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SIERRA NEVADA Tread Lightly

SIERRA NEVADA Tread Lightly

SIERRA Tread lightly. ing ghosttownsleftbehindbyCalifornia’s earlywhite settlersandminers. Andnow you. the presence ofitsfirstpeople,Native Americantribeswhostillcallithome;thedecompos- Tahoe,South andnearby Reno. MammothLakes the state, here options,especially in you’llfindplentyofexcellentfoodandentertainment the fire of ofawoodsy19th-centurylodge. cosmopolitansection Though notaparticularly toseebearsandotherwildlife.valleys, andtheomnipresent opportunity humbled bytheenduringgroves ofsolemngiant sequoias,theancientrockformationsand . Tahoe,expanse ofLake orstop to catchtheirbreath astheyascendthesoutherngiant of explore slopesandsuicidalchutes thehushedpine-tree hovering over theglittering blue androckclimbing. andsnowboarders backpacking Skiers biking, white-water rafting,hiking, and DeathValley, almostadozen peakshave toppedoutover 14,000ft. atthebasinofNevada Nevada andWhite Mountainrangesfinallydropbackdowntoearth tosouth.WhentheSierra throwsupan exquisite topographicalbarrierfromnorth With fiercegranite mountainsstandingwatchover theeastern high-altitudelakes, spineof Nevada Sierra 350 © LonelyPlanetPublications History unfolds hereHistory atvaryingrates of speed: thetimelessnessofphysicallandscape; At thecloseofday, youcansoothyoursoulinapieceofhot-springs heaven, orby In themajesticnationalparksofYosemite , visitorswillbe andSequoiaKings An outdooradventurer’s wonderland,theregion’s ayear-round pageantofsnowsports,

„ „ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS the evocative ghosttownof Bodie( p402 ). Best WildWestbackdrop ( resorts atop itsmanyski opposite ). Tahoemering expanseof blue Lake from Most dazzlingblueviews Whitewater Park ( p373 ) bykayak. RiverRun therapidsatReno’sTruckee Most exhilaratingdowntowntransport ( p391). Canyon NationalParksSequoia &Kings through thecelestialsequoiacanopiesof Top strolltofeel small ( p376). gushatYosemite NationalParkwaterfall Wettest eyeful Marvel atthespringtimeMarvel Gaze heavenward Amble around Survey theshim- Survey Yosemite NationalPark NationalPark Reno Kings Canyon Bodie

351 9am-4pm) (Caltrans; h (NDOT; (NDOT; 530-562-1010, 800-466- % An easy 6 miles south (

(www.slidingonthecheap.com) (www.slidingonthecheap.com) 530-426-3666; www.borealski.com; 530-426-3666; www.borealski.com; 530-426-9000; www.sugarbowl.com; Soda (www.skilaketahoe.com) Portal for the 8:30am-4pm) % Boreal is fun for newbies and and is fun for newbies Boreal % ( (

h Department of Transportation

9am-9pm) 800-427-7623; www.dot.ca.gov) California road 800-427-7623; www.dot.ca.gov) 877-687-6237, 511 within Nevada; www.nevadadot Boreal Northstar-at-Tahoe All resorts have ski schools, equipment equipment ski schools, have All resorts Activities conditions. % .com/traveler/roads) Nevada road conditions. .com/traveler/roads) Nevada road ) when it’s p353 Homewood ( after best choice superbusy. Stats: 17 get snowing. Weekends 83 runs. feet, lifts, 2280 vertical off I-80; adult/child day $44/12, night $25/12; Boreal/Castle h % all. seven big resorts, with deals covering in the Sierra and a ski resorts the oldest one of variety of of in terms Squaw Valley miniature gullies exhilarating including plenty of terrain, on sunny days, stellar Views are and chutes. quickly, but conditions go downhill pretty Stats: 12 so to speak, during stormy weather. miles 84 runs. Three feet, lifts, 1500 vertical I-80. of east 6784; www.northstarattahoe.com; Hwy 267; adult/child/teen $74/28/64; Nevada Sliding on the Cheap Ski Lake Tahoe DOWNHILL SKIING & SNOWBOARDING Truckee & Donner Summit Sugar Bowl Springs/Norden exit off I-80; adult/teen $60/50; Walt Disney in 1939, this is by Cofounded and Homewood. Tahoe’s simply got a hill a hill simply got Tahoe’s and Homewood. for everybody, Ski season kamikazes. kids to April, although to November runs generally it can start last with the as early as October in June. throughstorm whipping their facilities as well; check and other rental conditions and weather for snow websites buses.shuttle also operate Many reports. Information Between fall and early spring, bring snow late rolls in. in case a storm chains California Department of Transportation Personal website listing discounts and bargains on Tahoe website listing discounts and bargains on Tahoe Personal lift tickets. of I-80, this hugely popular resort has great has great popular resort I-80, this hugely of although terrain, advanced and intermediate the on can look for challenges expert skiers the mountain. additions Continuing back of making it look are Plaza to the slick Village Squaw. Its rela- amenity-rich like a lot more it the second- location makes sheltered tively

185 miles, three 185 miles, three 205,300 450 miles, eight hours 35 miles, 30 minutes Ski Areas •• Tahoe LAKE TAHOE

40 miles, 1¼ hours

Jan 20/45°F, Jul 48/88°F Truckee to South Lake Tahoe/Stateline, Truckee to South Lake Tahoe/Stateline, NV to Reno Average temperature low/high in Reno temperature Average to Truckee Reno Truckee to FAST FACTS FACTS FAST Population of Reno to four hours Unfortunately, the news isn’t all good: the the news isn’t Unfortunately, The sun shines on Tahoe three out of four out of three The sun shines on Tahoe

TAHOE SKI AREAS TAHOE SKI AREAS LAKE LAKE TAHOE Shimmering softly in myriad shades of blue of in myriad shades softly Shimmering ticing insider playgrounds like Sugar Bowl Sugar ticing insider playgrounds like oning at more than a dozen resorts. These than a dozen resorts. oning at more from the giant, jet-set range slopes complexes to no less en- and Heavenly Squaw Valley of Lake Tahoe has phenomenal skiing, with has phenomenal skiing, with Lake Tahoe stuff the white beck- of acres thousands of lution reduce visibility by about 1.5ft every visibility by about lution reduce to stop this decline, underway are Steps . is enormous and the future but the challenge remains murky. lake is gradually losing its famous clarity. losing its famous clarity. is gradually lake Development, erosion, runoff and air pol- camping among the horned peaks around the snow, perfect of brings bundles Winter lake. than a dozen for hitting the slopes at more ski resorts. kayaking, windsurfing and other water-based other water-based kayaking, windsurfing and hiking and are all popular, as activities are pursuits of all stripes. Swimming, boating, boating, all stripes. Swimming, of pursuits days in the year, making it ideal for outdoor days in the year, making the east shore undeveloped, and the south undeveloped, and the south the east shore busy and a tad tacky with aging motels shore gaudy . and speaking, the north shore is quiet and up- speaking, the north shore and old-timey, rugged scale, the west shore you with spellbinding scenery. Generally scenery. Generally you with spellbinding America, and at 6225ft, it is one of the high- at 6225ft, it is one of America, and around the in the country; driving est a you quite 72 miles would give lakeshore’s the wheel,workout behind but also reward of 1000ft. The largest alpine lake in North alpine lake 1000ft. The largest of California–Nevada the is one of state line, the USA and also in lakes most beautiful depth its seconddeepest with an average lonelyplanet.com and green, Lake Tahoe, which straddles the straddles which Lake Tahoe, and green,

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