The February 1st show is special. Ten high spirited mountain worshiping locals will show off their best pictures and stories of their adventures in the mountains.  Who are they?  Find out at 7pm.

The  free shows run on consecutive Wednesday nights at the Olympic Plaza Bar, January 4 to March 7, 2012. All ages are welcome, and the fun begins right around 7pm with a fast paced 1 hour slideshows that will have you making plans to get into the mountains.  There are 2 bars, lots of comfy seating, a huge screen and nice sound system.

The 12th annual slide show series offers 11 incredible shows, from some seriously adventurous, entertaining, and inspiring people. Most of them are from our very own Sierra Nevada, if not Lake Tahoe and Truckee. Come meet your neighbors! They want to spread that good mountain vibe, and get us all stoked on life. Many of these shows are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet and hear from incredible mountain loving athletes and travelers.

Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series:

Fri Dec 9 – 7pm Fred Beckey

The incomparable Fred Beckey, an American climbing legend kicks off the slide show series.  At age 88 he still climbs and pursues first ascents around the world, and talks with boyish enthusiasm still about the mountains. He will share tales and photos from his favorite climbs, many of which are on your lifelong tick list. FRED BECKEY has achieved enduring recognition as the most imaginative, persistent, and thorough explorer and mountain investigator of the Cascade Range Wilderness. He was noted as “one of America’s most colorful and eccentric mountaineers,” and is unofficially recognized as the all-time world-record holder for the number of first ascents credited to one man. In addition to being the author of the Cascade Alpine Guide series (V1, V2, V3), Beckey is also the author of Mountains of North America, The Range of Glaciers: Exploration and Survey of the North Cascades, and a personal narrative, Challenge of the North Cascades. Bring everyone you know, especially those who think or act like they are “washed up”. Yeah right, in your 40′s or 50′s? Fred was just getting going.

Jan 4th – 7pm Dave Nettle

One of our favorite local backcountry heroes is back to entertain and inspire the rest of us with a new ski touring slideshow. Dave travells far beyond our borders to ski and climb year after year, and always comes back with great stories, photos, and jokes. Last year he toured the Ortler Alps in Italy with some other Tahoe locals, staying in huts and exploring the mountains on skis by day. You’ll be booking your own European ski tour vacation after this one.

Jan 11th – 7pm Eric Perlman

Eric Perlman is a director, producer, Emmy-winning cameraman, editor, and composer producing international adventure films and commercials for more than 35 years. Eric is also a high energy Tahoe go-getter you’ve seen around on skis, rock, and trail. This slideshow will have you planning a trip late that evening so you can go touch some warm rock! The show is called “20 YEARS OF STONE—Evolution of modern climbing and the modern climbing movie.” We will see if we can get him to show us some Tahoe climbing history, where he sat right in the middle since the 60′s, climbing pretty much every day possibly right through this very week!

Jan 18th – 7pm

You have his guidebooks, and wondered about this golden era of High Sierra exploration in the 80′s. He was also a mountain guide and avalanche forecaster in Bishop. We found him hiding out in the foothills and have a really fun night in store for everyone, as John tells the stories behind those short blurbs we read over and over and over in his High Sierra Guidebooks.

Jan 25th – 7pm Doug Stoup

This show is for you. “Skiing The Planet…North to south”. Sounds good eh? Truckee local Doug Stoup is founder and expedition leader of Ice Axe Expeditions, which leads adventurers, skiers and riders to Antarctica and Spitsbergen, Norway. Doug boasts many first descents, including the first ski and snowboard descent of the highest peak in Antarctica (Vinson Massif, 16,044 ft). Having led 20 expeditions to Antarctica and 10 to the Arctic Ocean, Doug is today’s most traveled polar explorer. In addition to his exploration accomplishments, Doug is a cinematographer, ski mountaineering guide, humanitarian, educator, father and “seven day adventurist.” As founder of the Ice Axe Foundation, Doug also aims to educate youth about this amazing planet on which we live. He has been featured internationally in television and film and pioneered streaming media from remote expeditions.

Feb 1 – 7pm 10 locals; 10 slides

This show will be comprised of 10 high spirited mountain worshiping locals, bringing you their best pictures and stories of their adventures in the mountains.

Feb 8th – 7pm John Scott

Yet another incredible Truckee story is low profile John Scott and his family, who will show both parents and kids a look into their Sierra mountain sports lifestyle. Can your 9 year old climb multi-pitch above 13,000′ and ski tour Sierra peaks? Maybe they can, and surely they will dream about it at night after the show! Maybe you will too! Calling all parents, don’t miss this inspiring show of family fun in the mountains.

Feb 15th – 7pm Todd Offenbacher

South Shore climber/skier and high-on-life Todd Offenbacher’s dedication to climbing the REAL mountains of the world sometimes goes un-noticed by locals, because he gets so much done around here. In this show we will hear about his recent climb/rigging project on El Capitan with Steve Wampler who has cerebral palsy. Steve lives his own life helping those in wheelchairs get into the mountains, and powered out 20,000 pull ups with Todd and others to scale the 3000′ vertical rock face of El Cap. Todd will also show us his recent epic trip to the Brooks Range in Alaska, where he suffered rough conditions for YOU guys to just enjoy hearing about in the comfort of the Oly Plaza bar couches! He will also share some Sierra secret granite spots, and few tales from back in the day. More than anything, Todd’s enthusaism for fun in the mountains will infect you.

Feb 22nd – 7pm John Morrison

John shreds. Waves, singletrack, KT 22, High Sierra Couloirs, and pretty much anything in front of him. You don’t hear the details usually, but many locals do know it’s going on and get inspired by just the thought: “I wonder what JM and friends are doing this weekend…” Last Year John skied from the highest possible point on all of California’s 14ers. That’s all in one season, nailing more than one ski descent in a day on a few occasions. He skins fast, but will talk slow for us to catch some ideas of our own for High Sierra Backcountry Skiing.

Feb 29th – 7pm to be announced

March 7th – 7pm Peter Mayfield

Another over achiever Truckee resident, Peter has some inspiring and varied topics to share with us. Peter Mayfield, director of the local Gateway Mountain Center, is a creative force of nature…with world class first ascents on El Capitan and Half Dome, visionary High Sierra skate-ski solos, high flying aerial dance performances, and a long career of good works – connecting youth to the natural world. Join us for an exhilarating evening of hair-raising big walls, breathless alpine solos, and films of spectacular vertical dance performances, such as Peregrine Dreams – on the Shield Headwall, and Luminescent Flights next to Upper Yosemite Falls…

The 12th Annual Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series is sponsored by your friends at The BackCountry in Truckee and Squaw Valley USA.

The opening piece will be performed by 35 local jazz musicians from Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe and Truckee who have trained with these talented musicians to bring a remarkable history of jazz to life.

This immersive, globally themed main-stage program features performances of all new commissions by prominent, internationally recognized jazz composers hailing from countries as diverse as, West Africa (Lionel Loueke), Israel (Omer Avital), Cuba (Yosvany Terry), Puerto Rico (Miguel Zenon), India (Rudresh Mahanthappa) and the United States (Marcus Strickland). Each unique composition is inspired by elements of both the American jazz tradition and the indigenous music of each composer’s respective country of origin.

Space is limited, so make sure to purchase your tickets early by visiting ArtsForTheSchools.org.  $15 for adults and $5 for children 18 or younger.

As art education has all but vanished in our public schools, Arts For the Schools bridges this gap by providing professional art instruction and performing arts programs in our local schools. This is made possible through grants, foundations, private contributions and Parent Teacher Organizations who value art education in their schools.

Arts For the Schools was selected as one of a few qualifiers for the InnerState Project because of its 26 year-long history of overcoming venue challenges and bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed performers to our local schools and community at large.

Artist Aimee Had will be the featured dish, along with music by DJ One Truest, tasty appetizers, warm beverages and lots of local art to support one of our favorite causes.  In honor of Truckee local CR Johnson, Riverside Studios is holding a Lion Heart Art Show, a group exhibition and fundraising event that will include both emerging and established artists working strictly on unframed 10  x 10 x 3/4, plywood panels.  Each piece will be sold at $100.  Forty dollars of each piece sold will be be donated by Riverside Studios to the High Fives: CR Johnson Memorial Fund.

Riverside Studios includes vintage clothing creations by eco-stylist Heather River, pottery by Alanna Hughes, handbags, belts and leather accessories by Kahlil Johnson, jewelry by Sondrea and Mary, and paintings and jewelry by Aimee Had.Lots of local artists from around Lake Tahoe and Truckee are represented – as long as it’s made by hand.

Grab your hat, appetite and head to downtown Truckee and Riverside Studios, where art and culture intersect.

This free North Lake Tahoe events takes place at:

Riverside Studios
10060 Donner Pass Road. (next to the Squeeze In)
Downtown Truckee on Commercial Row

530-587-3789

The Sugar Pine Point State Park Rangers are leading full moon snowshoe tours around the Ehrman Mansion on February 4 and March 3, 2012.  All proceeds go to the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

Full Moon Snowshoe Tour at Sugar Pine Point State Park
sponsored by West Shore Sports

February 4 and March 3, 2012 at 7pm

For those new to snowshoeing, there will be a beginner’s clinic at 6:30pm sponsored by West Shore Sports. The Full Moon hike starts promptly at 7 pm and begin at the Day Use side of the park. The Full Moon hike starts promptly at 7 pm and begins in the day use side of the park. The programs last approximately 1 ½ hours and costs $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The cost includes event parking and snowshoe rentals, if needed.  Wear warm, layered clothing, waterproof shoes and bring a flashlight.

All proceeds from the tours support the Sierra State Parks Foundation. Space is limited and reservations can be made through our State Park partner, West Shore Sports at 530-525- 9920.

Did you know…

The Sierra State Parks Foundation was founded in 1973 by a dedicated group of Tahoe locals in response to plans to demolish Ehrman Mansion to create more campsites.

They’re still around working hard to help preserve our historic sites like the 1916 Rubicon Point Lighthouse located at DL Bliss State Park. Here’s a list of ongoing projects:

• D. L. Bliss: Balancing Rock nature trail repairs; visitor center upgrades and more!
• Donner Memorial State Park: Visitor Center remodeling; exhibit repair and upgrade; pioneer wagon purchase and more!
• Emerald Bay State Park: Creation of new exhibit panels for Vikingsholm; visitor center upgrades; finalization of new Vikingsholm movie and more!
• Sugar Pine Point State Park: Pine Lodge (Ehrman Mansion) repairs; Mercury repairs; exhibit upgrades; Living History Day and more!
• Tahoe State Recreation Area: Visitor center upgrade and more!

But, they can only make these improvements with our help.

Click here to learn more and to donate to the Sierra State Parks Foundation.

Photo courtesy of www.totalsnowshoes.com

For you snowshoe lovers, check out their vintage snowshoe photos.

These treks are taken at a leisurely pace and led by experienced trail guides.

Skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only ways to enjoy Lake Tahoe this winter season. Join the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for FREE guided snowshoe treks through the end of March. These snowshoe hikes are great for all abilities (shorter hikes are appropriate for kids). Discover this fun and easy way to exercise and socialize during the winter months in the Tahoe Basin.

2012 Tahoe Rim Trail Guided Snowshoe Hikes:

January 21st -  Castle Rock
4 miles 10am to 2pm – Moderate Hike
Located on the east shore of Lake Tahoe,  snowshoe through lovely pine and fir forest to reach Castle Rock a lovely rocky outcrop with stunning views of the lake. Meet at the Kingsbury North Trailhead off of Benjamin.

January 28th & February 4 – Van Sickle State Park
2 to 3 miles 10am to 1pm – Moderate Hike
Enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the “Jewel of the Sierra”along the way. This new trail is a superb addition to our local hiking trail offering views of Lake Tahoe rarely seen, off the shoulder of Heavenly.  Look for the waterfall about 2 miles up the trail that look like angel wings. Meet behind Harrah’s; in the very back parking lot.

February 7th – Tahoe Meadows Full Moon Hike
2 miles 5pm to 8pm – Easy Hike
TRTA Members Full Moon Hike – Not a member of the TRTA? This is a great opportunity to join, and enjoy a moonlit tromp through the Tahoe Meadows. Meet at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead, located a 1/2 mile southwest of Mt Rose summit on Hwy 431.

February 11th – New TRT Section (Middle Kingsbury)
4 miles 10am to 2pm – Moderate Hike
Check out this new section that runs just below the Nevada side of Heavenly before connecting to the new Van Sickle State Park TRT. Meet at the back of Heavenly’s Bouder Lift parking area.

February 14th – Sweetheart Sunset Hike – Tahoe Meadows
3 miles 4pm to 7pm – Easy Hike
Impress your Valentine with an evening snow hike around the beautiful Tahoe Meadows above Lake Tahoe at sunset followed by wine and cheese. Meet at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead, located a 1/2 mile southwest of Mt Rose summit on Hwy 431.

Please register by calling the TRTA at 775-298-0012 or by emailing jaimes@tahoerimtrail.org.

The Tahoe Rim Trail is one of the world’s premier trails. It passes through two states (California and Nevada), six counties, one state park, three National Forests, and three Wilderness areas. This spectacular trail is 165 miles of single-track multiuse trail, winding peak to peak around Lake Tahoe. It is a trail that offers something for everyone! Hiking and horseback riding are allowed on all portions of the trail, while mountain biking is allowed on the trail with the exception of the wilderness areas, the section that is in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, and on the sections of trail that overlap with the Pacific Crest Trail.

Gear to Bring

1. Snowshoes
2. Snow Boots (recommend gators to keep snow out of boots)
3. Trekking poles with snow basket (ski poles are fine)
4. Water – 2 quarts minimum per person
5. Lunch and snacks
6. Warm clothes (synthetics blends, such as fleece, polypropylene, & wool. Cotton and jeans are not acceptable clothes for the backcountry in winter, this includes cotton socks!) Water and wind resistant pants and jacket are essential.
7. Gloves
8. Ski hat
9. Lip balm
10. Sunscreen, SPF 30 or greater
11. Sunglasses and/or goggles for blowing snow
12. Map and compass (if you have them)

Daron Rahlves, four-time Olympian, World Champion and Truckee local, has refined this classic race that started at Sugar Bowl to include four resorts.  The first race takes place at Alpine Meadows, February 4 and 5, 2012. Don’t miss it.

Mixing disciplines of big mountain freeriding, downhill racing and ski & boarder cross strategy, the “Banzai” format, with roots tied to the original Silver Belt Banzai at Sugar Bowl, puts four racers at a time blasting out of a ski-cross start gate feature, maneuvering through strategically-placed gates on an all-natural big mountain course while navigating alongside fellow racers, with the limited rules to finish fast enough to advance to the next round.

A grass-roots flashback to the days of simply racing your friends to the bottom of the hill, Rahlves, the most decorated men’s downhiller in U.S. history, says that while the racing is real, the focus of the Banzai is on having fun.

“With so many competitions being of such a serious nature, the Banzai Tour invites skiers and riders to come out, get in the gate and point it, still maintaining a high level of racing of course, but also having a great time and enjoying the festive atmosphere that the Banzai is all about.” Daron Rahlves

Complemented nicely with vendor village exhibit areas, numerous spectator viewing spots, finish line BBQ’s and post-race parties complete with live music and dj’s, the event draws more than just competitors.

Open to men, women, skiers and boarders age 18 years and older, historically the Silver Belt Banzai at Sugar Bowl has seen an eclectic mix of higher-level athletes, racing enthusiasts and everyday skiers and riders just out for a good time at a great event.

And while Rahlves himself will not race in any of the three tour stops, acting instead as Banzai Ambassador throughout, he will await each of the Men’s Ski division winners from prior tour stops for a final day, one run, winner-take-all $10,000 “Banzai Super Final”, sure to be a crowd pleaser.

The four Lake Tahoe mountains involved are perfect venues for racing of this style, offering big mountain terrain with impressive steeps, compelling routes to navigate and impressive annual snowfall totals every season.

2012 Rahlves’ Banzai Tour:

• Alpine Meadows – Beaver Bowl Banzai – February 4th-5th $15,000 Prize Purse
• Kirkwood Mountain Resort – Eagle Bowl Banzai – Feb 11th-12th $15,000 Prize Purse
• Squaw Valley USA – KT-22 Banzai March 3rd-4th $15,000 Prize Purse
• Sugar Bowl Resort – Silver Belt Banzai and Super Final – March 10th-11th $35,000 Prize Purse
  

Registration is just $130 for this North Lake Tahoe event, and includes a lift ticket for Saturday’s time trials, as well as Sunday’s Banzai format racing should the racer advance out of Saturday’s round. Skiers, snowboarders, men and women 18 years and older are welcome to register at www.rahlvesbanzai.com.

Photos by Court Leve, Truckee:

Court Leve is a well-known and respected photographer in Northern California and was recently voted ‘Best Photographer’ in the Lake Tahoe-Truckee region. Court continues to grow his business and now splits his time between Lake Tahoe and San Francisco. Specializing in action sports, wedding, portraiture and pet photography, Leve combines a journalistic and traditional approach to his work that results in highly acclaimed emotional and captivating images.

His work has been published in virtually all of the regional publications in the Lake Tahoe area in addition to national publications which include; National Geographic Adventure, Powder, Ski, Skiing, Freeskier, Parade Magazine, ForbesLife Mountain Time, Spirit Magazine, Southwest Art and The New York Post. His clients include Warren Miller Entertainment, Canine Hardware, Points North Heli-Adventures, Astro Gaming, Cebridge Communications, Squaw Valley, Panoptyx, Plumpjack, Zeal, Kombi, Helly Hansen and more.

This year you can ride at select North Lake Tahoe ski resorts for $40 or less, and cross-country centers for $15 and help Tahoe-Truckee schools.  Duh. Don’t miss the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation Skiing for Schools days.

Tahoe Cross Country ($15) – Sunday through Friday, January 22-27, 2012.

On selected days, the participating resorts are offering skiers and snowboarders special discounted lift tickets and the opportunity to support education. The proceeds from your lift ticket purchase go directly to the Excellence in Education Foundation, which provides enhanced educational opportunities for our local students.

2011-2012 Skiing for Schools Days:

• Northstar ($40) – Sunday through Friday, January 8 -13, 2012
• Tahoe Donner Cross Country ($15) – Sunday through Friday, January 8 -13, 2012
• Tahoe Cross Country ($15) – Sunday through Friday, January 22-27, 2012
• Tahoe Donner Ski Area – $25 lift ticket valid any one day from January 30-Feb. 5, 2012
• Royal Gorge ($15) – Monday through Sunday, January 30 – February 5, 2012
• Sugar Bowl ($35) – Saturday through Friday, March 24-30, 2012
• Squaw Valley ($35) – Sunday through Friday, April 15 to end of season
• Homewood – TBA

Downhill resort tickets may be purchased in advance at Porters Sports locations in Truckee and Tahoe City and cross-country resort tickets may be purchased in advance at Paco’s in Truckee and Alpenglow in Tahoe City. A limited number of tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis and will not be available at the resorts the day of the event. Check and cash are preferred form of payment. Tickets are not refundable. Tickets are not refundable.  For more information, please call 530-550-7984.

About Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation:

The Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation was founded in 1986 as a business/education partnership. The Foundation’s efforts are targeted to enhance the education of 4,000 students in a school district that encompasses 11 schools in a geographic area of 720 square miles.

The Foundation supports “hands-on” academic learning experiences for students and promotes instruction that is meaningful and relevant in real-world situations. The Foundation awards grants to teachers in the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District through a competitive, selective application process.  The Foundation recognizes exceptional teachers and Classified Employees through the Linda Brown Fellows and Star Award programs. The Foundation is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Board of over 40 community members with a broad range of experience, representing all geographic areas of the community. 

For more information, please visit their website at www.exined.org

Some predict that December 2012 will be the end of the world as we know it. Others speculate that the end of the 2012 will be the beginning of a new state of consciousness.

“In particular, we will look at 2012 as described by unique sources, which view 2012 from a spiritual perspective and place it in a larger context, one that involves the ultimate destiny of the human race,” explains Dr. Terrell. The lecture will examine how such strong interest in 2012 first arose, address facts and explore the primary interpretations of what it may hold in store for us all.

“Although different approaches are considered, this discussion views 2012 from a primarily spiritual perspective, something that rarely intrudes in our Western approach to education but which I think should have a place,” explains Terrell who researches the spiritual history of humanity. Terrel holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard University, a Master’s degree in History from the University of Oregon and a doctorate in Classics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He’s previously taught at the University of Colorado and Princeton.

The lobby opens at 7 p.m. for complimentary coffee, tea, cookies and socializing. Toby Terrell’s “2012-the End, or the Beginning?” begins at 7:30 p.m. and will conclude by 8:50 p.m. Additional upcoming lectures include Frank L. DeCourten who will share incredible images and recent discoveries during “New Dinosaurs from Old Rocks: A Prehistoric Safari to the American Southwest” on Friday, March 9 and Michael Kane who will speak about being a change agent in your community or organization, “Sustainability, Change and the Great Reset,” on Friday, May 11. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to the Dean Lecture Series by calling (530) 550-2290.

Sierra College’s Experts & Insights Dean Lecture Series is open to the public at no cost. The lecture series offers academic enrichment and intellectual exchange across a range of scholarly subjects. Open to current students and community members Experts & Insights offers an opportunity to interact with different professors who present their research-based passions. Sierra College is located at 11001 College Trail (across from Savemart) in Truckee. For more information visit www.sierracollege.edu or call (530) 550-2225.

The Secret Underground Tunnel Tour at the Cal-Neva Resort in Crystal Bay is a must see.

Enjoy a tantalizing slice of Tahoe gaming history where the infamous Rat Pack made their mark on these popular tours for only $10.

When Frank Sinatra purchased the Cal-Neva Lodge in 1960 he created an underground tunnel so he and his famous guests could pass unnoticed between the casino and their cabins.

Oh the stories the cabins could tell. But you’re in luck!

Today, the Cal-Neva Resort offers guided Tunnel Tours so you can learn about the resort’s past and the famous celebrity guests and gangsters that used the tunnel such as Marilyn Monroe (Cabin #3), Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland, Sam Giancana, and John F. Kennedy. You might even see a ghost.

Old Blue Eyes lived in Cabin #5 during his visits to Tahoe.

Tours are Wednesday and Thursday, 2pm; Friday and Saturday 4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm; and on Sunday at 2pm and 3pm. Tickets are $10 per person at the Front Desk (Price includes a 2-for-1 Drink Voucher and 10% discount in the Lakeview Dining Room. No reservations needed; tour times subject to change.) For more information about this North Lake Tahoe event, please call 775-832-4000.

Local Tip:  Enjoy a drink in the famous Circle Bar built in 1937 under the spectacular crystal dome that contains over 7,000 pieces of hand cut German crystal.

The bar was redecorated by Sinatra in 1960 who personally selected stuffed animals that he placed on a shelf that circled the room; each animal was named after one of his pals. Hence the “Rat Pack” was born and can still be felt in this legendary bar.

Cheers!

Nothing.  Billions of stars stud the clear skies, and the reflection of the moon across Lake Tahoe is incomparable.  The Northstar Guided Moonlight Tours will take place February 4, March 10 and April 7, 2012.

All tours will begin at 5pm and will depart from the Cross-Country Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center. During the 2 to 2.5 hour tour, guides will lead guests through a variety of trails and terrain. There will be 2 to 3 different routes ranging in difficulty and distance so you can chose the group you’re most comfortable with. After conquering the terrain you’ll return to the Cross-Country Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center for some live acoustic music, s’mores and hot chocolate around one of our fire pits under the moonlight.

After you’ve had time to relax, the group will trek down the last 1/2 mile to the Village at Northstar™ where the tour will end. Dogs on leashes are welcome to join in the fun!

Cost is $40for adults, $25 for kids 10 to 12 years old. Snowshoe rentals are available for $5. Reservations are required. Book your reservation online or call the Cross-Country Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center at 530.562.3270.