As the leaves fall off the trees and temperatures drop, the overnight dusting of snow reminds us that winter is nearly upon us. Here in Tahoe/Truckee, the locals know that winter in the Sierra is no joke and not a thing to be underestimated. This month, Moonshine Ink reporter Jared Alden asked community members:
What do you do to prepare for winter?
Alicia Espinoza, Kings Beach
Kings Beach Elementary instructional aid
I buy jackets, snowpants, boots. I buy everything to prepare in case the electricity goes out and my family is stuck at home in the cold and dark, so I stock up on candles, food, and warm blankets.
Cody Choate, Northstar
Palisades Tahoe ski and snowboard instructor
I like to switch on some ski movies, move the roses inside, put a wooden spoon under the pillow for good juju, bust out the second layers, get on my workout regime (squats) for both turns and shoveling, and I leave the summer tires on for just a little bit longer to tempt the weather.
Wendy Lautner-Speicher, Donner Lake
Owner of Donner Creek Brewing
Get snow tires from Travis on West River, plan special events at Donner Creek Brewing, get Sugar Bowl passes and sign up kids for ski programs, get the holiday decorations ready, check the bank balance for Christmas presents, put lights up, clean up the yard and garage, get skis for the kids, and check their winter clothing.
Thomas Freeman, Truckee
Cardboard sign
I begin stashing winter gear around during the summer months and hope it doesn’t all get stolen. I mainly get things like good quality boots, thick warm socks, and sleeping bags. Right now, I got two sleeping bags — a Kelty and an REI — as well as a backpack and a couple of blankets.
Carol Lindsay, Tahoe Donner
Retired nurse practitioner
We bring the deck furniture in, we check to make sure the snowblower is working, we get the winter coats out and put summer stuff away, and we always go to Costco to get cases of hand and toe warmers.
