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.
Visitors Love To Adventure With Us
"My daughter’s first snowshoe trip was so much fun with Tahoe Adventure Company! Tyler was such a great leader, teacher and all around fun-expert! Imagine being in a winter wonderland, outdoor science class but not a boring class, a really fun one and with a guide who is super cool. It was like that. Priceless and so memorable!! Thank you!" -Heather B.
We visited Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago and got very lucky because Tahoe Adventure Company had reopened for the season the same day we decided to rent kayaks! They're located in North Lake Tahoe. The process of renting kayaks from them was very easy. They took the time to make sure we got on the kayaks safely which I appreciated. You do sign a liability waiver when you rent. Also they provide life jackets. Make sure to bring a ziplock bag or something to keep your phone in! They provide waterproof bags for a fee. The guys working that day were friendly. They also have several lessons/tours which would be fun to try out in the future since some of them take you to cool coves, etc. Their pricing for renting kayaks is reasonable for the area: $27 for a single and $39 for a double per hour, including all fees. Also if you rent for 2 hours, they offer the 3rd hour free. I also want to give a shout-out to Courtney who answers the phone when you call the company and is THE NICEST person I have ever spoken to over the phone. She's extremely helpful and seemed so great! Thank you Courtney!! -Vidhi S.
"We went on two trips with Tahoe Adventure Company: a sunset kayak trip, and a rock climbing trip. They were both superb. The guide for the kayak trip was knowledgeable and fun. The rock climbing guide, Chris Baumann, was outstanding. We have been on several other rock climbing trips, and Chris was hands down the best guide we have had (and we liked the others.) His relaxed, low-key approach was great for our group, but at the same time he was obviously very safety oriented. One of the members of our group, a 4th grader, became very frightened about halfway up the rock face. Without any fuss or drama, Chris mounted a rescue, and his cheerful, encouraging approach soon had the boy climbing again, with great enjoyment. We all had a great day" -Rachel P.
"We have been using Tahoe Adventure Company for fun adventures for the past 5 years. They are always just the best!!! Their booking is efficient, their equipment always great and their guides are wonderfully informative and enjoyable." Anne T.
-- Anne T.
"We did the Sand Harbor kayak tour and LOVED every second! First off the staff is great. Katie booked our tour for us and she was so kind and helpful. She answered all our questions and was so sweet. Tucker took us on the tour and he was so knowledgeable and great with our kids. We had four boys in our tour and he told jokes and swam with them. The lunch on the beach was fun and yummy- complete with drinks and cookies. We highly recommend this company and tour. I can't wait to go back again!" -Samantha D.
-- Samantha D.
"We recently went to Lake Tahoe for R&R. I love to hike and decide to hire a guide for one day. Tahoe Adventure Company was wonderful their customer service and guides are very professional. Our guide Robin new about all the flowers, trees, wildlife and brought a book so we could look up flowers, fish, trees and more. She even brought a picnic along for the day! I would recommend Tahoe Adventure Company for anyone interested in hiking, and water activities. When we return for future summers in Tahoe we will be booking more hikes with Tahoe Adventure Company!" -Tracy M
