kids at tahoe winter 2015-2016

PINE CONE FactsPINE CONE FactsICE Rinks

CRAFTS AND INDOOR Winter Fun

Northern Nevada’s Magazine for Local and Visiting Families AVALANCHE

RESCUE DOGS!

CALLING K-911

DRIFTING TOGETHER

FamilySnowshoeing

FREEWINTER 2015–2016

TM

A Mid-Winter DESERT Field TripVIRGINIA CITY—Comstock in Winter

E x q u i s i t e

f ine art

j e f f d o w . c o m

LAKE TAHOE

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2Winter 2015–2016

Jodi TenenbaumCo-Publisher, Creative, design

[email protected]

Kimber MooreCo-Publisher, Creative, design

[email protected]

Cindy PratteCo-Publisher, sales director, editor

[email protected]

Web services: Timothy [email protected]

Contributing Writers: Angela Daniels, Timothy Kendziorski,

Kimber Moore, Cindy Pratte, Emily Reid, Jesse Tenenbaum,

Jodi Tenenbaum, Timothy S. Weber

Contributing Photographers:Jeff Dow, Timothy Kendziorski,

Kimber Moore, Jodi Tenenbaum

In ThisIssue...

Field Guide—Pine ConesLearn to identify local pinecones and have fun roast-ing the Pinyon pine nuts.

More Winter Fun There are somany fun things to do aroundthe region if you don’t want toparticipate in ski or snowboardactivities. Here’s a list.

AVALANCHE SAFETY TIPS . . . 18

FULL MOON SNOWSHOEING . . . . . . 26

FAMILY-FRIENDLY DINING, Free Eats Listings . . . . . . 30ADVERTISER INDEX . . . . . . 30

2Winter Science—Snowflakes.Have you ever caught one onyour tongue? Do you know whatthey are made of? Check outthis story from NOAA. 3

4

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On the Cover: Photographer Jeff Dow captures the caninemembers of the Mt. Rose Ski Patrol—Tremper,Bacchus, Royal & Mack—on the chairliftalongside Ever & Eden Whitaker, and Cornelius& Chloe Cage. Story of our Mountain Heroesbegins on page 14.The kids are wearing a selection of Patagonia winter wear for2015-2016. Big THANKS to Patagonia!

All of us at Kids At Tahoe-Reno Magazine would like to say

Thank You toJeff Dow Photography,

and to the canine members of the Mt. Rose Ski Patrol—

Tremper, Bacchus, Royal, & Mackand to our models—

Ever & Eden Whitaker,Cornelius & Chloe Cage

and to Patagonia for making the cover of our FOURTH issue so fun!

Check out our website for fresh Kids content at

kidsATTAhoe.CoM

For more family fun, like us on facebookKidsAtTahoe

Jeff Dow

Family Snowshoeing Setout for a family adventure.Drift together and exploremeadows and gentleslopes above the snow.

Local History TourVisit Virginia City inWinter. See how life on the Comstock really was. Specialevent highlights.

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Mid-Winter Desert Field Trip in Death Valley National Park. Hopingfor a “big bloom” wildflower year.

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© 2015 Kids At Publishing, Kids At Tahoe-Reno Magazine. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be duplicated by any means, without written permission of thepublisher. We make every effort to avoid errors, misspellings,and omissions, however if an error catches your attention, accept our sincerest apologies and please let us know.

Crafty and ShinyMake SpectacularCDs—turn your old CDs into new,fun works of art.

2019

CALENDAR OF WINTER EVENTS So, you say there’s nothin’ to do...We beg to differ. Check out all the fun, family events happening in Tahoe–Reno.

Glide, Twirl, Glissade-There are many ice skatingopportunities in theTahoe-Reno area. Here are a few of our favorites.

Must Love DogsDogs are wonderful, everyone loves them. In a perfect world every person would have one, and every dog would have a home.

10

Crafting to Repurpose Turn an old favorite into anew favorite!

28

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Published by Kids At Publishing4266 Caughlin Parkway

Reno, NV 89519

kidsATTAhoe.CoM

For Advertising inquiries please call Cindy Pratte at (775)691-9442

14

On the MountainSpotlight on the hard-workingcanine mountain heroes of theSierra and their remarkabletrainers of Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe.

2 Winter 2015–2016 Kids At Tahoe-Reno Magazine

Field Guide Story by Jodi Tenenbaum

As a kid, i used to enjoy going pine cone and pinenut hunting in the fall. Pinyon Pines produce thenuts I am talking about. As nutrition goes, they arefull of it. No wonder they were the dietary stapleof the Paiute tribe as well as most other NativeAmerican groups throughout the southwest.

If you are in the Sierra Nevada or other rangesin the Tahoe-Reno area, identifying a pinyon pineshould be a piece of cake. It will be the only pine tree which has a single needle attached toeach branchlet. The other pine species (Ponderosa,Lodge Pole, etc.) have their needle attachments in groups of twos, threes or fives.

Native Americans used to painstakingly creategathering poles with little crooks at the end tohelp make the job of picking the cones a bit easier.

Eating pine nuts raw can be done, and it is a great tasting snack, however, nothing beats thetaste of a roasted pine nut. If you are going toroast them, the time to do it is BEFORE you takethem out of the shell. We’ve used a baking sheet,in a low 200˚F oven until done.

The best way however, is the original way: dig ahole in the ground, build a fire, let it die to coals,cover with leaves, then nuts, then leaves, then dirt.Leave them to cook and come back when they’redone. Dig them up, shake off the dirt, then de-coneand shell them. Enjoy them while sitting around afire after a long day of “pine cone hunting!”

For use in pestos, baking, or even roasting for snacks it needs to be done fairly quickly, before they dry out. Once they are roasted and shelled they can be refrigerated in a sealed container.

Answer: A snowflakebegins to form when anextremely cold waterdroplet freezes onto apollen or dust particlein the sky. This createsan ice crystal. As the ice crystal falls to the ground, watervapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals—the six arms of thesnowflake.

How do snowflakes form?Winter ScienceStory and Photos Courtesy of NOAA

Answer: Well, that’s because individual snowflakes all follow slightlydifferent paths from the sky to the ground—and thus encounterslightly different atmospheric conditions along the way. Therefore,they all tend to look unique, resembling everything from prisms andneedles to the familiar lacy pattern.

So, why are no two snowflakes exactly alike?


More Winter Fun

Adventure in our wintery wonderland is not limited to skiing, snowboarding and outdoor sports.

There are plenty of unusual and delightful family excursions in the Tahoe-Reno region—from the most

unusual to standard entertainment fare. How about an aerial tram ride high above the snowy slopes

ascending to peaks that have breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, or a journey across our Solar System at a

SciDome? Then there’s the more traditional movie theater experience with luxury seats and 3D cinema?

Here’s some fun things to do. So many that you might want to pick a different one for each day.

Story by Timothy Kendziorski

BaseCamp at Whitney Peak Hotel Everything is built to accommodate every-one in the family, from first-timers to the most experienced climbers. Classes are offered.

whitneypeakhotel.com/basecamp

indoor Rock ClimbingThere are several places to go rockclimbing in dry, comfortable conditionsand the cost varies but is generally lessthan $20 per-person for a day pass.

Squaw Valley Adventure Center30'-high simulated rock wall comprising 8 to 10 different ropes and many routes,and is suitable for kids.

squawadventure.com/climbing-wall

High Altitude FitnessLocated in Incline Village, 3,800-square-foot climbing wall is open daily

highaltitudefit.net/pages/climbing-wall

RockSport Indoor Climbing GymEvery Saturday and Sunday is Kids ClimbTime at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The RockSportstaff is available to handle the ropes for kidsand all novice climbers in need of a belayer.

rocksportreno.com

Bowling & Fun CentersGrand Sierra Bowling Center50-lane, family-friendly bowling center.Cosmic bowling—lights off, and the balls,walls and carpet glow in the dark! Greatplace for a birthday party or special event.

grandsierraresort.com/activities/bowling-center

FunQuest—Grand Sierra ResortMore than 40,000 square feet of games and attractions including a play area andclimbing apparatus, and mechanical bull.Laser tag arena—9,000 square feet. Battlefield LIVE. Also features a videoarcade with more than 125 video and arcadegames! Great place for birthdays or privateparties, too.

grandsierraresort.com/activities/funquest

Let’s face it, you come to Tahoe-Reno to enjoy the great outdoors and winter fun,what if you actually don’t want to be outside, or you don’t ski or snowboard? Hereare some ways to expand your Tahoe–Reno family adventure indoors.

So...being outside isn’t on the agendatoday, or you don’t ski or board?

So...being outside isn’t on the agendatoday, or you don’t ski or board?

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Gondola & Aerial Tram RidesNothing beats the views and solitude ofan aerial ride up and down a mountain.Quietly drift up then arrive at the top toexperience stunning views of valleys andLake Tahoe. It is one of the best ways toexperience Tahoe in comfort.

Squaw Valley Aerial TramThe Aerial Tram is one of Squaw Valley’smost popular year-round attractions. Take ascenic ride that climbs 2,000 vertical feet toHigh Camp, located at el. 8,200'. Onceyou reach the top, enjoy panoramic views ofLake Tahoe, dining and ice skating.

squawalpine.com/events-things-do/aerial-tram-rides

Heavenly Scenic Gondola RidesA 2.4 mile ride up the Heavenly MountainGondola will leave you breathless as you takein panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. Stop onthe way up at The Observation Deck—a14,000-square-foot mid-station observa-tion platform, located at 9,123 feet.

skiheavenly.com/activitiesdetail/Heav+-+Heavenly+Scenic+Gondola+Rides.axd

MuseumsThe Discovery (See ad on back cover)Located in Downtown Reno. A hands-onscience center, designed to spark visitors’curiosity—regardless of age. Exhibits focusedon science, technology, engineering, art,history and invention.

nvdm.orgWilbur D. May Museum (See ad p.3)Offers a one-hour tour through the collec-tion. Short film, followed by a guided walk.The tour combines local and world historyalong with natural history. Appropriate forall ages. Current exhibit—Sssnakes Alive:January 9 throuth April 10, 2016.

maycenter.com

Children’s Museum of Northern NevadaA play-based learning center, offering innovative hands-on learning adventures inthe arts, sciences, and humanities.

cmnn.org

Nevada Museum of ArtFeatures exhibitions by national and inter-national artists with a permanent collectionof 19th through 21st century art.

nevadaart.org

Fun CentersWild Island Family Adventure Park(See ad p.5)Play all year long at Coconut Bowl, HighBallocity, Laser Mazes, Pirate Cove BlackLight Mini Golf, Go Karts, Outdoor MiniGolf and the other attractions

wildisland.com

Need 2 Speed (See ad p.7)Indoor Kart Racing. Packages, partyrentals and Indoor Black Light Mini Golf course.

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More Winter Fun

space explorationFleischmann PlanetariumPart of the University of Nevada, Reno.Open to the public, offering daily digitalplanetarium shows. One of the first of ahandful of planetariums around the worldto utilize the Spitz SciDome digital projector, a high-resolution, state-of-the-artvisualization tool that produces extraordi-narily bright and colorful 3D images. Theplanetarium’s uniquely shaped building, officially termed a “hyperbolic paraboloid,”was designed by famed Reno architect Ray Hellmann, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. It houses an exhibit hall, 10-meter DomeTheater, science store, and classroom space for education programming, birthdayparties, and events.

planetarium.unr.edu

And Then There’s Always The Movies…In Reno-Sparks:Galaxy Theatre at Legends

galaxytheatres.com

Century Riverside 12Century Summit SierraCentury Park Lane 16Century Sparks and XD

cinemark.com

In North Lake Tahoe:Incline Village Cinema

901 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV

(530)546-5951

The Village Cinemas at Northstar

northstarcalifornia.com/the-village/village-cinemas.aspx

In South Lake Tahoe:Heavenly Village Cinemas

heavenlycinema.com

In Carson City:Galaxy Theatres at the Fandango Casino

galaxytheatres.com

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More Winter Fun

Hubble’s Sharpest View of the Orion Nebula. Thousands of starsare forming in the cloud of gas anddust known as the Orion nebula.More than 3,000 stars of varioussizes appear in this image. Some of them have never been seen in visible light.


Places to Go and Things to See

Kids At Tahoe-Reno Magazine Winter 2015–2016 9

Places to Go and Things to See


Glide, Twirl, Glissade Story by Jodi Tenenbaum

Village at Northstar ice RinkAfter a day on the mountaincome enjoy watching the kids on the ice rink.The Northstar Ice Rink is located in the heart of the Village at Northstar™.This 9,000-square-footice skating rink adds to that perfect winter vacation. After a day on the mountain you canenjoy watching the kids at the ice rink, while savoring a hot toddy orhot mulled cider. Thereare several outdoor firepits to nestle up to. Purchase a S’mores kit inevening hours, and thewhole family will have funwith some tasty treats.

The Northstar Ice Rinkhours of operation areSun.—Thurs: 12 to 8p.m.,Fri.—Sat: 12 to 9p.m.(weather permitting).

3001 Northstar Dr. Truckee, CA(530) 562.3689northstarcalifornia.com/

the-village/activities.aspx

heavenly Village ice RinkThe perfectplace for littleones to learn and for the first-timers to begin.Enjoy the music, lights,and the wonderful winterambiance of South Shore’sonly outdoor ice rink. Inthe summer, the ice rinktransforms into a mini golfcourse, perfect for the entire family.

Located in front of theHeavenly Village Cinema.The skates are included in the rental, the lines areshort, there are no timelimits or number limits. $15 for kids under 13, and$20 for adults unlimitedall-day—you can’t beatthat anywhere else! Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. during wintermonths.

1001 Heavenly Village WaySouth Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 542-4230theshopsatheavenly.com/

golf-skate.php

If you’re excitedabout ice skatingbut aren’t able toto brave the cold,check out theLIVE STREAM on the City ofReno website!“Ace Skating” givesskaters a fun place toskate while keeping theReno Aces connected totheir fans, and locals, dur-ing the off-season. Rinkhours are Sat: 10 a.m. to11:15 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m. to8:45 p.m. Admission: Ages13-54, $7.50. Ages 3-12, andseniors 55 and older is$5.50. Skate rentals: $2.50,per session.

250 Evans Ave.Reno, NV(775) 334-7035reno.gov/get-involved/

watch-and-learn/reno-webcams/reno-aces-baseball-webcam-ice-rink-webcam

Reno AcesBaseballWebcam–ice Rink

Hockey or figure skaterentals are available.Adults and childrenshould not miss the thrillof ice skating in a trulyunique and awe-inspiringsetting. The best way toaccess the ice rink is bythe Cable Car. “Cable Caronly” tickets are availableif you do not have a lift ticket or season pass.

1960 Squaw Valley Rd.Olympic Valley, CA (530) 581-7246squawalpine.com/

events-things-do/ice-skating

squawValley ice RinkPerched at thecrest of SquawValley’s uppermountain, theOlympic IcePavilion offersunmatchedpanoramic viewsof the Squaw Valley Meadow,beautiful LakeTahoe, and thesurroundingSierra Nevada.


Animal Attractions

Humans and dogs have benefitted somuch from living together through theages: they help us hunt and protect our families, and in return we provide themwith shelter, food and love. When I wasjust eight years old, my parents got mydog, Cocoa. I still remember the nightshe came home extremely clearly. She wasmine and I was hers. I grew up as an onlychild, and having a dog was great. When I would come home from school I’d never feel lonely with Cocoa around. Myparents love that she is a great alarm system, too, warning potential robbers ortrespassers that our house is off limits! Having a dog around young childrencan help prevent them from developingmany allergies. The experience can alsoteach them how to be responsible, caring,and sensitive toward other beings—an invaluable trait as far as I’m concerned.

In today’s world dogs need our help more than ever. There are so manyincredible dogs waiting in shelters for good homes and families.

Dogs are wonderful. I always say that my dog is the biggest blessing in mylife. Anyone who knows me knows how crazy I am about dogs. I advocate forthe adoption of dogs, and I will also advocate the importance and benefits tofamilies with children of owning a dog. After all, one of my favorite quotes ofall time is, “in a perfect world, every dog would have a home, and every homewould have a dog.” (author unknown). We all must love dogs. O

People have domesticateddogs continually for closeto twenty-thousand years,and I can see why!

Must Love Dogs ResouRCes:Nevada Humane Society2825 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502(775) 856-2000 nevadahumanesociety.orgBringing people and animals together since1932. A community service organizationthat offers adoption services and manyprograms, designed to address the needsof all animals. Support, education, and assistance for all the people that careabout them. A no-kill shelter.

SPCA of Northern Nevada4950 Spectrum Blvd. (Off the Dandini Exit), Reno, NV 89512(775) 324-7773spcanevada.orgFounded in 1998, Reno’s original no-kill animal shelter. Our mission is to be an innovative regional leader in responsibletreatment of homeless dogs and cats, pri-marily through their rescue and placementin forever loving homes.

Story by Jesse Tenenbaum

Pet Network Humane Society rescues hundreds of dogs and cats each year!But that’s not all we do! We offer services tobenefit the whole community, including:

tOvernight boarding and Daycaret In-home pet care servicestProfessional Pet GroomingtVeterinary care from Dr. Kim BarnestSecond Chance Thrift Store tDog and Cat adoptions

Thinking about being a volunteer? We havevolunteer opportuni-ties for all sorts of animal lovers.

Educational classes also availablethroughout the summer and theregular school year for grades K-8. Classes include: Dog biteprevention, the importance ofspay and neutering, and positivedog behavioral training.

Volunteers are integral in helping us save the lives of dogs and cats—No experience necessary!

Check us out on the web, on Facebook and Twitter:petnetwork.orgfacebook.com/PetNetworkhumanesocietytwitter.com/PetNetwork

401 Village Boulevard Incline Village, NV 89451 775.832.4404


On the Mountain Story by Cindy PrattePhotos by Jeff Dow Photography

Contrary to the mental image onemight conjure up of these canine heroes—the stoic mountain dog honorably sporting the official whitecross on red vest—when not working,these dogs are as much a pack of frolicking fun as any you see at yourlocal dog park—wrestling and chasingeach other, even with their work vestsstill on!

It was both a revelation and even arelief to see that these noble heroeswere still, at the core, fun loving andjoyful pups. From talking to theirhandlers, I learned that the renowneddiscipline that enables them to in-stantaneously shift from playful pupto emergency responder is rooted inthe strong foundation of mutual respect and trust that that they havewith their human partner.

When they’re on duty, these dogshave a serious job. On average,10,000 avalanches are reported everyyear in the United States. But

researchers estimate that it is morelikely that 100,000 avalanches occurevery year, with most going unre-ported. On average from these avalanches in the U.S., there are approximately 30 fatalities. Accordingto Andrew Hennigh, Avalanche Forecaster with Mt. Rose Ski Patrol,nationally avalanche dogs have beenresponsible for 3-4 live rescues andunfortunately, far more search andrecovery missions.

When it comes to successful rescues,time is of the essence and it is thehighly attuned and synchronized teamof dog and handler that prevails in therescue program because a rescue dogis only as strong as its human wingmanout in the search field. Dog handlersmust have an extensive knowledge ofavalanches and have tirelessly trainedtheir dogs via drills that are as realisticas possible.

A basic practice drill for an avalanche dog would include one to

two people being buried in the snowin terrain that reflects possible avalanche paths. In early training, theburied “victim” is usually the dog’sbeloved handler. “It is essentially anendless game of hide and seek for thedog,” says Hennigh. Once the youngrescue dogs succeed in finding theirowners, they are then trained via positive reinforcements a.k.a. dogtreats to rescue random “victims”based on scent.

Avalanche dogs are specificallytrained to find humans buried in snow and ice that has formed as aresult of the slip of a layer or slab of snow that has become loose fromits foundation of snowpack. Whensnow accumulates, it falls in layers,which form a foundation—like amulti-layer cake, or a stack of dinnerplates. Sometimes due to weather inconsistencies, the layers of snow canbecome unstable resulting in slab slip or collapse.

Tahoe’sMountainHeroes

The familiar “all work and no play” cautionary maxim mustinstinctively apply across species, because observing a playful packof uniformed, off-duty, avalanche rescue dogs is a true delight.

On the Mountain

A strong foundation of mutual respect and trust is built between canine and human partner.

A strong foundation of mutual respect and trust is built between canine and human partner.

Andrew Hennigh, Mt. Rose Avalanche Forecaster, and his dog Tremper.Five-year-old Tremper started hiscareer as a rescue dog at sevenweeks old. For the last four yearshe’s also been a part of a largerPlacer County search and rescueprogram. He has a black lab sister named Deso, and when he’s not working he loves kayak-ing on Lake Tahoe with his mom,Jen and Andrew.

On the Mountain

Mike Ferrari, Mt. Rose Ski Patrol Director, and his dog Mack.Mack is a four-year-old Border Collie who was adopted by Mikeat one-year-old from the local animal shelter. Mack is a hardworking family dog who spends his free time basking in the loveof his girls, Mike’s three daughters, aged six through twelve.

Devin Hiemstra, Mt. Rose Ski Patrol Supervisor, and his pup Bacchus. Bacchus is the newest member of the Mt. Rose rescuedog team and is in his first season of training. His birth mom,Anouk is frequently present on the mountain. The handlers reportthat Bacchus and his mom still have a noticeably close bond. To that we say: Aww!

Blue Eisele, Mt. Rose Ski Patrol Supervisor, and his dog Royal.Three-year-old Royal started his career as a rescue dog a year ago. Originally trained to be a guide dog to the blind, Royal was too energetic for the job. High energy makes avalanche rescue a perfect fit. Royal has a unique way of relaxing when he’s not at work, he likes to watch other animals on the Discovery Channel, especially…wolves.

In the event of a snow avalanche,what enables dogs to be better first responders than humans? The answeris scent and speed. These highlytrained dogs are much more efficientat finding avalanche victims than weare. For example, one dog can do thejob of over 150 people in a probeline, which involves a row of rescuersrepeatedly inserting avalanche probesinto the snow and advancing throughthe suspected location of the victim.

In fact, a trained avalanche dogcan search a square half-mile area inless than twenty minutes where itwould take 3-4 hours for a courseprobe search to happen in that samearea. Human chance of survival in afull burial avalanche decreases by 50% after just thirty minutes, so in a life or death rescue effort timingis everything.

These dogs are all certified avalanche rescue dogs. In order to bea certified avalanche rescue dog theymust pass rescue tests. Each state has

its own standards and qualificationsfor their dog programs. Though theseorganizations are distinct and mayhave a few differences in their standards, the overall goal is the same,a “Live Find.”

Each year the dogs and their handlers must pass a test that may include finding multiple buried victims, articles of clothing, and othermiscellaneous items that may exist in an avalanche path. To pass this test,

the dog and handler must find all victims in less than 20 minutes.

Recognition of the importance of rescue dogs traces back to as early as the late 1600s when Swiss monkswould travel through the Alps ofSwitzerland and Germany to theirdifferent monasteries and frequently a St. Bernard would lead the way. In addition to leading the way, the St. Bernards would often find fallenbrethren; soon the Monks began tosend the St. Bernards out with a rescuebarrel attached to their necks to find

and rescue the missing Fathers. In these early accounts of mountain

rescue dogs there is the story of ‘Barry’from the early 1800s. Considered the most famous of the breed, Barrysaved more than 40 people fromfreezing to death, according to theadministration of the monastery.There are testimonials about monasterydogs that could warn of an imminentsnowstorm or avalanche, and numerous stories of people who were

found deep in the snow, thanks to theintelligence, good sense of direction,and excellent nose of the dogs.

It is documented that between 1750and 1940 the monastery dogs saved and assisted some 2,500 travelers.It wasn’t until the 1930s that the SwissArmy began to train canines specificallyto rescue people caught in deadly avalanches. St. Bernard dogs were soon replaced with shepherds and retrievers, as they travel well, are veryintelligent and possess an instinctivelyhigh work ethic.

On the Mountain


Barry Bern, The original St. Bernard.

The overall goal is always the same, a “Live Find.”

On the Mountain

In northern Nevada ski territory,every mountain has a dog team. Mt Rose’s team, featured on our cover,has one of the best-known teams inthe Sierra. This team is comprised offour dog handlers and three growndogs—two golden retrievers, one border collie—and a retriever pup intraining. At any given time that the ski resort is open, there is at least onedog on shift, often two. On the weekend it’s likely that all four dogswill be working. Working when thereisn’t the rare emergency, means training. The dogs will routinelypractice loading up and riding thechair lifts and snowmobiles, and conduct practice rescues outside ofthe ski patrol shack and elsewhere onthe mountain. Mt. Rose encouragesvisitors to stop to observe these training drills when they notice one,it is both entertaining and reassuringto see these dogs working so hard tokeep us safe. z


PAy ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING Red FlAGs:

z Recent Avalanches.z Signs of Unstable Snow as You Travel:— Cracking or Collapsing Snowpack.— Whumping sounds.— Hollow Drum-like sounds on hard snow.

z Heavy Snowfall or Rain in the Past 24 Hours:— A big snow or rainstorm can make the snowpack unstable. — Avalanches are often triggered the first clear day after a storm.

z Wind Blown Snow.z Significant Warming or Rapidly increasing temperatures:— Warm temps + gravity can cause shelves of snow to creep downhill and become unstable.

AVALANCHE SAFETy TIPS TO AVoid BeiNG CAuGhTIN OR CREATING THESEDANGEROUS EVENTS:

z The best way to avoid an avalancheis to take precautions from the get-go.Every ski mountain in the west has alocal avalanche center. All snow-basedrecreation participants should be attuned to the weather forecast,current snowpack conditions andthe avalanche danger rating beforeventuring out for the day. Consultthe forecast research in the areathat you’re planning to visit anddon’t allow skiers’ “fresh snow” or“powder fever” to overrule betterjudgment.

z Everyone trekking into the snowywilderness—snowboarders, skiers, snowmobilers—should be carrying anavalanche survival kit containing asnow shovel, a beacon that is wornon the body, and a probe. High-techprobes work hand-in-hand with thebeacon to locate a victim and caneven poke air holes in the snow tohelp victims breathe until they canbe rescued.

AVALANCHE SAFETY TIPS iF you ARe CAuGhT: z At the first sign of an avalanchethrash around as if your life dependsupon it—because it does. Thrashing,or “swimming,” can help you stayatop the slide and the snow, makingsurvival more likely.

z Get off the roll or grab at anything you can to pull yourself off of it.

z Lose your skis and poles or snowboardif you can.

z Roll OVER onto your back, feetdownhill. Fight hard, swim hard, grabanything you can, dig into the surface.

z Thrust some part of your body up asthe avalanche slows or even before,like your arm, try to make an airspacearound your mouth with your otherhand. If you’re lucky, your glovedhand could be sticking up above thesnow to help rescuers find you.

z Try to remain calm.z If you are caught and buried in snowand disoriented spit so you know viagravity which way is up and hope-fully out.

avalanche safety

sieRRA AVAlANChe CeNTeR: Recorded Advisory (530)587-3558 Ext. 258 sierraavalanchecenter.org

V

Local History TourStory by Tim Kendziorski and Kimber Moore

Virginia City is perhaps one of the most vibrant “living” ghost towns in Nevada. Located lessthan 20 minutes from Reno, it is a wonderful day trip for the entire family. You can expect tosee old historic buildings, miners and dames walking the streets in period costume, a mule ortwo and, weather permitting, a shootout in the middle of town.

In 1859, gold was found at the head of Six-Mile Canyon by Pat McLaughlin and PeterO’Reilly. A fellow miner in the area named Henry Comstock, happened on their discovery andclaimed it was on his property. McLaughlin and O’Reilly, believing him, agreed to give him ashare of whatever they found and the Comstock Lode was born. As mining progressed, minersstruggled with the sticky blue-gray mud that clung to picks and shovels. When the mud wastested, it proved to be silver ore worth over $2,000 a ton—in 1859 dollars!

Today, only the remnants of old buildings give testament to the great history of a town thatonce boasted a respectable population of nearly 30,000. But within those remains is a treasureof activity for the whole family. The town is much quieter in the winter months, but there is stillplenty to see and do. Here are a few suggestions, all within walking distance of the many shopsand restaurants located along “C” Street. For all the information go to visitvirginiacitynv.com.

Virginia City, NV

COMSTOCKCOMSTOCKWinter on the

Virginia City holds a great eventfor fathers and daughters— one that harkens back totimes-gone-by. And one wheredaughters can dress-up likeVictorian-era princesses andspend the day with their dads. There is a package availablethat provides dads with allthe things they need to givetheir daughters a full-day ofspecial treatment. It includesthings like a flower, lunch fortwo, an old-time portrait, hotcocoa or coffee, some fudge,and two tickets to the danceat Piper’s Opera House.The full-day of fun begins at11 a.m., and the dance beginsat 2 p.m. Tickets availablethrough the website: visitvirginiacitynv.com/

events/father-daughter-day-dance.html

Virginia City Father-DaughterDay & DanceFebruary 27, 2016


Visitor Center 86 So. C St.your first stop. Here you will findadvice for great places to visit intown, and discounted tickets forsome of the winter attractions. visitvirginiacitynv.com

Virginia City Trolley Tour25-minute narrated, motorizedtram-trolley tour of Virginia City.Best way learn the history of thetown while riding comfortably. $5 for adults, $3 kids–12 and under.Meet at the parking lot on C Streetnext to the Bucket of Blood Saloon.

Ponderosa Mine Tour 106 So. C St. Located under the Ponderosa Saloon. 30-minute guided tour features over 300 pieces of antiquemining equipment, undergroundmine workings. Walk through dark,cramped tunnels made of woodenbeams. Experience what the minorsdid. $6 adults, $2 kids (5-12).

Comstock history Center20 No. E St., two blocks downhillfrom the Bucket of Blood Saloon.The history center displays one of the V&T Railroad’s original steam

locomotives, #18 “Dayton.” The Virginia & Truckee Railroad doesn’trun during the winter months, butyou can see this historic locomotive.It’s a quick stop and worth your time.

The Washoe Club haunted MuseumConsidered one of the most hauntedlocations in the West! Tour timesvary, generally leave every hour onthe hour—11am-5pm. Cost is $8 forAdults and $5 for kids 5-16. Kidsunder 5 are free. thewashoeclub.com

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Crafty and Shiny Story and Photos by Emily Reid

Spectacular CDsTurn your old CDs into a fun art project inspired by mandalas.This exciting project uses unexpected materials and is a greatway to introduce young artists to radial symmetry.

Crafty and Shiny

What you will need: An old CDRulerSharpies

Colored pencils or watercolorsDrawing paperGlue

Steps:1. Find the center of your drawingpaper, this is where you will ultimately center your CD. Usingthe paper’s center, use your rulerto make several intersecting linesthrough it. You will want to drawat least two lines—more lines ismore complex, less lines creates asimpler design.

2. Next, use your ruler to make intersecting lines across your CD.They can align with the lines youcreated on your paper or they canbe different.

3. Once your lines are drawn you willwant to trace the outline of yourCD onto your paper. Now youknow where your CD will beglued—no need to make designs inthis area.

4. Using Sharpies, create a symmetricaldesign on your CD. If your artistneeds inspiration, look at “mandala”pictures online. Flowers also makegreat inspiration for this project!

5. Once your CD is decorated, starton the outer circle on your drawingpaper. Use colored pencils or watercolor paints for this part—orstick with Sharpies if you are so inclined.

6. When the CD and the paper designs are complete, glue the CD to the center of your paper to complete your piece. (See photos,opposite) Emily Reid is a co-founder and

writer for the blog Offtract,where she inspires creative living.

Emily is also an art teacher in Reno, Nevada. You can find her

at www.offtract.com.

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—Thomas Stanton

Family Snowshoeing

Above the fire Next to The gnarled Moose head Single snowshoe Desert varnish Dry window Cold Air Windless White Night Snowshoe tracks Deep within my heart

Above the fire Next to The gnarled Moose head Single snowshoe Desert varnish Dry window Cold Air Windless White Night Snowshoe tracks Deep within my heart

Family SnowshoeingStory by Timothy Weber


SSnowshoe Thompson is a legendary character in the history of Lake Tahoe and the opening of

Nevada and California to the west. From 1856 to 1876 he made legendary 90 mile treks over

snowdrifts up to 50 feet high and through blizzards

with up to 80-mile-per-hour winds, to deliver mail

to those living in isolation. He was the sole link

between California and the Atlantic states during

the harsh winter months of long ago.

While few of us have the stamina and determination

of Snowshoe Thompson, we can still experience

the same untouched winter serenity he must have also

known all those years ago. With the El Niño in full

effect, this winter should see plenty of soft, long, lasting snowfalls. It may be the best time

in years to try showshoeing into the quiet winter wonderland in and around Lake Tahoe.

Drifting Together

Snowshoeing is the easiest of winter snow sports to learn. It’s really just a winter hike

with shoes that let you walk over the snow, instead of

through it.

Snowshoeing is a great alternative to cross-county

skiing. You can climb steep hillsides without the

worry of sliding backwards and you can get down hills

easily without the learning process necessary

on skis. Equipment is relatively inexpensive, and

rentals are available at most ski and snowboard shops.

(See “RESOURCES,” on page 27). It’s a fun activity for the whole family.

Larr

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Family Snowshoeing


It’s a fun activity forthe whole familyIt’s a fun activity forthe whole family.

All that you need for a great day of

snowshoeing is layered winter clothing,

a thermos of hot cocoa,

and snowshoes. It’s easy to

do and the equipment is

cheap. Any area snowfield

or wooded trail is a great

place for an afternoon

snowshoe hike. For those

that would like more support and infor-

mation, plenty of ski resorts and outdoor

adventure businesses are ready to help.5

Family Snowshoeing

Walk overthe snow, instead ofthrough it.

Moonlight Snowshoeing

ne of your author’s most thoughtful birthday presents ever was a wonderful full moon snowshoe trek in the TahoeMeadows, just west of the Mt. Rose Summit.The quiet, serene snow covered landscape madethe perfect setting for amagical and serene hike.Bring along a backpackwith hot cocoa, or your favorite warm adult beverage (hot butteredrum or Irish coffee), and it’s a can’t miss romanticevening activity. If you’rewith kids, the night falls early enough in theevening that you couldmake it an enchanting family activity as well. *

MakingTracks

under the

Full Moon


Story by Timothy Weber

O

ResouRCes:Locations in the Tahoe–Reno area for snowshoeing:

Tahoe Meadows on Mt. Rose HwyTahoe Meadows is a very popular sledding area on thelake side of Mt. Rose, just west of the Mt. Rose Summit.Opposite the road from the sledding area is a wide opensnowfield where you can snowshoe for hours into theneighboring woods. Visitors park along the sides ofMount Rose Highway. It’s free and open anytime.

Snowshoeing at Historic Camp RichardsonThe Mountain Sports Center cross-country ski area is located at Historic Camp Richardson Resort, nestledamongst the majestic pines along the shores of SouthLake Tahoe. On offer is 35 kilometers of terrain for all skilllevels with 20 kilometers of groomed trails, 10 kilometersof skating lanes and marked snowshoe trails that havebeautiful lake views. Kids ages 12 and under get a freetrail pass! The Mountain Sports Center offers the largestselection of snowshoe rentals in Tahoe and is open dailybetween 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., weather permitting. Phone: (530) 542-6584camprichardson.com/recreation/winterspring-recreation

Nevada AdventuresOutfitters offering half-day or longer outings to localsites of historical interest. Nevada Adventures will helpyou with snowshoeing activities, hiking outings, andwalking trails.Phone: (775) 560-4328 nevadadventures.com

Snowind SportsSnowshoe rentals, full-service ski/snowboard shop (re-tail, rentals, repair), specializing in boot fitting and bal-ancing and top-notch ski and snowboard tuning.Located in Reno.Phone: (775) 323-9463 snowind.com

Tahoe Adventure CompanyTahoe Adventure Company leads high quality adventuretravel trips with a focus on experiencing the natural beautyof the surrounding mountains, trails and brilliant watersof Lake Tahoe. Their goal is to offer the highest quality,most enlightening adventures in the Lake Tahoe area.Phone: (530) 913-9212 or (866) 830-6125tahoeadventurecompany.com

Snowshoeing at Alpine MeadowsSnowshoers are welcome at Alpine Meadows. As a part-nership with the Tahoe National Forest Service, Alpineoffers marked trails that begin near the lodge and me-ander through the old-growth forests around the base ofthe mountain. Snowshoe rentals are available on-site.Phone: (530) 583-4232 or (800) 441-4423squawalpine.com/events-things-do/snowshoeing

Family Snowshoeing

Crafting to Repurpose


Story and photos by Angela Daniels

Technique:In order to create this dress totebag, Tabitha was able to draw onthe sewing skills she had learned a few summers ago at the LakeMansion in downtown Reno. I happened to have an old work convention tote bag that I wasn’tusing anymore, which was the perfect size for the small dress.

We simply slipped the dressover the convention bag—to deter-mine the length that we needed to fully cover the convention bag—and then trimmed off the excesstop of the dress using a rotary cutter and ruler.

To secure the dress to the totebag, we stitched along the top partof the dress and the opening of the tote bag to secure these twoparts together. As an alternative to sewing, you could glue the topof the dress to the tote bag withfabric glue too.

We then sewed the dress beltonto the top of the tote bag to actas a long strap. We left the draw-string portion of the tote bag inplace so the whole bag could becinched up as needed. We decidedthat we could leave the bottom of the dress open—with the totebag base slightly higher and out of

sight—to eliminate any additionalsewing.

For a few finishing touches, I letTabitha rummage through my craftsupplies and use a few fabric flowers and scrapbook embellish-ments which she sewed on the totebag to make it even more custom.

That’s all there is to it—a favoritedress, an old work convention totebag, a little bit of sewing (or fabricglue), and some creativity!

Now Tabitha can get more useout of her old dress than we evercould have imagined!

Like many kids, my daughter has a hard time parting with some of her favorite clothes. Tabitha grows out of some of her cute dresses beforethey’ve shown any wear, and sometimes she isn’t ready to give them overto our charity donations just yet. For a few special dresses, we’ve found away to not only keep them, but to give some of her cherished old dressesnew life as inexpensive, easy-to-make tote bags.

Dressing Upaann OOlldd FFaavvoorriittee

Giving a favorite old dress new life.

Angela Daniels has been published inmany crafting magazines and has appearedon TV and online sharing her creativity as“The Guilty Crafter.” She currently worksdyeing projects and managing social mediafor the iconic fabric dye company, Rit. She now lives and crafts with her family inPortland, Oregon, but tries to get back to visit friends in the Reno-Tahoe areawhenever she can.

supplies:An old work convention, or sports drawstring tote bagA favorite dress (about the size of your base tote bag)A small belt (either from the favorite dress or another coordinating belt)Rotary trimmer and ruler or fabric scissorsSewing machine (optional- minimal hand-sewing is fine)Misc. crafting embellishments

Crafting to Repurpose

Buenos Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Caughlin Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25The Cheese Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Diamond Peak Ski Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Dickson Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Discovery Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Eclipse Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Girl Scouts of Sierra Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Immunize Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Jeff Dow Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside CoverNatural Paws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Need 2 Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Pet Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Sierra RV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Village Toys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Wilbur D. May Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Wild Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A dv e r t i s e r I n d e x { Wi n t e r 20 1 5 - 20 1 6 } :


All listings may be subject to cancellation, change and editorial error.It’s recommended that you phone ahead to verify promotion.

and Thursdays from 4 to 10 p.m., children 10 andunder get a free kids’ entree with each adult entree.Naan and Kabab: Reno, (775) 825-3113 Mondayskids eat free with a purchase of an adult entree.Pizza Plus: Locations in Reno & Sparks Tuesday 5-8 p.m. is Family Buffet Night: kids 5 & younger eat FREE, ages 6-11 are only $3.99 with adult buffet purchase.

Fuddruckers: Sparks (775) 657-6601 Monday 4-9 p.m. Kids meals are only 99 cents withadult meal purchase!

Lamppost Pizza: Reno 775-853-7887 Thursday free kids meal with the purchase of any entree or L/XL pizza.

San Marcos Grill: Carson City, (775) 882-9797.Tuesdays free kids’ meal with adult meal purchase, 12 and under.

The Eldorado Buffet: Downtown Reno offers a freemeal to children under 4 with an adult.

Famous Daves: Kids Eat Free Monday nights with anadult meal.

Firkin and Fox: Carson City. Kids Eat Free Sundayswith adult meal.

Dickey’s BBQ Pit: Reno & Carson City locations.Kids eat free on Sundays with purchase of adult entreeQdoba Mexican Grill: Reno & Sparks locations. Kids 12 and under receive a free kid’s meal with thepurchase of an adult entrée. Sundays all day.

How many times have your kids taken two bites out of a

restaurant meal and declared themselves hopelessly full?

Here are some fabulous Family Finds for Frugal Foodies.

Red Robin: Reno (775) 825-7246 &

Sparks (775) 626-9700 locations. Kids

12 and under receive a Free Kid’s

sundae with kid’s meal purchase. See

“Red,” the Red Robin mascot, and play

free arcade games (except those that

award prizes). Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.

Bertha Miranda’s Mexican

Restaurant & Cantina: 336 Mill St.

Reno (775) 786-9697. Tuesdays after

6 p.m. 12 and under receive a free

child’s entrée with the purchase of an

adult entrée.

Applebee’s: When an adult orders a

meal, a child can dine for $1 at select

locations.

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill: Kids’

meals are free with each adult meal

purchased.

Chili’s: Depending on the location,

kids under the age of 12 can eat for free

with the purchase of an adult meal.

Fuddruckers: At select locations, kids

can enjoy a free meal with the purchase

of an adult one.

Johnny Rockets: Select locations allow

children to eat for free on Tuesdays

and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m., with

the purchase of an adult entree.

Denny's (all locations): Kids 10 and

under receive two kid entrees with an

adult meal. Tues. & Sat. 4 to 10 p.m.

Mariscos El Pescador:

(775) 323-0500 Kids eat free. Kids

12 and under can choose from the

kids menu with adult meal purchase.

Mondays & Wednesdays.

Black Bear Diner: Reno (775) 827-5570

& Sparks (775) 356-1138. After 11

a.m., children 12 and under get a free

sundae with a kids’ meal.

Carrows: Two locations in Reno,

(775) 826-8041 Plumb Lane & (775)

786-1027, Wells Ave. On Wednesdays

Free Eats.

Kid-Friendly Deals Story by Cindy Pratte

Mid-Winter Desert Field Trip Story by Tim KendziorskiPhotos by Kimber Moore

Wildflowers in Death Valley are not rare. But super-blooms are. Nothing is more incredible to see than a sea of color and beauty in the lowest, hottest, and driest

place in the largest national park in the lower 48 states of the U.S. The wildflowers bloom every year to some degree, but with the anticipated El Niño

rainfalls expected this winter, every indication is that Death Valley will be bursting withflowers as far as the eye can see in the early months of 2016.

With all of the wonderful outdoor activities you can experience in Death Valley, including hiking, exploring, camping and escaping the winter blues, a sea of wildflowerswould be the icing on the cake for your warm winter getaway. Death Valley National Parkhas all of the amenities you’ll need to make your trip a success.

Your family will have the vacation of a lifetime and have the possibility to see this wonderful phenomenon. f

SUPER-BLOOMWildflowers in Winter

ResouRCes:Plan your trip:

Death Valley Natural History Associationdvnha.org

National Park Service(NPS), Death Valley National Parknps.gov/deva/index.htm

Furnace Creek Resortfurnacecreekresort.com


Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park lendsitself to a whole host of educationand learning opportunities for the kids. The Valley has manyshort trails with interpretive signsalong the way. There is also anabundance of children- and family-oriented books, and materials forlearning and enjoyment on handat any one of the Natural HistoryAssocian bookstores. Don’t miss the brand new museum atthe NPS Furnace Creek VisitorsCenter, too.

A glimpse of the past along the Salt Creek Trail

Sierra RV is your Full-Service Hometown RV Dealer

Sales, Service, and Parts.

9125 South Virginia St., Reno, NV 89511800-972-8760 � 775-324-0522www.sierrarv.com

Sierra RV Super Center

You and Me and a Sierra RV

Sierra RV Super Center has a variety of recreational vehicles to choose from: Diesel Pushers, Class A’s, Class B’s, Class C’s,Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, and Toy Haulers. If you’re looking for a previously owned unit we now have a CertifiedPre-Owned Section that is stocked with units.

Go to sierrarv.com for more information, or visit us andask one of our friendly sales consultants for details.

Northern Nevada’s largest full service dealership.Make this the year to build those lasting family memories around the campfire with your loved ones.

Large selection offamily–friendly RVs

You and Me

and a Sierra RV!

kids at tahoe winter 2015-2016

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