Just look around. Take a deep breath of the cool, crisp mountain air. Watch the new fallen snow crystals sparkle in the morning sun. Follow the flight of the hawk overhead as he surveys his domain, his personal hunting ground away from the concrete maze of cars, electrical wires and rooftops of the city. We live, work and play in the middle of natural beauty unmatched by almost anywhere else on Earth. Sure, we've molded it to fit our needs, but we've managed to preserve it's natural beauty in the process, unlike some other recreational vacation destinations that have succumbed to the temptation to over build and destroy the very thing that attracted people there in the first place.
The Tahoe-Truckee area is unique. It's a natural playground with restaurants, ski areas, casinos and bars, and the infrastructure to support millions of visitors from all over the world every year. At the center is the blue jewel Lake Tahoe with it's crystal clear water surrounded by majestic snow covered mountain peaks. Somehow we've managed to provide lodging, recreation and entertainment for all these visitors without sacrificing the pristine high alpine environment that attracts the skiers, boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts. A recent example of this dedication to preserving our valuable and unique natural beauty is Sunset Magazine's 2012 Environmental Award to the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
A recent article in the Sierra Sun, Sunset Magazine names Truckee Donner Land Trust in 2012 Environmental Awards, announced the news that Independence Lake won in the category of best lake or lake shore preservation. This places the Land Trust at the top of the best environmental organizations in the West. Independence Lake is considered to be one of the best examples of the pure and pristine sub-alpine lakes in the West, and it's home to California's last wild and self-sustaining lake populations of threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout. It's also a great recreational lake that I've enjoyed for years boating and fishing. You can enjoy the lake's day use facilities, including picnicking, swimming, mountain biking, hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing. Boats and kayaks are available offered by the Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy free to visitors. It's a perfect example of how human use for recreation and natural preservation can co-exist.
It was nearly lost to over-development several times. In the 1970s, the Disney Corporation planned on building an ultra-modern ski resort and complex on the ridges and bowls around the lake. This included a 4 lane highway from Highway 89 and it's surrounding peaks were to be connected by gondolas and chair lifts. There were also plans for marinas, piers and docks along with vacation homes and estates, a golf course, equestrian center, hotel, condos, and hundreds of miles of roads with parking for 2,500 vehicles. There were also plans for all the commercial development needed for the visitors to the new resort. The lake was threatened again in 2002 when the property was nearly sold to a Silicon Valley icon. It has truly been resilient to over development and now should stay that way thanks to the efforts of the local citizens and the Truckee Donner Land Trust. Environmental protection versus development has always been a delicate balancing act, especially in a world re-noun recreation area and vacation destination like the Tahoe-Truckee area. Too much of either can keep the area from reaching it's full potential. It's important that we maintain that balance and the work of the Truckee Donner Land Trust is a big step in the right direction.
Now it's time to recreate in this beautiful alpine environment so here are some things to do this weekend and in the upcoming week:
Spring Music Series featuring Afrolicious at Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City
Mar 31, 2012 (Sat)
1:00pm - 4:00pm Join us on the Sun Deck for another Spring Music Series performance by Afrolicious.
Tahoe Rim Tour & Race ~ Nordic Racehttp://www.farwestnordic.org/tahoerimtour.htmlApr 7, 2012 (Sat)
9 a.m. Classic ski, skate ski or snowshoe your way from the Tahoe XC ski trails to Northstar. Enjoy lunch at the finish line. This is a fundraiser for the Far West Nordic Junior Ski Program
Squaw's Spring Party Weekend
Kick off the spring season at Squaw's Spring Party Weekend! Soak up the California sunshine while enjoying a cold beverage in the expansive Hot Tub. A live DJ will be spinning from 12 to 3pm.
U.S. Ski Team Day
Saturday, April 7, 2012 - 09:00
Join Julia Mancuso, Jonny Moseley, Tamara McKinney, Travis Ganong and your favorite Squaw Valley skiers and snowboarders at the 2012 Squaw Valley U.S. Ski Team Day.This event supports the athletes of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding team and U.S. Freeskiing team.
It truly has been a Miracle March, so get out and enjoy all that nature has provided for us in this spectacular mountain environment knowing that it will be preserved for many generations to come. Keep up to date with all that's happening at Olympic Village Inn and Olympic Valley on our Facebook page. Have a great week!
Comments