There’s been so little snow that I’m not doing what I am supposed to be doing right now, which is teaching cross-country skiing at Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Area. The days are unseasonably warm and there is not a breath of wind, with the high pressure firmly in place. Tahoe is as calm as a mirror, reflecting the snow that still lies on the top of the peaks. It is incredibly quiet and peaceful along the shore and not a boat can be seen on the water. And then it came to me. Hey, wait a minute. I should dig that freaking kayak out from underneath the deck and get out on the lake!
So that’s what I did. I put in at Hurricane Bay at about 1 pm, taking just a short jaunt over the pebbles to the pristine shoreline. I paddled for an hour and a half and saw one boat off in the distance and a few happy souls sitting in folding chairs on the end of sunny piers. It was absolutely, stunningly beautiful and a rare chance to enjoy the lake in the middle of January.
Sounds good, but you don’t have the watercraft? Go to Waterman’s Landing in Carnelian Bay. They are open from 8 am to 3 pm Friday through Sunday, and have kayaks, stand up paddleboards and outrigger canoes, available for rent. They rent watercraft that are very stable, and will give you a detailed explanation as to where to go when you leave the beach.
Jay Wild from Waterman’s Landing has a few suggestions to make sure you have a successful jaunt onto the lake in the winter:
-Only go out when the wind is calm and the temperature is fairly warm. Be sure to check the wind and wave forecast before going out.
-Wear rain pants or a rain jacket, as while you hopefully will not get totally wet, you will get a little wet. Booties are a nice addition as well.
-If you have experience paddling in the summer and don’t fall in, you should be ready for winter time paddling, just stay close to shore and always remember to not fall in!
Then when you return your watercraft Waterman’s Landing has a coffee bar and mini-restaurant to warm you back up. Enjoy!
For more information go to:
www.watermanslanding.com