Question
Hi
I'm looking for a shade tolerant climbing rose that will grow in South Lake Tahoe, California. It will get 2-3 hours of sun April-November. It will have to put up with cold temperatures, lots of snow (though it would be somewhat protected by the front of the house, where I would like to grow it) and frost almost any time of year. Is there such a thing?

Answer
I wish that I could be more positive and suggest a climbing rose which would tolerate 2 to 3 hours of sunshine. Roses do need a minimum of 4 hours of full sun on them. You can grow a rose in shade but it will be frail, get diseases and even if it does bloom, the flowers will not be double or even look like they should. The classification that will do the best for you will be the Hybrid Musks. If they are not pruned they should grow like a climber in your climate. Here is my website that has photos of the Hybrid Musks for you to select from.
http://www.theoldrosarian.com