Tahoe Mountain Hike
	Trip Date:  02/29/2020 Distance: 5.0 Miles Vertical Gain: 1000' Group Size: 2 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 54.873, W 120 01.487     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 50 to the South Lake Tahoe "Y" at the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 89.  Turn left onto Lake Tahoe Blvd.  Turn right on Julie Lane and then turn left on Gardner Street.  Continue on Gardner all the way down to where it bends 90 degrees to the right.  Pass Panther Lane and park on the right side of the road before Wentworth Lane.  Trailhead is across from Panther Lane to the north of Gardner Street. Hazards of Note:   Trail navigation difficulties during snow covered months.  Many possible side paths which can easily lead to unintended destinations. Crowd Factor:   Moderate.  This is a hiking area with many access points close to a popular neighborhood.  You will have company along most sections of this trail in the non winter months and possble snow shoe enthusiasts in the winter. General Notes: From the parking area, cross the street and find the trailhead across from the end of Panther Lane.  Once you pick up the trail, you will reach a junction with three trail options within the first quarter mile.  To head to the top of Tahoe Mountain continue straight on this path and begin a number of zig zag switchbacks up the mountain.  When you get near the top, you can continue on the trail or take a shortcut up to the top by heading straight up to reach the ridgeline.  Head due south and you will pick up the 'road' up to the top of the mountain from further down to the southwest.  From the top you have the choice to head to the west to pick up Tahoe Mountain road as an endpoint, or to the south to continue down the mountain to pick up the bike trail which parallels Lake Tahoe Blvd to pass by South Lake Tahoe High school and then meets back up at the junction passed at the beginning of the hike.  The way down on this GPS track was during the winter and was cross country meandering following no trail.
	Heading up the road across from Panther Lane near the trailhead.
	Beginning the climb up the switchbacks you have views back toward Heavenly Mountain though burned trees from a fire many years back.
	View to the northeast as you reach enough elevation to get a glimpse toward Tahoe Keys and the bigger Lake Tahoe beyond.
	My dog Tahoe taking a break on the way up her namesake mountain.
	Much more snow as the trail continued to climb toward the top.
	Making our way up the final distance to the top of the mountain.
	A first glimpse of Fallen Leaf Lake from the top of Tahoe Mountain.  Mt. Tallac can be seen rising up behind it.
	A glimpse of Lake Tahoe from the top of Tahoe Mountain, and all the way in the distance to Mt. Rose behind it.
	On the southeast sde of the peak was signage helping to guide you back toward the starting point or onward for a much larger loop.
	A telephoto view of Round Top Mountain in the Mokelumne Wilderness about 10 miles to the south.
	How a smaller dog navigates deep snow.
	One last look back at Tahoe Mountain from the Panther Lane trailhead.
	GPS Track of the full hike.