Eldorado National Forest

35 miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe and a mere 12 miles outside of a little town called Strawberry lies Eldorado National Forest. Eldorado starts above the snowline to the east and drops well below it as you go west. It is a bit disconcerting as one moment you’re driving along next to mountains covered in snow on one side and sheer cliff drops on the other and then you drive around a huge curve and the snow is just… well… GONE. And you can’t rotate your neck around to find it behind you, because 1) behind you is generally around that last curve and 2) the road is very twisty. And that sheer cliff drop? Yeah, it’s still on the other side of you. So you accept that the snow is behind you and you sigh because you’re a little sad; but then, you start to notice the plethora of trees and cool rock formations around you. If you’re me, that sadness eases away and you’re left with the cold crisp taste of the freshest air you’ve ever breathed still in your mouth and the memory of fresh powder clinging to your cheeks. And you look at the amazing forest you find yourself driving through and you think to yourself, “You know this is pretty great.”