TheTahoeWeekly.com
PRESERVE TAHOE’S PRISTINE PARADISE TIPS FOR ENJOYING SUMMER FROM TRASH TO TRAFFIC BY PRIYA HUTNER
We joke that there are two seasons in Tahoe: winter and construction.
ajestic snowcapped mountains create an incredible backdrop for summertime in Tahoe. Whether you are one of the 15 million annual visitors or are a local, when spending time outdoors, it’s essential to be safe, help keep the outdoor natural playground free from trash and enjoy what Tahoe has to offer.
Tackling traffic
Driving in Tahoe on mountain roads and around Lake Tahoe requires awareness. We have a lot of roundabouts in the region. If unaccustomed to driving in a roundabout (which can be one or two lanes), Rule 1 is do not stop in the middle of a roundabout. One technique is to keep going around in circles until you figure out which exit you need or take any exit and pull over. Stopping is an accident waiting to happen, so is not yielding to cars already in the roundabout. We joke that there are two seasons in Tahoe: winter and construction. If you are driving, bring your patience along for the ride, there is roadwork everywhere, especially after the record-breaking winter we endured.
Slow down
visit, bring your patience
Drive the speed limit and stay focused. There are kids playing everywhere and road biking is a popular activity. Visitors also tend to be awestruck by Tahoe’s beauty and can be easily distracted while driving. Slow down, please, and take a boat cruise or public transportation to take in the sights.
along for the ride, there
Be bike aware
If you are planning to
is roadwork everywhere.
FROM LEFT: Kayaking The Lake Tahoe Water Trail. | Tim Hauserman East Shore Trail. Kids in a wildflower meadow. | TINS
10
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Tahoe is a biking mecca and cyclists are on the roads day and night. Do not park in any bike lane and look for cyclists coming from behind before opening the car door. Many places around Lake Tahoe don’t have bike lanes, so share the road. Drivers are required to stay at least 3 feet away from cyclists in California.
Cold water can kill
The snow is melting and lakes and rivers are frigid and running swiftly. Stay out of the river if it is churning fast; that includes keeping your dog out of the river, too. Children younger than 13 must wear life jackets by law while on a vessel in Nevada and California. That includes standup paddleboards, kayaks, personal watercraft and other craft. If paddleboarding or kayaking, you are required to carry a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD). In Lake Tahoe’s cold waters, it is best to wear a PFD, no matter how good a swimmer you are. It can be dangerous if you fall into the water. When a person falls or jumps into cold, alpine water, the first instinct to gasp in shock – cold water shock. This sets off a chain reaction that often leads to drowning. Life jackets give people a few minutes to control their breathing, calm down and self-rescue.
Go with a qualified guide
Consider hiring a local guide who knows the area for activities on the water or a guided hike or mountain bike ride. However, many people post guide services on social media that we know aren’t licensed or insured, don’t have basic first aid training and don’t carry first aid gear. Ask these questions before going out with any guide: • Is your guide licensed and insured? • Is your guide properly trained? Ask what their training entails when booking. • Does your boat guide have the required captain’s license? • Before renting gear or a boat from social media or on the side of the road, ask for their license and insurance. Make sure any boats have the proper 2023 invasive species sticker. • If you’re on a boat, there should be a safety talk about the location of life jackets. If not, ask where they are. • Are they trained in first aid and CPR? Do they carry first aid gear? Ask if they don’t tell you. • If you’re in the backcountry, do they have a sat phone or radio (cell phones don’t work)?