Lake Tahoe, CA and NV

Lake Tahoe is quite the happening place.   A dozen ski slopes bring the winter sports enthusiasts; the cool summer days draw in folks from CA and NV seeking relief from the heat in the lower altitudes – plus boaters, cyclists, runners and so on.  The great natural beauty is, of course, a major draw for one and all any time of year.  We’re camped on the Truckee River a few miles north of the Lake, at an altitude of 5868’.  Daily highs are in the low-mid 70s, last night’s low was a chilly 40.

Above and below are side-by-side granite sculptures of the Lake.

They're located in the town of Kings Beach on the north end of the Lake.

The Lake is large, 1645’ deep at deepest point, largest fresh water lake by volume in the USA, after the Great Lakes.  Above, Trish and Artie are sitting at the average depth of 1000’, while Ranger has his nose just above the surface.

The patio bar at River Ranch Resort on the Truckee River.

We stopped there for a drink one afternoon.

The entrance to Squaw Valley.

The winter Olympics were held in Squaw Valley in 1960, the first Olympics to be televised, the first and last time all Olympians were housed and fed under one roof, and the first time a computer was used to tally standings and scores.  

Approaching High Camp on the aerial tram.

An aerial tram, built in ’74, takes tourists from Olympic village, upward about 3000’ to the site of the main Olympic staging area, which is now called High Camp and has a museum, skating rink, swimming pool and hot tub, and restaurants.  We rode the tram, visited the museum, and had lunch at the poolside café, very enjoyable adventure.

Pix above and below were taken from High Camp, skating rink above, Lake Tahoe below.

The view from the front of the tram as we descend to Squaw Valley, where only a couple of the Olympics-era buildings remain.  What we're seeing in this picture is your typical upscale ski resort stuff: lodging, restaurants, shops, summer and winter sporting goods sales and rentals, etc.