July 20, 2015 (Monday) Sand Harbor Paint-Out

It won't be empty like this!

Note:  even though it is summer and it gets crowded with family beach goers, the trail along the point offers more secluded painting scenes.

Date:          July 20, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am  Don't be late!  It gets full in summer around 11am!  I believe it opens at 8:00 - if you come that early it will be lovely and quiet!
Place:          Sand Harbor State Park, Incline
Meet:          No host - no particular meeting place
Fee:            about $10 per car if you don't have a year placquard
Amenities:    bathrooms, snack shack offers lunch and beverages and soft icecream
Restrictions:  no dogs

What to bring:

• park entry fee money (about $10)
• your lunch and beverage or purchase there
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• bug spray (bee season)
• your painting gear 
• your beach and/or water recreation needs
• cell phone
• camera
• folding chair?

Directions:

From Reno:  Take the Mt. Rose Hwy(431) to Incline.  Turn left at Country Club Drive (there is a sign that says "Sierra Nevada College" - that is the turn).  At Hwy 28 (the road that goes along the lake) turn left.  Go south on this road about 3 miles.  Sand Harbor is on your right.  The boat launch parking is the first turn.  The main entrance for people without boats is the next entrance.  

From South Lake Tahoe - take HWY 50 towards Carson City.  At the summit get in the right turning lane and turn right on Hwy 28.  Go about 10 miles towards Incline.  Sand Harbor will be on your left before you get to Incline Village.

ttp://parks.nv.gov/parks/sand-harbor/

July 13, 2015 (Monday) Thomas Creek Paint-Out

Aspen trees along the creek

Date:          July 13, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          Thomas Creek Trailhead located at the end of Timberline Road, Reno, NV.
Meet:          Try to meet at the dirt parking on the left after you cross the bridge.
Bathroom:   Pit toilet located beyond the bridge straight ahead - there is a paved parking area.
No drinking water available - bring your own

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water, lunch or snack
• TP in case pit toilet is out
• bug spray, sunscreen
• carts will work OK here, but the dirt roads are bumpy and/or gravelly
• cell phone - I believe they work here - we are close to a neighborhood

Directions:  From Reno, take 580/395 to Mount Rose Hwy exit.  Go up Mount Rose Hwy to Timberline Road.  Turn Right.  Go to the end.  It turns into a well-maintained dirt road that is only about .10 of a mile long.  

What you can paint near parking areas:  eastern vistas of Truckee Meadows, pine trees, aspen trees, and creek.  Thomas Creek Trail also goes east, following the creek near the bridge.  There are some nice aspen trees there too.  Basically - if you want to paint the view, park at the cement parking lot.  If you want to paint forests, creeks, aspens - park in the dirt parking area along the creek.  If you love hiking (and lugging your gear), the trails are wonderful - you can hike as far as you want.  The trail follows the creek toward Mount Rose....

Another option is to drive up Logan Creek Road.  There are a few turn-outs where you might like to paint.
About the trailhead at the end of the dirt parking along the creek:

People who use this trail:  hikers, dog-walkers, equestrians, mountain bike riders.

Important:  Do not set up easels on the foot trail.  This is a well-used trail.  Mountain bikes can whiz by without looking up.  Horses may be frightened by you and your easel and umbrella.  Try to be in an open area off the trail where the horses can see you but not be threatened.  I use this trail frequently and have never seen a rattle snake or mountain lion, but the trail signs say they do live there, so I feel obliged to note it here.

View from cement parking lot

The left fork where the dirt parking is along the creek

Bridge where the fork is 

A meadow between Logan Meadows Road and the creek - farther up  - parking for about 3 cars on Logan Meadows Road

Creek near the dirt parking area

July 6, 2015 (Monday) Tahoe Meadows Paint-Out

After the 4th of July I thought it good to stick close to home since we all may have done some traveling over the long weekend!

Date:          July 6, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          Tahoe Meadows (Near the summit of Mt. Rose Hwy)
Meet:          In the parking lot that has the bathroom on the south side of Tahoe Meadows where the trailhead is

What to bring:

• Bug spray, sunscreen
• Hat, glasses, art umbrella
• of course your art gear
• carts work here on the trail
• drink and food
• camera
• folding stool if you need one

Lately we have been having breezy weather.  So, it might be useful to keep a bungee cord and a jug of water or rocks in your car as a weight for your tripod or umbrella

Directions:  Trailhead: From Reno, take U.S. 395 S as it heads towards Carson City. Take SR 431 (Mt. Rose Hwy) SW as it takes you past Mt. Rose Ski Area towards Incline Village at Lake Tahoe. Almost .75 mile after passing Mt. Rose summit, look for the parking area/trailhead/restroom bldg. on L side of hwy -- park here. There are signed kiosks with helpful brochures at this main trailhead for the Tahoe Rim Trail. The entire loop of this interpretive trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. This short trail section is closed to mountain bikes, horses and motorized vehicles. Dogs are allowed when leashed. Head east from the lower parking area across from restrooms on the foot path and look for the trail sign for the beginning of this interpretive loop. At least use this little trail for the kids & grandma to get out, stretch their legs, and learn something about this beautiful meadows area. The views of Lake Tahoe from this high up are really nice and worth the stop.

If you are up to the loop trail, these are views and wildflowers at the eastern end of the meadow:

Links:  https://tahoerimtrail.org/index.php/tahoe-meadows-interpretive-trail

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/tahoe-meadows-interpretive-loop

June 29, 2015 (Monday) Paint-out at Bliss State Park

Date:          June 29, 2015 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am  PARK CAN FILL UP IN SUMMER BECAUSE PARKING IS LIMITED, SO BE SURE TO GET THERE BEFORE 10AM.!  IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY COUNT CARS AND THEN TURN PEOPLE AWAY FOR THE DAY WHEN THEY TAKE THEIR MAX.
Place:          Bliss State Park, South Lake Tahoe
Fee:            $10.00
Amenities:    Bathrooms, picnic areas, trails, beach
Meet:          Go in the entrance to the park, at the check-in station pay $10, then go to the first parking area you see.  I will be there and then we can drive around and check out the other parking areas and views from those locations.  Pictures were provided by Trina and I'm not sure where these locations are on the map.  So prepare to EXPLORE!

Map available by download:  go to this site:  http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=505 and then click on "Brochure" and then go to page 7 (the map) and print page 7 - it will download as a PDF.

Directions:  Please use Google Maps to decide which is the fastest from your location.  It could be going Mt. Rose Hwy and going north along the lake through Tahoe City and then down to Bliss, or it could be Hwy 50 to South Lake and going past Emerald Bay for others.  Still others may find I-80 to Truckee and going to Tahoe City via 89 and then on down to Bliss is the fastest route.

June 22, 2015 (Monday) Cathedral Road Paint-Out South Lake Tahoe

Date:          June 22, 2015
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          A meadow on Cathedral Road
Parking:      Roadside
Bathrooms:   Closest is the Snow Park Parkinglot, better ones at the Taylor Creek Visitors Center
Nearby Amenities:  Camp Richardson General Store

Here are specific directions from Reno:
Drive to South Lake Tahoe via 580 and then 50
At the "Y" turn right on Emerald Bay Road/89
Drive a few miles.  When you see Camp Richardson General Store, you are .9 miles from Cathedral Road.  Another landmark (as well as a pit-stop) is a little farther from Camp Richardson - and on the right is Taylor Creek Visitor Center signage.  At this point you are REAL CLOSE to Cathedral Road - like .3 miles.  You cross a little bridge over Taylor Creek and then you see a brown "Snow Park" sign pointing to your left.

Turn Left to go to the snow park.  PLEASE NOTE:  This year the Cathedral Road sign is missing so there is no identification to this narrow paved road.  After you turn in here:

about a hundred yards - the road splits.  To the left is the snow park and a pit toilet.  Go straight and it is Cathedral Road.  You will pass wildflowers:

.5 miles from the split in the road you will see a little trailhead parking area on your left:

If you like to take a little walk through the aspen and paint there you can, or, you can drive a little further like .1 mile where I will be:

Room for about 4 cars here on the side of the road, and walk over the low fence and a few steps into the meadow you will have the view in the first photo above.

June 15, 2015 (Monday) Paint-Out at Tahoe Keys

Tahoe Keys - spring colors

Tahoe Keys before greening - last year

Date:          June 15, 2015  (Monday)
Time:          9:3:00 am
Place:          Venice Drive across the street from 1827 Venice Drive,
                        So Lake Tahoe 96150
Parking:       Plenty of street parking on Venice Drive.
                        There is a meadow there with a view
                        of Mount Tallac.  Look for artists and easels.

Directions:    From Reno, take I-580 south to Carson City, last exit is Fairview Drive - turn Right on Fairview Drive, at old 395/South Carson Street turn Left, then at Highway 50 turn Right and go west.
Stay on 50 for 27 miles, going through the casino area and then
Right on 89/Emerald Bay Road and go 1.1 mile
Right on 15th Street and go a half mile
Left on Venice Drive and go about .2 mile.  The meadow is on the left side.  See map link below

Amenities:    No bathrooms there but it is close to the business districts of South Lake Tahoe

Map:         Here is a google map of the area.  Do one click on one of the house icons about midway up the map.  A small box on the upper left will appear with the address and mini picture of the house and the address.  Try to click on the one that says 1827 Venice Drive.  Then from this box, click on the street view, then click on the rotation compass on the right a few times - you can do a 360 degree rotation and see the houses on one side and the grass common area with view on the other side. That is where we will park and paint.  https://www.google.com/maps/@38.929443,-120.022357,18z

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water
• sunscreen and hat and artist umbrella
• carts work fine - we paint close to our cars on a grassy strip
• lunch
• cell phone
• check forecast for temps if you need a jacket