Are you ready for an epic winter in the Sierra?
Us west coasters unite around the winter and the summer; it’s the in-between seasons that aren’t the same everywhere- but as soon as it hits summer or winter: we are READY! Ready to take on all that season offers this winter. You’ll want to make those plans, vacations & experiences ahead of time because everyone wants a piece of the Sierra Nevada this winter! With Lake Tahoe back on the map with some incredible snow this past year, we have seen many resorts open up just about a month early! Adventurers near and far are riding in to take advantage of mother nature’s wintery blessing. So here is your winter playbook on the three essential must-do’s to capitalize on your winter activities in the Sierra!
1. Plan your stays ahead for a stress free winter season
There’s no secret that Lake Tahoe is one of California’s greatest gems & over the years, more and more people want to experience it’s incredible landscapes and community year around, but again, us west coasters, yearning for snow activities, drive in staycations, & outdoor activities for the entire family, know that December – March is truly unmatched in Tahoe. With the majority of Tahoe’s travelers planning their visit less than 1 month out of their arrival, according to Omnitrak, evidence shows there could be advantages to planning more than 1 month in advance. This would allow for greater availability, first dibs on experiences such as hotels, Airbnb’s, dining reservations & tours. Especially with the cutting back of homes listed on Airbnb in each county in the Tahoe basin, this increase in snowfall early in the 2022-2023 season may subsequently increase the demand for places to stay while on the mountain, forcing people to plan ahead (more than one month out) if they want to stay for more than a day.
As a prior hotelier, booking ahead is always more advantageous for a variety of reasons, but the most important being: securing your home away from home before the rush, saving your pennies to spend while you’re on vacation vs. spending more to get the last room in the house, as well as having more flexible booking options as an incentive for planning ahead. Most large hotel chains do offer incentives for booking early whether that be a price cut, special inclusions during your stay, or flexible booking in case emergencies arise. In addition, airlines are always offering price drop incentives for booking early and on non-peak travel days, such as avoiding weekends. So if the drive seems too cumbersome with the whole crew, pack up your bags and score a great deal with an extended trip to the Sierras!
The Reno/Tahoe airport offers a variety of transportation services as well as some hotels in the Tahoe basin, not to mention how beautiful the ride into Tahoe is from Reno! The TART also offers free transit service throughout the north Lake Tahoe Basin if you’re thinking of saving on gas– getting around can be sustainable & efficient with over 8 TART routes in the north basin! If you’re more of a South Lake type of “Taho-er”, fear not. California & Nevada agreed to share resources & offer locals and travelers a zero fare transit system that could bring travelers to the most prominent locations on the lake, connecting South Lake, Incline Village & Tahoe City!
As most Tahoe travelers aren’t planning until weeks before, it’s worth a 2nd thought to plan ahead from the rest of the pack, so you can enjoy a hassle free, seamless & cost effective overnight oasis in California’s winter wonderland this season!
2. Keep your body mobile for better results on the mountain
Even us adventurers have full time jobs & more often than not we are in front of a computer screen day in and day out, even if we have the ability to “work from anywhere.” According to the American Heart Association, over “80% of all U.S. jobs are predominantly sedentary,” leaving us at a disadvantage when quick to engage in our outdoor activities if our lives are absent of structured, regular movement & exercise. If you are preparing to get your boots on and get out on the mountain this year whether it be skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing– heck even if you’re taking the kids sledding– here are a few activities and exercises to focus on and add into your routine to leave you feeling loose, strong & unwavering no matter your winter sport!
Having a mostly sedentary lifestyle for a majority of your week can lead to muscle imbalances, chronic pain & low energy levels without a regular movement routine and habits built around your wellbeing. As a personal trainer for working professional and busy parents, I share with my clients and community the importance of establishing intentional movement in their day–showing up & taking some time for themselves to relieve stress & challenge themselves, both mentally & physically.
One of the best ways to do this is to establish a stretching routine– that you can formulate a routine around, enjoy, look forward to and can remain consistent in. Flexibility is key in releasing built up muscle tension (increasing flexibility) and increasing joint range of motion.
Second, a corrective exercise routine can support everyone from sedentary office workers to on-the-go outdoor enthusiasts alike. Corrective exercise supports the effectiveness of muscle cohesiveness & addresses muscle imbalances that ultimately affect our balance, mobility & strength. Balance & core strength are both key while on the mountain or working from home.
Lastly, as an active snowboarder, I have directly seen the benefits of a consistent weight training program. Weight and/or resistance training has a significant impact on the body’s ability to maintain strength as you age, increase bone density, improve joint function and increase your ability to perform better in your activities! Talk about being on the mountain for life– strength training is your secret sauce for long term activity performance!
Combining all 3 of these aspects together, throughout the entire year & not only during riding season will provide you the best, long term benefit year after year. For more information on how to get started with your own, custom strength & mobility program, check out milsnerfitness.com to book your initial consultation and assessment with me!
3. Filling & fueling snacks to keep you riding no matter where you’re traveling from
I know I am not alone when I say riders’ hunger is a real thing!! No matter what your sport, a day on the mountain is tiring and without properly refueling our body, we won’t be able to feel like we gave it our all out there! As a nutrition coach, I work with clients not only on their relationship with food, but also on educating how to read food labels & make healthy choices in their busy lives. Whether it’s on the mountain, pre and post mountain, or travel meals and snacks, here are a few bites to keep in mind.
Think macronutrients first. Your body actually needs these to sustain life, so let’s not negate these and put our body through more than we already are out there! Focusing on high protein meals & snacks first will support our feeling of satiety (fullness), allowing us to last longer without our stomach growling messing up what could have been the best run of the day.
Next, zoom in on carbohydrates. As an endurance athlete, carbohydrates are your main fuel source and on the mountain you are burning lots of that fuel- fast. Carbs are essential to sustaining and maintaining energy throughout your day.
Then, take a look at your fats. These are going to support with dissolving key vitamins, such as A, D, E, & K, that our body needs to keep regular internal processes functioning smoothly. Fats are also the body’s secondary fuel source so getting quality fats into your mountain diet will support energy production, even if carbs are running out of steam.
With the macro picture in mind, here are a few of my favorite meals and snacks for when you are traveling that are easy to grab and go or make, nutritious & clean from preservatives and additives, as well as family favorites:
- Snacks:
- RX Bars or comparable without added sugars and preservatives
- Fresh fruit that doesn’t really need to be refrigerated (especially when it’s sub 40 degrees out!) : bananas, oranges, apples, berries, etc.
- Mixed nuts & seeds: raw almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pecans, seeds etc.
- Personal yogurt cups- FAGE is my personal favorite & high in protein!
- Homemade energy balls
- Meals:
- PB & Js
- Protein pastas for a homemade spaghetti
- Tacos or taco salad with your choice of meat
- Burger bar with your choice of meat: beef, turkey, chicken, salmon
- One pot inspired dinners with an Instant Pot
Check out a few of my blog posts below for full meal ideas & recipes! To learn more about navigating nutrition and building a regimen that works well for you, check out my 60 day program, BITES, launching next month!
Like & share this post if you found this helpful! I would love to hear from you and what you liked about this article. Hope to you see you planning ahead for a memorable & enjoyable mountain experience this season!
