outdoor

With the passing of the 4th of July we find ourselves right in the middle of summer here in the Tahoe Basin. Locals and visitors alike recreating in many different ways, from camping to mountain biking, to boating, Lake Tahoe has something for everyone. This summer and particularly this summer due to continued drought conditions, it is important to remember just how fragile the Tahoe Basin is, and that there is a persistent threat of wildfire. Everyone needs to take steps to ensure they are being fire smart in everything they do. Doing the right thing, the wrong way can start a wildfire.

Not only are the Lake Tahoe wildflowers giving viewers a colorful experience, so are the gardens of local green thumbs.

The Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners are holding the Annual Tahoe in Bloom Garden Tour on Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Six beautiful gardens will be on display in the Mid-Kingsbury neighborhood.

During the tour there will also be three Tahoe-specific educational gardening talks, and Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions.

Author of children’s adventure books, Mary Randall will speak on her book “A Walk Through the Woods” in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, August 8, at 10:00 a.m.

In her book Mary Randall asks the reader to believe in magic and have a zest for adventure as they trek along with Bobby and his pals through the Magic Kingdom of the woods. The reader will encounter talking animals, twists, turns, and secrets along with Indian spirits and ghosts of the Civil War. Randall hopes that readers will enjoy this amazing journey of surprises, mysteries and fun.

Location

Returning for a second year, storyteller Joel ben Izzy will present his newest tales in "Buried Treasures - Stories to carry you around the world and back again." at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday July 29, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Location

Chautauqua performer Juanita Westbrook will present “Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Coleman: Pioneer Aviator” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday July 8, at 6:30 pm. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Location

Fire pits. The outdoor means to a perfect s'more and good conversation around a fire on a cool summer evening. But, in the midst of a drought are they safe? Are they legal when fire restrictions are in place?

There are three fire district jurisdictions just in South Lake Tahoe, along with the U.S. Forest Service, and they all have different rules concerning the backyard fire pit. One thing they all do share is for residents and visitors to be smart about fire and to not be careless.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity in effect from 12:00 p.m. through 10 p.m. Sunday for the Lake Tahoe Basin and parts of western Nevada.

They are calling for winds southwest to west at 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph, with two to four foot waves on Lake Tahoe. These are hazardous conditions for kayakers and paddleboarders.

This combination of gusty winds and low humidity will create conditions that could promote rapid fire growth.

Professional Bullwhip Instructor Doc Durden will share his talent in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, June 27, at 10:00 am. The term "bullwhip" is unique to the cowboys and buckaroos of the old West In the latter half of the 20th century, attempts to preserve traditional crafts, along with a resurgence of interest in Western performance arts led to an increased interest in whip cracking as a hobby, performance art and competitive sport.Durden will demonstrate the use of a 6’, 8’ and two 10’ whips in both ability and marksmanship.

Location

Experience Basecamp Hotel’s new bar and outdoor area at the Tahoe Chamber Business After Hours Mixer (BAHM!) on Thursday, June 25. Attendees have the opportunity to check out the recent expansion that includes outdoor fire pits and event spaces while networking with fellow South Shore professionals. The BAHM! begins at 5:30 pm.

Chautauqua performer Steve Hale will present “George Whittell, Jr." who lived off the interest generated by the millions he inherited from his parents. His enormous assets allowed him to purchase the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe where he built the Thunderbird Lodge in the 1930s. The house was designed by prominent Reno architect Frederick DeLongchamps. This included a six-hundred-foot tunnel connected to a boat house to berth the “Thunderbird”, his fifty-five-foot mahogany yacht.

Location

May 30-31 Valhalla Renaissance Faire @ Camp Richardson
Wagon Train Rendezvous @ Zephyr Cove / Wagon Train parade
June 01 Phat Caddy Monday @ Fat Cat Cafe
June 02 DJ Dakini, Oneness, Lo-G @ Whisky Dicks
June 03 Chad Bushnell @ Hard Rock Hotel
June 03-07 Heath Hyche @ Improv at Harveys
June 04 Ike and Martin @ Jimmy's at The Landing
Lacey, LaBella, and Richardson @ Cottonwood Bar & Grill
Serina Williams, Lost Whiskey Engine @ Moody's Bistro
June 05-06 Bias and Dunn @ Bar of America
The George Souza Trio @ Moody's Bistro
June 05 Superlicious @ Hard Rock Hotel

Pioneers in the progressive bluegrass scene, Greensky Bluegrass headlines the inaugural Lake Tahoe Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, July 11 as part of the BaseJam Summer 2015 Outdoor Concert Series at the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe outdoor arena.

John Mackay and William Sharon were the wealthiest of the men to emerge from Nevada’s fabulous Comstock Lode. They were also the most influential. Mackay, who rose from poverty, was the hero of Virginia City, respected by its miners and mine owners, idolized by its children. Sharon, the brains behind the “Bank Crowd,” was generally perceived as a villain: when Sharon ran for the U.S.

Leaving a legacy is often described as passing something down from one generation to another; in other words, what impacts will remain after a lifetime of service and actions?

Hoopa and Salyer, two bear cubs who have been at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care since the end of December, left their winter home Thursday and are now headed to the Hoopa Indian Reservation near Eureka, CA.

Salyer was just 24 pounds when he arrived in South Lake Tahoe from Salyer, CA, and Hoopa, who was found at the Reservation, was 25 pounds when she arrived.

There is more snow in the forecast for the Sierra for elevations above 7,000 ft Thursday through Friday.

The National Weather Service in Reno says to expect winter driving conditions and possible chain controls over Sierra passes, especially at night or during heavier snow showers. Higher elevation routes including Sonora, Tioga, Ebbetts and Monitor passes may be closed later this week and possibly into the weekend.

Lake Tahoe’s natural geography of steep climbs and long descents against postcard views will offer plenty of sites to catch race action as the top women cyclists compete in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race May 8-9.

With the start and finish line at Heavenly’s California Base Lodge, spectators will be updated with live race announcements, and entertained with high-energy music, local and Amgen Tour of California exhibitors, food and beverage.

Outdoor enthusiasts in Lake Tahoe will soon be able to access one of the North Shore's most popular destinations, Northstar California.

The Northstar Golf Course opens on May 15 with the rest of the extensive variety of summer adventure following with a May 22 grand opening.

Memorial Day Weekend marks the grand summer opening of the mountain bike park, hiking trails, and all activities, dining and shopping offered throughout The Village at Northstar.

Northstar Golf Course tees off Friday, May 15

Summer will get off with a splash at the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe this summer, and locals will get to enjoy it! The Splash Day Club will be a rockin’ outdoor poolside day club with world-class DJs and poolside amenities and services including private cabanas and "day" beds, signature drink specials, bottle-service and a seasonal summer menu. Think high-energy nightclub outdoors in the sun.

One of the top water users in the Reno area, Gov. Brian Sandoval said Wednesday he is taking steps to cut back on outdoor irrigation and plans to remove turf in his yard to set an example during this time of drought.

A landscape contractor who is taking care of Sandoval's Latigo Drive home while he and his family reside in the governor's Carson City mansion accepted blame for overwatering that at one point consumed more than 1 million gallons over the course of a year, according to records obtained by the Reno Gazette-Journal.

South Lake Tahoe locals Bryan Burnam and Jacob Hanneman were featured on South Tahoe Now in August, 2014 when their company, Bakpocket Products, released their first product, the Adventure Hammock, on www.kickstarter.com.

Following the lowest snowpack ever recorded and with no end to the drought in sight, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced actions that will save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state's drought response and invest in new technologies that will make California more drought resilient.

Heavenly's Epic Discovery project passed their biggest hurdle Thursday as the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's (TRPA) Governing Board unanimously approved the newest year-round recreational experience in South Lake Tahoe. With it, comes a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Epic Discovery will include new zip lines, sky cycle tree canopy tours, a mountain bike park and trails, ropes courses, and interpretive and educational tours to teach visitors about the Lake Tahoe Region’s cultural and environmental resources.

Any parent will tell you raising teenagers is a stressful time! Are you in that stage? Talk to your teenager about it. Your stress may be similar stress for your teen.