HadBurger, Travels

Lake Tahoe 🏔️

Posted by markhadland on
Sunrise over snow-capped mountains reflected in a calm lake.

For Rhone’s 18th Birthday, his Mom and I planned a trip to Lake Tahoe, near his home in the Sierra foothills. We rented a house for the weekend to accommodate six of his friends, as well as his Mom, Kirsten, and his Aunt, Sue. I have never visited Lake Tahoe, so I was excited to plan Rhone’s Birthday, visit somewhere cool in his backyard, and have a great weekend celebrating.

We set off from Placerville and took the beautiful, snowy drive up to the lake.

A scenic view of snow-covered mountains under a bright sun along a winding road.
A snowy mountain road curving around a hillside with evergreen trees under a clear blue sky.
Snow-covered rocky hillside with scattered pine trees under a clear blue sky.

South Lake Tahoe is a fascinating city. Situated on the border of California and Nevada, the East side of town is home to several casinos. Sadly, or fortunately, the boys were not old enough to gamble.

Neon sign for Stardust Lodge with 'Vacancy' illuminated, surrounded by trees and night lights.
Old school Nevada.

We arrived in town, settled into the rental, and set off for a nice dinner. Most ‘fancy’ restaurants were located in casinos, but we had no issues as they all had access for minors.

I knew one of his friends, Andrez, very well, as they grew up together, played football on the same team for years, and vacationed together in the national parks of Utah, as well as during summer visits to Seattle. He loves to join us on adventures as we get to eat in fancy restaurants and try new dishes together.

For Rhone’s proper birthday dinner, we visited The Chart House, a hillside restaurant set in a midcentury building.

A wooden art piece resembling a stylized rock formation displayed on a stand in a dimly lit restaurant.
Fancy decor.

I must say, I do love an old-school steakhouse!

A selection of colorful cocktails served over crushed ice in small glasses on a slate serving tray, with a decorative container in the background holding lime slices and straws.
Fancy cocktails.
A close-up of a bottle of Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, featuring the label with 'CADE' prominently displayed, next to a filled wine glass.
Fancy wine for Dad.
A young man sitting at a table with a dessert featuring a lit candle, celebrating a birthday.
A young man sitting at a table with a surprised expression, looking at a dessert with a candle on top. Another person can be seen in the background, also at the table.
A young man celebrating his birthday at a restaurant, blowing out a candle on a dessert served on a plate, with a friend sitting beside him.
The Birthday Boy. Happy 18th Rhone 🩵
A young man with long hair wearing a blue cap and a black t-shirt is making a surprised expression while holding a fork with a piece of food near his eye in a restaurant setting.
Don’t take the cork off the fork. IYKYK.
A chef prepares food at a steakhouse, with steam rising from a pan while customers are visible in the background.
Expectations were met with tableside flaming desserts.

Lake Tahoe Boat Tour

The next day, we took a chartered yacht tour of the lake. Fun Lake Tahoe facts: Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the California-Nevada border. It is known for its clarity and depth, with a maximum depth of 1,645 feet, making it the second-deepest lake in the U.S.. Formed over two million years ago, it holds about 39 trillion gallons of water, enough to supply every person in the United States with over 75 gallons a day for five years.

A group of five teenagers sitting together on a boat, with a clear blue sky and a wooden building in the background.
Anxiously awaiting the Three-Hour Tour.
Two young men sitting side by side on a boat, wearing warm jackets and hats, with a wooden building and trees in the background.
A group of five teenagers sitting together on a chartered yacht, with a wooden building and bright blue sky in the background.
Three smiling individuals posing together outdoors with trees and a house in the background, the woman in the center holding a glass.
Dad, Mom, and Aunt Sue.
A serene view of Lake Tahoe showcasing its blue waters and distant snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.
A scenic view of Lake Tahoe with snow-capped mountains in the background and a bright sun reflecting on the water.
Selfie of two people on a boat at Lake Tahoe, dressed warmly for a winter day. They are smiling, with trees and mountains in the background.

We set off to tour the famed Emerald Bay.

A tranquil view of Lake Tahoe, showcasing a small snow-covered island surrounded by serene waters and mountains in the background under a clear sky.
A scenic view of snow-covered mountains and trees reflected in the calm waters of Lake Tahoe during winter, with sunlight peeking through the trees.

Approaching Vikingsholm, fitting for Rhone’s Danish and Norwegian heritage.

http://vikingsholm.com/index.html

Vikingsholm is considered one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States. It is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. The house is open for tours during the summer months, and the magnificent scenery may be enjoyed all year round by those wishing to visit this beautiful setting.

A scenic view of a house surrounded by tall pine trees, reflecting in the calm waters of Lake Tahoe, with a snowy landscape in the foreground and mountains in the background.
A young man wearing a fur hat and a black jacket poses for a selfie with a woman wearing sunglasses and a light-colored vest on a boat.
Rhone and Mom.
View from the front of a chartered yacht on Lake Tahoe, with mountains and trees visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
A serene view of Lake Tahoe with snow-capped mountains in the background and a clear blue sky reflecting in the water.
A snowy island surrounded by clear blue water at Lake Tahoe, reflecting the trees and rocky shore in the calm surface.
Approaching Wizard Island. There is a teahouse on top of the island.

I must say Lake Tahoe is stunningly beautiful, and it was fun to visit in winter with all the snow.

A serene view of Lake Tahoe featuring calm waters reflecting a rocky island adorned with trees, surrounded by snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.
A man and a young adult are posing for a photo on a boat in Lake Tahoe, with snow-capped mountains and a blue sky in the background.
A rocky outcrop surrounded by trees and water, set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains at Lake Tahoe.
View from a boat on Lake Tahoe, showcasing snowy mountains and a clear sky with the sun shining.
Snow-covered rocky shoreline beside Lake Tahoe with tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.
A snowy rocky shoreline with tall pine trees and a clear blue sky, reflecting in the calm waters of Lake Tahoe.
A view of snow-covered rocky cliffs surrounded by deep blue water at Lake Tahoe under a clear sky.

In some areas we toured, the lake drops off over 1,000 feet deep within 100 feet of the shore. Lake Tahoe is the largest Alpine lake in North America. It is 1,645 feet deep, 22 miles long, 12 miles wide, with 75 miles of shoreline. It is the second deepest lake in America, next to Oregon’s Crater Lake.

A person wearing a furry hat and a dark coat, looking out a window on a boat, with wooden paneling visible in the background.
Group selfie of six friends on a boat in Lake Tahoe during sunset, with mountains and snow in the background.
A serene view of a calm lake surrounded by evergreen trees under a clear blue sky.
Snow-covered rocks along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, reflecting in the calm water.
A scenic view of a snowy rock formation along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, with clear blue skies above.
A chartered fishing boat named 'Hawk II' with several people onboard, surrounded by calm waters of Lake Tahoe and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Lots of fishing on Lake Tahoe – next time.

Finally, a fantastic sunset.

Sunset over Lake Tahoe, reflecting on the calm water with snow-capped mountains in the background.
A scenic view of Lake Tahoe at sunset, with snow-capped mountains silhouetted against the sky and calm water reflecting the colors of the sunset.
A serene sunset over the snowy mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, reflecting on the lake's calm waters.

Finally, after the boat tour, we returned to the house to warm up. Rhone and I agreed that it would only be fitting to make our famous HadBurgers, the signature meal, for his birthday weekend. His friend Andrez had eaten this the prior summer in Seattle, so he was naturally excited. The other boys had no idea what was in store for them yet.

HadBurger XI

The HadBurger OG

Now the HadBurger requires a lot of preparation and a large grill. Fortunately, we had a grill at the rental. It was not as large as mine at home so that some culinary orchestration would be in order. His Mom, Kirstin, Aunt Sue, and I set off for the local store to get all the necessary items for the event.

I present to you HadBurger XI for Rhone’s 18th Birthday!

Fresh green lettuce leaves arranged on a white plate on a kitchen countertop.
Sliced yellow and red heirloom tomatoes arranged on a white cutting board, with a knife placed nearby.
Sliced pickles neatly arranged on a white plate.
A bowl containing sliced white onions arranged neatly.
A plate with several slices of yellow cheese arranged neatly.
A row of freshly prepared sausages arranged neatly on a white cutting board.
A close-up image of a round white plate filled with layers of assorted sliced salami and other cured meats, arranged in a circular pattern.
Please note the two different types of salami.
A tray filled with raw bacon slices, displaying various cuts and layers of meat.
Two bowls of raw ground beef mixed with mustard, capers, and eggs, prepared for burger making.
Making the burger meat.
Raw hamburger patties arranged on aluminum foil, ready for grilling.
A table set with various ingredients for making hamburgers, including patties, lettuce, condiments, onions, sliced meats, cheese, and side snacks.
That’s a lot of prep!

Now it is grilling time.

Grilled onion slices on a barbecue grill, partially charred and caramelized.
Grilled onions.
A close-up view of multiple strips of bacon cooking on a grill, with visible flames and smoke.
Grilled bacon sizzling on a barbecue grill with flames and smoke.
Charring the bacon. The damned grill nearly caught on fire 🔥
A tray filled with cooked and crispy bacon slices.
Bacon layer.
Grilling several burgers topped with slices of salami on a barbecue grill, illuminated by cooking flames.
Grilling hamburgers with hamburger buns on a barbecue grill, showing patties cooking and buns warming.
Toasting the buns and finishing the salami.
Grilling multiple gourmet hamburgers stacked high with various meats and cheeses on a barbecue.
Miraculously perfectly stacked.
A large, stacked hamburger featuring multiple beef patties, cheeses, pickles, lettuce, and other toppings, served on a toasted bun. A person is visible in the background.
A large, stacked hamburger with layers of various meats, toppings including lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a knife inserted into the top bun, resting on a white paper plate.
It measures up!
A towering hamburger stacked with layers of lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, and various meats including beef and bacon, all resting between a toasted bun.
I proudly present HadBurger XI for Rhone’s Birthday 🍔🍔🍔.
Group photo of a family celebrating Rhone's 18th birthday, featuring eight people smiling together indoors.
The Birthday gang.

The next morning was departure time. We dined at locally famous Heidi’s for breakfast.

Group of five young men posing outside Heidi's restaurant in South Lake Tahoe, featuring a colorful yellow building with decorative flowers and a clock.

After breakfast, we all departed. Rhone and the boys all drove home together. Kirsten and Sue took another car, and I used a few hours of free time to explore South Lake Tahoe, circumnavigating the East side of the lake to get a better feel for the area for future adventures.

I took the gondola to the Heavenly Ski area and spied some mountains to climb later.

A panoramic view of Lake Tahoe, showcasing its clear waters, snowy mountains, and a blue sky with wispy clouds.
A scenic winter view of Lake Tahoe from the Heavenly Gondola, showcasing snow-covered mountains with labeled peaks and their elevations.
A person wearing sunglasses and a blue jacket poses for a selfie with Lake Tahoe and snow-capped mountains in the background.
A rocky shoreline with a steep cliff under a blue sky at Lake Tahoe, featuring a boat dock extending into the water.
I found this rock I could climb up.
A scenic view of Lake Tahoe, featuring a rocky outcrop with pine trees in the foreground and a calm lake in the background under a cloudy sky.
A lone tree growing among rocky terrain, with a cloudy blue sky in the background.
A rocky outcrop overlooking the tranquil waters of Lake Tahoe, with snow-capped mountains visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Summit.
Scenic view of Lake Tahoe with clear blue water, rocky shoreline, and mountains in the background.
A serene view of Lake Tahoe showing clear blue water, rocky shorelines, and distant snow-capped mountains under a blue sky.
Rocks along the shore of Lake Tahoe with clear water reflecting the sky.
Rugged rocks emerging from the clear waters of Lake Tahoe, showcasing the serene landscape and reflections.
A close-up view of crystal clear water at Lake Tahoe, showcasing smooth rocks submerged beneath the surface.
A serene view of Lake Tahoe, featuring calm waters reflecting the blue sky and mountains, framed by rocky shores and a pine tree.
A serene view of clear water at Lake Tahoe, with large, smooth rocks partially submerged and visible beneath the surface.

As I drove around the East and North shore of the lake, I stopped a few times to scramble to the water’s edge to take these photos. I was in awe of the lake’s beauty, the rock formations, the vistas of distant mountains, and the tree formations. The famous Rubicon Trail, suitable for 4X4 vehicles, is nearby, a trip I’d like to do with Rhone, as well as the Desolation Wilderness. SO many future adventures await us.

A serene view of clear water in Lake Tahoe, showcasing smooth rocks submerged underwater and reflecting clouds above.
A tall, stacked hamburger filled with various meats and toppings including lettuce, tomato, pickles, and grilled onions, presented on a toasted bun.
Two people posing for a photo on a boat, with a scenic view of Lake Tahoe in the background.
Happy 18th Birthday, Rhone. I love you more than the world 🌍, Love Dad 🩵.
A collage of scenic views from a boat on Lake Tahoe, featuring snow-capped mountains and reflections on the water.
A collage of ingredients for a barbecue featuring green lettuce, slices of salami, yellow and red tomatoes, pickles, a large hamburger with various toppings, sausages, bacon, sliced onions, and a bowl of ground beef with mustard and pickles.
Collage of Lake Tahoe's crystal clear waters and rocky shoreline, showcasing various angles and reflections of the sky.

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