More than 850 cars are expected to participate in the Hot August Nights Poker Run on Aug. 11. The classic cars will make their way to Carson Valley representing some of the 5,500 entrants in this year’s nationally recognized 25th Annual Hot August Nights.

The cars will participate in a 110-mile seven stop poker run which begins in Reno, continues through Carson City to Minden Park and then parades over Kingsbury Grade to South Lake Tahoe, finishing up at Legends at Sparks Marina. For the eighth year, the Minden Park stop will be the official lunch stop featuring an up close and personal way to view and photograph these vehicles and have an opportunity to speak with the owners.

The event takes place from approximately 11:30am-2pm at Minden Park. Streets will be closed to through traffic from Esmeralda and 4th streets around the Minden Park area.

For more information, call (775) 782.8144.

The dam gates are open, the river is flowing, and rafting season on the Truckee River opened today.

Some companies will begin operating this weekend.

The delay in this summer’s rafting season was due to a banner snow year and lingering snowpack, which kept downstream flows above the federally regulated minimums required before water can be let out of Lake Tahoe.

Rafting season is open on the North Shore along the Truckee River. Photo/Jeff Dow

Most trips are leisurely and take two to three hours to complete, with patrons exiting at River Ranch Lodge near Alpine Meadows Road along Highway 89. Trips include parking, shuttle, paddles, life jackets and commercial rafts for two to 20 people.

For more information about rafting and raft companies, go online.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is putting on the following free public guided hikes.

Online registration is now required for all TRTA programs. For more information call (775) 298.0012 or email programs@tahoerimtrail.org.

Aug. 6 – Vistas, Lakes and Wildflowers Hiking Series – “Cinder Cone” Join experienced TRT Guides on this moderately challenging hike from Tahoe City north to the Cinder Cone Overlook. There will be plenty of breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley and the Truckee River Canyon on this hike. This 8-mile hike is for experienced hikers, who can comfortably hike 6–8 miles. Meet at the Tahoe City South Trailhead at 8am.

Aug. 10 – Wednesday Wildflower Walk – Join us for this easy walk along the eastern side of Tamarack Peak toward Galena Falls. Well known for its natural beauty and abundance of wildflowers, this site offers great vistas of Washoe Valley and plenty of photo opportunities. This hike begins at 10am at the Mt. Rose Trailhead.

Aug. 13 – Vistas, Lakes and Wildflowers Hiking Series – “Martis Peak to Mt. Baldy” Join experienced TRT guides on this short, 6 mile, yet challenging hike from the Martis Peak Road (16N92) where the TRT intersects to Mt. Baldy. This hike will enjoy 360 degree panorama views from the Martis Peak Lookout. Participants will be led over 9,000 feet in elevation to Mt. Baldy for more incredible vistas. We will meet at 8am at the end of the road to Martis Peak.

Aug. 17 – Wednesday Wildflower Walk – Join us for this easy walk along the eastern side of Tamarack Peak toward Galena Falls. Well known for its natural beauty and abundance of wildflowers, this site offers great vistas of Washoe Valley and plenty of photo opportunities. This hike begins at 10am at the Mt. Rose Trailhead.

Aug. 20 – Vistas, Lakes and Wildflowers Hiking Series – “Galena Falls” Join us for this easy walk along the eastern side of Tamarack Peak towards Galena Falls. Well known for its natural beauty and abundance of wildflowers, this site offers great vistas of Washoe Valley and plenty of photo opportunities. The hike will continue above Galena Falls to a wildflower strewn meadow and back down a USFS Road. This 6.5 mile hike begins at 8am at the Mt. Rose Trailhead.

Aug. 27 – Birds, Views and Falls – The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, and the Lahontan Audubon Society are sponsoring this moderately difficult hike (6.5 miles) from the Mount Rose Trailhead to Galena Falls in search of late summer birds and spectacular scenery. We will take our time to enjoy the birds and soak in great views before arriving at Galena Falls and the surrounding alpine meadows. Possible avian participants are Green-tailed Towhee, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird, and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Bring water, sunscreen, and a sack lunch, as we will have lunch on the trail. This hike will begin at 7am at the Mount Rose Trailhead.

By Nancy Lofholm, Denver Post

A big name in the Colorado ski industry bought a small, relatively unknown ski area Thursday for a bargain price.

Former Vail Resorts executive Andy Daly​’s high bid of $1.4 million earned him not only the Powderhorn Ski Resort along with a neighboring inn and restaurant and acres for ski area expansion, but also a more than 700-acre parcel of nearby land that could be developed into a golf course and home sites.

“We really believe Powderhorn is a wonderful gem that has been undercapitalized for a number of years. We want to bring back skiing expertise and capital,” Daly said as he was swarmed by well-wishers following his successful bid on a ski resort he admitted is one of the few in the state he has never skied before.

The “we” Daly is referring to include Tom and John Gart of the Gart Companies. They accompanied Daly to the auction and took part in fevered corner-of-the-room negotiations with sellers during the first and second rounds of bidding before jumping in on the third round and buying up all but some lots around the resort that went to individual bidders.

The Garts would not comment on what part they will play in the ski area. Daly called them “real estate partners.”

Read the whole story

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care’s annual open house is Aug. 7 from 10am-4pm.

This is the one time of the year the public is permitted on the grounds where the wild birds and animals are rehabilitated before being released back to the wild.

Various species to be seen include three bear cubs, five red-tailed hawks, seven barn owls, songbirds, raccoons, a coyote pup and a golden eagle.

A river otter is one of the animals rehabbed at LTWC. Photo/Provided

Trained LTWC volunteers will be on hand to guide you through the grounds and describe the reasons the various wildlife are at LTWC, and the prognosis for their eventual release back to the wild.

Retail items will be available, including the newly designed Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care T-shirts and hats, posters, LTWC license plate holders and magnets and Li’l Smokey lapel pins.

The bear cubs will be on closed circuit “BEAR TV” to watch as they play in their little world.

LTWC is at 1485 Cherry Hills Circle, off Elks Club Drive in Meyers.

For more information, call (530) 577.2273.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin a project to eradicate, control, and contain known and future infestations of invasive weeds using chemical treatment.

Work will occur Aug. 8-11.

An environmental assessment released by the Forest Service last year identified 493 known infestations located on National Forest System lands managed by the LTBMU. Noxious weeds reproduce and spread rapidly, displacing native plants. They also reduce the amount and quality of fish and wildlife habitat, increase soil erosion and stream sedimentation, and impair recreational access.

Current project areas include the Tallac Historic Site and parking area, the corner of Al Tahoe and Pioneer Trail, Pope Beach, 64 acres and 64 acres East, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Meyers Landfill.

Invasive weeds found in these areas include Tall Whitetop (Lepidium latifolium), Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), Yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense).

Treatments will use herbicides similar to the commercial product Roundup. Crews will apply the product by hand and no spraying will occur. Herbicide application will follow approved Environmental Protection Agency, state, and local direction.

Caution signs will be posted in treatment areas up to 48 hours prior to treatment and caution tape will provide a barrier around each treatment area. Treatment areas are very small, totaling less than 3 acres. Access to treatment sites will be restricted for several hours during and after the application.

For more information, contact Rena Escobedo at (530) 543.2694.

Maintaining their home game winning streak, the Tahoe Derby Dames will be bouting the Central Coast Rough Diamonds at Bijou Community Park on Aug. 20.

Gates open at 4pm and the bout will begin at 5pm. Bleacher seating is available, but limited so feel free to bring lawn chairs.

Tickets the day of the bout are $10, pre-sale tickets are $8 and may be purchased from a player or at Road Rash Café (2218 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Barton Memorial Juvenile Diabetes Center.

The economic impact from this year’s American Century Championship on the South Shore is estimated at between $10 million and $20 million, according to tournament officials.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority says the amount represents total spending throughout the region on lodging, dining, activities, entertainment and gaming, combined with the media exposure.

Michael Jordan continues to be a player people want to see. Photo/Kathryn Reed

In the coming months when hotel and sales taxes are tabulated in South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County, the direct impact will be better known.

The media exposure is something that is realized down the road when people decide they want to visit the area.

Media coverage online, in newspapers, magazines, radio and television continues to expand, providing exposure for the area, officials said.

The 22nd annual tournament at Edgewood Tahoe hit a record with more than 40,000 spectators. Plus, millions of people watched the July tournament on VERSUS and NBC Sports.

Since its inception in 1990, the tournament has raised more than $4 million for national and local charities and organizations. Through its affiliation with American Century, Livestrong has been the tournament’s official charity since 2007. This year’s event generated some $700,000 for Livestrong and other charities via fundraising and a hole-in-one scored by former NHL All-Star Joe Sakic, whose final round feat triggered an insurance payout of $500,000 to the charity.

Numerous local groups benefit through their participation with the event including Soroptomist International South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation and Whittell and South Tahoe high school sports programs. Funding support of at least $100,000 for area nonprofits will be realized once again this year.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

The 22nd annual Lake in the Sky Air Show takes flight Aug. 27 from 7am-4pm.

It features some of the world’s top aircraft performers. as well as radio-controlled demonstrations, Navy H-60 Seahawk helicopters and an Air Force C-17 Globemaster static display.

Flying legends Bill Cornick, former Air Force pilot; Jon Melby, 33-year freestyle aerobatic air show pilot; and Spencer Suderman, known for intense gyroscopic maneuvers on the Pitts S-2B Biplane, will entertain spectators with aerial stunts and demonstrations.

Pre-opening events include a 5K race/Kids Fun Run and a Kiwanis pancake breakfast.

Go online for more information.

The Perseids meteor shower comes every year beginning in late July and stretching into August. On Aug. 12, camp under the stars and watch the night sky light up at Squaw Valley High Camp.

On this night, sky watchers can witness colorful fireballs, occasional outbursts and long hours of gracefully streaking meteors.

Perseid Meteor Shower campers can upload the Cable Car between 5-6:30pm. Upon arriving at High Camp, guests have the option of starting off the evening with a self-led sunset hike around Squaw Valley’s upper mountain peaks or eating dinner at the resort’s mountaintop café (not included in price). Following, there will be an informational briefing on telescopes as well as campfire activities, with meteor shower viewing beginning at 10pm. In the morning is a continental breakfast from 7:30-8:30am before downloading the Cable Car.

Reservations for the Perseid Meteor Shower Campout are required and this event does sell out. Those interested in more information or in making reservations may call (530) 583.6985.

Cost is $75 for adults, $50 for children 15 and younger.