September 29, 2014 (Monday) Spooner Lake Paint-Out

Spooner Lake

Date:         Sept. 29, 2014 (Monday)
Time:         9:30 am
Place:         Spooner Lake State Park
Parking:      Entry fee is $10.00 per car, $2 per bicycle in, $1 walk-in
Meeting Place for paying entrance:     If you drive in, turn right to park in the area where bicycles can be rented.  There is a paved path with "Interpretive Trail" sign.  I will park near that trailhead. 
Amenities:     Bathrooms, drinking fountains, Bicycle repair shop, maps at the ranger entrance, trails in all directions - around Spooner Lake, and in the other direction to Marlette Lake (a very long hike) and also bike trails to Flume Trails.  Dogs permitted on leash only.

Painting Places:      Those of us who will be meeting in the pay entrance will be walking down to the interpretive area and pass the picnic benches in a cement patio.  We will continue on a dirt trail that is called the Spooner Lake loop.  It is a gentle and mostly level path through the shady aspen and fir trees that heads south or southeast.  Carts can be used.  You can stop anywhere you wish to paint, but step off the trail so hikers and dogwalkers (all on leash) can pass.

Optional Free Parking:  If you wish, you can park for free outside of the park.  Parking lot and trail head to Spooner Lake is on Highway 50 about 3/4 mile east of the intersection of 50 and 28.  It will be on the north side of 50.  From the parking you can hike about 10 minutes up and over the hill and down into the trail that loops around Spooner Lake where we will be painting.

Colors:  These pictures were taken on 8-13-13.  The colors will be different - maybe the aspens will be turning (?)

What to bring:

• $10 if you don't have an annual Nevada State Parks pass (about $100 per year and good at Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake, Washoe Lake, and all other Nevada State Parks)
• painting gear
• camera
• cart, shoulder bag, or backpack to walk as far as you want
• walking shoes
• cell phone service is spotty
• drinking water and snacks or lunch
• hat, sunscreen, bug spray (just in case), umbrella if you choose to sit in a sunny spot

Directions to Spooner State Park (pay entrance):  From Reno:

580 South to Carson City, take the last exit (Fairview) and turn Right

Turn Left at old 395

Turn Right at Hwy 50 to South Lake Tahoe

At the summit, turn Right on Hwy 28

About 500 yards the entrance to the park will be on your Right

Travel Time:  45 minutes from Southern Reno

Links:
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/marlette-hobart-backcountry/

September 22, 2014 (Monday) Paint-Out Lily Lake and Glen Alpine Falls

Lily Lake

Monika, Pat and I will not be able to attend, but the directions are pretty easy and Pat enjoyed painting there earlier this summer and sent these photos.  (The rest of us were at the meadow area before the cabins).  Be sure to look for other artists and say Hi!  We have on average 5-6 artists each week - different ones each time and some are regulars.

Date:                 September 22, 2014 (Monday)
Time:                9:30 am
Place:                Lily Lake (near Fallen Leaf Lake)
Meeting Place:  parking area for Lily Lake

Amenities:         Close to Taylor Creek Visitor Center - ranger station, shop, restrooms - near turn-off for Fallen Leaf Lake Road but on 89.  Also, at the end of Fallen Leaf Lake Road is a snack shack, gift shop and restrooms

Glen Alpine Falls - on the way to the parking lot

What to paint:  Lily Lake or the nearby Falls.  Parking on the side of the road for the falls.

What to bring:

1. painting gear
2. camera
3. cell phone
4. lunch and drink or cash to purchase at the snack shack
5. Might be 77 degrees, but bring something for breeze or cool morning
6. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
7. Bug spray
8. map!

See below map - right click it and you can save it and print it...

Directions:
From Reno:  Take 580 south to Carson City, take the Fairview Exit to old 395.  Turn Left at old 395/Carson Blvd.  Turn right at Highway 50 to South Lake Tahoe.  Continue through South Lake Tahoe to the "Y".  Turn Right on 89/Emerald Bay Road.  Go 3 miles.  Turn Left on Fallen Leaf Lake Road (oops, I forgot to label the road on my map above).

Continue on Fallen Leaf Lake Road all the way to the end to where Post Office is and go beyond it to your right and you will come to the fire station.  Go past the fire station following the sign as pictured below:

Links:
http://www.fallenleaflakecabins.com/about/fallen_leaf_lake_boating/

http://www.laketahoegetaways.com/angora-lakes-lake-tahoe-hiking-trails/

Fall 2014 Paint-Out Schedule

About six of us met at Sand Harbor yesterday and I got input from others for great fall paint-out locations.  Thank you all for your input and photos and directions!  It was hard to pick from the list, but I chose some new spots and some places we have been in the past.  I tried to alternate locations between Lake Tahoe, Reno/Carson and Hope Valley area.  As you know, exactly when the fall foliage is turning is impossible to predict.  But, I basically tried for higher elevations first, and then the lower elevations later.

Mondays:

Sept. 22, 2014 - Lily Lake/Falls nearby - Fallen Leaf Lake Road area
Sept. 29, 2014 - Spooner Lake - summit of Highway 50 above Lake Tahoe
Oct. 6, 2014 - Red Lake (the lower end) east side of Carson Pass (Highway 88)
Oct. 13, 2014 - Aspen Grove Park - Incline Village
Oct. 20, 2014 - Luther Pass Ranch - few miles up 89 from Pickett Junction - overlooks Hope Valley
Oct. 27, 2014 - Tamarack Lake (1 mile east of Mt. Rose Summit)
Nov. 3, 2014 - Taylor Creek or Cathedral Road - near Fallen Leaf Lake
Nov. 10, 2014 - Lower Galena Creek - Joy Lake Road off of Mt. Rose Hwy
Nov. 17, 2014 - Hope Valley or Faith Valley
Nov. 24, 2014 - Silver Saddle Ranch - near Carson City