Читать книгу Tahoe Rim Trail. The Official Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers and Equestrians онлайн

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Which Way the Mountain Faces

Snow melts at different rates depending on which direction the mountain is facing and which side of the mountain you are on; north-facing slopes get less sun and stay cooler, which means that the snow melts more slowly. The difference between the snowpack on a north- or south-facing slope can be quite surprising; it is not unusual to see five feet of snow on a north-facing slope, while on the south-facing slope the ground is bare and wildflowers are coming up.

Trail Use Tip

Early in the season, your best bet for a hike or ride is close to the lake or in the Truckee area (lower elevations and in the lee of the mountains), on the east side of the lake (Carson Range), and at lower elevations. As the season progresses, different areas become available for snow-free travel, moving from east to west, and south-facing to north-facing.

Although the difference between north and south is more pronounced, east-facing slopes are also cooler and have more snow than west-facing slopes. A classic example in the Tahoe area of the north-south difference is Emerald Bay. The Vikingsholm Trail and the trail along Emerald Bay to Emerald Point on the south-facing side of the bay are free of snow in most years at least one month before the trails on the north-facing side of the bay.