Ski with a Scientist at Palisades Tahoe Alpine
Explore the Mountain Through Science!
Join UC Davis TERC scientists and educators for a unique, interactive skiing or snowboarding experience at Palisades Tahoe Alpine. Do you love to ski/snowboard and science? This is a unique opportunity for you! Learn about the research and education of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), the environmental history of Alpine Meadows, and the role of the US Forest Service and public lands at Palisades Tahoe. Ski with a Scientist (SWAS) is an environmental interpretive tour designed to engage participants in the science of the Tahoe Basin while enjoying a guided ride down the slopes.
All tours are free, but participants must be riding/skiing at an intermediate level and comfortable on all blue terrain. Tours are limited to the first 15 participants, please sign-up in person at the TERC outreach table on Fridays for the day-of tour. Look for the light blue tablecloth to find the TERC outreach table, it will be set up inside the Alpine lodge during colder, snowy days or outside on the Alpine deck near the base-to-base gondola. Tours will begin out on the deck, look for the UC Davis EVENT flag. For more information contact Alison Toy (antoy@ucdavis.edu).
What to Expect:
- A 90-minute Guided Tour on groomed, intermediate-level runs with six educational stops.
- Learn About the science of Lake Tahoe, climate change, forest conservation, natural history, and more!
- Expert Presenters from UC Davis TERC.
- Engaging Topics, including tree identification, geology, public land management, and environmental stewardship.
When & Where:
- Fridays at 1:00 PM (February – March)
- Meeting Point: UC Davis EVENT flag
- Free to Intermediate Skiers/Snowboarders (must be comfortable on all blue terrain)—Limited to 15 participants per tour, please sign-up in person at the TERC outreach table on Fridays for the day-of tour.
In case of inclement weather, indoor presentations will take place inside the Alpine Lodge.
This one-of-a-kind educational adventure offers a deeper appreciation for the environment while enjoying the thrill of skiing or snowboarding. Discover how science and recreation come together in Lake Tahoe's pristine landscape!
2025 Line-up
February 21 - Citizen Science for a Changing Tahoe
From the amount of algae washing up on the shores to the water clarity, Lake Tahoe is changing. Education and Outreach Director Heather Segale discusses ways TERC is working to increase stewardship action in the Tahoe Basin and ways for YOU to get involved.
February 28 - Bees in Winter Survival Mode
Where do the bees go in winter? Are they hibernating? Dr. Rachel Vannette from the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nemotology discusses how bees overwinter and the latest research in understanding the preservation of bees that store honey underground.
March 7 - Snowy Trees are Cool
Gain a new appreciation for snow and its impact on successful reforestation in a changing climate with TERC Staff researcher Aaron Vanderpool.
March 14 - Microplastics Extraction
The work of a chemist often goes unseen due to closed, sterile lab environment. Steven Sesma shares the painstaking work of removing and individually counting plastic particles found in Lake Tahoe.
March 21 - Navigating the Waters of Tahoe
Being on a boat most days in Tahoe may sound nice, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows. TERC's boat captain, Mike Cane discusses the ups and downs of limnology and what we are finding during regular monitoring.
March 28 - AUVs from Tahoe to Antarctica
We collected over a million data points across Tahoe during
the Caldor fire in hazardous conditions. We measured ocean temperatures below the ice shelves of the Antarctic. Dr. Alex Forrest and Graduate Student Kenny Larrieu explain how.