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/

Notes from the last paint-outs

We artists have been pretty lucky weather-wise on Mondays and Tuesdays!  Here is a quick recap on our last paint-outs:

Oxbow Nature Area:  What a pleasant surprise!  This is a lovely spot!  We had quite a good turn-out, too....Nan, Carol G., Emma, Jack Phillips, Chris, Karen and myself.  There were different little spots to paint and we all spread out.  Here is a picture of my place with Nan and Chris:

 Hope Valley:  We really had a window of mild weather on this "iffy" day.  Great turn out:  oops, lost my notes... let's see if I can remember everyone:  Emma, Carol, Nan, Karen, Thaleia, Bonita (was there but I never saw her), Evelyn, Monika, Linda, and Bill.  Hope Valley is such a big area and we all spread out.  Below is the view Nan and I chose to view.

Bartley Ranch:  It was a gorgeous day.  Lonalee and I were there....where were you????  I painted the covered bridge and Lonalee painted a tractor.  While I was painting an old-timer and his wife came over to talk.  I told him how Bartley Ranch had a special meaning to me.  Years ago when the Bartley family lived here I boarded my horse here.  The man said "then I must-of shoed your horse for you!  I did all the shoeing at Gus Bartley's!".  Wow, then we talked about how the ranch was and he and his wife told me many funny and interesting stories of the place.  It was the best part of the day for me!

Spooner Lake:  It was a nice day but the weather was changing while we were there.  A storm was just beginning to come and it got a little breezy about the time we were leaving.  Present were Monika and her playful doggie entourage, new painter member Carol Karch from Dayton, and myself.  It was a holiday Monday and there were hikers, snowshoers, a family sledding, and cross-country skiiers.  Here is the view I chose to paint:

Eagle Falls:  Another gorgeous and mild day!  Present were Emma and myself and Lonalee (who came later) and three new painter participants!  Welcome Denise Jenkins from Dayton (she painted the Markleeville Plein Air Event last summer with me), Cindy Ralson (from Ohio on vacation here for a few weeks), and Ginny Schankerman from South Lake Tahoe.

The view I had from the top of the falls:

Serene Lake:
This paint-out was an unpublished event, partly because it was a "scoping-out" day for future paint spots.  Present were Monika, Linda and I.  This location will be fun in the spring or summer.  It is a pretty little lake lined by cabins above Donner Lake, back and beyond Sugar Bowl Ski Area.  This lake has little islands with trees and a view of Castle Peak.  The lake is iced over and covered with snow.

A MONTH of choking SMOKE!

Everyone is this area is so tired of the smoke from (first) the American Fire - from Foresthill, CA, and (second) from the famous out-of-control Yosemite Fire.  It has kept everyone indoors.  When I go out to visit my horse, I feel it in my lungs and I get a headache.  All I can do is groom him and put him back.

We keep thinking....the end is in sight.....

Well, we are still waiting.  We miss painting outdoors.  I held an impromptu "friendly critique" at my house one day instead of going out to paint.  Present were Carol, Emma, Kathy, Charleen and myself.  We all enjoyed seeing each other's art, and having a place to talk about what we are stuck on..."  It was very good and everyone found that they gained by the experience.  But, we sure miss painting outdoors.....

Here are some pictures of the last paint-out we had -  Spooner Lake on Aug. 20:

Present were Diann, Kathy and myself....and somewhere out there...was newcomer Garrett.