What A Sight On The Summer Solstice

From several places in South Lake Tahoe, you can look south and see Round Top mountain, which is near Hope Valley, Caples Lake and Kirkwood. I was there on June 21st.

At 10,400 feet, there was still too much snow to easily climb without micro spikes.

Caples Lake is 7800 feet. The wind coming across it was cold!

I love the way no matter what time of the year, you can always hike to snow in Tahoe.

Summer? Or Winter?

 We are just two days from the Summer Solstice. Much of the country is baking in heat.

As I write this Saturday evening, Tahoe is supposed to freeze tonight. There's a 40% chance of precip, and the snow level will drop to 6900 feet, which is our house.

Gotta love summer, right?

Not That You Would/Wood

The Tahoe powers that be have made the rule a little earlier than in past years. No burning of charcoal or wood inside or out is allowed until fire season is over next winter. There's simply too much at stake.

Not Charcoal, regardless of where or how.

Not Wood, regardless of where or how.

Flotation Vests Saved Lives (Again)

Kayaking is such fun.

But even on a sunny day, a flotation vest can save your life.

Last week at Sand Harbor, on Tahoe's East Shore, two kayakers were doing just fine when the wind came up.

Both kayaks capsized. Both kayakers swam to some big rocks that were poking out of the water. Both kayakers were wearing flotation vests (life jackets).

Because Tahoe is so cold, especially in the spring, both kayakers began to suffer from hypothermia. (Which is when you get so cold, your muscles stop working, and you drown.)

Someone saw them struggling and called 911.

The Washoe Sheriff's Office has a patrol boat at Incline Village not far away. They came and rescued the freezing paddlers.

They lived. Why? Because they were wearing flotation vests.

Moral of the story? Stay near shore when you go out on a tippy craft like a paddleboard, a kayak, or a canoe. And ALWAYS wear a flotation vest.