Tahoe Tomorrow looking for some help

It's wise to take flatland visitors on a gentle hike the first day or so they're here, so Sunday I took a couple from Minneapolis over to Dead Man's Creek for a warm up.

Surprise! The Eagle Scouts had been at work and had begun a long, new trail that followed the valley rather than the creek bed. All was well and good with the trail in fine shape until we came to a dead end. Seems the trail is not yet finished and hikers will wind up brushwacking to get to the old steeper trail. When finished the new trail will be longer but not as steep. Meanwhile, the old trail works fine.

There's still water in the creek bed and the gazebo has been freshly painted. Sadly, the idiot vandals have been at work with initials and in one case a gouge in the seat. Where's the pleasure in doing that?

Once breathing better, I took my guests to my favorite hike site for visitors, Horsetail Falls off Highway 50 at Twin Bridges. The falls are splendid, tons of water rushing down in a great white plume. The views as overwhelming as ever -- the smooth walls of the canyon as scoured by the glacier centuries ago and Pyramid Creek as convoluted as ever with deep pools and rushing torrents.

New parking area leads right to the trailhead where one can take either the Twin Bridge trails straight up the hill or the creek side trail that runs alongside the creek.

It doesn't take long to reach the Desolation Wilderness boundary sign where there are plenty of niches for picnicking. To get a good look at the falls one needs to climb above the boundary sign (filling out the Forest Service card, of course, first) but the hike is worth it.

We stopped near the base of the first of the three falls as I felt my guests were not ready for the trek along the green arrow route to Lake of The Woods. It was rewarding for them and it was like meeting an old friend for me.

-- Tahoe Tomorrow, a local group dedicated to the betterment of the south shore of Lake Tahoe, is looking for a few more good people. The group will host its first fall picnic and semi-annual informational meeting from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday.

"Since its inception in early 2002, Tahoe Tomorrow has accomplished a lot, including the development of the Lake Tahoe Water Trail System and the initiation of the new Business-2-Business program designed to promote commerce between local businesses," explained Dennis Crab, Tahoe Tomorrow president. "This is an excellent opportunity for members of the community to get involved with a group that turns talk into action."

Tahoe Tomorrow is looking to expand its membership base so that it may tackle more projects.

An old-fashioned barbecue and potluck picnic, attendees should bring lawn chairs and dress appropriately for the fall weather. The cost is $5 per person and includes refreshments, tri-tip steak or barbecue chicken. Attendees whose last names begin with A-F are requested to bring a salad; those beginning with G-L a pasta, rice or potato dish; M-R should bring a dessert; and last names beginning with S-Z should plan to bring a vegetable dish. The barbecue will begin at 4 p.m. at Tahoe Paradise Park in the lower area at 1101 San Bernardino.

Presentations will follow at 5 p.m. with the picnic concluding at

about 6 p.m. To RSVP either e-mail to mindingyourbiz@aol.com or call and leave a message at (530) 542-8658.

-- Lake Tahoe Marathon officials have announced start and finish line changes for the Lake Tahoe Marathon, Saturday Oct. 11.

The race was to begin on Commons Beach in Tahoe City; however

due to construction the start line has been moved to the Tahoe City Golf course, 251 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, Calif. The finish line has also bee changed from Pope Beach to Baldwin Beach, Highway 89, four miles north of the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

The Lake Tahoe Marathon attracts world-class and recreational athletes to participate in a 26.2 mile run starting early Saturday morning with runners heading down the west shore to the finish line in South Lake Tahoe.

In addition to the Marathon, other Saturday races include a Wheelchair Marathon, Marathon Relay, Half Marathon and 10K Run.

For the most experienced athletes, the third Annual Tahoe Triple (formerly the Ultra 3 Day Stage Marathon) kicks off Thursday Oct. 9, wrapping around the entire lake to meet up with Saturday Marathoners . Also starting on Thursday is the event's first-ever triathlon that features long-distance kayaking, cycling and running components.

Call (530) 544-7095 or visit the www.laketahoemarathon.com.

-- Northstar-at-Tahoe will serve as both the start and finishing location for this year's Tour Tahoe MS 150 Bike Tour on Saturday and Sunday.EThis two-day cycling event is put on by the Great Basin Sierra Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.E

The MS 150 is approximately 150 miles, spread over a two-day route. Riders have the choice of cycling one or two days. Each rider obtains pledge sponsors to raise money to support MS research and programs. Individual rider fees are $35 and team fees are $30 per person.

On Saturday, riders will begin at Northstar, ride to Truckee, continue through Donner State Park, then follow the reverse route back to Northstar.

-- Sierra and Northstar's Double Whammy Season Pass is through Oct.1 at $289, and this dual mountain pass offers some fine skiing/riding spread over 4,480 acres, 116 runs, 27 lifts, 10 freestyle terrain parks, 50 kilometers of cross country trails and snowshoeing terrain at both resorts.

The Pass, the most popular Double Whammy product, allows purchasers to ski/ride any day, excluding blackout dates, at

Sierra-at-Tahoe and Sunday through Friday, excluding blackout dates, at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Sam Bauman is the Nevada Appeal Diversions Editor.