3rd Birthday at Heavenly Tahoe

Our last ski trip was a big success and Maarten often asks when he is going to put the little skis on and do wjooooo again.


Besides his muffin party at the preschool we considered a party for his birthday at home or somewhere the American way. But since according to him Miss Robin is his best friend and I believe the birthday boy should choose the way of celebration we decided to follow his wish – we go up to the snowy mountains again!
Well, we didn’t expect that this would be followed that literally.
We had already had a several rainy days and the forecast for the Sierra’s promised snow as well.


In Placerville the heavy rain becomes snow and we are forced to put on the snow chains. We always have them with us but this is actually the very first time we really need to use it. There is a chain control on the highway already at Pollock Pines. When we finally get the still brand new interlaced chains apart a hooded man appears behind us offering his help.

Ooh yes, pleeease!

Where are you from? He asks and I can hardly understand him so I ask the same question.

I’m local. I’m a Native American!

Oops!
Later we understand why it was so hard to follow him. When we buy him a beer for his help we know this is not going to be his first one.

Anyway, we continue up and the snowfall is getting even heavier. We are crawling very slowly but we enjoy the beautiful scenery all the time.


After six hours of driving (should have been 3!) we finally arrive at our destination.
Maarten is thrilled about the amount of snow and asks to go skiing immediately. It is late already but fortunately we can comfort him with our snow sled.




It's almost dark when he and Rob build an artistic snowman.





Saturday is the big day! Maarten is turning three! We are all so fortunate to celebrate this wonderful day in such a beautiful snowy setting.

This morning is not snowing and I’m already pretty much healed from our last ski adventure. So, let’s go for it!

We go to the nearby Heavenly Ski Resort. I guess, this is the largest one in the Tahoe area. The ski-runs look challenging and even the sun is coming through the clouds. Though I know there is another challenge for me other than the steep runs...

Unfortunately this ski paradise is also extremely popular and because it is Saturday it is very crowded. Rob and Maarten disappear in the Ski Rental Store. They seem to be there for ages and when they finally come out Maarten is obviously out of patience.
And so am I by the way.
One of the nice guys at the Rentals tries to comfort me that it just looks kind of nasty but the crowd is not that bad for a Saturday!


Once at the lift our mood improves and the view of Lake Tahoe is beautiful. But the sun is completely lost in the clouds again and it starts to snow. We are optimistic and get on another lift to go higher.
But this is a wrong move!
The snow starts falling even harder. Maarten doesn't appreciate the snowflakes falling on his face and he keeps spitting at them.


But to get back down again we actually need to first go up to the very highest trail. (Don't you find this logical? ;-))
We are above 10,000 ft and it gets really stormy up here. Normally the easy trail would be ideal for our little skier who is already skiing so well today, but, unfortunately the weather is teasing him and makes him very angry.


We join all the other red faces and have lunch at the East Peak Lodge.
Poor Maarten hopes he is safe now.
But we still have to ski down...

Ehmm...and we succeed at last!

Is Maarten happy with his birthday adventure? Back in the chalet he seems to forget the annoying snowflakes and keeps talking about his skillful skiing.


The wind is stormy and the snow keeps falling the whole night. We are a bit concerned about our trip home tomorrow.
We wake up to a fabulous white morning.


Maarten can’t stay inside and explores all the huge snow-drifts and piles.
Well, he still doesn’t get enough snow even after yesterday.

Even though the first mile of our drive home took us almost an hour we continue in a reasonable pace over the mountain.

We have to use the snow chains of course and sure we make use of the wonderful chain installers.
For only 30 bucks they put the snow chains on and within 5 minutes we are ready to set off again!

Donner Lake (7–10 February)

It’s been a while since I last skied, maybe even 5 years?! Maarten is almost 3 and I just couldn’t wait any longer to put him on skis as well.
Here in the Bay Area we don't get snow but I told him that he is going to ski like Krteček (Little Mole from his favorite cartoon) and he got very excited.

We rent a cabin at Donner Lake. It is a nice little cottage overlooking the lake. Like nearby Lake Tahoe there are hundreds of cabins hidden by the pine trees all around the lake. The cabin is very cozy a homey furnished. Very romantic though unfortunately it is not quite pristine because of the highway noise.
We all can’t wait to go to the nearby ski resort. Maarten wants to ski immediately. He screams with joy as he goes up on the ski lift. But then we have to ski down the hill again.
It seems Maarten didn't realize that.

After a few meters he falls and loses his ski boot. I try to put it on and I fail again and again. Maarten is already out of patience and I’m trying to keep calm. I always say Maarten never cries much but now he roars so loud that we get a lot of attention from other skiers. Well, not of our dad who skis down untroubled...
Later he doesn’t even succeed in putting the boot on and he rushes down again to get a bigger size. Maarten keeps on screaming all the time. We couldn’t wish for a ‘better’ start!
Bigger ski boots make a big difference and we can begin again.


On the way up, we are both aware of the absence of the safety bars on the lifts. I’ve already heard that the lifts in the U.S. are not equipped with the safety bars. We don’t even dare to look down and we hold Maarten firmly the whole time. I would like Maarten to attend ski school but just can’t imagine him on the ski lift by himself with other toddlers! Or am I being hysterical?

We ski at Donner Ski Ranch and there isn't any (toddler) ski school anyway. And besides that it has always been my dream to teach my own child to ski.
To be honest, Rob has to remind me of that all the time now.

Even though Maarten is doing so well, it is a really difficult task to explain things to such a little one.

As soon as he manages to stand on his skis he would bomb down the hill no matter where without controlling his speed or knowing how to stop. He doesn’t care about any dangers. He visualizes whales!, counts potatoes (rocks), is fascinated by the snow going so fast under his skis and tries to touch it while rushing down the hill.
There is no consciousness of fear in our little guy. (Does this sound familiar, mom?!)


You would understand that the helmet is not an unnecessary luxury equipment in Maarten’s case.

I agree that a parent should not be the one to teach his or her child but we still did pretty well.

Anyway besides all the hard work, we had a lot of fun ...
Honestly I only hope there is a suitable ski school for Maarten next time.

Just Kind of Dutch Weather

Being temporarily Californians we enjoy the great location and the wonderful weather. Even the winters in the San Francisco Bay Area are mostly pleasant and the day temperature drops rarely bellow 50°. And still if we’d like to go skiing we can travel a few hours east to the Tahoe area or drive down south if we like it even warmer than here.

Though the new year has started with a big blast of showers and heavy thunderstorms.
Even the first day of this year we had sun with kitschy blue sky we had to hurry back down from our trip to the Rocky Ridge. We could hardly breathe up there because of the strong wind and sudden squalls.
Since yesterday (Friday) a strong storm with heavily rain and howling winds tease the whole West Coast. And the weather men expect even more powerful storm into the Northwest Monday night into Tuesday.

Despite the soaking rain and strong blowing wind yesterday I didn't think there is something more serious going on. Just kind of Dutch weather. Why not to take Maarten for a walk in our waterproofs and rainboots? No one at the streets of course and the water is flowing so fast. The whole neighborhood has changed into a big water play area. We even found a hidden playground very close to our home. Maarten was excited of course. I was less happy seeing him now and then going down on his knees and drinking the rainwater straight from the street! Is our outdoorsy way of upbringing going too far???
Later the day I hear from my friends in the South Bay that the storm is really something serious down there with power outage, tree and structural damage and even with flying patio furniture…

Tonight when the wind calmed down and it stopped raining for a while the fog still hanged on the top of the hills but you could see it quite clearly: there is snow up there!!!
(Sorry for the bad quality since the picture is taken through our window.)

Wildfire Burns near South Lake Tahoe

Since Sunday afternoon there are wildfires nearby South Lake Tahoe. Sum up it is awful and very sad for the people who live there as for the wildlife. Especially because it was caused by human activity?!!
Unfortunately we supposed to go there this weekend for a short vacation. The Emerald Bay SP is actually pretty close to the active burning area. We’ve already received some warning messages from the CA State Parks en this is what I've just found at their website:
There is a large wildfire burning in the South Lake Tahoe area . While the fire is not burning in a state park, major roads leading to one park are being used by emergency crews and are closed to non-emergency traffic coming into the Tahoe Basin, including Highway 89 in South Lake Tahoe. Highway 50 is Open. Highway 89 is now closed from Emerald Bay to Highway 50 to all but emergency traffic. Located along Highway 89 on the southwestern side of the lake, Emerald Bay State Park has three main visitor sections: the Eagle Point campground, the Vikingsholm historic mansion and the boat-in campground. All were closed to visitors last night, with campers evacuated from the two campgrounds. (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506)
I guess this is the end of our vacation at the Emerald Bay. Considering the people who live there we are not the ones who should be sad at the moment.