By U.S. Ski Team

Eight 2010 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley), a 2010 double Olympic silver medalist and 2006 Olympic gold medalist highlight the heavy hitting list of athletes nominated for 2010 ESPY Awards.

Also up for awards are gold medalists Lindsey Vonn (Vail), Bode Miller (Franconia, NH), Shaun White (Carlsbad), Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), Alana Nichols (Farmington, NM) and Stephani Victor (Park City), along with Paralympic bronze medalist Andy Soule (Pearland, TX).

Julia Mancuso

The ESPYs will be hosted by Saturday Night Live star Seth Meyers and broadcast live on ESPN from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on July 14 at 6pm. Winners are determined by popular vote and polling is now open.

Vonn, whose record shattering 2010 season included the Olympic gold medal for downhill and a bronze in super G in addition to capturing her third consecutive Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall title, is nominated in the Best Female Athlete category and Best Female U.S. Olympic Athlete.

Fellow Olympic gold medalist White is also up for ESPYs in two categories with nods for Best Male Action Sports Athlete and Best Male U.S. Olympic Athlete after defending his 2006 Olympic halfpipe gold.

Joining White in the Best Male U.S. Olympic Athlete division is Miller, who captured a royal flush of medals in Vancouver with bronze in downhill, followed by super G silver and a dramatic gold medal in super combined.

Mancuso’s stunning silver medals in downhill and super combined notched her a spot in the Best Female U.S. Olympic Athlete category joining Vonn and Kearney, the women’s moguls gold medalist.

Beijing wheelchair basketball gold medalist turned first-time winter Olympian Nichols rolled to a four-medal alpine skiing haul in Vancouver with gold in both downhill and giant slalom, plus silver in super G and bronze in super combined. With that, she became the first American woman to earn gold in summer and winter Paralympics and earned a slot in the Best Female Athlete with a Disability category along side teammate Victor.

A three-time Paralympian Victor carries a 2010 gold medal in super combined and silver medals in both super G and giant slalom into the category of Best Female Athlete with a Disability, while Soule, a military veteran, lands on the men’s side with a bronze medal in biathlon just five years after being introduces to nordic skiing.

By Kathryn Reed

For 30 years, Les Wright has wanted to start the Lake Tahoe Land Trust.

He first proposed the idea to South Lake Tahoe officials three decades ago. At that time he thought increasing the hotel tax by 2 percent would accomplish the goal. The goal being to raise money so property could be bought and either turned into parks, bike trails or open space.

As he tells the story, city officials liked the idea, too. They raised the transient occupancy tax. But it all went to the general fund, not to a land trust, not even designated just for recreation.

Les Wright

Now Wright’s idea is to increase property taxes for everyone living in the boundaries of Lake Tahoe Unified School District so $1 million could be raised each year. How much this would cost the average homeowner or business has not been analyzed.

With this most likely being formed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, it would not be possible to tax property owners. So how Wright will actually secure the funding remains a mystery.

He also doesn’t want the cash collected from taxpayers to be used for maintenance and operations – just land acquisition.

Wright also wants the tax to go on indefinitely. No type of sunset clause was brought forth by him. The concept was not considered until Lake Tahoe News questioned the legality of his idea. It could mean generations from now would be taxed without representation.

Any tax idea has to go before the voters, with two-thirds saying yes for it to pass.

Wright, who has been on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission as long as he has had the land trust idea, talked about bringing his dream to fruition at last week’s Recreation Commission meeting.

“I wonder what South Lake Tahoe would look like today if we had that 2 percent (from the TOT),” Wright said.

Wright, who is best known for having created the Lake Tahoe Marathon, is seeking the commission’s endorsement for the idea. The commission may take a vote at its next meeting. The June 28 session was just a discussion. The vote would not be on the land trust itself, but whether commissioners support developing the idea further.

Neither the commission nor the Parks and Rec Department would ever be directly involved. The trust would be a private entity.

The dictionary describes a “land trust” as — a trust created to effectuate a real estate ownership arrangement in which the trustee holds legal and equitable title to the property subject to the provisions of a trust agreement setting out the rights of the beneficiaries whose interests in the trust are declared to be personal property.

The idea for the Tahoe trust, according to Wright, is to buy vacant land or rundown buildings, and then give the land over to entities that could turn them into a recreational facility. He envisions a 21-member board being the stewards and overseers of the whole process.

Peter Eicher, with the California Tahoe Conservancy, was at the meeting because he knows about buying land.

“It’s not easy to just acquire property and let it sit. You need to keep it fire safe and you’ll run into encroachment issues,” Eicher told the group.

Some people at the meeting brought up the idea of partnering with another trust instead of starting from scratch.

To that, Wright said, “I don’t want anything to do with another trust.”

But he also said when the Lake Tahoe Land Trust is a reality he plans to donate the first lot.

By Gus Thomson, Auburn Journal

A dam on the Bear River that would inundate hundreds of acres of seemingly protected foothills oak woodland is finding no support from the Nevada Irrigation District or Placer Land Trust.

A Sutter County water agency has started a low-key study that’s raising Placer County eyebrows. It follows past failed efforts to build a dam on the river and inundate parts of both Nevada and Placer counties.

Jeff Darlington, Placer Land Trust executive director, said the dam would flood about a third of the 912-acre Garden Bar Reserve his organization secured a conservation easement on two years ago.

Read the whole story

By Reuters

Lock your feet onto a snowboard, and you can expect to fall. But whether or not a fall results in a broken wrist or separated shoulder depends on a lot of factors — including just how you go down.

Based on information from nearly 2,000 upper extremity fractures and dislocations, researchers in Japan found that snowboarders lacking licensed instruction accounted for 9 out of every 10 injuries — the largest portion of which were to the wrist from a backward fall.

“Many snowboarders think that because the surface is made of snow, it will always be soft,” Gregg Davis, a snowboarding instructor at Breckenridge Ski and Ride School in Colorado, noted in an email to Reuters Health. “Most of the time the surface is quite hard and can lead to a strong impact on the extremities,” added Davis, who was not involved in the study.

Read the whole story

By Kathryn Reed

INCLINE VILLAGE — Sometimes a hike becomes all about the journey and not the destination.

This happens when the trail is no longer visible and bushwhacking seems like a better option than going up over the rocky terrain to avoid the thicket.

Hiking Mount Rose seemed like a good idea when we started on a recent Monday. What a way to welcome summer – summit a 10,776-foot peak. We never made it.

Lake Tahoe from the Mount Rose trail on June 21. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Sue, who has done the hike before without snow, says the views from the top are spectacular. On clear days Mount Shasta can be seen. I can only imagine.

I can attest for some wonderful vistas of Lake Tahoe and the Carson City area from various vantage points. One day maybe I’ll know what Sue is talking about.

One day we might actually finish a hike. That might occur if we would stay at a lower elevation.

The trail is accessible from a few spots off the Mount Rose Highway. The easiest to find is at the summit where there is a large parking lot. We opted to start down a little farther, closer to the lake, and across from the meadow on the other side of the highway.

Here a woman who works for the U.S. Forest Service and UC Davis told us what markers to look for to get to the summit. She was on her way to a research area where she and others are studying the impact beetles are having on trees in the region.

Sauntering along the vehicle-width dirt trail it wasn’t long before patches of snow covered much of the path. Out came the poles – a must-have this time of year to balance along the slick, uneven surface.

This early section is part of the Tahoe Rim Trial. We chose not to attempt the 38-mile jaunt to Tahoe City through the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Near a pond, which is partially frozen now, is where the right turn to Mount Rose is. Going straight continues on the TRT, with Relay Peak not far away.

We descend into a meadow – slowly and carefully. Divots in the snow are making the walk tricky. Running water is melting the snow in places, creating streams in what seem to be random locations.

Eyes are carefully scanning and ears listening for rushing water to ensure I’m not walking over a covered stream. Another good use of the poles – to test the sturdiness of the snow covered water.

Mount Rose is in the distance. But even on the longest day of the year it doesn’t seem like we’ll make it there and back since we got a late start. Still, we continue on.

The ski resort by the same name is to the right and actually on the other side of the highway.

Uneven rocks are less stable under our boots than the uneven snow. We’re not having fun and nerves are getting frayed.

It’s time to turn around without reaching our destination.

Meandering up the rocks to avoid the wall of bushes seems more daunting than plowing through the thicket. My bruised, scratched, bloody legs are hoping not to do that again any time soon.

Sue survives to say, “I could be in an ad for REI” as she looks at her filthy pants, with not even a slight rip in them.

I want to be an ad for Hot Springs Spas in my backyard soothing my aches.

We carry on in silence. Up the snowy hill we go. Coming to the point where we make a left back along the main trail is a welcome sight. At this point I’m having dreams of hot chocolate (remember it’s the first day of summer) because my feet are so cold. My boots and socks are soaked. Thank goodness we turned around.

Then Lake Tahoe comes into view. A sight I never get tired of. Seeing it from a new perch suddenly makes the cold dissipate just a bit and a smile crosses my face.

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad way to spend a day away from the office.

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By Kara Lapoint, Reno Gazette-Journal

Blue rafts from two commercial rafting companies typically pack the stretch of the Truckee River between Tahoe City and Alpine Meadows this time of year.

But don’t look for them this Fourth of July weekend, one of the busiest of the year.

Low water levels have left Truckee River Raft Co. and Tahoe Truckee River Rafting unable to open for the summer. The federal water master’s office says a long-standing federal rule will not allow it to release more water into the Truckee from Lake Tahoe.

Read the whole story

Sports Fitness Track & Field Camp has been running for more than 10 years as part of Lake Tahoe Community College Kid’s College Program.

Coach Anthony Davis and South Tahoe High Coach Melissa Berry are offering the class on their own as a part of sports development for the community.

Cost $150 or $125 for one week session

Ages: 8-13

Dates/Time: July 6–16,9am-noon

Where: Community Youth Sports Complex at South Tahoe Middle School Track

For more information and registration form, click here.

Placer County reminds Tahoe residents and visitors that alcohol is banned on the Truckee River July 3-5.

Possession of open or closed containers of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the Truckee River from its outfall at Lake Tahoe to the Alpine Meadows Bridge. State law bans the possession of alcoholic beverages on the river and any of its islands. Placer County ordinance bans possession of alcoholic beverage containers 3 feet up from the river’s high water mark on each bank, including all islands and bridges. The Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City is the only bridge excluded from the ban.

For decades, the Truckee River has provided fun and refreshing summer recreation for North Lake Tahoe families and visitors, especially during the Fourth of July holiday when thousands of rafters float the river. However, excessive consumption of alcohol along this portion of the river during peak holiday periods created a public safety hazard and degraded the tourism experience. Additionally, the tremendous amount of trash and debris left behind in the river and along its banks became a safety and environmental hazard and was expensive to remove.

Before the alcohol ban on the Truckee River, there was an alcohol-related death, numerous arrests for driving under the influence, being drunk in public, indecent exposure and minors in possession of alcohol. Additionally, there were multiple automobile collisions that resulted in arrest for DUI. The alcohol ban is responsible for a significant reduction in alcohol-related incidents the past three years.

Violations of the ban are punishable by a fine not to exceed $150 for the first violation, $500 for the second violation and $1,000 for the third violation occurring in any calendar year.

Mulligan’s are allowed during Barton Foundation’s 16th annual Golf Tournament at Genoa Lakes – The Lakes Course on July 23, but only if you pay for them.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the foundation’s community health endowment fund.

Registration, mulligan and raffle ticket sales begin at 6:45am. The fun, scramble golf tournament starts at 8am. Competitions throughout the course give golfers the chance to take home special prizes. As the golfing ends, guests join the awards party, barbecue and announcement of raffle prize winners.

Golfers also have the opportunity to win a car with a hole-in-one, courtesy of Cardinale Way, as well as other prizes for holes-in-one on additional holes. Everyone will compete in the closest-to-the-hole and longest drive competitions.

The $175 per person entry fee, of which $100 is tax deductible, includes green fees, cart, golfer amenity package, a barbecue lunch and no host bar.

Each year Barton has made changes to enhance the tournament and draw greater interest for returning golfers as well as for new supporters.

Over the years, more than $520,000 has been raised from the golf tournament.

All proceeds help build Barton Foundation’s Endowment Fund. Endowment investment earnings have allowed the Barton Foundation to fund various hospital projects including construction of the helipad in 2001, fund the Hospice program and Health Resource Center in 2002, purchase automated external defibrillators for El Dorado and Douglas counties, pay for Life-Line units for Hospice and fund the hospital’s Healing Design program.

Tournament sponsors include Aflac, Relay Health, Northern Trust, State Farm Kingsbury Grade, Dennis and Kathy Cocking, El Dorado Savings Bank, Tahoe Telephone Directories, Harrah’s/Harveys Resort, Secure Medical Systems, HRS Erase, Western Sign Company, G.L. Hicks Finance, California Healthcare Insurance Company, Marquee Fire Protection, Lakeside Inn, McKesson and Charter Business.

To register, call (530) 543.5614 or go to www.bartonhealth.org/events. Search for Golf Tournament.

By Austin Fay

On a four-hour hike from Lake Tahoe Golf Course to where the Upper Truckee River ducks under Highway 50, Lake Tahoe News spotted three Coors Light cans, 10 empty bottles, two red plastic cups, one-and-a-half pairs of shoes, a black overturned grill, 14 golf balls outside the course, as well as a cigarette box and other micro-trash along the sweeping riverbanks.

A sort of tree-house platform was also found built into an overhanging tree midway through the Upper Truckee’s journey around the east side of the airport on California Tahoe Conservancy land.

Weaving and meandering through lush meadows, with quaking aspens and willows drooping and sliding into the chilly winding waters, the Upper Truckee River eventually empties into Lake Tahoe.

Steve Ashcraft of South Tahoe checks out the treehouse on the Upper Truckee River's edge. Photos/Austin Fay

Beyond being  an eyesore, garbage can also end up in the lake. With much of the river being a wildlife corridor, what humans leave behind is never good for animals.

In addition to the walking, bicycling and hiking trails that stretch through the river’s floodplain, kayaking, rafting or just floating makes the river a popular recreation destination.

Much of the trash was found at the river entrance near the intersection of Elks Club Road and Highway 50.

Since May 3, the Tahoe Flea Market has been every Sunday in the parking lot near the most popular entrance point to the river for recreationists. According to Bruce Eisner, acquisitions manager for the California Tahoe Conservancy, the flea market’s participants are responsible for the condition of the parking lot.

Many locals don’t want to see the natural beauty of the land depreciated. Steve Ashcraft, a 31-year South Tahoe resident, walks his dogs up and down the Upper Truckee River several times a week and values the shared land and its single-track trails.

“I see a couple soda cans here, some clothes there, a raft here and that’s with light usage (of the river). How bad is it going be on a long 4th of July weekend?” Ashcraft wonders. “It’s just an ongoing thing.”

Ashcraft also has a problem with CTC’s way of doing things.

“I’m just surprised with the millions and millions they budget for realigning the river and all those cans and bottles are sent out into the lake,” he said.

Of the 63 tributaries of Lake Tahoe, the Upper Truckee River watershed makes up 18 percent of the total watershed drainage into the lake.

Danny Cohen, a one-year South Lake Tahoe resident looking a little sunburned as he took his cooler and rafts out of the river Wednesday night, has floated a section of the river at least 20 times in the last 30 days.

“For the most part it’s pretty clean right now, but the river’s been flowing pretty strong,” Cohen said. He and the three friends he was with reported seeing a few golf balls and a stranded paddle during their float.

“Compared to the rest of California, it’s not that much trash,” said Joy Eichnerlynch, a four-year South Lake Tahoe resident.

Eichnerlynch was out for a sunset stroll with her husband, Walter, and their two wet dogs, Jesse and Gregor, on June 30. They live near F Street and think the litter is worse there than the Upper Truckee because of a nearby sledding hill.

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