In 1856 John A. Thompson, alsoknown as Snowshoe Thompson began delivering U.S. mail and other goods through the Sierra Nevada on skis. Since the Sierra locals had never seen skis, people called them snowshoes. Most everyone thought he would perish on his first 90-mile trip. He delivered the mail for 20 winters and the U.S. government never paid him. Supposedly, Snowshoe routinely jumped 30 meters on his 25-pound skis.
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Quote on T-shirts from Chamois pizza in Squaw Valley: Sure you did.
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The biggest fish caught in Lake Tahoe: 37 pounds, 6 ounces.
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Some of the first diehard skiers in Tahoe were prospectors and miners looking to strike it rich. When the snow prevented the miners from working, they would hold impromptu ski races – they weren’t going anywhere after all. There were respected teams and coveted, secret wax formulas. The miners were known to bet cash and silver belt buckles on the races.
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Tahoe Timber was once called ‘Green gold.’ More than 90 percent of the old growth was cut down and used to build mines and fuel mining operations in the Tahoe region.
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After mining operations ceased in 1878, the deforested land sold for as little as 50 cents per acre. Today it’s a million times more expensive…at least.
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Mark Twain bought land in Tahoe and attempted to harvest the trees on his east shore property near Glenbrook. An unattended campfire burned down his investment. He wrote about the experience in his novel, ‘Roughing It.’
~ tahoefacts@moonshineink.com
