South Tahoe's bike trail to Nevada Beach

When I was living in South Lake Tahoe on Kahle Drive I used to hike and bike a trail that wound around the woods and down to beautiful Nevada Beach. Since then the old winding trail apparently has been closed and a new, paved trail starts at the Highway 50 West and Kahle Drive parking lot. As I'm in a biking mode these days I wanted to tried the new trail on wheels.

It's all downhill at the start as you head for the lake level across a very nice wooden bridge that spans a marshy area. In abut a mile or less, you reach the Nevada Beach campgrounds, at this time of year mostly used by RVs and campers. The path leads through a complex of camp sites and if you didn't pay attention when you entered the campgrounds you may have a problem figuring out which trail takes you back to the parking area. I didn't and ended up bushwhacking across a soggy meadow to find the trail back.

Once at the beach area, it's about 100 feet from the paved trail through deep sand to the beach itself. At one end of the public beach is a trail park; at the other end it's the Elk Point commercial installation. The beach is wide enough to set up umbrellas a few feet from the cool waters.

No crowds at this time of the year, but there are plenty of roaming dogs around with the owners not paying any attention. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, incidentally. Tables and grills are everywhere and there is a fenced off endangered species area.

Not even a moderately demanding spin, the trail is in excellent condition with plenty of benches along the way. On Friday a bevy of hikers and some bikers were using the trail. Dogs and more dogs.

This is very much a family area and some set up headquarters right at lake side. Good idea, the view across the lake is all mountains and facing beaches. Sure would like to try the old trail, but no way to get to it now.

Hiking the Andes

If you think hiking the entire 150-miles-plus of the Tahoe Rim Trail is a grind, you should have seen the lecture by Greg Treinish and Deia Schlosbergm as they showed slides and videos of their almost two-year trek from north to south along the Andes Mountains. No trail, no maps, five countries and all backpacking. Fascinating stuff, and a peek at some of the isolated villages in those mountains. The pair's schedule is on the Web at www.acrosstheandes .com, so check it out to see if they are appearing at other local spots. Who said the Pacific Crest Trail was a tough hike?

Diamond Peak Games

Diamond Peak offers a new holiday season pass that is valid all 28-holiday dates during the 2009-10 ski season. While most resorts blackout all but their most expensive season passes during peak holiday periods, Diamond Peak has done the unthinkable by offering a premium product at a family friendly price. For just $249 you can ski or ride everyday during the Christmas/New Year period, Martin Luther King holiday weekend and all of the presidents' week holiday.

Become a fan of Diamond Peak on Facebook and follow the resort on Twitter to play a new game and for a chance to win a Holiday season pass. To promote the new pass, Diamond Peak launched a Facebook contest that asks, "Where's Diamond Pete?" - the penguin mascot of the Diamond Peak Children's Ski Center. Diamond Pete is associated with the Bee Ferrato Child Ski Center. There will be photos of Diamond Pete on www.facebook.com/diamondpeak during contest, which runs through Oct. 4. Fans of Diamond Peak are asked to log in and identify where Diamond Pete is. The fan with the most correct responses will win a free 2009-2010 Holiday pass and a free season locker rental. Complete rules and contest details are available at www.diamondpeak.com under News and Events.

Now comes "Rocker" skis and snowboards

For years skis and to some extent snowboards have used camber to lift the tips and tails of gear to make turning easier when the rider rose in his or her bindings. Last season saw the advent of the newest thing in snowsports: the Rocker.

Here the camber has been reversed with tips and tails angled high much like the rocker on a rocking chair only more so. This makes skiing powder much easier, the tips don't sink into deep stuff.

The story of rockered skis pretty much boils down to one person, the late Shane McConkey of Squaw Valley, who has revolutionized powder skiing. Because of McConkey's invention, the use of rockered skis is starting to spread all over, changing powder skiing probably the most since the first fat skis.

Most manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon and now market rocker skis. Since powder is a short-lived thing around Tahoe, who knows how the market will react, but last season I was floundering away in deep stuff when two guys came booming effortlessly down the hill. Saw their skis but didn't get it until some Heavenly people explained it all to me. OK, maybe I won't buy a pair but sure would like to demo some when the powder is there.

Ken Burns's series on National Parks

Documentary film maker Burns is back with a series of TV programs on PBS, and if you enjoy the outdoors you won't want to miss them, shown all this week at 8 p.m. Last Sunday, it was history and looks at Yosemite and Yellowstone parks. Much of Sunday's program was devoted to John Muir who was so important in creating the parks. If you didn't know about the series check KNPB for rerun times.

• Contact Sam at 841-7818 or sambauman@att.