Time to go rafting

Good new for rafting fans. North Lake Tahoe rafting companies opened for business last weekend, kicking off the highly anticipated season on the Truckee River. Thousands of rafters will make the popular drift this summer.

Raft companies had to wait for the dam gates of Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe's only water outlet, to open. The federal water master began releasing water from the lake late last week.

Rafters begin their trip in Tahoe City after renting their tubes or rafts from any of a handful of streetside companies and complete their trip some four miles down the Truckee River at the River Ranch Lodge. The leisurely float takes between two and three hours, not counting picnic stops on sand bars along the way.

"Our open and closing dates vary from year to year, because there's so much we have to take into account regarding snow and water levels," Kelly Norton, manager of Truckee River Raft Rentals, said.

On weekends, rafting companies send as many as 400 people down the river.

The area rafting companies and the Tahoe City Public Utility District both work to help keep the river corridor clean and litter free. Go to www.PureTahoeNorth.com or call

(800) 824-6348.

MORE SKY GAZING

Northstar-at-Tahoe's Star Tours will focus on deep sky objects, galaxies and star clusters Friday, July 29. Tours include a two-hour astronomer guide and use of telescopes.

BEAUTIFUL BOATS ON DISPLAY

August 4-11 is Wooden Boat Week with parades and events honoring the spectacular wooden boats of yesterday and today. The Concours d'Elegance, a world-class showing of beautifully restored wooden powerboats, is Aug. 5-6

GEAR SALE

Need of new ski, board and golf gear? Northstar-at-Tahoe's 13th Annual Tent Sale is coming to Truckee to equip outdoor enthusiasts in the best gear at the lowest prices Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Northsport, Northstar's premier retail store, will offer savings between 50 and 80 percent on name brand apparel and equipment from Marker, Dynastar, Adidas, The North Face, Volcom, Burton, Oakley, Hot Chillys, Lange, Bogner, Salomon, Technica, and more. The sale is at Northstar-at-Tahoe's warehouse at 12219 Business Park Drive in Truckee. From Northstar, turn left onto Highway 267 and follow for approximately three miles. Turn right on Airport Drive and turn left onto Business Park Drive. The large white tent will be easy to spot.

HELP BY HIKING

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association invites hikers to join its annual Tahoe Rim Trail Hike-A-Thon to raise money for the trail. The Hike-A-Thon will take place on Sept. 17 starting at 9 a.m. from the Spooner South trailhead located off Highway 50 on the east shore. Participants will trek a 13-mile section of the Rim Trail from the trailhead to the Kingsbury North trailhead.

Each Hike-A-Thon participant is required to raise a minimum of $100 to participate. Lunch and water will be provided for all hikers and drawing prizes will be given at the conclusion of the hike. Contact Erin Casey at (775) 298-0232 or erinc@tahoerimtrail.org.