Outdoor presentation of "Mailman of the Sierra" Snowshoe Thompson at Taylor Creek

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For 20 years, between 1856 and 1876, the legendary Snowshoe Thompson delivered mail between Placerville and Genoa (and for a time, Virginia City). He did it by the Norweigan version of snowshoes, looking like very long cross-country skis. It took him three days on this eastward journey, two days back to Placerville, carrying on his back a 60-100 pound package of mail.

The U.S. Forest Service Taylor Creek Visitor's Center will host an evening with John "Snowshoe" Thompson on Friday, August 5 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in their Lake of the Sky amphitheater.

Steven Hale, a historical character reenactment actor, performs as Snowshoe, known as the Mailman of the Sierra. Many may know of this story, but at the amphitheater Friday, Hale will bring a story many may not know of.

Up in Plumas County, California, another Norweigan, Charles Nelson, had started longboard ski races as a way to entertain the many miners who had come west for gold. The races were started in the 1850s when harsh winters allowed ski races to start as early as September and last until June or July.

The races became so popular the purse could be as high as $700 or $1000 per race (about $26,000 to $38,000 in today's dollars).

Snowshoe Thompson caught wind of these longboard ski races and the big prizes, as well as stories of Plumas County racers sailing at speeds of 80 mph. He accepted the Alpine vs. Plumas Longboard challenge.

Sadly, Thompson lost to the much longer skis worn by Nelson and his posse (five feet longer), and the special "dope" used on the skis.

Learn about this historic Sierra man (who never got paid by the government for his 20 years of mail delivery) at the free event in the Taylor Creek Visitor Center Lake of the Sky amphitheater.