Reno Warnings Or Dangers

Although located on a desert and seeming flat plain, Reno is located at a relatively high elevation of nearly 5,000 feet above sea level. It is also a 24 hour town with alcohol often flowing freely. Some people do experience some unexpected respiratory and other health issues caused by combining the high elevation with lack of sleep and over consumption of spirited beverages and literally pass out in the casinos. Elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions are more prone to experience difficulty due to the altitude.

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1. Prostitution is NOT LEGAL in Reno or in Washoe County where Reno lies. Any solicitation will result in an arrest. Prostitution IS LEGAL in Storey County which lies about 10 miles east of Reno south of Interstate 80.

2. Drinks may be free in the casinos but can cost you a lot if you drive later. There is an old saying "Come to Nevada on vacation, go home on probation". It may be extreme and not absolutely accurate, but DWI or DUI or drunk driving has a zero tolerance in Nevada and there are plenty of well-trained law enforcement officers looking for drunk drivers 24 hours a day since Reno is a 24 hour city.

3. Reno and Lake Tahoe are at high elevations. Reno's altitude is about 4,500 feet above sea level on the valley floor and Lake Tahoe's rim is about 6,500 feet above sea level. This can cause several problems: exposure to the sun can result in quick, severe sunburns; the air is thin and therefore some infirmed people might get caught short-winded or dizzy; and the air humidity is ususally dry at about 15-20% so it is easy not to notice that you are perspiring but still easy to become dehyrated. In addition, Reno may seem to be in the desert, daily temperatures in the summer can range from the 100's F in the day to the 30's F at night and in winter, the highs can be in in the 30's F and lows in the teens F.

On the same note, when driving, be aware of the mountain road conditions that can be hazardous from drop-offs, to black-ice roads, and drivers crossing over double yellow lines when rounding corners.

Reno has a higher than average crime rate. You could easily have your stereo (and more) stolen from your car if it is in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are lots of vagrants along the Truckee River (running through town) as the weather warms up. After dark it is probably not too safe in some areas. Not that it is unsafe to walk the streets but it deserves more caution and smarts to not be a victim (of theft, in particular.)
FYI: I was in Reno for almost a month and stayed near Keystone Avenue at the Truckee. I was given this advice by my female friend and property owner who lived near Idlewild Park, which is a nice park, along the Truckee. You may be approached by vagrants and panhandlers.....during the day. Particularly if I were a woman, I would not walk along the river after dark.

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Besides needing to bring your own supply of water, make sure you have a dusk mask and eye googles with you at all times in the event of a dust storm. Sometimes they come out of nowhere and you could get caught in a white out. Also, the desert is hot during the day, but very cold at night. So pack clothing to cover both.

Read the Burning Man Survival Guide http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/

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I just thought I'd warn people from out of the United States (or not familiar with deserts) about the snakes in Nevada.
Rattlesnakes (poisonous!) are sometimes found in less than favorable places. Examples are: right outside your car door, under your bed, or in the toilet. YES, the toilet.
Although it's less of a problem in the cities, of course, it is still something to watch out for. be careful when hiking, rock climbing, or treasure hunting. :-) They like to hide in little pockets between rocks, and under the brush.
Other tips: check your bed before crawling in. IT HAS HAPPENED to my family. =( Also, look on the ground before stepping out of your car, and don't just sit down on the toilets...the little buggars come up through the pipes or something. (This has also happened!).
Just watch where you walk, and everything will be fine. =) Good luck!

Here it is warm and a week into April and a sudden storm made it chain requirements up I-80 through Donner Summit. Same day I was out taking pictures of spring blooms. A few hours after that, 2 inches of snow on my truck.

Shovel out your truck before you go driving around. We got a lot of snow in January 2005. I saw all kinds of people trying to drive around with snow in the back of their trucks. I saw a lot of traffic accidents too. The added weight wasn't probably all that beneficial since it could slide around and provide some added momentum for trucks to lose control going around corners. Sure enough, that was the main problem I saw.

I guess people didn't think about it. Anyway... because I didn't want to scratch my truck met, I took a few runs up this hill with the tailgate open and it all came sliding out.

Most of the hotels, especially the "budget" ones charge extremely high rates during summer and other special events. Any hotel right off the freeway will charge a lot. The same room that goes for $30 in winter goes for $70 in the summer and $120 during special events. In addtional, any price advertised is always for a single so factor that into your planing. Casinos are a pretty good bet if you can book in advance. They are much cheaper and usually give you better perks (coupon books, breakfast, etc).