EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – In the wake of the recent avalanche tragedy that rocked the Tahoe Basin, you may have been made aware of the efforts put in place to rescue the skiers near Castle Peak. Many of the faces behind those efforts are from Search and Rescue (SAR) teams stationed throughout the region. Jamie Lefkowitz and the El Dorado County Search and Rescue (EDSAR) teams are among those in the basin who answer those dire calls for help.
EDSAR team members prioritize preparation and provide extensive knowledge to SAR missionsProvided/El Dorado County Search and Rescue
EDSAR, based in El Dorado County, is a non-profit organization composed of all volunteers. They work directly with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s office. When a call is placed to 911 involving a SAR operation, Lefkowitz is notified, and her and her team jump into action.
Lefkowitz has been a part of EDSAR for five years. “A few years ago, I took over the leadership of our technical teams which include rope rescue on rock cliffs and winter rescues,” said Lefkowitz, and within her role as Tahoe Technical Team Captain for EDSAR, she facilitates rescues involving avalanche terrain, ski rescues, mountaineering, and more.
Although she received a call for mutual aid during the Castle Peak avalanche, EDSAR was deployed on another mission that day and was unable to respond.
Steps taken during an EDSAR Avalanche SAR mission
“The first thing we do is gather information –how many people? What’s happened? Then we, as a team, assess our own safety. That involves checking the avalanche forecasts, which we have already done before the phone ever rings. We know the conditions every single day, we don’t just check them because we have a mission,” said Lefkowitz.
Once the situation has been assessed, EDSAR devises a plan that is safe for rescuers.
“In an avalanche response, our first concern is the risk of additional avalanches. That risk depends on the hazard for the day – is it snowing? Is it blowing? What are the avalanche problems, and we get that information primarily from the Sierra Avalanche Center.”
A common misconception often stems from the idea that SAR teams are put in unsafe situations when they receive a call. Lefkowitz refutes this notion.
“We are extremely knowledgeable, and we manage risk in very specific ways for SAR calls. The most important person is the rescuer; we rescue you. So we do not actually put ourselves in risky situations when we go out on search-and-rescue missions. We have a lot of resources that recreationalists don’t have,” explained Lefkowitz. “We are professionals at what we do and we train extensively for these situations.”
Amidst those resources are advanced transporters and communications. If EDSAR can’t respond on foot, they rely on air resources, such as drones and helicopters, only if it’s clear to do so. “In the middle of a storm, helicopters do not fly, so it depends on what’s going on, but avalanches don’t just happen during storms.”
After evaluating weather conditions, terrain conditions, the resources needed and a plan is formed, the team sets out, but not without gear and equipment in tow.
Air resources are utilized by EDSAR during missions when neededProvided/El Dorado County Search and Rescue
Equipment used during avalanche SAR missions
Backcountry rescue toboggans: “They’re very similar to ski resort toboggans, but they disassemble and we can carry them on our backs into the backcountry,” said Lefkowitz.
Warming kits: tools designed to help prevent or treat hypothermia, including hand warmers, blankets and hot water.
Avalanche transceivers: a device that sends out signals to beacons typically worn by backcountry recreationalists. The beacon emits a signal in “receive” mode which is then picked up by the “send” mode of the transceiver to find those who may have been buried under snow.
Professional avalanche search dogs: “We can call upon search dogs when people are lost in avalanche debris and they’re not wearing a beacon.”
RECCO detectors: RECCO detectors emit a radar signal and if the person in need of rescuing is wearing a RECCO reflector, which is sometimes sewn into winter gear, they can be detected from more than 600 feet away and buried under up to 60 feet of snow. “It’s kind of like a metal detector,” Lefkowitz said. “It is a much more passive way of trying to find someone,” often relating to recovery rather than rescue.
Lastly, and possibly the most important, is the training required to use extensive equipment such as these.
“We practice companion rescue multiple times a season as a SAR team, so it’s never a question of ‘Do we know how to find someone and dig them out of an avalanche?’ Our training is our number one piece of equipment that we bring out there.”
EDSAR’s passion fuels their purpose
Because the EDSAR team are volunteers, along with the vast majority of SAR operators in the state of California, their ‘why‘ is always a prime factor in their time spent, unpaid, helping others.
“I do speak on behalf of, I think, every SAR volunteer in the Tahoe Basin – we all really love what we do,” said Lefkowitz. “We volunteer for this because we want to. We want to go help people, and we encourage people to call 911 when they’re in danger. Not just in an avalanche incident, if you’re injured, if you’re lost, the sooner you call, the sooner we can help you.”
EDSAR team members are always monitoring avalanche forecasts and conditions Provided/El Dorado County Search and Rescue
Known for bluebird days and generous snowstorms, when Tahoe comes to mind, so does skiing. With over a dozen ski resorts within a 100-mile radius, the Tahoe area boasts the highest concentration of ski resorts in the county. A combined 14,000-plus vertical feet of skiing draws many from all over the country and world.
Learn about what goes into making the area a highly sought after skiing destination with a few behind the scenes peaks at area ski resorts.
Diamond Peak’s summer prep for winter sends
In what often feels like a race against the clock, a significant amount of work for winter operations occurs in the summer.
It may not be obvious while taking in the panoramic Tahoe views on Diamond Peak’s Crystal Ridge or lapping the Village Terrain Park, but below the skis, snow and earth are a network of underground pipes. The maze of multi-sized pipes run from pump houses and compressor plants to snow guns where they combine to create snow.
A significant amount of work for winter operations occurs in the summer with equipment such as chairs and lifts undergoing inspections, testing and maintenance at Diamond Peak.Anthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |
These miles of pipes, along with what you see above ground, the lifts, chairs, snow guns, snowcats and runs, all need regular checkups in the summer. Inspections, testing and maintenance ensures they are functioning properly and safely for winter.
“Every little piece of this whole system is tested and tried,” John Tarmey, Slope Maintenance Manager says, explaining it’s no small task.
In addition to equipment maintenance in the summertime, brush cutters maintain slope runs by clearing vegetation.
Erosion control is also a significant summer operation to ensure snowmelt isn’t threatening Tahoe’s clarity. Water flow is directed for optimal sediment control.
Diamond Peak’s crew wastes no time and begins summer related work immediately following closing day, knowing that winter is right around the corner.
How Heavenly’s tech, timing and teamwork converge for opening day
As the days grow shorter and cooler, skiers and snowboarders eagerly await the announcement of opening day. At Heavenly, the highly anticipated day is the result of advanced technology, meticulous timing and a dedicated team all coming together to make that day as early as possible.
Technology takes the stage with 95 computer-controlled snow guns positioned, tapping into a network of water and air pipes that come from sources around the mountain.
The timing comes into play as early as October when managers start assessing weather patterns for snowmaking opportunities.
Technology, timing and a dedicated team come together for opening day at Heavenly Mountain Resort.Anthony Gentile / Tahoe Daily Tribune |
During these prime snowmaking windows, teamwork becomes crucial in order to capitalize on every snow making minute. A crew of 35 works around the clock, dividing the effort into three shifts with a day, swing and graveyard shift, each passing the baton to the next.
While the team races to open runs, they also know that good snow can’t be rushed. In what’s known as “curing” the snow, the piles sit for one to two days to leach excess water before snowcats spread and groom the snow. Together, the snowmaking team and groomers work together to fine-tune runs by filling in shallow areas.
This process initially occurs on two runs to get the mountain open. Crews then work around the mountain, connecting dots until mother nature lends a hand.
It’s the masterful orchestration of these factors that culminates in the first of many exciting days.
For Billy Clark, Snowmaking Manager, seeing the guests’ response on opening day makes all the hard work and long nights worth it.
“Everybody’s smiling and hooting and hollering,” he says, “because you’re getting stuff going.”
Inside the vehicle shop that keeps Kirkwood moving
A crew of 6-10 highly skilled and dedicated employees at the Kirkwood Fleet Maintenance Shop work hard to keep the mountain moving. The shop is responsible for maintenance and repairs on a large array of vehicles, from snowcats, heavy snow blowers, and front-end loaders to buses, trucks, vans, snowmobiles, and even chainsaws, demanding a variety of skills.
The Kirkwood Fleet Maintenance Shop works a wide range of vehicles to Keep Kirkwood moving. NIAA won’t realign next season, two playoff spots added in Div. I-A Northern League
This vast scope can make prioritizing work a challenge. Weather is often what dictates each day’s duties, getting heavy equipment up to speed ahead of snowstorms and transportation vehicles ahead of bluebird days. No one day looks the same. The team also maintains Kirkwood’s fuel stations, including one for resort operations and one for public use on Highway 88.
It takes a specialized team built of resilient individuals who can thrive under pressure and flux with the ever-changing demands from one day to the next.
“We couldn’t keep this place running as nearly as well,” Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Kruz Toribio says, “if we didn’t have the right team to do it.”
The shop interacts with nearly every department at the resort, supporting grooming, snow removal, transportation, lift maintenance, base operations and ski patrol.
Having a reliable piece of equipment can make the difference for critical incidents on the mountain.
The shop’s expansive scope—from the vehicles it services to the departments it serves— underscores how imperative the shop and crew are to the mountain.
“If there’s no vehicle maintenance,” Fleet Maintenance Manager, Joel Gomez says, “there is no mountain.”
Behind the science that makes Palisades Tahoe a spring skiing capital
Known for seasons lasting well into the spring, and some years into summer, Palisades Tahoe has been coined the Spring Skiing Capital. To create these dream spring skiing seasons, snow surface managers determine at the start of the season which runs will go the length.
A deeper snowpack means longer seasons, a principle they apply to these selected runs. Throughout the season, crews will focus on increasing and maintaining the snowpack on these runs.
Snowcats at Palisades Tahoe are equipped with LiDAR technology that can detect snow depths ahead.Local runners square off at Tahoe Legends Run
Efficiency with snow allows the Palisades Tahoe team to make the most of their energy and time as they aim for this goal.
This efficiency comes from managers knowing how much snow is needed to open a certain run thanks to LiDAR scans of the mountain and past season data. It allows the team to quickly open terrain and move on the next trail.
The process is further perfected with LiDAR equipped snowcats that determine how deep the snow is ahead. Operators can then begin carrying snow when LiDAR senses a thin spot coming up.
Slope managers take care not to overgroom or spread dirt or stones on the snow. Paying attention to these details reduces melt and extends the life of the snow.
With the dedication and real-time snow depth measurements, managers can predict the end of the ski season, pinpointing it almost to the exact day.
“It’s always been a science,” Brendan Gibbons, Director of Snow Surfaces at Palisades Tahoe says, “but now it’s a more predictable science.”
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Winter 2025/26 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol is promoting backcountry safety with coffee, conversation, and hands on opportunities at their Coffee and Beacon trailhead events.
The organization is known for providing and maintaining the “Are You Beeping?” signs at popular trailheads, which beep when picking up a transmitting beacon. It’s a final reminder and gear test before skiers head into the backcountry.
These Coffee and Beacon events offer participants the opportunity to practice operating their avalanche transceiver over a fresh brewed cup of coffee, while also learning about TBSP’s recently launched Tahoe Backcountry Radio Program.
The program implements community radio channels for increased communication in the backcountry with designated channels assigned to different popular backcountry zones.
Look for TBSP at these upcoming Coffee and Beacon events and trailheads:
March 7 – Carson Pass
March 15 – Johnson Canyon
April 4 – Tamarack
April 11 – Carson Pass
TBSP is also participating in Alpenglow’s Alpine Meadows demo day with a beacon field, radios, and example packs of what to bring for a day of backcountry skiing.
Since weather may impact these events, review the latest information on TBSP’s social media (Facebook, Instagram).
Perrys Peak 8320 feet. The site of the avalanche that occurred on Tuesday February 17, 2026. Previous photo of area.Provided / Sierra Avalanche Center
TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued a summary on the Feb. 17 avalanche near Castle Peak, which killed nine and injured two.
As the Tribune has reported, the six survivors were rescued the evening of the avalanche. Teams recovered the decedents’ bodies that Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21.
In its summary, the Sierra Avalanche Center reveals the avalanche occurred on Perry’s Peak, which was not far from where the 15 backcountry skiers had originated.
The peak is located directly adjacent to Frog Lake and the backcountry huts that the tour group was staying in before returning from a 3-day journey.
According to the map and report, it occurred on the north aspect of the peak, which faces away from the lake.
As the bird flies, the peak is about 2,000 feet away from the huts. A trail route places it over a mile away from the huts by foot.
Orange pin denotes the location of the avalanche that occurred Feb. 17. Provided / Sierra Avalanche Center
It’s currently unknown what triggered the avalanche. SAC has characterized the avalanche as a storm slab. As the name implies, storm slabs are a type of avalanche problem that are very common during and immediately after storms, SAC says.
Days before the avalanche, OpenSnow had forecasted a storm bringing 3-5 feet of snow the following Monday through Thursday. The avalanche occurred on Tuesday.
SAC had issued a level four (out of five) or high avalanche danger for Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20. The forecast warned that traveling in, near, or below backcountry avalanche terrain was not recommended and that large avalanches were expected across backcountry terrain.
The report categorizes the avalanche’s destructive size as a D2.5. On the destructive scale, D2 avalanches can injure, bury and kill a person. D3s can bury or destroy a car or house.
SAC’s observation revealed the avalanche fell 400 vertical feet.
In the last two weeks, SAC has observed at least 16 avalanches in the Truckee-Tahoe area. Eight have been D2s or bigger.
Thursday, Feb. 26 has been the first day since the avalanche where avalanche dangers have dropped to moderate or Level 2.
STATELINE, Nev. – Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe announces Koe Wetzel as the latest addition to its 2026 Summer Concert Series. The Texas-born platinum-selling singer, songwriter, and genre bending rocker will take the stage at The Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Known for his high-energy performances that blend country, rock, and Americana, Koe Wetzel has built a massive following and continues to rise as one of the most electrifying performers in modern music. Fans can expect an unforgettable night of raw vocals, rebellious edge, and the fan‑favorite hits that have solidified Wetzel as a powerhouse entertainer.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or APEconcerts.com. Stay up to date with our full lineup and future announcements at Caesars.com
About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel is a platinum-certified singer and songwriter whose unique fusion of country, rock, and alt‑grunge has earned him a dedicated nationwide fan base. Breaking through with hits like “Drunk Driving,” “Good Die Young,” and “Kuntry & Wistern,” Wetzel continues to dominate streaming charts and sell out arenas across the U.S. His unapologetic style and electrifying live performances have made him one of the most compelling acts in contemporary music. For more information, visit www.koewetzelmusic.com.
RENO, Nev. – Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe’s popular “Open Late” schedule is back. Starting Friday, Feb. 27, the resort will keep select lifts spinning and resort services including Wildslide Tubing open late on both Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the season. Operations will continue until 5:30 p.m. both days until Daylight Savings ends on March 8. After that, the schedule extends until 6 p.m.
“With longer days ahead and mid-winter snow conditions here now, we’re bringing back our ‘Open Late’ schedule to give skiers and riders the opportunity for bonus runs with an additional two hours on Fridays and Saturdays,” said Mike Pierce, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe marketing director. “For those with a competitive edge, our public race league, Friday Nite Gates, is also returning.”
The Northwest Express, Lakeview Express, Wizard and Magic lifts will stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays, along with the Snowdeck off the Lakeside trail offering beer, wine, snacks, DJs on Friday afternoons, and stellar views of Lake Tahoe. Wildslide Tubing will also be open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
The “Ski G.I.F.” Friday Daily Special and “Sleep in Saturdays” discounted tickets offered after 12 p.m. make Fridays and Saturdays even better with the later skiing and snowboarding and a great deal on lift access. For those who want to extend the weekend, “Bonus Mondays” offer heavily discounted Monday lifts tickets for anyone who skis at Rose the previous Saturday or Sunday (void holidays).
Learn more and purchase lift tickets in advance online at www.skirose.com.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Golden Monsters fell to the Utah Grizzlies on the road on Wednesday night, 8-3.
In the first period, Tahoe got on the board first as Jordan Gustafson continued to stay hot, making it 1-0. However, Utah would end the period with three unanswered goals to head into the intermission up 3-1.
In the second, the Grizzlies added two more goals in a row to make it 5-1. However, in his first game back from the Henderson Silver Knights, Sloan Stanick found the back of the net to cut the lead to 5-2. This was also Stanick’s 100th game with the Knight Monsters in his career. However, less than two minutes later, Utah would answer with another goal to push the lead back to four, as Utah led 6-2 after the first 40 minutes.
In the final period, Utah would go on to extend its lead to 7-2, but Tahoe would answer as Eric Olson found the back of the net in his first game in a Knight Monsters uniform to make it 7-3. The goal was also Olson’s first career goal at the ECHL level. However, just 12 seconds later, Utah would add on another goal to go up five and take the victory by a score of 8-3.
Utah was led offensively by Danny Dzhaniyev, who scored a goal and added five assists for six points in the game. Reilly Connors also stood out offensively with a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
The Knight Monsters are back in action on Friday, February 27, to take on the Grizzlies again. Puck drop is at 6:10 pm PT, with pregame coverage beginning at 6 pm PT.
The Knight Monsters return home on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to take on the Kansas City Mavericks for Pucks and Paws Knight at Tahoe Blue Event Center. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm, with pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network beginning at 6:50 pm. Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are now available. For more information, visit www.knightmonstershockey.com
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV), a leading advocate for outdoor adventure and recreation in the North Lake Tahoe area, is taking proactive steps to enhance winter safety and access by funding snow removal at the East Shore Trail parking lot with Park Tahoe® operated by the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD). This funding ensures visitors can park safely and access the trail without resorting to parking along the narrow two-lane State Route 28.
With heavy winter snow recently, TNTNV is covering the costs for service for the plowing contracted through TTD at the East Short Trail Parking Lot #1, one of the busiest recreation trails in North Lake Tahoe. TNTNV is fully covering the service costs, with previously allocated funds for winter plowing and will continue to do so as storms dictate, ensuring safe access to the area’s trail network so all can enjoy responsible winter recreation.
“Winter on the East Shore Trail is a highlight for so many residents and visitors,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “With the recent snowfall, totaling over 60 inches in some areas, ensuring safe, accessible parking is greatly important to us. By directly funding snow removal at East Shore, we’re doing our part to help people enjoy winter recreation safely while keeping the highway clear of unsafe road conditions.”
“This partnership reflects what we can accomplish when public and private organizations align around a shared goal,” said Jim Marino, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “Efficiently clearing parking reduces unsafe roadside parking and supports responsible use, helping both residents and visitors enjoy Tahoe throughout the winter months.”
Those eager to explore the East Shore Trail, particularly if venturing into the backcountry, are advised to exercise caution, as the trails may not be cleared by State Parks during winter months. TNTNV encourages all trail users to exercise caution, follow safety guidelines, and take responsibility for their safety. Visitors are also reminded to practice “Pack it in, pack it out” principles by properly disposing of all trash and leaving no trace. Signage provided by the State Parks is strategically placed along the trail, promoting awareness and emphasizing the need for safe and clean practices during winter conditions.
Travel North Tahoe Nevada invites all to enjoy the East Shore Trail responsibly and enjoy winter in Lake Tahoe safely.
The Toyota Air and Aprés event will be held from Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1 at Heavenly Mountain ResortProvided/Heavenly Mountain Resort
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Heavenly Mountain Resort is bringing back the Toyota Air and Aprés from February 27 to March 1. It’s a three-day weekend spectacle filled with music from DJs Dombresky and Forester, a Community Rail Jam show featuring adept, professional athletes doing gravity-defying rail tricks, and a mountain scavenger hunt.
Friday, February 27 kicks off first with music from DJ Dombresky. Known for his funky, soul-infused house and electronic pop music, Dombresky is making a stop in Tahoe before continuing his global tour.
His set will be held at the Cal Lodge from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is free to the public.
“Whether you skied throughout the day and want to have an Aprés celebration, or maybe you just are interested in coming up and seeing a DJ set, you’re welcome to park at Cal Lodge and walk on up to the base of World Cup to celebrate with everybody,” said Cole Zimmerman, Senior Communications Manager at Heavenly.
On Saturday, February 28, the energy kicks up a notch. Forester, an indie electronic duo will be performing their set at Cal Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30, making it the perfect pre-gamer before their main event of the day – the Community Rail Jam.
Originally, Heavenly’s plans for their annual Big Air show were in motion until Mother Nature intervened.
“We’re used to having a 45-foot jump that we build, and we bring in athletes that come and do really cool stunts and tricks on the jump. We use the jump as a projector for graphics and designs, and it really adds to the energy. However, this year, because of that drought we dealt with from the week after the New Year until this most recent storm, we’re not going to be able to build the jump,” Zimmerman said.
To build the jump, it takes Heavenly roughly one to two months of snowmaking while relying on cold temperatures, and this year’s weather didn’t produce enough of the right elements for construction.
Instead, Heavenly’s terrain park team is building a rail park in its place, ensuring the experience stays entertaining and adrenaline-fueled. “It’s still going to be a really cool viewing spectacle where these professional athletes are doing awesome tricks off the rails,” said Zimmerman.
The Community Rail Jam, also free to the public, will be held at the base of World Cup from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a dazzling fireworks show to cap the night off, followed by an athlete signature afterparty at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 is the Toyota Takeover and Groove Park sessions up on the mountain, offering Epic pass and lift ticket holders a chance to sign up and hang out, slope side, with some of the professional athletes from the night before.
“It’s going to be an open jam at Groove Terrain Park,” said Zimmerman. “Some of the athletes will stick around, and our guests, our skiers and riders are welcome to join in on that, and then we’ll have a mountain scavenger hunt.”
The sessions will run from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the scavenger hunt will be happening all day long while a local DJ pumps out some tunes to keep the energy flowing. For Sunday’s event, an Epic Pass or lift ticket is required.
To learn more about Toyota Air and Apré, visit skiheavenly.com
“This is a three-day long, high energy event,” Zimmerman added. “We like to look at it as a celebration of everything that Heavenly is known for – the views and the vibes.”
To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.
Being someone who reads and writes a lot about food, coming across a dish that you’ve never heard anything about is always a treat. Enter this week’s feature. The popular street food from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is not only a complete blind spot for me, but an awfully tasty one.
The process of putting this together starts with the outer layer, which is made fresh on the spot and acts like its part ice cream cone, part taco. It’s rolled up like a huge cigar stuffed with Edam cheese, and choice of items like fresh fruit (think berries and bananas), chocolate, cookies, whipped cream, and more. There is also an added layer of Nutella spread and more cheese to the exterior so that first bite explodes on your palette like a 4th of July firework.
If this sounds unique, it’s because it is. The Edam cheese is salty and nutty and a nice balance to the natural sweetness of the fresh fruit. The chocolatey hazelnut flavors from the spread add a bonkers bump to the creaminess and a punctuation mark to the sweetness. And you get all the texture you need from the cone – it’s just the right amount of crispy with still giving you a little bit of chew.
I typically don’t do a lot of desserts but whenever I do, I always wonder why I don’t more. Pair this dish with a cup of their creamy and dreamy affogato and you probably won’t need dessert for a week. At least I won’t.
Bearry Sweet Crêpes is located in the Ski Run Marina at 900 Ski Run Blvd Ste 118 in South Lake Tahoe. For more information follow them on Instagram at bearrysweetcrepes or give them a call at 530-237-1779.
Ted Kennedy 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Stu Allen & Mars Hotel 8 p.m. | Crystal BayStu Allen & Mars Hotel Fri. Feb. 27th 2026 I Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm I Tickets: $25 ADV / $30 DOS I Ticket Link: https://tixr.com/e/167967 “If you come, we will build it” Stu Allen on guitar, and an ever revolving group of incredibly talented musicians, playing music for the Deadhead community.facebook.com/events/2061432474616328/
Will Murillo noon-3 p.m. | Heavenly Corner Stage, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
Daily Live Music noon-8 p.m. | Gunbarrel Tavern, South Lake Tahoe Daily live music at multiple locations in the Village, including the corner stage at Azul Latin Kitchen, Basecamp Pizza, and Gunbarrel Tavern. theshopsatheavenly.com/event/live-music-gunbarrel-tavern/2026-02-27/
Ski with a Ranger at Heavenly Mountain Resort 1-2 p.m. | Heavenly Mountain, South Lake TahoeThe USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is pleased to announce the return of Ski With A Ranger at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Skiers and snowboarders are invited to Ski With A Ranger beginning Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Tours will depart from the top of the Heavenly Gondola every Friday at 1:00 p.m. The tours last approximately one-hour and will continue through April 3, conditions and weather permitting.
Participants must be intermediate level skiers/boarders or above and provide their own lift ticket. No reservations are required. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis and group size is limited to 12.
Tours are led by Forest Service conservation education staff and volunteers through a cooperative effort with Heavenly Mountain Resort.
This free conservation education program is offered to help educate the public about the mission and role of the Forest Service in ski area management, improve public understanding of natural resource processes and issues, and promote environmental literacy and stewardship.
For more information, contact Kelso Carapia at kelsey.carapia@usda.gov, call 530-725-9905, or visit the Ski With A Ranger webpage. visitlaketahoe.com/event/ski-with-a-ranger-at-heavenly-mountain-resort/2026-02-27/
Pierre LaRage 3:30-7 p.m. | Heavenly Corner Stage, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Wine Tasting on the M.S. Dixie II 5-8 p.m. | M.S. Dixie II at Zephyr Cove Resort, Zephyr Cove. Sip & Sail: A Wine Country Journey on Lake Tahoe
Join us aboard the M.S. Dixie II for an unforgettable evening that pairs the rich flavors of California’s wine country with the perfect appetizer. A curated selection of premium wines by Joyce Wine Co.
As we cruise Lake Tahoe, you’ll discover the story of water flowing from the Sierra Nevada to the Central Valley—home to world-class vineyards producing varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris.
What’s Included• A curated tasting of wines including Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself, this cruise promises a perfect blend of storytelling, flavor, and Lake Tahoe magic.
Reserve your spot today! visitlaketahoe.com/event/wine-tasting-on-the-m-s-dixie-ii/2026-02-27/
Sean Hodge 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Social House, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
“Paint and Heal” Mandala Paint Night 6-9 p.m. | Woods Apothecary, South Lake Tahoe A transformative and special facilitated Paint Night with Complimentary Herbal Tea at Woods Apothecary eventbrite.com/e/paint-and-heal-mandala-paint-night-tickets-1981066653690
Porterhaus 6:30-10 p.m. | South of North Brewing, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
Shawn Campanini 7-10:30 p.m. | Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
ZZ Ward 7:30 p.m. | Harrahs South Shore Showroom, Stateline
Dueling Pianos at Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe 8:30-10:30 p.m. | Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline Join us at the Mountain Bar located on Caesars Republic casino floor for a free show you don’t want to miss. Put your favorite song request in, grab a drink at the Mountain Bar and enjoy the fun! Playing Friday and Saturday at 8:30 PM. Dueling Pianos.
Van Walraven and Guest. They play your favorite sing-alongs and are very appealing to the happy crowd. Van is a Guinness World Record Holder for the longest piano marathon: 39 hours, 976 songs. Proceeds went to VH-1 Save the Music Foundation. visitlaketahoe.com/event/dueling-pianos-at-caesars-republic-lake-tahoe/2026-02-27/
Arty the Party at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday Nights. You can Party with Arty the Party at Harrah’s. It’s the best disco, dance, R&B, and soul party in Lake Tahoe!
“Arty the Party” as he’s affectionately called has been playing in Lake Tahoe for several years and now calls Casino Center Stage at Harrah’s his home.
Arthur’s incredible music career began as a lead singer for San Francisco’s 13-piece Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra. He then went on to star in the city’s famous stage musical production “Beach Blanket Babylon.” It didn’t take long before the San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, and the 49er’s invited Arthur to come and sing the national anthem to open their games.
Arthur has developed a large following of loyal fans from here to L.A. People come to hang out and watch, then can’t help themselves when they end up dancing in their seats. Arthur’s versatility ranges from renditions of Van Morrison to party and dance hits from Shaggy. visitlaketahoe.com/event/arty-the-party-at-harrahs-lake-tahoe/2026-02-27/
Toyota Air & Après at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe Toyota Air & Après officially kicks off on Friday, February 27, with 3 days of energy you don’t want to miss. Featuring a big air show, sets from Dombresky + Forester, and unforgettable days on the mountain. All events at the World Cup and Cal Lodge are free and open to the public.
Toyota Air and Après: Back for its fifth season, Air and Après is a thrilling big-air event at the base of the World Cup. Skilled athletes demonstrate gravity-defying stunts on a 45-foot jump, with Heavenly Mountain as the canvas for a light show.
Location: Base of World Cup (under the Tram) out of California Base Area
Heavenly’s Big Air Show is back for year four! An action-packed show in which a dozen Olympic and X-Game skiers and riders show off their tricks on a 45-foot-high jump at the base of Heavenly’s World Cup run. A grooving lights-and-fireworks show adds extra dazzle as if the gravity-defying stunts aren’t dazzling enough.
Friday, February 27 – DJ Dombreskey
Kick off the weekend with a snow set by Dombresky. You read that right. Dombresky is bringing his globally acclaimed electronic pop music sound to Heavenly for Toyota Air & Après Weekend! Be at the Cal Base area on Friday, February 27, from 3:30-5:00 pm for an unforgettable free après set featuring Rockstar DJ Cat.
We will be getting the Friday après party started with a set from 2:00 to 3:30 pm. These live sets will cover all genres of house and techno, although don’t be surprised to hear some classic disco as well. Perfect start to the weekend!
DJ Sets on Friday, Feb 27 at Cal Base Area:
3:30 – 5:00 pm: DOMBRESKY @ the base of World Cup
2:00 – 3:30 pm: TBA @ the base of World Cup
Saturday, February 28 – Big Air Show!
Grab your friends for the Saturday highlight of Toyota Air & Après weekend: the Big Air Show!
High-flying ski & snowboard athletes perform big air jumps under 3D projection, fireworks, special effects and music. Some say it is the greatest show on snow! All are welcome and the Big Air Show is free. Start your Saturday evening at the Big Air pre-party and end the night at the Big Air after party!
Saturday, February 28th at California Lodge Base Area:
Pre-Party | 2:00pm – 3:00pm @ the Rockstar Bar
Headliner | 3:00pm – 5:30pm @ the Rockstar Bar
Film showing | 6:00pm-7:00pm @ tba
Big Air Show | 7:00pm – 8:00pm @ the base of World Cup
After Party & Athlete signatures | 8:00pm – 10:00pm @ California Lodge
Sunday, March 1 – Toyota Takeover
A Sunday experience with our Toyota Takeover!
Toyota activations all over the mountain.
Toyota will be set up at the Heavenly Village, Cal Lodge and Tamarack Lodge for the weekend with new vehicles, giveaways and other perks for attendees.
Tap here for all the details visitlaketahoe.com/event/toyota-air-apres-at-heavenly-mountain-resort/2026-02-27/
Saturday, February 28
Ski and Ride Camp Ages 2-10, Weekends 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Incline Village Description Give your child a joyful, confidence-building introduction to skiing this winter! Daisy Trails Forest Preschool offers a warm, small-group Saturday & Sunday Ski Camp designed especially for young children ages 2-10.Each session blends early ski skills with forest-school style play, movement, and exploration on gentle terrain. Children learn balance, coordination, how to move safely in their gear, and experience the fun of sliding on snow in a supportive, child-led environment.What to Expect:- Small groups for individualized support- Gentle, age-appropriate terrain- Balance + coordination games- Early ski skills (walking, sliding, standing, edging awareness)- Forest-school outdoor play woven throughout- 11:00 snack + warm-up break (pack your own snack)$50 per child, sibling discount Gear rental Skis and Boots $10Helmet Rental $5$10 Registration fee – Once a year. business.ivcba.org/event-calendar/Details/ski-and-ride-camp-ages-2-10-weekends-9am-1pm-1636057?sourceTypeId=Hub
ALO & Mimi Naja Music 7 p.m. | Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay ALO stands for Animal Liberation Orchestra – because music liberates the inner animal, of course. As liberated as they come, Zach Gill, Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, and Steve Adams have certainly been at this a long time. The trio met while still pre-teens in Saratoga, California, where they quickly connected through their love of music.
Won’t you join us for the ride? bandsintown.com/e/107644247?app_id=pkvts0on0m&came_from=287&utm_medium=api&utm_source=partner_api&utm_campaign=event
Drop it Like it’s Hot: Katelyn Ohashi 8 a.m. | Tahoe Blue Event Center, Stateline. It has been an amazing journey for superstar gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, and the journey continues with her Drop It Like It&’s Hot competition meet series in Lake Tahoe, NV February 27- March 1, 2026! This will be a great opportunity to meet Katelyn and raise funds for her charity, Project Heal. Katelyn&’s many gymnastics honors include: – Ten-time UCLA All-American – Ten-time PAC 12 Specialist of the Week (all-time record) – 2019 PAC 12 Balance Beam, Floor Exercise Co-Champion – 2018 NCAA and PAC 12 Floor Exercise Co-Champion – 2018 NCAA Team Champion – Scored 11 perfect 10&’s (9 on floor, 2 on beam) – Four-time USA Gymnastics’ Junior National Team member – 2013 American Cup all-around champion – 2011 junior national champion In 2019, Katelyn became a global sensation when a video of her perfect 10 floor routine at the Collegiate Challenge went viral on social media, earning her the nickname “Perfect 10.” Katelyn&’s joyful smile and sassy, fluid movements make her floor routine look easy. In fact, the routine is “ridiculously hard,” says UCLA Coach Valorie Kondos Field. “Every single thing about it including the backward split that she does after her leap pass – it&’s insane!”tahoeblueeventcenter.com/events/detail/drop-it-like-its-hot-katelyn-ohashi
Winter Animal Tracking with Pathways for Wildlife 9 a.m. to noon | Spooner Lake- Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Stateline tahoerimtrail.org/event/pathways-for-wildlife-snowshoe/
Ditchweed Harvest noon-3 p.m. | Heavenly Corner Stage, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Rox 3:30-7 p.m. | Heavenly Corner Stage, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
Shawn Campanini 4-6 p.m. | The Grove, South Lake TahoeCome out to The Grove and see Shawn Campanini from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. camprichardsonresort.com/event/shawn-campanini-8/
Will Murillo 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Social House, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Logan Eastep 6:30-10 p.m. | South of North Brewing, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
Chris Seal 7-10:30 p.m. | Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
G. Love & Special Sauce 7:30 p.m. | Harrahs South Shore Showroom, Stateline
Tahoe Club Crawl Fall/Winter 25/26 8-11 p.m. | Tahoe Club Crawl, Stateline Tahoe Club Crawl is an organized VIP nightlife tour of the Tahoe South. With the purchase of your ticket, you will receive a welcome shot at 3 out of 4 stops, appetizers, free indoor games at Tipsy Putt and VIP entrance into Peek Nightclub, Lake Tahoe’s hottest Club! You will meet amazing people and have the night of your lives. We meet every Saturday at 8:00 PM Aleworx Stateline, unless told otherwise. Be Sure To Check Out our Ice Cream Shop, Aloha Ice Cream Tahoe “Winner of Best Ice Cream in Tahoe 7 Years In A Row” (Opened Seasonally) tahoeclubcrawl.ticketsauce.com/e/tahoe-club-crawl-fall-winter-25-53?aff=cityspark
Sunday, March 1
Shawn Campanini noon-3 p.m. | Base Camp Pizza, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Rox noon-3 p.m. | Poke’ Rok, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Miki Rae Garrison noon-3 p.m. | Heavenly Corner Stage, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=14
Daily Live Music noon-8 p.m. | Gunbarrel Tavern, South Lake TahoeDaily live music at multiple locations in the Village, including the corner stage at Azul Latin Kitchen, Basecamp Pizza, and Gunbarrel Tavern. theshopsatheavenly.com/event/live-music-gunbarrel-tavern/2026-03-01/
Will Murillo 3:30-7 p.m. | Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=12
Mark Sheets 6-9:30 p.m. | South of North Brewing, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=13
Jaime Saso 7-10 p.m. | Noel’s Coffee and Apothecary, South Lake Tahoe tahoemusic.live/?page=13
Tuesday, March 3
Skisters Women’s Ski Clinics Diamond Peak Ski Resort, Incline Village Improve your skiing and connect with other women with similar goals in a supportive female-led clinic setting. Diamond Peak will offer a women’s specific multi-week clinic as part of the Incline Village Parks & Recreation Adult Sports Programs. Clinics focus on skill improvement, skiing tactics, and personal feedback focused on the specific needs of female skiers in a safe and fun environment. Groups will be divided by ability. Ski Levels Lower Intermediate: Skiing confidently down Green terrain (ex. Freeway) and can link turns in both directions. Advanced Intermediate: Skiing comfortably down all groomed Blue terrain (ex. Popular). Advanced: Skiing confidently down all groomed terrain using parallel turns. 2026 Skisters Women’s Ski Clinic Details Select Tuesday mornings (late January – March) 2026 Dates: January 20, January 27, February 3, February 10, February 24, March 3, Contingency Day: March 10 9:30am – 10am: Warm up on the Diamond Peak Base Lodge sundeck. 10am – 12pm: On-snow clinic Fee: $554, $415 with IVGID Pass Fees include 6 clinics. Participants must supply their own equipment and lift ticket or season pass. Rentals, lift tickets*, and season passes can be purchased online through Diamond Peak’s online store. *IVGID lift tickets are not available online. Present your IVGID Pass at the Ticket Windows on the day you want to ski to purchase an IVGID lift ticket. Registration Pre-registration is required. Registration opens December 9, 2025. Register for the clinic series online via the Rec Center’s online store at Register.YourTahoePlace.com or call the Recreation Counter at 775-832-1310. Visit the Incline Village Parks & Recreation AdultPrograms page for more classes and programs for adults. diamondpeak.com/event/skeesters-womens-ski-clinics/, 775-832-1177
Wednesday, March 4
Women’s Snowshoe at Chickadee Ridge 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Incline Village Join TINS for a magical winter outing as we snowshoe to the beautiful Chickadee Ridge. Sponsored by AAUW , this women-only snowshoe tour invites you to connect with nature and one another while exploringTahoe’s winter wonderland. We will make our way up toward the ridge, enjoying the peaceful forest, hungry chickadees, and stunning snowy scenery along the way. Along the way, we will learn about Tahoe’s winter wildlife and at the top, we will pause to take in views of Lake Tahoe and enjoy snacks together before returning. Expect to snowshoe 2 to 3 miles with elevations around 8,000 feet. We ask that you bring your own snowshoes. If you do not have snowshoes, please email Sarah at Sarah@tinsweb.org and she can provide some for free. This will be a wonderful opportunity to build community, enjoy the fresh mountain air, and share a memorable winter experience with other women. Register below. We hope to see you on the mountain. Fill out my LGL Form! tinsweb.org/upcoming-events/womens-snowshoe-at-chickadee-ridge
“The Art of Pasta” Fresh Pasta Making Demonstrations 3 p.m. | Osteria Sierra at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Incline VillageOsteria Sierra at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino hosts weekly fresh pasta demonstrations at Osteria Sierra. The Art of Pasta experience offers guests and locals a behind the scenes look at traditional pasta making techniques, along with the opportunity to sample freshly made pasta and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine.
Led by Chef de Cuisine Shay Prince, the demonstrations highlight Italian inspired methods and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The “Art of Pasta” events take place every Wednesday at 3 p.m. and are open to the public. 775-832-1234
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) governing board met on Wednesday to discuss updates to the water quality and forest health thresholds, in conjunction with the Tahoe Science Advisory Council and Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT). Executive director Julie Regan also gave a report.
Public comment
During public comment, South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jim Drennan and Steve Teshara, on behalf of the Tahoe Chamber, spoke in support of the TRPA approving Lake Tahoe Community College’s public safety training complex.
Teshara, along with Keep Tahoe Blue, TFFT program manager Anabelle Monti and Bob Larson from the Tahoe Science Advisory Council, gave their support to the threshold updates on the agenda. Keep Tahoe Blue urged TRPA to update other thresholds to keep up with advances in science, and also supported the updates to the watercraft fee schedule on the consent agenda.
Ann Nichols of the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance said she was concerned about the removal of 26 water-quality threshold standards. “Reclassifying them as performance standards or code provisions lowers their legal structure and potentially narrows the scope of compact-level protections,” she said. Doug Flaherty of the Tahoe Clean Air Coalition agreed with her comments.
Agenda and consent calendar
The appeal of the denial of the Moody Boat Ramp/Pier Conversion and Transfer Project was pulled on request of the applicant.
Brooke Laine reviewed the consent calendar and noted that on the watercraft inspection fee schedule that they included a 50% discount for vehicles that show up cleaned, drained and dried, in order to incentivize good practices.
Threshold updates
Science officer Dan Segan and staff member Mason Bindel presented on the updates to the water quality environmental thresholds and forest health and vegetation preservation thresholds, respectively.
Segan addressed public comment and said that they had proposed moving the load reduction standards to a different part of the documentation, as part of the Science Advisory Council’s recommendations. They also changed the portions where the SAC said they were not formulated as specific and measurable, and embedded the load reduction standards as part of their allocation process.
Cody Bass asked if they had any standards relating to microplastics, which Segan said were part of thresholds on fine particle loads. Segan also stated that they were refining their understanding of what elements most affect lake clarity.
Bindel spoke on the forest health and vegetation preservation updates, which have been in the works since last summer. The new standards classify fire dynamics and forest health more responsively to changes in the environment, as well as adding a standard regarding subalpine conifer forests that need protection. Bindel also highlighted the importance of cultural and prescribed burns.
Both motions passed.
Executive director report
Regan first acknowledged the storm and the avalanche near Castle Peak that killed backcountry skiers and guides this past week. “Some of our staff have been affected, knowing some of the survivors. In our region, those events have big reach,” she said.
She shared that there was support for the Santini-Burton Modernization Act, highlighting Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto’s involvement.
Regan also highlighted that the annual report was released and that the Best in the Basin nominations were open.
This was the first TRPA meeting utilizing the new agenda, which Regan hoped would be easier for people to navigate. On the next agenda, Regan said they would look at the Tahoe Keys Marina redevelopment, the Tahoe El Dorado (TED) Area Plan, appeals, board strategic planning and the vehicle miles travelled (VMT) policy.
The next governing board meeting will take place on March 25.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – With wind and rain still impacting the Tahoe region, many resort have been impacted. Lift delay, holds and closers are to be expected throughout the day as wind gust could reach up to 35 mph. The rain is expected to end by the late afternoon. Below is the lift status as of 11am, February 25:
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – City council met on Tuesday evening to discuss a letter to Liberty Utilities, second home regulation, housing replacement policies and increasing police officers to staff the marine safety unit. They also discussed the drainage master plan, appointment of a member to the Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission and establishing a help position for the city manager vacancy.
Public comment
Melissa Soderston and Larry Petigo urged the council to adopt the resolution proposed last meeting which would reaffirm California’s already existing laws to not use local law enforcement to assist ICE operations, similar to a resolution passed in Sacramento. Soderston also asked council to consider other sites where they might be feeding into the federal system, such as through the county jail, license plate readers and security cameras. Petigo also questioned whether they would have protections in case ICE came to “intimidate voters.”
Petigo also asked councilmember David Jinkens to address the Chateau site, also known as “The Hole.” Scott Loberg suggested they turn the site into an ICE detention center.
Councilmember Scott Robbins said, “There’s merit in [the resolution.] I would really like to see something less performative and more actionable, but perhaps performative is all we have at our disposal.”
Consent agenda
Ed Moser spoke on the fiscal year item on the agenda, saying that the city needed to increase its tax base, as well as establishing a second or third economy in the area. Petigo also spoke on the item and suggested moving the city council chamber to the old rec center, reopen Al Tahoe Elementary school, turn “The Hole” into an Olympic training center, build an indoor ski facility and build gondolas to the tourism areas to increase revenues for the city.
On the consent agenda, item 3 regarding the letter to Liberty Utilities was pulled. Liberty Utilities closed their walk-in center last year, which left people without a physical place to pay their bills or talk to representatives.
Robbins said that he didn’t believe a strongly worded letter was sufficient and said that council could likely do more, especially as the closure posed a problem for those who pay in cash, not with cards or bank accounts—a reality for many people who work for tips. “Liberty is telling this significant aspect of our community, which is a foundation to our economy, to go screw themselves.” Councilmember David Jinkens agreed with Robbins in looking for strong advocacy.
Dan May said during public comment, “Liberty is going to be under more and more frustration and scrutiny from the public as they see their bills go up… closing that walk-in office makes it easier for them to avoid accountability.” David Gregorich also noted that closing a walk-in office would make it more difficult for those with disabilities or without access to internet or phone services to pay their bills.
While supposedly, Liberty is providing the ability to pay at other businesses in town, Mayor Cody Bass noted that multiple people have told him that their bills are incorrect and wanted to speak to a representative about it. “I’ve even heard cases that Liberty has come back and said they were incorrect in their meter reading,” said Bass.
Jinkens suggested copying the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and request that Liberty come speak to the public about their decision. Bass said they would hold a meeting with Liberty before sending a CPUC letter. The motion passed.
Bass also pulled item 5 concerning the purchase of four John Deere Graders, which were purchased in Reno. Public comment was interested in more local purchases.
Public Works Director Mohammad “Dr. Q” Qureshi noted that the procurement and RFP process was streamlined and that mechanisms were already in place to consider local options to provide an incentive for local purchases. Additionally, no local sources were available for John Deere graders. “In this case, the dealer in Reno is the nearby John Deere provider for us.”
Bass noted that he was interested in purchasing more versatile blowers, especially for situations like the most recent storm, where the graders left extremely large berms in streets. Councilmember Heather Horgan also asked Dr. Q to consider looking at Sourcewell and see if they could join a purchasing power group in the state of California, as Sourcewell is based in Minnesota.
Appointment of member to the Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission
City clerk Susan Blankenship noted that while she had put out a proposal to both Lake Tahoe Community College and South Tahoe High School, she had received no student applicants. However, Ayana Morali and Bobby Gonzales were both interested in the at-large position.
Current commission members David Hamilton and Stacey Ballard supported Ayana Morali, who previously served on the commission. Hamilton also noted that he was interested in seeing student positions for Parks and Recreation.
Robbins noted that while when the Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission was created with a student seat in mind, it would be a benefit to other commissions to have student seats. Horgan added that she was interested in having one on the Police Advisory Commission, which Robbins agreed with since an officer is assigned to the school district.
Ayana Morali was appointed unanimously.
Drainage master plan
Senior civil engineer Brianna Greenlaw spoke the city about the drainage master plan, noting that it connected with lake clarity and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s (TRPA) housing allocations.
In the past year, the city was required to obtain 647 lake clarity credits and was awarded 654. However, in the upcoming year, they will be required to obtain 800 credits. Historically, the city has done well with these projects as they partner with other entities, such as the California Tahoe Conservancy.
Greenlaw also noted that the master plan prioritized areawide treatment facilities, which would help treat runoff and could help with the coverage needed by TRPA for housing allocations. This would also help with flood control. The city also applied for a grant from the California State Water Resources Control Board to assist with executing the master plan.
The drainage master plan also concerns road rehabilitation, as the freeze/thaw cycle damages roads, especially when there is flooding. She also said that different pipes throughout the city required replacement, especially ones created with corrugated metal pipes, also called CMP.
In total, the anticipated budget for the master plan is $600,000. The council was asked to ratify the submission of a grant application to the state water board in the amount of $200,000, and to direct staff to solicit a consultant for the drainage master plan.
Jinkens said he was interested in focusing on neighborhoods that have not been treated often. Robbins said that the city needed to do a better job of communicating to the public on these issues. Bass said the plan would help them understand the budgetary needs for future projects. The motion passed.
Second home regulation and housing replacement policy
Councilmembers had previously requested items on the agenda regarding second home regulation and a housing replacement policy, which were combined into this item. Robbins and Bass previously requested in 2023 to place an item regarding a permitting system and cap on the number of second homes. Robbins and Jinkens requested in 2025 to place an item discussing a potential requirement that a developer demolishing a building being used as housing should build replacement housing units.
City attorney Heather Stroud said that the second home permitting or cap system ran into potential issues regarding the definition of a “second home.” Stroud said it would potentially risk the constitutional issues in Measure T and that there was not a legally permissible way to make the distinction of a second home. There are also no other jurisdictions in the United States that have a second home permitting system.
On the other hand, Stroud said there were ordinances in other cities that required a discretionary permit prior to demolishing an existing lodging structure, but those have been met with legal challenges. The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 does have a “no net loss” requirement, meaning that a housing development project must create at least the same number of residential dwelling units as those that will be demolished.
Robbins asked if single-room occupancies (SROs) were included in the no net loss requirement. Stroud said they are required to be replaced 1:1 and are meant to be affordable, with exceptions for if the units are being made larger.
Steve Teshara, on behalf of the Tahoe Chamber, spoke during public comment and recommended no action on the item. The South Tahoe Association of Realtors also said, “We believe the city would be opening itself up to another lawsuit if it tries to enact anything remotely close to a permitting system for second homes.”
May said, “Whether or not [these items] are likely to change anything, it’s encouraging to see continued discussion about this because it’s priority number one.”
Council agreed that the second home permitting system or cap would be difficult to implement. Jinkens and Horgan supported bringing the replacement policy into the housing element discussion. Robbins said, “Take no action is a really bad option here… there are many ski towns that have affordable housing by having a second home cap or limiting VHRs. We need to take action now before it becomes too late to take action.”
Robbins suggested a no net loss ordinance that could be beyond state minimums, and said that his urgency on the item was because a developer had reached out to the city last summer and was interested in buying motels. Interim city manager Hilary Roverud said it might be important to analyze the housing element and speak to the public.
The council agreed to push discussions around the housing replacement policy to the housing element discussion.
Marine safety unit
The city has a long-term exception from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) that allowed retired annuitants from the police department to work on the boat patrol and marine safety unit. However, increased enforcement from CalPERS on the retirement program has led the city to need to approve new employees for the program. Current annuitants working on the program will be allowed to work in 2026, but at least one annuitant will not be allowed to work again after this boating season.
Chief Jeff Roberson said that this practice has been how the city has used it for the past 25 years, but making a change now would protect the city and annuitants from financial risk, including annuitants losing their pension.
Roberson went on to say that the police department has not been successful in recruiting other annuitants to the program and that few people apply to the program, and it requires formal outside training and training under the tutelage of the current boat officers.
The department plans to look for other ways to ease the financial burden, including the potential use of Measure S funds or to change one of the marine officers to a school resource officer during the off season.
While discussion of implementing different fees came up, Robbins spoke against the idea of charging people for rescues, as it would discourage people for calling for help.
The motion to increase the allocated positions to staff the marine safety unit, as well as associated budget adjustments, passed.
Retired annuitant for city manager help
Interim city manager Roverud told the council she was interested in soliciting a retired annuitant with local government experience to help during the interim period.
Jinkens was in support, but added a caveat that he believed there were current staff members who could help with the city manager roles. Robbins said he saw that there was a need, but that the part-time position would not help Roverud adequately.
The motion to establish the temporary retired annuitant extra help position passed.
Planning calendar and reports
Roverud told city council that on March 10, there would be a first reading for the vacation rental ordinance and an update on the Chateau project, along with the citywide user fee study and shared mobility device ordinance.
Robbins motioned to direct staff to look at bill paying or check cashing services for residents, in relation to the Liberty Utilities issue. Bass and Jinkens supported the motion. Robbins went on to say that he’d come around on “performative actions” in the past, citing the Pride Crosswalk, but said that saying something regarding the immigrant community was needed. He supported passing the resolution that was suggested previously. Horgan seconded his motion.
Jinkens suggested creating an economic development advisory committee, which was seconded by Bass.
Horgan acknowledged that it was Black History Month.
Roberts said that he had signed green cards for employees in the past and that the cost to get a green card was likely prohibitive for undocumented people in the city, estimating it at about $15,000. He asked staff to look into speaking with local immigration lawyers to lower the costs, then having the city pay a portion of the cost to make it more affordable for undocumented people. “It would be an opportunity to really take care of our undocumented people in town,” he said. Jinkens seconded the motion.
The next city council meeting will take place on March 10.
TRUCKEE, Calif. – Stefan Hatch, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is combining his work in urban studies and psychology to examine housing instability in Philadelphia. He’s worked in a courtroom and contributed to research for people who use PHLHousing+, a cash assistance program that helps cover housing costs for renters on affordable housing waitlists. Hatch said, “It opened my eyes to how people in poverty are experiencing it in Philadelphia, and what kinds of choices they might make.”
Hatch grew up in Truckee, but said he’s always had a love for big cities. “My family had friends in Chicago and like most people around Tahoe, we found ourselves in San Francisco a few times a year,” he said. “But I’ve always just found there’s a lot more to do in big cities, more to explore.” He especially has enjoyed being able to hop on a train and see live sports around Philly.
It was that love for cities that motivated him to pursue urban studies, what he describes as a vast discipline. During his undergrad, he’s worked with city planning and transportation departments. “It’s shown me that decisions, like where to put parking or bike lanes, go through a lot of process, which can be both frustrating and rewarding.”
Hatch also has an interest in psychology, as evidenced by his double major. He hoped learning about it could teach him about how people interact or take cues from the environment. “The level of psych in planning isn’t necessarily that deep, but learning how research works and how to conduct good research was very helpful,” he said.
Hatch thought about the psychology aspect of court attendance, where he worked as a courtroom navigator: someone who helps guide people through the process of attending court, while also referring them to legal advice when needed. Through that position, he studied whether the court system, which held only morning sessions, was reducing people’s ability to show up for their court dates. “We didn’t necessarily have enough time or data collection as I would have liked, but it made me understand that people’s experiences of attending court did change in some way.”
Housing became a major focus for him after he took a class in his freshman year taught by Dr. Dennis Culhane, a social science researcher who focuses on housing policy and homelessness. “His class showed me that a lot of people have preconceived notions about how housing works, but we can get surprising results when we really dig deeper,” said Hatch. He had the opportunity to TA for the class recently, which he said was a “nice way to circle back around.”
“Rent is the biggest expense that most people are worrying about,” said Hatch. “When you think about things like how many people are housing cost burdened, it’s a very natural problem to want to understand and make even an incremental change in. Housing is a versatile field with a huge impact.”
One of the ways Hatch has made an impact was through Penn’s undergraduate research mentoring program, where he’s conducted research at the Risk and Resilience Lab. Hatch worked under principal investigator Sara Jaffee, a developmental psychologist, to conduct interviews with housing cost burdened people in Philadelphia and understand the impact of cash assistance on their well-being.
“It was cool to be conducting enough interviews that I had a say in the project and its questions, and really understood where the data was going,” said Hatch.
Like Truckee, Philadelphia has nonprofits and programs looking to tackle homelessness and housing instability—Hatch has worked with Philadelphia’s Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) and knows that urban areas on the East Coast tend to have more shelters than the West, and certainly more than rural areas (though Truckee’s pilot navigation center is one way to help provide shelter to unhoused people here.)
Now in his final year at UPenn, Hatch hopes to stay in Philadelphia before potentially going to grad school. “I’ll miss the freedom I had to explore academically, but I’m also looking forward to having more free time,” he said. “I might go down the urban studies route, I might go down the psych route. I’m keeping my options open.”
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. —Local Tahoe author Suzanne Roberts is off to New York City for the Audie Awards ceremony and gala, where her audiobook Animal Bodies: On Death, Desire, and Other Difficulties, performed by Julia Whelan, is a finalist for an Audies Award in the Short Stories/Collection category. The book is joined by other finalists Joan Didion, Ray Bradbury, Alton Brown from Iron Chef, an anthology of today’s best thriller writers, including Frieda McFadden, and a collection of short stories based on Stephen King’s “The Stand.”
Audies is the premier awards program (the Oscars for audiobooks) in the United States recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. Finalists are selected, and from that group of finalists, one winner will be announced in New York City on March 2, 2026.
“I’m honored my book is among such distinguished company,” said Suzanne Roberts. “Julia Whelan did an amazing job narrating my book; she really brought my essays to life. I’m excited to get dressed up and go to the gala—it will be quite a change from my usual messy mountain-girl attire.”
In Animal Bodies, Suzanne Roberts explores the link between death and desire and what it means to accept our own animal natures, the parts we most often hide, deny, or consider only with shame—our taboo desires and our grief. In landscapes as diverse as the Salamanca’s cobbled streets, the Mekong River’s floating markets, Fire Island’s windswept beaches, Nashville’s honky-tonks, and the Sierra Nevada’s snowy slopes, Roberts interrogates her memory and tries to make sense of her own private losses (deaths of people and relationships), as well as more public losses, including a mass shooting in her hometown, environmental devastation in the Amazon rainforest, and wildfire evacuations.
With lyricism, insight, honesty, and dark humor, these essays illuminate the sometimes terrible beauty of what it means to be human, deepening the conversation on death and grief, sexuality, and the shame that comes from surviving the world in a female body with all of its complexities.
According to Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water, “No one travels the depths of place and experience more phenomenally than Suzanne Roberts. In these essays that explore being, beauty, desire, death, and our collective animal journeys on the planet, Animal Bodies gathers our questions about life and brings them to the only place where meaning might emerge: adaptation. This book is a triumph that transcends human and gives us a chance to re-story ourselves into the larger world.”
The audiobook of Animal Bodies was acquired by Audiobrary and performed by Julia Whelan, dubbed “The Meryl Streep of Audiobooks” by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid and “The Adele of Audiobooks” by The New Yorker. Julia Whelan is an author, screenwriter, lifelong actor, and acclaimed audiobook narrator of over 700 titles and is the recipient of Spotify’s Narrator of the Year Award (the most listened-to narrator globally), winner of the Audie Award for Best Fiction Narrator of 2025, and 2026 inductee of the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. She also captured both the winner and runner-up slots in the inaugural audiobook category of the Goodreads Choice Awards.
ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. – The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District appointed Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal Bryce Cranch as Interim Fire Chief, effective immediately. The appointment was approved by the Fire District Board of Trustees by a unanimous 5–0 vote during a special board meeting held on February 19, 2026.
Chief Cranch’s deep history with Tahoe Douglas Fire began in 2004, where he spent more than two decades working through the ranks as a Firefighter Paramedic, Engineer, Captain, and Battalion Chief before his promotion to Assistant Chief in September 2020. This extensive field experience is supported by a strong academic foundation, as he holds degrees in both Fire Science Technology and Business Administration.
A full-time resident of the district since 2011, Chief Cranch is deeply rooted in the community he serves and possesses firsthand knowledge of the unique local challenges and the remarkable area residents call home. Alongside his wife, Amy, Chief Cranch raised their family within the district, watching their children grow through Zephyr Cove Elementary School and George Whittell High School. Their daughter is a graduate of George Whittell High School, and their son is currently a junior.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Assistant Chief Bryce Cranch as our Interim Fire Chief,” said the Board. “As a long-time resident and veteran of this District, Chief Cranch embodies the heart of our community. He brings more than technical expertise to the role — he brings a deep, personal commitment to the safety of his neighbors and a proven record of collaborative leadership. The Board looks forward to working closely with him to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our community.”
Chief Cranch’s appointment ensures continuity of leadership and a continued focus on service, safety, and community partnership within the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.
Twenty-one parcels from Topaz Ranch Estates to Lake Tahoe were put on the tax sale list after county commissioners approved a resolution on Thursday.
Clerk-Treasurer Amy Burgans said the taxes owed totals more than $145,000.
The property would be sold in an online auction at www.bid4assets.com over May 26-28.
“Having held the in-person auction, I sure like the online auction,” Burgans told commissioners. “It’s more beneficial to the county as a whole, as we will capture more of an audience.”
Owners have until 5 p.m. May 22 to pay the tax bill and have the properties removed from the list, Burgans said.
Properties that remain on the list may also be acquired by a local government, which is how Gardnerville ended up with Gardnerville Station back in 2013. Any money left over after taxes are paid from the proceeds goes to the owner if they claim it within a year.
Among the properties included on the list is the Quality Inn Motel along with 1.72 acres located at 1795 Ironwood Drive in Minden. The owner owes $18,040.56 in back taxes.
STATELINE, Nev. – The next meeting of the Nevada State Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Marlette Lake Water System is scheduled to be held this Friday, February 27 at 1 p.m. at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency office in Stateline, Nev.
The committee, comprised of eight state legislators, holds meetings every other year during interim sessions to discuss the work of TRPA, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, and Nevada state agencies in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
During the February meeting, speakers will provide informational presentations to the committee on forest health and wildfire mitigation, evacuation planning, homeowner’s insurance and wildfire risk, and priorities for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California at Tahoe.
This is the second of six meetings scheduled through August of this year. Other priority topics to be heard this year include transportation, aquatic invasive species, housing, economic development, and more.
Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or online and to provide input in writing or during scheduled public comment times.
Meeting information:
February 27, 2026, beginning at 1 p.m. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency 128 Market St., Stateline, NV 89449
Screenshot of Mt. Rose Northview Zephyr Cam taken at 12:25 p.m.Provided/Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As more precipitation rolls into the basin, wind gusts of up to 60 mph at mountain peaks are causing resorts to close their lifts. As the weather persists from this afternoon into tomorrow, we’ve gathered a list of closures as of today, February 24:
On Saturday, Feb. 21, the final four victims of the Castle Peak avalanche were successfully recovered. The multi-day search-and-rescue operation concluded at 10:58 a.m. when the California National Guard recovered the last deceased.
In total, nine victims were found thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and its mutual aid organizations and volunteers. Included in the operation were Nevada County Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol and Air Operations, CARE Flight Truckee, Sierra Avalanche Center, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, Truckee Fire Protection District, Open Snow, Alder Creek Adventure Center in Tahoe Donner, Truckee Tahoe Airport, Boreal Mountain Resort, Truckee Police Department, Town of Truckee, Truckee Donner Land Trust, and California National Guard.
“We are fortunate in this mountain community that we are very tight knit and our community shows up in times of tragedy,” Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said while thanking the agencies and individuals involved in the search and rescue.
After conducting avalanche mitigation efforts on Feb. 20, teams were able to recover five of the deceased victims as well as locate the final missing person. Prior to highway patrol and PG&E avalanche mitigation, aerial crews had surveyed the area near Perry’s Point to make recommendations for the teams. Perry’s Point sits slightly northwest of Frog Lake on its western ridge, which skiers have to traverse to make their way in and out of the huts on the most common route.
“I want to recognize the strength in the volunteers of all the search and rescue units that our agencies truly rely on,” Moon said. “They are pretty amazing people and it’s an honor to work with them. I want to just make sure everyone knows those are volunteers and when we ask them to leave their houses and help their communities, they do so willingly.”
DANGER ZONE: Avalanche mitigation operations on Feb. 20 were conducted in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric using two helicopters. Crews relied exclusively on water to improve snow stability. Courtesy photo
On Feb. 21, the National Guard and California Highway Patrol recovered the last four through a combination of aerial operations and snowcats driven to Frog Lake.
The deceased were identified, in alphabetical order:
Andrew Alissandratos (34) of Verdi, Nevada
Carrie Atkin (46) of Soda Springs
Nicole (Nikki) 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.
Carolien Sekar (45) of Soda Springs and San Francisco
Katherine Vitt (43), of Greenbrea, Calif..
Alissandratos, Choo, and Henry were Blackbird Mountain Guides.
Officials have reported that one of the six survivors is a Blackbird employee. When asked if the surviving guide was owner Zeb Blais, Sheriff Moon today said that information is still being collected.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that it was launching an investigation into whether there was criminal negligence. Cal-OSHA announced Thursday that it is investigating the company, according to the Sacramento Bee. Formal interviews for the investigation are still to be conducted, Moon said. She confirmed the group was on day three of a three-day trip and had departed early Tuesday morning in an effort to “get off the mountain early.”
Blackbird founder Blais released a statement on Thursday saying that “all of the guides with the group were AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) trained or certified in backcountry skiing. Each guide was also an instructor with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), the industry standard for avalanche education, and was certified to teach.
“In addition, 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.
“We ask that people following this tragedy refrain from speculating. We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do. In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.”
One of the survivors remains hospitalized and authorities are withholding survivor names at this time. Moon said out of privacy her office was not communicating with the hospitalized individual until he or she is released.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Haack, the incident commander, said two survivors traveling at the back of the group were not caught in the avalanche. Caretakers at the Frog Lake hut remained when the group departed.
Earlier this week, Forest Service officials announced a closure of the Castle Peak area through March 15. Today, at a press conference at Truckee Town Hall, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier said the agency plans to reopen the area when the county concludes its operations.
“This is the public’s land and they love to recreate on it. The Forest Service doesn’t close public land for every hazard or every obstacle,” he said. “We trust the American people to use their best judgement when recreating.”
Feb. 20, 1:45 p.m.: Search and Rescue Teams Look for Way Forward
Editor’s Note Feb. 20, 3:16 p.m.: The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office determined avalanche mitigation could begin this afternoon.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has begun conducting aerial flights over the Castle Peak avalanche site. The clear skies are a stark contrast to the initial white-out conditions rescue crews faced, and the aerial flights will allow search and rescue (SAR) teams to determine the extent of possible avalanche mitigation.
Should the teams begin avalanche control with explosives that trigger unstable snow layers to release, they can reduce the risk posed to SAR operations as they plan to recover the remaining eight deceased victims. The additional victim remains unaccounted for.
“It is our top priority to ensure the safety of first responders during this recovery mission and aid in the return of each victim to their families,” said Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Chris Feutrier in a statement. “Our deepest condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones from this tragic incident. Our sincere appreciation to all first responders, law enforcement, and partners that are supporting this recovery.”
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office will release an update if on-the-ground operations are continued. Presently, the Tahoe National Forest remains closed to the public with the high avalanche danger.
Feb. 19, 5:26 p.m.: Statement Released by Families of Deceased, Vigil Planned
Editor’s Note, Feb. 20: Included photos shared from the families of six of the victims.
The families of Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Kate Vitt — six of the nine victims of the Castle Peak avalanche — released a statement this afternoon.
We are devastated beyond words.
Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives, and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors. They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished time together in the mountains. They lived in the Bay Area, Idaho, and the Truckee/Tahoe region.
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.
We are profoundly grateful for the extensive rescue efforts by Nevada County Search and Rescue, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, and all of the authorities involved, and for the outpouring of support from the Tahoe community and beyond.
We are heartbroken and are doing our best to care for one another and our families in the way we know these women would have wanted.
We are asking for privacy and space as our families grieve this sudden and profound loss.
1 of 5
CAROLINE SEKAR: One of the victims of the Castle Peak avalanche. Photo courtesy Kiren Sekar
CARRIE ATKIN: One of the victims of the Castle Peak avalanche. Courtesy photo
KATE MORSE: One of the victims of the Castle Peak avalanche. Courtesy photo
KATE VITT: One of the victims of the Castle Peak avalanche. Courtesy photo
DANIELLE KEATLEY: One of the victims of the Castle Peak avalanche. Courtesy photo
A vigil is being held on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. at the eagle statue in downtown Truckee in remembrance of the lives lost in the avalanche. The event will also serve to recognize the impacts from other February tragedies in the area, such as the deaths of three skiers at Northstar California Resort, a vehicle crash into pedestrians at the Truckee Safeway, and a shooting at the town’s Crossroads shopping center. The Church of the Mountains is open to all following the vigil.
VIGIL for Truckee’s recent tragedies to be held Feb. 22. Courtesy photo
“We ask for continued compassion for the families directly affected,” said Town of Truckee Town Manager Jen Callaway in a message, “for our students and young people who may be struggling in ways we cannot always see, and for one another. These events have left an imprint on our town, but they do not define who we are. Truckee is strongest when we lean toward one another with care, empathy, and responsibility.”
The U.S. Forest Service closed National Forest lands and trails in the Castle Peak area through March 15 due to snowpack instability and ongoing recovery efforts.
Feb. 19, 12 p.m.: Recovery Efforts to Extend into Weekend
Amid another round of heavy snowfall and continued avalanche risk, recovery of the nine remaining victims of Tuesday’s avalanche has been delayed, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Eight of the nine victims’ bodies have been located and secured, one remains unfound. Recovery efforts are expected to carry into the weekend.
“Until the recovery mission is completed, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office is unable to confirm the identifications, ages, affiliations, or cities of origin for the victims,” the sheriff’s office stated in a press release today.
IN EFFECT: The Sierra Avalanche Center maintains that its avalanche warning that went into effect Tuesday morning, Feb. 17, will extend to Friday morning, Feb. 20. Screenshot
Ten inches of snow have fallen in the past 24 hours at Castle Peak, where the avalanche occurred — this in addition to 20- to 30-mph winds and an anticipated 15 inches of new snow to fall on Feb. 19. Sierra Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning — extending its previously issued avalanche watch — beginning Feb. 17 at 5 a.m., to expire Friday, Feb. 20, at 4 a.m.
“Large to very large avalanches remain a very real concern with ongoing uncertainty with how weak layers will respond to additional storm snow load,” the SAC notice stated.
Feb. 18, 10:08 p.m.: Avalanche Victims Tied to Sugar Bowl Academy
Sugar Bowl Academy released a statement Feb. 18 confirming several of the victims were part of the Sugar Bowl community.
The statement reads:
“With the heaviest of hearts, we can confirm the loss of multiple lives from within the Sugar Bowl community. Several members of the Sugar Bowl Academy community and others with strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit, and the backcountry community died in an avalanche at Castle Peak on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.
“Nevada County, Placer County, the State of California, and Washoe County emergency responders are still working to recover all of the victims and are not, at this time, sharing the personal details of the victims and the survivors out of respect for the families affected. Sugar Bowl Academy is similarly not sharing personal details.
“Sugar Bowl Academy is focused on supporting its athletes, students, staff, and families through this tragedy. Most importantly, the Sugar Bowl Academy community will continue to be there in the months and years ahead for the families that have lost loved ones.”
Feb. 18, 12:24 p.m.: One Avalanche Victim Unaccounted For, Eight Deceased
One day after an avalanche struck a group of backcountry skiers attempting to make its way from the Frog Lake huts east of Castle Peak to the trailhead north of Interstate-80 on Donner Summit, search-and-rescue teams have shifted their mission to a recovery effort.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on the morning of Feb. 17 from an iPhone in SOS mode reporting the avalanche, said Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon in a Feb. 18 press conference. The sheriff’s office and Truckee Fire Protection District were the first responders to begin coordinating the rescue mission, aided by other teams such as Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Placer County Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, and Blackbird Mountain Guides.
The group of backcountry skiers consisted of nine women and six men ranging from 30 to 55 years of age. It was reported that eight deceased have been found, and one victim remains unaccounted for, but is presumed deceased. Of the six survivors (four men and two women), one was a Blackbird Mountain guide. Two of the survivors were immobile due to avalanche injuries, and one remains in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Moon said the mission faced extreme weather and white-out conditions. A snowcat was able to get two miles in before rescuers skied in to the scene on the evening of Feb. 17, reaching the six survivors at 5:30 p.m. The survivors had begun searching for the team members and guides, locating three deceased prior to their rescue.
Not only was I-80 closed, but the rescuers and volunteers had to enter an area that still faces high avalanche danger and kept receiving vast amounts of additional snow.
According to Nevada County Sheriff Operations Captain Russell Greene, the surviving individuals said they were attempting to keep moving when someone saw the avalanche and alerted the group before they were quickly overtaken by it. The avalanche debris field was reportedly the size of a football field, a class 2.5 avalanche. For reference, the 1982 Alpine Meadows avalanche killed seven in what was likely a class 3 avalanche.
The surviving guide was in communication with search-and-rescue teams through text messages. It was also reported at the press conference that one deceased victim was a spouse of a Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue team member.
The deceased have yet to be recovered as conditions are extremely difficult and remain dangerous.
Editor’s Note, Feb. 18, 10:51 a.m.: Moonshine Ink has obtained information that the missing skiers were a group of mothers from Tahoe/Truckee as well as the San Francisco Bay Area area with kids on a local Tahoe/Truckee ski team, but has not been able to verify with official sources.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office released an update at 10:40 p.m. on Feb. 17 about the rescue operation after an avalanche near Castle Peak had occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m., involving 15 backcountry skiers.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the six surviving skiers were rescued, medically evaluated by Truckee Fire Protection District, and found to have sustained varying degrees of injuries; two were transported to the hospital. The rescue took several hours due to the severe conditions of the storm.
The sheriff’s office also noted that while it initially believed that 16 backcountry skiers were caught in the avalanche, it was later reporter that only 15 skiers had gone on the trip, leaving nine unaccounted for.
At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17 — in the midst of a major winter storm, which has dropped 29 inches in the last 24 hours — a group of 16 skiers encountered an avalanche on Castle Peak. The group was made up of four ski guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides and 12 clients who were returning after multiple nights at the Frog Lakes backcountry huts. At least six of the skiers survived, including two of the guides, according to sources.
A level-four, high danger avalanche forecast was released by Sierra Avalanche Center at 5 a.m. on Feb. 17, stating, “All avalanche terrain is suspect. A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours.” The center’s Steve Reynaud also reported a storm slab avalanche cycle on Feb. 16 on Castle Peak.
The Frog Lake huts are located on Donner Summit, roughly 1 mile east of Castle Peak, and tend to book out months in advance.
Blackbird Mountain Guides released a statement on the situation, noting the “group was in the process of returning to the trailhead at the conclusion of a three-day trip [that began Sunday, Feb. 15] when the incident occurred.”
As of 4 p.m., rescue efforts by 46 emergency first responders continued for the six known survivors, who were instructed to shelter-in-place, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Editor’s note: Club Tahoe Association’s hiring of Grand Pacific Resorts has been updated below.
Club Tahoe Resort, a nearly 50-year-old timeshare tucked away off Northwood Boulevard in Incline Village, is going through a cannibalization of sorts:
Two boards, neither of which recognizes the other; a legal complaint (submitted by resort owners against “old” board members) working its way through Washoe County’s Second Judicial District Court; a transition in management companies that ended with the previous company, Tricom Management, being ordered by a judge to relinquish control; and legal fees being paid for by those who are litigating in the first place.
As the infighting continues, many owners are worried a larger goal is at hand: the purposeful deterioration and ultimate sale of the resort, shades of which have recently happened to neighboring timeshare resorts.
“It seems to be the same trajectory in all these places,” said Mona Ogden, an owner at Club Tahoe and the mind behind a “Save Club Tahoe” effort. “They just stop doing maintenance and let it fall into such a state of disrepair that owners give up … We’ve tried everything, reports [and other ways of notifying various state and local agencies], and the resounding response is, not my department; you need to go hire a lawyer.
“In a timeshare model, how are you going to hire a lawyer? How are you going to coordinate thousands of people to pitch in money toward a one-week thing they own? They’ll just give up. They’re not going to invest money in it. We are unprecedented and highly unusual in getting as far as we’ve gotten.”
The kindling to that success stems from emotional as well as financial investments, according to those who spoke with Moonshine.
Illustration by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
“I like to say it’s a home away from home,” said owner Dina Fitch, whose parents were original owners at Club Tahoe, purchasing a unit in 1978. “It’s a generational resort. My family’s on technically our third generation … When I had gone up as a teenager I had made friends with some people, and I am still friends with one of the guys. I met him when I was 16. He’s one of my oldest and dearest friends.”
Brian Arnold is another owner whose parents were original purchasers; he began visiting Club Tahoe when he was 8 or 9. “I’ve basically been going up there once a week for 50 years,” he said. “Ultimately, I feel I’m being screwed out of a financial asset that my family has owned. It’s not as much of [an asset] because, at the end of the day, it’s not a lot of money. But it’s just not being able to use it. If we don’t have this, if we don’t have Club Tahoe for my family, we likely won’t be going back up there because of the cost of other nearby units or hotels or anything else.”
Fitch and Arnold are both part of Club Tahoe’s recall board, president and treasurer, respectively. Meanwhile, the original board — the one the Save Club Tahoe group considers replaced — also remains active.
The dual existence of boards, which neither of them acknowledges, is causing a paralysis of Club Tahoe Resort operations. The current management company, Grand Pacific Resorts (GPR), stated in a Feb. 4 notice to all owners that it is committed to remaining neutral amid board confusion. Without a formal 2026 budget, GPR is utilizing the association’s 2025 operating budget numbers in the interim. Amid all the red tape, no clear answer exists as to what the next few months, let alone year and a half, will bring. A possible 50-year termination of the resort is outlined in the original bylaws.
Jason Gamel, president of the American Resort Development Association (or ARDA), called what’s happening with Club Tahoe an “unusual situation.”
“It’s rare to see an actual effort to recall the entire board and elect a new one or have another one in place,” he said. “It’s rare to see that.”
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: A timeshare resort born in 1978, Club Tahoe Resort is undergoing a significant change on the heels of replacing property management companies, legal battles, aging infrastructure, and more. A portion of owners have formed a Save Club Tahoe group and recalled the association’s board to move the needle on progress. “Our goal is to regain control of Club Tahoe,” said recall Board President Dina Fitch. “The resort didn’t get this way overnight. It is not going to be repaired overnight in any way, shape, or form. But as [recall Board Treasurer Brian Arnold] puts it, we need to get the keys first. And then we have to take a very hard look at things. But how that happens, when that happens, there is no do-or-die date.” Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Timeshares still timely?
The concept has been around in the U.S. for 52 years, yet timeshares have not gone the way of the dodo bird.
The standard model allows the purchase and utilization of a recurring interval, usually a specific week each year, at a vacation resort. The average price in 2024 for a timeshare transaction was $23,160, per ARDA, with an average $1,260 in annual maintenance fees.
At Club Tahoe, the last interval sold (week 2 of each year) went for $3,367.80 in 2021. The 2026 annual maintenance fee (based on 2025 numbers) is $830, with the possibility of rising if/when this year’s budget is finalized.
In the U.S., timeshare occupancy returned to pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024; ARDA reported that sales volume saw $10.5 billion, with the average occupancy at 80%.
“We’ve had a lot going on in the industry,” said Gamel, who’s served in his position for six years now. ARDA, he told Moonshine, has been “involved in almost every law that’s been written on the books on timeshares. We’ve helped every state in one way, shape, or form along with some other regulatory agencies.”
While timeshares back in the early days were born on the wave of independent developers buying a resort or two and sustaining their own sales and marketing, the ’80s and ’90s are when major brands started joining the fray.
“Hilton, Disney Vacation Club [were] the early ’90s, for instance,” Gamel said. “You had Marriott, who entered the game in the ’90s, and when that happened, all of a sudden, they started acquiring resorts … As time has gone on, and the cost of real estate has gotten really expensive, which really started in the 2000s and maybe even the 2010s. If we look at what was happening then, people weren’t doing as much development of their own properties, but a lot more corporate acquisitions, then consolidate.”
Today’s landscape has only a handful of major “active sales” developers, including Marriott, Westgate Resorts, Disney Vacation Club, and Holiday Inn Club.
George De Laurentis is a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate. He’s lived in South Lake Tahoe since 1977 and has worked in real estate and timeshare sales for over two decades.
“I worked for every company in South Shore that has sold timeshares, from the Ritz Tahoe to the Stardust to the Americana to the Marriott properties, Wyndham properties,” he said. “That’s the nature of the game. When one resort opens, all the agents go to the new resort [until] they get low on inventory.”
Now, De Laurentis works in independent sales for Coldwell, with clients who want to resell their Marriott timeshares. “I rep people who’ve bought [their timeshare] from the developer or inherited it, or they were given to them. Those [last two groups] tend to not have paid anything for it and therefore they’re in a position to get rid of it … [and] price it cheaper than anyone.”
SINCE 1974, timeshare resort growth has mostly plateaued. 2024 was the first year since the Covid-19 pandemic that timeshare occupancy returned to pre-2020 levels — at 80%. Courtesy graphic
The younger generations have gained their own footing in the industry, helping maintain momentum since the initial heyday of timeshare growth (36% from 1974 to 1984; see the ARDA graph above). In 2022, ARDA reported that Gen Z and Millennials accounted for 57% of all timeshare owners, and 53% of new sale purchasers.
De Laurentis gave perspective on today’s timeshare pitches, describing an oft-used approach of the time and energy put into planning vacations. “It’s spring break — how far in advance did you make those reservations?” he asked. “A smart person who goes during prime time, you’ve got to make the reservation 8 to 12 months in advance … Once you can get someone to admit that’s something they do, then a timeshare works.
“Somebody wants to come to Tahoe this Fourth of July and they don’t have a reservation right now; there’s nothing for them. Yes, you can reserve timeshares spur-of-the-moment … if you can jump on a plane and pay high airline tickets and run up to the resort three weeks in advance, you can do that, but I wouldn’t plan a major vacation that way.”
The oldest timeshare resorts tend to be the smallest in size, have the lowest occupancy, and the lowest billed maintenance fees, per the ARDA’s State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry 2025 study.
“The industry is currently undergoing an accelerated phase of winding down older and dysfunctional timeshare resorts, which has caused the overall resort and unit counts to decrease by about 5% since 2020,” the report stated. “This may ultimately serve to improve the overall health of the timeshare ecosystem.”
The legacy of Club Tahoe
Club Tahoe Resort opened its doors in 1978, four years after the U.S. timeshare industry’s inception. The resort consists of 93 units (with 51 interval weeks per unit), tennis courts, a pool area, parking, and a main clubhouse. In the past, owners have enjoyed discounted passes to Diamond Peak and access to Burnt Cedar, a residents-only beach in Incline Village.
Club Tahoe is known as a legacy or independent resort, meaning it’s not owned or represented by a known hospitality brand (like Marriott or Disney, for example). Up until 2014, it was self-managed, with various operations stayed in-house — like rental revenue, association dues, and accounting.
Tera Taylor began her Club Tahoe connection as a staff member before becoming a member over a decade later. In 2008, she started working in the resort’s office as a satellite office manager for a different timeshare exchange company. After about a year, the then-general manager for Club Tahoe offered her the position of on-grounds clubhouse manager.
“I took on that role,” she said. “I worked there and then I moved my way up to general manager. I worked there for about 16 years, up until March of 2024.”
Taylor grew up watching her mom manage a timeshare resort in Kings Beach. Post-Club Tahoe, she still works in the business, though in Sacramento.
In 2014, Club Tahoe Resort Association’s board of directors hired timeshare management company Tricom Management, based in Anaheim, to take over operations. This move shifted some responsibilities for the on-site staff like Taylor — no more accounting department, no more handling rentals, or invoicing, though she says her job as a manager day-to-day stayed the same (checking people in, quality control inventory, and so on).
As a direct and proximate result of Counter-defendants’ intentional interference, the Association has suffered and continues to suffer damages, including operational paralysis, vendor confusion, exposure to contractual liability, reputational harm, and increased administrative and legal costs.”
~ Defendants’ answer to amended complaint
While the shift to a corporate, bottom-dollar-driven mindset was challenging, Taylor said the first years under Tricom went well. Then, Covid-19 happened.
“They laid off a bunch of employees at Tricom [across the country], and I felt like things started really circling the drain and we weren’t getting the attention that we needed at the property,” she explained. “I was working a million hours, and the board wanted things done and they were telling the management company, and they were telling me, and I was working above and beyond. When things didn’t get done, I felt like I was kind of the pawn in the middle that was left holding the bag.”
Owners also noticed the pandemic impacts, specifically a “decline and lack of repairs,” Arnold said. “As simple as the blinds; they have these vertical slats and one or two would break and fall off. People — me and other owners in that same unit — submitted a maintenance request. Then a year later you go back up and it’s still there.”
Various complaints have been collected: rodent infestations, broken appliances, crumbling stairs, flooding, the closure of amenities like the racquetball court and sauna.
This awareness has led to concern over the possibility of a timeshare trend: Independent timeshare resorts faced with rising maintenance costs and aging owner bases often opt for termination and sale.
“What appears to happen is the physical properties are allowed to deteriorate, and they’re not maintained until there’s a point to which owners can’t afford a special assessment,” Ogden said. “If you can’t afford the special assessment, what is there left to do? These properties, they’re all worth a lot of money. And Incline Village is the premier location in Tahoe itself.”
South Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Summit Village timeshare owners faced a version of this situation. In October 2024, owners received letters from the board informing them that a special assessment of $56,236 per interval week was due by each association member. Such an assessment was intended to “cover anticipated carrying costs through Dec. 31, 2024,” per the letter. Alternatively, owners could relinquish their intervals without having to pay the special assessment. Ultimately, the timeshare resort closed.
Taylor and others interviewed assert that while old, Club Tahoe had healthy financial reserves up until Tricom entered the picture and the pandemic hit. “It’s almost like they were just holding us back,” she said.
During the years of the pandemic, Taylor added that delinquent units re-obtained by the Club Tahoe association via Tricom weren’t being resold. In reviewing Tricom’s contract, section 3.9 required the company “to find purchasers for no less than fifty (50) Intervals per year.” Failure to meet the quota meant a penalty charge of $500 per interval from Tricom to the association.
“We asked the [old] board multiple times to confirm whether Tricom reimbursed Club Tahoe for any quota shortfall, and [board member] Marc Pearl cited the lack of reimbursement (along with other reasons) as a basis for [eventually] terminating Tricom,” Arnold explained in an email. “If those payments were owed or received, they should be reflected in the association’s accounting records and financial statements, but I do not see any corresponding income in the 2023 or 2024 audited financials.”
According to county records currently available, Tricom did not sell any interval weeks after Oct. 21, 2021. The sole (partial) exception was two peak weeks (one summer, one winter), which original board member Marc Pearl acquired in summer 2023. According to owners, Pearl said he only paid transfer fees for the intervals. This move, as was explained by Pearl in a later owner call, was meant to be the impetus of a larger movement to transfer unused association weeks back to owners free of charge, to then turn them into dues-paying weeks. But per owners, such a policy has never been implemented.
In late 2024, Club Tahoe’s board terminated the Tricom contract, on the basis of poor performance. The company then turned around and sued the association for improper termination.
Judge Scott Freeman of the Second Judicial Court of the State of Nevada denied Tricom’s motion and dismissed its complaint in August 2025. Shortly after, Grand Pacific Resorts (GPR), which had been hired in February 2025, began actively managing Club Tahoe’s operations.
As recently as January 2026, one Club Tahoe owner was told by GPR staff at the front desk that Tricom’s relinquishment of the association included leaving bills unpaid.
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: On Oct. 25, 2025, Club Tahoe Resort owners gathered to recall the association’s acting board. Pictured is the master petition. In total, 641 owners unanimously called for the recall of the original board. Photo by Dusk Bennett
Team ‘Save Club Tahoe’
Save Club Tahoe is a movement of 600 to 800 of the roughly 4,600 possible owners.
Ogden lit the proverbial match after she experienced a series of frustrations: an application to become a board member that she was told “must’ve been lost,” aggressive actions toward a Club Tahoe staff member, the association’s hiring of unlicensed contractors who caused a sewage leak, and board members unwilling to rectify or address various situations.
There was also talk of the then-board, made up of the original board minus three, using their positions for special favors — such as Pearl’s obtaining peak weeks in July 2023.
After a particularly contentious April 2024 meeting with two board members, Ogden said, “I went home and just started calling and emailing every owner I could think of and launched this group.”
The first true organized attempt to “save” Club Tahoe took place in April 2025, when, Ogden says, there was “enough critical mass to decide that we were going to come again to Club Tahoe for this annual meeting, and we were going to do an in-person recall, because the bylaws stated that if we had a certain amount of participation there, we would prevail.”
To formally recall board members, the bylaws require a “duly convened regular or special meeting” and “the affirmative vote of the voting members casting no less than two-thirds (2/3rds) of each class of votes present at said meeting, and a successor may then and there be elected to fill the vacancy thus created.” This first recall effort failed because it was procedurally invalid and violated the resort’s governing documents and Nevada state law.
At the same time, the Tricom litigation was taking place. The management company would normally assist with general election notification, hosting, and oversight, but that did not happen. The original board is claiming by way of counsel that “any alleged procedural irregularity in that election” would have occurred because of Tricom’s undermining of the association’s ability to hold the election.
This was part of the reason the board chose to change voting from in-person to online. Others, as claimed in a June 2025 email from the board to Club Tahoe owners, were for safety in light of violent threats, and better accessibility for voter engagement.
From the election emerged the following board members, expanded from four to seven: Keith Wilson (incumbent), Gloria DeAlba (incumbent), Donald Wall (incumbent), Robert Vermeltfoort, Marc Pearl (incumbent), Keith Ogden (married to Mona Ogden), and Christine Becker. Vermeltfoort resigned from his position in October 2025.
It is against these board members, and the Club Tahoe Resort Owners Association itself, that Club Tahoe owners Lawrence Garvey and Robert Payton (a member of the October 2025 recall board) filed a complaint. They include claims of breaches of governing documents, of duty of good faith and fair dealing, of fiduciary duties, the improper transfer of reserve funds, and more. As of press deadline, there is no specific timeline for the case.
The most critical claims in the Garvey and Payton complaint center around how the April 2025 election happened, which includes reference to a timeshare association’s voting power. For Club Tahoe, when it comes to electing a board member, as an example, there is one vote per interval week owned. If an owner has two interval weeks, they get two votes.
The rub comes when an interval week is returned back to the association for whatever reason (delinquency, deed-back, etc.). They become association-owned weeks. In some timeshare associations, such weeks can be used at the discretion of the board to establish a quorum or for voting purposes. In this practice, it is possible for boards to obtain substantial voting control.
Garvey and Payton allege that, based on freely accessible Simply Voting records (the electronic system used), “the Former Board used [two] voter IDs to cast 1,790 weighted votes, or 24% of the total 7,506 total votes cast in the 2025 Annual Election, in favor of the Former Board-recommended candidates. These two voter IDs were later acknowledged by the Former Board to represent Association-owned, non-dues paying weeks.”
The referenced acknowledgement is from the June 2025 email, which stated that using association-owned weeks is not an anomaly and has been done before, and “there is no provision of NRS 119A or the governing documents that requires an exclusion of association-owned units … Consistent with industry practice, the association-owned units were used for quorum and voting purposes and did not violate any known state statutes.”
By October 2025, tensions were running even higher, and plans to hold a formal recall had been set in motion. After back-and-forth notifications between the various owners, the board, and the association’s legal counsel, a special meeting was held by the Save Club Tahoe group on Saturday, Oct. 25.
PETITIONS, PLENTY: The Save Club Tahoe group encouraged owners to sign petitions to recall the Club Tahoe board at multiple meet-and-greets over summer 2025. Photo by Mona Ogden
“At the Special Meeting,” the legal complaint states, “a quorum was established, and a unanimous recall of the Former Board by 641 Member votes of the Association was certified. There were no votes in favor of keeping the Former Board of Directors in place.”
Brian Arnold, Dusk Bennett, Daniel Doss-Grinstead, Dina Fitch, Keith Ogden, Robert Payton, and Tera Taylor were elected to the recall board.
Taylor, who left her position as general manager a year and a half prior, became an owner in exchange (she purchased her interval from another owner rather than through Tricom, which still wasn’t selling any). “I became an owner so that I could continue the good fight to help all of my owners and my previous staff,” she said.
A Nov. 3, 2025, letter emailed out to owners from the association’s general counsel, the LKG law firm, cited the special member meeting as unlawful because of semantics: the action taken was done under what the recall group called a “special member meeting,” but proceeded with under the rules of a “special board meeting,” which are not the same.
“Because the requirements of the Bylaws were not met, however, the special member meeting for an Oct. 25 recall election was unlawful, and any and all action taken at said meeting invalid,” the letter stated in part.
The original board members engaged in litigation did not respond to Moonshine Ink’s requests for comment.
Sands of time
What’s happening at a neighboring time share, Tahoe Sands Resort (TSR) in Tahoe Vista, serves as what multiple Club Tahoe owners see as a possibility should their efforts to save Club Tahoe fail. Especially since TSR is also managed by Grand Pacific Resorts.
TSR is actively dissolving after financial challenges, particularly a high percentage (55%) of defaulting owners, which equates to about 1,500 timeshare segment owners not paying maintenance fees each year. By the end of 2024, TSR accumulated negative retained earnings of $537,956.
“While the financial situation has been a challenge, we also have the burden of an aging facility,” noted an early 2025 letter from the board of directors to TSR owners. “The reserve fund simply cannot keep up with the amount of capital work needed to maintain a thriving resort. The fund currently has $200,000 in savings and we forecast needed capital improvements in the amount of $1,220,000 over the next three years.”
Owners were given two options: to pay an annual assessment of approximately $3,000 to $5,000 to help continue the resort’s operation indefinitely, or to dissolve, selling the resort and possibly receiving between $15,000 and $20,000 based on market factors. The clear preference, according to survey results, was for the sale of the property.
Kerri Countess has been an owner at Tahoe Sands since 2017. She’s a full-time resident in Spanish Springs (the northern portion of Sparks), Nevada, and fondly refers to Tahoe Sands as a “blue-collar beach club.”
She says the presentation of options was disingenuous.
“[We can either] triple your dues … fee [to] $4,500 a year and that would not allow us to do any upgrades to the property … Or, we could sell the property, and you could net anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. What do you think people voted for?”
VIEW FROM THE SANDS: Kerri Countess, parent and grandmother to those pictured, has been a member at Tahoe Sands Resort since 2017. As the resort goes through dissolution due to financial struggles, Countess is frustrated by what she sees as disingenuous methods of communication, like board members claiming voter majority to sell the resort by using association-owned weeks for that very vote. Photo by Kerri Countess
Similar to Club Tahoe’s voting methods, TSR’s bylaws state, “The Association Board shall cast votes which arise from suspended Memberships or for Memberships deemed held by the Association.”
Countess pointed out that under such a rule, what the owners want might be moot if the board has enough votes to make a majority.
She told Moonshine she wishes there had been more of an effort to salvage the resort through piecemeal efforts. “At no time was our property ever very active on hotels.com … We have eight buoys on that property. We could’ve [rented out] those eight buoys alone … They didn’t say, ‘We own five parcels, we could potentially investigate selling off one parcel.’ Each one of those parcels has five to seven units on it.”
The Tahoe Sands Resort board did not respond to Moonshine’s request for comment.
As of press deadline, TSR remains for sale; it was listed in April 2025 for $30 million. Owners were able to use their weeks through 2025, but no longer can as of Jan. 1, 2026, though they’re required to pay the annual maintenance fee at half-cost ($485.17 for a studio, $597.33 for a one-bedroom, and $687.05 for a two-bedroom).
“As owners,” proclaimed an April 2025 president’s address to TSR owners, “we are all sellers in this process.”
The San Diego Country Estates in Ramona, California, (also managed by GPR) recently underwent a similarly laid-out vote and is actively undergoing dissolution. After such financial hardships as delinquency (59%) and deferred maintenance, the timeshare association’s board of directors held a survey on owner preferences for how to proceed with the future of the resort. The results, according to an email sent to owners in March 2025, “showed that 84.5% of owner responses, representing 85.5% of the total owned intervals, chose … to dissolve the association and sell all the resort property.”
Just like Tahoe Sands, San Diego Country Estates association incurred new costs to implement the dissolution, “reducing the eventual payout for all participating owners. As a result, owners who wish to fully participate in the final payout will be expected to continue paying their quarterly maintenance fees.”
According to the association website dissolution FAQs (which are almost identical to Tahoe Sands’ dissolution FAQs), owners in good standing could receive between $5,000 and $10,000 per interval once the resort is sold.
Fifty years and counting
As of press deadline, the two boards of Club Tahoe continue to function — though the original board claims operational paralysis and has not moved to finalize the association’s 2026 annual budget, which is required through bylaws to be sent to owners “not less than 60 days before the beginning of the fiscal year,” which started Jan. 1.
“As a direct and proximate result of Counter-defendants’ intentional interference,” posits the defendants’ answer to the complaint, “the Association has suffered and continues to suffer damages, including operational paralysis, vendor confusion, exposure to contractual liability, reputational harm, and increased administrative and legal costs.”
Without clear guidance, owners are paying their annual assessment based on the 2025 amount of $830. Some owners of summertime intervals have been contacted directly by GPR’s financial arm, Advanced Financial, asking for maintenance fee payments. Owners of shares during earlier months, including those who have already visited, were not contacted.
1 of 3
Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
Club Tahoe condos in Incline. Photo by Nina Miller/Moonshine Ink
The recall board has held two meetings over Zoom since its creation, with directors openly acknowledging their lack of access to the association’s finances, full owner roster, and other information. They are planning for the annual meeting on April 25, at which new board directors will be elected.
GPR is operating in its own type of silo with Club Tahoe. Whether the company will facilitate any upcoming elections is unknown. Jeff Brock, regional vice president of resort operations for GPR, told Moonshine in an email that his company is not “in a position to comment or participate in an interview.”
To date, Club Tahoe is not selling interval weeks to new timeshare owners. Rather, short-term renting options are available.
The recall board members and supporters remain wary of GPR’s recent history of dissolving timeshares.
Keith Ogden, a Club Tahoe owner in a particularly interesting spot, as he’s currently functioning as a member on both boards, claims that before he was “shut out” of the original board for aligning with the recall one, he viewed the GPR contract with Club Tahoe (which the recall board has not been able to access).
“They [GPR] are completely in control of finances, and they can starve the resort by mismanaging it,” he said. “And once they starve the resort, it goes bankrupt, then they get 25% of the sales proceeds gross — gross, not net sales — proceeds for being there and running it into the ground.”
Say the “Save Club Tahoe” group does manage to meet its goal of regaining control of the association — there’s still the bylaw-sanctioned possible termination of the resort after 50 years. On Aug. 24, 2028, a meeting will be held with all interval owners and board members. Unless 75% or more of those gathered vote for termination, Club Tahoe Resort’s declaration will continue another 10 years and again 10 years thereafter until termination is agreed upon.
“If we even get that far,” Mona Ogden said. “I honestly don’t think we will. I think they’re actively bankrupting us at the moment, and that will force a sale before we even get to ’28. But in a perfect world, the ’28 vote would’ve been a fair and ethical situation where owners did indeed vote and association-owned weeks were not voted by these people who had hidden them and stockpiled them for years in order to control the place. It all comes down to an ethical board. If you have an ethical board, ’28 shouldn’t be anything to be concerned about because you would feel good about it.”
The original board members, meanwhile, most recently responded to the legal complaint by requesting a preliminary injunction — essentially a pause button on any action for the resort — through the court.
But until there’s an official order that comes down, Save Club Tahoe continues to operate. “We have a lot of intelligent, a lot of competent people,” Fitch said. “People who have different skills, different strengths, and so you draw upon all of that in order to achieve this goal.”
