(Bill Stevenson / Northstar-at-Tahoe)

You can once again ski or ride at huge discounts when you purchase Skiing for Schools lift tickets.  Proceeds go directly to the Excellence in Education Foundation.

Lift tickets (non-refundable and purchased in advance) will be valid for any one day within a specified week at one of several local resorts.

For a list of resorts and dates plus more information on the Excellence in Education Foundation, visit our  website and support our schools!

Take a moment and Google “Chickadee Ridge, Tahoe.”  It is at the top of Mt. Rose Highway.  My recommendation is to park on the south side of the highway.  If you don’t have your own set of snowshoes, my guess is your neighbor probably does (not an excuse!)   A fanny pack is probably all you will need for hydration and a snack.  Dress warm and have some layers.  See you up there!   Kevin http://www.KevinSellsReno.com

Feb 5 at Royal Gorge: 10k Snowshoe Race benefiting the Donner Summit Historical Society.  Contact Royal Gorge for info 530-426-3871.

January 8th Alpine Meadows celebrates their 50th Anniversary with a dinner and party at Alpine Meadows Day Lodge.

And January 9th - Ski all day at the annual Tahoe Women’s Services Ski Day at Sugar Bowl. Purchase your tickets today for the January 9th, 2011 Ski Day.  Have a great time and know you are helping as well.

Give us a call if you want to check out any of the beautiful homes for sale also!  Go to our website, Dickson Realty Truckee to check out the inventory.

Have a great weekend!

Once you’ve winterized your home it’s time to curl up by the fire and enjoy the snow outside, right? Almost. There are still some important safety tips to follow to keep you and your home safe throughout the colder months.

The Home Safety Council urges homeowners to protect themselves against house fires by using portable space heaters safely and properly using and maintaining fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. Keep flammables away from both, ensure that they are in clean and good working condition, and never leave them unattended. Read more about fire safety here.

Snow safety is important as well. Storms in Truckee-Lake Tahoe can drop feet of snow at a time. Ensure your pantry is stocked and you have plenty of fresh drinking water in case it takes more than a few hours for snow to be cleared. Sometimes snow and ice can affect power lines and cause power bumps or loss. Keep candles and flashlights handy, along with board games and cards, to keep your family in the light and entertained until power is restored. Oh, and remember to keep lots of cozy blankets handy too.

As you shovel snow around your home be sure to knock loose any large accumulations along the edge of your roof as well as large icicles which may drop and cause hazardous conditions. Carefully sweep snow away from propane and gas tanks and nozzles to prevent accidental damage and gas leaks. And last, be sure to salt or sand walkways to prevent ice accumulation and slippery conditions.

Read more about weather safety and awareness and get tips for driving in inclement weather.

Sunset Magazine named Truckee "Most Well-Rounded" Ski Town

Buying a home means more than finding the right house. It’s about finding the right area and community. It’s one of the reasons we’re so lucky to live where we also like to play. The Truckee Tahoe area not only boasts some of the ski resorts, but it’s also a community that embraces its identity to the fullest. If you’re a winter sports enthusiast, or often vacation in ski towns, you should consider a vacation or permanent home in the Truckee Tahoe area. Check out some of the latest recognition that the area has received:

Lake Tahoe ranked #1 in Orbitz’s Top 10 Early Ski Destinations

Lake Tahoe ranked #2 in TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations

Squaw Valley USA, located on Highway 89 between Truckee and Tahoe City, Calif., ranked #17 of Top 20 Ski Resorts in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2010 Ski Poll

Sunset Magazine’s “The West’s Best Ski Towns” named Truckee the most well-rounded ski town for its ability please all ages, proximity to ski resorts for a variety of skill levels, great dining choices and diverse lodging options.

AOL Travel listed Tahoe in the 10 Top Ski Destinations in the United States more than a dozen major ski areas and some great winter snowstorms.

Read more about our Truckee Tahoe neighborhoods and consider making Truckee Tahoe your home.

While Boca still freezes over every year, Donner Lake seldom has ice.  This, more than any other condition, signals that our climate is warming.  Significant snow, such as that experienced in Truckee, that supported the Winter Carnival and ski jumping in town, is seldom seen today.

Snow for the ski resorts is no longer predictable and has caused the birth of snow blowing equipment.  Northstar has 250 snow blowers doing several specialized jobs.  It has, like so many other things, become high tech.   Controlled by many sensors, it tells when to turn on the guns, where on the hill is optimum and the duration of the water flow. 

There’s a problem vexing the operation, which turns out to be temperature inversion.  This occurs when the cold night air begins to sink to the bottom at ground level and warm ground air begins to rise above.  This leaves a moving layer that is too warm to create snow from the snow guns.  This is where the sensors and programming comes into play.   Northstar, with this equipment, has been able to operate from December 6^th with adequate snow on several runs. 

 The snow making equipment can use up to 3 million gallons of water a night.  While at first blush, one might think that this is a gross loss of water.  The truth is that most of this water sinks back into the ground at winter’s end and is returning to its storage place in the Martis Valley aquifer, purified and filtered by its journey through the earth to be used again at a latter date.  And, Truckee water from the Martis Valley Aquifer is the best tasting water you’ll ever experience.  It just comes out of the tap.

When the weather starts to warm up (and this year it started awfully early) a lot of people feel the desire to head for the ocean, pull out their golf clubs, get their boat out on the lake, or just do something which involves wearing shorts and flip flops.  Those of us who are lucky enough to live in the  Lake Tahoe/Truckee area (yes, I’m lucky enough!!) know that this really signifies time to get out your light weight ski clothes and head for the slopes.  Sure, nothing beats the powder days we experienced in late January and early February, but I think spring skiing comes in a close second.

The key to great spring skiing is paying attention to the night time temperatures and the wind (the NOAA forecast gives you everything you need).  If night time temps are barely reaching freezing, it’s best to get out on the mountain early (Alpine Meadows will start turning Summit Six as early as 8am when we get deep into spring).  However, if the temps are getting down into the 20′s at night, or the wind is blowing over the ridges, you can sleep in a little and show up at the mountain at 10:30 or so.

If you’re timing is right, you’ll get there just as the snow starts to soften.  You’ll want to start on the southeast and south facing slopes which have been absorbing the early morning sunshine.  One of the best examples is the Mecca of spring skiing, High Traverse at Alpine Meadows (just call it “high T” if you want to sound like a local).  Other great options are Sugar Bowl’s Disney Chair and numerous places at Squaw including skiing off the southeast side of Palisades to Sun Spot (my favorite) and Granite Chief Chair.  These runs will treat you to some of the sweetest and smoothest skiing you’ve ever had.  Your edges will dig in effortlessly and your skis will bend and carve heroically.  As these runs start to turn from corn to slush, you’ll want to follow the sun to different exposures.  Keep doing this until the temperature is high enough to soften the north facing slopes which will remain glorious longer than your legs will.

The highlights of spring skiing are numerous.  Within just a couple hours you can get in more runs than you can imagine (no crowds! no lift lines!).  When you’re done skiing, normally by noon or one if you’re like me, you don’t have to head to your car and sit in traffic.  Instead, head to the lodge and peel off some layers and kick back in the sunshine on the deck.  If you pick your days well it will be warm enough to wear the ultimate after ski boots . . . flip flops!!!  Every ski area has local bands rocking, and ice cold beer pouring.  There’s no better way to relax your muscles after your day on the slopes.

The moral of the story is . . . don’t put away your ski gear yet!!!  Get out there and enjoy!