Shoulder Season, Secret Season
Train tunnel at Donner Summit
Nobody really wonders what to do in Lake Tahoe in the summer and winter. Summertime is lake time, made for seeking out new waterholes, napping on beach towels, and exploring the lake by kayak or boat. The long days and warm nights encourage late dinners on the patio, served fresh from the grill, midnight walks to the lake for stargazing, and sleep-outs under the moon. Winter brings fresh powder, hot drinks, warm fires, and snow play. The littlest kids try to get their bearings on skis, making “pizza" to slow down, while the tweens and teens set off on snowboards, not to be seen again until they are too hungry for even “one last run.” There are snowmen and snow forts to build in the yard, before long evenings in the hot tub and in front of the fire, playing games and swapping stories. But what about those in-between months, the so-called “shoulder” season when everything slows down a bit, the locals venture back into town, and the weather is changing, bringing brilliant days interspersed with rain or chill? What are we supposed to do then?
Last spring, with snow still on the ground (but not enough for skiing or boarding), we ventured up to the train tunnels on Donner Summit for a hike. We had seen the tunnels from afar many times, imagining what they might hold inside. Yet we were unprepared for their eerie beauty, the strange shadows and twists of light illuminating icy puddles and colorful graffiti. We were also unprepared for the wet, cool weather, quickly soaking our boots and working up an appetite. We vowed to come back soon with the right clothing, bikes, and a picnic.
As another shoulder season approaches, I look forward to doing just that. This is the time to revisit the “we should check that out sometime…” list. Traffic dies down. The beaches and trails clear out. There’s no wait for a table after a full day of play. Shoulder season is Lake Tahoe’s hushed secret, time to dust off the trail books on the mantel at Happy Cabin and choose your own adventure, the perfect time for stumbling upon something new. For a list of 10 things my family wants to try this autumn, click here.
To visit Happy Cabin during your trip to North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe Vista / Kings Beach, click here.
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