Real beauty of Tahoe may have been missed

Tahoe Daily Tribune

July 27, 1997
By Lisa Marsh
Tribune Editorial Assistant

Though the president came, saw and conquered Lake Tahoe, he still has not seen the whole basin.

There are many special places in the basin that are simply off-limits to a presidential motorcade.

Most people know of special spots that give meaning to Tahoe and express the essence of the wildlands. If President Clinton were to visit Tahoe as a regular Bill, where could he go to get the whole big picture of Lake Tahoe?

"The best hike I can think of is the trail to Lake Winnemucca," said Sue Yang, owner of Sierra Deli and Market in Meyers. The trail isn't too hard, and there is field after field of wildflowers. There is a stream that doesn't quite know where its bank is, so it just meanders through the meadows. The hike is child- and couch potato- friendly.

"It is so beautiful. If you haven't gone there yet, you have to go," Yang said.

Beauty is a recurring theme in Tahoe.

"One of the places I always go is the lookout tower at Zephyr Heights," said Kurt Green, director of the Learning Assistance Center at Lake Tahoe Community College. "The view is awesome."

There used to be someone who lived there regularly, but it has been empty for about six years. Firefighters used the lookout during thunderstorms to watch for lightning strikes and possible fires. This is also a favorite spot to see the Fourth of July fireworks show.

"Upper Truckee River for fly-fishing is great," said Victor Babbitt, owner of The Outdoor & Fly Fishing store. "It's all-natural wild trout that come from the Tahoe Basin, which makes them harder to catch."

The river runs through town, and can be seen making its way through meadows and wetlands toward the lake. Through winter storms, spring floods and years of drought, the river has kept its course. The fish are more plentiful in the early part of the season. According to Babbitt, the attention given to wetland and meadow preservation has helped, but not enough for the fish to proliferate. Fishers are encouraged to catch and release, even though it's not the law.

"When we bring back the rivers, we bring back the fish," Babbitt said.

All in all, a regular Bill could have a relaxing weekend taking in the Tahoe sights. Maybe a regular Al could find the time during his vacation to go off the beaten path. With the whole forest to explore, he could even find a special spot of his own.