Helen and I drove north from Yosemite National Park to Lake Tahoe, located on the borders of California and Nevada. Tahoe Valley Campground is our home for the next five days. This campground has close to four hundred campsites, and we joined just as many campers for the Memorial Day weekend.
When we arrived, the campground was sparsely populated; when we left, it was packed. Tightly spaced campsites allowed us the opportunity to meet many of our neighbors, most of them from California. The campers to our left came from Sacramento, joined by four or five of their friends towing travel trailers. They had a lot of fun over the next few days, and Happy Hour was a lively event each afternoon.
The main attraction in Lake Tahoe is the Lake itself. The Emerald Blue water is staggeringly beautiful, and my camera got a workout because I took pictures of it at every opportunity. I’m not confident that I captured an image that accurately represents the beauty of the water, but I gave it my best.
We planned two activities during our visit. First, a friend recommended we hike to Cascade Falls, which sounded like something we could handle. Second, Helen’s former boss at The Webb School now lived in nearby Reno, Nevada, and we hoped to meet up with him and his wife. If we accomplished both, we planned to try our luck in the Casino.
The trail to Cascade Falls, rated as moderate, was anything but that. I don’t know who ranks hiking trails, but this trail needs a reassessment. Cascade Falls Trail presented quite a challenge to two high-mileage septuagenarians sporting replaced body parts. Large boulders and steep inclines made for some strenuous walking, especially for Helen. At one point, she needed the help of two other hikers and me to climb over a big rock in our path. Determined to drive on, she met the challenge and maintained that ever-present smile to the Falls and back.
The scenery along the trail more than made up for any difficulties we encountered. The streams, the birds, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance rewarded us handsomely for our efforts. The round-trip covered about four miles. We slept well that night.
Jay and Wendy agreed to meet us the next day at Sand Harbor State Park for some sightseeing and the opportunity to catch up after several years of separation. It was good to see them again, and happy to hear that they are returning to Tennessee at the end of the school year. Helen and I understand the desire to return, but we’re biased.
Sand Harbor offered a different view of Lake Tahoe, and I took a lot of pictures. The weather was perfect–probably the best on our trip so far. Jay and Wendy walked with us to some observation points to give us several different views.
On our last full day, we decided to drive the 75-mile shoreline around Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Valley Campground is in South Lake Tahoe, and we wanted to visit North Lake Tahoe while we had the opportunity. The drive took over an hour, and we ended the trip at Emerald Bay. Stunning is the word I use to describe the scene in front of us.
Lake Tahoe, the largest Alpine Lake in North America, is 1,645 feet deep and 22 miles long. Only Crater Lake is deeper. In some places, objects are visible at depths of over 70 feet because the water is so clear. That blue water is cold also, hardly ever rising above 60 degrees. Despite the cold, I observed swimmers, boaters, and para-sailers on the water.
Eventually, we got around to visiting the Casino. I’ll leave it at that. It’s time to be Easin’ Along. Please join us next week when we return to the California coast.
Good ole Lake Tahoe! My ex-backyard, LOL! I spent many days, weekends, etc in every area you show, camping, day trips, events, etc, Joe. The packed campground sounds fun to some degree, but I’m sure the main drag was jammed with traffic! We stayed in hotel casinos in South Lake, visited friends in North Tahoe and stayed in a friend’s cabin on the west shore in Tahoe City. My former church held their retreats at Zephyr Cove. I’m glad you experienced this world destination, Joe. Winter here is also as busy. I am grateful I lived within a 90-minute drive from Sacramento for 40 years. Thanks for the walk down memory lane!
Good morning, Terri,
The group of campers that moved in around our site came from Sacramento. They had a lot of fun and were very nice people, and very welcoming to us. I had visited South Lake Tahoe on a ski trip several years ago, but this was Helen’s first time. When we arrived mid-week, we had no trouble getting around. Then came the weekend, and the place exploded. Masks not required for fully vaccinated guests–I love that! Looking forward to Sunday Stills. Have a great week! Joe
It is hard to describe how beautiful that water is. Bill Akers lives there (Truckee). Give him a call.
Swann,
I could not take my eyes away from the Emerald Blue color. Crater Lake is much the same, but we did not have the same weather there. Thanks for checking in! Have a great week! Joe
From Yosemite to Lake Tahoe!! What an incredible trip. Lake Tahoe is one of my absolutely favourite places! Great pics! Love the blue!
Hello, Donna,
The blue can be hypnotic and I sat and stared at it for a long time. Glad you enjoyed the pictures. You should visit Tahoe as soon as the COVID curtain lifts. Have a great day! Joe
Hi Joe,
We had plans to visit Lake Tahoe this spring as well…looks like it will be next year. And stunning is the word! Can’t wait to see it ourselves, but your beautiful pictures capture it for now.
Back in NH…surgery for Dan’s ankle this July, so no camping for us this summer, although we had a great trip FL to NH in May. So busy here, catching up with life and family haven’t posted about our trip, but I will!
Hi, Nancy!
Sorry you had to postpone your Tahoe trip, but the wait will be worth it. The views are majestic. Wishing Dan a speedy recovery so y’all can get back out there soon. Looking forward to reading about your RV trip. Enjoy your time with family. Joe
That water color is just stunning, and I think you captured it beautifully! Your photo of the Stellar’s Jay matches the lake color. 🙂 So glad you guys survived and enjoyed the hike. Clambering over boulders is a workout!
Hello, Laurel,
I love Stellar Jays. We don’t have them in Tennessee. Lake Tahoe is amazing. The hike was fun despite the Boulder crawl. We consider this place a “go back to.” Say hi to Eric and have a great week. Joe
Hi Joe, I agree that some ‘moderate’ trails can get stressful along the way. We take a lot of breaks to compensate for old knees. Glad Helen made it past the boulder.
Your photos of the lake are ‘stunning’. I skied there many years ago and have seen that amazing color from atop the mountain and up close. I’d love to go back in the summer.
Good morning, Suzanne,
I highly recommend a summer visit. That Emerald Blue water will have you spellbound. I also skied there about 15 years ago and only saw the lake from the top of the mountain. Glad I got a second chance. Thanks for checking in. Have a good week! Joe