A cool film by Tahoe photographer/videographer Corey Rich

Click here to view the embedded video.

-M

We use to ski at Sierra Summit near Huntington Lake out of Fresno, CA. It was once and is again called China Peak, after the highest point on the resort. At the time they had a bunch of these cheesy info signs on the (fixed grip)  lift towers like:

It can be sunny in the mountains when it’s cloudy in the valley!

and

Man made snow is real snow, it’s just mand made!

We always thought that was pretty funny to the point that we, my sisters and I, to this day spout that out at the least provocation. It’s just so obvious!

I mention this of course because man made snow is now the dominant force in Tahoe Skiing. Heavenly, Northstar and some others have been open for a few weeks hauling skiers and riders up for rip up the man made corduroy. Friday Mt. Rose is opening up a ribbon of anthropogenic crystal from top to bottom. Just the Northwest trail to Kit Carson. Unless a fad bastard dump comes through, The Chutes will not be open.

NowI don’t get that excited about man made snow, not cause it’s not fun skiing, it is, but because it traps all the skiers in the run and doesn’t give you and fun of trail stuff. Still, skiing is skiing. So I’ll shred Friday @ Rose.

Maybe we could do a biathlon on Saturday and shred Rose, then do the Dry Pond Loop on the way home!

-M

national trails day

Originally uploaded by i am indisposed

*This just in from the Poedunks: *

Join us as we partner with the Nevada Conservation Corp and Washoe County
Parks on National Trails Day. Should be a nice day in the trees, something
we are not used to on Peavine! Send an email to Matt Miller below to sign up
and hope to see you there.
**
*National Trails Day 2008*
*What: Trail Walk and Construction
When: Saturday June 7, 2008
Where: Galena Creek Park, off Mount Rose Highway.
Time: 9 am – 2 pm
Other: Contact Matt Miller to register or just come!
(775) 784 -3504
**mmiller(at)thegreatbasininstitute.org*

*FREE Lunch with Beverages
Chance to win Raffle Prizes from sponsors

*Come celebrate the 16th annual National Trails Day on June 7th by helping
build and maintain a trail in our own backyard. The trail is in Galena Creek
Park, just south of Reno off of Mt. Rose Highway. Volunteers will be
assisting with trail construction for an interpretive trail that will
connect the new Visitor Center to the Jones-White’s Loop and a historic
site.

The Nevada Conservation Corps will give instruction on trail building, no
prior experience is necessary!
All ages are encouraged to attend, bring the family!
Meet at 9:00 am at the trailhead, North (first) entrance to Galena park,
near the restrooms.
Lunch will be provided.

*Coordinated by: The Great Basin Institute, The Poedunks, and Washoe
County.
Donations

Yesterday Nooner, Bustigator, The Restless Ape, Aron, Juni and I found a new trail out in Sparks thanks to a tip from my buddy Martin. It was RAD!

It starts off a dirt road behind the new softball fields near Red Cock Gold Course. Follow the pink BLM access signs for now. It starts with a cool singletrack, then climbs about 900 feet over really short distance. It’s a lung buster for sure but most of the switchbacks are really well built and fully ridable.

We ran into one of the builders @ the top. Thanks man!!!

The trail loops around from the top there by the chicken sign. Suggest going right for the loop. There is some seriously technical stuff on the back side. Steep, loose, tight, rocky and super fun! About 10 miles all together.

There was some fall-line trail on the back side and some in-sloped sections with no drainage, but it looks like these guys are out there working fairly frequently and are on top of it. Great trail. Lots of potential. I’d like to see it go all the way south to I-80…

Also: check out all the new trail work being done over on Peavine!!!

-M