Riding in Truckee, California - 24-Hour Travel Guide

Carving

Breakfast - If it's been snowing all night, it's paramount to get the fresh tracks, so we will not linger over breakfast. Eat something before you leave, or get to the mountain a little early and eat there. If the sky's been dry, and you're facing a sheet of ice on the mountain, a leisurely breakfast is a great idea. Truckee Bagel Company, up the road behind McDonalds (just off I-80 and Hwy 89) has good local food and is very friendly.

Morning - Hit the mountain. Most people like Squaw the best -- it has more lifts, and more varied terrain, than any other north lake resort. Personally, I find it to be too much of a scene, and it's expensive, too. I think either Sugar Bowl or Alpine offer plenty of great runs and off-piste for a boarder, and a much mellower vibe, with less crowds and a lower lift ticket price.

Lunch - It's not what you eat, but when: either go early if you showed up for first tracks, or late if you were waiting for the ice to melt: you want to be on the mountain while everybody else is eating.

Afternoon - Where you ride depends on the type of day (sunny, cloudy) and the resort. Try to share lifts with ski patrol or experienced locals and always ask what runs they like best in the afternoon.... you can save so much wasted time on crappy runs by just asking somebody where the good ones are.

Dinner - Unfortunately, the food's not that good in Truckee. Which is kind of weird, because lots of food-obsessed Bay Area people come here. For pretty good Asian Fusion food, along with high prices and really slow and indifferent service, try Dragonfly on Donner Pass Road. Tacos Jalisco (also on Donner Pass Road, but where it hits Hwy 89 near the DMV) has its fans for semi-authentic mexican cantina style food. Otherwise, you can choose from overpriced, mediocre fancy food (Pacific Crest Dining Room et al) or a smorgasbord of mediocre pizza joints or fast food.

All that, or bring someone along to tahoe with you who likes to cook.

After Dark - It's been years since I tried to party after dark in the area -- back then we went to Pierce Street Annex in Tahoe City, which may or may not exist anymore. For me, better to grab a beer or two and get to bed early so you can get up tomorrow and make fresh tracks. If you want to go gambling, your close options are Stateline (take Hwy 89 or 267 to the lake and take a left) for some retro Sinatra-era frozen in time casinos, or proceed on another ten minutes for the small but slightly more upscale Hyatt in Incline Village.

Sleep - Squaw, Northstar, and Sugar Bowl now all have some condos at the mountain that you can rent out through the resort. If you can afford it, this is the way to go. Otherwise bring a big group and arrange a house rental -- try the VRBO website.

Tags: Snowboarding