountain bike trails,” Schwartz said.
The Tahoe Basin is changing. Our snowpack is changing.
EARLY SPRING: Thin snow cover is seen above Donner Lake and along highway 80 in early February. Photo courtesy Kat Fulwider
Perhaps it is apropos that when I wrote that initial article, it too marked a transition in my career from the ski world to journalism. Just a couple of seasons ago, the impacts of climate change seemed far away. Somehow it feels closer now. I knew I would always worry for the next generation’s future, but it’s happening before our eyes. And this season it hit me, and now I worry about not only my future, but that of my friends and my colleagues, and for our careers.
Now as I revisit this original article again, likely with many more climactic and personal transformations looming on the horizon, I am discovering yet another newfound perspective. Among all this worry and fear, there also lives an inextinguishable spark of hope, of joy for the sport in whatever form it takes. And even as the future warms, this spark is stoking a fire in me to get after it, and to ski ’em while I got ’em.
A stacked astrological deck greets us March 12 in the ephemeral, dreamy, mutable waters of Pisces — as Mars, the north node, Mercury retrograde, and the sun are all now moving through it. Aries, Pisces’ neighboring and fiercely initiating cardinal fire sign, holds a lineup of Neptune, Saturn, Venus, and Chiron. With most planets in their two territories, these powerful and fundamentally different archetypes will shape the astral tides of this season. You may feel pulled to meditate, dream, and commune with universal truths one day while sensing an urgent desire to act, to initiate, and to take charge the next day.
March 18 brings a sweet, creative new moon in Pisces. Mercury remains retrograde in Pisces until March 20, the very day the sun enters Aries to mark the spring equinox. The following day, the sun joins with Neptune — amplifying imagination, vision, and the collective consciousness. Inspiration will run high, but clarity will require discernment, both personally and in the world at large.
On March 24 the sun meets Saturn, the planet of responsibility and structure. This might feel like a “testing energy,” with extra effort being required to both keep your cool and maintain forward progress. A beautiful full moon in the Venus-ruled sign of Libra invites balance, beauty, and harmony on April. 1.
NATURAL MAGIC
The ancient Celtic name for the spring equinox is Ostara, and it is a beautiful time to plant seeds while naming intentions for the coming cycles of your life. On the morning of March 20, gather seeds, soil, containers, a small bowl of water along with paper (divided into small pieces), and a pen.
Write out at least four qualities that you wish to cultivate, such as peace, love, connection, and/or prosperity. Place the pieces of paper in the bottom of your container and gently layer soil on top of them. Hold one seed at your heart for each intention and, as you plant them one by one, name the energy you are planting. Press the seeds into the soil, and water them in. As you pour the water, recite aloud, “As these plants grow from soil, so do my intentions manifest in my life.”
Under the Libra full moon on April 1, light a white or pink candle. Write one relationship pattern you are ready to release and one pattern within yourself you wish to strengthen. Offer gratitude for the opportunity to grow and to be of greater service to those you love — and then burn the paper.
Feed your cult fascination with Chasing Nirvana by Priya Hutner
Priya Hutner first hinted to me about her book-to-be back in October 2024, at the inaugural Tahoe Literary Festival. It was a quick pitch, but boy, was it effective: “I was in a cult, and I’m writing a book about it.”
What a lead-in, right?
Hutner’s Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation hit shelves March 3. In it, she shares her experience from the age of 14 to 47 as a member of the Kashi Ashram, an interfaith community with ties to Hinduism and Buddhism that is, as Hutner states, a cult (and still exists today).
“What fascinates people about cults? I think for many of them, it’s out of their reality,” Hutner said. “It’s out of their norm; ‘I would never be in a cult.’ And I would say, everyone’s in a cult of some sort, because it’s about your inherent beliefs … I thought I was helping humanity. I wanted to be enlightened.”
Chasing Nirvana comes from journals Hutner kept during her time, working her way up from a cook to the CEO, in which she became the “worldly” connection to ashram leader Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati (“Ma”).
“When you think about cults in general, you think about control,” Hutner said. “There is an element of control. There’s rules that we have to follow. For me, you were controlled through your diet. You were controlled through your clothing, and you were controlled through sex because we were celibate teaching.”
Hutner added readers might especially enjoy chapter 20 — “That’s where we had a dead body in an RV in the back of the woods and hundreds of people chanting around it. And the sheriff shows up.” Or the chapter where Ma exorcised a woman, or the one with Hutner’s dream (featuring rapper Eminem) that made her realize she needed to get out.
Overall, the book is, in Hutner’s words, a “spiritual adventure story” and a cautionary tale of how humans become hooked.
What is something you hope readers will take away from your book?
“Question everything. Really deeply question everything, including your own beliefs.” ~
Winter in the High Sierra by Robert Brighton: A cold-out-there-but-
warm-in-here escape into locally-based historical fiction
People enjoy reading fiction because it’s an escape, right? What if that escape came in the form of a massive snowstorm in November 1899 that leaves broken-hearted belle Louisa MacGregor stranded?
Enter rugged but respectful mountain man “Bandit” and his loyal pup, Mutt, to provide Louisa shelter and company until the deadliest winter in 50 years is over. What stems from there is a mutual awe for nature, the ability to process grief and heartache, and a seed of trust that unexpectedly thrives.
Winter in the High Sierra gives a taste of life in our very mountains nearly 130 years ago and shows that a love for these mountains transcends many trials. Think clean romance, immersive settings, and, of course, a love for dogs.
The book has reached Amazon #1 Bestseller status, as well as many accolades from seasoned reviewers. Brighton himself is a long-time historical fiction author, and you can bet he knows his stuff about life and language in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
As the San Francisco Book Review put it, “Robert Brighton’s Winter in the High Sierra is a beautifully rendered historical romance that immerses readers in the rugged, snowbound wilderness of 1900. With lyrical prose and meticulous historical detail, Brighton crafts a compelling tale of survival, redemption, and unexpected love. This is a thoughtful, deeply human story that lingers long after the final page.”
What is something you hope readers will take away from your book?
“I might say that the message … is encapsulated in my little preface to the book:
‘Whether in the trackless wilderness of the High Sierra, or in the sometimes-bewildering depths of our own hearts and minds, I believe that — while we may wander for quite a while — we are never truly lost, unless and until we give up.’
That message of resilience in the face of hardship — human or natural — rings throughout the book.”
Looking for a day or two of basking in creative literary works from talented folks (for free)?
The second annual Truckee Literary Crawl happens next month throughout downtown Truckee. From fiction to poetry to book lovers of all genres, hundreds will trickle in and out of such venues as galleries, pubs, and theaters to hear more than 40 local and visiting writers read their works aloud. Saturday evening will cap off with an open mic showcase.
The Lit Crawl serves as the springtime companion to the Tahoe Literary Festival, the third annual of which will be held this Oct. 9 and 10 in Tahoe City.
“I think the most important thing for me, personally, is, yeah, you want your keynote, you want to have a draw, [but] I want to shine the light on emerging authors,” co-founder Priya Hutner said. “The publishing industry — they want their money. They want to do celebrity. I understand that. Some people have gotten picked out of a slush pile, but it’s so hard. That’s how the Truckee Lit Crawl got born from this festival. I’m like, well, let’s just crawl around and have people read their stuff and let’s have it be free.”
A necessity with celebrating such arts is finding funding for them. Hutner says she and fellow co-founder Katherine Hill are constantly on the lookout for additional funding opportunities. “All of the arts are suffering because of our current administration,” she said, referring to such actions under the Trump Administration as canceling and terminating National Endowment for the Arts grants. “But, we have a lot of money in this community. How do we find that?”
To learn more, attend, donate, or volunteer at the Lit Crawl, click here.
(Pssst — Alex, the writer of this column, will be reading one of her own recently published short stories at this event!)
Tragedy has a way of drawing attention far beyond the place where it happened. And when the cameras arrive, journalism is forced to confront one of its hardest questions.
In the days following the Castle Peak avalanche, national media descended on Truckee, some of them knocking on doors, cold-calling businesses in search of anyone connected to the victims, and even stopping search and rescue volunteers as they headed out to do critical, dangerous work.
Yes, journalism plays a vital role in keeping the public informed, especially during moments of crisis. But when a community is grieving, the question becomes unavoidable: Where is the line between reporting the news and exploiting the pain around it?
It’s not an easy question to answer.
From the journalistic side, our responsibility is to help the public understand events that affect the community. When official channels fall silent or communication is limited, reporters must reach out to other sources to piece together what happened and report accurately.
The public deserves to know what happened with the avalanche, why it happened, and how similar tragedies might be prevented. Transparency rarely arrives on its own; journalism exists in part to insist on it. When authorities cite ongoing “investigations” or “potential litigation” as reasons they can’t comment, those realities do not erase the public’s need for information.
At the same time, tragedies like the avalanche near Perry’s Peak carry a crushing emotional toll. Journalists must remember that behind every headline are families, rescuers, and neighbors trying to process unimaginable loss. A community like ours is shaken to its core. The responsibility of journalism is not only to seek the truth, but to do so with care for the human beings living inside the story.
HEARTACHE: The collective grief of the community is still palpable and will certainly ripple out for years to come. Photos by Ted Coakley/Moonshine Ink
We saw this tension four years ago when young Truckee resident Kiely Rodni went missing one summer night. Speculation spread quickly across social media while television crews flooded the region as the community held its breath. After two long weeks, Kiely and her car were found at the bottom of Prosser Reservoir. When her family later hosted a celebration of life, Kiely’s mother asked that the media respect the privacy of attendees — many of them teenagers like Kiely. Moonshine Ink was invited. It was a quiet reminder that trust within a community matters.
To many here in Tahoe/Truckee, some of the recent national coverage felt intrusive — even predatory — as reporters chased every lead in the race to be first.
And yet some of those efforts revealed critical pieces of the Castle Peak avalanche story. The New York Times’ detailed account from two survivors deepened the public’s understanding of what happened that day. Without that persistence, those details might still be unknown. Was the aggressive reporting worth it? That is a question each of us must answer for ourselves.
History reminds us that grief and understanding unfold on different timelines. Survivors of the avalanche at Alpine Meadows in 1982 did not speak publicly for decades; some only felt ready when the documentary Buried revisited the tragedy nearly 40 years later. Even then, the pain was palpable — avalanche forecaster Jim Plehn, who worked at Alpine in 1982, can be seen in the 2021 film still carrying the weight of that day.
Some stories take years before those closest to them are ready to tell them.
In the case of the Castle Peak avalanche, speculation spread across the world almost immediately. Even while cautioned against conjecture, people continue to ask the same questions: “What happened? Why?” and share opinions and rumors.
It’s part of being human. It’s part of remembering those we lost. And it’s part of trying to learn from tragedy so that we can do better next time.
Truth be told, we may never fully answer every question.
After the Alpine Meadows avalanche, litigation followed. Three years later, a jury in Auburn heard sharply divided testimony from avalanche experts about whether the disaster could have been predicted — a reminder that courts also struggle to resolve the uncertainties of mountain hazards. In the end, the jury found for the defense.
There is another truth that we often overlook: it is humans who bring the drama. The mountains simply do what they have always done. Snow accumulates and releases. Wind scours ridges. Trees sway. Granite slowly erodes over millennia.
In a fraught democracy, we need all forms of journalism — national outlets and small independent papers alike. Each plays a role in the broader information ecosystem. The difference for local journalists, however, is that we live in the communities we cover. The people in the story are also our neighbors.
As we reflect on the tragedy of Feb. 17, we hold two truths at once: the need for clarity and the need for dignity for those who suffer. Our commitment is to pursue the facts while honoring the humanity of the people living through them — telling the full story without losing sight of the community at its heart. In the end, journalism should illuminate the truth, not deepen the wounds.
