Tahoe Expo 2012 Exhibits New Geotourism Model for Lake Tahoe

The 2012 Tahoe Expo, taking place this September 8th-9th, is a geotourism showcase of fun, educational, and sustainable adventures around all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe, American’s biggest alpine lake, as well as nearby Truckee and Reno.

Through guided Adventure Tracks, the Tahoe Expo aims to show visitors a side of Tahoe they’ve seen before while cultivating a deeper connection with the watershed and inspiring visitors to realize sustainability in their own lives. Each Adventure Track is made up of one to three activities including lunch and public transit to and from, and is hosted by local experts, organizations, and businesses from South Lake Tahoe to east of Reno.

The Marsh and Meadow Track starts at Timber Cove Marina with a guided kayak tour into upper Truckee River, highlighting habitat uniqueness along the way, followed by a lunch provided by a local restaurant using organic and locally grown foods. A shuttle ride continues your water exploration to experience life in the meadow, with a shuttle ride back to the start. The participation fee of $45 includes: kayak rental, guiding by trained biologists, lunch, shuttle rides, plus a membership to Sustainable Tahoe.

The Tahoe Beneath the Surface Track starts at Camp Richardson aboard a yacht that heads for Emerald Bay, with visitors entertained by stories from Tahoe’s past. Once anchored, live feeds from a submarine piloted by renowned deep-water diver and conservationist Scott Cassell will provide insight into the nature life and historical mystery lurking below Tahoe’s crystal-clear surface. This is followed by a picnic on the beach and a tour by a park ranger. Afterwards, a lively boat ride returns visitors to the start. The participation fee of $105 includes a boat ride, guiding by historians, scientists and rangers, lunch, and membership in Sustainable Tahoe.

The Early Birds to Bear Track begins at Homewood with guided walk with an avian specialist. This is followed by a shuttle ride to a lunch site and then a hike into the bear habitat. A bear specialist will interpret signs, sounds and sights while providing opportunities for possible sightings and photographs. The participation fee of $45 includes a shuttle ride to and from, interpretation by wildlife specialists, lunch, and membership in Sustainable Tahoe.

Kim Gorman, a biologist at Tahoe Resource Conservation District who is helping create this year’s event, explains “The Tahoe Expo generates new dialogue about how to host visitors in our region while preserving it at the same time. Passion is contagious. When you share insight about a particular aspect of this region in a fun way, visitors feel it and deepen their own connection to the place. These insights generate fresh excitement for visitors, giving them more reasons to stay longer, return sooner and share positive stories to friends. Everyone wins.” According to Sustainable Tahoe’s Executive Director Jacquie Chandler, “The goal of this 2-day demonstration is to show the value of helping visitors connect to the native features of the Tahoe area and enjoy them year-round. This could be the new Tahoe brand, and one that makes preservation fun for everyone.”

In addition, on Sunday, Sept 9th the public is invited to participate in a community drum circle called “Beats for Bears”, at Sand Harbor from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. This follows a “Bear hug around the lake” provided by 8 bike riders who will circle the lake, stopping along the way to share a blessing for our local bears.

There will also be an after party on Sunday, Sept 9th at the Horizon resort in South Lake Tahoe, from 5:30pm to 10:00pm, where the Tour de Tahoe bike ride ends. Live music, an Expo raffle, local beer and many of the Adventure Track hosts will be on hand to share feedback and fun. $20 admission to be paid upon entry.

Organizations collaborating to make this demonstration possible include: Bike the West, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, USFS, Nature Conservancy, CA Tahoe Conservancy, CA State Parks, UC Davis / Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Sugar Pine Foundation, Tahoe Bear League, No Bear Hunt NV, Waste Not, TRPA, TTD (Tahoe Transportation District), Guitarfish, NV State Parks. Local business hosts include; Kayak Tahoe Olympic Bikes, Tahoe City Kayak, Grass Roots, Uncommon Kitchen, Obexers, Barton Health and Elevated Tahoe. Sponsors include Embassy Suites, TRPA, WasteNot, Umpqua Bank and Dan Carpenter Insurance. Raffle providers include Tahoe Paddle and Oar, donating a full paddleboard + kit as the top prize for the Expo raffle, along with; the Tahoe Biltmore, Sports LTD, Adrift Tahoe, Envirorents, Austins, and As You Wish.

For more information: www.TahoeExpo.com