Lake Tahoe: Take it from a Local

We’ve got snow on the brain. The good kind. The kind that keeps us happy even when our fingers are threatening to freeze off. Fortunately for visitors to Northern California’s Lake Tahoe region, the temperatures rarely plunge as low as those in the Rockies, the Wasatch in Utah or the White and Green ranges in northern New England. But that’s hardly the only reason to opt for a Lake Tahoe ski trip over another region.

In North Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Valley, skiers and snowboarders alike get the benefit of some 4,000 acres of downhill fun in a part of the country that sees an average of 300 sunny, cloudless days per year. And then there are all the great places to eat, sleep and hangout while you’re there. One of our favorite places to bunk in for the night is the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, whose 61 rooms are a treat anytime of year. During the winter, ski-in, ski-out access to Squaw Valley lifts and onsite rentals and equipment storage sweeten the deal.

This week, we checked in with Mike Murphy, GM of PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn for his insider take on doing Tahoe like a local.

One plank or two?

Both. I enjoy snowboarding on a powder day and some fast GS turns on the skis on the groomer days.

The best place to fuel up before a day on the mountain?

Home. A greasy breakfast burrito waiting in line for the lifts to open doesn’t work for me.

Best run first thing in the morning?

Wherever hasn’t been tracked out by all the die-hards that get in the lift lines two hours before opening.

Geekiest piece of outdoor gear you own?

I have one of those GPS watches that tracks your distance, speed and altitude change. I bought one for when I actually thought I was going to start training for a triathlon. The watch is still in the box.

On the mountain, the gear you can’t live without:

Helmet. Helmet. Helmet.

Favorite non-downhill winter Tahoe activity:

Snow-shoe with the snowboard strapped to my pack for some great local back-country turns.

Best cheap eats in North Lake:

Tacos Jalisco in Truckee. You have to try the “Armadillo!”

After a day on the mountain, where to head for beer with buddies:

The bar at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn is always fun and has a great location for those getting off the slopes. The Stone “Smoked Porter” is my personal favorite.

Most romantic spot at Squaw?

Table 8 at the PlumpJack Cafe. It seems to be where all of the wedding proposals and special anniversary dinners happen.

What should every visitor take home?

The tourists seem to love the pinecones. You would think that you can’t find them anywhere else in the country.

Whenever a friend visits, you always make sure they see:

Lake Tahoe. Any time of year it’s a pretty amazing site. I never get tired of it, and I have been here 13 years.

A day on the mountain wouldn’t be complete without:

Watching a touron hooting and hollering at the top of his lungs right before he yard-sales.

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[Source: TravelPost.com Insider]