Recent Painting Locations

Here are some pictures from recent paint-outs. Some were unlisted because of the hiking involved.

1/3 mile hike uphill to Eagle Falls (Lake Tahoe) Vista Point

Last minute trip to Lily Pond near Blue Lakes and Tamarack Junction

Silver Saddle Ranch

Silver Saddle Ranch

View from Silver Saddle Ranch

Silver Saddle Ranch

Silver Saddle Ranch

Trail Head from Hwy 28 near Thunderbird Lodge

The hike down to the no-name beach cove

The no-name beach cove looking south

Looking north towards Thunderbird Lodge

Rancho San Rafael

Rancho San Rafael

5 Lakes Hike - a long hike all uphill!

The first of 5 Lakes

Worth the hike

Fireweed at 5 Lakes

August 20, 2013 (Tuesday) Spooner Lake Paint-Out

Date:         August 20, 2013
Time:         9: 15 or 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:     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:      We 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.

Colors:  These pictures were taken on 8-13-13.  The grasses and reeds are orange, gold and rust.  The meadow flowers have faded.  Some willows are beginning to turn.  Aspen trees still a rich green, evergreens are dark.  Lots of variety in color right now.

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:  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/

August 13, 2013 (Tuesday) Paint-Out at Silver Saddle Ranch

Date:          August 13, 2013 (Tuesday)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Silver Saddle Ranch, Carson City, NV
Parking:       Parking area .6 miles down their gravel ranch road see above
Amenities:    bathroom, hiking trails, bird watching, picnic area, working cattle ranch, barns and caretaker house, hiking and horseriding trails
Meeting Place:   the parking area.  Painting areas in walking distance.
Dogs:             I do not know what dog requirements they have - please leave at home.
Children:        I do not know what their requirements are - but they probably want them supervised because of barbed wire and dangerous ranch equipment.  If you are going to paint, please leave them with a sitter.

Directions:     From Reno, take 580 south
                     Take exit 38 for Fairview Drive, keep in left lane
                     Turn Left at the light onto Fairview Drive
                     At the round-about, take 1st exit onto East 5th Street
                     Turn Right on Carson River Road
                     Follow Carson River Road for 1.4 miles to the entrance at a bend in the road.
                     Picture above shows their sign on Carson River Road
                     Follow their gravel ranch road .6 miles to the parking area

Links, pictures and trail maps:  
Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch  http://fossr.org/

Silver Saddle Ranch  http://www.silversaddleranch.info/ssr-carson-about.htm

 BLM about SSR  http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/silver_saddle.html

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• carts will work here - level ground
• drinking water
• donation money? (if they have a donation box)
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella
• lunch or snacks
• folding chair if you wish
• bug spray (where there are cattle....there are flies)
• Antihistimine if you are sensitive to bee stings (this is bee and wasp season!)

What you can paint:

• cattle (at least I think they are there year-round!  They were there when I visited in winter)
• ranch and pasture vistas
• some sagebrush and cottonwood trees
• nearby Carson River if you choose to drive down the road
• Ranch buildings

August 5, 2013 (Monday) Hope Valley Paint-Out

Date:                    August 5, 2013 (Monday)
Time:                    10:00 am - meet at Sorensen's
Painting Place:       Hope Valley, CA - along Hwy 88/89
Amenities:             There is a restroom in the vicinity.  I don't remember any drinking water.  There is no gas stations up there, and no cell service....just....beauty!
                           
Travel time:           One hour, 15 min. from Reno
Meeting Place:      Sorensen's Resort on Hwy 88/89
Map and Link:      http://www.sorensensresort.com/map.html
Directions:           From Reno, take 580 south, through Carson City and on towards Minden.  Just before you get into town of Minden, turn Right on Hwy 88.  Continue to Woodfords, and then stay straight and continue up the hill about 10 minutes.  Sorensen's Resort and Cabins will be on your left.  The restaurant is right there and gravel parking.

Have a cup of coffee if you arrive early at the Sorensen Cafe.  Check out their gift shop and selection of maps.  Look for my car, a red Subaru Outback, in the parking lot.  We can discuss where we want to paint.  From there, we will drive further up the road.  First shoulder on the right is where you can park and walk down to the beautiful creek among aspen trees as shown above.

If you want open vistas, we will continue further a little ways.  At the junction where 89 goes off to the right, there is a public restroom on the corner.  Parking is limited, but there is also the shoulder of the road at the beginning of the fork on 89.  The picture above is taken from this area looking west.

If you want the view from the very top picture of the river, I can show you where you park on the shoulder and that view is right there - you can paint from the side of the road or walk down a little slope to get to the spot where I took the photo.  Locals call this area "at the bridge".

Of course, if you know the area, you can paint anywhere you want.  As you folks would know - the entire region is gorgeous and there is lots to choose from.  This paint-out is geared for the first-timers - Kathy and Charleen and anyone else.

What to bring:

• plenty of gas 
• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water
• bug spray
• hat/sunscreen/sunglasses
• jacket if cool
• Hiking shoes or good tennis shoes with tread advised
• Carts may not work in many places.  Backpack or shoulder bags probably better.
• You can paint from where your car is, but the traffic noise can be bothersome
• lunch or money to buy lunch at Sorensens
• cell phone, however, it won't work up there....

July 29, 2013 (Monday) Mt. Rose Meadows Paint-Out

Date:          July 29, 2013 (Monday
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          Mt. Rose Meadows (actually the name is Tahoe Meadows, but it is on Mt. Rose!)
Parking:       Parking lot on the south side of Mt. Rose Highway
Amenities:    Bathroom

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• drinking water
• hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• bug spray
• cart or backpack if you wish to hike the interpretive loop trail for more distant spot
• cell phone

Yes, back by popular demand!  We went there last Monday and it was so cool and comfortable compared to Reno.  It is close, it is quiet, it is beautiful.  The interpretive loop trail is level and easy to pull a cart.  There are many different subjects to choose from to paint at this time:  small waterways, wildflowers including lupin, meadow views, mountain views, forest trees....  If you want to see the large patch of lupins - they are in full bloom right now.  They are on the eastern end of the interpretive loop trail.

July 22, 2014 (Monday) Mt. Rose Meadows Paint-Out

Date:          July 22, 2014 (Monday
Time:          9:30 am
Place:          Mt. Rose Meadows  at the top of Mt. Rose Highway
Park:           Parking lot is on the north side of the road and goes down to the meadow edge.
Amenities:    Bathroom, trail around the edge of the meadow is level and easy

What to bring:

• Camera
• Painting Gear
• Drinking Water
• Hat, sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Lunch or snacks
• Rolling carts work here!

What you can paint:  mountains, meadow, trees, wildflowers

Yep!  We are going back to the cool meadows at the top of Mt. Rose to escape the heat in Reno!  Although we are meeting at the parking lot - feel free to check out the other side of the highway for views ---- you just need to carry your gear - probably in a backpack and wear hiking boots.  There are also trails nearby - the Tahoe Rim Trail goes through here.  

July 16, 2013 (Tues) Rancho San Rafael Paint-Out

Date:          July 16, 2013 (Tues)
Time:          9:30 am
Place:         Rancho San Rafael Park, Sierra Street, Reno

Parking:  Park at the Arboretum parking lot

Amenities:  drinking water, bathrooms, paved walkways through the arboretum, picnic tables

What to bring:

§ camera

§ painting gear

§ walking shoes

§ hat, plein air umbrella if you have one, sunscreen

§ A backpack or cart (if you have one) to tote your art gear down the path to the creek if you wish to go there

What you will see from this location to paint:  the arboretum is in summer colors now, and the flower gardens may may have flowers of the summer season.  Take a walk around to scope out what you'd like to paint before bringing your gear out of the car.

Directions - entrance is on Sierra Street, not far from the intersection of McCarran Blvd.

Link:  http://www.washoecounty.us/parks/rsrp.htm