September 30, 2013 (Monday) The Shack on 267 above Northstar - Paint-Out

Date:          September 30, 2013 (Monday)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          The shack on 267 above Northstar Ski Area
Parking:       Large dirt area right off 267 at the clearing where a grassy area and aspen grove are.  The shack is set back and you may or may not see it from the road
Amenities:     None.  You are about 5 min. drive to Northstar at Tahoe, where there are shops, restaurants, bathrooms in the Village area off of Northstar Drive.  Or, you are about 10 min. drive from Kings Beach.

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water and snack or lunch
• sunscreen, bug spray, umbrella, hat
• weight for your tripod or easel (bag of rocks or some sort of weight)
• cell phone (might work here - not sure)
• good walking shoes or hiking boots
• carts may work here, it is fairly level and you don't need to walk far into the meadow unless you want to
• Check the weather for appropriate clothing.  The forecast looked favorable, but always check the day before.

What you will see to paint:

• evergreens behind the aspens make a good background
• grassy field
• aspen trees (these photos were taken a previous year) can be green, yellow or orange
• downed logs
• willow bushes by the creek
• old shack

Hazards:  well, while walking through the field, be aware that yellow jackets typically nest in a pile of dead wood...also, be aware of rattle snakes - I've never seen any up here..... but always be aware in any field of grass.  This is not a good place to take dogs because it is so close to the highway.  It also can be noisy with traffic going by if you are set up near your car.  It is quieter if you go back into the field somewhere.

Directions:

Allow about an hour

From north Reno:

Take I-80 west

After you pass through the bug station outside of Truckee,

Take 267 towards Lake Tahoe

Go pass the Northstar turn-off and then pass the 2nd Northstar turn-off that goes to the Ritz Carlton Hotel

Go approximately a mile or more? and look for an open meadow on the right and a big dirt parking area

This is BEFORE you get to Brockway Summit

From South Reno

Take the Mt Rose Hwy to Incline

Turn Right on Lakeshore Drive (28)

At Kings Beach, turn Right on 267

Go up to the summit (Brockway Summit) and continue down the hill about a half mile (?)  

Look for the meadow on the LEFT