Fall is a busy time of year. We all scramble with that first brush of winter to get the wood chopped and stacked, to get the summer gear stored up, and to get the winter tires on the car. Then there’s the rush to spend time with the fam, get in some holiday shopping and still find time to eat and sleep. Take a deep breath and don’t fret. There is plenty of easy fun to be had at the Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series hosted by the Back Country – Truckee’s premier mountain sports shop.

Organized by Mike Schwartz (owner of The Back Country), this series has become an annual way for locals and visitors alike to celebrate mountain life and culture, as well as experience the expeditions and adventures of leading athletes in the larger Sierra mountaineering community in their own words. This year, the series boasts eleven shows, all free, with well know skiers, climbers and world travelers such as Dave Nettle, Fred Beckey, Doug Stoup, Todd Offenbacher, John Moynier and many more.

All shows will be held at the Olympic Plaza Bar in Squaw Valley, next to the KT-22 chairlift – presentations will start at 7pm. The series kicks off with legendary first ascentionist Fred Beckey on Friday December 9^th. The series will pick up again on January 4^th with Dave Nettle’s Hut-to-Hut skiing in the Alps and continue weekly for nine more Wednesday night shows – same place, same price (free), same time. With eleven shows in all, and nearly 200 since Dave Nettle and Mike Schwartz started the series, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Mike Schwartz wants everyone on both sides of the lake and on either side of the hill to “come and meet your neighbors.” After all, many of the presenters are locals to the Basin. “These events are a great way to meet people in the community, connect with old friends – maybe meet some new ones – and generally get excited about our amazing backyard Sierra range” says Schwartz.

Just to give you a little taste of what the series has in store for you, the opener is none other than Fred Beckey! Now in his late 80’s, Fred still climbs with the passion of a young man. He has achieved enduring recognition as the most imaginative, persistent, and thorough mountain investigator of the Cascade Range. He was noted as “one of America’s most colorful and eccentric mountaineers,” and is unofficially recognized as the all-time world-record holder for the number of first ascents credited to one man. Beckey is a regular visitor to the Tahoe and High Sierra area with many classic climbs in the area to his name.

In addition to being the author of the Cascade Alpine Guide series (three volumes deep!), Beckey is also the author of Mountains of North America, The Range of Glaciers: Exploration and Survey of the North Cascades, and a personal narrative, Challenge of the North Cascades. It’s safe to say that Beckey is the one of – if not the – most prolific mountaineer in the history of technical climbing.

Peaked your interest? Well, Fred Beckey is just one of many amazing personalities presenting this season in the Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series. When describing his motivation for sponsoring the series, Mike Schwartz recalls first moving to the basin back in the early 90’s and attending a slide show presented by Dave Nettle: “this was my first [community] experience in Tahoe. As Dave showed us slides of his latest adventure I had the feeling that I was as welcome as Dave’s friends in the audience. That was a major reason why I decided to stay and make a life here.” Schwartz wants to carry on the tradition.

Accordingly, the vibe is as open and exciting as ever at the Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show. The presenters are top tier, the price is right (FREE!) and the crowd is fun. So grab a friend, the family or both and head on down to the Oly Plaza Bar in Squaw Valley on the 9^th for a show you don’t want to miss.

Author’s note:

What:
The Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series

When:
Starts Friday, December 9^th at 7pm. Then, ten shows continue every Wednesday night starting January 4th through the 7^th of March.

Where:
The Olympic Plaza Bar in Squaw Valley

Cost: FREE!

All info on presenters, dates, etc available online at thebackcountry.net or call (530) 582-0909

 

Nick Miley is a freelance writer and columnist living in South Lake Tahoe. He spends his free time exploring the Sierra and learning its history. You can contact him at crowdfreetahoe@gmail.com. Read more at his blog: tahoepulp.wordpress.com

© 2011