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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
It’s not an outlaw. It’s not a rebel. And it’s definitely not the bad boy. It’s just Homewood.
Accustomed to operating below the national media radar, little ‘Homie’ has the inconspicuous feel of a forgotten prom date wedged between the King and Queen of the class. But while Tahoe’s ‘finer’ resorts try to serve eggs benedict every morning, Homewood’s got its shirt sleeves rolled up to dish out mama’s tasty home fries.
This is not only the closest ski area to Granlibakken (except for The Big G’s own little hill!) but it is the best one for the biggest, closest views of Lake Tahoe. There are some mellow runs where you look up from your ski tips to see piers, mooring fields and mile after mile of big blue lake – it’s awesome. I am not big into resort stickers but I have one of theirs on my rig.
Because Homewood faces east it is sheltered from the high winds that come with Sierra storms. Heavy clouds get hung up on the higher surrounding ridges and unthinkable piles of snow bury this 1260-acre ski area. Also, it is entirely below the tree line and has almost 600 acres of glades so visibility (and conditions) during near-whiteout conditions is actually good.
The great Homewood irony, though, is this. The West Shore of Tahoe lies about 200 yards from its lowest ski runs making for the region’s best lake views. But like a blindfolded sultan at a bellydancing championship, the views for skiers are lost on these epic storm days.
So no matter what day you go to Little Homie chances are it will be the most memorable of your ‘downhill’ days in Tahoe. Check it out and don’t forget to swing into the little shop at the bottom for your sticker…
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Touring is something that’s well known throughout the ski world. Usually it requires adapted gear and special skills that help folks reach lofty goals and loftier peaks. Avalanche training, guides and maps are all part of the game. So maybe you don’t have all that stuff nor do you really care about letting a lot hang out just so you can get some fresh air in the mountains. Well, sometimes I feel exactly the same way – like today.
 Squaw Valley towers over the Village ‘Backcountry’ is the phrase typically used in the States for going hiking back in the wilds. ‘Sidecountry’ is a newer word used to describe terrain that you can access from a resort’s boundaries. And ‘frontcountry’ is the word we lazier skiers use when talking to those who go after the other ‘countries.’ It makes us feel like we actually accomplished something special – and in front of the right audience it sounds pretty cool. Today my group skied the frontcountry and we did it right.
A classic Squaw frontcountry tour goes from one end of the joint to the other. Squaw (see map) has a ridgeline that’s about 6 miles long with 30 chairs scattered along the way. It starts at the Squaw Creek Resort chair and goes all the way over to Solitude. You must take a lap on Silverado and finally you need to hit Broken Arrow. It takes about 2 hours to get from one side to the other but double that if you want to reinspect some of the gems you find along the way – there are plenty! Just like any classic backcountry tour, this one ends with a Holy Grail at the end of the trail: the Arc Bar at Gold Coast.
 Arc Bar at Gold Coast
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Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Almost 80 inches of snow in December…so far. Almost all Tahoe resorts are open and the skiing is phenomenal. In fact, last Monday (12/7) was one of those rare days when the un-thinkable was sometimes uttered: “is this too deep?!” So Tahoe is doing what Tahoe does best – sucking in big, big storms that roll in and out of this incredibly beautiful lake basin. The last one brought 42” to the top of Squaw in 2.5 days and Granlibakken has one of those picture-perfect white blankets on everything.
 Sunny and Snowing...
And that includes the sledding hill which was absolutely ROCKIN’ today! Parents and kids were out in full force to enjoy the best plastic schussing in all of Tahoe. The local Rotary Club and Granlibakken hosted a free sledding BBQ with hot dogs, ice cream, hot cocoa, cookies, hot cider and then we saw the fat man – yes, Santa rode in on a firetruck accompanied by the local high school jazz band. Hundreds of kids and parents gathered at the Ski Hut deck where we had a full concert going while Santa sat on a flatbed and asked the kids what they wanted for Christmas. The whole time there was that ‘Snow-Globe-Snow’ falling from occasionally sunny skies so it was a perfect opener to the season for Tahoe’s coziest resort.
If you want to get in on The Perfection (!), then you should get up here. The midweek ski package is only $109/person for room, awesome breakfast at Granlibakken, and then a full day of skiing at Squaw, Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl or Sierra-at-Tahoe. Ski packages are available for most of the season, prices vary during holidays/weekends so please call for more info.
You can also spend the holidays here. Granlibakken has a skiing Torchlight Parade with the second-hardest working man in showbiz – Santa Claus. There’s also a Christmas Buffet dinner on the 25th. If you’re booked for that one then get here for New Year’s with dinner and a party plus champagne and dessert. Put it this way: things are happening up here. You can be as active or stationary as you please – the hot tubs are bubbling and the snow is here. See you soon!
 Plastic Schussers' Delight  A Good Part of the little valley 
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Sunday, October 11th, 2009
When I was a schoolkid back in Jersey learning about how the US was settled they told us that the ‘crazies’ went to California. I always thought this was a funny idea and that my teacher must never have ventured beyond the Mississippi to come out with a generalization like that. Well having lived here for almost 15 years I would now guess that the guy may have been born in the state and knew it well…
 Yes, that is Tahoe. No there's no boat! Although other parts of Cali let this weirdness come out in all sorts of ways many are social such as scenes you may see in the cities – Bay to Breakers in SF, and Oakland Raiders game, and just about anything that happens in Venice, LA. Well the ‘crazies’ here in Tahoe don’t get too funky out on the streets or at the high school football games. We get weird in outdoorsy ways. One of the stranger ones around is the crew of mutants who surf Tahoe every chance they get.
Powerful Pacific storms and our location high in the mountains can generate pretty serious winds. They can happen on bright blue days when folks are out on the beaches. All of a sudden there’s a rustle in the trees, a subtle wind line appears a couple miles out on the Lake and next thing you know it’s whitecapping just about everywhere. The prime place for surfing on Tahoe is the North Shore. Most of the winds we get are southerly (because of the way storms spin when they approach) so when you let them run rampant over 20+ miles of light water you get an incredible fetch.
Waves here are sloppy in most places although there are some gem spots where it doesn’t even feel windy nor choppy when conditions are right. Generally, though, it’s like a mini-Ocean Beach (SF) with multiple lines of whitewash to contend with while paddling out. There are so many surreal things about the surfing experience on Tahoe and here are a few:
No sharks!
The water is so incredibly clear and fresh that it’s unlike anywhere you’ve ever surfed. You can mistakenly get some in your mouth and doggedly decide to swallow…because you can and it tastes great!
On the coast when winds pick up, it’s over. Here you keep hoping that the wind sustains all day
Even if you surf back east in the snow, it’s even weirder when you look west and catch glimpses of Squaw as it braces for another pounding today which you know means a good pow day tomorrow
When surfing at Sand Harbor on the East Shore you’re directly under the Bear Claw which rises 3000’ out of the Lake. Some of us ski this backcountry-style in the season and seeing it from the water is quite the unique perspective
One of my favorite things about a good surf day at Tahoe (and we had two of them last week) is also one of the elements of a surf break anywhere in the world: people stopping and looking, taking about the swell and how it is there compared to other nearby spots. Some folks living in Tahoe sacrifice things like quality shopping, culture and diversity to be here. For me, not having these regular surf ‘meetings’ is one of the little ‘misses.’ So even if you’re not into surfing but you’re up here when the wind is whistling feel free to pull up your hoodie and get into the chatting circle because having people from out of town ask about conditions is also a part of the worldwide surf meeting….
 Litttttle Surfer Gurrrrrllll......
Tags: tahoe granlibakken "full moon" squaw kayak paddle paddleboard boating surf surfing "surf tahoe" surfing tahoe"
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Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
For many native Californians this may seem a little inappropriate. Heck, even for some Tahoe locals this may be pushing it. I am here to tell you that now is a great time to go boating on the Lake.
 Follow That Bow... True: it’s not even 70 degrees out. True: there’s snow on the high peaks. True: most people have stopped swimming in the Lake. But also true: just about everything goes better with beer…
Well if these things make you absolutely not want to get on a floating craft and make your way across Tahoe, well just give this a read and think of next summer. For the rest of you who are hardy enough, consider hooking yourself up with a day on this incredible, and boat-traffic-free, body of October water.
One of the best things you can do on a boat here at Tahoe is simply cruise around and check out this amazing place. You can mix in other activities like eating and cocktailing at joints where you pull up to their pier. Or you can do boat sports and the like but I enjoy a simple ride to the less-traveled spots. From Tahoe City (near Granlibakken) the most obvious thing to do is head down to Emerald Bay. Although that’s gorgeous let’s save it for next summer…and go where the sun and water are warmer: Tahoe’s East Shore.
 The Bear Claw Point the bow just north of what we call the Bear Claw (long vertical scratches in a huge mountain) and you’ll find yourself at the historic landmark Thunderbird Lodge. This place is a whole essay in and of itself – and actually you’re probably better off ‘touristing’ the place on land. That’s when you get to walk through the tunnels, see the ladder in the pool from a man who had his last fall there, check out the cages for the former owner’s lion and elephant, his waterfalls for unclothed beauty’s, etc. From the water you can marvel at the ‘garage’ which houses the infamous SS Thunderbird.
From the Thunderbird you can putt-putt south along the coastline where the mountains come steeply down into the Lake. The boulders that have bounced down these cliffs rest now in the bottom of the bluest water we have. Snorkeling and swimming around these behemoths makes you feel as though you’re floating among dinosaurs. It’s very cool – and you can get the sensation by swimming for even a minute above them (ie. if it’s too cool to dive in and around). My father-in-law was curious how deep we were at one point. When I told him 25 – 30 feet, he almost laughed at me because it looks like 10. He believed after watching me take a huge breath and dive down, down, down before pushing to come up holding a rock from the bottom and gasping as I broke the surface (and my eardrums).
 just another East Shore point We continued the stroll south and then simply picked a miniature cove and threw out the anchor. We stayed there for over an hour watching osprey fly high overhead and listening to squirrels and small birds rustling in the brush. A simple picnic lunch always tastes best on the water so we feasted on whatever was thrown in the cooler. Oh, and we saw a friend cruising by in his boat so we bummed a couple beers…
 Looking DEEEEP into the Blue
Tags: tahoe granlibakken "full moon" squaw kayak paddle paddleboard boating
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Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Loud motors, shining chrome, tattoos, leather and hair flying in the breeze: sound like a nice way to spend some time in the woods? Heck yeah, it does!
 Which is prettier, the Lake or the Harley? Street Vibrations in Reno has had Tahoe a-hum this week. The bars have been a little rowdier, the roads a little busier, and the poker tables a little richer. This is one of the great things about Tahoe – all kinds of folks can find what makes them happy up here. And for those of us who live at 6200’ it brings diversity the likes of which we haven’t seen since…three weeks ago when we had our regular invasion of Burning Man freaks!
Yes, this is a great time to be on vacation in Tahoe. The sun’s out, the crowds are gone and we have sports back on the boobtube. Also, there are some great acts hitting the bars and especially the Crystal Bay Club. And for you motorcycle-folk, this is prime time because the roads are dry and even though it’s warm, you won’t cook in those leathers.
 A father/daughter dance... The run around Tahoe is 72-miles and although you could buzz the Lake in about 2.5 hours most people make a half-day of it, that is unless they make the mistake of venturing into a casino along the way. Starting in Tahoe City most folks ride until they hit the East Shore where there are some nice pullouts. Along this windy road that traces the shore of a great NV State Park the views are awesome and unlike some other stretches, they aren’t blocked by overbuilt lakefront palaces. A nice stop is Sand Harbor where you can put those toes deep into Tahoe’s unique and fine granitic sand. Continue cruising south and you’ll do the only tunnel on the ride before passing the famous Edgewood Golf Club home of the NBC Celebrity golf tournament. Next you’ll be under the biggest casinos at Tahoe. I recommend stopping at Womack’s BBQ just after you cross the stateline back into California (closed on Sundays). Then you ride the extended South Shore strip before turning north again to hit the gem – Emerald Bay. These are the tightest turns on the route (10mph hairpins) and also the one true knife ridge where a tipped bike could go down either side for 500 feet. There are a few nice parking areas and interpretive signs giving some history of the Lake and its only island. Continue north and you’ll see more of that big blue water before arriving in Tahoma, the farthest south post office on the West Shore. You’ll pass two nice marinas at Homewood then the famous deck of Sunnyside Restaurant, just a couple miles south of Granlibakken. Pull on into the Big G for some rest, maybe a hot tub and you’ve earned yourself just about any sort of dining option you can imagine.
 Street Vibrations crowd watching the fireworks This past week I saw a sleeved (tattoo’ed entirely up one arm) biker giddy as a schoolgirl when he told his mates about the beauty of his circum-ride-ulation of the Lake. This big guy went on to say that he rented a kayak that morning to go back and see the impossibly blue waters of the East Shore. He looked about as likely to ride a kayak as Bill Gates would be burning wheelies on this dude’s Harley – but he did it. And it’s great because while here, he rubbed off on us and the Lake rubbed off on him –I just hope it didn’t rub hard enough to remove any of those tattoos….
 Fireworks and Motley Crue - and they say California knows how to party
Tags: tahoe resort "lake tahoe resort" "tahoe resort" pool pools swimming tennis hiking Squaw skiing "mountain biking" motorcycle moto ride "circum-ride-ulation" Sunnyside "street vibrations" reno "south sh
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Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
Get yourself an innertube, grab an old lawnchair, or better yet get your group hooked up with Granlibakken’s Sales Department and float the Truckee in style…
 Mariah Hernandez enjoying the Float... The Truckee River has been a harbinger of good things ever since people started liking lots of snow. When flowing high it proves that we recently had a great winter. All that runoff from mighty Lake Tahoe has to flow through Tahoe City’s ‘Fanny Bridge’ and the dam right above it. So that means that the water from the Jewell of the Sierra is carried solely by the Truckee River. Though ‘The Truckee’ has some exciting rapids as it parallels Rte. 80 through the canyon just before Reno, the portion of the river up our way is much more mellow. The main rafting excitement comes from being unprepared – mentally and/or gear-wise – for the low-grade rapids between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows.
“Oh my gosh, honey – I’m in a tree!” It was my mother-in-law laughing and screaming at me as I lazily sipped on a deliciously cold Budweiser in the rear our raft. I was the guy in charge of steering this blue marshmallow and was asleep at the wheel. We slowly spun and scraped along some willow bushes before heading backwards down the rapids. You see, that’s what happens on the Truckee. You enter a state of mind wished for in those Corona ads; a state of mind which you usually have to fly halfway across the globe, or at least out of the US, to find. Only problem I had on this particular day was the m-i-l who was getting tenderized and letting me know about it! In classic Truckee fashion, the raft corrected itself from the bushes (and her butt) and we safely made it down the bumpy little rapids.
 This is a 'small' party on the Truckee The river snakes its way five miles through an absolutely gorgeous valley with huge ridges all along both sides. Fields of cattails lead to wide areas of marsh grass. Other sections have sandy-beach islands with cut-throughs where you can try to make your way down the side less-travelled. Deep pools make your raft a diving board and other spots can transform it into a slip’n’slide if you flip it over. Tahoe’s famous clarity makes the river an awesome place to spot rainbow trout which are also closely watched by osprey and bald eagles high above (mergansers get a good look at them, too, as they dive for edibles below the surface). Along the banks you’ll also find conveniences like port-o-potties and trash cans, sometimes there’s an ice cream cart, and at the end is the well-known River Ranch with delicious grill food, punch and anything else you could want.
 The Infamous Gumpipe (sorry to mention it right after the food) I’ve seen people float the river on non-buoyant lawn chairs. I’ve seen people in full wetsuits in November. I’ve even seen paddleboarders out there – going upstream. But the easiest way to ‘do’ the river is sign up with the Truckee River Raft Co. (530-583-0123) or with Mountain Air Sports (530-583-RAFT).
If you book it for your group with Granlibakken you’ll be on board one of Truckee River Rafting’s boats and have a catered lunch for you right on the riverbank if you like. Nobody else can offer this – Granlibakken’s property runs almost to the river itself so you get hooked up! Just ask your group sales contact or call the front desk in advance.
 Go Home on Bike - the bike path runs along it... And don’t forget, Granlibakken has a room special going for Labor Day, Veteran’s Day (Nov.11), and Thanksgiving: Stay Two Nights and Get the Third Free!
Also, for Labor Day there is a free concert on Tahoe City’s Commons Beach with Marcia Ball and the Blues Monsters. Granlibakken will provide Picnic Box lunches for guests who sign up to go.
© 2009 Alex West (incl. all photos)
Tags: granlibakken truckee "truckee river" rafting "truckee river rafting"
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Friday, August 7th, 2009
 A Scene on the Move Believe it or not but standing up does have a scene. I’m not talking about babies walking for the first time or raising an obelisk. No, this scene is aquatic and even though many folks are impressed with a story about walking on water, this particular scene somehow doesn’t seem like it should be very impressive – but it is!
 A One-Man Scene... There is a relatively new sport to the mainland US which hit Tahoe a few years ago: Stand-up Paddleboarding. It’s a blend of kayaking and surfing but while doing it you feel more like anything that you’re hiking…on water…without moving your legs. I guess it’s a tough one to boil down but suffice it to say that if you enjoy spending time on the water, you have to try ‘SUP.’
There are two ways to go about it. One is touring style. A new local company called Tahoe SUP has committed to this way of paddling. Their boards are made from environmentally-friendly materials and utilize high-end design specs. The other local outfit is Tahoe Paddle & Oar which also has the long cruisers but they also make boards for surfing. On a lake, the ones for surf are a lot slower but lots of fun when the wind kicks up and things get frothy. Going out against the waves is as fun as trying to get pushed home by them. New boards run from $1400 – $3000 so renting is a fantastic option! Just a couple minutes from Granlibakken you can pick one up at Tahoe City Kayak starting at $18.
 The Valois Family, Scening The stand-up paddle scene on Tahoe is growing exponentially each year. Every self-respecting kayak shop now has sales, rentals and some have tours – there are even SUP fitness classes. It’s the really low-impact workout combined with mellow water-time and Tahoe’s famous clarity that have made the sport blow up here. You can go as strenuously or lazily as you please. You can chat with the person next to you. You can test your balance while coasting among Tahoe’s famous submerged boulders.
A really fun way to experience the Stand Up Scene is to join in on one of the rallies. The next one is Tahoe’s biggest and it’s call Ta-Hoe Nalu on August 15. You’ll see venders, there are usually free demos, and you’ll get a good feel for this mellow watersport has many of us hooked.
The best sites for local info are tahoecitykayak.net, tahoepaddle.com, tahoesup.com, and www.ta-hoenalu.com.
And don’t forget, Granlibakken has a room special going for Labor Day, Veteran’s Day (Nov.11), and Thanksgiving: Stay Two Nights and Get the Third Free!
© 2009 Alex West (incl. all photos)
 PJ's Scene
Tags: lake tahoe SUP "stand up" paddle kayak "tahoe nalu"
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Friday, July 31st, 2009
Before moving here I’d never really given moonrises their due. Maybe because it was always rainy, foggy or just too darn humid to see anything back East. In reality it’s probably because I didn’t live anywhere that showcased the moon as spectacularly as Lake Tahoe – and I didn’t know people as crazy the locals here who do all sorts of weird stuff in that ethereal glow.
 Partying with Natural Fireworks At Squaw, the nastiest skiers attack closed sections of the mountain – the Tram Face in particular – under the light of the moon because they know they won’t get caught…if they live. Snowshoers revel in these bright nights, too. Up above Granlibakken at Paige Meadows people drag kegs and wood and whatever else they need for late-night vigils on nights when the moon is round. In summer, mountain bikers get it on with lights which are powered by batteries that have been adapted to fit in their water bottle holders. I was recently asked to join a group of world-class athletes in a moonlight paddleboarding rally later this summer. The plan is to cross the Lake from East to West. Actually these guys will have already crossed the long way (South to North, roughly 21 miles) earlier that day – I’m just one of the hacks who’ll join them for the ‘easy’ passage 10 miles to the East Shore.
 The view from Blackwood's Picnic Area But one of the best things to do on a Full Moon is simply pick a good spot and watch it rise. Tahoe’s West Shore is one of the best places in the world to watch a moonrise. You can have a drink at Sunnyside or in Homewood, or go even more low key and hit the public pier and BBQ area directly across from Blackwood Canyon. This is a five minute drive from Granlibakken – you just go a couple miles past Sunnyside and watch for the “Blackwood / Caspian Wilderness” sign. There are a number of grills and picnic benches. For the romantically inclined there’s even a beautiful old stump with a 2-person bench carved on the lake-facing side and a big old heart on the back.
 Two Lovebirds on the bench for the first time Another incredible place to take in a Tahoe moonrise is at the top of any mountain peak. The easiest to reach are those at Squaw because the tram runs all summer. Once there you can either hang at the huge decks of High Camp or hike 30 minutes and reach your favorite ski summit. The amazing thing about being this high is that you literally feel the pendulum of the universe (stay with me): you’ll watch a burning sun disappear in the lower ranges that approach the Valley and then, just like watching tennis on TV, glance the opposite direction and you’ll see the first fringe of that impossibly-colored moon coming over the eastern side of the Sierra and light the Lake on silver fire.
Squaw has organized hikes on August 4 & 5 (and also Sunset Hikes throughout the month), catch the 6pm tram. On August 5, Tahoe City Kayak is hosting a full moon paddle. Also, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association is having a guided hike in Tahoe Meadows on Aug 6. Get out there and feel that light!
And don’t forget, Granlibakken has a room special going for Labor Day, Veteran’s Day (Nov.11), and Thanksgiving: Stay Two Nights and Get the Third Free!
© 2009 Alex West (incl. all photos
Tags: tahoe granlibakken "full moon" squaw kayak paddle paddleboard
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