Palisades Tahoe: ‘Strange vibes’ day after deadly avalanche

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. – A skier sits in his après chair in the Palisades Tahoe parking lot, warming up next to a propane powered fire and points to the opened trunk, “right here, I have my full-on airbag that I brought today.”

He decided to forgo the avalanche airbag, but both he and his friend wore beacons the day after a deadly avalanche killed one and caught three others at the resort.

“I feel like yesterday was definitely on people’s minds, just from the gear that people were wearing,” the local skier says, and explains he saw many others wearing beacons as well, “I think, on resort, that’s not an everyday thing.”

Both he and his friend live in the Truckee area and ski regularly.

“When was the last time you skied with a beacon?” he asks his friend.

“Not once,” his friend responds, at least not at a resort.

Another abnormal occurrence—the noise.

“Patrol was blasting like crazy and still is,” he said around 2:00 p.m., “which is pretty unique, I would say, to today. Usually you don’t hear much of that past 10 a.m.”

Another local was surprised by the limited crowds, despite the overnight snow, “you’d expect it to be really busy on this powder day, right? But the vibe was a weird, kind of strange vibe,” he says, “and you’ve got to respect that after everything that happened yesterday.”

The longtime local and season pass holder was also surprised the resort opened KT-22 Wednesday, “It was just a day where I thought they should probably not have opened it up.”

He highlights the resort’s announcements days leading up to it, “They had this big thing, announcing it two days before…’Wednesday is the big day,'” building anticipation for the lift opening.

The avalanche occurred about a half hour after the lift opened for the first time this season, on Wednesday.

He says it’s almost like they didn’t think about another storm coming in that morning, “it would be shut down anyways at 10:30, 11, that day, so why even open it?”

“It seems a little weird,” the snowboarder says, “but you never know what goes on in mother nature, right? She always makes the final decisions, I guess…whatever they are.”

KT-22 sits empty on Jan. 11, shutdown for nearly two days after an avalanche killed one on Jan. 10.
Katelyn Welsh / Tahoe Daily Tribune

One group of friends from the Bay area says the incident didn’t deter them, “but it definitely is a big reminder,” one of them says, “it can be dangerous out here and to be as safe as you can be.”

One skier says he still feels it’s one of the safest places in the world, despite the events that happened the day before.

“It’s a part of the risk of coming to the mountains,” he says, “you can’t be completely cautious, right? You can’t close down the mountain forever, you can’t close down the mountain every time it snows.”

Palisades Tahoe’s is still investigating what caused the avalanche. The resort has opened the KT-22 lift as of Friday morning after extensive avalanche mitigation work over the past two days.

The resort reports a second avalanche occurred Thursday on the Alpine side of the resort. This time, no guests or employees were impacted.

But avalanche dangers are only getting worse. The Sierra Avalanche Center has reported considerable avalanche danger since Wednesday, and is projecting more dangerous—high avalanche danger—conditions Saturday through Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service is forecasting another storm Friday night through Sunday morning.

Sierra Sun, Mountain Housing Council asks for feedback on building homeowner resilience

TRUCKEE, Calif. – As part of the Achievable Housing in Action partnership with the Sierra Sun, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and The Mountain Housing Council, we are looking for feedback from the community on several housing related issues.

We’ve launched the third of five polls which will run over the next three months. This poll is focusing on home resilience.

The poll takes about three-minutes to take. By taking the survey, you will also be entered to win a $50 “Shop Local” gift card.

North Tahoe Community Alliance now accepting applications for Summer 2024 event funding

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The North Tahoe Community Alliance is now accepting applications for grant sponsorship funding of events that are scheduled to take place in North Lake Tahoe between May 1 – July 30, 2024. The funds, generated by the North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District, will support events that promote community vitality, environmental stewardship, and economic health in the region.

Historically, these events have been human-powered sports, cultural, and health and wellness-focused. Submission criteria and the application process are outlined on the NTCA website, with January 22, 2024 being the deadline to submit. New events and events that have not previously been funded are encouraged to apply.

Preferred investments include events that:

  • Feature human-powered sports, arts, culture or health/wellness-focused
  • Create community vitality
  • Utilize the local workforce and resources/vendors
  • Have a positive economic impact
  • Support local nonprofits
  • Increase brand awareness of North Lake Tahoe
  • Support longer lengths of stay, shoulder season visitation, and that draw people into the mountains in summer and toward the lake in winter

At the recommendation of the volunteer Chamber Advisory Committee, the NTCA Board of Directors awarded $192,000 in sponsorship funding, generated by the NLT-TBID, to six events scheduled to take place in North Lake Tahoe in early 2024. Scoring and funding prioritization were based on how the events contribute to and benefit economic health, community vitality and environmental stewardship. Each event’s traffic management and sustainability plans were also evaluated, with organizers responsible for identifying and outlining how they will mitigate the impacts of tourism on the community and environment. Learn more about the events funded here

Learn more about the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program and upcoming event funding opportunities here.

Curry drains hole-in-one to keep lead at American Century Championship

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — After two rounds of play at the American Century Championship, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry finds himself in new territory, leading for the first time heading into Sunday’s final round.

Curry came into Saturday atop the leaderboard and stayed there by making tournament history with the first hole-in-one on the par-3, seventh hole.

“That was wild … that looks crazy on the scorecard, I just saw the 1,” said Curry, following Saturday’s round. “It was good contact. It was right on the stick. Even if you’re painting the flag and it looks good, you never really expect it to go in.”

The two-time NBA MVP pulled out his pitching wedge for the 152-yard hole at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course and watched as the crowd erupted when the ball bounced into the cup.

“All I just saw was a bunch of hands go up, and then you just kind of blackout and celebrate a crazy shot, especially in a tournament like this in that atmosphere,” said Curry. “I’m still coming down from the adrenaline rush. That was nuts.”

Curry, who has golfed since he was a youngster, said the hole-in-one was the second he’s ever made.

“Definitely the best golf moment I’ve had,” added Curry, who sprinted from the tee box down to the green after realizing his ball had gone in.”

The ace is the fifth in tournament history. The last hole-in-one at the American Century Championship was by former NHL player Joe Sakic in 2011.

After the seventh hole, however, Curry would struggle with bogeys on holes eight and 11, followed by a double bogey on hole 12. He’d finish with the fourth best round of the day with 23 points for a two-day total of 50 points and a three-point lead going into Sunday’s final 18 holes.

Former tennis great Mardy Fish had the best round of the day, finishing with 29 points under the Modified Stableford scoring format. Fish rolled in six birdies compared to one bogey, and finished the day with a 5-under-par 67 for the best round of the tournament, thus far. He sits in a tie for second with 47 points.

“This is a great round of golf for me,” said Fish, who won the tournament in 2020. “To shoot a 67 and I don’t play a whole lot of golf, so a 67 is a good score.”

Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski also sits at 47 points after the third best round of the day. Pavelski piled up 24 points and sank four birdies compared to two bogies on the day.

“I definitely felt good out there today,” said Pavelski. “I hit the ball better right from the start … it was just an awesome round out there. The crowd was amazing.”

Former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder had the second best round of the day with 28 points, rebounding from a 10-point showing on Friday to climb into a tie for fourth place.

“I just had a really terrible day yesterday, but that’s golf,” said Mulder. “I knew things would change today. I didn’t necessarily get myself back into it today, but at least I gave myself a chance.”

Actor Jack Wagner is tied for fourth place with 38 points, followed by former NFL running back Marshall Faulk with 37 points, and singer Jake Owen in seventh place with 37 points.

Betting favorite and defending champion Tony Romo goes into tomorrow’s final round in a tie for 12th place with 32 points. NBA legend Charles Barkley is in a tie for 81st and is 15 points behind 70th place. One of the most popular bets at Caesars Sportsbook this weekend is whether Barkley can finish in the top-70.

The final round of the tournament will get underway Sunday at 7:36 a.m.

American Century Championship Saturday (Gallery)

Stephen Curry sinks hole-in-one at American Century Championship

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Stephen Curry is known for his range on the basketball court, but on Saturday the Golden State Warriors guard splashed in a shot deeper than any he’s made on the hardwood, sinking a hole-in-one on the par-3, seventh hole at the American Century Championship.

Curry drained the shot from 152 yards out during the second round of play at Edgewoood Tahoe Golf Course, marking the fifth hole-in-one in tournament history and first on the seventh hole.

Curry came into the second round with a four-point lead under the Modified Stableford scoring format. He parred the first five holes of the morning, and then sank a birdie on the sixth hole. Curry followed that up with an ace on the next hole, and then bogeyed the eighth hole.

Curry currently leads the field with 43 points as he makes the turn to play the back nine. Former tennis player Mardy Fish and NHL player Joe Pavelski are tied for second with 34 points.

The last hole-in-one at the American Century Championship was by former NHL player Joe Sakic in 2011.

Waldorf Astoria moves forward with permit process; Name SB Architects as designers

CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. — The Waldorf Astoria team came together on Tuesday, May 23, for a community meeting to discuss special use permits needed for the project through Washoe County.

The meeting was the first step in the process of obtaining the permits needed to continue work on the Waldorf Astoria, which will breathe life to a town that currently has no dedicated town center. 

There are multiple different special use permits that are required by Washoe County for the project to move forward with the planned amenities. The permits that are currently being applied for include a permit for general merchandise stores at the resort, as well as vehicle storage and parking permits, and employee housing and multi-family dwelling permits. 

In addition, the project will need a permit for a transmission and receiving facility for emergency broadcasting. 

Although the project has already been approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, to move forward with a plan that was reduced from what was previously approved, the need for special use permits with the county is to ensure that the entire plan follows the due processes. 

“It just makes it crystal clear what we’re proposing and when we’re proposing it,” said project manager Tom Jacobson. “This, today, is really the first introduction to the community of what we’re doing.” 

The next steps following the public meeting include working with county staff to complete the permit applications for a formal staff report before the item eventually goes to the Board of Adjustments for final approval. 

During the meeting, community members asked questions and submitted their thoughts through comment cards that were available at the meeting. 

“We’re here to understand what your concerns and what your comments are,” said Jacobson. 

There were a few concerns from Crystal Bay area locals who worried that the project might not come to fruition with the current proposals, meaning there could be more development than planned, or the private residences on the property could eventually turn into timeshares. 

Those concerns were met with answers, including the assurance the private residences at the Waldorf Astoria will never become timeshare properties, and there would be transparency and honesty throughout the entire process to in order to bring the best possible outcome to Crystal Bay residents. 

“That’s what the county does and that’s what other regional agencies do,” said Jacobson. “They ensure that me, as an applicant, build what I said and approved to do.” 

Highlights of amenities that were presented during the meeting included boutique high-end gaming and cabaret with a secret speakeasy bar, The Grove, which is a public gathering space for he community, 100% underground parking, and access to a private beach club with a pier and watercraft. 

The timeline for the project is demolition to continue this summer, before mass grading begins in the summer of 2024, with vertical construction to begin in 2025. 

The project is expected to be finished between 2027 and 2028. 

Following the meeting was an announcement that SB Architects would be leading the design of the Waldorf Astoria. 

To embrace the distinctive characteristics of the North Lake Tahoe region while giving the area a much-needed contemporary addition, SB architects drew on their experience to create a resort with an authentic sense of place that exposes guests to the artistry of mother nature. 

“A primary goal was to create a natural, direct connection to the water beyond, which we achieved by elevating the lobby to capture the expansive views of the lake,” said VP and Associate Principal of SB Architects Keith Houchin. “The lobby traces down to an existing grove of trees, immersing guests in the natural landscape and creating a seamless flow between spaces. By creating a series of communal spaces to allow for year-round indoor/outdoor connections, guest can bask in the direct connection to the lake from the comfort of the rest and the surrounding idyllic setting.” 

To learn more, or to submit comments, visit revitalizetahoebiltmore.com

Legacy Day returns to Donner Memorial State Park

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Legacy Day returns to Donner Memorial State Park next month to celebrate the land’s legacy, its cultural and natural history, and the people that originally inhabited the land. 

The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at the park, located at 12593 Donner Pass Road in Truckee.

Enjoy live music featuring Touch of Gold and Alice & The Wonderlandz, Big Blue Q food truck, historical tours, children’s activities, visiting exhibitors, and a presentation by the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. 

The $10 parking fee still applies. This community event is hosted by the Donner Memorial State Park and sponsored by the Sierra State Parks Foundation. 

For more information, call 530-583-9911 or visit www.SierraStateParks.org/events/legacy-day

The Sierra State Parks Foundation believes the Lake Tahoe and Truckee area California State Parks are unique treasures worthy of our support,” said a press release. “We fund projects and programming that connects people with our rich natural resources and cultural heritage. Because of our work and advocacy, our valuable Tahoe State Parks will continue to be places of inspiration and education for generations to come.”

Truckee Donner Utility holds first planning workshop

TRUCKEE, Calif.  – On Wednesday, Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s Board of Directors held its regularly scheduled board meeting, which served as the first in a series of workshops to explore the dynamic regulatory and market environments the TDPUD operates within.

As many people are experiencing in their day-to-day lives, there are a number of variables creating uncertainty these days, and the utility sector is not immune to these vacillations. The reliability of the service TDPUD provides, as well as its environmental impact and affordability, are all affected by external variables such as regulations, inflation and resource availability. TDPUD staff does its best to understand and forecast these trends, to effectively develop strategic, operation and capital investment plans that ultimately result in the district’s budgets and rates.

This first workshop served as a high-level, introductory overview of key strategic discussions that address the district’s changing demands, as well as the constraints it faces. Topics included:

  • Regulatory updates
  • Current and forecasted trends in the water and energy needs of TDPUD’s customer base
  • How the district’s electric rate structure can accommodate new, emerging factors, like net metering, rooftop solar and demand 
  • Greenhouse gas inventory and carbon reduction goals

The regulatory review focused on recently implemented or pending California regulations, including:

  • California State Water Resource Control Board’s recently adopted Water Loss Performance Standards
  • SWRCB Water Quality Standards currently in development
  • California Air Resources Board’s proposed Advance Clean Fleets Rule
  • California Energy Commission implementation of Senate Bill 100 
  • District’s transition in valuation system for rooftop solar customers
  • The increased focus on GHG emissions and electrification trends.

The workshop also presented the operational and financial challenges that the district faces today when responding to regulatory and market forces. This included impacts to sourcing electric resources, maintaining electric/water reliability, new customer programs, budgets and the tools needed to responsibly serve the public.

The workshop concluded with an overview of how strategic planning efforts tie together the district’s mission, strategic plan, resource plans, capital plans and budgets. The opportunity to create an integrated resource plan —a public and transparent “roadmap” for the district’s plan to meet future, long-term electricity needs—was also introduced.

This meeting was the first in a series of meetings that will foster more in-depth strategic discussions related to integrated resource planning and budgets. The TDPUD board is meeting in December to establish the 2023 meeting schedule which will include more opportunities to engage on this subject. 

Information about TDPUD board meetings and access to agendas, minutes, live streaming and archived video can be found at www.tdpud.org/departments/board-of-directors/board-meetings

Traffic control worker killed in collision on SR-28

TRUCKEE, Calif. — California Highway Patrol officers responded to a fatal traffic collision Monday night involving an alleged intoxicated driver and a traffic control worker, CHP Truckee said in a press release posted to Facebook.

The collision occurred on Highway 28 and Sahara Road, according to the press release. The call came at approximately 10:44 p.m., the release stated.

According to the release, a man from Tahoma was driving a black 2021 Subaru Forester westbound on Highway 28 when he allegedly entered an active construction zone which was under one way traffic control.

“As the driver of the black Subaru approached the intersection of SR-28 at Sahara Dr., he failed to observe a traffic control worker in the roadway, instructing traffic to move from the westbound lane to the eastbound lane,” the release stated. “Due to his level of intoxication, the driver of the black Subaru was unable to slow or avoid the highway worker standing in the roadway. The front of the black Subaru collided with the worker propelling the worker in a westerly direction on SR-28. The black Subaru continued westbound colliding with a dump truck and an excavator that were working at the job site.”

The highway worker succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead on scene, the release stated. The driver of the black Subaru was subsequently arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and was booked at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Station in Truckee, the release stated.

CHP Truckee units, with the assistance of the Placer County Sheriff’s department, are handling the investigation and ask anyone with information to contact Officer P. Mann at CHP Truckee 530-563-9200, the release stated.