Tahoe is being loved to death. Over-crowded beaches and roads have been a burgeoning problem for years that only exploded with overuse during the pandemic. Local agencies are overburdened keeping town centers, beaches, parks, and high-traffic areas clear of trash and illegal fires, and dealing with bear interactions in residential areas. The resources and the staff aren’t there, however, to patrol the hundreds of wilderness trails that fan out across the Tahoe Sierra. So, it’s up to each of us to do our part to pack out our own trash and, unfortunately, the trash of those people who just don’t give a damn about protecting Tahoe.
Enter the trail ambassador programs that launched this summer as one of countless efforts to help inform trail users, mitigate trash impacts, help protect wildlife and to monitor wildfires that could wipe out our communities. Trail guru Tim Hauserman, who has likely hiked or mountain biked most of our local trails, is doing his part by volunteering to be a Trail Ambassador on the Tahoe Rim Trail this summer and shares his experiences and concerns in his feature “Be prepared to use Tahoe’s trail: Ambassadors main trailheads.”
Sadly, many trail users think taking a walk in Tahoe’s forests are like taking a walk in a city park and are unprepared for the wilderness. So, along with Tim’s insights in his story, I’ll share my own tips for wilderness preparedness.
- Turn off your cell phone. You’re not going to get reception in most locations, so turn off the ringer and for goodness’ sake do not talk using the speaker. It’s disrespectful of others and it’s disruptive to wildlife.
- Don’t pick the flowers. It provides critical habitat and food for our wildlife. Take only pictures.
- Be kind to those you meet. Make eye contact and say hi.
- Don’t pass others without letting them know you’re there first using a friendly greeting and then give them time to move aside.
- Flip-flops are for the beach, not the trail. They are only good for twisted ankles and injured toes.
- Carry food, water & a jacket everywhere. Conditions change quickly.
- Know the weather; thunderstorms and lighting can happen at any time (even snow sometimes).
- Know where you are going. Carry a paper map or download a trail map from an app like AllTrails that you can access when there’s no cell reception (test it at home before heading out).
- Pack out the damn trash! That includes your toilet paper, your trash and your dog poop bags (also handy for stashing TP). There are no restrooms in the wilderness.
- No fires in the forest! That includes smoking anything on the trails. If you can’t go a few hours without a smoke, don’t go on the trails. It’s not worth burning down Tahoe.
Last chance for giveaway
The deadline to enter our Donation Giveaway for a chance to win a custom coffee table built by Tahoe Slab Furniture is end of day on Aug. 9. Find details on page 3.
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Checks P.O. Box 154, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148
