Squaw Valley offering skate pass

Squaw Valley USA, home of the mountaintop Olympic Ice Pavilion at High Camp, is offering a summer Community Skate Pass, a "season pass" offering unlimited Cable Car rides and ice skating opportunities to local Tahoe & Sierra area residents.

The pass offers unrestricted Cable Car rides and Ice Skating, including skate rentals through the summer season to residents of the greater Sierra/Tahoe region.

This area includes the entire Lake Tahoe Basin, south to Markleeville, north to Quincy/Plumas County, West to Auburn and east to Reno and Sparks. The pass is priced at $179 for adults, $149 for juniors (13-15) and seniors (65 and) and $79 for kids 12 and under. Passes are valid, weather permitting, every day through the summer season, from opening day on June 25 to September 5.

The Olympic Ice Pavilion is an Olympic-sized ice rink located at High Camp, at the top of Squaw Valley's scenic Cable Car. The Pavilion is open year-round, and operates from 11a.m.Ð9 p.m. through the summer high season. Skaters can enjoy spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra mountains, plus take advantage of the numerous other High Camp amenities, including restaurants and bars and the swimming lagoon and spa (for an additional charge). Hockey or figure skate rentals are included with each skate session and for first-timers, learning to skate is easy too, with group skating lessons available via the Ice Pavilion offices.

The Community Skate Pass is now available at the Squaw Valley Special Tickets office. Each purchaser must provide a valid driver's license for proof of residence in the applicable area. For more information, schedule and hours, please visit www.squaw.com or call (530) 583-6985.

LEAVE NO TRACE

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association has partnered with Leave No Trace's state advocate Liz Garland to present a Leave No Trace Trainer Course on July 23 and 24. The two-day course will cover introductory training in Leave No Trace skills and ethics. Additionally participants will learn techniques for disseminating these low impact skills. The course will be held in the backcountry giving participants a chance not only to learn, but to live the ethic as well.

The course is designed for educators, guides, agency employees, other outdoor professionals and Tahoe Rim Trail volunteers. Successful graduates of the Trainer Course gain the skills to teach Leave No Trace techniques and ethics to their clients, friends and family. Participants learn the concepts of Leave No Trace and prepare to teach Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings - schools, camps, parks, wilderness and front country areas.

Participants should be aware that the course is in the backcountry. This means 2.2 mile hike up and over a pass to the site. Additionally the group will be camping out on that Saturday evening, so participants will need their own gear. With a small cost of $12 to cover course materials, this is a great way to live and learn necessary backcountry skills. Space is limited so register early.

Please contact Daniella Hirschfeld of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association at daniellah@tahoerimtrail.org or (775) 298-0231 to register and get information.

COMPLETE TAHOE RIM

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association would like to invite those interested in completing the trail to join its group of Tahoe Rim Trail hikers. Thanks to some great volunteers the group is again able to offer organized trips that cover all 165 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Starting July 8, the group will begin this fabulous journey. Every Friday throughout the summer participants will meet a guide and together they will explore, hike and enjoy another beautiful section of trail. By August 26 participants will be members of the elite 165 mile club.

The hikes will be led by trained hiking guides, including last year's group leader, Audra Mansfield, long time TRT guide Tim Hauserman (also the guide book author) and several other volunteers. This group is a wonderful opportunity for people who would like to complete the trail, but for whom hiking alone is not an option. In addition to having experienced guides, this program offers people a chance to meet and find other avid hikers in the area. Furthermore shuttles and other logistics will be taken care of. This is an excellent option for anyone interested in completing the entire 165 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Please contact Daniella Hirschfeld at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to sign up and for information at daniellah@tahoerimtrail.org or (775) 298-0231.