Forest Service shuts recreation sites in South Shore

USFS Lake Tahoe Management Unit

The Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has temporarily closed all national forest recreation sites and areas in the South Shore Recreation Corridor.  According to a press release from the USFS Lake Tahoe Management Unit,  “In alignment with federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers, the sites will be closed through April 30.”

California Death Ride/Tour of the California Alps cancelled for 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

Due to COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to reschedule the Resurgence Tour to July 17, 2021. Registration will reopen in the near future.  For Death Ride fans this probably isn’t news. We’ve all known that many activities across the board have been cancelled outright or postponed. We all need to stay focused on staying healthy for the duration. Ride, but ride with all the guidelines in place. 

From the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce:

“Based on current health forecasts, we do not feel it is in the best interest of the cycling community nor the health of our families, friends, and neighbors, to hold the event on July 11,” the Chamber board of directors wrote on the Death Ride website. “Given the health crisis that we are in, to further task our limited local resources with an event of this magnitude could exasperate our community’s health concerns. We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 40th Anniversary Ride to 2021. This is a decision that we realize impacts many: You – our loyal customers, our community nonprofits who receive a portion of our proceeds, our business members, and of course our own ability to continue to promote and support the business prosperity and well being of this Alpine community that we share with you every year.” 

If riders have already entered, their registration will be locked in for 2021. From the Chamber:  

Stay Home

Due to the recent restrictions enacted by the National Forests and California State Parks, and the shelter in place order from the Governor, visitors from outside the area, which is to say if you don’t live here, are asked to please stay home. Find a place in your area to hike, bike etc. Stay 6 feet away from others, and stay home if you are ill or think you may be. It is important to know that all the facilities in the National Forests and State Parks are closed till further notice. We all have to do our part. It’s up to us to make this work.

Coronavirus precautions

The snow we’ve all been waiting for blew in with gusto, finally. Unfortunately, so did the coronavirus.

The result is that all the ski resorts, downhill and cross country, are closed. It is likely they are done for this season. It’s all for the greater good, which is to stay healthy and avoid anything that will spread the virus among us.

Does this mean the cross country, Telemark, and snowshoe season is over? All that snow and you can’t be on it? That depends on a few things, all of which involve common sense.

While the Governor has issued a shelter in place order, there are exceptions to staying hunkered down in your home. Exercise is one of them. The covid-19 precautions are still extremely important to practice though. It’s common sense and common courtesy, even in the backcountry.

If you are a cross country skier, snowshoer, or Telemark enthusiast, it is very important that you go out only with your partner, spouse, or immediate family. Stay away from other people while you’re out there, which isn’t very difficult to do considering the nature of the backcountry and xc skiing and snowshoeing.

You will have to consider where you will head out into the snow. Most of the places that we would normally stop at for a coffee or lunch and a bathroom break are either closed, allow a very limited number of people to enter at any time, or have only curbside service.

Over on SR 88, Hope Valley area up to Carson pass, nothing is open. Hope Valley Cafe, Sorensen’s, Hope Valley Outdoors, Kirkwood Inn and all the rest of Kirkwood, are closed. Carson pass has parking areas on the north and south sides that have vault toilets in the SnoPark lots. I do not know if they are open though.

Up in the Crystal Basin there are no services of any kind at this time of year. The Loon Lake Chalet is the only place up there during the snow season that has facilities. I do not know if that is open at this time either.

You’ll need to bring all of your own food, water, coffee, chocolate covered peanut M&M’s, hygiene supplies, and the rest of the normal gear you take out there. As always, you’re on your own in the backcountry. In addition, you’re on your own while you’re travelling now as well.

The last storms added several feet of snow to the mountains. The Sierra Avalanche Center (https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/) keeps tabs on avalanche conditions in the high country. It is even more important now to check their advisories before you head to the backcountry. Know before you go is even more critical now due to the pandemic.

Pay attention to the advisories. There’s a lot of snow, you can always go on a different day when conditions are better. If you’re in doubt about either the conditions or your health, stay home.

It’s up to all of us to keep all of us healthy. We all need to do our part, and yes, everyone doing so is critical. Social distancing, going out only for the essentials, staying home if you are feeling sick, keeping your hands away from your face, using soap and water to constantly wash your hands, and somehow making sure your children are paying attention as well, will shorten the duration of this mess we’re in

We are in it together. We all need to take care. No one is immune to this. A lot of common sense is obviously needed.

Get your gear. Cautiously and responsibly get outside.