What) Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. At a surface elevation of 6,225 ft (1,897 m), it is located along the border between California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is 1,645 feet (501 metres) making it America's second-deepest. The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides. (1)

    Why) My initial route to Lake Tahoe called for a trip through Washoe Valley, Nevada to see the Giant Prospector Statue (2) at the candy factory before driving around the South shore of the lake.  However, a friendly bridge player in Reno convinced me to take the Mt. Rose Highway (431) to Incline Village and around the North shore of the lake.  I missed a Buckys but the views were beautiful so it was probably an even trade.