It is still summertime in Northern California. The temperatures are still too hot in Sacramento for outdoor activities, so it was time to head back up US 50 to South Lake Tahoe, CA and Stateline, NV. Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous alpine lake on the California-Nevada border and is very large. It is pretty awesome to see it for the first - or 30th time! South Lake Tahoe is a big tourist destination with a large vacation town and several casinos right on the state line. This is why the town is called Stateline! In the summer, the Heavenly Ski Resort opens up their main gondola and mountain area for summer activities including hiking, zip lining, tubing, and others.
Halfway up the mountain, the resort installed an observation deck. This is a cool stop to see the whole region and stretch your legs. The deck is a metal structure perched on a rock outcropping as shown above. It is a little unnerving to look down through the metal grates and see a large drop, but things are pretty safe. If you have a huge fear of heights, you probably should not be on the gondola in the first place.
The gondola ride only takes about 15-20 minutes, but it takes you up 3,000 ft in elevation. This valley is normally full of skiers and snowboarders in the winter, but in the summer the place takes on a different vibe. Families and explorers alike wander around in thin air. Heavenly has a lot of cool things to do in the valley, including a great lodge for meals and drinks. That said, it was time to do some hiking in the surrounding forest.
By the way, here is the official boundary between the California Republic and Nevada Territory. Now we know them as the states of California and Nevada. The park includes land in both states.
Hiking at altitude is a real challenge. There is about 30% less air around 10,000 ft which is where the picture above was taken. Hiking up here is about 50% harder than at normal elevations, so your heart is pumping and you will hyperventilate just to maintain blood oxygen levels. Easy hikes are not that easy, but the view is simply spectacular. Make sure to wear your sunblock. Less atmosphere means more exposure to solar radiation. My skin was not well protected, and I can still feel the burn.
Near the top of the mountain, the scenery was perfect for photography. You can see Lake Tahoe on one side and the high deserts of Northern Nevada on the other. The mountain has a lot of construction in the summer, but I was able to find a very secluded spot to enjoy hearing the wind through the alpine pines and enjoying the near perfect temperature. It was a delight to experience alpine hiking without the pain of climbing 3,000 ft in elevation.
After hiking back to base camp and once again catching my breath, I decided to have some fun and try summer tubing. In the winter, most ski resorts have a tubing hill where people can slide down the snow in an inflated tube. The resort modified this for the summer by installing a giant Slip'n Slide down the hill. It is basically an artificial grass surface in a long track lined with bumpers. They also use sprinklers to keep the surface wet and slippery. I had a very fun time zooming down the hill at near escape velocity, and the brief shower was a nice way to cool off after hiking. Highly recommended! After my unpleasant experience zip lining in Cancun this summer, I decided to pass and head back down the mountain.
OK, this is pretty cool. The gondola ride back down the mountain is a straight shot, and I had a car all to myself. I took a video of the ride back down and posted all 13 minutes to YouTube. There is little sound except the noises of the gondola and the surrounding nature. If you cannot make it to Lake Tahoe, here is a little preview for your enjoyment!
And yes, there is gambling in Lake Tahoe. They put the casinos and resorts here for a purpose. Fortunately, Lady Luck was smiling on me for this trip. I still have to return to work on Monday, but it is always nice to win some gas money.
The new marketing campaign calls the region Tahoe South, but this has always been South Lake Tahoe. I have been here many times both as a kid and an adult and have always loved the area. It is only 2 hours from Sacramento, and the drive around the lake is one of the most scenic and challenging drives in the world. It is well worth a trip, no matter what corner of the Earth you call home. Enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
