The Nevada City Council last week moved forward on a trail project that will run from Highway 49 to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, approving an initial environmental study and mitigated negative declaration for the project proposed by the Bear Yuba Land Trust.
Land trust officials said this week they now can move forward with permitting and seeking grant funding, noting they hope to complete a portion of the trail by next fall.
City Planner Amy Wolfson said once a trail alignment and initial study are approved, the Bear Yuba Land Trust would be able to make the final drawings for the trail construction.

“We’re very excited to be at this step,” said Erin Tarr of the land trust. “This will be a great amenity for the community.”
Reached Tuesday, Tarr said now that the California Environmental Quality Act study is complete, the land trust will start working on getting several permits — specifically, from Caltrans for roadway encroachment and from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for a streambed alteration.
Meanwhile, Tarr said, the nonprofit will seek grant funding for trail construction.
“We need to get at least the lower portion of the trail done by September 2020, or our easements will expire,” she said.
THE TRAIL
Nevada City acquired the 35-acre Sugarloaf property in January 2011 from the Mull family for $450,000. It formally annexed the land in 2017. That same year the city approved the conceptual trail alignment and since then city and land trust staff have been working with consultants to prepare studies, including one for geotechnical engineering feasibility, as well as a cultural resource survey and a biological inventory.
In April the City Council received an update and approved the draft initial study, with a public comment period ending Aug. 2. One comment was received regarding an area of trail on potentially unstable soil. The city previously received a comment expressing concern about trail parking impacting downtown neighborhoods.
The goal of the trail project is to connect downtown Nevada City to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, according to the staff report. The trail route will be approximately one mile in length, will start at the corner of Highway 49 and North Bloomfield Road, and end at a point along an existing gravel access road that goes to the top of Sugarloaf from an entrance on upper Coyote Street.
The new trail also will connect to an existing graveled excavated area that will be improved to accommodate trail parking for approximately eight vehicles. The parking area will connect via an existing informal, user-created trail, which will be minimally improved — including brush clearing and tread improvement for drainage and loose rock removal. The proposed trail also connects to Hirschman Trail and Tobiassen Park via a recently established county trail that runs west from North Bloomfield Road to the Eric Rood Administrative Center.
During the Aug. 28 council meeting Wolfson noted the land trust is working with the county to use some parking at the Eric Rood Administrative Center after work hours.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in The Union newspaper

To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, email lizk@theunion.com or call 530-477-4236.

The North Tahoe Public Utility District recently completed several key projects, with additional improvements planned, for North Tahoe Regional Park.
This project included the restoration of the upper parking lot and development and construction of a multi-use regional trailhead, which will be part of the North Tahoe Trail being developed and constructed by Placer County, according to a press release.
Asphalt reconstruction and restriping for 62 parking spaces and permanent stormwater BMP’s for the parking lot were completed. This project also constructed paved ADA/multi-use access paths to Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park, tennis courts and the Tahoe Unleashed dog park.
Additional improvements to be installed this fall will include bike repair stations, a bike locker, and racks, and a bike wash station. These projects are funded by grants and funding from Placer County and a partnership with the Truckee Tahoe Airport District. This project also included reconstruction of the gazebo by the tennis courts that was destroyed due to heavy snowstorms in winter 2017.
Placer County recently announcing a contract for preliminary design and environmental review for 1.7 miles linking the North Tahoe Regional Park with Carnelian Bay Avenue. The proposed trail alignment will use existing public trail easements and public land parcels from the U.S. Forest Service and California Tahoe Conservancy. No private property easements are expected to be needed to complete the project.
Community feedback opportunities on the trail alignment are anticipated to take place in spring 2020.

CICK HERE to see the original article and photos in the Tahoe Weekly newspaper.

The new stretch of Donner Lake Rim Trail, connecting from the view point above Johnson Canyon just off the Glacier Way Trailhead down to Northwoods Boulevard, is officially open for business, and is a great hike, run or ride for folks looking to try out something new.
Most people will enjoy starting on the Northwoods Boulevard side and heading uphill. Park at the Trout Creek Trail parking on the east side of Northwoods, and then cross back over the road to find the trail. From here, the trail quickly leaves the neighborhood and enters into a mixed conifer forest with large cedar trees, skirting around massive granite boulders left behind by glaciers.
After two miles the trail opens up to dramatic views of Donner Lake and across to the Sierra Crest. While many hikers may already be familiar with the great views of Donner Lake on existing stretches of the trail, the new section offers unique perspectives few have seen before.
As the trail continues to climb the wildflowers start to really pop when conditions are right, with forget-me-nots, mules ear, and even some Washington lilies spotted this summer.
Eventually, the trail links to the view point above Johnson Canyon where there’s a picnic table, and the existing trail continues up toward the Drifter Hut and beyond.
The new section of trail is about 5.5 miles one way, gaining about 1,200 feet of elevation on its way from east to west.

How to get there:
From Donner Pass Road go up Northwoods Boulevard, looking for the Trout Creek Trail parking area on the right (shortly after passing Lamplighter Way on the left). Park in the trailhead parking area, then cross back over Northwoods Boulevard to find the Donner Lake Rim Trail trailhead.

CLICK HERE for the original article in the Truckee Donner Land Trust News

When you’re out in the wild and need to call for help, don’t be surprised if your cellphone reads “No Service.”
Losing your cell signal while outdoors can be annoying — but if you’re out riding or camping your cellphone signal can mean the difference between life and death. Injuries, being lost, and any other number of hazards can mean we need to call for help — but if there’s no signal to carry your message, then what do you do?

​(This article from The Trailmeister)
Unlike the phone you use every day, GPS communicators don’t need a cell signal to work. Instead, they use the network of satellites constantly orbiting overhead. Not only can they be used to track your position, but they can also be used to send and receive packages of data. We’re talking around 140 characters, like in the early days of text messaging. That may not sound like much, but it’s enough to tell your loved ones where you are (or that you’re delayed), receive medical advice, and even download an up-to-date weather report. They can also contact search and rescue virtually anywhere if the world if the sh@t really hits the fan.

I tested the three most promising satellite messengers from SatPaq, SPOT, and Garmin. I won’t sugarcoat it: none of these tools are perfect. That being said all of them could save your life when the trail gets rocky.

Each of these devices have a number of basic functions in common. When activated, all of them let you do the following in areas without cellphone reception:

• In case of a non-life-threatening emergency, alert your personal contacts that you need help
• In case of a life-threatening emergency, activate an SOS button that directly notifies emergency responders of your distress signal, as well as your GPS coordinates
• Send text-based messages to your personal contacts
• Create shareable online maps of your adventure so others can follow along in (near) real time
• Track your journey

1. SatPaq
A clip on antenna that turns your smartphone into a satellite communicator

• PRO: Inexpensive to purchase and to use. Takes advantage to the phone that’s already in your pocket.
• CON: Needs your cell phone
• PRICE: $250
• COST OF OWNERSHIP: .29 to .40 per message

NIFTY FACT: The SatPaq communicates through Geostationary (GEO) satellites when there is no cell or WiFi coverage. GEO satellites don’t move relative to your position on earth so they’re always in view and your communications can happen right away.
Horse and mule riders like to get off the beaten path – We long for  the backwoods, and back country refuges of isolation where (hopefully) you won’t see people for days. The problem is when you’re this far in the backcountry, you’re also well out of cell coverage which can make a bad situation much worse if there’s ever a serious injury or illness. You won’t have to worry about that potential worst-case scenario if you’re carrying a SatPaq.
The SatPaq from Higher Ground is a lightweight device that easily clips to your smartphone and connects wirelessly using Bluetooth to communicate through satellites when there is no cell coverage. SatPaq’s SpaceLinq free app allows you to send and receive messages, get instant weather forecasts, share your location, and get help in emergencies – all without having to pay monthly service fees.
SatPaq also features an Artificial Intelligence medical service to answer first aid questions and an SOS service for emergencies. It’s iPhone and Android compatible and can hold a charge for 4-5 months in storage. SatPaq is also only 4 ounces — that’s less than my iPhone!
SatPaq eliminates the monthly fees associated with other satellite messengers through the purchase of message credits called MessagePaqs that allow you to use the service whenever you need. These message credits holdover until you use them.
If you spend time exploring away from cell phone coverage, the SatPaq is a very attractive piece of gear!
For more info – https://satpaq.com

2. SPOT X
A rugged communications device that will send texts independently, without a linked smartphone.

• PRO: QWERTY keyboard and a built-in digital compass
• CON: Keyboard has tiny hard to use buttons. Cannot pair with a phone. Does not support maps
• PRICE: $250
• COST OF OWNERSHIP: $164 – $380 per year

NIFTY FACT: The SPOT X is the company’s first device with two-way satellite messaging.
The SPOT X is a stand-alone two-way satellite messaging device. The other devices we tested allow for two-way, customized messaging, but they require a smartphone for easy typing. The SPOT’s built-in QWERTY keyboard makes it stand out. You compromise nothing by using the X on its own. In fact, you couldn’t link it with your smartphone even if you wanted to.
The Spot X can send and receive text messages and short emails. This makes it fundamentally different than SPOTS’s other devices such as the Gen3, which can only send messages. Messages can be predefined, custom, or even posted to social media to keep all of your peeps in the know. Each Spot X unit is assigned a personal U.S. mobile number, which makes sending messages to the device easy. The process of sending messages to the other devices we tested is less straightforward.
The Battery life of the SPOT X far surpasses that of the Garmin InReach; going twice as long (10 days) before a recharge is required.
Along with sending and receiving messages the SPOT X can also track your location at regular intervals; send SOS messages directly to the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center; and function as a rudimentary navigation device with a built in compass and the ability to set waypoints.
The SPOT X is a solid backcountry communications option, so long as you can accept the keyboard and lack of mapping capabilities.
For more info  – https://www.findmespot.com/spotx/lander.php

3. Garmin inReach
SMS devices allow users to communicate via text message to friends, family and rescue operators at a fraction of the price of regular satellite phones. These tools also allow for continuous tracking so that contacts back home can follow along with your journey.

• PRO: Reliable, Rugged, Accurate, Preloaded topographic maps
• CON: Unit is bulky, heavy, expensive
• PRICE:$300 – $450
• COST OF OWNERSHIP:$180 to $1,200 per year

NIFTY FACT: There are two flavors of Garmin inReach the Explorer+ and the SE+. The Explorer adds topo maps, a built-in digital compass, barometric altimeter, and accelerometer.
The Garmin inReach Explorer+ is a significant investment: it’s $450 for the device; service plans and insurance coverage add more to the cost. But what’s the price of safety and peace of mind? If I got into trouble, the inReach can help me get out. And for friends and loved ones, the ability to communicate with me while I’m in the back country is invaluable.
Rugged and ready, InReach devices use the iridium satellite network of 66 low orbit satellites offering 100% coverage worldwide to help ensure your messages are received.
Both versions of the inReach excel at messaging, as long as you set your expectations appropriately. Satellite communications, no matter the network or the technology employed, have inherent limitations. Sometimes you’ll have to wait a few minutes for satellites to pass overhead and send and receive the messages.
The simplest way to send messages with the inReach is through the Garmin EarthMate smartphone app. On the app, it’s easy to add your contacts and then send and receive a big batch of messages. Pre-programmed messages make it much easier to send quick updates, so you don’t have to type the same message multiple times. Without the phone app composing messages is a painfully slow process of ticking off characters on the inReach keypad.
For more info – – https://explore.garmin.com/en-US/inreach/

The Bottom Line: Which Satellite Messenger Should I Pick?
Your answer will depend on your unique needs. Here are the main questions that I consider before choosing a device.

• What are your biggest priorities? Easy, quick messaging? Battery life? Cost savings? Compact size and weight? Navigational tools?
• Do you plan to also carry a smartphone and use it in conjunction with your satellite messenger, or do you want a standalone device?

Beyond the classic 10 essentials, modern SOS devices provide a greater increase in your overall outdoor safety than most other gear available. They offer peace of mind to your loved ones, and two-way communication with search and rescue teams and medical professionals. Simply put, you should buy one, learn to use it and show your riding partners how to use as well, and bring it with you on every wilderness adventure.

CLICK HERE for complete article and photos in The Trailmeister.

It’s time! Last winter’s abundance of snow has finally retreated, and the high country is exploding with color. Now is the time to head off on your favorite wildflower hike. You will beat the heat and experience a visual feast that is unequalled at any other time of year. Now is the time to escape the heat and enjoy the beauty. However, don’t wait too long, or the peak wildflower-viewing season will pass. Happy hiking!​

1. Carson Pass to Lake Winnemucca
It’s a favorite of many hikers. Along the 2.5-mile hike, you will pass through an abundance of wildflowers, especially during the last ½ mile. At that point, there’s an area where the flowers are chest high, offering a seemingly unlimited variety.
This trail takes off at the Carson Pass Station and goes by beautiful Frog Lake on the way. The lake is only 200 feet or so off the trail and makes a scenic stop.
Directions:  Carson Pass
Directions:  Lake Winnemucca

2. Woods Lake to Lake Winnemucca
The 1.7-mile trail starts at the Woods Lake Trailhead about one mile off Highway 88. After you travel through a beautiful wooded area, the trail climbs and takes you past a hillside that is covered with an abundance and variety of flowers.
Directions: Woods Lake Trailhead

3. Meiss Meadows Trail
The trailhead is located on the north side of Highway 88 about ½ mile before Carson Pass. A roughly 2.5-mile hike takes you into Meiss Meadows, which is a large, lush meadow area teeming with wildflowers.
Directions: Meiss Meadows Trail

3. Schneider Camp to Meiss Meadows Trail
This hike is for folks with a little more adventurous nature and a four-wheel drive vehicle, since the road to the trailhead is unpaved. To get to the trailhead traveling east on Highway 88, you will turn left at the Cal Trans Maintenance Station about ½ mile past the second Caples Lake Dam. Follow the road through the station, and continue to the trailhead. The 1.0-mile trail to Meiss Ridge takes hikers through a basin filled with wildflowers.
Directions: Schneider Camp

Now is the time to escape the heat and enjoy the beauty. However, don’t wait too long, or the peak wildflower-viewing season will pass. Happy hiking!

To see the original article and more photos in Sacramento Valley magazine CLICK HERE.

Dr. Annie Gareau, one of the co-authors of a 2012 study on the Epidemiology of Mountain Bike Park Injuries at the Whistler Bike Park, and an emergency room specialist at the Whistler Health Centre was quoted as saying, " A general rule of thumb is that one in 1,000 skiers are injured, one in 100 snowboarders, and one in 10 downhill cyclists."

Time for mountain bikers to take a page from snowsports.
--by Andru McCracken, The Rocky Mountain Goat newspaper

Last week we learned that a woman broke her spine during Valemount's
Annual Bikefest. She survived, but she and her family are still
waiting to see the extent of the injuries at a hospital in Edmonton.
The Rocky Mountain Goat wishes her a full and speedy recovery.

It was a traumatic, life changing event and naturally the woman and
her family didn't want to become headlines. This makes a ton of sense
to me. The woman's identity should be protected.

I am a proponent, however, of talking openly about the events that
lead crashes, even if it's anonymously.

It's time to create a place where riders can publish an anonymized
serious injury report.

Accidents happen. There's no need to downplay them. If you think that
accidents aren't a part of mountain biking, you're either from some
gravity-free planet or you are in denial. Dr. Annie Gareau, one of
the co-authors of a 2012 study on the Epidemiology of Mountain Bike
Park Injuries at the Whistler Bike Park, and an emergency room
specialist at the Whistler Health Centre was quoted as saying a
general rule of thumb is that one in 1,000 skiers are injured, one in
100 snowboarders, and one in 10 downhill cyclists.

That said, those of us who ride accept the risks. Hit by a tree in a
windstorm? Thrown off the bike after crashing into the same tree?
This isn't a ball pit at a theme park. It's a mountain. If you lost
your nerve on a steep section and hit the front brakes and ended up
in a patch of stinging nettle with a broken clavicle, it's on you.
The responsibility at Valemount Bike Park lies with the rider.

This isn't about laying blame. This is about building a culture of
smart safe riding. It's about getting better and sharing what went
wrong, so the next person doesn't find themselves in the exact same
circumstance with the exact same consequences.

The potential value in this is echoed by the work of the local health
clinic. They have shared injury patterns with trail maintainers to
great effect, causing changes in trail layout and designations.

When there are really serious injuries a different kind of report
needs to be made: A report from the injured. What trail was it on?
What was the feature? Your skill level? The number of times you've
ridden the park and that trail in particular? What led up to the
crash? What would have helped?

Valemount is good at this already. Snowmobiling and backcountry
skiing are high risk sports, and the risk of avalanches is
notoriously easy to underestimate and hard to predict but proponents
of the sport have been making mad progress.  The latest move is for
recreationalists to submit mountain condition reports to the
Avalanche Canada website. People share how much new snow there is,
signs of instability or avalanche activity. It doesn't prevent
avalanche injuries or fatalities altogether, but it ups everybody's
game and raises awareness.

Valemount Bike Park could be a safer place, but the onus here isn't
on the trail maintainers, or the doctors at the clinic. The people
with power to help are an unlikely and unlucky crew: the injured.

It's a pretty inglorious task: How I flubbed it and why. But in the
future, I hope one of the first things we think of when we're flying
through the air all akimbo is, "What I am I going to include in my report?"

With any luck it will save some lucky soul no small amount of grief.

To read this original article in Rocky Mountain Goat CLICK HERE.

To read Dr. Garuau's report CLICK HERE.

​Placer Land Trust has purchased and permanently protected the 46-acre Southern Cross Preserve on the North Fork American River north of Foresthill. The purchase was funded by Placer Land Trust members through the 2017 Placer Conservator Auction, the Emigrant Trails Greenway Trust, and a 50% bargain sale from the landowner.
 
The wooded canyon land Preserve includes several hundred feet of federally-designated Wild & Scenic river frontage, and a section of the public Euchre Bar Trail. The property is nestled within the Tahoe National Forest, connecting federal US Forest Service lands and other nearby Placer Land Trust Preserves to create a larger area of protected wilderness. 
   
"The acquisition of the property is a great addition to the Placer Land Trust portfolio," says Ron Gould, representative of the North Fork American River Alliance, member of Placer Land Trust, and North Fork American River aficionado. "The Southern Cross Preserve is located in one of the most scenic sections of the North Fork canyon, where the river drops from pool to pool, providing many recreational opportunities. The acquisition of the property not only provides protection for the North Fork American River Wild & Scenic River, but also helps to preserve the mining artifacts and rich history of the property and surrounding area for future generations to enjoy."

To read the complete story and see more photos CLICK HERE to see Placer Land Trust Newsletter.

Jun 24, 2019
Nearly a third of elite enduro mountain bike racers finished their races after sustaining a concussion in competition, according to a newly released enduro mountain bike medical study funded by EWS and completed by Edinburgh Napier University of more than 2,000 EWS racers from 46 countries from 10 EWS events.
 
A quarter of amateur riders continue riding immediately after sustaining a concussion, according to the second part of the study, which surveyed more than 3,000 amateur level, enduro-oriented mountain bike riders.   Delaying treatment can prolong recovery by 10 days. New concussion protocol help you get back on the bike sooner post injury and can shorten full recovery time.

It’s time for a pop quiz.

You’re out there in full enduro mode, ripping
down the gnarliest run of the day, feeling the
flow, when suddenly your front wheel washes out,
sending you over the bars and into the dirt like
a human javelin. You get up, a little woozy and
unsure of what just happened. What do you do next?

A: Make like Taylor Swift, Shake It Off, and jump
back on your bike and finish the run.

B: Take a moment to let the fog clear; check your
bike, and then saddle up and let it rip.

C: Give yourself a few minutes to assess yourself
and your bike. Then walk/cruise it out, getting
off for any steep, technical stuff so you can get
out safely and get checked out as soon as possible.
D: Count back from 20 and make sure you know what
day it is. If successful, hop back on and shred away.

You picked C, right? Seems like a no brainer (pun
fully intended), but way too many people are
actually picking those other choices instead.
According to the largest ever medical review on
the sport of mountain biking, which included more
than 2,000 Enduro World Series (EWS) racers,
nearly one third said they went ahead and
finished their race immediately after being
concussed, and 43 percent of the racers said they
took ZERO TIME OFF the bike after a concussion.


The survey, which also
polled more than 3,000 amateur level enduro
riders, found that lots of mountain bikers of
every level blow off their brain injuries even
when they’re just out there riding for fun.

Specifically, the report, which was funded by EWS
and conducted by Edinburgh Napier University,
found 25 percent of recreational mountain bikers
out of 3,000 surveyed (1,941 who completed the
entire survey) kept riding right after sustaining
a concussion. Sixty-three percent didn’t follow
any safety protocol before getting back on their
bike in the days and weeks that followed a brain injury.

As one would expect, the study revealed injuries
of all sorts, including many of the usual broken
collarbones and bashed shins. But the concussion
statistics, in particular, are what caught the attention of the researchers.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Concussion

Concussion
was still the third most common injury in the
amateur mountain bikers. Though women only accounted for 10
percent of the surveyed population, they
sustained three times as many concussions as
their male counterparts. (Women appear to be at
higher risk in all sports; researchers are
investigating the why.) Almost half of riders who
reported a concussion also said they have had
significant recurrences of concussion injury.


This prompted the researchers to call for
better concussion education and more rigorous
concussion safety protocols at events. Despite
news reports, magazine features, and even movies
being made about the dangers of traumatic brain
injuries, it’s clear too many people still don’t take concussion seriously.

“It’s a problem across all sports and
recreational activities,” said athletic trainer
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod, Ph.D., a writer on the
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA)
Position Statement on the Management of
Sport-Related Concussion. “People don’t recognize
and understand all the symptoms of concussion,
and if they do, there are other factors-like
riders not wanting to lose fitness-that lead them
to avoid getting checked out.”

While every concussion is different, there are
some telltale signs to watch out for. These
include: headache; loss of consciousness;
amnesia; foggy headedness; nausea; rapid and/or
severe mood swings; unsteadiness; slowed reaction
times; irritability; and drowsiness.

But here’s the thing McLeod wants everyone to
know: Head injuries no longer mean riding the
La-Z-Boy for weeks on end while your brain mends.
The 2017 Concussion in Sport Group consensus
statement overturned the long-standing notion
that you needed complete rest to recover from a
concussion. Instead, the report, recommends 24 to
48 hours of rest and then gradually becoming more active as symptoms subside.

“That means under the direction of a health care
provider, you could be doing 20 minutes of riding
and then some other exercises on the first day,
and ultimately get back to safe, unrestricted
riding sooner than someone who doesn’t seek
medical help right away and just pushes through,” McLeod said.

One study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that
adolescents who followed this type of active
protocol postconcussion recovered in 13 days
compared to 17 days for teens who did no aerobic
exercise during their recovery.

“There’s recent evidence that if you delay
seeking treatment for concussion, you take up to
10 days longer to recover,” McLeod said. “It’s
like taking one little step forward and five steps back.”

 - by SELENE YEAGER
Selene Yeager is a
top-selling professional health and fitness
writer who lives what she writes as a NASM
certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified
coach, pro licensed mountain bike racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.

CLICK HERE to see articles from Bicycling.com and HERE from Singletracks

After a six-month winter, Tioga Road will open Friday on a limited basis with access to the high country of Yosemite National Park. The Lassen Park Highway will open Saturday afternoon. Full operations at Echo Lake near Tahoe, Caples Lake near Carson Pass, and a dozen campgrounds in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area also will commence this weekend.
Two weeks from Fourth of July weekend, summer finally is arriving to the flank of the Sierra Nevada. Hot sun in the past 10 days has melted snow across millions of acres of national forest up to about 7,500-foot elevations in California’s mountain country. That is allowing rangers to open roads and trails for camping, hiking and boating at hundreds of small lakes and streams.
At the same time, many high-country wilderness areas remain inaccessible. Snow depths higher than 10 feet this week include at the Pacific Crest Trail above 9,500-foot Leavitt Lake near Sonora Pass, at 7,707-foot Grouse Ridge in the Bowman Lakes Recreation Area north of Tahoe, and at the 8,500-foot staging area for the trailhead for Lassen Peak.
Here are the latest tips for summer trips across the Sierra:
Tahoe Basin
Echo Lakes/Desolation: Echo Lakes finally became ice-free last weekend. The water level topped off this week and patchy snow continues circling the lake. The hiker’s boat taxi started this week and the Echo Chalet expects to open all operations by the weekend. The Pacific Crest Trail is snow-covered into Desolation Wilderness as far as Aloha Lake, but some ambitious hikers with crampons and ski poles are making the trek, anyway. Contact: Echo Chalet, 530-659-7207, www.echochalet.com.
D.L. Bliss/Emerald Bay: Eagle Point Campground opened for last weekend, joining the recent openers at D.L. Bliss State Park and the boat-in sites at Emerald Bay. In the vicinity of the shore of Lake Tahoe, all Forest Service campgrounds are open. In the surrounding higher terrain, you hit snow at 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Contact: D.L. Bliss State Park, 530-525-9529, www.parks.ca.gov; Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 530-543-2600, www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu.

North Sierra
Lakes Basin Recreation Area: In the Lakes Basin (also called “The Gold Lakes”), campgrounds opening Friday include Packsaddle, Berger and Diablo. That means all the campgrounds at Gold, Sardine, Goose, Packer and Haven lakes will be open for the weekend. The road to the trailhead to the Sierra Buttes is clear, but the trail is buried by snow, with no projections when it will become passable. Contact: Yuba River Ranger District North, 530-288-3231, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe; Beckwourth Ranger District, 530-836-2575, www.fs.usda.gov/plumas.
Carson Pass Lakes, Highway 88: Caples Lake (7,800 feet) became ice-free Monday, with immediate good fishing for big trout, and Caples Lake Resort will be open this weekend for lodging and boat rentals. Nearby on Highway 88, campgrounds are scheduled to open next Thursday at Silver, Kirkwood and Woods lakes (the last could be delayed by snow on the access road). Contact: Caples Lake Resort, 209-258-8888, www.capleslakeresort.com; Eldorado National Forest, Amador Ranger District, 209-295-4251, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.
Bowman Lakes Recreation Area: When you drive in on Bowman Road/Forest Road 20, the road is clear for 4 miles to Fuller Lake and beyond another 4 miles to the turnoff for Carr, Feeley and Lindsey Lakes. You turn right, and 2 miles in, become blocked by snow. It’s 50-50 if this route will clear by the Fourth of July. Nearby, the route to 7,707-foot Grouse Ridge, with 12 feet of snow measured at the lookout, is not even on the radar. Contact: Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District South, 530-265-4531, www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe.
Independence Lake, Truckee: The snow depth was measured at 84 inches here this week. Contact: The Nature Conservancy, Nevada Field Office, 775-322-4990, www.nature.org.

Central Sierra
Yosemite National Park: Tioga Road will open Friday with limited hours, 10-11 a.m., and then in the afternoon, 3-4 p.m. Snow-clearing operations are continuing on shoulders, parking areas and visitor facilities, rangers said, and during the process, no parking on Tioga Road will be allowed. Tioga Road/Highway 120 spans from Crane Flat up to Tuolumne Meadows and beyond over 9,943-foot Tioga Pass. Many high-country areas above 8,000 feet still have several feet of snow, creeks are high and meadows are flooded. Rangers predict snow-covered trails well into July, and in some high-country areas with little sun exposure, into August. For camping along Tioga Road, there are no tentative opening dates for Tuolumne Meadows, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and the best guess by rangers is Aug. 2 for the first weekend of August. These late openers are compressing summer visitors to Yosemite Valley, where the waterfalls are still roaring and parking places are difficult to find after 9 a.m. (and to Glacier Point). Contact: Yosemite National Park, 209-372-0200, www.nps.gov/yose.
Crystal Basin Recreation Area: The road is clear (and paved) for 30 miles to Loon Lake (6,378 feet). In the process, you pass Ice House and Union Valley reservoirs, and snow-free spurs to other lakes. The campground at Loon is projected to open by the end of June and will be the last of 20 campgrounds in the region to open for the season. Contact: Eldorado National Forest, Placerville Ranger District, 530-644-2234, www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.
Highway 4, Ebbetts Pass: Highway 4 is snow-free with hot weather at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and access out of Dorrington to the Stanislaus River, running high and cold. Near 8,730-foot Ebbetts Pass at the Pacific Crest Trail, the verified snow depth this week was 18 inches, patchy with drifts. Contact: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 775-331-6444, www.fs.usda.gov/htnf.
Highway 108, Sonora Pass: Highway 108 over 9,623-foot Sonora Pass is open and clear. Nearby, the gauge at Leavitt Lake reports a 115-inch snow depth and the PCT above Sonora Pass is impassable. Pinecrest and Beardsley lakes are open, full. Contact: Stanislaus National Forest, Summit Ranger District, 209-965-3434, www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus.

North state
Lassen Park Highway: The Lassen Park Highway will open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and campgrounds at Manzanita and Butte lakes are open, along with camps at Southwest Walk-in and Warner Valley. Because of high snow above 7,500 feet, camps at Summit Lake, Juniper Lake, and the trailhead for Bumpass Hell geothermal area, will not open until well into July, and perhaps later. Contact: Lassen Volcanic National Park, 530-595-4480, www.nps.gov/lavo.
Mt. Shasta: The Everitt Memorial Highway is clear to Bunny Flat (6,950 feet), where you then run into the wall of snow. On giant Shasta, the snow has settled, hardened, and with low winds most recent days (on Thursday, forecast to blow to 40 on the summit), set up for excellent early-morning climbing conditions. Fifth Season Climbing Report, 530-926-5555 (recording, updated daily) or 530-926-3606 (in person).
Trinity-Divide: From Lake Siskiyou, South Fork Road is snow-free over Mumbo Summit to Grey Rocks and to Castle Crags, in time for the Castle Crags Century cycling event Saturday. Contact: Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Mount Shasta District, 530-926-4511, www.fs.usda.gov/stnf; Castle Crags Century, http://castlecragscentury.com.
Medicine Lake Highlands: The drive from Highway 89 at Bartle is blocked this week by 2 feet of snow some 28 miles in, just 2 miles from Medicine Lake. Contact: Modoc National Forest, Doublehead Ranger District, 530/667-2246, www.fs.usda.gov/modoc.

To see the original article and photos in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Photo by C. Ferris
Thunder, lightning, hail, snow, rain, wind. Spring has all of that, plus bright, blue-sky sunny days and mild temps in our area. All that adds up to great bike rides, except for the thunder and lightning bit.
The robust snowpack in the high country means hiking at elevations below about 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Cycling is in that boat also. Above those elevations there is snow, a lot of it.
There isn’t a really good count of how many miles of mountain bike trails we have in El Dorado County. Best guess is there may be too many to count. Someone should tally it all up and write a book about it. There’s also not a good count on how many miles of safe road bike riding we have.

Road bikes, the skinny tire type, are best suited for hard-packed dirt or paved roads. Safe simply means roads with enough shoulder space to ride away from the traffic lanes as much as possible. Some of our county roads have just enough space on the side of the road for the white fog line, and nothing more.
If you’re a cyclist, it’s time to take advantage of the fantastic June weather and start pedalling, especially if your favorite hike is still waist-deep in snow. There’s plenty to choose from for both fat-tire and skinny-tire riders.
We actually have some of the best mountain bike riding here. Some of the trails draw riders from all over the states and internationally, too. From very gentle to very technically challenging we have it all.
One of the more famous trails, which won’t be rideable any time soon, is Mr. Toads up in Tahoe. Right now it should be named Mr. Toads Very Snow Covered No-Ride Trail.
Local bike shops in Tahoe are sending mountain bike riders to the Corral Trail, Power Line Trail and Tahoe Mountain. They span quite a lot of territory and are currently free of snow. They are also good for just about anyone who is competent on a bike, travelling through some wonderful Tahoe forest scenery.
The Crystal Basin Recreation Area has many miles of trails for mountain bikes and good roads for the skinny-tire riders. Mountain bike rides up there are on USFS logging roads or marked trails. Some of those roads go on forever, taking quite a few twists and turns.
Road bike riders may enjoy the trek from Ice House to Wright’s Lake. Right now you can’t actually get to Wright’s, from Highway 50 or Ice House, but you can ride quite a ways. Traffic is light this time of year. The forest up in Crystal Basin is just simply stunning right now.
Sly Park Recreation Area in Pollock Pines has a mountain bike trail that circles the lake. There are some technical aspects to that trail. Goofing up at the wrong spot may land you in the lake.
Just across Mormon Emigrant Trail after the second dam is a series of well-known trails that wind around the forest and attract riders from all over. It’s called Fleming Meadows and is a great place to ride. Take a map though. A wrong turn can mean a long ride that you may not expect.






For a challenging road bike ride, Mormon Emigrant Trail/Iron Mountain Road will test your stamina and maybe make you think you’re crazy. At 23.72 miles one-way it’s longer, and in spots more difficult, than Blue Lakes over on Highway 88.
It’s a U.S. Forest Service road, and on their list, it’s Forest Route 5.  How much time you have or want to spend in the saddle will determine where you park. No matter where that is, from start to finish, one-way or out-and-back, you’re on your own.
There are no services along the road. The road ends at Highway 88. There is a rest stop there, but that’s it. No water, food or latte carts along the way.
For a sweet, in-town ride, the El Dorado Trail, any part of it, is perfect. Nothing is too strenuous, the scenery is great and the paved trail provides a smooth ride. Snacks in town after your ride are mandatory.
Take advantage of what we have and — get outside!
By Charlie Ferris
To see the original article and photo in the Mt. Democrat newspaper, CLICK HERE