San Francisco Chronicle: Sunset snowshoeing and stargazing at North Tahoe

Sunset snowshoeing and stargazing at North Tahoe Christine Delsol Sunday, December 18, 2011 Snowshoeing at sunset and stargazing when night falls come together in one Star Tour Snowshoe Adventure in North Tahoe Regional Park. Tahoe Adventure Company guides lead a guided snowshoe tour through the forest, demonstrating the area's natural and human history as the waning sun tints the Sierra peaks purple. Award-winning astronomer Tony Berendsen takes over at the view point, guiding a tour of the night sky through large-aperture telescopes. Designed to appeal to all ages, it's perfectly timed for a between-the-holidays family outing. All gear, hot drinks, snacks and permit fees are included. Vitals: Dates planned monthly December through March.) $75. 875 National Ave., Tahoe Vista. (530) 913-9212, www.tahoeadventurecompany.com.

Lake Tahoe Snowfest ~ March 10-12, 2011

Leave sNOw Trace! Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Tahoe Rim Trail Association and Tahoe Mountain Sports have teamed up to promote responsible recreation at Lake Tahoe, with a weekend of fun events! Thursday, March 10: LEAVE NO TRACE WINTER SKILLS AWARENESS WORKSHOP 6-8pm - Come mingle at North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach with Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Kate and Tracy, as well as, California's Volunteer State Advocate Liz Williams. Share your ideas about Leave No Trace and ways to increase community action and volunteerism. Workshop will explore the principles of Leave No Trace through hands-on engaging activities that are guaranteed fun for all ages! Enjoy some free pizza and a rumored appearance from Leave No Trace's Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Sale 10am-6pm - The Tahoe Mountain Sports annual spring clearance kicks off with 10% of all profits being donated to the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. Saturday, March 12: KINGS BEACH SNOWFEST PARADE 11:30am - Leave No Trace Bigfoot, will be making an appearance on Kings Beach's Main Street for the SnowFest Closing Weekend Parade. Watch the action go by at Tahoe Mountain Sports, and get the best deals of the season inside with the Sasquatch Sale!

Sustainable Experiential Tours

California Tourism Website New this year, your registration for the 2nd Annual California Sustainable Tourism Summit on October 14-15, 2010, includes experiential tours of the Lake Tahoe area! Learn best practices for preserving the High Sierra. Click here for the Sustainable Experiential Tour sign-up sheet! Each tour will accommodate between 24-29 passengers and last approximately 2 hours. Each tour will offer a different experience, so please dress appropriately (i.e. If you plan on attending the "Outdoor Adventure" tour, please wear appropriate footwear and plan on bringing a jacket). We are expecting each tour to fill up, so please sign up early! Tour 1: Paddling Toward Sustainability Come and explore "A Paddling Route through Paradise" with representatives from the Lake Tahoe Water Trail committee, Tahoe Adventure Company and the Wild Goose Restaurant. The Lake Tahoe Water Trail Project, initiated in 2003 by an all-volunteer group of people, was developed with a set of common goals aimed at creating an innovative new model for sustainable tourism in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Participants will paddle the blue waters of Lake Tahoe on a guided tour by Tahoe Adventure Company, known for their innovative Lodge to Lodge Kayak getaway along the Lake Tahoe Water Trail. The Tour will end at the exceptional, lakefront Wild Goose Restaurant, known for its Sustainability Initiative Programs in its building design and regional food movement. Participants will enjoy a hosted wine and cheese offering while learning about various sustainable applications. For more information on our tour sponsors please visit our partners at: www.LakeTahoeWatertrail.org, www.WildGooseTahoe.com, and www.tahoeadventurecompany.com. Please wear appropriate footwear and be sure to carry a jacket.

Los Angeles Times features Tahoe Adventure Company

Lake Tahoe: New multi-day kayak tours September 8, 2010 By Benoit Lebourgeois, Special to the Los Angeles Times No bellman will ask whether you wish to valet-park your kayak, but other guests might throw you curious looks if you stand at the front desk, paddle in hand. Unlike them, you would have traveled to your Lake Tahoe hotel over water as a participant in one of the Tahoe Adventure Co.'s new guided excursions around the west and north shore of the lake. The Lodge to Lodge Kayaking tours, lasting two to four days, are energetic but not too demanding, thanks to fast, two-person sea kayaks, said company owner Kevin Hickey. Participants cover about seven to nine miles each day, traveling between Sunnyside Resort in Tahoe City, Calif.; Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista , Calif.; and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nev. They overnight at the resorts. And there is no heavy luggage to haul. "We shuttle the gear from hotel to hotel, so people paddle only with the stuff they need for the day," Hickey said. The first trip is scheduled for Sept. 23. Later trips will be by request through early October. Prices vary by group size. Count on paying no more than $520 per person for two days/one night, $990 for three days/two nights and $1,290 for four days/three nights, including meals. Info: Tahoe Adventure Co., (530) 913-9212.

Sierra Sun features Tahoe Adventure Company

Experience the Lodge-to-Lodge Kayak Getaway along the Lake Tahoe water trail By Pettit Gilwee Special to the Sun September, 15 2010 Sierra Sun TAHOE, Calif. - This fall, Tahoe Adventure Company is featuring a multi-day kayak and stay package along the West, North and East shores of Lake Tahoe. Guests enjoy the glassy, clear waters with early morning guided paddles spotting local wildlife and learning about the unique natural and human history of this special region. By afternoon, they arrive at their lakefront hotel for a hot shower, warm meal and pure relaxation. The best hotels have been chosen for their comfort and include Sunnyside Lodge, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. After checking in, guests can choose to benefit from a massage, a walk along the beach, skipping stones or simply relaxing by the pool or on the water's edge. Our four-day kayak adventure is a luxurious way to spend a long weekend, special occasion, or simply a reason to celebrate autumn on one of the most magnificent lakes in the world. Fall in Lake Tahoe treats us to warm sunny days and calm water void of crowds. In addition to thorough instruction, guides will inform you about natural and human history topics such as wildlife, geology, ecology, and native peoples. Kayaking is at a leisurely pace, allowing time to see the sites and enjoy the crystal clear water. Each day's paddle starts after an excellent breakfast, finishes in the afternoon and is suitable for beginners. Evenings are enjoyed with delicious meals at terrific local restaurants with great company. For more details and the day-to-day itinerary, call Tahoe Adventure Company at 530-913-9212 or www.TahoeAdventureCompany.com. Space is limited.

SF Chronicle Features Tahoe Adventure Co.

Any season is fine for Tahoe Adventure Co. Mark S. Bacon, Special to The Chronicle Sunday, March 28, 2010 Article Tahoe Adventure Co. is an all-weather tour business. When spring arrives in the Sierra, there'll be biking, rock climbing, hiking and kayaking trips, including a four-day paddle around the northern half of Lake Tahoe with overnight stays in hotels. Right now, it's snowshoeing. A variety of guided snowshoe trips are available: crunching past Donner Lake, tramping along Truckee trails in search of stars or the full moon at night or wildlife and vistas during the day. Formed seven years ago, the company offers many trips on an open schedule, says owner Kevin Hickey - just about anytime you want to go, the company can have a guide ready. Full-moon snowshoe trips are scheduled for April 30 and May 1; meanwhile, other types of snowshoeing tours can be scheduled for a minimum of two people. Adventure company guides, Hickey says, are mainly longtime locals with backgrounds in education, travel, mountaineering and other outdoor disciplines. As visitors trek through the snow, guides discuss the natural and human history of the area. The price of the full-moon tour - like all adventure company tours - includes equipment. Full-moon tours usually begin at sunset and average three to four hours depending on the group's speed. "There's no learning curve whatsoever," Hickey says. "If you can walk, you can snowshoe. It takes about five minutes to get going." When the weather warms up, the company's offerings include both daily scheduled outings, such as kayaking instruction at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area, and small-group guided tours bicycling, kayaking or hiking - or sometimes a combination. While you're floating in a kayak or moving along a trail, guides may discuss forest management, ecology, wildlife, history and other topics. Guides tailor programs to the interests of the guests. Mountain bike trips also feature information on biking techniques. Hickey's company can provide tours and other activities for groups. One recent team-building exercise for corporate employees began with an orienteering scavenger hunt on foot in the Sierra. The hikers later became bikers and finished the day in kayaks. Recently the company started offering two- to four-day kayaking trips. Paddlers cover 7 to 10 miles per day, have dinner in restaurants and sleep in hotels. Baggage is forwarded each day. The full, four-day trip begins at Meek's Bay on the southwestern shore, includes a stay at the Hyatt Regency in Incline Village and ends at Sand Harbor on the northeast shore, the Nevada side of the lake. These trips will begin in May, Hickey says. Snowshoe season will soon melt into kayak time. Tahoe Adventure Co.: Full moon snowshoe tour. $70 includes equipment, hot drinks and snacks. Locations depend on snowpack condition. (866) 830-6125. tahoeadventurecompany.com.

Full Moon Snowshoeing Featured in Local Press

Snowshoeing: More than just a trek through the snow by LJ Bottjer Full moons have been reported in fact and fiction to make people dance under them and werewolves sprout hair. During the current lunar phase this Friday and Saturday night, Tahoe Adventure Company invites all to don a pair of snowshoes. Then atop a winter wonderland where moon rays cause the snow to glint and gleam, participants can tramp across the frozen paradise. On the Friday, Jan. 29, the nocturnal expedition leaves at 5 p.m. from the North Tahoe Regional Park located one mile north of Tahoe Vista. The Saturday, Jan. 30 night journey in the Donner Lake locale also includes a dinner at the Cedar House in Truckee. Each tour, like the tours offered during the day throughout the winter months, offers more than just a trek through the snow. Knowledgeable guides highly versed in the history and naturalist aspects of the region lead the tours. Often stories of long-ago Washoe Native Americans can be mixed with talks on the vast array of pine and fir tree forests surrounding the Lake. Astronomy, the study of all things celestial, will be a special highlight during the full moon tours. Mars, the red planet, is scheduled to make it's closest 2010 approach to Earth on Friday, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. Whether gazing skyward or looking in other directions, snow shoeing is an activity the entire family can enjoy, notes Tahoe Adventure's Kevin Hickey. "If one can walk, one can snowshoe," he said. He urges all participants be at least 10 years old. Following the initial meet-up, everyone will be outfitted with equipment and the basics of the sport will be covered. Hot, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks will be available during the tour that ends at 9 p.m. The food and drink is included in the $70 tour price. Future tours will occur in February and March. A sense of wonder is guaranteed to all who trek the Tahoe high country under the gaze of a full moon.

Snowshoeing featured in Healthy Beginnings Magazine

Tested by Time, The Snowshoe Plods On Monday, February 1, 2010 by Sean Block Roughly 6,000 years ago, the largest pocket of the human population was located near present-day Central Asia. Around that time, the first primitive snowshoe, a crudely bound mishmash of leaves, leather and branches began to emerge, making migration to the snowy North much easier. Some migrated to what is now Northern Europe and developed skis as a method of transportation. Those that crossed the Bering land-bridge into North America to become the Inuit and many American Indian tribes chose the snowshoe. Their durable, simplistic design was as crucial to the pioneers that conquered the west as any other modern tool of the time. Skis were not documented in America until the 1800s when the Finns, Swedes, and Norwegians began to immigrate in substantial numbers. Despite the introduction of the ski, the snowshoe was more efficient; it remained the preferred method of winter travel in America from roughly 4,000 B.C. until the 1960s. The snowshoe as we know it was designed by the Athaspascan and Algonquin Indians. Often homemade until the last hundred years, white ash frames with rawhide webbing and lacing were the predominate style before the age of metal and synthetics. However, technological advancements have done little to change the shape of the modern snowshoe. Nowadays, snowshoeing has become more recreational than demanded by necessity. Snow goers tear through forests on snowmobiles and rip down mountains on finely tuned skis and snowboards. The day of the snowshoe has come and gone. Or has it? Commercially, snowshoe tours have been on a consistent rise that have seen them compete with, and then surpass cross-country skiing tours in recent years. Who knows exactly why each person chooses the slow, tedious pace of snowshoes over easier solutions. Maybe it is the peace that comes with the silence, or that snowshoes tend to be the safest method of snow travel; or that the slower we go, the more we notice. It could be because snowshoes are low-impact and stealthy, keeping skittish animals from fleeing from hunter or enthusiast; and they fit in a pack. Or maybe it is because they are cheap, they are easy, and they are fun. Snowshoes allow the adventurous hiker to escape to the hills even in the depths of winter. Some of the best experiences for the newly shoed can be found using small, personal guides. Outings with more than around six people (especially with the inexperienced) can become cumbersome and downright dangerous unless expertly managed. Seasoned guides know what people want out of their experience, and where to find it. Also, many businesses will offer backcountry awareness, medical, and safety courses that are vital for new hobbyists searching to establish themselves as independent winter survivors. Many of the area's ski resorts including Kirkwood, Northstar, and Squaw have immense areas set-aside with more controlled conditions for cross-country activities like snowshoeing, dogsledding, and cross-country skiing. References: 1. Snowshoeing: From Novice to Master by Gene Prater and Dave Felkey. 2. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe To explore where snowshoeing can take you contact Tahoe Adventure Company. Tahoe Adventure Company leads high quality adventure travel trips with a focus on experiencing the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, trails and brilliant waters of Lake Tahoe. Our goal is to offer the highest quality, most enlightening adventures in the Lake Tahoe area. Our knowledgeable, local guides offer exceptional service and create memorable adventures for your group. (530) 913-9212 or (866) 830-6125 www.tahoeadventurecompany.com

Tahoe Adventure Company Recognized

It's Not Easy Being Green New regional awards program raises the bar for business Published: December 14, 2009 by Beth Ingalls Keep Sierra Green Businesses of 2009 Placer County Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge Tahoe Mountain Sports Tahoe Adventure Company Integrated Environmental Restoration Services Incline Village Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Casino Law Office of Lara Pearson EV Village The Potlatch Soli Real Estate The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences Nevada County GreenSmart Truckee's Cedar House Sport Hotel was the setting for the first annual Keep the Sierra Green (KSG) Exemplary Business Awards for 2009. Born out of a shared vision and collaborative partnership between Truckee's Recycling Coordinator Nichole Dorr and Incline Village General Improvement District's (IVGID) Resource Conservationist Madonna Dunbar, KSG recognizes businesses focused on ecological and economic practices in the north central Sierra and foothills. The program has grown into a partnership between the Town of Truckee, IVGID, Nevada County Recycles, Placer County, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Green Building Association. Any business located within the town of Truckee, eastern Placer County, Nevada County, Incline Village or Crystal Bay may participate in the regional program, but the annual award goes only to businesses that score highest on an eight-page application. The form is no walk in the park. To qualify as a Keep Sierra Green business, applicants are required to recycle, develop energy, pollution and water conservation programs, define how company purchasing practices are eco-minded, create employee awareness procedures, and complete energy and waste audits. The form also awards points for voluntary programs as well. Lynne Cody, Nevada County recycling technician, opened up the ceremony by declaring, "We want to set the bar really high and all of you are the first to be recognized...you are the true green leaders in your communities." As attendees noshed and tension built among the applicants awaiting the announcements, Eli Meyer, president of the Sierra Green Building Association, reminded the crowd that the Keep the Sierra Green program is "not about greenwashing it's about setting a benchmark for people in the community." 'Greenwashing' occurs when companies pose as friends of the environment, but their actual practices and products don't match up to their claims. Kym Fabel, manager of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce added, "All kinds of people and businesses are looking to be green. Green is big."

Meetings West Features

The Water's Fine by Kelly Crumrin Meetings West, April 2007 You can't tell by looking that Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest and highest lakes in the world, but its extraordinary clarity and mesmerizing blueness have to be seen to be believed. Its setting among the peaks and forests of the Sierras makes it a living postcard that groups will be tempted to experience and explore. Luckily, there are nearly as many ways to get out on the lake and enjoy the scenery as there are shades of blue. Tahoe Adventure Company features team-building exercises for nearly any size of group, either on the water or off. In the summer, guided sunset, full moon and astronomy kayak tours on the lake are just a few of the memorable experiences available, and customized programs are also offered. In the colder months, a Winter Olympics-theme team-building package is designed to bring out both competition and collaboration in groups. Team Up for Adventure by Katie Morell Meetings West, April 2006 Lake Tahoe's majestic natural beauty lends itself to exciting outdoor pursuits, including interesting team-building options and adventure sports. Several local companies on both the North and South shores cater to groups seeking a unique way to incorporate the great outdoors into agendas. Tahoe Adventure Company: Another ropes course option is offered through Tahoe Adventure Company, which also incorporates sports such as kayaking, biking, rock climbing, and hiking into its team-building programs. The company also specializes in Beach Olympics, in which groups are broken down into teams of 12 to 15 attendees to complete a series of enjoyable bonding tasks. Tahoe Adventure Company also aims to educate groups about the heritage of the area by stopping along the way during hikes to discuss the region's natural and cultural history.