As co-founder of the Winter Speaker Series, Dave Nettle has been cultivating mountain community in North Lake Tahoe through his compelling tales of adventure for well over thirty years. Filled with his signature humor, his show “Big Fun in Little Switzerland,” will take us on his adventures of climbing classic long rock routes and ski touring the Pika Glacier, a spectacular land of rock and ice, surrounded by dramatic alpine peaks and rock spires, inspiring the name “Little Switzerland.” For decades, the glacier has been sought after by climbers and skiers for its remote feel while just a short ski plane flight from the town of Talkeetna.
In a classic case of a far-fetched idea sounding good while comfortably sitting at home with a map, Andrew and Dave decide to ‘supersize’ their mountaineering expedition by skipping the ski plane flight out at the end of their trip. Instead, they travel overland back to Talkeetna hiking across glaciers and moraines and bushwhacking through Grizzly bear and mosquito country for two days then floating 65 miles of wild, glacial rivers back to town in pack rafts adding a full Alaskan style finish to their adventure. Proceeds from Dave Nettle’s show will benefit the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science.
The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) is a member-supported nonprofit organization seeking to advance the natural history, conservation, and ecosystem knowledge of the Tahoe region through science, education, and outreach. Since 2010, TINS has promoted stewardship of the Tahoe region, bringing a deeper understanding and appreciation of the region’s natural resources to children, adults, and land managers.
The Donor Party, the anonymous philanthropic arm of the Winter Speaker Series, will supplement the funds raised.
For the 16th annual season, we are excited to welcome the community back to in-person shows at Olympic Village Lodge, but only in a limited capacity with Covid-19 safety precautions in place. Proof of vaccination, valid identification and masks are required for entry, without exception. There will be limited capacity (350 total) seating so please arrive early. We, just like you, are DYING to gather again as a community. Accordingly, while we will still have our massive giveaway for each show, we will NOT be conducting it in-person for Covid safety reason. All giveaway tickets must be purchased online (NOT in-person) and winners will be notified after the event. We realize this isn’t perfect but gathering will be SUCH a win … and hopefully we’ll get back to our traditional model next fall. For those who cannot make the shows at Palisades Tahoe, we will continue to present each show in a virtual capacity