TRUCKEE, Calif. – On March 31, the Sierra Avalanche Center posted a final in-depth report of the deadly Feb. 17 avalanche near Castle Peak.
The report provides a narrative of the day’s events, based on two survivors’ accounts from a New York Times article. These two survivors were reportedly located near the back of the group and not involved in route planning or decision-making.
The narrative reveals how a ski binding issue caused a client and a guide to fall behind the main group. These two individuals eventually caught up to find a berm of avalanche debris over their group’s skin tracks.
According to the account, another client, who was with the main group, heard a guide yell “avalanche.” The client then looked up to see a “wall of white with strange blurs of colors.” The report says he realized the colors were tumbling skis and clothing of other skiers. The client dove behind a dead tree at the alert and became buried by debris, but was able to force himself up.
The report goes through these three initial survivors’ next steps, which included transeiver searches and responding to a ski pole that was sticking up and moving. Their actions allowed them to find another three survivors and uncover two deceased members.
The report also breaks down the weather and snowpack around the time of the avalanche, pointing to significant snowfall and wind loading as factors on the sparsely treed slope where the slide occurred. The winds had redistributed the heavy snowfall, the report states, “piling it into drifts far deeper than the amount measured at nearby weather stations.”
As reflected in prior reports, this final report continued to state that many details about the avalanche itself remain unknown because it occurred during a heavy snowstorm. Search and rescue responders reported approximately two feet of new snow on top of avalanche debris when they arrived around 5:30 p.m. and could not obtain a visual of the avalanche crown due to the conditions.
Responders could only determine the edges and toes of the debris field by how far they sank into the snow. On the debris, rescuers could stand and move around in boots, while off the edge of the debris, rescuers reported sinking over waist-deep into the snow.
The end of the report offers comments based on the findings to help avoid incidents like this deadly avalanche in the future. The report says that two of four of the buried survivors required rescue from their companions due to the snow covering their airways.
“The rapid location and excavation of these two individuals was lifesaving,” the report states.
In addition to avalanche details, the report also states that many details regarding human factors, decision making, and travel plans are still unknown, but points out, “This group traveled below avalanche terrain and through the runout zone of an avalanche path during a period when a natural or human triggered avalanche was likely to very likely.”
The report’s comments section also informs that exposing only one person at a time to avalanche terrain is an accepted best practice for backcountry travel. It notes that this group consisted of 15 people and that analysis of past avalanche accidents indicates that larger groups (4 or more people) have a higher chance of being caught in avalanches.
The report provided new details about the ski group, revealing it comprised two separate guided groups that combined on the morning of the avalanche for the return journey to the trailhead. One group consisted of eight females and two guides, and the other consisted of three males and two guides. The guides were all from the same service, Blackbird Mountain Guides.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Lukins Brothers Water Company (LBWC) is aiming to be the first water company in the basin that is Firewise certified. It’s already joined the Fire Adapted Communities program and with new legislation, owner and president Jennifer Lukins hopes it could potentially lower insurance fees and water rates for the community.
Born and raised in Tahoe, Lukins says that she began thinking about this as a result of the Caldor Fire. “As a small water system, our resources are limited,” she said. Despite never filing a claim, the insurance rates increased by over 200% after the Caldor Fire. “That burden falls on the rate payers, and it makes you sick to your stomach to see such a ridiculous amount to pay.”
As part of the California Water Association’s executive board, she sought to address the larger issue of water affordability and insurance issues through legislation. Lukins and the California Water Association supported AB428 in the California legislature, which essentially allowed regulated water corporations to participate in risk pooling insurance—a bill that passed last October.
“It’s a huge risk to insure utilities, and a lot of that isn’t the utilities’ risk,” said Lukins. “We provide the pipes underground and the risk lives above us. So, I thought, ‘How can I make my water system and community as safe as possible?'” That led Lukins to seek out Firewise and the Fire Adapted Community program, which focus on reducing wildfire risk through neighborhood-level mitigation.
With the help of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, LBWC’s service area was mapped out for Fire Adapted Community management, which will have a committee and outreach like Fallen Leaf Lake’s. Like other FACs, LBWC will also be setting up a cleanup day on June 13, which will provide the neighborhoods they serve with free chipper service, green waste pickup and access to help with defensible space.
A map of the neighborhoods involved in Lukins Brothers Water Company’s service area and Fire Adapted Community.Provided / Tahoe Resource Conservation District and Lukins Brothers Water Company
“We’re the first water system to be seeking Firewise status,” said Lukins. “This really stemmed from trying to find a solution to lower insurance rates.” She says that it could lower insurance rates anywhere between 10 to 30%. For Lukins, that would translate to $100,000 in savings on the lower end. Homeowners who are participating could also get discounts on their insurance by participating in Firewise.
Lukins said she’d learned from water systems in other places, such as Paradise and the effort to the Tubbs Fire. “Water systems work together. All our local ones meet regularly and work together on emergency response. This is just another step in hardening and protecting our community.”
The goal this year is to get to the 20% of residents participating, with the aim to increase by 10% every year. Lukins said that they serve nearly 1,000 customers, so they hope each property will get one hour of defensible space cleanup done.
“We’re super fortunate in Tahoe. We have a great community, and everyone just wants to make it a better place,” said Lukins, who feels optimistic about their outreach and getting locals involved.
Lukins believes other water systems could join Firewise as well, and it’s possible that once LBWC sets the precedent, more water systems may follow suit—especially as the water affordability crisis grows more critical in California with rising wildfire risks and insurance costs.
Lukins Brothers Water Company’s first ever Neighborhood cleanup day will take place on Saturday, June 13 from 9 a.m. till 12 p.m. You can find more details on their website at https://lukinswater.com/firewise/
Tahoe Heavenly Pho is now openVictoria Mastrocola/Tahoe Daily Tribune
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – If you’re in the mood for some traditional Vietnamese food, Tahoe Heavenly Pho, now open in South Lake Tahoe, offers exactly that.
Thoughtfully decorated to showcase Vietnamese culture, the restaurant is adorned with iconic nón lá traditional headwear on the walls, Vietnamese silk lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and the mouthwatering smell of freshly cooked spring rolls lingering in the air.
Kevin Ton, owner of Tahoe Heavenly Pho, has been in the restaurant business for 15 years and was on a three-year quest to find the perfect space in Tahoe. Prior to the restaurant industry, Ton worked in the family jewelry business in Hawaii.
“I love cooking, and we have a big family, so every time I’d cook for the family, and they all enjoy it, they’d say ‘Just open a restaurant’, and I said, ‘what the heck’ and I did,” Ton said.
After COVID-19, Ton decided to visit his daughter in Seattle and make a pit stop in Tahoe on his way.
“It was summertime, and especially after COVID, you love to get out after staying home for so long,” said Ton as he thought of how much Tahoe in the summertime reminded him of Hawaii. It was then that he and his wife made the choice to move here.
As the owner of Pho Yuba in Yuba City, Ton knows the ins and outs of the restaurant business, and never let go of his goal to, one day, open a Pho restaurant in Lake Tahoe.
With some luck, the location for his dream restaurant materialized, and by October 1, 2025, plans were underway.
As of just a few weeks ago, Tahoe Heavenly Pho is now open and Ton is looking forward to sharing with Tahoe his passion for Vietnamese food.
Tahoe Heavenly Pho is adorned with cultural motifs like nón lá hats which hang on the wallVictoria Mastrocola/Tahoe Daily Tribune
“My cooking is homestyle cooking. It’s as authentic as it can be. When I learned how to cook, I learned it from my own family’s recipes. And when you cook for your family, you want to use the best ingredients. I only know that way of cooking, I don’t know a different way,” Ton said.
Heavenly Pho’s menu consists of traditional Vietnamese dishes including nine styles of pho, five types of Banh Mi (sandwiches), noodle salads, rice plates, and delicious, customary appetizers such as pork and shrimp spring rolls, fried tofu and more. There are no additives or MSG of any kind used at Tahoe Heavenly Pho.
To wash it down – Vietnamese coffee, fruit tea, smoothies, and milk tea with boba are available in an assortment of flavors.
Tahoe Heavenly Pho is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, and welcomes everyone to come in and savor the delicious flavors of authentic Vietnamese food.
Tahoe Heavenly Pho is located at 2180 Lake Tahoe Blvd, #7, in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
VAIL, Colo. – Vail Mountain today announced that Shaydar Edelmann has been appointed Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the snow sports industry to one of the world’s most legendary mountain resorts.
Edelmann currently serves as Vice President and General Manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort, where he has led a number of transformative initiatives that strengthened both the guest and employee experience. Under his leadership, Heavenly celebrated its landmark 70th anniversary season, expanded year-round childcare for employees and the community, and significantly grew summer operations, driving new opportunities for year-round visitation. He also championed operational improvements focused on delivering excellence, strengthened partnerships with local leaders, and prioritized team development to cultivate the next generation of mountain leaders.
“Shaydar is a thoughtful, innovative leader who understands what makes mountain resorts special and unique,” said Jody Churich, Senior Vice President of Vail Resorts’ Destination Resorts. “His deep experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to developing high-performing teams make him the ideal person to continue guiding Vail Mountain into the future. Shaydar will build upon the resort’s incredible legacy to deliver excellence for our guests, employees, and community.”
Before joining Heavenly, Edelmann served as Vice President of Mountain Operations at Park City Mountain, where he helped lead operations at the largest ski resort in the United States through complex seasons including the COVID-19 pandemic and years of historic snowfall. During his tenure, he played a key role in chairlift optimization strategies across Vail Resorts and helped plan and permit transformational lift and snowmaking upgrades at the resort.
“I’m incredibly honored to join the team at Vail Mountain, a place that represents the very best of our company and industry,” said Shaydar Edelmann. “Vail has built an extraordinary legacy defined by passionate employees, a vibrant community, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our guests. I’m excited to work alongside this talented team to continue pushing what’s possible. I am committed to building on Vail’s legacy while embracing new ideas, innovation, and opportunities that will keep Vail Mountain leading the industry for years to come.”
Originally from Kaikōura, New Zealand, Edelmann grew up immersed in outdoor adventure and was a member of the New Zealand Junior Surf Team. Edelmann’s career began in the Lake Tahoe region in competitions and events at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, where he later advanced through ski and ride school and skier services leadership roles. He went on to serve as Vice President of Operations at Boreal Mountain Resort, Soda Springs Mountain Resort and Woodward Tahoe, where he helped establish California’s first recycled water snowmaking system and managed the construction and completion of Woodward Tahoe. He later served as General Manager of Woodward Park City, leading the project through construction and grand opening.
Beyond the slopes, Edelmann is deeply engaged in community leadership and industry collaboration. He currently serves on the board of the Tahoe Fund, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, the Tahoe Destination Stewardship Council, and the executive committee of Ski California. He previously served on the board of the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. Edelmann will bring this same community-mindedness to his role in Vail.
During the first quarter there were two themes that affected portfolios: First, there was a rotation from large-cap technology stocks to dividend-paying stocks. And, of course, there was the war.
In 2025 the “Mag Seven” led stocks higher while most others had modest gains at best. That changed at the start of 2026. Last year’s laggards became this year’s leaders. The weakness in technology stocks pushed the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite into “correction territory.”
While the S&P 500 fell seven percent in the first quarter through Monday, mid-cap and small-cap indexes were about unchanged. The Schwab Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) was unchanged in 2025 but jumped about 11 percent in the first quarter. As a shareholder, last year’s performance was frustrating but I knew the tech-only stock rally was unsustainable.
As for the war, I’m not a military expert and I have no faith in stock experts on financial shows talking about Iran and our military. I do know that since the war began the market’s moves have reflected changes on the price of oil. When oil is up, stocks are down and vice versa.
Rising oil prices explain the market’s first quarter losses. Higher oil and natural gas prices raise the costs of producing and distributing most products. Much of that cost will be passed on to consumers. Some economists are forecasting an inflation rate of four percent or more. That would be a problem for stocks and for a new Fed governor who said interest rates should be lower.
Over the years I have said that investors are not demanding an adequate risk premium that reflects the realities in the Mideast. Before the war, the energy sector only had a two percent weighting in the S&P 500. Now it’s a still low 3.5 percent. Institutional investors were underinvested in oil stocks and are panic-buying now. Is it too late to buy? It may be mid to late innings for the oil majors, but not too late for the best infrastructure plays. Those are Williams, Oneok, Enbridge, and Kinder Morgan.
The world has learned of the importance of energy to power the global economy. With the power-hungry data centers and now the war in the Mideast, much of the attention is on oil and natural gas. They are in high demand and a shortage can cripple an economy. But all sources of energy are needed. That includes nuclear and solar. Only politicians think it’s one or the other. Businesses are more pragmatic and know that power can come from all sources.
David Vomund is an Incline Village-based fee-only money manager. Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555. Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.
STATELINE, Nev. —Brantley Gilbert is bringing The Real American Tour to Tahoe Blue Event Center on Sunday, August 16. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m.
Brantley GilbertProvided
About Brantley Gilbert
As one of the godfathers of country’s modern rock-and-rap edge, multi-Platinum The Valory Music Co. trailblazer Brantley Gilbert knows life has a way of leaving a mark. With his seventh studio album, Tattoos, available now, the Georgia native chooses to embrace it – inspired by the idea that his tattoos tell a story, just like his songs. And just like his songs, he’ll never hide the truth they reveal.
An era-defining artist forever bonded to his fans, Gilbert’s been mining the timeless values of hard-working dedication, high-octane thrills and humble faith since his 2009 debut, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, creating a chart-topping grit-and-grace fusion which helped set the stage for today’s genre-blending format.
With his dedicated BG Nation behind him, the fiery performer-songwriter has racked up more than 8.3 BILLION career streams, boasting back-to-back Platinum albums and seven No. 1 hits including the RIAA 7x Platinum “Bottoms Up;” 2x Platinum “Country Must Be Country Wide;” 2x Platinum “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do;” 2x Platinum “One Hell of An Amen;” and the Platinum-certified “What Happens In A Small Town” with Lindsay Ell. His world-class pen helped create a watershed hit with Jason Aldean’s 4x Platinum country-rap game changer, “Dirt Road Anthem.”
And possessing a can’t-fake-it quality of fierce independence, the ACM, CMA and AMA award winner has toured alongside everyone from Willie Nelson and Toby Keith to Kenny Chesney, Nickelback and more. Tattoos further cements his legacy – 10 cowritten, co-produced tracks with an electrifying mix of in-your-face aggression and roughneck reflection, as Gilbert’s diesel-powered smoke-and-soul vocal delivers another full-spectrum soundtrack to modern country life. Tracks like full-throttle “Off the Rails” and intoxicating chart-climbing single “Over When We’re Sober” with Ashley Cooke lead a set packed with guest appearances from Gary LeVox, Justin Moore, Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones.
Gilbert will embark on his headlining Tattoos Tour 2025 in February, with stops across North America through the spring, with additional festival dates this summer. For more information, visit BrantleyGilbert.com or follow on Instagram, TikTok and X @BrantleyGilbert and Facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic.
Tickets are available at Vacasa Box Office at the Tahoe Blue Event Center and ticketmaster.com.
You don’t always plan your downtime. Some days it just shows up. A free evening. A slow morning. An hour between errands. Around Lake Tahoe, there’s no shortage of ways to use it. You can head out, stay in, or bounce between the two. Most people do a bit of both.
Not every free moment needs a plan. Some of the best ways to unwind are the ones you fall into without thinking too much about it. A bit of time at home, a quick look at your phone, maybe something that holds your attention a little longer than expected. That mix has become part of everyday life. You’re not choosing between one kind of downtime anymore. You’re moving between a few, depending on what feels easiest in the moment.
Local Downtime Still Starts Offline
A lot of free time here still revolves around simple things. Good food. A short drive. A table with friends. Cold weather leans into comfort meals, and that’s where local spots come in, or maybe a leisurely night at home with loved ones rustling up a pasta.
That kind of outing doesn’t need planning. You get together with your people, sit down, and switch off for a bit. It’s easy, and it works. But it doesn’t cover every gap in the day. There are plenty of moments when leaving the house feels like too much effort.
That’s where screens come in. Not in a heavy way. Just something to pass the time. People now spend about six hours a day on media and entertainment, spread across phones, laptops, and TVs.
You see it in how often a quick scroll turns into something longer. A short break becomes a half-hour. A quiet evening ends with a few different apps open. None of it feels like a commitment. That’s the point. You dip in and out as you feel like it.
Structured Platforms Offer a Different Kind of Downtime
Some platforms take that casual use a step further. Still easy to get into, but with a bit more structure behind it. You start to see clear menus, set formats, and a better sense of what each option offers before you commit your time.
That becomes more useful when you’re comparing where to spend that time. Browsing Casino.org gives a side-by-side look at licensed Pennsylvania platforms, from how many games each site offers to how long payouts usually take. You also start to notice where offers differ, which can shape where you land.
It stays in the same lane as everything else here. You’re still filling a gap in the day. The difference is you’re choosing with a bit more information, instead of clicking around and hoping for the best.
Casual Gaming Becomes the Default Option
For most people, it still comes back to simple games. Quick sessions. No setup. Open an app, play for ten minutes, move on. Mobile gaming pulled in $82 billion in revenue during 2024, and hybrid-casual titles grew by 37% in the same period.
That growth lines up with how people use their phones. Short bursts. Little effort. You don’t need a long session to feel entertained. A few rounds are enough. Then you carry on with your day.
Outdoor Activity Remains Part of the Mix
Screens don’t replace everything. Tahoe still leans outdoors. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is access. The Forest Service has opened more than 100 miles of trails to e-bikes, giving riders more routes without having to stick to a small network.
That opens things up in a practical way. Short rides become easier to plan. You can get further without committing to a full-day effort. It’s still the same idea as everything else here, just a different way to use the time you’ve got
Social Platforms and Flexible Downtime
A lot of what people do online doesn’t sit neatly in one box anymore. You open an app for a quick video, then end up on a live stream or in a game without planning it. The lines between watching, playing, and interacting have started to overlap. Roblox, for instance, reported more than 150 million daily users in 2025, with over 10 billion hours played in a single month. That kind of scale shows how entertainment has changed. You’re not just watching or playing. You’re dropping in for a bit, then moving on.
Your personal time works the same way. There isn’t one way people relax anymore. Some days it’s a meal out. Other days, it’s a ride through the trails. Then there are evenings where staying in wins without much debate. You switch between options depending on your mood, time, and energy, without locking into a single routine.
You don’t need to overthink it. Local spots, outdoor routes, and digital platforms all fill that space in different ways. You pick what fits the moment and move on. That’s usually enough.
No obvious powerhouse, a razor-thin bubble and experts scrambling to revise their picks; College Basketball 2026 is turning into one of the toughest tournaments to call in years. All that unpredictability keeps everyone glued to the action.
College Basketball 2026 feels like absolute chaos and that’s exactly why everyone’s glued to their screens. There’s no dominant team this year, nobody can look at the odds and feel confident, not even for a second. Usually, fans latch onto a powerhouse or two, the kind of squad that’s been steamrolling through February and just looks built for a deep run. This time? You can forget about that. The so-called experts bounce back and forth, updating their predictions every few days and you get the sense the whole ecosystem is teetering just a little bit.
Joe Lunardi, the bracket guru who’s made an entire career out of dissecting these tournaments, keeps emphasizing how tight things are. You look at his latest projections on ESPN, and the gaps between teams are razor-thin. Programs you’d expect to stand tall; blue bloods and established powerhouses, barely have a step on everyone else. Mid-majors and big conference mainstays all blend together, and it feels like anybody could knock out anybody else.
The bubble
Then there’s the bubble. You could call it crowded, but really, it’s like a jam-packed highway with nobody knowing who’s going to merge first. Years past, fans could draw a semi-clear line. This season, it’s gone. Teams with stacked schedules but a few tough losses face off against programs with killer records from weaker conferences. What even counts as a good résumé now?
That murky bubble bleeds right into the bracket. Teams that scrape their way in aren’t necessarily cannon fodder, they’re dangerous. You get the feeling those lower seeds could flip just about any matchup on its head. Conversely, top seeds don’t look invincible. Every game carries weight. Whether you’re following for the drama or sweating your College Basketball picks, you never know if a Cinderella is waiting behind the next tip-off.
The anarchy of no true favorites
The big headline: No true favorites. Nobody’s bulletproof. Sure, some squads look strong, but every top seed has shown cracks. The transfer portal changed everything; players move across the country and the balance is totally different. Instead of a handful of teams hoarding talent, you’ve got depth everywhere. Schools you wouldn’t expect pop up with NCAA-level rosters.
This makes early rounds even crazier than usual. Matchups that once felt irrelevant now come loaded with real possibility. Seeding feels less important; everyone’s scouting matchups, form and experience instead. You can’t bank on history to bet on College Basketball, you have to pay attention, dig in and accept that every bracket is just a wild guess.
The drama can be felt everywhere, also in Lake Tahoe
In Lake Tahoe, the drama fits the vibe perfectly. People come off the slopes, still dusted with snow, and crowd the local bars and restaurants for the games. It’s not just a sporting event, it’s woven into the day, a reason to get together. Half the fun is arguing about which bubble team deserves a shot or whether some 12-seed has enough juice to break through. The bracket uncertainty keeps everybody talking, and the tension just builds. In a way, College Basketball is more than basketball here; it’s a culture piece, an experience you share.
And betting on College Basketball is everywhere. But it feels less like a distraction and more like an extension of the action. You hear conversations about odds and prop bets, someone’s always comparing lines or rolling their eyes at the unpredictable swings, but nobody hinges their whole night on the wager. The unpredictability has almost made betting smarter. Fewer sure-things. More speculation.
Different regions, different styles
You can feel the anticipation, even before all the matchups are finalized. Early predictions already suggest every region has its own flavor, and that individuality could end up shaping the entire tournament. Take the Midwest. Over there, it’s not flashy basketball, teams tend to grind it out. The defense is hard-nosed, possessions are fought for and you rarely see blowouts. Every minute feels urgent. When teams slow it down and keep everything tight, the game shifts toward strategy and patience. Convincing wins are rare, and you get the sense that one big play might swing everything. It’s not always pretty, but it makes for some incredibly tense moments.
Now, skip over to the West and the entire vibe changes. Games here are fast, almost frantic. Teams love to run, push the pace and jack up threes whenever they can. It’s a bit chaotic, but that chaos is thrilling to watch. Get hot for five minutes and a team can erase a deficit or put the game out of reach. Cold shooting, that can be disastrous. Fans come for the fireworks, and you almost expect wild swings and unpredictable finishes.
The East and South present something different, they’re more of a riddle. With no obvious style dominating either region, anything feels possible. Matchups matter more because there isn’t one consistent approach that teams have mastered. Whoever manages to find their rhythm at the right time can make a deep run. For fans, that uncertainty is half the fun; there’s always the possibility that an underdog will surprise everyone, or that an overlooked team turns into a contender overnight.
Experience is quietly taking center stage
Everybody talks about raw talent and athleticism, but if you look a bit deeper, experience is starting to look like the real difference-maker this season. When two teams are almost equal, the ones with veterans usually stay cooler. They’re less likely to panic, they know how to ride out a stressful possession and they rarely make big mistakes during crunch time.
Those seasoned players have seen almost everything. They aren’t rattled when the score swings or the crowd gets loud. Instead, they rely on habits they’ve built through years of big moments and close games. It gives them an edge, sometimes it’s subtle, maybe a smart foul or a little poise when the clock is winding down, but it’s noticeable.
It’s not to say young teams can’t make noise. They definitely can, and sometimes their energy sparks something wild. But when the room for error shrinks, the value of being able to stay composed, especially in those late-game moments, only increases. If you’re putting together a bracket, you’d do well to pay attention to which teams come in with older, battle-tested rosters.
Lake Tahoe is where the tournament becomes an experience
College Basketball hits differently in Lake Tahoe. It’s far more than basketball on a screen, it’s woven into whatever you’re doing. You wake up, maybe hit the slopes for a couple hours, then segue into watching games with friends. The landscape and the energy mix together, making even regular games feel like major events.
With the rise of an online sportsbook with live betting experiences, betting adds another layer. People watch games and track odds all day, sometimes even making wagers between runs on the mountain. Platforms like BetNow.eu pop up in conversations; fans compare bets, talk strategy and check live updates. The whole experience feels interactive; it’s no longer just sitting back and watching. It’s a full day, where Tahoe’s unique blend of nature and excitement makes College Basketball an event you don’t just observe, but live.
The three-point factor
If you really look at this year’s tournament, three-point shooting stands out as a game-changer. Teams are leaning hard on their perimeter shooters, and it turns every game into a wild ride. One minute, they’re draining everything and blowing past their opponents; the next, nothing drops and the momentum shifts fast. That unpredictability keeps everyone, from players to fans, on edge.
When teams get hot from beyond the arc, the game can flip in seconds. Double-digit leads vanish. Underdogs catch up before you can blink. Sometimes, the crowd barely has time to wrap their head around what’s happening. But when those same good looks don’t go in, it’s brutal. Teams that live and die by the three can unravel quickly, leaving coaches scrambling for answers.
Coaching still shapes everything
Now, if the players set the tempo, the coaches steer the ship. Single-elimination means every move matters. There’s no room for a second chance, no time to undo bad decisions. Strategy is everything.
Great coaches don’t just manage the game, they read it. That can mean shifting defensive schemes, tweaking rotations or just keeping their team locked in when nerves threaten to take over. When the pressure’s sky-high, small adjustments decide winners and losers.
Programs built around experienced coaches tend to handle chaos better. It’s not just about having the X’s and O’s ready, it’s about knowing how to keep everyone steady when the bracket starts breaking apart. You see veteran coaches recognize trouble, call the right timeout and turn the tide. Experience off the court matters just as much as talent on it.
Betting conversations are part of the culture now
You can’t really separate betting from the madness anymore. Whether you’re following odds for fun or going all-in with a sportsbook, those conversations are everywhere. Fans debate lines, compare spreads and even plan their brackets with odds in mind.
Online sportsbooks make all this more accessible. Maybe you’re just tracking how your bracket stacks up, but for many, a few dollars on the line adds another layer to the drama. It’s not just about prediction, it’s about the thrill of watching your pick come to life, or crash and burn.
This year, though, betting feels a little different. Nobody stands out as an obvious favorite. Every team’s got strengths and flaws, so confidence is hard to find. You can’t bank on the usual suspects. It forces everyone, bettors and casual fans alike, to watch closely and ask tougher questions before risking anything.
Why this year feels different
Put it all together, and you get a tournament that breaks the mold. The balance across teams, constant player movement and fresh strategies have scrambled expectations. Past years felt more predictable; the top seeds rolled and people knew which stories to expect. Now? That certainty is gone.
Anything feels possible. If you ask Joe Lunardi, nobody’s got a lock on success, and every matchup looks open. That unpredictability isn’t just unsettling, it’s what makes this season unforgettable. Fans have to let go of trying to predict every twist and just embrace the insanity that is College Basketball 2026.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Pet Network Humane Society is turning summer into a movement with the launch of its Tahoe Tailblazers Summer Camp, an immersive, high-energy program designed to empower youth, strengthen community connection, and bring its mission of “radical good” to life.
Held July 20–24 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pet Network’s campus (401 Village Blvd., Incline Village), Tahoe Tailblazers is designed specifically for children ages 6–8, offering a unique, age-appropriate opportunity to engage, learn, and give back.
At a time when families are seeking meaningful, enriching summer experiences, Tahoe Tailblazers fills an important community need, creating space for young children to connect with animals, build empathy, and understand the power of helping others. Through hands-on shelter experiences, crafts, games, and interactive learning, campers won’t just hear about animal rescue, they’ll actively participate in it.
“By engaging kids at a young age, we’re helping shape a generation that understands responsibility, kindness, and what it means to do radical good in their community,” said Rachel Dickinson, Behavior & Enrichment Manager and Camp Director.
By combining education with action, Tahoe Tailblazers introduces youth to Pet Network’s lifesaving mission in a way that is both impactful and memorable—fostering confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong connection to animal welfare.
The weeklong camp is offered at $200 per participant, with limited spots available.
RENO, Nev. – Starting today through the end of the season, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is offering discounted lift tickets to season pass holders from other resorts. With presentation of a 2025/26 season pass from another resort at any ticket window, an adult ticket can be purchased for $60, and a ticket for kids ages 15 and under is $30. This discount is not valid with any other offer.
Following last week’s late season storm that delivered 21 inches of fresh snow to the mountain and cold temperatures that allowed the resort to fire up its snowmaking system for three straight days, Tahoe’s best spring snow conditions are at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.
“The snow conditions are really fun right now, and there’s no time like the present to take advantage of it and get in some great skiing and riding,” said Mike Pierce, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe marketing director.
In addition, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe continues to stay “Open Late” Fridays and Saturdays with select lifts spinning from the main lodge until 6:00 p.m. further heightened by the Lakeview Deck apres experience. Spring Break full-day Kids Camps are being offered daily for ages 7-12 that include a full day of ski or snowboard lesson, equipment rentals, and lunch for $79 per day mid-week and $99 per day on Saturdays and Sundays.
For those who want to ski or ride at Mt. Rose for the rest of this season and all of next, the full ticket value can also be applied toward a DoubleDown Season Pass.
Visit skirose.com to purchase tickets, season passes, and plan a trip.
Currently under construction, Gym Love and Iron Battalion CrossFit’s new space will offer beautiful mountain viewsProvided/Sony Graeb
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Gym Love, known for its raving reviews, friendly staff, and advantageous location, is taking on a new venture by partnering with Iron Battalion CrossFit to utilize an additional space in the same building.
Plans for the expansion came in June of 2025 after Gym Love owners Ted and Amber Kennedy found the right partner who shares their vision.
“We felt like the fitness industry could use more love. We wanted to bring a level of hospitality that we were good at in our restaurants – where people are welcomed by name, cared for, and made to feel like they truly belong,” said Kennedy, who has been involved in the ownership of numerous Tahoe businesses for over two decades, including Base Camp Pizza Co., California Burger Company, and Fireside Pizza Company in Olympic Village.
“Our focus has always been on the 80% of people who don’t feel comfortable in a traditional gym setting—those who may feel intimidated, unsure, or overlooked. We built Gym Love to change that, to create a place where everyone feels seen, supported, and encouraged.”
Iron Battalion CrossFit, originally founded in Los Angeles, had the same mission when it came to building their 10-year fitness family.
“It’s all about community. It’s the fact that you join a class or a group and it becomes your tribe,” said Sony Graeb, owner of Iron Battalion CrossFit. “You go in there, you’re intimidated, you’re learning things with a coach to make sure you’re moving right, and then the tribe keeps you coming back. The group feeling of being in a class, working, suffering, and crushing it with other people, you just feed off each other’s energy.”
Graeb started CrossFit in 2013, and had a terrible first experience, noting that the gym she went to had cliquey groups, classes too big for coaches to handle, no customer service, and no welcoming energy to diminish that disheartening feeling of being too intimidated to try something new. Graeb thought, “This can’t be it”, so she took everything she didn’t like and turned it into the opposite, opening her own CrossFit gym in 2014.
“Our first rule since then is: Always remember the moment you walked in here, and somebody reached out, shook your hand and said, ‘Hi, welcome to Iron Battalion!’ If that made you feel good – you return the favor.”
Iron Battalion CrossFit was alive and kicking in LA, and in 2019, Graeb had the opportunity to buy another gym in the area, Team CrossFit, and merged the two businesses.
After migrating to Tahoe and getting a job as a ski and snowboard instructor at Heavenly Mountain Resort, a serendipitous meeting with Amber and Ted Kennedy opened up a whole new door for Graeb, one that would lead her to reunite with her passion.
“We’re especially excited to partner with Sony Graeb, who has not only brought tremendous expertise and passion, but has also stepped into ownership and leadership of this new chapter, along with her husband. Sony’s 15-plus years in the fitness world, combined with her ability to motivate and genuinely care for people, makes her the perfect leader for this expansion,” said Kennedy.
The Kennedys had their eyes on a gorgeous, sizable space located just down the hall in the same building, and after discussing with Graeb, they decided to pull the trigger.
“This new expansion with Iron Battalion CrossFit is a powerful extension of [our] vision. It introduces a higher level of coaching, group training, and personal fitness, all within what we believe is one of the most visually inspiring workout spaces in Tahoe—with sweeping mountain and gondola views. It’s an environment that energizes people the moment they walk in,” Kennedy said.
Gym Love and Iron Battalion CrossFit’s vision is coming to life and is targeted for a mid-April completionProvided/Sony Graeb
With plans for a mid-April start, the Gym Love and Iron Battalion CrossFit expansion will be offering, not just CrossFit, but heart rate-based interval training which involves wearing a heart rate monitor while tracking calories burned during the session. Group classes, one-on-one coaching, nutrition plans, weightlifting programs, these are just a few of the services being provided, with certified coaching from experienced leaders like Todd Worden who moved from LA to South Lake to continue being part of the community Graeb started.
“CrossFit may sound tough, but we’re a small family and we’re passionate about what we’re doing. It doesn’t matter if you’re 16 or 80, this is for everyone,” added Graeb. “We’ve rebuilt something that we believe in, and we’ve stuck together.”
To learn more about Gym Love and Iron Battalion CrossFit, check in at Gym Love, or go to https://gymlovetahoe.com/ and scroll down to “Group Classes”.
Gym Love and Iron Battalion CrossFit are located at 3979 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Unit 3 in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
The National Weather Service is also reporting a chance of isolated to scattered thunderstorms Thursday and FridayPetra Molina / Sierra Sun
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Following months of limited storm activity, the Tahoe region could see a more sustained period of precipitation as a new weather pattern moves in later this week.
“After a frustrating winter with only two stormy weather pattern periods from the end of November through March, we look to finally have a pattern coming that we could have used a lot more this season,” wrote forecaster Bryan Allegretto on OpenSnow.
Allegretto said a broad area of lower pressure may settle over the West Coast by April 9 and linger through at least April 20. Unlike midwinter systems driven by a strong jet stream and colder air masses, this pattern will feature weaker, slow-moving low-pressure systems.
“These are weak cut-off or closed lows that are moving through slowly and will get a boost in showers from daytime heating,” Allegretto wrote. “Overall, above-average precipitation for this time of year is forecast.”
Temperatures are expected to drop alongside the storms, with highs reaching the 40s at lower elevations and 30s on the upper mountain. Conditions will fluctuate, turning colder during periods of precipitation and warming slightly during breaks in cloud cover.
The National Weather Service is also reporting a chance of isolated to scattered thunderstorms Thursday and Friday, though confidence remains low regarding the extent of impacts.
Looking ahead, forecasters anticipate a brief lull early next week before additional storms move through Northern California as the unsettled pattern persists. Notably, Allegretto reporter there are no signs of high pressure building in to block incoming systems, meaning the active weather could continue.
“It will be hard to forecast total precipitation amounts with each system as they are slow-moving and not being steered by a fast-moving jet stream,” Allegretto wrote.
Still, current model runs suggest meaningful moisture totals. OpenSnow projections indicate up to 2 to 3 inches of precipitation near the Sierra crest over a 12-day period.
“Snow levels will be a pain to forecast as well,” Allegretto wrote.
His initial projections place snow levels above 8,000 feet Thursday into Friday, lowering to around 7,000 feet by Saturday and potentially dropping to base elevations by Sunday. Future systems could follow a similar pattern, with snow levels rising and falling depending on storm dynamics. As a result, precipitation at lower elevations will likely fall as rain at times.
At around 7,000 feet, current forecasts suggest roughly 10 inches of snowfall by April 20, though rain may mix in. At 8,000 feet, totals could reach up to 20 inches, while areas near 8,800 feet — such as Granite Chief — could see close to 30 inches.
He cautioned that these projections rely on averages and remain subject to change, particularly for storms beyond the five-day forecast window.
“All that we know for now is that we look to be heading into a colder and unsettled pattern for a while,” Allegretto wrote.
Sunny, mild conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday, with daytime highs climbing to around 60 degrees at lake level, the 50s across lower and mid-mountain elevations, and 40s at higher elevations.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) announced the release of its Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Video Identification Toolkit, a high-resolution, field-ready resource designed to help divers, shoreline users, and water professionals accurately identify invasive species in Lake Tahoe and freshwater systems worldwide.
Thanks to the support of The Martis Fund, Martis Camp Foundation and 3 separate funds held at The Tahoe Community Foundation, the organization developed this toolkit for users both underwater and above the surface. This new resource supports early detection and prevention by making species identification more accessible to a wide audience; from scientific divers and agency staff to educators, environmental volunteers, and the general public.
Underwater camera filming on DPVProvided / CUTL
“Aquatic invasive species are among the most significant ecological threats facing Lake Tahoe. Once introduced, these species can spread rapidly, disrupting nearshore habitats, altering food webs, and contributing to long-term declines in water clarity and biodiversity” said Jenny Uvira, CUTL Programs Manager. She added “This resource is a new tool on our regional belt to support that effort in the Tahoe basin and abroad to protect our underwater environment.”
A Cinematic Approach to a Visual Challenge
“The inspiration behind the toolkit was to bring film and television level cinematography and image quality into a field that is inherently visual: identifying species based on how they look in real conditions” said CUTL Founder & CEO Colin West.
Existing identification resources developed by agencies and research partners have been foundational to AIS management, yet many rely solely on imagery and text. West added,”We saw an opportunity to build on that strong foundation by introducing high-resolution, motion-based visuals that reflect how species are actually encountered underwater by dive contractors and citizen scientists alike”.
Filmed in 6K–8K resolution, the Toolkit combines studio-controlled macro cinematography with real-world underwater footage captured by CUTL’s scientific dive team. This approach allows viewers to:
See fine morphological detail up close, including subtle features used for identification, captured both in studio settings on land and in macro footage filmed as deep as 50 feet in Lake Tahoe.
Understand how species appear and movein their natural environment, where divers and survey teams are often the first line of detection
Experience a level of clarity and perspective that helps users recognize not just shape, but texture, movement, and context
Have academically sourced and verified species information curated by an environmental scientist on both habitat and morphological ID characteristics to support these visuals
By bridging cinematic production with scientific application, the Toolkit enhances existing efforts and provides an additional layer of clarity for those working to protect freshwater ecosystems.
Phase One of the AIS Video Toolkit & Species Included
Phase One of this toolkit documents key invasive species established in Lake Tahoe and other nearby lakes including Eurasian watermilfoil, Curlyleaf pondweed, freshwater invasive clams (AKA: Asian clams), the New Zealand mudsnail, and signal crayfish—alongside the notorious high-risk golden mussel for early detection awareness. CUTL Operations Manager Klemen Robnik who helped set up logistics for filming all these species, said “The resource also includes native species comparisons, including richardson’s pondweed, elodea (waterweed), coontail, ramshorn snail, and the western
pearlshell mussel”. He further noted that these are included to improve identification accuracy and reduce misreporting. Designed for real-world application, the Toolkit combines wide-angle habitat context shots and information, mid-range views of species in their habitat underwater showing natural movement of both freshwater animal and plant species, and macro-level detail of morphological features both underwater and filmed in a studio setting. By complementing existing resources, it supports consistent identification, reinforces Clean, Drain, Dry practices, and strengthens coordination across agencies, researchers, and the broader global scientific community.
Project Support
This project was made possible through the generous support of The Martis Fund and Martis Camp Foundation, along with funding from the Community Impact Fund, Ashley Quinn Fund, and the Foresight Fund, all held at the Tahoe Community Foundation. “We are grateful to our partners for believing in us enough to bring this new idea to life and to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for their support in providing a number of specimen samples used for studio filming” West concluded. Clean Up The Lake hopes to build on this innovative resource and continue growing it in the coming years to help reinforce the fight against aquatic invasive species here in the Tahoe basin and abroad.
RENO, Nev. — Spring has already arrived in Nevada, and with several days of temperatures reaching into the high 80s in some areas, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is reminding residents that bears are already out of their dens.
With snowpack still in the mountains, many bears will likely move down into lower elevations as they emerge, often following creeks to the fresh green grasses as they search for natural food sources. As they travel, neighborhoods are often some of the first places they pass through.
Now is a good time to take a look around your home and make sure a bear will not see your property as a food source. A few simple steps can make a big difference in preventing conflicts and keeping bears wild.
Start with garbage
About 90% of bear calls are related to unsecured trash. Securing and making garbage containers bear-resistant is the single-most effective thing you can do to prevent bears from viewing your home as a rewarding place with a free high-calorie meal.
Waste Management and Douglas Disposal offer bear-resistant garbage cans that can be left out. Residents can request one by calling (775) 329-8822, (775) 343-7596 for Carson City, or (775) 782-5713 for Douglas Disposal. In the meantime, store non-bear-resistant garbage cans in a locked metal shed or garage and only put them out the morning of trash pickup.
Washoe County, Carson City and Douglas County have garbage ordinances that require residents to secure their trash to prevent bears from accessing it. Failure to do so can result in fines.
Repeated violations can be reported to local code enforcement at (775) 328-6101 for Washoe County, (775) 887-2599 for Carson City and (775) 782-6214 for Douglas County.
Bears are drawn to bird feeders.Provided / BearWise
Pick fruit as soon as it is ripe and clean up fallen fruit from the ground. Electric fencing can be a good option around fruit trees if installed wide enough so fallen fruit lands inside the fenced area.
Remove other attractants from your yard, including pet food, dirty barbecues, trash and any other food or scented items.
As a precaution, remove food, trash and other scented items from vehicles. Keep windows up and doors locked when not in use.
Cub vs. yearling: What is the difference?
Residents may start to see young bears this time of year, and it is important to know the difference between cubs and yearlings.
Cubs are very small and are usually born in January or February while the female is denning. By spring, cubs are still small and stay very close to their mother. If you see a cub, the mother bear is very likely nearby, even if you cannot see her.
Yearlings are bears roughly 1 year old. They are larger than cubs, often similar to a medium- sized dog, and may sometimes be seen on their own. Yearlings are still learning natural behaviors and exploring new areas as they begin to spend more time on their own, which can sometimes bring them into neighborhoods as they search for food. If you see a cub or a yearling, give it plenty of space, secure attractants and never approach or feed a bear.
If you see a bear
If you see a bear near your home, haze it from a safe distance. From an open window or other safe location, yell loudly and bang pots and pans. Yelling things like “Hey bear,” “Go bear” or “Get out of here bear” alerts those around you to what is happening and helps reinforce that bears are not welcome in neighborhoods. You can also trigger your car alarm to scare them off. These actions help negatively condition bears so they learn to avoid people and homes.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) continues to prioritize student safety while encouraging healthy, active transportation. The district supports students riding bikes to school and throughout the community, recognizing the benefits for student wellness, independence, and connection to the local environment. At the same time, LTUSD emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility among cyclists, families, and drivers.
At the August 28, 2025, Board of Education meeting, several community partners, including Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids (TASK), and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), voiced strong support for expanding student bike and e-bike safety education. In response, Superintendent Todd Cutler and the Board of Education prioritized this input and hosted a Community Conversation to gather additional feedback and ideas.
Following this engagement, Superintendent Cutler established the Superintendent’s Student Bike Safety Advisory Committee. Since fall 2025, the committee has met monthly to promote safer biking practices across LTUSD schools and throughout the South Lake Tahoe community.
The advisory committee has contributed to multiple initiatives, including reviewing Phase One bond project plans to identify opportunities for improving safe routes to South Tahoe Middle School (STMS) and Tahoe Valley Elementary School. The group also helped develop a pilot bike registration program at South Tahoe High School (STHS) and STMS, scheduled to launch on April 13, 2026.
In addition, committee members have collaborated with local elected officials and community organizations to strengthen regional coordination and advance bike safety efforts.
The Student Bike Safety Advisory Committee includes representatives from education, healthcare, planning, law enforcement, and local organizations:
Teresa Schow, Public Information Officer, LTUSD
Angela Ramirez, Senior Secretary, Facilities and Transportation, LTUSD
Chris Proctor, Community Benefit and Business Development, Barton Health
Kira Richardson, Senior Transportation Planner, TRPA
Cindy Martinez, Principal, STMS
Paul Loupe, Dean of Students, South Tahoe High School (STHS)
Peter Fink, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition
Tasha Thomas, Teacher, Tahoe Valley Elementary School
Tim Peterson, School Resource Officer, STMS and STHS
Donaldo Palaroan, Senior Civil Engineer, County of El Dorado
Theresa Papandrea, Executive Director, TASK
Dr. Qureshi, Public Works Director, City of South Lake Tahoe
The committee will continue meeting to explore additional strategies to enhance bike safety across the region. Members share a common understanding that creating a safer environment for cyclists requires ongoing collaboration and shared responsibility.
As part of these efforts, LTUSD encourages all cyclists to follow the rules of the road and ride responsibly. Drivers are reminded to provide at least three feet of space when passing cyclists, reduce speed, and remain alert. Increased awareness and mutual respect help keep everyone safe.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — This week marks a new chapter for one of South Lake Tahoe’s most centrally located hotels as the former Holiday Inn Express South Lake Tahoe officially transitions into HiMark Hotel on April 2. While the name has changed, the doors remain open, welcoming guests today as the property begins its evolution into a boutique wellness-focused hotel.
HiMark Hotel is the latest project from Playpark Hospitality, with a long-term vision to create a stay that reflects the natural rhythm of Tahoe: calm, restorative, and grounded in its surroundings. Rather than a traditional resort model, the hotel is being reimagined as a place where rest, movement, and connection are thoughtfully integrated into the guest experience.
A rendering of HiMark’s exterior. Provided
“Our vision for HiMark is simple: people shouldn’t have to give up the habits and routines they care about just because they’re traveling,” said Mitchell Murray, CEO of Playpark Hospitality. “We’re creating a place where you can still prioritize how you want to feel—whether that’s movement, recovery, or eating well—while being somewhere as special as South Lake Tahoe.”
A Thoughtful Transformation, Phased Over Time
The property will undergo a multi-million-dollar renovation beginning later in 2026, with updates rolling out in three phases through 2028. This staged approach allows HiMark Hotel to remain open throughout the process, giving guests the opportunity to experience the evolution in real time.
Phase one will focus on transforming the lobby into a warm, inviting gathering space, replacing traditional layouts with comfortable lounge seating, a lobby bar, and expanded food and beverage offerings.
Phase two will introduce an expanded wellness component, including a dedicated spa and hydrotherapy circuit with features such as a cold plunge, sauna, and a new fitness center designed for both recovery and movement.
Phase three will complete the transformation with fully redesigned guest rooms, incorporating natural materials, calming textures, and layouts centered around rest and relaxation.
Open Now, With More to Come
While the long-term vision is ambitious, HiMark Hotel is fully operational today. Guests can expect clean, comfortable accommodations, along with a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub, all within walking distance of Heavenly Village, the lake, dining, shopping, and year-round outdoor activities.
Investing in Sustainability and Community
As part of its early improvements, HiMark Hotel recently installed a solar energy system, reinforcing a commitment to more sustainable operations and reducing its environmental footprint.
The boutique hotel will also participate in Playpark Hospitality’s Stay With Purpose program, supporting local nonprofits and giving back to the South Lake Tahoe community. In addition, HiMark is already planning partnerships and sponsorships with local events and organizations throughout the year, further embedding the property into the fabric of the region.
“We see a real opportunity to invest in the community we’re part of,” Murray noted. “From supporting local nonprofits to partnering with youth programs and schools, we want HiMark to have a positive, lasting impact—not just for our guests, but for people like our employees who live and work here.”
A New Kind of Tahoe Stay
With its phased renovation approach, community focus, and long-term wellness vision, HiMark Hotel represents a different kind of hotel transformation—one that prioritizes intention over immediacy and invites guests to return as the experience continues to evolve.
Reservations are now open for 2026-2027 stays, with more updates to be shared as renovations progress.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Barton Health recognized Bradley Gray, MD, hospitalist at Barton Health, as its Physician of the Year. Selected through staff and peer nominations, the award recognizes Dr. Gray’s commitment to exceptional patient care and his vital role in supporting patients throughout their hospital stay.
“Dr. Gray exemplifies the kind of care we strive to provide at Barton Health. He combines clinical expertise with a collaborative, patient-first approach, ensuring every individual feels supported throughout their hospital stay,” said Dr. Kandra Yee, Barton Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “He is highly respected by both his colleagues and the patients he serves.”
Dr. Bradley GrayProvided
Those who work alongside Dr. Gray consistently highlight his compassion, communication, and collaborative approach to care:
“Dr. Gray is always so attentive and caring with our patients. He is always thorough and honest and the staff and patients really appreciate him. Gray is a doctor we can always rely on.”
“Dr. Gray is so deserving of this award. He is kind. He is empathetic. He listens to his patients. He is respectful. He is caring. No one more deserving this year”
“I’ve worked with Dr. Gray for years and I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful he is. Not only is he an excellent MD who is always up to date on the latest research, but his empathy and care for patients is unmatched. He sits with patients and listens intently and never cuts people short. Patients always feel heard and understood when he is around.”
Dr. Gray is a board-certified family medicine physician who earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
More information about Barton Health services, specialties, and quality and safety awards can be found at BartonHealth.org.
Welcome back to Ask Talie Jane where great design meets real life! I’m Talie, your go-to design insider, here to share tips, solve your space dilemmas, and help you create a home that’s both beautiful and functional.
Today’s hot topic: Open Concept vs. Defined Spaces—Is the open floor plan finally losing favor?
For more than two decades, open floor plans have dominated interior design, eliminating walls to combine kitchens, dining areas, and living spaces into one seamless environment. But lately, homeowners and designers alike are starting to ask: has open concept gone too far?
There’s no denying the appeal. Open layouts maximize natural light, make homes feel larger, and create an easy flow that’s perfect for entertaining and family life. It’s no surprise that “open-concept living” has long been a buzzword in real estate, often increasing both buyer interest and home value.
Designers are seeing a rise in “broken-plan” layouts.Provided / Talie Jane
But the way we live has changed and our homes are feeling it. With the rise of remote work, virtual meetings, and multi-generational households, the lack of privacy in open spaces has become a real challenge. Noise carries, distractions are constant, and finding a quiet place to focus can feel nearly impossible.
That’s where the shift begins. Designers are seeing a rise in “broken-plan” layouts, a smart middle ground that blends openness with intentional separation. Think partial walls, sliding doors, or defined zones that create flexibility without sacrificing flow. The goal? Separation without isolation.
There’s also a renewed appreciation for cozy, character-filled spaces. Defined rooms allow for more creativity, richer colors, layered textures, and distinct personalities that can get lost in a large, open room. Plus, there’s comfort in spaces that serve a clear purpose.
Still, open concept isn’t going anywhere. The future is all about balance: open sightlines paired with thoughtful divisions that support how we actually live today.
As our lifestyles evolve, so should our homes. It’s no longer about choosing open or closed, it’s about designing spaces that truly work for you.
Have a design or construction question? Send it to Natalie@TalieJaneInteriors.com, and you might see it answered right here in the next column.
Talie Jane is the Owner and Principal Designer of Talie Jane Interiors, an award-winning, full-service design firm serving the Lake Tahoe and Napa/Sonoma regions. She is also the co-owner of Talie Jane Construction, a design-driven general contracting firm specializing in luxury remodels.
Your nose plays a big role in how you breathe, perform, and feel. Rhinoplasty, often called a “nose job,” can do more than refine your appearance. It can help you breathe easier, boost confidence, and bring balance to your features.
Love Your Look
Cosmetic rhinoplasty focuses on how your nose complements the rest of your face. Whether you’re hoping to smooth a bump, refine the tip, or modify the width, your surgeon will work with you to design natural-looking results that enhance, not change, who you are. Goals include improving symmetry, adjusting nostril size or bridge width, or changing the profile.
Breathe Easier
Functional rhinoplasty can correct issues such as chronic stuffy nose or nasal obstruction by addressing structural causes inside the nose. For example, when the wall that separates the two sides of the nose, the septum, is bent or crooked, it can cause a blockage. Other issues that could be addressed are:
Enlargement of the structures inside the nose
Narrow nostrils or nasal valve collapse
Weakened cartilage in the nostrils or in the tip of the nose
Broken nose that causes poor breathing or nasal deformity
Many patients choose to combine functional and cosmetic improvements for both form and function in one procedure.
What to Expect
Rhinoplasty is typically an outpatient procedure performed under anesthesia. Depending on your needs, your surgeon may use a closed or open approach to reshape cartilage and bone and address any internal blockages. After surgery, most people wear a splint on top of their nose and stents in their nostrils for about a week. Sutures are also removed at that time. Bruising fades within two weeks, and swelling takes up to a year to resolve. Many patients are back to work, the gym, or the trail within 14 days.
Is Rhinoplasty Right for You?
If you’re curious about how rhinoplasty could improve your breathing or confidence, a consultation with a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon is the best first step. Together, you’ll create a personalized plan that fits your goals.
Kathleen Holoyda, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon offering aesthetic, cosmetic, and reconstructive procedures in Lake Tahoe. To schedule a consultation from her offices in South Lake Tahoe and Incline Village, call 530.543.5799 or visit BartonHealth.org to learn more.
TAHOMA, Calif. – The California Tahoe Conservancy is implementing a project to improve forest health and wildfire resilience on 25 acres of public land in Tahoma in El Dorado County. By thinning the overcrowded forest and removing hazardous fuels, the project will help reduce wildfire risk for the surrounding neighborhoods.
This project includes 118 Conservancy properties, seven National Forest Lands properties, and 23 El Dorado County properties.
The contractor will mulch small-diameter trees, branches, and shrubs. Larger trees and branches will be cut into firewood rounds, available for free collection by members of the public who have completed a free Conservancy fuelwood collection permit. The permit is available at tahoe.ca.gov/fuelwood-permit.
The Conservancy project will create forest conditions that are more resilient to drought, disease, and insect outbreaks. The project will also result in reduced wildfire risk for the surrounding west shore neighborhoods and the California State Route 89 corridor.
The Conservancy plans forestry projects like these in coordination with the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, and in support of the goals of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. The lands included in this project are in the wildland-urban interface, where neighborhoods meet the forest. Lake Tahoe Basin partners identified these properties as priority treatment areas in the Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
A series of No Kings protests at the lake and in Truckee attracted almost 1,500 people.
The protests around the area were staggered to allow people to attend multiple events. They started in Tahoe City at 11 a.m., then in Kings Beach two hours later, followed by one at the Victory Highway Eagle statue in downtown Truckee, and ending along Donner Pass Road in front of Safeway for the largest gathering.
The No Kings protest in Tahoe/Truckee was one of more than 3,000 demonstrations held across all 50 states, drawing over 8 million participants nationwide, according to national No Kings organizers.
“In Truckee, the final protest drew an estimated crowd of more than 1,200 people,” said No Kings local organizer Cyan Samone. “We used real crowd counters to get an accurate number.”
Tahoe/Truckee locals who have consistently protested since President Donald Trump’s reelection gather with unique handmade signs. Photo by Julian Bennett
Crowd counters are a hand-held device that helps tally the number of people at events.
People of all ages and backgrounds lined the streets, holding handmade signs, waving to passing cars, and drawing honks of support from drivers. Some signs were humorous, others pointed and direct, but all reflected a shared desire for change.
With his dog by his side, Truckee resident Lou Haggerty holds a handmade sign during the No Kings protest on March 28. Photo by Julian Bennett
“It makes me emotional seeing more people join the cause with each protest,” said Julian McNab, who has been attending weekly protests in Truckee since President Trump was reelected.
While each participant had their own reason for attending the No Kings protest, many shared a common frustration with the current administration.
“We should value ethics, proof, and science,” said Tom Deurloo, a 67-year-old Truckee local. “Our current administration doesn’t share these values.”
For Deanna Marsh, a 53-year-old Truckee resident, the protests are about protecting fundamental rights and freedoms. She said she began attending protests after concerns grew over women’s bodily autonomy following Trump’s reelection.
“I didn’t grow up reciting ‘liberty and justice for all’ to do nothing now,” said Marsh.
For many immigrants in attendance, that call to action was personal, as they voiced concerns over federal immigration policies and ICE raids.
California 89’s booth next to the eagle statue in downtown Truckee had T-shirts for sale with a strongly worded message. All proceeds are donated to the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota. Photo by Julian Bennett
“As a Mexican girl growing up in America, I want an actual future to look forward to,” said 17-year-old Truckee local Zoey Carrillo.
Alongside personal concerns, some attendees pointed to the protest’s broader message.
“The No Kings protest is a peaceful way to show the world we care,” long-time Truckee resident Tom Jackson said.
A young girl shows her support for the No Kings protest dressed as the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Ella Clifford/Moonshine Ink
The No Kings protest in Truckee was a joyful one, helped along by music from a small marching band, the Singing Resistance group, and a few participants dressed up in blow-up costumes, like a sloth and unicorn.
Local businesses also played a role in supporting the movement. Family-owned California 89 stepped forward early on, looking for ways to contribute. The company created T-shirts with bold messaging intended to be worn at rallies and beyond. One hundred percent of the “F*ck Ice” T-shirt proceeds are donated to the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, according to Ethan Gotts, one of the owners of California 89.
For some longtime residents, the protest was a reminder of the strength found in collective action.
“Power in numbers means we are united,” said Denny Lotts, a retired first-grade teacher.
That sense of unity was evident throughout the day as participants stood side by side advocating for issues important to them.
Protesters line the roadside with handmade signs, drawing honks and waves from passing drivers during the March 28 No Kings protest.
While many were residents of the Truckee/Tahoe region, tourists also took notice.
“It’s good to see a community rally,” said a visiting family passing through the sea of homemade signs. “It is small but mighty.”
Local business owners echoed that sense of unity.
“It benefits the community,” said the owner of Cabona’s, Stefanie Olivieri. “Strength in numbers creates a feeling of solidarity.”
As the afternoon came to a close, the crowds slowly dispersed, but the message remained clear — whether local or visiting, many in Truckee felt compelled to show up, speak out, and stand together.
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.
At around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, an aircraft traveling from the Monterey Regional Airport to the Truckee Tahoe Airport crashed southwest of Olympic Valley in the Five Lakes area between White Wolf and Granite Chief Wilderness.
The pilot, killed in the crash, was the only person on board. The six-seat plane, a 1973 Beechcraft 36 Bonanza single-engine piston aircraft, was registered to James Wholey from Saratoga. Wholey is registered as the co-owner.
According to the Truckee Tahoe Airport, the aircraft was hangered at the airport. The accident occurred outside the Truckee airport’s airspace. The main investigators are the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.
CHP Air Operations out of Auburn and Care Flight performed the initial aerial search,
and Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue was deployed to help with the rescue.
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.”
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.
