BCA News

BCA Community!  Please join us for Bear Creek’s Annual Progressive Dinner    4:00 pm, Saturday, Sept 3rd, 2022

4:00 pm Appetizers, 6:00 pm Main Course, 8:00 pm Dessert.

Details on location, homes and food assignments can be found on the member's only-section of this website. : 

Bear Creek honors the life of Wendy Brody, a long-time resident of Bear Creek. Wendy will be remembered for her warm and outgoing nature, her devotion to others, her athleticism in sports such as skiing and hiking, and her dedication to charitable organizations. She carried herself with grace, always wearing her signature red lipstick even while tackling a challenging wilderness hike. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her son, John Brody (who lives here in Alpine Meadows) as well as her daughter Ingrid, son in law Justin and grandchildren William, Elina and Isla.

As remembered by BCA resident Brian Todd, ‘Wendy was on the tree committee here in Bear Creek, and would stay up for most of the summer.  She loved it up here. She was an incredible walker and thought nothing of walking to Paige Meadows with her dog, from her house.  When I walked with her, she would often wait for me to catch up.  I will miss her very much.  She was one of those people who always saw the bright things about life and didn't get down by things that were a challenge’.

Below is a bit more about Wendy and her life.

Wendy grew up in Stockton, CA and learned to ski on trips with her family to the mountains around Lake Tahoe. As we know, Wendy would later return to these mountains, spending summer and winter vacations and hosting friends and family at her home in Bear Creek.

Wendy was a trailblazer in the early 70’s. Her career as an economist included work at SRI in Palo Alto and the Social Security Administration in Washington DC. While there, in 1974, she authored a classic study titled ‘The Economic Value of a Housewife’ that was used to compute the economic contribution of people who were not directly in the workforce. This published work can be found on the web.

Wendy was an extraordinary volunteer and community builder. Amongst her contributions were: co-founding the Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto, CA, and over the span of 40 years, serving as a board member of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the La Jolla Music Society, the Walters Museum (Baltimore) and Mills College (her alma mater).  John Hopkins University built the Brody Learning Commons, dedicated to Wendy and her ex-husband Bill’s contributions to the university.

Wendy contributed so much to her family, friends, and communities. She is deeply missed by all.

The above material was partially excerpted from Wendy’s memorial piece. With thanks to Brian Todd for providing additional detail.

2022 Wildfire Evacuation Drill

Saturday, July 16

9:30 a.m.

Alpine Meadows Parking Lot #4

 

Practice, practice, practice…the best way to prepare for a mandatory evacuation is to practice. Please join us and practice a situation where there has been a mandatory evacuation order.

A mandatory evacuation order is issued and you have 15-30 minutes to leave, what do you do?

·       Dress in cotton clothing (long-sleeved shirt and pants) and boots/hiking shoes;

·       Review your evacuation checklist;

·       Grab your “Go” bag; and

·       Join us at in the ski area parking lot.

We will hear from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department and North Tahoe Fire Protection District about evacuating from Alpine Meadows in case of a wildfire. They will share what was learned from the Caldor Fire and the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe.

Please see Cal Fire’s evacuation guide to help you prepare for wildfire: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/go-evacuation-guide/

Questions? Please contact johncmoise@icloud.com

 

 

From the Bear Creek Social Committee:

“We are looking forward to seeing you on Saturday afternoon for the annual BCA BBQ at the Pond. Please feel free to bring a beverage to share and plan to stick around after dinner for live music starting about 6:30. If you haven't sent a check in yet, you can now pay for by Venmo -- @BearCrk”

  -- $30 per person, children under age 5 are free

It's BBQ time at the Pond!  Please bring your favorite beverage to share ...and this year, we've added an after party with live music by acoustic duo, Carson & Reed.  Music will run from about 6:30 to 9:00. (Bring yout lawn chairs and bug spray!) RSVP by June 27th$35/person & children under 5/free, for payments recieved by June 27th. $40/person & children under 5/free, for payments recieved after June 27th, mail payment to:  BEAR CREEK ASSOCIATION, c/o Granite Peak Management,  150 Alpine Meadows Road, #1, Alpine Meadows CA 96146   (write "BBQ" in the memo line)  Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Annual Bear Creek Association BBQ July 3, 2021 @ 4:00pm Bear Creek Pond

Good food by Treats -- Great people -- Music

Please RSVP by June 28

Detach the stub and mail with your payment;

--  $30/adult, $15/ child for payments received by June 28    --- $35/adult, $20 /child for payments received after June 28 Make your Check Payable to Bear Creek Association {please write “BBQ” in the memo line of your check)       Bear Creek Association c/o Granite Peak Management   150 Alpine Meadows Road, #1 Alpine Meadows, CA 96146

Name______________________________________________________ # ADULTS _____@ $30 PER ADULT =$____________      # CHILDREN ___@ $15 PER CHILD = $____________ TOTAL PAYMENT = $___________

Tahoe City, Calif. May 27, 2021 –

On Monday, May 10, 2021 the CALFIRE AEU Unit suspended burn permits for the season, and on Monday, May 24, 2021 CAL FIRENEU followed suit, resulting in full suspension of residential burn permits in the Tahoe Basin.

These are the triggers that prompt North Tahoe Fire Protection District (NTFPD), Meeks Bay Fire Protection District (MBFPD), and Alpine Springs CWD jurisdictions to activate local fire restrictions by suspending all solid fuel recreational fires and open burning. The suspension takes effect Monday and will remain in effect through the remainder of fire season.

Following the adoption of the 2019 Fire Code, ONLY Natural Gas (NG) or Propane (LPG) outdoor firepits and barbecues, and pellet grills/smokers are allowed year-round except during Red Flag/critical fire weather conditions. All of these appliances must be utilized following manufacturer’s recommendations. Open-flame devices such as tiki torches and all fireworks, including sparklers and firecrackers, are illegal in California year-round.

For reports of hazardous/illegal camp fires, people should call 9-1-1, and illegal firework activity should be reported to local law enforcement. “Timber vegetation already at summer dryness levels, and above normal fire activity is projected in the Sierra and Tahoe regions this summer and likely into the fall.” said NTFPD Fire Chief Steve Leighton. “We saw the devastation that fires created in California in recent fire years, and we ask our residents and visitors to follow our fire restrictions to protect this precious area that is under severe drought.”

All sources of open flames, including Natural Gas (NG) or Propane (LPG) outdoor firepits and barbecues, and pellet grills/smokers are prohibited during Red Flag/critical fire weather conditions. Red Flag Watches and Warnings of critical fire weather in the Tahoe Basin are issued by the National Weather Service, Reno. “The National Weather Service will issue a Fire Weather Watch roughly 3-5 days in advance of critical fire weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity,” said Chris Smallcomb, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist/PIO. “Once confidence levels are high enough, this is upgraded to a Red Flag Warning, usually 1-3 days in advance. Our fire service partners use the alerts to help guide staffing and resource decisions not just locally but over regional and multi-state areas.” NTFPD and MBFPD are asking residents to prepare for wildfire by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every structure. “It’s essential for residents to effectively maintain defensible space to improve their home’s chance of survivability from both surface fires and ember showers.” Said NTFPD Fire Marshal Steve McNamara. “Please sign up for free defensible space inspections, and free residential curbside chipping.” 

Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property for wildfire:

• Maintain at least 5 feet free of combustible material around each structure.

• For a distance of at least 30 feet from the home, keep the area Lean, Clean and Green.

• Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from all structures.

• Landscape with fire resistant/drought tolerant plants.

• Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris through chipping or green waste collection opportunities.

We anticipate construction activities to begin soon on the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows base-to-base gondola. Construction activities will include (in approximate order) tree cutting, tree removal by helicopter, excavation & blasting, and building of terminals and towers. Local residents can anticipate the following impacts due to these activities:
Anticipated Impacts:

• Hiking trail closures: Five Lakes Trail and Western States Trail will experience intermittent closures throughout construction this summer. During closures, hikers are encouraged to use other trails, with nearby Shirley Canyon and Granite Chief trails in Olympic Valley as great alternatives. Hikers who ascend to High Camp during operating hours of the Aerial Tram can download for free.
• Estimated hiking trail closure durations for Five Lakes Trail and Western States Trail: 12 days in May, 14 days in June, 10 days in July and five days in August.
• Closures will be communicated with access road signs, trailhead signs, the Squaw Alpine app and @Squawalpineops on twitter.
• Tree cutting: Nearly all tree cutting will take place on the Alpine Meadows side, relatively little tree cutting needs to happen on the Squaw Valley side. There will be noise from chainsaws and tree felling around the Alpine Meadows base area. The Tree cutting areas will be closed to the public.
• Excavation & blasting: Plan for noise from blasting and heavy machinery. Excavation areas will be closed to the public while work is ongoing.
• Helicopter flying: Plan for noise from helicopter flying.
• Parking: Areas of the Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley parking lots will be closed for equipment and construction material staging. The most convenient parking areas will remain available.

Construction Hours:

• Noise emanating from construction activities, including helicopter flights, is prohibited on Sundays and Federal Holidays, and will only occur:

Monday – Friday, 6am-8pm (during daylight savings time, summer)
Monday – Friday, 7am-8pm (during standard time, fall)
Saturdays, 8am-6pm. Helicopters may be used on Saturdays, as needed.
Placer County’s Planning Director is authorized to waive these time frames based on special circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions.

• Questions? Reach out to GondolaConstruction@squawalpine.com.

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of longtime Bear Creek Association resident Marilyn Olmstead.  Marilyn died in a cycling accident this past Wednesday while riding on a rural road in Yolo County.  We will all remember her as a warm and engaging member of the Bear Creek Community.

In her professional life, Marilyn was a University of California, Davis chemistry professor emeritus. The University has also been mourning her death. “We are heartbroken to learn that Professor Emerita Marilyn Olmstead has passed away,” said a Tweet from the UC Davis Chemistry Department. “Marilyn was a world-class crystallographer and an outstanding teacher beloved by her students. She will be greatly missed.”

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Alan Olmstead and their two children Nate and Janis.

2020 “Area of Refuge” Evacuation Drill in Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows - September 12th, 4pm

Combined event – Sept 12th 4-5 PM Microsoft Teams Meeting Conference ID: 751 609 340# +1 213-279-1097 United States, Los Angeles (Toll)

While the primary plans for wildfire in our area call for complete evacuation via 89, this drill (as last year) will simulate the limited scenario of a wildfire closing Highway 89 in both directions. In such a scenario, existing fire plans employ the ski resort parking lots as “areas of refuge”.

THIS YEARS EVENT WILL BE VIRTUAL! SIMULATED evacuation orders will be sent thru Nixle and Nextdoor at 3:55PM. That will be the signal to log into the meeting.

Do not go to the parking lots. Please sign up for Placer Alert at https://www.placer.ca.gov/2426/Placer-Alert. This system will be used in case of a real emergency. Squaw Valley Fire, North Tahoe Fire, and SV and AM Firewise Committees will make brief presentations. Ron Cohen CEO of Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows will wrap up with a Q&A on the upcoming ski season.