This past Christmas we packed up our boots, snow pants, hats, and gloves, and headed down to my brother’s home in Truckee, California. Truckee is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is just West of the Nevada state line, and North of Lake Tahoe. It’s home to a smaller lake, with a name you might recognize: Donner Lake. The infamous emigrants of the Donner Party traveled from Illinois in search of a better life, and were literally stopped in their tracks by the massive amounts of snow here.
We didn’t get quite as much snow as the Donner Party saw, and we obviously weren’t traveling by wagon, but in our short visit, I caught a glimpse of just how daunting the snow can be in the Tahoe area. In fact, our original arrangement to stay with my brother’s in-laws, just a 10 minute drive away but up another 500 feet in elevation was aborted because the trek, even with a 4-wheel drive truck and a Colorado native at the wheel was just too risky. Luckily there was room at the house my mom, and our good friend were renting, and they didn’t mind having even more up-close and personal time with us.
Bergen contemplates his next move.
Slaed had to pave the way out the door just about every time we left the house. There was almost always another fresh layer of snow.
Snow as high as Bergen!
Believe it or not, we did not hit the slopes that the region is so famous for. I have no skills, and Slaed (much to his dismay) has bad knees, but we enjoyed the white-stuff nonetheless.
Sledding: A fun way to get Bergen from Point A to Point B.
A snow hike through the neighborhood on our one sunny day.
Bergen gave downhill sledding a try with his Uncle Brad. He was not fan.
Mostly I just marveled at the beauty of it all!
Have you traveled to Truckee, CA or the Lake Tahoe Area? Have a White Christmas? Tell us about your experience!
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Don’t miss a thing from Wild Tales of…in 2013: Follow us on all of our adventures by “liking” our facebook page and following us on twitter!
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Looks like a beautiful (and very white) holiday! Happy New Year!
It really was! Great to get out of the rain at home…best part was seeing my 4 nephews & 1 niece though 🙂
We go through Truckee whenever we go to Tahoe (which is never enough, in my estimation!) Fog, rain, but fortunately never snow. I prefer my snow in pictures. This is pretty awesome.
Wow, I’m surprised that you’ve never experienced Truckee during snow! I love visiting at all times of year though…stargazing on a summer night is absolutely amazing.
Awe, I love the shot of the sled being pulled. You can see the snow coming down… so pretty.
We haven’t been to those places in CA (yet) but we did get snow in VT (visiting family) for Christmas! It’s just not Christmas without snow!
Oh how I want so badly to visit Vermont! Seems like the perfect place to celebrate Christmas.
you’re always welcome to join us 😉
I just might take you up on that someday, Meghan!
I love being part of a winter storm when you don’t have to go anywhere.
My thoughts exactly, Leigh! It was nice that all we had to do was play & enjoy each others company.
Absolutely love the Tahoe/Truckee area! It really doesn’t get much better than this. The area is beautiful and has tons to offer during any season.
I have never experienced this. We live in hot and humid Townsville in the north of Australia. These photos are beautiful but I cannot imagine living with it, but I would like to try.
Thanks, Jan! You should definitely give it a try 🙂 I did hot & humid for a few years living on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina…now I just like to visit!
I’ve NEVER had a White Christmas – unless you count white beaches and white heat downunder in Australia!! Love the monochrome look of the photos with the red and blue accents!!
Thank you! Funny how we are dressed similarly–can’t say that was planning 😉 White beaches on Christmas sound good to me too!
Love the winter wonderland you had and such pretty pictures! So glad you had a white Christmas after all. We love the Tahoe area but it’s been awhile since we’ve visited. Best wishes and more travels to you in 2013. Happy New Year, Kate!
Thanks, Mary! Yes, no doubt a white Christmas…in my brother’s words “it was dumping” when we arrived 🙂
I live in Sacramento and for us, the Tahoe area is a winter wonderland. We try to take our kids to the snow every year, and they love it. It looks like yours did, too!
Nice! I love getting to visit my brother…we don’t get down there often enough. Thanks for stopping by, Jenna. I lived in Sacramento for a year when I was in Americorps, and always thought Sacramento was such a great city with so many great destinations surrounding it…the bay area, Tahoe, Yosemite, wine country, etc. You must love it!
Hi Kate,
My name is Jane and I’m with Dwellable.
I was looking for blogs about Truckee to share on our site and I came across your post…If you’re open to it, shoot me an email at jane(at)dwellable(dot)com.
Hope to hear from you!
Jane