Tahoe Beneath The Surface


 HIDDEN STORIES OF AMERICA’S LARGEST MOUNTAIN LAKE

Sail onto a watery world where metaphor meets the past in a Tahoe Expo Adventure Track entitled: Tahoe Beneath the Surface: Hidden Stories of America’s Largest Mountain Lake.

In Scott Lankford’s recent book of the same name, “Tahoe Beneath the Surface” is used as a metaphor for looking at some of the compelling, yet little known stories about Lake Tahoe’s past.  These stories have had an influence on the nation at large, and in some cases the world as well.  We invite you to join us to both continue on this metaphoric journey and for a literal look beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe!

READ MORE click here.   VIDEO Click here.

 

8 Worlds of Tahoe: History, Culture, Land, Water, Plant, Wildlife

Host: Undersea Voyager Project, Embassy Suites, Crystal Range Associates, Tahoe Resource Conservation District 
Track Captain/contact: Michael Scialfa: crystalrangeassociates@yahoo.com

Itinerary

10:00am Boat departs Camp Richardson Marina (please arrive at the marina office by 9:45 am to allow adequate time for boarding)
10:30am Arrive Emerald Bay
10:30am to 11:30 am  The Geologic and Human History of Emerald Bay (multimedia presentation)
11:30 to 12:15 pm a literal look at “Tahoe Beneath the Surface” – Part 1: Invasion of the Nitrogen Snatchers  
12:15 to 12:30pm Optional swimming and snorkeling
12:30 to 1:00pm Lunch (see below for lunch options)
1:00 to 1:45 pm  Hike (1.5 miles) from Vikingsholm to the site of Emerald Bay Resort (circa 1910′s)
1:45 to 2:30 pm a literal look at “Tahoe Beneath the Surface” – Part 2: A peek at some of Tahoe’s maritime archaeology 
3:00pm Return to Camp Richardson Marina

Details

Saturday Sept 15th
Activities: interpretive boat cruise, easy hiking around Emerald Bay (approx 2 miles), and for the more adventurous, an opportunity to immerse yourself in Tahoe’s crystal clear water, a.k.a. swimming and snorkeling
Duration: 5 hours (and possibly up to six hours)

Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Location: Emerald Bay
Assembly Point: Camp Richardson Resort Marina  (office)
Transit Options:  BlueGo, Nifty Fifty Trolley, or bike directly from town to Camp Richardson, using the bike path.
What to bring: hat, sunscreen, water, comfortable walking shoes, jacket, camera, swimsuit, towel, and for those adventurous ones, a snorkel. 
Lunch: Lunch and beverage included in fee, courtesy of Tahoma Market.  Lunch includes soft drink, dessert, and first-come, first-serve choice of turkey, ham, tuna, or veggie sandwich.   If your dietary needs can not be accommodated by any of these choices, we suggest you bring something to supplement our offerings.  Our transport vessel will have an open no-host bar available.

Capacity: 42 
What to know: Parking at Camp Richardson Marina is limited.  Public transit will take you to the Camp Richardson store (which is a short five-minute walk from the marina). Our tour vessel is 55-ft long, but susceptible to motion, so those who tend to get motion sickness may want to consider preventive medications.  The weather on the Lake can change rapidly and it is generally breezy.  We will be out and about for a five-hour period, so bring appropriate clothing to remain comfortable in changing conditions.
 Participation fee: $105  includes interpretive guides, boat transport, and lunch.

Want to learn more?  Consider purchasing a copy of Scott Lankford’s Tahoe Beneath the Surface 

Tahoe Beneath the Surface . . . “a bracing look at the whole story of America from beginning to end – with Lake Tahoe at its center.”  To reserve a copy for pick up after the tour, email your track captain at: crystalrangeassociates@yahoo.com.  Cost: $18 (includes tax).

Guide Biographies:

Michael Scialfa, Crystal Range Associates.  Michael Scialfa has lived and worked in the Lake Tahoe Basin since 1980.  Mr. Scialfa is currently the principal of Crystal Range Associates, an interpretive planning firm specializing in the interpretation of both natural and cultural resources.

Michael Scialfa has a breadth of interpretive experience, serving as both a planner and interpretive specialist with various natural resource management agencies and in university extension.  In addition, Mr. Scialfa has worked in the related fields of Forestry, Wildlife Biology, Wild land Recreation Management, and Environmental Planning.  Mr. Scialfa began his working career in natural resources in 1978 and has held positions with the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the U.S. Forest Service.  The positions held with these agencies include Park Ranger, Interpretive Specialist, Forester, Recreation Manager, Biological Information Specialist, and Recreation Planner.  Mr. Scialfa holds a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife Biology from Cook College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Rutgers University (1977) and an M.S. in Forest Resources from University of Idaho (1993).

Scott Cassell is the founder of Undersea Voyager Project  and will be captaining the submersible “Great White” on our Emerald Bay adventure track.

Captain Cassell was inspired to work in the field of underwater exploration even as a kid, fascinated by books and films such as Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and  the scuba-diving adventures of the fictional television character Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt.  These inspirations were strong enough that today Scott  is a commercial diver, explorer, and professional  film-maker.  His film credits include work as an undersea cameraman for nearly 20 documentaries and as a host for several nationally televised broadcasts.  His vision and initiatives to protect the our underwater realm are designed to increase resource sustainability , thus creating a better environment for future generations.

In addition to participating in the Expo, the Great White is in the Tahoe Basin to conduct a month-long research project on the migration of plastic particles into plankton and fish, and which may eventually become consumed by humans.  Scott will be presenting his findings from his research in Lake Tahoe at the Embassy Suites Resort in early October (date TBD).

Jim Brockett is the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Control Program Coordinator at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District in El Dorado County, CA. He is the Project Manager for various multi-agency AIS control projects in Lake Tahoe including Emerald Bay, the Tahoe Keys, and Lakeside Marina. Jim is SCUBA certified and provides hands-on management, direction, documentation, and quality assurance of many AIS control projects in Lake Tahoe.