Spooner Lake

Some weekends are pretty cut and dry, just a few things to choose among. This, however, is not one of those weekends. High-flying, death-defying action takes over the Minden Airport as the Aviation Roundup Air Show takes to the skies. Pasta-lovers won’t want to miss the Eldorado Great Italian Festival in downtown Reno. Carson City’s monthly Downtown Wine Walk gets a dose of nostalgia as the Western Airstream Convention sets up shop and welcomes the curious.

My daily list of activities might be called ‘things to do in Carson City,’ but I frequently include happenings from the surrounding valleys. Today, it’s the Thirsty Third Thursday wine walk in downtown Gardnerville that gets the spotlight. Dayton’s weekly Farmers Market can be found this afternoon in front of ‘Community Roots’ on Highway 50. It’s probably past patio weather, but there is plenty of room inside of Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar for all of tonight’s karaoke lovers.

THURSDAY:

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park will take applications for firewood permits this week, Sept. 18-22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The weekend is creeping closer and there are a few things worth getting excited about. The annual Reno National Air Races began yesterday and run through Sunday, if high-flying and death-defying gets your blood pumping. Not to be outdone, Virginia City welcomes the Ferrari Hill Climb to the truck route this weekend – leave the hairpin turns to the professionals. Today you’ll have Ev Musselman on stage at Living the Good Life to help erase your workweek worries.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Join a park ranger on a guided tour and learn of Tahoe’s Comstock history, when the land that now makes up the park at Spooner Lake was used to harvest wood and water to feed the mines and population of Virginia City.

Meet at the Hwy 50 Park and Ride to carpool to the Spooner Lake parking lot. We will walk around the lake, about 2 miles, flat trail. Closed-toed shoes and water are required. Bring a friend and/or friendly dogs. Hats, sunscreen and walking sticks recommended.

Muscle Powered Thursday Hike program are hikes of between 2 to 4 miles in length, often with some elevation gain (no more than 500') and can be on a paved path, smooth wide trail, or single track. The hikes will usually be of approximately 1 1/2 duration.

Meet at the Hwy 50 Park and Ride to carpool to Spooner Lake parking lot. We will hike toward Marlette Lake, about 3.5 miles roundtrip. Closed-toed shoes and water are required. Bring a friend and/or friendly dogs. Hats, sunscreen and walking sticks recommended.

Muscle Powered Thursday Hike program are hikes of between 2 to 4 miles in length, often with some elevation gain (no more than 500') and can be on a paved path, smooth wide trail, or single track. The hikes will usually be of approximately 1 1/2 duration.

I’m sending good thoughts to those in the California fire zones: with as bad as the smoke is here, I can only imagine how bad their eyes burn. Free ice cream and a concert featuring the Capital City Community Band can be found tonight at the First United Methodist Church on King Street. You’ll find free pool, a nice beer selection, and great drinks at Remedy’s Bar on Williams Street tonight. Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery celebrates the paper and book sculptures of mother-daughter team, My Thousand Words, at a meet and greet reception tonight. Keep reading for a plethora of ways to spend the day.

Let the good times roll, Carson City. Cars, chrome, choppers, and kruzers are in abundance. Run Whatcha Brung at Fuji Park is open to any and all cars that can get themselves there. The Rockabilly Riot and T Bucket Alliance at Mills Park is an American Graffiti flashback. Cheer on our local motorcycle cops at the Extreme Motor Challenge, or hop on your own bike and go on a poker run with the Lords of Iron Motorcycle Club.

SATURDAY:

The weekend hasn’t even started, and I’m already exhausted just trying to decide what to do first! Live music, races, activities, and much more await you downtown as part of the Carson City Off-Road. Stewart Indian School is awash in bright colors, beadwork, and dancers from all across the country during their annual Fathers’ Day Pow Wow. Congratulations to the Show Tree Brewing Company by the Carson Hot Springs; their big grand opening bash includes multiple bands. Keep reading – this weekend has a whole lot to offer.

SATURDAY:

As the thermometer approaches 90, remind yourself that snow fell a few weeks ago and the heat is well overdue. We bypassed spring and lept right into summer. Enjoy a bluesy morning in Silver City as local musician, Mylo McCormick, takes the stage for a free acoustic concert. Bad man, John Wayne, tussles with an angel at tonight’s Classic Cinema Club offering at the Brewery Arts Center. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a friend on today’s Conditioning Hike up Goni with Muscle Powered.

TUESDAY:

If you happen to be up very early on Saturday morning, you may just see some runners in the pre-dawn hours. The Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, a 178 mile relay, passes through Carson City on its way to Virginia City. A huge congratulations goes out to the Class of 2017; the Carson High graduates will get their diplomas today. It’s wine walk weekend, so downtown will be hopping with sippers, strollers, and plenty of summer fun. Keep reading, and you’re sure to find something to make this weekend special.

SATURDAY:

Meet at the Hwy 50 Park and Ride to carpool to this location. Closed-toed shoes and water are required. Bring a friend and/or friendly dogs. Hats, sunscreen and walking sticks recommended.

Muscle Powered Easy Hike program are hikes of between 2 to 4 miles in length, often with some elevation gain (no more than 500') and can be on a paved path, smooth wide trail, or single track. The hikes will usually be of approximately 1 1/2 duration.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association are co-hosting a celebration of trails on National Trail Day. The event will include: educational booths, talks relating to the outdoors, free gear demos, workshops, raffles and pictures with the TRTA mascot, McLeod the Marmot.

Holy moly, it’s going to be a busy weekend: busy and gorgeous out. A bowling tournament and the Comstock Shootout Soccer tournament have the hotels and motels busting at the seams. Celebrate Earth Day with Muscle Powered by making a small piece of Carson City that much cleaner; the trash meets at 8 a.m. and leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the day. Rummage and book sales, live music, a fun run and a half-marathon, comedy and so much more await you. Check out the list for all the ways to embrace the sunshine.

SATURDAY:

Smack dab in the middle of April and the town is officially in its Spring thaw. Easter is on Sunday, so just about anywhere you go you’ll find the Bunny and an egg hunt. To make it easy, I’ve moved all of those events to their own everything Easter list HERE.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Join Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park staff on Saturday, April 15 and Saturday, April 22 to learn more about exciting employment opportunities at Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake, Cave Rock, and Van Sickle. Sand Harbor Bar and Grill, Sand Harbor Rentals, and The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival will also be available to answer questions and recruit for seasonal positions.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for clear skies, but there are rumors of snow flurries. Luckily there are indoor and outdoor activities, no matter what blows our way. At the top of the list for today is Winter, Wine, Spirits, and All That Jazz at the Brewery Arts Center. Their annual fundraiser is not to be missed.

Navy cadets on the Carson High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (CHS NJROTC) orienteering team know where they're going.

Equipped only with magnetic-north compasses and maps, these cadets have found their way to the Navy JROTC Orienteering Championships for the third straight year.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Spooner Lake State park offers a system of meandering cross-country ski trails that wind through dense forest, across an open meadow and along the banks of Spooner Lake. The trail system is free to the public and made possible by a partnership between Nevada State Parks and Nevada Nordic, a non-profit group based in the Tahoe Basin.

Input from planned upgrades at Spooner Lake west of Carson City is sought by Nevada State Parks, which is inviting users to complete an online survey.

Are you ready for this? New Year’s weekend is upon us and brings with it hope and optimism for the New Year. Resolutions are made, parties are planned, and the kids are smack dab in the middle of their winter break. The chilly weather makes it a perfect time to bake cookies, catch up on the Carson City Library’s Winter Read-a-thon, or hit the shops with those holiday gift cards.

Good luck, Carson City. The options for this weekend are endless, but you can’t be everywhere at once. CASI’s annual Pooch Plunge at the Carson Aquatic Center is always a fun time for your furry friends. Red’s Old 395 welcomes back the THiNK PiNK kick-off to breast cancer awareness month. Downtown you’ll find the wine walk, a rummage sale at the Veterans Memorial Hall, and the Fall Vintage Market at Due Sorella. Toast the season at Fandango: Oktoberfest has returned. Keep reading and be prepared to make some hard choices.

SATURDAY:

A fire near Spooner Lake on Tuesday afternoon brought out multiple agencies and the two SuperScoopers from the Lake Tahoe Airport. The quick response kept the fire at just over 1/2 acre before being contained.

With Red Flag conditions existing at the time, engines and crews from the US Forest Service, Cal Fire, Tahoe Douglas Fire, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and BLM all responded to the Spooner Lake State Park after receiving the call at 3:58 p.m.

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. Parks and Rec’s Easy Walk is a special trip to Spooner Lake where you’ll get to enjoy the crisp autumn morning in a beautiful setting. Listen to the voices of the past as members of the Washoe Tribe recount stories of their people in their native tongue at the Carson Valley Cultural Center and Museum in Minden. J's Bistro in Dayton hosts a spaghetti feed fundraiser for the Remote Area Medical program. A special lecture on the Sutro Tunnel takes place in Virginia City this evening.

Hello fellow anglers, fall is only a few days away. Snow was falling at Kirkwood this week. The time of year to bring extra gear such as warm clothing. The temperatures in our surrounding areas can change rapidly.

Join a Park Ranger and fellow “Bark Rangers” on an easy 2.2 mile hike around Spooner Lake. All dogs are welcome as long as they are social and on a leash. Meet in the parking lot near the restrooms.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Please bring enough water for you and your dog, and be prepared to pick up after your dog. The hike is limited to 15 participants. Please sign up by calling 775-749-5980 or by emailing spooner.ranger@gmail.com.

WHEN: Monday, September 12, 9:00 a.m. and Saturday, September 24, 9:00 a.m.

Meet in the Highway 50 Park n Ride to carpool up to Spooner Lake. This walk will be closer to 2 hours. All walks required closed-toed shoes and water. Hat and sunscreen recommended.

Walks of 1 to 2 miles in length with none or negligible elevation gain, and frequently on paved and smooth paths. The walks will usually be of approximately 1 hour in duration, depending on the location.

Back to school week is just about behind us, so do something to celebrate your survival. Southbound Train hits the outdoor stage at Living the Good Life, followed by hours of dancing with DJ Bobby. Cowboy Bobby will get your boots on the floor with Country Dance Night at Carson Lanes. Take the kids to Minden Park for the final family concert in their GE Series: Foreigner Unauthorized begins at 6 p.m. Shine up the chrome for the Carson SYFL Car Show at Bully’s Sports Bar, and catch some NFL pre-season while you’re there. Keep reading for even more area going-ons.

FRIDAY:

Join Nevada State Parks for a ranger-led hike to the Sand Harbor Overlook of the Tahoe Rim Trail on Saturday, September 17. We’ll meet at Spooner Lake at 8:45 a.m. and carpool to the Marlette Peak Campground. From there we’ll hike 2 miles to the overlook. The magnificent views from the top stretch across the sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe and jagged peaks of the high sierra.