echo summit

Mother Nature brought several inches of snow to South Lake Tahoe overnight, surprising many who have learned to doubt the forecast this winter.

A winter weather advisory is in place for South Lake Tahoe until 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. Snow should subside by 11 a.m. and then rain takes its place. Expect a high of 41 and low of 27, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood closed their ski operations last weekend, Sierra-at-Tahoe a few weeks before that.

Just over a dozen members of the community turned out for Thursday night's meeting about the pending Caltrans project that with either replace or restore the bridge over Echo Summit.

The Echo Summit Bridge Replacement/Rehabilitation Project was created because of cracks, rusting reinforcing steel and concrete spalling on the existing bridge which was built in 1939.

Tuesday's City Council meeting will cover a range of subjects, from commission appointments to a look at the Vacation Home Rental Policy.

At the January 20 City Council meeting, appointments were made to all boards but three spots remained opened. One should be filled at this week's meeting as there was one applicant for the Airport Land Use Commission opening. Scott Michal applied and will be appointed if Council believes he meets the qualifications.

Lake Tahoe has received much needed rain and snow from a wet Pacific storm on both Friday and Saturday, while more is expected late Sunday afternoon.

Heavenly Mountain Resort received 4-8” of new snow overnight Friday and opened two additional trails on Saturday. Sierra at Tahoe has received 10" of new snow while Kirkwood reports 9" of fresh snow. The big winner of this storm, so far, is Mt. Rose Ski Resort who are reporting two feet of new snow.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in Lake Tahoe from 4 p.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday.

The survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack on Thursday brought home the message that many were already guessing: a fourth straight year of drought is inevitable.

At just 12% of normal, the snow measured near Philips Station on Echo Summit was 7.1" deep and contained a dismal water equivalent of 2.3".

The absence of precipitation in January, normally California’s wettest month, has combined with warmer-than-average temperatures to produce a dismally meager snowpack for a drought-stricken state.

Long before the road between Placerville and Virginia City was paved and maintained by state transportation departments, the job of keeping roads clear of rocks and snow fell on opportunistic land owners.

The steady stream of prospectors from the declining gold fields in California to the 1858 silver strike in Virginia City created considerable damage, as well as traffic jams, along the route.

If you have driven anywhere in South Lake Tahoe this week, you'll know that droves of visitors have decided to come to town for the holidays. With both Christmas and New Years Day on a Thursday many have made their visit a four or five-day long weekend.

Highway 50 from Meyers to Camino has seen heavy traffic in both directions. According to travelers, Sno-Parks at Strawberry and near Echo Summit caused traffic to come to a halt as far away as Kyburz as dozens of cars lining both sides of the highway.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore:

6/26
8:10 a.m. - Prospector Trail: A 62 YEAR OLD MAN REPORTED THE FRAUDULENT USE OF HIS CREDIT CARD FOR $530.

2:21 p.m. - Kaska Street: SECOND DEGREE BURGLARY: UNKNOWN SUBJECTS STOLE NUMEROUS PIECES OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS.

4:35 p.m. - Al Tahoe Blvd; A 52 YEAR OLD MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION.

6/27

The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City saw records fall and fists rise. Perhaps one of the more memorable Olympics all began at the training facility near South Lake Tahoe at the top of Echo Summit.

On Friday, June 27th a historical marker will be placed at the location of the Echo Summit training site in what is being called "Return to the Summit."

There are many trails one can choose to hike in South Lake Tahoe, but how many actually have waterfalls and a 160 year old history behind them?

Spring has arrived in the Sierras which means it's time to get out and explore the local waterfalls. Due to the low snowpack this winter the falls won't be around as long as normal. My daughter and I decided to get in an aftershool hike this week on the Hawley National Recreational Trail.

The City of Berkeley's camp at Echo Lake, located at the top of Echo Summit just west of South Lake Tahoe, has long been a tradition for many families to visit and vacation.

It's also been one of the lowest cost family camp bay area families could attend, but that may be history after Tuesday night's Berkeley City Council meeting.

With thousands of motorcyclists expected for Street Vibrations there is extra caution urged on public roadways. As of noon today there have been 3 accidents involving bikers on the road in Lake Tahoe and Carson City, resulting in 1 death and 4 hospitalizations.

Two people were hospitalized after a crash shortly before 10 a.m. at North Carson Street and Medical Parkway. A man was flown by Care Flight to Renown hospital; the other person was taken by ambulance to Renown.

Headed to Lake Tahoe for the Independence Day holiday? The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit asks residents and visitors to help protect public safety and the environment, and keep wildfire prevention in mind while celebrating.

Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin and campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, the Forest Service requires the use of portable gas stoves.

Hold on to your small pets and little ones. There's strong winds ahead.
Well, maybe not that dramatic but there is the potential for some gusty gusts and big waves along the shores of Lake Tahoe over the next 24 hours or so.
The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Wind Advisory and Lake Wind Advisory for the Lake Tahoe Basin through Wednesday morning.

If you are a newcomer to that area or if you have never been there, the fall season is a great time of the year to visit Apple Hill.
And, if you are a newcomer to our area, you are probably wondering, “What and where in the heck is Apple Hill?”
Well, the correct answer is: “Apple Hill is not a specific hill or a specific location; on the contrary, it is a large geographic area in California.”

The newspaper headline on page one on Aug. 15, 2002 said it all:
“They made it!”
Yes, they did! And, they did it in record-setting style.
Four athletes, who are personal friends of Elaine and I, completed 10 very physically and mentally-demanding challenges in a period of 10 grueling days, way back in 2002.
I know because we were there for each and every one of those 10 memorable days that resulted in the very first Nevada 10-in-10 Challenge going into the Nevada record book.
Those four were Karl Horeis, Jeremy Evans, Rick Gunn and K. M. Cannon.

If you don't want to see the pooch get all aggro with people and other dogs on the beach during the July 4 fireworks show, your best is to leave 'em at home. So says the U.S. Forest Service, which wrote a friendly reminder to pet owners that the noise from the fireworks and large crowds can make your dog, cat, rat, snake, whatever — tense and agitated. And why would you want your pets to become unhinged as you and others are trying to watch the show?

A motorcycle accident on Highway 50 near Echo Summit was reported Saturday afternoon, with the victim suffering head injuries, according to dispatchers.
A Calstar medical helicopter was called to the scene of the accident, reported at 4:23 p.m. at Highway 50 near Camp Sacramento, according to the California Highway Patrol. The man, who was reported to be conscious but bleeding from the head at the time Lake Tahoe area medics and emergency personnel arrived, was transported by Calstar, which landed near the top of Echo Summit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As of 9:30 a.m. chains are required over Echo Summit on U.S. Highway 50. The traction control devices are required on all vehicles except 4-wheel drive vehicles with snow...

UPDATE 10:30PM: Plans to raise the speed limit within South Lake Tahoe along Highway 50 were presented to the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday.

With several inches already fallen in the Lake Tahoe Basin, a number of chain controls are required over mountain passes. Chains are required on Highway 50 over Echo Summit and chains or snow tires are required over Spooner to Carson City. Chains and snow tires are required on State Routes 28, 88 and 89 and 207 over Kingsbury Grade.

Construction has wrapped up on three roadwork projects in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin, Caltrans reports Wednesday in a news release. The projects were designed to improve water quality and traffic safety in the region.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's been said that what starts with bang often ends in a fizzle. The saying may ring true with regards to the Highway 50 Echo Summit project.Kicking off in May with t...

Come this weekend, cops will be out in full force and Caltrans will pull construction crews off the roads to prepare for the influx of visitors.Construction on Echo Summit will halt from July 1 ...