Tahoe Rim Trail Association to celebrate 25th

OK, so it is spring outdoor days and most mountain resorts have switched to biking or other sports.

But if you haven't backed off your bindings or stored your snowboard you can close it out May 28 at Squaw. If you're a Squaw passholder they will even feed you that day.

Despite the warm weather a lot of trails are still deep in snow. So this weekend it'll be either C Hill or Prison Hill. A couple of e-mailers have asked about hiking shoes or boots, seeking advice. Wish I knew more about boots, but I've just muddled along for years either in sneakers for easy dirt trails or ankle-high boots for rocky trails, such as the one from Echo Lake up to the Desolation Wilderness. It's a lovely hike but many sections are rock-strewn. So I wear boots for that trek. For Prison Hill sneakers should be fine.

Also asked about hiking with a stick or hiking ski poles. After a knee operation, I started using a hiking stick I picked up along a trail. I wound it with tape and it has stood me well as a third leg, particularly on steep, big-rock trails. I bought a pair of hiking poles but haven't used them much as they tend to slip the locks and collapse on me.

If I had to choose between sneakers and hiking boots, I'd have to go to the boots. Best pair I ever had is my current pair, right off the rack at your favorite department store. Not classy but they work just fine and are a lot cheaper than the gear the outdoor magazines tout.

NATIONAL TRAIL DAY

Get it on with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association when it officially kicks off its 25th anniversary celebration Saturday, June 3 on National Trails Day 2006 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

The TRTA is partnering with California State Parks for trail work and guided hikes at D.L. Bliss State Park on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The Day will also feature a children's event and lunch for all participants. The event, in its 14th year, is part of a nationwide event to encourage folks to get outside, get active and experience the wonders of trails in their communities and throughout the country. An easy to moderate, 6-mile guided day hike and moderate, three-mile, guided evening hike are scheduled.

Campsites are available for overnight guests, who will need to bring their own gear and food.

"The slogan for this year's National Trails Day is 'Experience Your Outdoors,'" said Mark Kimbrough, executive director of the TRTA. "It's typically the first day of the Tahoe Rim Trail season. This year it's even more special with the kick off of our 25th Anniversary Celebration. We invite the public to get outdoors and on the trail."

The Tahoe Rim Trail Anniversary is a six-month long celebration set for June through November and includes a variety of anniversary events and festivities. The Celebration is designed to thank the thousands of supporters who have made the trail a reality, as well as increase awareness and preserve the legacy of this natural resource.

According to Kimbrough, events include special guided hikes, which provide participants with the opportunity to complete the trail's 165 miles in eight segments and become part of the organization's prestigious 165-Mile Club. The club currently has more than 450 members from all over the world.

Steve Andersen, president of the Tahoe Rim Trail board of directors, will also lead the 25th Anniversary 165-Mile Hike this summer, where enthusiasts will hike the trail in 10 consecutive days as a fund-raiser for the TRTA.

An official 25th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 29 at Tahoe Meadows on the North Shore and will include barbecue, public hikes and project work. Other anniversary programs are wilderness first aid, Leave No Trace, outdoor photography, chainsaw, backcountry camps and trail maintenance programs. Many special hikes are planned, including a 6-mile loop trail hike at Mt. Rose that features Galena Falls, as well as the most recently built section of the trail.

To mark the quarter-century achievement, the TRTA is also implementing the 25th Anniversary Adopt-A-Vista program, which will recognize those who donate monies to help fund the maintenance of the trail. Vistas are a $5,000 contribution and vary from serene meadows to expansive overlooks. Donors receive special recognition at the nearest trailheads, as well as a framed picture with a certificate.

To sign up for National Trails Day or for more information about the Tahoe Rim Trail, 25th Anniversary Celebration, Adopt-a-Vista program, call (775) 298-0012 or visit www.tahoerimtrail.org.

ONE MORE TRY

The Cushing Crossing pond skimming event will be this Saturday. Time is 2 p.m. If they don't do it this weekend, forget it.