Glorious Lake Tahoe: July 12 to July 17, 2014

Well, it was off to our yearly trip to Lake Tahoe where we stay in the beautiful vacation home of our friends Dave and Laura.  For more info on this accommodation that you too can rent, check out my post from last year's trip or this link

We had a little trouble scheduling this this year.  At the last minute I decided to put my kids in a theater camp which meant we had to change our reservation dates pretty late in the game.  Luckily, I was successful in making camp/rental/work all line up and we were able to go.

Our Lake Tahoe trips are often full of repeat adventures--the Red Hut, Sand Harbor Beach, jet skiing--so rather than bore you with what we did AGAIN, let me pass on some previously undocumented adventures.

Hiking to the Top of Mt Tallac

Every year we spend a day hiking.  We try to be out for about 6 hours, allowing some time on the other end to visit the beach and soothe tired muscles in the icy cold waters of the lake.

We have done most of the big ones in the South Tahoe area, so we had to pull out the California Hiking book and make a family decision on where to hike.  The family decided to summit Mount Tallac, ranked a 10 out of 10 for scenery and 5 out of 5 for difficulty.  I made a promise to the family that if we were able to complete this hike, we could all go out for ice cream afterward.

Craig and I have done this trail before, 15 years ago, maybe more.  At that time I swore I would never go it again. Nine and a half miles and 7000 feet of elevation (3500 up, 3500 down) later I remembered why.

There are two trailheads that access Mt Tallac, the first, the Mt.Tallac trailhead, which we used, is located 3.8 miles north of the Y.  The other is via the Glen Alpine Trail which starts at the far shore of Fallen Leaf Lake.  The Mt Tallac Trailhead route is shorter, but steeper.

The trail passes in and out of forest initially, with a gradual but steady climb. Very soon you are offered a lovely view overlooking Fallen Leaf Lake on your left with Lake Tahoe behind you.  You pass Floating Lake at about 1.2 miles and then Cathedral Lake at 2.5 miles.  At this

Cathedral Lake

point you are just about half way to your destination, but you aint seen nothin' yet!  From here the intensity of the climb increases mightily, and it's just minutes before you are far above Cathedral Lake.  Here also is the point at which the forest canopy ends, and you are exposed to the direct sunlight as you climb 1000 ft over a very short distance up the face of the mountain to the first summit into the flatter meadows overlooking Desolation Wilderness.  By this time, friends, you are dead, and the energy to press on starts to wane.  This is where the kids started to complain--but visions of rocky road and strawberry cheesecake were strong motivators. Another two miles of steady climbing and some boulder hopping and we were there, overlooking expansive views of Lake Tahoe's south shore and Fallen Leaf Lake from 9735 ft., while chugging Gatorade and eating trail mix and beef jerky.
The cliffs made me nervous and sick to my stomach and I insisted that the kids keep a large distance from the edge.

Was it worth it?  Well, I probably would have enjoyed it more had I a helicopter.  After 

Almost there! High above Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake

climbing 3500 feet over 4.5 miles, there was now a 4.5 mile 3500 foot descent to be reckoned with.  Many say that going up is harder than going down, but for me it is the opposite. Sure the cardio aspect is less, but the muscle work is harder, and for me, the toes and feet pain is the worst.  Much of the trail is covered in bedrock, which is unstable and very hard on your feet. There is no choice but to keep going, so you endure.  The last 1.2 miles past Floating Lake was the longest of my life.  Sheer agony.


I'm in really good shape, but my quads were wicked sore for two full days.

You should do it once, to say you did.  But do it when you're young.  We concluded that this hike really is a 6 out of 5 on a difficulty scale.  Make sure you have plenty of water.  Don't even think about trying this trail if you don't have hiking boots.  Got that?  Don't even think about it!

The long road home

Everytrail.com has a nice description of this hike.

Camp Richardson Ice Cream Parlor

Well it was time to fulfill my promise.  A right turn out of Mt. Tallac Trailhead road, followed by a short trek down the road and you arrive at Camp Richardson and more importantly the Camp Richardson Ice Cream Parlor on the right side of the road. 

Free parking is somewhat of a challenge so it is safe to drop your party off and let them wait in the line likely out the front door while trying to park.  The kids working are efficient and friendly, so the wait is not painstaking, and BOY do those kids know how to cram ice

cream in a cone!!!!!!  If you have any consideration for calories at all, avoid anything larger than a kids scoop--which is PLENTY at $2.50.  With our 20000 steps and 7000 feet under our belts, we went for the single scoop for 4$ which was like two if not three large scoops if you were anywhere else.  There are about 20 flavors including some sugar free, with plenty of options for sundaes and toppings.
$20 well spent--probably put back everything I burned on that trail!

I had trouble getting exact hours but I know they are only open Memorial Day through Labor Day and probably open til 9 pm.

Pope Beach

Now if you need to get into some icy waters to cool your muscles following your long hike, or you just need a place to spend the day on a wide open beach, right down the street (Highway 89)  from Camp Richardson is Pope Beach.

The entrance fee is 8$, but this gets you into Baldwin Beach, Nevada Beach and Meeks Bay beach as well, should you decide to go there the same day.  The beach does fill on the weekends, but just because there is a sign out saying the beach is full, as when we went Sunday at 3:30, it doesn't mean it is, so it is worth waiting in the short line to check at the kiosk.

There is plenty of parking with easy access to the beach, shade, picnic tables, and plenty of bathrooms.  There is a "Tahoe Treats" lunch truck--but I only saw this on Sunday.

This beach is not as nice in my opinion as Sand Harbor State Beach.  The water is greener as opposed to blue and has more "stuff" in it, especially on a busy day.  But it costs less and is closer to the center of South Lake Tahoe activities.  The water is just as clear and refreshing.
We loved it so much we came back the next day!

My little crew enjoying lovely Pope Beach

South Tahoe SUP

I decided it was time to try out some kayaking. I had often seen people gliding along the

lake, enviously awaiting the day we could give it a try as a family. I decided that day had come and I was looking for rental possibilities.

South Tahoe Stand Up Paddle is conveniently located on Eldorado Beach in the South Lake Tahoe area.  The rental booth is easy to spot.  All registration is conveniently recorded on tablets.

They basically rent two things, stand up paddle boards and single and double kayaks, from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week. A standard stand up paddle board is 20$/hr, $35 for two hours and $65 or the whole day.  A single kayak respectively is $25, $45, and $80, and a double kayak $30, $55, and $105.  A season pass is available for $275 for an adult, seems pretty good considering you can go for a few hours every day between May 15 and Sept 15, should you be so inclined!

We rented two double kayaks and a single kayak, trusting the fourteen year old to hold her own in the single.  We were in the water by 10 and kayaked until 12. Viewing scenery by kayak is quite peaceful, and the view from 3-4 hundred feet off the shore is one that beachgoers will not get to see typically.  We were able to paddle almost all the way to Pope Beach in one hour, so it might be possible to make it to Emerald Bay with a full day rental, though sitting in a kayak all day may be uncomfortable for many.  The water was quite shallow, 3-5 feet mostly so we were able to jump out and swim and then get back into the kayak without too much difficulty.

Kayaking itself, unless you hit quite a headwind, is not very difficult, and, at least in Tahoe, is a safe activity the whole family can enjoy.

What's New at Round Hill Pines Beach and Marina?

If you have been reading by blog for a while you might have seen my post last summer mentioning the shift of our loyalties from Zephyr Cove Marina to Round Hill Pines Marina when renting personal watercraft...

Ride it like you stole it!!!

A few policies changed at Round Hill Pines, so here is the deal...

1)  Now you need to present a coupon to get the Early Bird discount (before 10).  We didn't have it and they didn't give it to us.
2)  Every driver is required to present their driver's license to drive the jet ski.   I never carry mine, and though I am always concerned that I don't have it, they always let me drive.  Anyway, since Craig had his, they allowed me to drive.
3)  Only two to a jet ski.  They said that this is because people are constantly rolling the jet skis requiring them to rescue renters and their hired watercrafts. I guess more weight increases the risk.  They let us take three if two were kids, never mind that Natalya weighs as much as a small adult.  We promised them we were not daredevils and that they didn't have to worry about us flipping the jet ski.

But Craig flipped his.  He was carrying Nicky and Natalya, i.e. he was driving the jet ski with three people.  He was at almost a full stop and a wave just pushed them over, so it really was no fault of his own.  He got it flipped right back over, so they were not in need of rescue, but there were some tense moments as the crew examined the engine of the once capsized watercraft, assessing our liability.  Not to mention feeling incredibly sheepish after our earlier moments of bravado regarding our jet skiing prowess.

Are we done jet skiing?  Maybe.  The kids are only going to get bigger, very soon mandating that we rent a third PWC, and then who's going to drive it is another issue.  It's a hoot and a half, but it's really expensive.  In fact, we could rent 5 stand up paddle boards with South Tahoe SUP for two hours and it still would not cost as much as it costs to rent just TWO jet skis for half an hour at Round Hill.  Hmm.  Not much competition when we're talking bang for your buck.

What's New at Sand Harbor State Beach?

This might not be new at all.  Maybe we never noticed it before, but suddenly you are able to rent SUP's and kayaks right on the beach at Sand Harbor!

Sand Harbor Rentals rents basically the same things that South Tahoe SUP rents, for about $5 more per hour. Location, location, location, I guess.  The rental canopy is located by the boat ramp, at an area of Sand Harbor Beach I had never ventured upon before!  Here is a little cove, with a little beach, the only area in which you can have a hard bottomed craft in the swimming area.  Some have their boats moored right along the beach!

Anyway, we had never SUP'd (sorry, just got tired of writing it out every time!) at Lake Tahoe and we were eager to give Nicholas some practice time on a still lake before trying this in Hawaii in a few weeks, so we rented two SUP's for one hour, just to play around a little.

Paddleboarding is tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it's a blast.  The trick I found is to start paddling immediately upon standing up.  This stabilizes the board.  Trying to balance on a non-moving board is a great lesson in frustration!

Once again, everyone can do it!  You can even have a small child or a dog as a passenger!  On Lake Tahoe you can get great exercise while enjoying great scenery and great water!

Okay that does it for Lake Tahoe!  Now I'm off to Hawaii!  Trying desperately to get this posted.  Sorry about the lack of personal pictures, but my water camera was in disrepair and we did do a lot on the water!!

Lake Tahoe Part 2--Here Comes the Sun: June 26-28, 2013

When we woke the morning of Wednesday the 26th, the rain was gone and the sky was blue.  Our task was set before us--cram four days worth of Lake Tahoe fun into two.

Hike from the Eagle Falls Trailhead to Middle Velma Lakes

We always try to take a hike while in Lake Tahoe.  A hike is a great way to burn some calories during a vacation during which you are eating chips and drinking margaritas every night, but more importantly, it is a great way to see areas of the wilderness that the average Lake Tahoe going couch potato doesn't get to see.

Simply Gorgeous Middle Velma Lake

There are a wide variety of hiking opportunities around the immediate South Lake Tahoe area, but I knew the one we took on this particular morning was not ranked among the easier on the hiking difficulty spectrum.  The trail to Velma Lakes is ranked as a 3 out of 5 in my book, "California Hiking" and a 9 out of 10 in terms of scenery.  Most other sources consider this trail to be intermediate to advanced and "not for novice hikers."  Though this trail actually branches to Upper, Middle and Lower Velma Lakes, the most popular and easiest of the three is the trail to Middle Velma, which will be reached 3.8 miles and 1300 feet in elevation from the Eagle Falls Trailhead, located 8.5 miles north on Highway 89 at the apex of scenic Emerald Bay.  We left our house in South Tahoe at 8:30 and were able to get one of the coveted parking spaces on the highway, close to the trailhead but not in the $5 Day Use parking fee area.
The trail follows along the very popular Eagle Lake Trail for the first mile, and then branches off on its own toward your Velma Lakes destination.  The entire trail offers spectacular views and some very rugged hiking.  We had Middle Velma Lake all to ourselves.  The water is too cold for swimming (and that's saying something because we swim in Lake Tahoe) but it was sure nice to dip those hot "new hiking boots" feet into the icy water and sit a little.  Unfortunately, we did this trail in a bit of a time crunch, so we really pushed ourselves.  Some pretty wicked foot pain ensued on the way down and some pretty serious muscle aching followed us around for a few days.
I do recommend this hike but it is not for the faint of heart. Ninety percent just ain't gonna make it.

Round Hill Pines Beach and Marina

Well, when you go to Lake Tahoe, you simply have to patronize a marina.  This is the place you go to rent your kayaks, canoes, motorboats, jet skis, and board your paddlewheel boats for scenic historic tours of Emerald Bay on the Tahoe Queen or the MS Dixie II.  There are marinas all over the South Tahoe area:  Ski Run, El Dorado, Camp Richardson, just to name a few.  We used to be a Zephyr Cove family, but for the last several years we have been going to Round Hill Pines.
Round Hill Pines is closer to South Lake Tahoe and is not nearly as crowded. One year we went to Zephyr Cove and they told us we couldn't rent more than one jet ski at a time.  What???  Well, that solved that.  We found another marina.  Zephyr Cove probably has more boats and selection, but their silly one time rule pushed us elsewhere.  The lake is the lake and a jet ski is a jet ski, and jet skiing on Lake Tahoe is an absolute hoot.  You can rent for half an hour or one hour at a time.  When you do it like we do half an hour is plenty. I also recommend that the driver have plenty of upper body strength in order to handle the jet ski, otherwise your arms could rip right out of the sockets.  I am always good and sore after a morning on a jet ski.
Round Hill Pines Marina is located at 325 Highway 50, 89448, 5 minutes east of the Nevada state line.

Sand Harbor State Beach

Truly this could be a posting all by itself.  Sand Harbor State Beach holds a place on my list of the 10 best places in the world, and truly may be in the top three if I ever really took the time to make such a list.
My husband and I discovered Sand Harbor while on a little weekend getaway to Reno almost ten years ago.  We loved it so much on Saturday that we returned on Sunday, and since then it has been a "must do" on all our trips to Lake Tahoe.
Sand Harbor is located about 40 minutes from South Lake Tahoe on Nevada State route 28 just south of Incline Village and about 8 miles north of Spooner Lake and the Highways 50 and 28 junction.
It costs 12$ to park at Sand Harbor and there's not an easy way to avoid this fee.  When we come we prefer to park a little farther south from the entrance, which seems to be less crowded but still close to restrooms and walking distance from anything you would need to get to.
The water at Sand Harbor is perfectly clear and still.  From our little yellow inflatable raft floating on the cold waters you can turn to face the granite and green cliffs that encase the swimming area.  For those who dare (and we dare) the swimming area is large and safe.  There are restrooms with showers nearby, a small restaurant/grill, picnic areas with barbeque pits, and lifeguards.  To the north portion of the beach there is a Trex decking pathway that leads along an interpretive trail and to a lot of boulders for rock hopping.  Sand Harbor is also home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare (www.laketahoeshakespeare.com/) festival that runs every summer.

Over the rocks....

One thing we have started doing at Sand Harbor is catching crawdads (or crayfish, whichever you prefer).  All you need is some sticks, a weight, long string, bait and a large bucket to collect whatever you catch.

Dang!  I fell for the hot dog trick again!

Crawdads are small lobster like creatures that tend to live in dark crevices and under rocks submerged in water.  They are super stupid and can't resist that bit of salami or hot dog when dangled right in front of them.  They come out from under the rocks and slowly approach their new found meal. Greedily they cling, failing to realize they are being drawn out of the water.  The transfer to the bucket is the hard part, as this seems to be the moment of realization of impending capture, causing many to release the bait for a shot at a longer life.
Anyway, over the years we have gotten quite sophisticated.  We used to tie the bait up with rocks but rocks get loose easily so now we have graduated to nuts or washers, which work far better.  We have tried all kinds of bait, ranging from chicken gizzards to ribs to salami.  Craig says salami works best.  One bit of trouble is fighting off the little fish that also like the bait.  They can be quite a nuisance, as they block the path to the bait.  We also have a huge "True Value" paint bucket now, no more sand toys.
Anyway, sometimes they are biting, sometimes not.  We see how many we can catch and then we let them go.  Most are really small and wouldn't make much of a snack anyway.
At Sand Harbor you can catch crawdads anywhere there are rocks in the water.  We always go to the end of the interpretive trail and jump over some boulders and down to a little enclosed space just sheltered from the open lake.  Flip flops are ill advised.  Whenever doing any kind of boulder hopping I recommend a good pair of water sneakers everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Anyway!  Once you've dumped your crayfish, Sand Harbor is a great place to brave jumping off

boulders into the icy Lake Tahoe waters!  Once we get started it's hard to stop--it's fun and a little scary and downright cold all at once!  Simply crawl out through the boulders to the open lake, find a deep enough spot (which is easy to determine because the water is so clear) and JUMP!!

Magic Carpet Golf

Well, remember our mode where we had to cram four days of Tahoe into two?  Well, after leaving Sand Harbor Beach at 5 my kids insisted that we go to Magic Carpet Golf because ....we always do!!!
Magic Carpet Golf is located at 2455 Lake Tahoe Blvd in South Lake Tahoe and weather permitting is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.  There are three available courses, Dinosaur and Storybook, which are the usual 18 holes and cost $8.50 and Castle, which is 28 holes, newer, and costs $12.
Since we had no time constraints today, we chose at long last, Castle.
The place is pure camp.  The astroturf is a little warped and the paint is chipping on most of the features, which has been hastily painted over with more paint which is also chipping.  Last I checked though mini golf is not


Truly one of the scariest things
I've ever seen.

highly stressful serious type of pastime, so these things are easily overlooked.  You have your usual pirate ship, your pterodactyl, your windmill, your waterwheel, and very special and unique to this place on the dinosaur course is the "evil monkey" with its beady red eyes and its very very very scary tail.  See for yourself. We only had one freakish experience here this time when an employee took it upon herself to come over and explain the rules of miniature golf (something about everyone hitting once and then they person closest to the hole going next) and then asked if we were playing that way??!!  We weren't, but there was no crowd or back up behind us.  I did notice it was past eight so I asked if she needed us to hurry because they were closing. "No, I'm just telling you the right way to play."  Whatevs!!!  I didn't know I was going to run into the mini-golf police??  She wasn't unpleasant--it was just totally weird....


Thank you for reading this post!  We are off to Pennsylvania for three weeks!  Look for upcoming posts about "the Keystone state!"