Lake Tahoe Fall Guide
Time to fall in love with Lake Tahoe, all over... Read Article
One of the aspects that makes Lake Tahoe so special is our relationship to all the beauty that Mother Nature brings our way.
This precious connection is celebrated by the local nonprofit Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS). Created by longtime local (and my old roommate), Will Richardson, this amazing organization is doing wonders in sharing and educating about Lake Tahoe's flora and fauna. Knowing the positivity that TINS is bringing to the community, I was so excited to learn Will was enthusiastic to participate in our Get to Know the Locals blog.
Keep reading to learn more about a local person who has done so much for this area and the persona behind one of the greatest nonprofits of Lake Tahoe.
Photo: A chickadee (otherwise known as the Cheeseburger Bird) enjoying a perch upon Will's head.
How long have you lived on Lake Tahoe?
I lived here for the winters from 1994 to 2000 (although only about a month in ’96, since I was in Cameroon that winter), mostly in Tahoma, and then moved to Truckee and have been there ever since.
Where did you grow up and live before you came here?
I'm not sure I’ve grown up just yet. I spent most of my childhood in the Chicago area, then Vermont for undergrad.
What’s your favorite Lake Tahoe town or village?
Some will surely argue that Truckee’s not “Lake Tahoe,” and that’s fair, but it’s still my favorite town in the region.
What is your favorite thing about living in Lake Tahoe?
The natural landscape itself, and all that brings with it – all the plants and animals, skiing and climbing, paddling in the lake, etc., etc. And there’s always a gorgeous natural backdrop nearby for just hanging out, which is so good for all aspects of your health.
Photo: Reasons People Think Will is a Weirdo (according to Will) #5672: Gigantic rabbit poop on mountain tops makes him very happy.
What’s your favorite season in Tahoe?
Depends. I love it all for different reasons. “Local’s Summer” is probably my favorite from a recreational standpoint.
What’s your favorite Lake Tahoe beach access?
I’ll never tell.
Do you have a favorite trail or area to access the mountains?
I’m a big fan of novelty and exploration, so I’m always trying to find new spots.
What do you do for fun?
Backcountry ski, sea kayak, climb, road bike, play music, see music, explore around and look for bugs and stuff.
Describe your perfect day off.
I’ve had a lot of them, but they’re all different. I do love a double-sport day, especially if it ends at a friend’s house for a BBQ. Spring, maybe backcountry skiing in the morning and then kayaking in the lake afterward. Summer Sundays: kayak at sunrise, big hike or rock climbing in the day, rinse off in the lake, Tahoe City Commons Beach concert to wrap things up. Winter, bigger backcountry days followed by T’s or the Bridgetender. Full days like that. I must acknowledge that “bigger” is relative, and currently my bigger days aren’t terribly big.
Do you see more sunsets or sunrises?
Probably sunrises. The early birder catches a lot of sunrises.
What’s one thing you wish more Lake Tahoe visitors knew?
Their behavior and actions while visiting have a big impact.
Where do you go on vacation?
I’m a huge fan of the staycation. But long weekends can sometimes find me on the East Side or taking my kayak to the coast. I’m about to head to Costa Rica to chase birds and bugs and herps, and surf (poorly).
For a celebratory dinner, would you rather order take-out, go out to eat or cook something at home?
Depends on the celebration. Just did Glenshire Pizza Co. take-out for my 50th birthday, so that’s probably telling.
What’s your favorite meal of the day, and where in Lake Tahoe would you get it?
Dinner. Home.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
One of my many favorite things about my job is that it takes me to parts of the Tahoe Basin that few people ever see, terrain far from roads and trails.
Photo: Tanagers and Will have an understanding.
Do you have any side hustles?
I like to play music for beer money, but I’ve barely done that at all since COVID hit.
What's your favorite way to unwind from a stressful day?
Since COVID, I’ve been an absolute couch potato in the evenings. I do miss experiencing live music, from any side of the equation. Heck, I miss people, dinner parties, all of that stuff.
What’s one item on your bucket list?
A local item, or period? I sort of can’t believe I still haven’t jumped out of an airplane. I still have some ski lines and climbs on my to-do list, but I’m a lot more experience-driven than objective-driven these days. I’ll take snow quality over tagging a summit any day, and I’ve learned that through sacrificing a lot of good skiing from summit fever and either poor timing or just being too slow. I’ve also ticked a lot of those boxes over the years. These days I’m also making myself tick-lists for plants and critters I’d like to see each year, trying to find new species (to me anyway) of orchids, moths and dragonflies. That has me exploring just a little further afield from the immediate Tahoe/Truckee zone. The biggest bucket list item for me would have to be seeing TINS break ground on a nature center.
To learn all about the fun Will is talking about, be sure to check out our Daytime and Nightlife sections.
Photos courtesy of Will Richardson
About the Author Shanie Matthews
A longtime Lake Tahoe local, Shanie is a freelance writer, Vinyasa Flow yoga teacher and positivity warrior. A true lover of the the gorgeous Tahoe region, she connects with the serenity of the mountains via skiing, biking and backpacking. She also believes in the gift of yoga and its way of allowing one to become his or her true best self, a passion she shares with the world with her online yoga studio.
