Monday, September 15, 2014 - Artists' Social at Sand Harbor

All painters are invited to attend - whether you have painted with us or are new....

Bring your lunch and your beverage and meet at Sand Harbor.  The covered group picnic area is a $400 a day reservation!!!!  Sorry, folks - I don't have that kind of money!!!!  But let's MEET there and then take our blankets and chairs to the beach or a picnic table in the trees if you see one available.  One of us will be there early and will scope it out.  Certainly on a Monday after kids are in school there should be some available.

Painting is optional - you can come early to paint, or stay later and paint....

...but do join us for lunch and discussion of setting a schedule for the next paint-outs until Thanksgiving.  If you have any painting spots you would like to share with us - we'd love to learn of new painting locations!

Date:          September 15 (Monday) 2014
Time:          Noon
Place:          Meet at the covered group picnic area.  From there we will either go to the beach with blankets and chairs or grab a picnic table in the trees

What to bring:

• park entry fee money (about $10)
• your lunch and beverage
• folding chair or beach blanket
• hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• bug spray (bee season)
• your painting gear if you wish to paint

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 left turning lane and turn left 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/

P.S.  Monika and I and some of our painters are involved in the North Tahoe Plein Air Event, so there are no paint-outs scheduled during that time until this painters' social event.  Hope to see you!

August 25, 2014 - Emerald Bay/Eagle Falls Paint-Out

Eagle Falls across the street from the free parking

Date:          August 25, 2014 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          Emerald Bay/Eagle Falls
Park:           Free parking on street outside the Eagle Falls/Eagle Lake Trailhead parking lot
Meet:          At the free parking area
Amenities:    pit toilet is at the Emerald Bay Look-Out parking area before you get to the Trailhead parking Lot.  There is also a pit toilet inside the Trailhead parking lot.  I am hoping these are still open, since they close them off-season in the winter.

After we meet, you can decide where you want to paint from.  An easy short walk across the street and down some crude steps of rocks will take you to the top of Eagle Falls with views of Emerald Bay.  You can also take your car back to the viewpoint parking lot if it is not full and paint Emerald Bay from there. Some people hike a short way down the trail that leads to Vikingsholm and paint from a viewpoint there.  It is a long hike all the way down, and remember you have to hike it all the way up to get back to your car.

What to bring:

• camera
• painting gear
• cell phone
• a backpack or tote to be able to carry your gear down rock steps if you decide to go there
• good walking shoes with tread
• drinking water and lunch or snack
• art umbrella/hat/sunglasses/sunscreen
• bug spray

Directions:
From Reno:  take 580 south to Carson City, at the end of the freeway take Fairview Exit and turn Right onto Fairview.  Turn Left at old 395 So Carson Street, turn Right on Highway 50.  Stay on 50 going through South Lake Tahoe for a total of 27 miles.  Turn Right on CA-89/Emerald Bay Road.  Go 8.5 miles.  Trailhead and parking is on your Left.  There are some hairpin turns before you get to Emerald Bay.

From Reno, allow 1-1/2 hours drive time

If you are new or want me to look for you, please email me at carolynjean@carolynjeanthompson.com

Links:

www.tahoesbest.com/eagle-falls-trail-lake-tahoe

http://www.truckee-travel-guide.com/vikingsholm-trail.html

August 18, 2014 Carnelian Bay Paint-Out

Date:          August 18, 2014 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:          Carnelian Bay
Meet:          Near the pier in front of Garwood's
Parking:       Perhaps along the street.
Amenities:     Garwoods is there and they serve wonderful lunches on their deck!  Also, Waterman's Landing has a cafe and public restrooms and parking

This writer is unable to attend, but Monika will be there.

Here are some links for the area and also a map:

Patton Landing – Watermans Landing | Lake Tahoe Public Beaches

http://www.watermanslanding.com/

http://www.tahoepublicbeaches.com/patton-landing/

Map:

39°13'33.3"N 120°05'03.5"W

http://goo.gl/maps/SBZtD

August 11, 2014 (Monday) Tahoe Meadows (Mt. Rose) Paint-Out

Date:          August 11, 2014 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:         Tahoe Meadows (Mt. Rose)
Meet:          Instead of the parking lot, we will park on the road on the south side near either of the stairs

The picture above was taken in early spring....there is no snow there yet!

What to bring:

• camera
• art gear
• carts work on the boardwalk and trail
• bug spray
• I wonder if there will be sun (????)
• drinking water and snack

Amenities - not right there, but at the parking lot of the trailhead to the Tahoe Meadows is a bathroom

This writer will not be able to attend, but I'm sure some of the regular painters will be there.

Directions:  From Reno:  take the Mt. Rose Hwy, pass the top summit and as you start to go downhill, look for the level area where people park on the road.  Make a U-turn and park on the south side.

From Incline, go up the Mt. Rose Hwy and look for the meadow on the right side.

Cancellation - Rain Day

Today's paint-out at Squaw Valley is cancelled due to 80% rain forecast in the area.  Sorry such late notice.  I myself will try to call Squaw Valley and see if they will refund my ticket for the tram since I purchased it online several days ago when the forecast looked better.

August 4, 2014 (Monday) Squaw Valley Paint-Out

Date:          August 4, 2014
Time:          9:00 am (if you want to paint in the village for 1-1/2 hr)
Tram:         10:30 am (if you want to ride to "High Camp" to paint from up there)
Place:          Squaw Valley
Meet:          In front of the Aerial Tram at 9:00 for a quick paint, and again in front of the Tram at 10:30 to ride up at 10:40.

This is a paint-out with many options!  Here they are:

• paint "the Village" at the base
• ride the Tram to High Camp to:
• paint up there
• swim up there
• eat lunch at the restaurant up there

You can do anything you want to do

http://m.squaw.com/things-to-do/aerial-tram-rides

Aerial Tram Rates:
Adult (23-64)  $34
Senior (65-75) $22
Super Senior (76 plus) $8 (what a deal!)
See website for other age brackets

Tram/Swim Package:
Adult $38
Senior $30

Purchase your tickets early for discoun ratest!  Must purchase 24 hours in advance.  click on this link to purchase:  http://m.squaw.com/things-to-do/aerial-tram-rides

Directions:  click on this link:  http://squaw.com/trip-planning/getting-here

"A ride on the scenic Aerial Tram is a spectacular and leisurely ride 2,000 vertical feet to High Camp, elevation 8200 feet.  The Aerial Tram is one of Squaw Valley's most popular year-round attractions.  Once you reach the top, enjoy panoramic views of Lake Tahoe as well as access to numerous activities including a mountaintop pool, roller skating, hiking and dining.

July 28, 2014 (Monday) Watson Lake Paint-Out

Date:          July 28, 2014 (Monday)
Time:          9:00 am
Place:         Watson Lake
Meet:          At the turn-off from 267 at Brockway Summit at 9:00.  If you are late, just follow the directions:
Caravan:     Follow us 6 miles along Fiberboard Freeway (not a freeway) along the summit ridge, then we will turn left and go 1 mile to Watson Lake (total of 7 miles from Hwy 267
Amenities:    port-a-pottie, a lake, a small parking area
Parking:       Hopefully space for 5 cars - depends on if there are a lot of campers there

What to bring:

• BUG SPRAY!  Last year there were mosquitos
• painting gear that you are able to walk around the lake to where you want to paint.  
• possibly an artists umbrella
• hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• layered clothing - it can be cool up there it is 7,000 feet
• hiking boots or good walking shoes
• camera
• drinking water, snack or lunch
• cell phone - may not work up there

Directions:  
From South end of Reno to Brockway Summit:  About 30 miles/50 min:  Take Mt. Rose Hwy to Incline, turn Right on N. Lake Blvd. heading to Kings Beach, turn Right on 267 (No. Shore Rd) and go up to the top (Brockway Summit) and turn Left at the turn-out.  This is the entrance to Fiberboard Freeway.  Fiberboard Freeway is a paved logging road open to the public.  Take this road for about 6 miles (miles are marked on the pavement for bicyclists but last year we didn't see them).  At some point the road has changed name to Mount Watson Road.  Watch for a spur road to the left  with a big rock (see below photo) and sign that says "Watson Lake" (last year the sign was not there).  This is a short (less than one mile) road to the lake that ends in a parking area for picnic and hiking around this little lake.

From Northwest Reno to Brockway Summit:  About the same time and mileage, but go I-80 to Truckee, take 267 turn-off and head west toward Northstar.  Pass Northstar and continue up to Brockway Summit and look for the turn-off on the right.

From South Lake Tahoe to Brockway Summit:  Take Hwy 50 towards Carson City (north), Turn left at Spooner Summit onto Hwy 28.  Take 28 north to Kings Beach, turn right on Brockway Road/267.  Go to the summit.  Turn left into the turn-off area

For ALL DIRECTIONS:
From Brockway Summit to Watson Lake:  6.7 miles
There is no sign on 267 that says "Fiberboard Freeway".  Look for a turn-off very close to the summit.  Once you drive in there, a paved road will start and there is a little shack and a wooden sign with information on it.  In the winter, this area is where people snowmobile and park.

After going 6 miles on Fiberboard Freeway, look for the big rock with the paint on it to turn left to Watson Lake

Above is a picture I took last year.  The Fiberboard Freeway is the paved road going off to the right.  The big rock with the paint on it is where you turn left to go to Watson Lake.  I believe it is about a mile down this little road.  Last year the sign pointing to Watson Lake was missing.

This is where it ends - at the Watson Lake campground.

The .7 mile or so road that goes to Watson Lake dead-ends at the campground.  Park where ever you see space and are not in the camper's place.

Map:            http://www.tahoeloco.com/archives/2938  this link has a map that shows the paved road from 267 at Brockway Summit to Watson Lake.  If you click the zoom-in several times, you can see the names of the roads and even the trail names.

BONUS PAINTING SPOT:  While you are on the Fiberboard Freeway, enjoy the views especially to your left towards Lake Tahoe.  There are a few dirt turn-outs and little access short roads to meadows that are filled with wildflowers.  Last year we stopped at this spot to paint the Mule Ears:

Last year, Moxie enjoyed watching the fish in Watson Lake: