STATELINE, Nev. – Stateline resident Linda Flaherty stood on the sidelines in 2017 cheering for her husband in the Pan-Mass Challenge. The annual event brings thousands of cyclists together on the east coast to put miles under their tires to raise money for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Linda is now what the Pan-Mass Challenge calls Living Proof, a community of riders and volunteers who have undergone or are currently undergoing cancer treatment.
She was on the sidelines in 2017 because she had just finished her final treatment from the institute for breast cancer. It was there when she said to herself, “You know what? I’m going to ride this next year and for as long as I can.”
Lisa has ridden the challenge every year thereafter and is gearing up to ride it again on Aug. 4 with her husband, Gerry Flaherty.
As a survivor, she celebrates the opportunity to ride each year. “I get to do it again, yay!”
This will be Linda’s sixth year riding and Gerry’s seventh. They found the care, and doctors at Dana-Farber exceptional, along with the treatment Linda had undergone back in 2017. “We decided that it was a good cause to devote our time, energy and donations to,” Gerry said.
Gerry Flaherty and Linda Flaherty have attended the Pan-Mass Challenge since 2017. Provided
They’ve participated in a variety of different routes the challenge offers, which can be anywhere from 25 to over 200 miles. Since their first mile, the couple has raised around $30,000 between self and friend donations and matches.
The Pan-Mass Challenge itself is 45 years old and recently crossed $1 billion in lifetime fundraising for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
One of Linda’s most vivid memories came from a year when they completed one of the longer routes. A section along the route was lined with posters and placards of kids and patients currently undergoing treatment. Some of the kids were even out there themselves, cheering on the cyclists.
“You realize why you’re doing this,” Linda says, sometimes stopping and crying with them.
Gerry and Linda, who recently got back from hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, always plan their adventures around the challenge.
“The way that things are today with so many issues dividing people,” Gerry says, “it’s an amazingly positive unifying event that just makes everybody feel good.”
He says the event gives back in terms of community connection and the spirit of helping others. For a few days after each ride, he finds himself floating on a cloud of positive energy received there.
The two are members of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. Some of Gerry’s favorite rides are Fallen Leaf Lake, Baldwin Beach and Upper Truckee.
On Sunday, August 4, the couple will take off near Babson College, just outside of Boston, and begin their 50 mile ride for cancer research.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Adventure Scientists, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between outdoor enthusiasts and scientific research, is calling on volunteers for the second year of its Western United States Reforestation project. Running from June 5 to August 31, the initiative seeks hikers, campers, and outdoor lovers to gather essential data to aid in reforestation efforts across 15 national forests in California and Montana.
As part of the project, Adventure Scientists held a field day event on July 21 at Boreal. About 25 attendees participated, with 20 people collecting data and completing approximately 100 surveys. These surveys included photos of cones and location data, helping experts identify where to collect cones. White fir was one of the most common species observed, with many medium and heavy cone crops reported.
“We built Adventure Scientists to connect the outdoor and scientific communities,” Alisa Futritski, Senior Manager of Volunteer Recruitment and Community Engagement at Adventure Scientists, said. “Outdoor data collection can be costly and challenging to collect at the scales researchers need. Our volunteers play a crucial role in gathering this data.”
The organization focuses on various environmental issues, including forests, biodiversity, climate, and freshwater. One of their key concerns is the reforestation of national forests, which have been severely impacted by wildfires, climate change, and other threats. Currently, the US Forest Service can only replant about 20% of the forests requiring reforestation.
The Western United States Reforestation project aims to address this gap by mobilizing volunteers to collect data on cone crops. These female cones, which contain seeds, are crucial for natural reforestation. However, in low crop years like 2023, trees don’t produce enough cones to reforest themselves. This year promises to be a heavier crop year, and Adventure Scientists hope to collect up to 1,300 surveys to support the second season of reforestation.
Participants in the project will look for and document the presence or absence of cone crops. “This project has a reduced barrier to access—almost anybody can participate. We provide binoculars and training,” Futritski said. “This is a way for us to bring together and activate the community.”
Volunteers only need a cell phone to get involved. After signing up on the project page, they will complete a short online training to learn how to identify the target tree species and submit photo data via a survey. Volunteers can participate as many times as they plan to visit any of the 15 participating national forests this summer. Adventure Scientists will also host events for interested volunteers in late July in California and Montana.
“Volunteer participation in our projects has impacted their career choices and daily habits, contributing to conservation efforts,” Futritski notes. “We see that it isn’t just a one-and-done volunteer activation but impacts volunteer behavior over the medium to long term.”
In addition to the reforestation project, Adventure Scientists has conducted projects to map tree DNA to prevent illegal logging. “We welcome everyone to get involved. It’s such an easy way to give back, especially for those who already enjoy outdoor recreation,” Futritski said.
Last year’s project saw more than 100 volunteers contributing 625 data surveys. This year, Adventure Scientists aims to increase participation and impact.
Every year thousands of visitors flock to Emerald Bay State Park. Many of them enjoy the scenic drive on Highway 89, scores of them hike down to the beach and tour Vikingsholm, hundreds take in the sight of the crystal clear water by boat, kayak, or paddleboard and even a few lucky people get to explore the tea house on Fannette Island.
What many people don’t know is that lurking under the surface of the Bay’s waters is another part of the State Park, a part that the vast majority of visitors don’t get to see; California’s First Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail at Emerald Bay.
The underwater trail takes scuba divers and snorkelers to four sites in Emerald Bay where 20 they can see various scuttled boats, as well as a scuttled barge.
California State Parks/Courtesy photo
While the trail was officially opened to the public in October 2018, the history of those water vessels dates back much further.
Built by water
Today, if someone wanted to build a new resort or home in Lake Tahoe, they could easily move construction materials around using the various State Routes and Highways that circumvent the basin.
But in the late 1800s and early 1900s, those roads didn’t exist or weren’t as developed as they are today. So the easiest way to move materials, and specifically large timber planks, was by barge.
That was exactly the case in the 1860s when tourism to Emerald Bay picked up and in the 1920s during the construction of the Scandinavian-style castle in Emerald Bay, known as Vikingsholm.
The two barges that now sit at the bottom of the bay once were used to carry timbers across the lake to aid in construction projects and were also used to ferry visitors’ vehicles. Once the bargers had outlived their usefulness, they were scuttled (sunk).
California State Parks/Courtesy photo
In addition to the barges, there are more than a dozen personal use water vehicles that were also scuttled or sunk on their own.
Beginning in the 1980s, California State Parks signed lease agreements with the California State Land Commission as a way to maintain several underwater resources throughout the state, including in Emerald Bay.
The first barge was discovered in the 1990s when representatives from Indiana University began diving and studying Emerald Bay.
In 2010, Denise Jaffke, an archeologist with California State Parks, joined a dive team to study and preserve the boats in Emerald Bay.
Before the establishment of the heritage trail, a private citizen had raised a boat launch from the bay to display in the maritime museum, which was located near Homewood, Calif. The museum was later moved to Tahoe City but was closed in 2020, that boat, along with other vessels in the museum were sold.
Jaffke said when that boat was pulled from the lake, there was a debate among CSP staff about whether that was the right move.
“There was a question of ‘how can anybody appreciate it if it’s underwater?” said Jaffke.
On the other hand, “things are best reserved underwater in cold, cold water,” said Jaffke. She added that it’s difficult and expensive to preserve water vessels once they’ve been removed from the water.
The idea became to launch a pilot program, which would allow visitors to dive to the boat sites and highlight submerged cultural assets of interest.
“[An underwater park] was not a novel idea, it was just novel to California,” said Jaffke.
California State Parks/Courtesy photo
One man’s trash…
These water vessels were purposely sunk when the owners were done using them, making them literally trash. So what makes them worth preserving?
One thing is their age. To be determined as a National Historic Landmark in the United States, something must be at least 50 years old, which all of these vessels are.
But the other thing, and maybe the more important point is their historical significance.
“Those barges are just so different from how people move around and get resources around the lake,” said Jaffke.
In addition, the barges were made with Ponderosa Pine timbers. The larger of the two barges sits at around 100 feet wide. Following the timber industry wiping out much of Lake Tahoe’s old, full-grown trees, there just simply aren’t trees that are of that size commonly around. So, the size of the timbers that built the barges is a site to see in and of itself.
The park today
The four dive sites are part of Emerald Bay State Park and help tell the story of Vikingsholm.
“They’re really valuable cultural resources in telling the history of Emerald Bay. You know, in its heyday, the Emerald Bay Resort was a place for folks to go out fishing and there were rowboats and motor boats that folks could use when they were staying at the Emerald Bay Resort. So these submerged cultural resources are so important in telling the story of Emerald Bay and the maritime history in Lake Tahoe,” said Kaytlen Jackson, State Park Interpreter at Emerald Bay.
Management of the underwater part of the park is different in many ways than a typical aboveground park. While there are interpretive signs at all four dive sites, there isn’t a park ranger in the water, to give people information and make sure they are doing the right thing.
Jackson is part of a dive team that goes out annually to check on the sites. She said they’ve noticed some light vandalism of the boats such as people drawing in the algae or stacking rocks on the boats.
However, unlike a typical park, divers do have to be certified or be with a certified dive master, adding an extra level of knowledge about how to protect and recreate responsibly underwater.
Another issue the park runs into is people not realizing the boats are there and dropping anchor on them. There is a California State Park patrol boat that goes out and can make sure people are dropping anchor in the correct place.
While there are four dive sites, there are more than a dozen submerged vessels in and around the bay. Jaffke said they picked the four sites based partially on the safety of divers in mind. So they did not pick sites in high-traffic areas or possible anchor sites.
In addition to being a fun dive site for recreators, the trail also offers learning opportunities. Jaffke now takes underwater archeology students to the dive sites to learn how to study underwater resources.
Jaffke said she hopes with the success of the four current sites, the park will one day be able to make more sites available.
California State Parks/Courtesy photo
To get the coordinators of the four sites and to learn more about safely recreating in the lake, visit www.parks.ca.gov
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 edition of Tahoe Magazine.
HOMEWOOD, Calif. – In anticipation of Wednesday’s Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board visit, new signs sprung up along Highway 89.
“Hey, TRPA: Get it in writing! Keep Homewood Public.”
The red-and-white signs greeted about 45 people who came to the ski resort for the public meeting and tour.
The Homewood tour was the final stop on a TRPA board member and staff tour of the West Shore. They also toured Commons Beach, the Tahoe City Lodge and the Tahoe City Transit Center.
New signs calling for the TRPA to “get it in writing” lined Highway 89 in preparation for the TRPA Governing Board’s visit.Brenna O’Boyle / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Discovery Land Co. partner Ed Divita began with a short version of its revised Master Plan. On May 9, Homewood Village Resorts, LLC, (Discovery Land Co., JMA Ventures, and Mohari Hospitality) submitted a revised Master Plan to the TRPA that marked a significant step forward in the resort’s redevelopment plans.
The revised plan includes changes aimed at enhancing the skier experience and community benefits while maintaining the resort’s intimate, family-friendly atmosphere.
Divita highlighted three key changes: reduction in housing density, adding a car barn mid-mountain, and moving the gondola terminal down the hill for easier accessibility.
“We brought the gondola lower on the base so people don’t have to hike up the hill,” Divita said.
The original Master Plan was prepared in 2011 and approved and modified in 2014. Because of the lapse in time, it needed to meet current code, safety, operation, and engineering requirements.
The resort’s plans will replace aging infrastructure. It will add a bed base with residential units and a hotel, 13 units of employee/workforce housing, up to 25,000 square feet of commercial retail space, new base mountain facilities, a day-use parking structure, alternative transportation methods, improved snow-making facilities, forestry management, a community pool, an ice skating rink, and an earthen amphitheater, a village core, a gondola, parking, a hotel, an ice skating rink, and commercial and retail spaces.
Steering Committee Member Kathleen Annice and Board Member Candice Wilmuth presented for Keep Homewood Public.
“These TRPA decisions impact not just Homewood, but the entire basin,” Wilmuth said. “And even ski resorts around the country.”
They recounted some of the 50 issues Keep Homewood Public had with Homewood’s revised Master Plan application. Those concerns were submitted to the TRPA in June.
“Keep Homewood Public is asking TRPA to hold Homewood developers accountable to their own original Master Plan to restore Homewood as ‘a ski resort that can be enjoyed equally by local residents and visitors alike,’ ” said Annice.
They said public access is at the foundation of current Homewood project approvals yet public access has not been defined in this application.
“The developers clearly intend to privatize the resort after they receive approvals,” Wilmuth said. “If this were not the case, they would put public access in writing.”
Keep Homewood Public supports a hybrid public-member model if the public retains the currently approved capacity and enforceable specifics regarding public access, according to their presentation.
“Keep Homewood Public is asking the TRPA to hold the Homewood developers accountable to their own original Master Plan by getting enforceable specifics about public access in writing,” Annice said. “Any reduction in access requires a completely new application.”
To address these concerns, Divita has previously explained that “the approved ski area Master Plan already allows that residents and visitors alike will have access to Homewood. We don’t need to create a new definition for ‘general public.’ The only reference in the application to members relates to the Homewood Mountain Resort Home Owners Association (HOA) members, and it was disclosed in the EIR that there will be space dedicated to members of the HMR HOA. This is common practice for a master-planned community.”
From November 2022 to May 2023, Homewood looked at taking the resort private. The plan was nixed after Divita and Discovery Land Co. Community Relations Jessica Insalaco went on a listening tour and heard privatization was not what the community wanted.
“It’s not consistent with the vision of the Master Plan,” Insalaco previously said.
Divita previously addressed Keep Homewood Public’s concerns about the lack of a deed restriction guaranteeing recreation on the ski hill in perpetuity, which is required by the Master Plan’s associated Environmental Impact Report.
Divita assured that the deed restriction will be executed and recorded as required by the TRPA.
“We’re prepared to do it,” he said. “It’s not even a question.”
Art Chapman, founder and chairman of JMA Ventures, was pleased with the turnout.
“Hopefully the public sees that we have responded to their criticism and suggestions in the revised Master Plan,” Chapman said. “They (Homewood Village Resorts team) are sincere, and they want to do the right thing. And they will do the right thing.”
Then Ryan Porter with the JMA Ventures’ development team took the group through the proposed site plan outside.
When the group reached the lift, Homewood Mountain Resort’s Vice President and General Manager Harry Hirsch took over.
“Who’s ridden Madden?” he asked eliciting cheers. “This is what’s being replaced.”
TRPA Special Projects Manager Paul Nielsen said to expect action by the TRPA in the Fall. The revised Homewood Master Plan application is currently in the early stages of review.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Patrol Division, Capt. Amelia Galicia gave the Incline Village Crystal Bay Citizens Advisory Board an update at its recent meeting.
Galicia was initially assigned to just the Incline Village area as the Incline Village captain
“However since some retirements have happened, I have been reassigned to all of patrol including the valley patrol. So I oversee both Incline Village and Washoe County down in Reno-Sparks area,” Galicia said.
Galicia is responsible for a staff of six lieutenants, 16 sergeants, 60 deputies in the valley and 16 deputies in Incline Village.
Galicia updated attendees on July 4 calls for service. She noted that Incline Village had fireworks for the first time in several years.
“It was a relatively smooth operation for that holiday weekend,” Galicia said.
There was a significant increase in visitors and people coming up here for the holiday. The sheriff’s office had 111 calls for service on July 4, including subject stops, traffic stops, and calls for assistance that the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to. Of those 111, 38 were stops and/or parking issues.
There were nine citations issued, and eight vehicles posted. There Sheriff’s Office responded to nine disturbances, and seven outside agency assists or EMS medical-type calls for service.
“We only had, knock on wood, one crash report in our area of of responsibility,” Galicia said. “I can’t speak for Nevada Highway Patrol. They do monitor State Route 28, so there could have been others that wouldn’t fall within our purview.”
The Sheriff’s Office boat, Marine 9, was out on the lake during the day and in the evening during the fireworks. It made 27 contacts, they issued 16 warnings, and they rescued one distressed paddle boarder.
“So, I think overall for having a significant planned event that we haven’t seen up here in several years, it ran relatively smoothly,” Galicia said.
The egress out of the beach along Lakeshore Boulevard was smooth with very limited issues if none at all, Galicia said.
“We were able to get people out safely in a timely manner,” Galicia said.
In regards to other Sheriff’s Office statistics, the dispatched and self-initiated calls for service are slightly down for the second quarter of 2024. This is in comparison to its 3-year average.
“While I can’t specifically provide a reason for that, I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing,” Galicia said. “Sometimes it just might be less types of issues that are requiring less police initiated activity or police response.”
Now, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is specifically addressing several different crime trends or “significant incidents” throughout the county. Those are aggravated assaults that would be assault with a deadly weapon or battery with a deadly weapon. In addition, there is an increase in businesses, home, and vehicle burglaries.
“We are trying to increase our DUI and traffic enforcement to reduce traffic fatalities throughout the county,” Galicia said.
Historically, Incline Village has a higher likelihood for DUI arrests. The deputies are doing some proactive enforcement to try and prevent DUI fatalities, and significant injuries or crashes that result from a DUI, she said.
It’s summertime, so people are out and about.
The biggest issues that we’re saw In the last couple weeks are drowning calls, Galicia said.
“Those are not common or regular occurrences,” she said. “But we do see those during the summer months with people on the lake not fully grasping the severity of entering the water and their abilities to swim and whatnot.”
Several of those incidents are handled by other agencies.
Photo Credit: Craig Marolf on Unsplashcraig-marolf-uHwVOiIeS1o-unsplash
The California Crypto Licensing Law, often referred to as the state’s answer to New York’s “BitLicense,” has been a topic of significant debate and scrutiny. What has driven the debate around this licensing law is that residents want to know how it will affect their ability to transact in crypto at their favorite exchanges, online stores, and crypto casinos such as those in this Bitcoin Casino guide which offer benefits like instant deposits and withdrawals, large bonuses, and wide game selections. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, this law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025. Its purpose is to regulate digital financial assets within the state, ensuring consumer protection and fostering responsible innovation.
The Digital Financial Assets Law mandates that certain digital asset companies operating in California must obtain a license from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) by the specified date. The law aims to create a regulatory framework that addresses industry trends while mitigating potential harm to consumers. Key provisions include licensing requirements, compliance standards, and enforcement authority for the DFPI.
The impact of this law on the crypto industry in California is multifaceted. On one hand, it provides clarity and legitimacy for businesses operating in the state. On the other hand, it introduces compliance challenges and potential barriers for startups and smaller players.
Efforts to delay the law’s implementation until 2026 stem from several concerns. First, the ambiguity of certain terms within the legislation requires further refinement. Both consumers and businesses need clarity to navigate the licensing framework effectively. Striking the right balance between consumer protection and innovation remains a challenge.
Crypto businesses, whether they are fintech platforms, online casinos, or smart contract management providers face practical hurdles, such as adapting their operations to comply with the new requirements. The 18-month implementation period granted to the DFPI aims to address these challenges, but some stakeholders argue that more time is necessary.
Various stakeholders play a role in shaping the law’s impact. Regulators, including the DFPI, are tasked with creating and enforcing the licensing regime. Crypto companies, ranging from established exchanges to decentralized businesses, have differing perspectives. Some view the law as a necessary step toward legitimacy, while others worry about its potential stifling effect on innovation.
Investors also have a stake in this landscape. They seek regulatory clarity to make informed decisions and assess risks. Balancing the interests of all stakeholders is crucial for the law’s successful implementation.
To understand the significance of California’s crypto licensing law, we must consider the broader legal and regulatory context. The state’s approach diverged from that of most other states, which had already taken positions on digital asset licensure. California’s decision to enact this law reflects its commitment to consumer protection and responsible industry growth.
As the law’s effective date approaches, legal battles and updates continue to unfold. Industry players closely monitor court cases and regulatory guidance. Clarity on stablecoin-specific provisions, disclosure requirements, and exchange-specific rules will shape the crypto landscape in California.
HOMEWOOD, Calif. – Warren Elliott is now reunited with his family after going missing for six days in the Tahoe wilderness. Cheering and claps greeted the helicopter that touched down bringing Elliott to Homewood after he had been found.
He was seen hugging his family in the now tattered and torn blue t-shirt he was last seen in. “Thank you, thank you,” he says to onlookers and rescuers while wiping his eyes.
“It brought tears to our eyes to see the reunion,” Placer County Sgt. Sage Bourassa said, noting his family thought he might not make it out alive.
Elliott went missing on Friday, July 19, after leaving for a hike between 2-3 p.m, from a group conducting trail rehab ahead of the Jeep Jamboree.
He told the sheriff’s office that he is familiar with the area, but says he began walking in the wrong direction when he decided to walk back to the area they were camping in Rubicon Springs.
After days of 10 agencies from across the state searching, rallying between 50-100 searchers each day, National Guard helicopters, dog teams, and drone operators, Elliott was found by a fisherman.
Elliott had flagged the fisherman down at Hell Hole Reservoir Wednesday morning, July 24.
That’s about 9 miles as the crow flies from where he was last seen near Cadillac Hill, but officers suspect he probably walked close to 30 or 40 miles zigzagging. He had gone up a large mountain and back down the other side.
The fisherman used a satellite radio to notify the sheriff’s office of Elliott’s location. A California Highway Patrol helicopter extracted him and transported him to the command post at Homewood Mountain Resort.
Bourassa said Elliott refused medical treatment and just wanted food and water at Homewood. That’s where he ate granola bars, fruit, grapes, a sandwich and drank water and juice. It was the most he had eaten in six days.
Provided / Placer County Sheriff Office
Having left for the hike with no food, Elliott found berries to eat and drank from a river. “We’re very impressed by him,” Bourassa said and added they were glad he didn’t give up. “That’s a lot of days to go without food.”
Law enforcement recommends you stay in one place if you find yourself lost. This makes it easier for them to find you. In this case, Elliott had moved quickly and moved outside the perimeter. It’s reported he kept moving because he didn’t think anyone was looking for him.
Bourassa said, “He wondered if he could get through but his mindset was to make it through.”
Editor’s note: Tahoe Daily Tribune reporter Brenna O’Boyle contributed to this article.
Outdoor adventure regardless of experience should be about three things. First, it should push you out of your comfort zone. Second, jaw-dropping views of naturally scenery is a must. Last, but not least, you should feel accomplished at the end. Via Ferrata Telluride checks all those boxes and more for some summer fun in the mountains.
Inspiration Behind The “Krogerata”
Italian for “iron road”, the original idea was born out of war-time necessity when the Austrians and Italians fought a ferocious war deep in the Dolomites during World War I. Instead of letting this “iron road” decay, a group called Club Alpino Italiano maintained and actually created new routes. It was when Colorado climber and mountaineer Chuck Kroger experienced these himself that he knew he had to create this idea back home and that’s how Via Ferrata Telluride started.
Who Is The Man Behind It
First, let’s give this man the credit he is due. He is the epitome of a mountain bad ass. A pioneering climber, ultra runner, cyclist, master craftsman, and overall mountain renaissance man. Even in his Stanford University days, he served as President from 1968-69 of the elite Stanford Alpine Club. Part of the “College boy climbers”, Kroger and his pals would often best full-time climbing residents during their weekends in Yosemite. In fact, he was the first to climb four routes on El Capitan in a single season. He then arrived in Telluride in ’79 along with his wife Cathy Green.
The Idea is Born
Over the years, he explored his “backyard” of the San Juan Mountains alongside balancing his hard work in carpentry and welding with mountain exploits. His wife Cathy Green isn’t sure exactly when Chuck noticed the perfect spot for a Via Ferrata. He saw the perfect break of horizontal rock layers beneath Ajax Peak at the end of the legendary box canyon. The narrow rock ledge slants towards the abyss hundreds of feet below making it the perfect site.
Homegrown “High”
Armed with this idea, Chuck and his wife Cathy fabricated two sets of rungs in their basement – one for hands and the other for feet. They then took those and bolted them into the granite face. Always a man that liked to thumb his nose to authority, he built the route illegally on public land.
Cancer Arrives
It was around this time Chuck was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Luckily, his friends helped put the finishing touches on the route before he became too ill. Chuck passed away on Christmas Day 2007. While he’s gone, his memory can be felt in every bolt of this route, and so in honor of Chuck, it’s now informally known as the “Krogerata.”
For years, it was a local secret, but today it’s now maintained and managed by the Telluride Mountain Club so that everyone can enjoy. With the popularity of Via Ferratas exploding across the United States, the local community needed to figure out a way to help protect, preserve, and maintain this legendary route. As of 2019, the Telluride Via Ferrata Sustainability Fund was founded. In an effort to help keep the via ferrata open for the long-term future, partner guide services have added a $5 per person donation allowance so that it can continue to be free.
The Route
Like any great rollercoaster, the journey begins slow. A beautiful hiking trail that becomes narrower and narrower until it tapers off to a ledge. And after a bit further, that ledge disappears altogether as well.
The Main Event
The “Main Event” and Bridal Veil Fall in the distance
If you’re feeling uncomfortable on the first stretch, it might be a good idea to retrace your steps back. Providing a “rest point”, you can sit on “Kroger’s Bench” and take in the views of the town of Telluride and Bridal Veil Falls. From there, peer around the corner to see the most harrowing section, known only as the “Main Event.”
Turn It Up!!!
A sheer cliff face that drops nearly 200 feet below! On that rock face, the only way across the chasm is to navigate 300 feet of ladders and rungs with only air below you. This is definitely the most intense segment of the Via Ferrata Telluride.
Rinse and Repeat
After this segment, the course “mellows” out a bit but is still challenging. The route alternates between a shoe-wide trail and sections of a ledge with a few more ladders. And if that wasn’t “rough enough”, you have to turn around and head back the same way you came to avoid crossing private property.
This isn’t a normal hum-drum Via Ferrata either. Chuck wanted to add a taste of true mountaineering elements. There are sections where you’ll find no cable at all meaning you NEED harnesses, carabiners, shock-absorbing leashes, and an understanding of how to use footholds and handholds.
Before You Go
The entire adventure takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete. This isn’t a walk in the park. Be sure you’re fairly fit and NOT a stranger of heights. If you aren’t an experienced rock climber with your own equipment, we HIGHLY recommend hiring a mountain guide. Be that as it may, you don’t need rock climbing shoes, but a good pair of hiking shoes are essential. It’s not a bad idea to even bring gloves and rain gear just in case.
Tour Companies
There are a few tour companies and mountain guides that you can hire if you’re interested in attempting the Via Ferrata Telluride which includes the following companies:
Born in 1973 as an Alaskan Daydream, this outfit invests in resources and training opportunities for their guides as well as a family feel to the company. As a result, their lead guides are among the most experienced and respected in the climbing community.
San Juan Outdoor Adventures
Where you’re a small family or a large group of buddies. An avid outdoor junkie or never gone beyond your desk, this crew will cater an experience fit for you that you’ll remember forever.
Telluride Mountain Guides
As the name suggests, TMG is a group of guides that combine artful movement, composure, and technical proficiency in the mountains. A mix of hard skill, patience, playfulness, and a lifetime spent in the field offer you a trusty partner for adventure.
San Juan Mountain Guides
Founded in ’86, they are “well known” as the local experts for climbing and mountain adventures not just in Telluride but Ouray and Durango areas as well. Considered the premier provider of Ouray Ice Climbing courses and private guided programs in both the San Juan’s and Rocky Mountain National Park, you’ll be in good hands with this crew.
Peak Mountain Guides
A company built around the idea of connecting clients with talented, motivated, and personable guides who have a genuine interest in helping people achieve their goals. And this includes experiencing the Via Ferrata. As they say, “there is nothing cookie cutter about what we do.” They place the utmost value on relationships and strive in every way possible to facilitate the experience each individual guest is looking for.
When To Go
Being in a ski town, the best bet for you to attempt the Telluride Via Ferrata is to go in June through early October. This will make sure that the weather is nice, and there’s been enough time for the winter’s snowpack to recede.
How To Get There
From the historic town of Telluride, giddy up onto Bridal Veil Falls road. Follow the road another switchback past the Bridal Veil Falls Park. From there, you’ll cross a wooden bridge and look for the steep trail about 20’ past the bridge.
Why Do It?
Like we said above, this is a dangerous, long, and acrophobia inducing adventure. At the same time, Via Ferrata Telluride provides an incredible experience as long as you do it right. This means go with someone who has A LOT of experience, or better yet, hire a guide. While not as hard as scaling up a rock face, this might be the literal kick in the pants for you to get into the sport of rock climbing.
For more Via Ferrata trip experiences in the US and Canada, check out our in-depth guide found here:
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless announced that Joseph Herold of Zephyr Cove has been appointed as Board Chair for TCH.
Herold is a retired human resources executive who worked in the energy and semiconductor industries. He also worked as an organization and leadership development consultant for several clients, including The Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit medical center serving the homeless and underserved communities in west Los Angeles.
Herold lived and worked in southern California for more than 25 years before he and his wife, Kerry, moved to Lake Tahoe in 2017. He does weekly food pickup for Bread & Broth and has assisted with demolition work at the Bears Den Inn for the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless.
He is a board member and vice president for the PineWild HOA and served as its President for 5 years. One of Herold’s first objectives is launching the Home Hope Alliance, a monthly donation program developed by the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless.
“Our mission is to partner with our community to house, shelter, and support our neighbors experiencing or at risk of homelessness to foster their independence. To continue providing services to those in need, we are focused on securing regular funding. Sustained giving has never been more critical. By joining the monthly donor program, you become a vital lifeline for our organization allowing us to plan and grow sustainably and ensuring we can continue delivering essential housing and supportive services every month,” said Herold.
If you’d like to learn more about what we do and get involved, please email us at info@tahoehomeless.org. Please consider committing a monthly donation to allow our organization to plan for a sustainable future where we house, shelter, and support our neighbors experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and foster their independence. Make donations at https://www.charityweb.net/tahoehomeless/
For further information please contact Herold at joe@tahoehomeless.org or (530) 600-2822.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The sun is out, the snow has melted, and now is the time to get out and enjoy summer on your National Forest lands! The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) along with our partners at Heavenly Mountain Resort, invite the public to Hike with a Ranger beginning Friday, July 26, 2024. Hikes take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the top of the Heavenly Gondola. The guided hikes last approximately one hour and will continue every weekend through September 29, weather permitting.
Hikes are moderate in terms of difficulty, closed-toe shoes and water are required for attendance, along with a ticket to ride the gondola. Remember to bring your sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses! No reservations are required. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants should meet the rangers at the top of the gondola.
This Conservation Education program aims to provide an enjoyable opportunity to learn more about the Lake Tahoe Basin and its environment. Rangers cover a variety of natural history topics, which help promote a deeper understanding of our natural resources while increasing environmental literacy and developing land stewardship ethics. Programs are led by LTBMU rangers and Heavenly’s own Eco Rangers. This program is made possible through the LTBMU’s invaluable partnership in outdoor recreation with Heavenly Mountain Resort.
For more information, contact Lannette Rangel at 530-659-3003, 530-543-2730 or lannette.rangel@usda.gov.
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.
I’m a sucker for seasonal salads – especially summer salads. I don’t think there’s any better time of year that marries up the freshest of ingredients with the idea of how a salad should taste, better than it does in the summertime. There is no better representation than in this week’s feature from McP’s.
The base of greens in this salad is a spring mix. Which, how is spring the only season to get a full-blown mixture named after it? You never see a summer mix or winter mix, but I am digressing. Nevertheless, it gets tossed with seasonal berries (which for me it was blueberries), red onion, blue cheese crumbles, and candied walnuts.
McP’s Taphouse’s Very BerryRob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
After a dousing of their house-made berry vinaigrette, I took the plunge and also added grilled shrimp to the party. Why? Because much like bacon, everything is better with grilled shrimp. You also have the option to add grilled chicken or salmon if shrimp isn’t your jam.
Right off the bat, the first thing that jumped out at me with this salad is how much I didn’t know I needed the combination of blue cheese and blueberries in my life. You’d think things with blue in the name would be a no-brainer to pair up, but talk about a revelation. The sweetness and the pungent saltiness is a flavor combo for the ages and one that I’m totally going to steal.
The vinaigrette carries just the right amount of tanginess to balance out the sweetness and when that hits any of the other ingredients it’s like a halo appears over each bite. There are plenty of textures with the onion and walnuts and when that gets paired up with the plump and juicy shrimp, it’s like a dropkick from the top rope on your palette.
Yes, I am a fan. And yes, you will be, too. Just make sure you get in there before summer waves goodbye and the taste has passed you by.
McP’s Taphouse Grill is located at 4125 Lake Tahoe Blvd A in South Lake Tahoe. For menu and drink information visit them online at mcpstahoe.net or by phone at 530-542-4435.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. / Calif. – Sylvia Lacock likens open water marathon swimming to meditation. “You can only focus on your next breath.”
That’s important when the finish line is over 21 miles away, often taking more than 10 hours.
The board member of Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association has witnessed hundreds of swims, many for the association which ratifies and sanctions swims on Lake Tahoe. The organization does this by escorting, and observing the swimmers, ensuring rules and regulations are adhered to. This summer, more than 60 swimmers from all over the world—Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Ireland and the U.S.—have signed up to swim Tahoe.
“Everybody comes to it with a different motivation and a different passion,” Lacock says “and it’s just amazing to watch it unfold.”
The association keeps a record of the swim times for the three courses commonly swam on the lake.
The Vikingsholm course takes a swimmer the 10.6 miles from Cave Rock to the historic castle at the end of Emerald Bay.
A 12 mile course from Homewood, Calif, to Glenbrook, Nev. covers the true width of the lake.
And the third course, a 21.3 mile course from Camp Richardson, Calif., to Incline Village, Nev. is by far the hardest and longest sanctioned swim the association regulates on the lake, covering the length of Tahoe.
Swimmers who complete all three are added to a fourth category, earning their Lake Tahoe Triple Crown certificate and their combined course times are added to a list.
No matter which course, each time Lacock pilots a swim, she’s a part of something very personal. “You get to see people be vulnerable and put their very best out and even surprise themselves.”
Hearing a swimmer’s guttural sobs as they reach shore and watching a swimmer kick it into a surprise gear towards the end are just a couple of the swimmer experiences Lacock has witnessed.
“Sometimes you watch them fall apart a little and have to regroup,” she says.
There are times when Lacock and her boat crew find themselves in tears as a swimmer reaches the end of a swim.
“You never really know what that person has maybe been through and why they’re swimming,” she says, “we’ve had people swimming who have maybe recently lost an aging parent, lost a spouse.” Sometimes it’s a medical battle and the lake is their place to let it all go.
One recent Tahoe length swimmer, Sofía Cárdenas Arroyo, is often questioned why she marathon swims. “‘You don’t get anything from doing this,'” she recalls many people saying.
There are no monetary rewards. In fact, she says, you usually spend money to do it.
“But it’s worth it because I get to connect with him again,” she explains. Marathon swimming is how she reconnects with her dad who passed away seven years ago.
That was around the time she started swimming. During some of his last days she told him about her desire to swim and he responded with support and cheered her on.
Conversations with her father is what gets her to the shore when her muscles are hurting and she’s feeling fatigued. “I’m feeling tired dad, please give me the strength to finish this,” she’ll say.
“You feel like you get that talk with him and it’s really worth it. Everything is worth it.”
The Mexico City swimmer has conquered the Catalina Channel, Manhattan channel and many other swims. Next year she’s scheduled to swim the English Channel, where she’ll take her dad with her too. “It feels like we are still traveling with him,” Cárdenas Arroyo says, who tells her loved one, “This time we’re going to England or this time we’re going to Tahoe, dad.”
Cárdenas Arroyo swam the 21.3 mile length starting at Camp Richardson at 7:48 p.m. on July 12, swimming overnight and arriving in Incline Village just over 13 hours later at 8:53 a.m., July 13.
Sofía Cárdenas Arroyo swam the length of Tahoe July 12-13. Provided / LTOWSA
Swims typically take place after July 4 through the middle of August. Before that, the water is often too cold as swimmers aren’t allowed to wear wetsuits (cap, swimsuit, and goggles only) and the lake is too busy with the holiday. And in August, the afternoon winds and storms typically pick up, so the association has about a month and a half window each year to pilot swims that are often scheduled a year out.
So far in this year’s swimming window, they’ve already had around 20 swimmers complete at least one of the courses. This has included Tina Neill of Hawaii who was the first person to backstroke the length of the lake, which required her enter and exit the lake backwards to be official.
Niell’s neice, Tara Halsted, who swam for Standford, did the very same thing just a few days later in under 11 hours, beating her aunt’s time by over three hours.
Lisa Yamamoto, born and raised in Carson City, swam the Vikingsholm course July 14 and then swam Tahoe’s length the very next day. Having done the width swim last year, this completed her triple crown, placing her as the fastest combined time for the triple crown to date.
These swims are just getting started. As of July 22, there were still about 20 more swimmers lined up for the month and another 27 in August. Lacock has seen open water swimming in Tahoe and in general grow in recent years, coinciding with the pandemic. “Because all of a sudden people couldn’t swim in pools,” she explains.
They turned instead to the outdoors. The sport’s growth has also come from aging triathletes who can’t do the runs or bikes anymore, but want continue endurance training.
Tahoe has increased in popularity due to its existence on multiple triple crown lists. There’s the California triple crown, which comprises the Catalina channel, Santa Barbara Channel and the Tahoe length swim. Lake Tahoe also appears on the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims which is on the list for its famed Tessie, alongside Nessie and Memphre at Loch Ness and Lake Memphremagog, respectively.
These Tahoe swims typically aren’t a swimmers first. Lacock says the association often asks for a swimmers’ experience and access to cold water since there are concerns and risks with this level of swimming.
“You don’t know what can happen,” Lacock explains, “Anything from a cramp to a cardiac event.” At high elevations, swimmers are at risk for swimming induced pulmonary edema as well.
For safety, all these swims are escorted by a boat with a licensed captain. Simply swimming next to a kayak, she says, is dangerous.
Many come outside of July and August to train for open water swims and acclimate to the cold. The association provides resources and safety recommendation for this as well. Recommendations include anything from not swimming in front of a marina, staying 10-15 feet from the shore, to using a tow float.
Tahoe often leaves a lasting impression on the swimmers. Lacock hears from many that they plan on returning to the lake to visit and vacation.
The Lake Tahoe Open Water Swimming Association provides more information and ways to participate in the sport even if you’re not swimmer, like being an observer or crew member. That information is on their website, tahoeopenwater.org.
Late-Nite Productions & One Vision Entertainment are proud to present “Lake Tahoe Summer Jam 2024” featuring one of the biggest and most influential names in Bay Area Hip-Hop, E-40 live in concert! LaRussell will also be performing to warm up the show. This is taking place on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Bally’s Lake Tahoe Showroom. Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting/calling the Bally’s Box Office.
With millions of records sold, nationwide sold out shows, loved in the streets, boardrooms, and respected amongst his peers, without question E-40 continues to reign supreme. Empowering a familiar cliché that states, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” E-40 boasts an impressive catalog of hits like “Snap Yo Fingaz” feat. Lil Jon, “Tell Me When To Go” feat. Keak Da Sneak, “Sprinkle Me” feat. Suga T, “Choices,” “I Don’t F With You”(collab with Big Sean), and “U And Dat” feat. Kandi Burruss and T-Pain, E-40 continues to be a testament of longevity, relevance, and hustle.
From Nationwide tours with G-Eazy, Tech N9ne, Mount Westmore (Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Too Short, and E-40), and More, 40 Water has solidified an impressive touring resume that compliments his robust catalog of 25+ studio albums. Hailing from the California Bay Area City of Vallejo, E-40’s portfolio houses categories of music, film, food, books, and his notable venture into the adult beverage world with Earl Stevens Selections which includes his lines of Wine, Vodka, Tequila, Cognac, and Champagne.
With no signs of slowing down, E-40 looks to continue making more legendary contributions to Urban culture, and you can expect more music, more innovative partnerships, and continued growth of this Tycoon’s already impressive body of work.
Monday July 29
Sierra Nevada Ballet Sleeping Beauty: A Fairy’s Tale
The acclaimed choreographer/director team of Rosine Bena and Ananda Bena-Weber have reimagined a classic tale for contemporary audiences through the character Malefique, an evil fairy, whose curse challenges a hero to follow his heart, conquer his fears, and find true love. Featuring the magnificent music of Tchaikovsky, this bold new interpretation of a timeless love story will be performed by Sierra Nevada Ballet’s full company of professional dancers. Ticket purchase required. For more information, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com or call 800-747-4697.
Tuesday July 30
Boney James the Prim/Preger Jazz Night at Sand Harbor
Jazz and R&B saxophone virtuoso Boney James will awe audiences with an array of chart-topping hits from his extraordinary 30+ year career. A dozen of James’ albums have landed at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album chart. In addition, he earned four Grammy Award nominations, two NAACP Image Award nominations, and a Soul Train Award. His trademark blend of genres, which includes blues, soul, roots, classical, art-pop and hip-hop, is sure to make unforgettable musical memories for Sand Harbor audiences this summer! Ticket purchase required. For more information, visit laketahoeshakespeare.com or call 800-747-4697.
Wednesday July 31
Loud as Folk Songwriters Showcase
Loud As Folk is a hub of the west coast songwriting scene focused on highlighting emerging artists with distinct approaches to all genres of American roots music. In the process of bringing these acts together to perform, a beautiful community naturally formed with artists and audience members alike. Ticket purchase required. $35 For more information, visit valhallatahoe.com or call 530-541-4975.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – As the sun sets at Lake Tahoe’s Sand Harbor State Park on Friday, July 12, Shakespeare enthusiasts wait patiently to watch the opening night at Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
Laughs can still be heard from the beach, while festival crew members work furiously to move the set pieces to the back of the stage. The winds were blowing so hard, staff feared for the safety of the cast but that didn’t stop the cast from putting on an amazing performance.
“You did a very special night when we did it without the set,” said Actress Teri Brown to the Tribune following the performance. “For me it forced me to return to the pure storytelling of the play and I realized how much physically is required to tell that story.”
Slender attempts to seduce Anne Page.Photo by Strotz Photography
Attendees were there to revel in the uproarious comedy of The Merry Wives of Windsor as it takes center stage at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, this timeless tale of mischief and mistaken identities is captivating audiences, offering a delightful blend of laughter and lakeside charm.
The Merry Wives of Windsor features the rotund rascal Sir John Falstaff and the wise wives of Windsor in one of Shakespeare’s most raucous comedies. With an ego as big as his voracious appetite, Falstaff conspires to woo the two wealthiest married ladies in town and pocket their riches. However, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page devise a scheme of their own to teach him a well-deserved lesson in Wooing 101 which results in a hilariously magnificent treat of monogamously artful deceit.
Dr. Caius (actor, Anthony Michael Martinez*), John Rugby (actor, James Alexander Rankin) and Widow Quickly (actor, Teri Brown*) discuss their plans in the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival production The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, running through August 24.Photo by Strotz Photography
While Shakespeare’s plays have been done in many different ways and in many different places, the setting of LTSF makes these performances truly unique.
“I think it’s good that we as the actors don’t face the lake because I would just be checked out, I’d be so distracted just looking at the lake the whole time,” said Josh Houghton, who plays Slender, one of three suitors of Mistress Page’s daughter Anne.
Brown, who plays Widow Quickly, shares Houghton’s sentiment.
“It is a stunning backdrop,” said Brown. “I think it was last night, I was waiting to go on and I wasn’t facing the stage, I was facing the lake and the moon was glistening off the lake. I really did get distracted, I wasn’t listening for my entrance.”
Grayson Heyl, who plays both Artura Murray and the host of the Garter Inn said the view from the stage is also fantastic.
“I think this is the biggest audience we’ve performed for,” said Heyl, adding this is the third troup the performers have acted with. “And the sound quality is really lovely.”
The setting may be beautiful but Shakespeare is not for the faint of heart. As almost every High School Freshman who is struggling through Romeo and Juliet can attest, reading and understanding Shakespeare takes patience and time.
“When making sense of the play, which is a touch confusing at times, I think, ‘how would I say this in a modern setting, what kind of person would say this?'” said Houghton.
“The first couple scenes are definitely an opportunity for the audience to let the language wash over you, it takes a little bit of time to acclimate to this new language,” said Heyt.
While Houghton, Heyl and Brown have all performed Shakespeare before, Brown is the only one who has performed in The Merry Wives of Windsor before.
This play has several storylines so Brown said she hopes the crowd is able to follow at least one storyline.
“[The audience can take] a sense of pride of, ‘oh, I got that joke,'” added Heyt.
The Merry Wives of Windsor will be performing at Sand Harbor State Park until August 24.
The Host of the Garden Inn (actor, Grayson Heyl*) discloses her trickery to Dr. Caius (actor, Anthony Michael Martinez*) and Sir Hugh Evans (actor, Jake Atkinson*) as Mr. Page (actor, Jason Eno*), Slender (actor, Josh Houghton*) and Simple (actor, Trevor Gill-Snow) enjoy the reveal in the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.Photo by Strotz Photography
As searchers were looking for a missing man in Topaz Lake on Monday morning, another man was found face down in the water at Sand Harbor.
A Nevada State Parks ranger discovered the man at the Sand Harbor Boat Ramp at around 9 a.m., according to a preliminary report from the division.
Two visitors helped the ranger pulling the man ashore and CPR was begun.
Three lifeguards arrived on scene shortly after and performed lifesaving medical care while waiting for North Lake Tahoe Fire and Rescue to arrive, according to the report. The man was transported around 9:38 a.m. to Incline Community Hospital via ground by medics.
The man’s identity and condition were not available on Wednesday morning.
Reno resident 51-year-old Rodney Mitchell was located at Topaz Lake around 9:45 a.m. Monday after he was last seen jumping into the water on Sunday afternoon.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters, proud ECHL Affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights announcd today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Brandon Tabakin for the 2024-25 season.
Tabakin, 24, joins the Knight Monsters after beginning his professional career with the Newfoundland Growlers this past March, logging an assist in six appearances. Prior to joining the Growlers, Tabakin concluded his senior season at Arizona State University where he collected ten points (2g, 8a) in 36 games played.
From 2019-2023, Tabakin played three collegiate seasons at Yale University. He completed his college career with 22 points (5g, 17a) in 110 games. The 5-10, 161-pound blue liner won a USHL Clark Cup Championship with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2019. The Woodbury, New York resident totaled 25 points (2g, 23a) in 133 games with the Stampede from 2016-2019.
The following is a list of players who have agreed to terms with the Knight Monsters for the 2024-25 season: Anthony Collins (F) Blake Christensen (F) Chris Dodero (F) Brennan Kapcheck (D) Nate Kallen (D) Adam Robbins (F) Brandon Tabakin (D)
The Knight Monsters will host their inaugural home opening weekend on October 24 & 25 against the Jacksonville Icemen at Tahoe Blue Event Center. Ticket packages for the 2024-25 season are now available. For more information, visit www.knightmonstershockey.com
Salt Lake City, Utah has been selected to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, according to a press release from U.S. Ski and Snowboard. The decision made during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Paris, France, on July 24, 2024. This marks the fifth time the Winter Olympic Games have been held in the USA and 32 years since Utah last hosted the world.
The 2034 Winter Olympics are tentatively scheduled from February 10-26 and the Paralympics from March 10-19, 2034. This nomination places Utah in a unique position, continuing America’s proud legacy of hosting the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, with previous events in Lake Placid (1932, 1980), Olympic Valley (1960), and Salt Lake City (2002).
U.S. Ski & Snowboard has a strong history with the Games. More than 40% of Team USA is made up of U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes traditionally win more than 60% of medals earned at the Games, according to the release.
“The Utah Olympics are particularly exciting, as U.S. Ski & Snowboard is headquartered in Park City, Utah at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFit,” the release states.
The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled to use 13 existing venues from the 2002 Games alongside a single temporary venue. The venues will span the state, with skiing and snowboarding events expected to be hosted at Deer Valley Resort, Solider Hollow Nordic Center, Park City Mountain, Snowbasin Resort, the Utah Olympic Park, and a temporary structure for freeski and snowboard big air in downtown Salt Lake City.
“We are thrilled to have Salt Lake City, Utah formally selected to host another Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, who was at the bid announcement in Paris. “We know that the Games helps to inspire the world and the next generation of athletes, and we are looking forward to being strong supporters and ambassadors of the Games in our home of Utah.”
“I’m so excited and honored to be part of the team officially bringing the Olympics back to Salt Lake City!” said Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who was part of the presentation in Paris and is Chair of Athlete Experience for the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid committee. “This feels like a full circle moment for me, remembering the magic of my first Olympics here in 2002. As Chair of Athlete Experience for Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, my focus is on creating an unparalleled experience not just for the athletes, but for the families who support them every step of the way. Salt Lake City is such a special place, and I’m excited to share it with the world again.”
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team forest thinning projects are underway in the Lake Tahoe Basin. These projects are expected to continue for the next several weeks with some projects continuing through the fall, conditions and weather permitting. For project details, including the lead agency, start date and expected duration, view the Forest Thinning Projects Map at Tahoe Living With Fire which highlights current and upcoming projects.
After decades of fire suppression, Tahoe Basin’s forests are overstocked and highly vulnerable to insects, disease, and catastrophic wildfire. Forest thinning projects are a vital forest management tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing excess vegetation (fuels) on public lands that can feed unwanted wildfires. These projects complement defensible space and home hardening efforts on private property in neighborhoods and communities. Forest thinning also contributes to improved forest health, wildlife habitat, and watershed and forest resilience in the face of climate change.
These projects improve forest health by thinning trees in dense areas, which reduces competition for water, sunlight and nutrients and allows remaining trees to thrive. Thinning also decreases the potential for spreading tree diseases and insect infestations such as white pine blister rust, dwarf mistletoe and bark beetles.
Forest Thinning Map.Provided
Forest health is a top priority of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), a landscape-scale collaboration and partnership between nearly 80 public and private organizations to achieve the environmental goals of the region. To date, partners have treated nearly 95,000 acres in Lake Tahoe Basin forests to reduce hazardous fuels.
Land managers use different methods during forest thinning treatments that include mechanical and hand thinning. Mechanical thinning utilizes heavy equipment to remove trees and most of the excess vegetation while hand thinning is accomplished by hand crews using chainsaws to remove trees and pile excess material for burning after the piles dry which may take two to three years.
Mechanical thinning sometimes requires the closure of an area during operations due to the hazards posed by heavy equipment and falling trees. Hand thinning generally does not require project area closures. Mechanical thinning is used wherever slope and road access allow and hand thinning is typically used in urban areas, where only smaller trees and brush need to be removed or where equipment access is restricted, often on steep rocky slopes.
Short-term effects of forest thinning projects include temporary impacts to recreational areas and changes to the appearance of Lake Tahoe Basin forests. Treated areas may look disturbed immediately after treatment, when fresh stumps, equipment tracks, freshly chipped or masticated vegetation, or burned areas are more visually obvious. These areas recover quickly and improve ecologically as new vegetation growth occurs within a few years. Similar short term visual impacts can occur after prescribed fire treatments, but these areas also recover quickly.
Thinning operations typically take place in the summer and continue into fall as conditions and weather allow. However, some operations may be implemented over the snow when conditions permit. In addition, some small, isolated thinning projects may be conducted on short notice and may not appear on the map due to the small window of opportunity to implement these projects.
For completed forest thinning projects, view the Forest Vegetation Interactive Map that highlights forest thinning treatment accomplishments of the TFFT and the EIP.
Learn more about living in fire-adapted ecosystems, forest thinning and prescribed fire at Tahoe Living With Fire and get prepared, get informed, and get involved.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As families are getting ready to have their children go back to school, they’re also researching options for extra-curricular activities.
One option parents at Lake Tahoe are looking into for March 2025 is Girls on the Run Sierras.
“Girls on the Run has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others,” according to www.girlsontherunsierras.org.
It also inspires girls to discover, build, and grow their self-confidence, and experience a sense of belonging and connection as a team member.
“The girls learn about confidence, making good friends, and becoming the best version of themselves,” said Kylie Daniels, marketing coordinator and events director for Girls on the Run Sierras. “…We’re really a character building program with a sprinkle of physical activity, but we’re not a running program.”
Girls on the Run Sierras also unlocks girls power and potential by teaching essential life skills.
Girls on the Run is for 3rd through 5th graders. Heart & Sole is for 6th through 8th graders.
Volunteer coaches teach lessons that blend physical activity with life skills, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy.
At the end of the 10-week session, the team does a community impact project and runs a 5K. This gives the girls a sense of accomplishment in addition to setting a confident mindset into motion, according to the website.
Since 2007, 6,139 girls have participated in Girls on the Run Sierras, which encompasses Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region.
In Spring 2024, 122 girls at Creekside Charter School, Diamond Valley Elementary School, Incline Middle School (Heart & Sole program), Kings Beach Elementary School, Tahoe Lake Elementary School, Tahoe Valley Elementary School, and Truckee Elementary School participated.
“Our program is primarily focused on giving girls the tools and skills to become confident, joyful and healthy not only as children but well into adulthood with the added benefit of physical activity,” wrote Girls on the Run Sierras’ Program Manager Elysa Kleidosty in an email to the Tahoe Daily Tribune. “Girls on the Run celebrates the importance of teamwork while allowing each participant to recognize how her own individual star power can shine brightly. Through the lessons we teach, we build character and resilience in our participants to take on challenges throughout their lives with empathy, compassion and curiosity.”
In 2023, Girls on the Run Sierras hosted Spring and Fall sessions in Reno, Sparks, and Sun Valley. It only holds Spring sessions in Lake Tahoe area because of weather related issues during the Fall.
There were 41 Girls on the Run Sierras sites that served 680 girls in 2023.
There were two weeks of camp that year.
In 2023, more than 300 people volunteered in addition to 15 camp coaches.
Girls on the Run International was founded in 1996. Since then, this nonprofit has helped more than 2 million girls across North America, according to the website.
“Children today are exposed to longstanding gender stereotypes, societal obstacles, and cultural challenges that can be detrimental to their emotional and physical health,” according to the website. “Our program helps girls recognize their potential and rise above limiting gender expectations. Girls on the Run programs … make an impact at a critical age when confidence and physical activity decline.”
Statistics from Girls on the Run Sierras show:
98% of Girls on the Run participants said they would tell other girls to join the program.
94% of parents/guardians said their daughters had a good experience.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On the morning of July 16, 2024, South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers responded to the 2000 block of Eloise Avenue for a report of a shooting. A male was located with gunshot wounds, and a suspect was detained.
The SLTPD would like to provide an update on this case as of July 22, 2024. The victim of the shooting, Dennis Crowe,41, is now deceased. Crowe has ties to the area and was a former resident of South Lake Tahoe.
The suspect in this case, Christopher Guzman, is still in custody at the El Dorado County Jail. He is being charged with homicide and a variety of other crimes and is currently awaiting arraignment.
SLTPD detectives have been working closely with witnesses and the family of Mr. Crowe. Detectives are still conducting investigation into this case and have various leads to follow.
If you have any information about this incident, please email cybertips@cityofslt.us
Over the years, he explored his “backyard” of the San Juan Mountains alongside balancing his hard work in carpentry and welding with mountain exploits. His wife Cathy Green isn’t sure exactly when Chuck noticed the perfect spot for a Via Ferrata. He saw the perfect break of horizontal rock layers beneath Ajax Peak at the end of the legendary box canyon. The narrow rock ledge slants towards the abyss hundreds of feet below making it the perfect site.
