Snow. Does more really need to be said?

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

A winter storm warning is in effect from 11 this evening through 8pm Wednesday. A winter storm watch is in effect from Thursday morning through Friday morning.

The National Weather Service in Reno is saying to be prepared for 1 to 2 feet above 7,000 feet, with up to a foot below that elevation.

Not exactly a bike friendly South Lake Tahoe. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Avalanche dangers will increase.

Roads should be nasty, with warnings already being issued that the commute in Reno and Carson City on Wednesday morning will be slick and icy.

Snow is in the forecast through Saturday.

The highs will be in the 30s and lows in the 20s in the Lake Tahoe Basin for the rest of the week.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

Hit the slopes today before the next storm rolls in.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club March meeting is at Gar Woods restaurant in Carnelian Bay on March 28 from 3:30-5:30pm.

Local artist Cornelia Kallerud’s will give a hands-on demonstration of basket weaving.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club meets monthly from March to October.

On July 30 from 10am-4pm, Lake of the Sky Garden Club will host its 23rd annual garden tour, the 2011 Truckee Garden Tour. Proceeds from this tour will fund scholarships to encourage study in landscaping, horticulture, forestry or environmental science and up to $6,000 in grants to local community projects.

Last year’s Lake Tahoe West Shore Garden Tour sold out at 500 tickets.

Truckee Garden Tour tickets are $20. Mail check to Lake of the Sky Garden Club, P.O. Box 1827, Tahoe City, CA 96145.

Lake of the Sky Garden Club has grant funds available for Lake Tahoe community-related garden projects and student scholarships. To obtain an application, contact Sharon Gayat sharongay@hotmail.com or call Emily Hatch, (530) 582.8487, or email her at jimxem@sbcglobal.net. Applications must be received by April 15.

As the flakes continue to fall in the Lake Tahoe Basin and berms left by snowplow drivers are chiseled away, there will be little time to let go of the shovel.

A couple more inches of snow are expected today, Tuesday will be drier, and Wednesday may bring 1 to 2 feet of snow. Snow is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, too.

A snowboarder waits March 21 for a bus on Highway 50 in South Tahoe. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Here are snow totals from the NWS as of 10am March 21 for the last 24 hours:

• South Lake Tahoe – 21 inches

• Truckee – 18 inches

• Carson City – 2.5 inches

• Gardnerville – 4.5 inches.

This morning troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to and investigated nearly two dozen weather-related fender benders. From just after midnight until approximately 10 this morning, 23 accidents were reported on the highways in Northern Nevada.

Nineteen of the crashes were property damage only, with the remaining four events having some type of injuries sustained. Most of the injuries observed this morning were either self-reported or minor in nature.

Twenty-one of the accidents were reported in Washoe County, while only two took place in Douglas County.

Speed too fast for conditions was the primary cause in all of the unplanned events this morning.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

The snow has not stopped falling.

Roads are still messy.

Lifts are likely to have some issues as resorts dig out and winds affect operations higher up.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

LA PLAGNE, France -– Torin Yater-Wallace of Basalt, Colo., at just 16 years old, topped the men’s halfpipe skiing podium in the first of two World Cup halfpipe competitions Sunday in La Plagne. Also landing on the podium for the U.S. was Devin Logan of West Dover, Vt., with two seconds in the women’s contests and David Wise second and third in the men’s.

Yater-Wallace led the U.S. charge topping an impressive field with many of the skiers coming over from the European X Games in nearby Tignes earlier this week. The X Games medalist won the first of two events Sunday.

Logan led the U.S. women, finishing second in both competitions behind Canada’s Sarah Burke. Logan was joined by Annalisa Drew of Andover, Mass., in 10th in the morning then seventh Sunday evening.

Wise of Reno skied his way onto both podiums, finishing third in the morning and second at night under the lights.

Sunday was the final day of freestyle World Cup competition for the 2011 season.

Official results, World Cup, La Plagne, France, Halfpipe Skiing Morning Event

Men

1. Torin Yater-Wallace Basalt, CO, 45.7

2. Benoit Valentin, France, 45.3

3. David Wise, Reno, NV, 44.5

–

6. Joss Christensen, Park City, UT, 35.3

13. Wing Tai Barrymore, Hailey, ID, 38.5

Women

1. Sarah Burke, Canada, 45.8

2. Devin Logan, West Dover, VT, 43.1

3. Anais Caradeux, France, 41.1

–

10. Annalisa Drew, Andover, MA, 22.3

Halfpipe Skiing Night Event

Men

1. Kevin Rolland, France, 46.6

2. David Wise, Reno, NV, 44.2

3. Justin Dorey, Canada, 43.2

–

10. Penn Lukens, Steamboat Springs, CO, 24.3

11. Torin Yater-Wallace Basalt, CO, 17.4

Women

1. Sarah Burke, Canada, 46.4

2. Devin Logan, West Dover, VT, 44.3

3. Virginie Faivre, Switzerland, 42.7

–

7. Annalisa Drew, Andover, MA, 30.8

Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe, is reporting Boreal, Alpine and Soda Springs are closed.

Also, many of the roads getting to the Lake Tahoe area ski resorts either have chain controls, are limiting traffic or are closed. Be sure to check the state icons on the home page of Lake Tahoe News to keep up with road conditions.

Tomorrow might be a better ski day. Here is the ski report from Fong.

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE — History and natural beauty come together in a magical way along the easy Lam Watah trail.

“This beautiful piece of land has many fascinating connections to the past. For centuries, the Washoe used it as a summer encampment. It has been logged, and grazed by cattle,” reads the interpretive sign. “Pony Express riders came through here, and it was home of Tahoe’s first airport. Most recently, two full-scale casinos were almost built here.”

Rabe Meadow in Stateline is worth visiting year-round. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Oddly, the trail today would not resemble what it looked like when I was last on it the first week of February. Then it was muddy. With the recent white stuff, snowshoes or cross country skis are going to work better.

Improvements to the area in the last few years by the U.S. Forest Service have made it an even more pleasurable trek. Mini walkways have been installed over the low areas. Signs explain a bit about what is in this meadow.

The Forest Service has owned this plot of land on the South Shore since the 1980s.

More work is going on now to make facilities compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.

Rabe Meadow is a place to visit in every season. Like so much of Lake Tahoe, it has something special to share every month. The landscape seems to change as snow arrives and melts; the aspens regain their leaves and turn color; birds migrate – singing their arrival; other critters come and go.

Burke Creek meanders along the western edge, bringing lushness to some areas.

The main trail is completely flat, creating a meandering jaunt that ends at Nevada Beach, with a short jog through the campground.

The splendor of the beach competes against the meadow for which is most spectacular.

This particular Saturday a few others are strolling on the beach. It’s just cool enough to want to keep moving and not pause long at the snowcapped mountains ringing the lake.

Seldom do I venture here in the summer. Perhaps knowing the tranquility of the other seasons has me jaded about wanting to be among the masses. Just once, though, I want to get a campsite for Fourth of July. Rumor has it this beach is the best for watching the fireworks shot off from the barge sitting in Lake Tahoe.

This is one of those outings where it’s about the walk, the beauty, the solitude, as well as the company of the one you’re with. It’s not about endurance or speed or working up a sweat.

Getting there:

From South Lake Tahoe, head east on Highway 50. Go past the casinos. Turn left on Kahle Drive. The parking area is immediately on the right.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

A winter storm warning is in effect from 5am to 11pm Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Reno is calling for 1 to 2 feet above 7,000 feet and 4 to 8 inches below 7,000 feet, with 8 to 12 inches along and west of Highway 89.