On Tuesday evening there was a great party hosted at Fifty/Fifty where the check of $4000 was passed along to Truckee Trails.  They plan to use the money for environmental feasibility studies and preparation for the final stages of the Legacy Trail connecting Regional Park to Glenshire.  Currently there is work being done to add 3/4 of a mile to the trail which will complete the summer 2010 stage but there are still about 3 miles to go so any funding towards the project is greatly appreciated.

Truckee Trails is an amazing foundation and I had the privilege to meet a couple of the women working with the project.  To learn more about this and other Truckee Trails projects and events check out their website.

So bring your own boats or find a different activity because the river will be calm and quiet (compared to normal) this weekend with the late snow melt.  The last time this happened was in 2006.  For more info see recent article in the Sierra Sun.

With the extended winter weather, summer seemed like it would never get here, but just when warmer temps were starting to feel unattainable…BOOM….SUMMER’S HERE!!  I was on a trip over the weekend to a friends cabin in Silver Lake (near Lake Almanor) driving home with dirty kids, bug bites and smoky clothes, I couldn’t help but smile sitting in summer road construction with the window rolled down and an 89 degree temp reading in the car.  I am doing my best to abstain from any type of complaint about being too hot or the traffic and delays from seasonal road work.  To think that I had my down jacket on 2 weeks ago when the snow was flying is hard to imagine, but I’m just glad the floats in the 4th of July parade aren’t going to have to chain up!!

With all that said, there are some great events going on over the holiday.  Check out below for some of them and see the Tahoe Donner and Truckee websites for additional information.

TAHOE DONNER BEACH CLUB MARINA

Saturday July 3rd and Sunday July 4th the Tahoe Donner Beach Club Marina will be providing special hours.  With the gates opening at 6AM, you can launch your boat or just get an early start unloading beach gear before the crowds hit.  Also, there will be a shuttle service between the beach parking lot and the high school parking lot from 10AM-10PM on the 3rd and 10AM-midnight on the 4th for overflow parking.  The fireworks will be the night of the 4th with great visibility from Tahoe Donner beach.  For more info contact the Tahoe Donner Beach Club Marina at (530) 587-9460.

TAHOE DONNER DOWNHILL CLEANUP

Every year hundreds of things get buried under the snow around our homes, businesses and play areas.  Wednesday June 30th is a great time to contribute to the annual clean up by going to the Tahoe Donner downhill area.  Trash bags, clean up gear, water and snacks will be provided.  Just show up at 10AM and enjoy some good exercise while you clean the area!  For more information, contact the downhill ski area at (530) 587-9463

FREE CONCERT AT PIZZA ON THE HILL

If you are looking for something to do Saturday July 3rd before the local parade and firework festivities, head out to Pizza on the Hill in Tahoe Donner for some good eats and great tunes from 6-9PM.  If pizza’s not your thing, just bring a picnic and blanket to enjoy the music.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT!!!

For any of you visiting town or locals who just want a night out, Tahoe Donner is offering a $15 (per child) opportunity to do so for kids ages 4-9.  Games, pizza, movie and story time will be part of the festivities so get out there for an evening hike, bike ride or dinner in town.  Call the Recreation Info Hut at (530) 587-9413 to register.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST, FUN RUN AND PARADE ON THE 4TH

Whether you are running or just watching, the Truckee Fun Run is a good time all around.  All ages are welcome for the one mile run which starts just before the parade at Tahoe Forest Hospital; ends at train depot. Info: (530) 426-3313, truckeefunrun.com

Support the Truckee Fire Department and enjoy a great breakfast before the parade starts.  Come to the central fire department located next to Wild Cherries and donate (recommend $5/person) for great pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice.  Great activities with bounce slide and fire truck tours for the kids.  Come early (I like to go around 7:30 or as it get’s crowded quick!!  My husband Erik Jitloff will be there flipping flapjacks, so come meet some local fireman and support a good cause. The parade starts here so after your belly is full, pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the beginning of the parade or drive downtown and watch the end with commentary and local vendors.

The Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center is officially open starting today, June 12th.  If you are in town Thursday-Monday it’s open for trail rides, private lessons and pony rides for kids and mid week is open for various camps.

THE LODGE DECK IS OPEN AND SERVING LUNCH

If you haven’t done so already, check out The Lodge in Tahoe Donner.  It’s a great place to eat lunch (in summer) or dinner (year round) and with the golf course now open, you can enjoy a round or just sit on the deck and take in the sunshine and great views of the course.  The lunch menu is limited now, but starting June 28th there will be a full menu.

TROUT CREEK HOURS OF OPERATION

Today is opening day of the pool and summer hours!
Monday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
*For more information, contact Trout Creek Recreation Center at (530) 587-9437.

This is a great place to hang at the pool, bring the kids to the playground and get a workout in at the fitness center while you are it.

April 11
*Boreal (no night rides after April 3)

*Diamond Peak Ski Resort

*Homewood

*Tahoe Donner Cross Country and Downhill

*Roay Gorge Cross Coutnry

*Tahoe Cross Country (if conditions remain good, until April 18th)

April 18th

*Alpine Meadows (open weekends until May 16th, weather permitting)

*Mt. Rose

*Northstar

April 25th

*Kirkwood

*Heavenly

*Sugar Bowl (limited operating until May)

May 9

*Squaw Valley

Last week many locals were cruising around town in shorts and flip flops, pulling bikes out of their garages and pumping up tires, gearing up to hit the nearest dry trail.  This week the snowblowers are back, boots out of closets and skis on car racks.  This occurance is very typical, but every year it’s seems to be a SURPRISE!!  It’s not so much the ramifications of having to move snow once again, it’s the mental shift from one season to another…and then back again…

My son Colby couldn’t be more thrilled to pull out his shovel and watch the tractors pass, but most “big kids” would give anything to rewind time and experience the bliss of last weeks warm temps and visions of summer bbqs.

It won’t be long until we’re back to spring and the good news is that this time of year the snow never last long.  It seems to melt at record rates and we’ll all be so much happier when this snow turns to water and our lakes and rivers are that much higher come summertime.

Enjoy the day, play in the snow and see the seasons through the eyes of a child!

Colby Jitloff (age 3) skiing

Passes are out!  Squaw has released, yet again, an amazing deal on
winter passes.  Starting at $369, you can ski with black out days
holidays and most Saturdays.  For many locals who work mid week and
prefer to avoid the slopes during busy days, this deal can’t be passed
up.  If you are a weekend warrior, there are 3 other levels ranging up
to the full package at $1599.  If Alpine is your spot, you can now
purchase a pass for $339 (similar restrictions) and Mt. Rose for $433.
Below is a more detailed breakdown of some local resorts and their
pricing…don’t miss out, some of these rates are offered for a limited
time!

Alpine-$339-$699

Alpine/Homewood combo-$459

Boreal-$129-$239 (only available through April 4)

Diamond Peak-$363-$454 (plus ski free the rest of this season)

Heavenly-$339-$599

Homewood-not yet available

Kirkwood-not yet available

Mt. Rose-$433 (plus ski free the rest of this season)

Northstar-$259-$699

Northstar/Sierra at Tahoe Combo-$359-$699

Sierra at Tahoe-$199-$279

Squaw Valley-$369-$1599

Sugar Bowl-not yet available

Tahoe Donner-not yet available

Prices:  Adult $42, Kids (16 and under $22)

If you like crab, cookies and pasta this is the place for you to be on March 20th.  Truckee Rotary is hosting it’s annual crab feed and this year is featuring KidZone to host the live auction and raffle.  100% of proceeds with go to KidZone Museum.  Check out the list of prized below.  I personally would love to win the private dinner party by Chef Billly McCullough from Dragonfly, one of my favorite restaurants in town.  For $5/ticket or 5 for $20, this is money well spent to support a great cause in the community and potentially win some fantastic prizes.  You don’t have to be present to win if you aren’t able to make the event.

The live auction and raffle includes a chance to bid on or win amazing prizes, including a beach cruiser bike, Burton Snowboard, SF Giants tickets, ski passes, Santa Cruz beach house getaway, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort on Lake Tahoe stay, Squaw Valley get away, scenic plane ride, NorthStar golf, restaurant gift certificates including a private dinner party by Chef Billy McCullough of Dragonfly, and many more prizes.