Visitors to Lake Tahoe are often looking for ways to partake in several different outdoor recreational opportunities while they are here but are daunted by the challenges of finding the right equipment, learning the skills needed for the sport and knowing where to go. A great solution is to join one of Tahoe Adventure Company’s guided multisport trips.
On these multisport adventures, participants get to fill up their day with their choice of two sports that showcase the beauty of Tahoe.
On these adventures, participants get to fill up their day with their choice of two sports that showcase the beauty of Tahoe. Choose from hiking, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing. I decided to check out what Tahoe newcomers thought about this approach by joining a paddleboard and mountain-biking multisport trip.
I joined the McLane family from Arizona on their first trip to Lake Tahoe. The mother, father and two sons had little experience with either paddleboarding or mountain biking on rocky trails. We met at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area for the paddle portion of the day. My role was as a writer and photographer, so I went for a more stable kayak in which to follow them. We met Tahoe Adventure Company’s Peter Nocka, a friendly and knowledgeable guide who made the experience relaxing and fun. During the day, everyone practiced physical distancing, as well as the rest of the COVID-19 protocol.
Nocka started with a brief lesson both on the beach and in the water on paddleboard balance and paddle technique. The McLane’s spent a few minutes at the start gaining confidence with their new sport and were soon paddling over the choppy water with confidence. We headed south toward Agate Bay on the North Shore, stopping several times to give the new paddlers a break and for Nocka to pass on information about the natural history of Tahoe, Thunderbird Lodge and the impact of the Comstock Lode on Tahoe’s forest. I made myself useful by telling them about the Tahoe Rim Trail and places they may want to hike while they are in town.
By noon, we’d paddled back to Tahoe Vista and everyone took a break for lunch before we headed out for the afternoon at Tahoe Cross Country.
In short order, Nocka had the family equipped and sized with mountain bikes and provided tips on how to ride a bike over dirt trails. As we rode, he stopped several times to give the riders a chance to catch their breath while passing on information about the wildflowers and about Tahoe’s infamous bears. We rode through a forest that was recently thinned and Nocka talked about the health of Tahoe’s forest and the efforts underway throughout the region to improve tree health.
Over the course of two hours we rode about 8 miles, with the highlight being a beaver lodge in Antone Meadows. When we looped back to the trailhead by 4 p.m., the McLane’s were dusty and tired, but happy. They had the opportunity to learn two sports in a beautiful place, while not having to worry about acquiring equipment — and as an added bonus they learned a great deal about the region. I’m sure their day of paddling and pedaling will be a lasting memory of their trip.
COVID-19 safety
Before joining any group trip, be sure to ask about COVID-19 safety precautions.
“All gear is cleaned after every use. Masks are worn at check-in all the way up to getting on the water, as well as when they return to shore,” says Katie Hickey, operations manager for Tahoe Adventure Company.
Other precautions include health screenings in advance and using digital forms and making the experience as touchless as possible. In addition, all the activities are outside with plenty of distancing maintained at all times between the guides and the participants.
Tahoe Adventure Company’s multisport trips include combinations of kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding and sailing. Tours are a minimum of four people; the maximum group size is limited. In addition to multisport trips, Tahoe Adventure Company provides a number of other single-sport guiding experiences including kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, backpacking and mountain biking. | (530) 913-9212, tahoeadventurecompany.com
