Lake Tahoe skiers and snowboarders  (and farmers in the Central Valley), are rejoicing with the abundant snow!  The ski resorts are reporting 33-64″ of new snow this week with more on the way.  Snowstorms for the 2010/11 winter are following an “all or nothing” pattern.  November and December snowfall totaled 142″ according to the Squaw Valley snowfall tracker.  Then next to nothing until February 16.

Dave Bunnett's buried Jeep

This latest batch of snow is just in time to freshen up the slopes for Presidents weekend visitors.  Snow removal crews are working to clear the roads, so be sure to check conditions with Caltrans before your drive.  Our fleet of Stanford Sierra vans won’t be going anywhere soon!

the fleet of Camp vans

If you are planning a winter visit to Lake Tahoe, the 14 rooms at the Stanford Alpine Chalet are booking up quickly.  The Chalet is reporting available rooms for the following time frames:  February 27 to March 4, March 9-11, 13-18, 20-25 and most of April.  If you’re interested in dates not listed, call Geoff or Dusty at 530-583-1550, there are often cancellations.  Be safe out there and enjoy the snow!

Early winter storms brought plentiful snow to the Lake Tahoe ski slopes.  Now we’re experiencing above average daytime temperatures with clear blue skies and sunshine.  This combination makes it an excellent time to schedule a midweek visit to the Stanford Alpine Chalet.

The Stanford Alpine Chalet

Locals know the best time to ski or snowboard is midweek when there are less people on the slopes and in the  lift lines.  The Chalet is conveniently located at the base of Alpine Meadows ski resort and provides just what you need for a fun mountain getaway with friends or family.  Chef Ron prepares a hearty cooked-to-order breakfast each morning, Chalet staff drive you the short distance to and from Alpine Meadows, then relax apres ski with a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres in the Chalet’s great room with its stunning view of the slopes at Alpine and soak tired muscles in the outdoor hot tub.

The Chalet hot tub

You can have dinner at the Chalet and spend the evening in front of the fire, or if you get your second wind, head into nearby Tahoe City. Jake’s is a popular local spot where you can dine lakefront.  I recommend the udon noodle bowl, it’s authentic, delicious and brings back memories of my two years in Japan.  Another good lakefront restaurant is Christy Hill.

The midweek ski special is $230 for two and includes lodging, full breakfast, apres ski social hour, shuttle and a full-day lift ticket to Alpine Meadows for each person.  Call Geoff or Dusty at 530-583-1550 to book your visit.  The Chalet has just 14 rooms, and is sold out for most remaining winter weekends, but has available rooms midweek. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Snow on the ground and local holiday activities help get all of us here in beautiful Lake Tahoe into the holiday spirit.  We’re fortunate to be surrounded by forest in need of thinning, so just a few minutes from home, we can traipse out into the woods and cut down our Christmas tree.

My guys, Oscar and Jason with the family Christmas tree

Probably my favorite holiday tradition is compliments of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.  The firefighters decorate one engine, then cruise the neighborhoods in the evenings blaring Christmas music and handing out candy canes.  It’s so exciting to hear the music and run outside to see the truck coming down the street!

You can't see me, but Oscar and I are there!

For the second year in a row, the Barton Foundation put on the Festival of Trees and Lights, a weekend full of holiday activities. The Polar Express was one piece that was a huge hit with attending families.  After loading on the trains (decorated school buses), the families sang Christmas carols en route to the Red Hut where tumblers tumbled and elves served cocoa to the sound of the “Hot, Hot, we got it!” ‘Hot Chocolate’ song from the Polar Express motion picture.

Elves with hot chocolate

The next stop was the ‘North Pole’ (Mont Bleu) with a forest of beautifully decorated Christmas trees as the backdrop for Mrs. Claus’s reading of the ‘Polar Express‘, a visit from Santa, then each child received a bell.

Mrs. Claus with a Polar Express conductor

My coworkers and I are fortunate to work on the same schedule as Stanford University and the alumni association, so we will be out of the office after  Friday, December 17 and return on Monday, January 3.  I’m looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying the great outdoors in California.  Happy holidays to you and best wishes for a healthy and happy new year!

What we now call the Old Lodge was built in 1932 as the Fallen Leaf Lodge.

The original Fallen Leaf Lodge

The Price family took summer bookings, and beginning in 1953, a portion of the summer was set aside as “camp time” for Stanford alumni.

Ladies enjoying the comfortable Old Lodge

The “camp time” continued until the Stanford Alumni Association coordinated the creation of the Stanford Camp Association in 1959.  Sierra Camp was now officially part of the Stanford family.

Guests enjoying time outdoors on the deck

Some things have changed in the past 50 years, but others have stayed the same.  Guests still relax on the deck, chatting and reading newspapers, but not so many smoke cigarettes these days!  Sierra Camp families still enjoy boating and the sing-a-long at the beach bonfire.

Rowing with storm clouds brewing over Angora Ridge

Bonfire at Baby Beach with s'mores

Over the years, we continue to improve and modernize the Camp buildings and amenities while maintaining the mountain retreat flavor, so our guests can enjoy a comfortable stay and the traditional Camp activities in our beautiful setting on Fallen Leaf Lake.

Since we operate as a family camp in the summer, we have a couple fun signature  events which your group might want to try in the spring or fall.  For a relaxed, low key gathering, plan a bonfire at Baby Beach.

Daytime photo of Baby Beach

Our staff will get the fire going and keep the flames roaring.  Plan to head down to the beach after dinner, and maybe order up some s’mores and hot chocolate, or a selection of beers and wine from the fountain.  Breathe in the fresh mountain air, as you sit back and take in the expansive view of the stars.  A beach bonfire wouldn’t be complete without campfire songs.  We recommend hiring local musician, Carolyn Dolan, with her warm, soulful voice and high energy harmonica playing she will get your entire group singing along.

Enjoying the warmth of the bonfire

For an upbeat, high energy evening, schedule a game of Disco Bingo.  Give your group advance notice, so they can pack their finest brightly colored, wildly patterned polyester.  After dinner and a glass of wine or beer is the best time to play.  Our energetic, costumed staff will be your bingo caller and disco divas for the evening.  Before calling “bingo” you might Conga line around the room, and show your finest moves to Abba’s “Dancing Queen” or The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men”.

Sherry and her helper pulling bingo numbers

If a beach bonfire or Disco Bingo sound like a good fit for your group, check our available dates, then email nancylh@stanford.edu or call me at 530-542-5600 for more information.  Now that I’ve got you thinking about disco, maybe it’s a good time to rent ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and brush up on those dance moves!

Guests from all groups in September and the start of October enjoyed warm daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s.  The first weekend of October, alumni from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) visited with their families to enjoy Sierra camp and our wonderful outdoors.

The center of Camp

Our staff provided organized activities for kids ages 5-12 and the GSB brought staff to run programs for the large number of toddlers in the group.

Happy kids at Camp

According to his parents, this little guy cried at drop off, then cried again at pick up because he didn’t want to leave his train.

I don't want to leave my train!

With so many young guests, it’s a good idea to pick your dining partners carefully.  You don’t know who’s been putting their hand in the water pitcher!

Caught red-handed!

With our pleasant fall weather you can boat, hike or just relax outdoors.   There are plenty of great spots around Camp to just sit back and relax.

The Old Lodge deck

Reading on the ski dock

The Stanford room deck

The boat dock is a favorite with our staff.

We are booking group events now for fall 2011.  Take a look at our availability calendar, then call us to plan your visit to our comfortable conference center on beautiful Fallen Leaf Lake.

I took the following pictures on Friday, August 20, about 5:30pm,  just before dinner during week 10 of our 12 weeks of alumni family camp.  For the younger crowd, a favorite activity is crawdad fishing off the ski dock right in front of the lodge.  Get some lunch meat from the kitchen, tie it up with some string and you’re good to go.  (Face paint option, but it can help.)

Crawdad fishing

Some other lake wildlife are hoping to score some treats from the fishermen.

Ducklings

Dinner on summer Fridays is a BBQ in front of the lodge.

Kim Grabow, fountain assistant, bringing out wine for the Friday BBQ

You always want to save room for dessert when dining at Camp.  Lighting isn’t great on this shot, but you can still see the gorgeous chocolate cakes freshly made by Kurt, our wonderful Swiss pastry chef.

Chocolate tortes

Over the next couple of weeks, I will get out and capture more images of summer fun at Stanford Sierra Camp.

Fall is a beautiful season in Lake Tahoe with endless days of clear blue skies, golden aspen leaves, calm lake waters, and vibrant green pines.  Schedule your meetings for morning and evening, then leave your afternoons free to relax or explore the Fallen Leaf Lake area.

Barbie knitting on the deck with calm Fallen Leaf Lake in the background

Active options include getting out on the water in a kayak, peddle boat, row boat or sailboat from our boat dock.

Kayaking the calm waters of Fallen Leaf Lake

Schedule a few days, so you can also hike on one of many nearby trails.  Fall weather is usually very mild and a wonderful time to get out on the hiking trails.  Angora Lakes is an excellent destination where you can hike up one trail and down another.

During the fall, time your meeting to coincide with one of many special events in South Lake Tahoe.  For the active crowd, the Lake Tahoe Marathon Week has a number of competitions to choose from September 22nd through the 26th.  If beer drinking and braut-eating are more your style, Oktoberfest at Camp Richardson is October 2nd and 3rd just minutes from our conference center.  Just down the street from Camp Richardson, watch the Kokanee salmon on their arduous journey up Taylor Creek from Lake Tahoe  to Fallen Leaf Lake at the Kokanee Salmon Festival.  The first weekend in October visit the Taylor Creek Visitor Center for activities including the Salmon feed, 5K, 10K and 1/2 marathon trail runs.

For many of us Lake Tahoe locals, fall is our favorite season.  Check our availability calendar to choose dates for your fall retreat and experience the beauty of autumn at Fallen Leaf Lake.