hawley grade

South Lake Tahoe native returns home and is new owner of Boat Docks Inc

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Spending his workday outdoors and on the water in Lake Tahoe wasn't hard for Tanner Hart to imagine, and since buying Boat Docks Inc from life-long local Doug Gayner in January its something he gets to enjoy every day.

Gainer started the company over 40 years ago, specializing in boat docks in the Tahoe Keys. Now Hart has hit the waterways with the new Boat Docks Barge, something he designed, engineered and built with the help and support of Dan Benson.

Before Hwy 50 it was horses and wagons on the Johnson Cut-Off

The trip is hot and dry. A layer of several feet of dust lined the route, flying around as the wheels of the wagons and hooves of the horses pass over. The road is steep and over granite along the 130 miles from the Carson Valley to Placerville. When not the middle of summer, the road is muddy or buried by snow. A horse could cover the terrain in 24-hours.

The road is Johnson's Cut-off and the year is 1852. It was built by John Calhoun "Cock-eye" Johnson as a way to cut off 50 miles and 2,000 feet in elevation from the common route people took over Donner Summit as they emigrated West.

Hawley Grade in South Lake Tahoe: Waterfalls and History All In One Hike

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.

Splendor of the falls worth the trek up Hawley Grade

Wild and Scenic push for Upper Truckee River reappears with workshops

After El Dorado County supervisors agreed in fall to table the concept, plans are in the works to again bring federal protection measures to the Upper Truckee River.

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