A week in the mountains can make you appreciate the simpler things in life. A good book, a warm seat by the fire and hot buttered rum is all you need. Good company doesn’t hurt either! Jay and I spent a week in Donner Lake, Truckee, Calif., to mainly ski, but we also got to explore the surrounding areas. Here are some of my favorite photos from our trip. We flew into Reno, Nev., and drove into California. Charming historic downtown Truckee. Truckee is famous for the Donner Party ordeal. After a ski day, we drove to Commons Beach Park in Tahoe City. This was our first look at Lake Tahoe up close. She’s a beauty! Skipping rocks. Pristine. Lake Tahoe is 1,645 ft deep and has a surface elevation of 6,225 feet. Sunset on Donner Lake – worth the treacherous icy steps that Eve and I put ourselves through to get to the dock. More to come!