highway 4
Road Beat: A Tale of Two Highlanders
Submitted by paula on Sun, 06/14/2020 - 8:01am
“There can only be one.” The movie Highlander might be considered an acquired taste, but the Toyota Highlander has been anything but. Since its inception in the early 2000s, Highlander has become the dominant force in the mid-size SUV segment. As the antagonist Kurgan said in the movie, though, there can only be one. And one there is, but which Highlander might that be? Spoiler, it’s the Hybrid. For most Toyota devotees, that’s as much reading necessary to decide on their next Toyota. I say next because Toyota buyers are a different breed; they’re loyal.
Some roads closed around Lake Tahoe due to snow and wind
Submitted by paula on Sun, 01/06/2019 - 3:03pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Interstate 80 is closed at this hour due to white out conditions and zero visibility from Colfax to the Nevada state line. SR-89 around Emerald Bay is also closed. No estimated time of reopening was provided.
State schools chief visits California's smallest district - Alpine County
Submitted by paula on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 11:49pm
California's State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is wrapping up his final term by touring some of the state's schools.
In just a few days he went from visiting a school in Los Angeles with an enrollment of 4,000 to touring Alpine County Schools and the Diamond Valley Elementary School campus, in particular, which has 80 students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
“It is a small school in numbers but mighty in its focus and learning,” said Torlakson in Alpine County on Sept. 20.
Fire update for the Sierra Nevada
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 3:03pm
As of Wednesday afternoon, 4,142 acres are burning between the North Fire, Sliger Fire and Boot Fire.
Boot Fire now at 4,620 acres with evacuations and road closures, including US 395
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 12:16pm
9:30 p.m. update: The Boot Fire has grown to 4,620 acres with 0 percent containment. Evacuations and road closures continue to grow.
Ferguson Fire 100% contained; firefighters gaining control on most others
Submitted by paula on Wed, 08/22/2018 - 10:34pm
There are still several fires burning in California but firefighters have gained the upper hand on many of them.
Ferguson Fire: The Ferguson Fire is now at 96,901 acres with 100 percent containment and 881 personnel currently engaged on the fire. During the most critical time in the fire, over 3,000 people were assigned to the incident from all over the world. There have been 2 fatalities and 19 injuries. 10 structures have been destroyed.
Northern California fire update
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/14/2018 - 9:42pm
Smoke hasn't been as present in the Lake Tahoe Basin over the last few days as it has been, but fires are still burning in Northern California.
South Lake Tahoe man dies in Stockton area crash
Submitted by paula on Sat, 08/11/2018 - 8:32am
A 24-year-old South Lake Tahoe man died in a San Joaquin County crash Thursday morning.
At 8:30 a.m. August 9, the driver of a 1998 Lexus apparently lost control of his car as he pulled out from the shoulder of Highway 4, west of Stockton. He sideswiped another car, then continued out-of-control until the vehicle hit another car according to the California Highway Patrol.
The car then crashed into an irrigation canal and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver's name has not been released.
People in the other cars involved were not injured.
Update: Smoke continues to come to Lake Tahoe from fires in the west
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/07/2018 - 10:01pm
A number of fires across northern and eastern California continue to bring hazy conditions and degraded air quality to northeast California, the Sierra, and western Nevada. According to the National Weather Service in Reno, areas at greatest risk for unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality are from Sonora Pass to South Lake Tahoe and Carson City.
Avalanche warnings in place for Lake Tahoe back country and Crystal Bay
Submitted by paula on Fri, 03/16/2018 - 10:10am
March 16 3:00 PM update: Washoe County has issued a Stage 2 Avalanche Alert for the Crystal Bay and Third Creek area. Stage 2 Avalanche Alert Action: In a Stage 2 Avalanche alert, if you choose to evacuate, please do so now or within the next 2-4 hours.
The next and final alert is a Stage 3 Avalanche Alert.
Stage 3 Avalanche Alert Action: A Stage 3 Avalanche alert signifies a shelter-in-place alert and a warning to NOT leave your home for up to 24 hours.
Dynamite used to destroy massive boulders that fell onto Hwy 4
Submitted by paula on Fri, 04/15/2016 - 10:55am
Two massive boulders that fell onto State Route 4 at Ebbetts Pass in Alpine County have been removed by dynamite.
On March 26, crews from Caltrans District 10 responded to a report of boulders in the roadway, and there they found two boulders on the roadway, which has been closed for the winter season. One was estimated to be 300 tons and measured 16’ tall x 25’ wide x 18’ thick while the other was about 100 tons and 14’ tall x 20’ wide x 10’ thick.
Caltrans crews used approximately 30 pounds of explosive material to detonate the boulders which created about 700 yards of rock.
Butte Fire is 40% contained; 71,780 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 9:48pm
6:15 p.m. update 9/15/15:
New evacuation advisories were put up at the scene of the large Butte Fire on Tuesday.
Mother Nature helping douse Washington Fire, now 99% contained
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/04/2015 - 10:45pm
Heavy rains over the past 48 hours have given firefighters the help they needed to contain the Washington Fire burning south of Markleeville.
As of 5 p.m. on July 4, the lightning caused fire was 99% contained after burning 17,790 acres.
Fire crews will continue to construct the remaining fire line and mop up hot spots along the perimeter. A smaller contingency of firefighters and equipment will remain on the incident with the type 3 management organization while still meeting incident objectives as outlined in the transfer of command.
Mudslide closes Hwy 4 in burn area near Markleeville
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/01/2015 - 10:12pm
Just a day after people celebrated the opening of highways through the Washington Fire area south of Markleeville, a mudslide has closed Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass. The road is closed 2.4 miles south of town.
A strong thunderstorm formed over the northwest half of the fire Wednesday, bringing heavy rains and frequent lightning.
Roads open as Washington Fire is 66% contained
Submitted by paula on Tue, 06/30/2015 - 8:09pm
Cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity have allowed firefighters working on the Washington Fire to make good progress, getting a line around 66% of the fire area.
Burning since June 19 in the hilly terrain south of Markleville, the lightning caused fire has burned 17,790 acres.
Washington Fire now 56% contained; 17,787 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Tue, 06/23/2015 - 9:13pm
6:00 p.m. update 6/29/15
Firefighters made a lot of progress on the fire lines at the Washington Fire south of Markleeville on Monday, gaining containment of 56% of the perimeter. So far, 17,787 acres have burned.
The lightning caused fire grew quickly a week ago, from 30 acres on June 19 to 6,500 acres by June 21.
At one time, over 1,100 fire personnel were working on suppression of the fire. Those numbers were reduced today to 860 as containment grew.
Alpine County fire figures updated again: 16,543 acres burned
Submitted by paula on Sat, 06/20/2015 - 6:33pm
1:35 p.m. update on 6/23/15
The fire figures were updated this afternoon. At 8 a.m. they report almost 16,000 acres, then downsized a bit at noon to 13,562 after analyzing infrared reports. The 1:35 p.m. update is as follows:
The Washington Fire is actively burning. It is spreading due to both fuel-and-slope-driven forces and in some some drainages off of the East Fork Carson River. It has also spread to the north and to the east.
Fire is burning in hazardous and inaccessible terrain and approaching an increasing number of structures and impacting travel corridors.
Back Roads - Lake Tahoe to Apple Hill via Highway 4
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 9:15pm
My daughter and I had been planning our annual Apple Hill trek for several days when I decided to change it up a bit. Since my free time is so rare I figured why not include a visit to our favorite little town Sutter Creek? And then, since we're doing that, might as well throw in a drive down beautiful Highway 4! Since the portion of the road we'll be covering is closed after the first big snow we had to do it! The day was plotted on a map in my head with some verification on google maps. The map said our little trip was going to take 5 hours and 10 minutes and cover 225 miles.
Don Q's Northern California and Sierra fishing report through Oct. 10
Submitted by Editor on Thu, 10/04/2012 - 2:36pmHere is this week's fall fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Oct. 4-10.
