winter

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the Eldorado National Forest (ENF) will begin the sale of Christmas tree permits on Monday, November 13, 2017. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to six inches in diameter at the base in designated cutting areas. Trees must be cut on the forest where the permit was purchased (the ENF is south and west of the Lake Tahoe Basin, on the west slope).

The Sierra is at average precipitation for this date, below last year's epic winter at this time, but its still early. Will a storm system heading to Lake Tahoe be enough to put those totals higher?

Probably not this storm. It brings with it strong winds but not much snow or rain.

Its election time and the only local issue is Measure C; an increase of one-half percent in local sales tax (excludes groceries and prescriptions) for a term of 15 years to fund road rehabilitation. I voted YES to the measure because there is no long term funding solution within the current budget or the foreseeable future. And, our roads are in terrible shape.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – California State Parks, Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and the U.S. Forest Service are scheduled to conduct prescribed fire operations beginning tomorrow, November 4, 2017.

Weather permitting, operations are scheduled to take place:

D.L. Bliss State Park - 25 acres
West side of Incline Village - 17 acres
West of the First Creek drainage - 25 acres
Upper Kingsbury Grade - 3 acres
Lower Kingsbury Grade - 6 acres
Off Pioneer Trail near Marshall Trail and Powerline Road - 20 acres

Is the snow blower tuned up and full of gas? Have you replaced that broken shovel from last year? Did you get your snow tires on your car? Is the outdoor furniture put away or covered?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions you've most likely been paying attention to the weather reports that snow is on the way to Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Blizzardfest 2017 returns to the South Shore on Saturday, November 4 at noon at the Tahoe Beach Retreat's 3rd annual Pray For Snow Party. Even if it is snowing, join in the fun to encourage another strong winter.

All of the fun will be under the tent on the beach until 10:00 p.m. Not only is the public invited, but so are four-legged family members.

Schedule:

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Doggie Dive-In at the pool, a fundraiser for Animal Coalition of Tahoe.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe supports Measure C, the ballot measure to fix potholes and repair road surfaces in the City of South Lake Tahoe. Fixing our roads protects Lake Tahoe, and is a critical complement to the advocacy by the League and many others to reduce pollution associated with Tahoe’s traffic. Taking action now is essential if we are to restore the Lake to its historic clarity.

The community is invited to celebrate another great year of mountain biking and trail building with the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) at their Fall Party on Saturday, November 4 at the Heavenly California Main Lodge.

As we transition to winter they will have the premier showing of MSP Film's Drop Everything during the evening which also features a pasta dinner, drinks, raffle prizes and swag. They will also be holding a membership drive.

The party starts at 6:00 p.m. with the film showing around 7:00 p.m.

Location

A Winter Storm is forecast to move into northern California and northern Nevada by Friday with snow impacting travel over the Sierra Saturday and Sunday. Windy conditions and periods of rain and snow are possible for western Nevada.

* What can we expect in the Sierra? Gusty winds, rain and snow
starting Friday afternoon with heavy snow possible Saturday and
Sunday. Travel could be difficult at times.

* How about western Nevada? Gusty winds Friday into Saturday with
some light rain possible. Best chance for rain is Saturday into

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe will offer a little tease of skiing and snowboarding as they open for two days, Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28. They are the first Lake Tahoe area resort to open this season.

There will be limited terrain available for skiing and snowboarding. Mt. Rose will offer access to one beginner ski trail accessed by the Wizard chairlift from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. both days. Lift tickets will be available for $20 for guests ages 16+, and $10 for children ages 15 and under.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows formally announced its plan to install a base-to-base gondola connecting The Village at Squaw Valley and the base area at Alpine Meadows today. The freshly branded “California Express” gondola is targeted to open ahead of the 2019-20 winter season. The connection of these two mountains will realize the long-held dream of the pioneers who brought the sport of skiing and the 1960 Winter Olympics to Squaw Valley nearly 60 years ago.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Help kick of the ski season during the Lake Tahoe premier of Transworld Snowboarding’s film Arcadia at the Local Freshies® Pray for Snow party on November 17 at South Lake Brewing Company. Doors at this family friendly event open at 6:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Local food truck “High on Food” will be serving gourmet popcorn as well as tasty theater treats such as nachos, hot dogs and more.

The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) Board of Directors approved several funding agreements with local entities Friday which will provide free rides for several groups including Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) students, employees and guests of the Ridge Tahoe and associated properties, as well as Heavenly Mountain Resort employees.

The agreement between TTD and Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) to allow current students with a valid Lake Tahoe Community College identification card to ride all local transit services at no charge during the academic year ending June 30, 2018.

The following is a letter received concerning the Sass Talk published on October 7:

I hate to waste my time, but I cannot let the erroneous propaganda put out by the Emperor of City Hall go unrebutted. The City will not let go of this “nuisance” problem as it diverts focus on the dismal road conditions that the City has neglected for years. Also, City management has totally failed to provide a reliable snow removal system as we experienced last winter.

On Tuesday, a majority of city council agreed on a revised VHR (Vacation Home Rental) ordinance. In two weeks we will vote on the first reading of the ordinance and if a majority supports it, on November 7th would be the final vote to adopt the revised regulations and rules. The ordinance would then go into effect 30 days later.

After a winter when we learned more about atmospheric rivers that we ever wanted to, where the average storm seemed to be measured in feet instead of inches, and where the national attention of Lake Tahoe resulted in amazing photos, what is coming? After that relentless 2016-17 winter with flooding, blizzards, historic snowpack, and crazy winds, people are understandably interested in what next winter will bring. Is it time to freak-out yet?

Faces of Homelessness, an event hosted by the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, will take plan on Thursday, October 26 at the historic Valhalla Tahoe at 5:30 p.m.

Around the country, formerly homeless individuals are sharing their stories through a series of Faces of Homelessness panel discussions. The South Lake Tahoe version will feature speakers from Northern California, including Lake Tahoe.

The first day of fall is not usually one that includes chain controls and snowfall, but September 22, 2017 surprised many as they woke up and saw a coating of snow around Lake Tahoe.

Historically its not the coldest day and September 22, 1980 had a low of 24 and the average for this date is a high of 72 and low of 33. Today we had a high of 44 and a low of 30.

If what we saw in South Lake Tahoe today was a sign of an early winter, we'll have to wait and see.

Here is the forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

The National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) has selected Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows to host its next NBS Black Summit. The Summit serves as both the organization’s annual gathering of members and largest fundraiser. More than 800 NBS members and 300 guests from throughout the US and beyond are expected to attend the annual event. The week-long event will run March 3-10, 2018.

Hundreds of plants grown under the green thumbs of UCCE Master Gardners of Lake Tahoe were sold Saturday morning during their annual plant sale.

Normally held in the spring, this year's event was moved to the fall due to a delayed start to the growing season due to the long winter we saw in the Sierra. The community apparently was ready for the sale as a long line of gardeners were already waiting when the doors opened at Sierra House Elementary.

A bonus this year were tours of the Sierra House Grow Domes as well as a Yard Art sale of the student's crafts.

A $4 million project to enhance 15,000 feet or eroding roadway drainage pipe on Kingsbury Grade will begin on Sept. 11 and last through late summer of 2018, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) announced today.

Single lane closures with a traffic flagger will periodically be in place on the Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade between mileposts 3 and 11. Most of the work will take place Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with periodic Saturdays lane closures.

The unveiling of the anticipated Spirit of Competition bronze sculpture at Champions Plaza in South Lake Tahoe will take place on Friday, September 29 at 2:00 p.m.

The 2017 inductees include; Elena Hight, Glen Plake, Hannah Teter, Jamie Anderson, Jonna Mendes, Kyle Smaine, Maddie Bowman, Shaun Palmer, Travis Cabral and Travis Ramos. They have all been invited to the event.

For years the Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Department (FLLF) has wanted to join the South Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley fire departments and be part of the California Tahoe Emergency Services Operations Authority (CTESOA), and today they finally got their wish.

During Monday's meeting of CTESOA, also known as the CalTahoe JPA, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to add FLFF, giving them an ALS to be stationed at Fallen Leaf Lake as well as a possible voting spot on the board. (ALS-Advanced Life Support)

Join us for a great chance to purchase some wonderful "sit by the fireplace" reads. The sale will have hundreds of previously loved, and many new books just for you. Friends of the Library members are allowed to come in at 9 AM. If you're not a member already, join now or the morning of. Support the Friends and expand your winter library.

Location