October 28, 2013 Thomas Creek Trailhead Paint-Out

Taken this year - the trees are all gold!

Date:          October 28, 2013 (Monday)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Thomas Creek Trailhead located at the end of Timberline Road, Reno, NV.
Meet:          The picture taken above is the dirt parking area you will see when you go about 500 yards on the dirt road at the end of Timberline Road.  Meet here.  If you have never been here, we will show you where you can walk or drive from here.  The aspen trees you see here run along both sides of Thomas Creek.  There is a wooden bridge in the gap of the trees, and you can drive over it to get to other parking areas.
Amenities:     Pit toilet at the farther parking area that is paved where it says "Equestrian Parking" - but you can park there as well.

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water, lunch or snack
• TP in case pit toilet is out
• 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 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.  Paved parking lot with pit toilet - continue straight ahead after crossing the bridge.  Dirt parking along the creek:  turn left after you cross the bridge.  Note:  Logan Meadows Road (the center of the fork) is closed from November 1 to May 1.

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....

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 (last year's pix)

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

October 21, 2013 (Mon.) Mayberry Park Paint Out

Mayberry Park  last year - but it is probably more yellow now

Date:     October 21, 2013 (Monday)
Time:     9:30 am
Place:     Mayberry Park, 121 Woodland Drive, Reno, NV
Parking:  plenty
Amenities:  No water, but there are porta-potties, picnic tables, paved jogging path along the river, more parking if you turn left and go down a gravel road to another grassy picnic area and porta-pottie down there too

What to bring:

• camera
• your painting gear
• TP in case port-pottie is out
• drinking water
• hat - good weather in forecast
• hiking or walking shoes
• carts will work here - there is a paved walking path along the Truckee River

What you will see from this location to paint:

• cottonwoods are golden, some still green
• golden grasses and mute-colored rabbit brush
• Truckee River and the shoreline and rocks

Directions:  From Reno at 395, take 80 to West McCarran, turn Left on McCarran, Turn Right on 4th Street.  Go about 1.9 miles, turn Left on Woodland, go to the end.

Link:  http://www.yelp.com/biz/mayberry-park-reno

More pictures from last year

October 14, 2013 (Monday) Paint-Out at Sky Tavern

Date:          October 14, 2013 (Monday)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Sky Tavern on Mount Rose Hwy 431
Meeting Place:   Mountain Top Sports Rentals at Bum's Gulch Road.  From there we can drive around into the Sky Tavern Ski Area which is obviously closed!  There is plenty of parking in there and since some workers are doing maintenance, the bathrooms may be open (?) and drinking fountains (?)

Sorry the picture above was taken at 3:30 pm yesterday and the sun was in my eyes so the picture is not showing the true colors.  But as you can see there are willows and creek-run-off areas, Aspen trees in yellow and evergreen hills.

I'm also sorry this is such late notice - I just got back from a vacation.

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water
• lunch or snacks
• carts will work in a lot of the areas
• cell phone - not sure they will work well here - maybe
• jacket or windbreaker

*In case there is wind we will continue back down toward Reno and go to Thomas Creek (off of Timberline Road)

Directions:  From Reno - take Mount Rose Hwy 431 about 12 miles up the hill from the intersection of I-580.  Just past the old Tanenbaum area you will see a snow removal shed on the left and then a blue sign for Sky Tavern where the gate is closed.  Just past that on the right is the Mountain Top Sports Rentals in above picture and turn right there.  That little road is called Bum's Gulch Road.  We will meet in this wide paved area.

Cancelled - Sept 30 paint-out

Due to the high winds and chance of showers predicted on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, the paint-out is cancelled.  (Today is pretty bad too!)

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

September 16, 2013 (Mon.) Fallen Leaf Lake Paint-Out

Fallen Leaf Lake

Date:          September 16, 2013 (Monday)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Fallen Leaf Lake, near South Lake Tahoe
Meeting:      We will meet at the beginning of Fallen Leaf Lake Road and follow one of our members
Destination:   We will be going along Fallen Leaf Lake Road about a mile.  On the right hand side will be a meadow.  Half-way through the meadow will be a dirt road (Road 1212).  We will be parking there and walking the short distance to the lake where we will see a view of Mt. Tallac.
Weather:     should be a high of 75 and sunny and clear
Amenities:     Sorry, I don't know.  But there is a campground further up the road.
Dogs:            Moxie the dog will be present

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water and snacks or lunch
• bug spray might be good idea since we are near water
• remember yellow jackets are still around - bring your antihistimine or shot
• hat, sunglasses, umbrella
• Since there is a dirt road out to the lake, carts will probably work fine
• folding chair if you wish

Directions:  From Reno, take Highway 50 through South Lake Tahoe, turn Right on Highway 89.  Turn Left on Fallen Leaf Lake Road.  Allow an hour to get there....

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.