Blog Archives

Mt. Bike races upcoming Lone Grave/Harmony Ridge trails

4/26/2023

All trail users to be aware of the upcoming mt. bike races on public trails in this area of Tahoe National Forest. HEADS UP! Racers will be working and training on these trails before the event, or use other trails on the dates of and the week before.

1. DIRT DAZE
Sat., May 6 - 7, 2023
Race information sheet HERE
May 6 - 4pm Short Track (ST)
May 7 - 8am-3pm Cross Country (XC)
Website HERE.

Dirt Daze is a free public mountain bike event using trail networks on BOTH sides of the Harmony Ridge on CA-20, from Harmony Ridge Market to Conservation Rd. I have a Short Track (ST) race starting at 4pm on Sat. that leaves from the Gold Country Equestrian Trail Head lot and does a 1 mile loop. Then Sunday, May 7th is our cross country race, an approximately 6 mile course loop.

CA Dirt MTB Series Race 1 and Race 4 /USA Cycling Regional (CA/NV) MTB Championships, (YBONC event fundraisers) :
RACE 1 - Hoot/Pioneer/Dascombe network and Gold Country EQ TH (on WEST side of CA-20)
We start clearing trails and posting Special Use Recreation Permit Event notices up at trail junctions this week, and start course marking trails on May 3 Wed.
RACE 4 - Parliament and Scotts trail network (on EAST side of CA-20)
Fall series Oct 14/15 (Same times as above)

2. NEVADA CITY ENDURO
May 13, 2023
Parliament and Scotts trail network above Scotts Flat Lake (on EAST side of CA-20), by Bear Adventure, a new mountain bike event organizer (not local).
Bear Adventure Facebook page

Bear Adventure Website

Rattlesnakes are coming out

4/26/2023

Rattlesnakes are coming out of their dens, basking in the sun, and becoming more active. Today two were spotted on Olmstead Loop, one at Folsom Lake.

Keep an eye out on the trails, especially at Cronan Ranch, Folsom Lake SRA, Auburn SRA. In our area, rattlesnakes bite bikers, hikers, runners, dogs and horses every year, usually starting in April.

- Keep your dogs ON LEASH so they don't get bitten. Rattlesnake avoidance training is available all year round. See trainers online, such as "Get Rattled."
- Many horses will alert you to snakes - equestrians should really listen to their horses who can hear and smell them way before their riders can.
- Wear long loose pants and high boots.
- STAY on the trails. It's almost impossible to see the snakes in high grass.
- Mt. bikers slow down so you don't run over them (and get bit in the process).

SNAKE FACTS
Most people bitten by rattlesnakes have inadvertently stepped or ridden over them. Snakes detect movement by sensing vibrations in the ground. Their eyes see well even in low light. Rattlesnake bites can be dangerous but are very rarely fatal to humans. With proper medical treatment, including antivenin, bites are usually not serious. Rattlesnakes can strike 2/3rds their length, and they are wonderfully camouflaged in the same color grass.

NOT ALL RATTLE
Young rattlesnakes do not yet have their rattles, though they are as dangerous as adults, according to the National Park Service at Yosemite. Furthermore, some adults may lose their rattles, so it is a good idea look out for the triangular head.
After the rattle, rattlesnakes’ most distinctive physical feature is their triangular head. Also, they have vertical pupils, like cat’s eyes. (In Folsom Lake, rattlesnakes that rattle get killed, those that don't...don't. Meaning that after several generations, we have many families of silent snakes.)

RATTLESNAKES ARE LOCAL
Generation after generation of rattlesnake will use the same dens, sometimes the same den for more than 100 years. Upon leaving their dens, they like to sun themselves on rocks and other open places. Though they are not nocturnal, in the hot summer months they may be more active at night.

CALIFORNIA KING SNAKES ARE GOOD SNAKES!
Despite their venom, rattlesnakes are no match for California King snakes, which are fond of putting them on their dinner menus. DON'T KILL CALIFORNIA KING SNAKES! (pictures below)

Warmer weather, snowmelt creating deadly water conditions in Placer County

4/25/2023

PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — With temperatures on the rise this week, many people are expected to head out to the rivers and waterways to cool off.
Article and video from ABC 10 News HERE.
However, Placer County officials are warning people about dangerous water conditions, and they're already predicting a bad scenario if people decide to get in the water right now.

"On average, we lose 3 to 4 people here at the Confluence every year to drowning," said Sgt. Kevin Griffiths.

A combination of warmer temperatures and a historic snowfall is creating the perfect recipe for dangerous water situations.

"On average, we lose 3 to 4 people here at the confluence every year to drowning, and it's because people get in and they don't understand the area they're getting into. They're not protecting themselves," said Sgt. Kevin Griffiths with the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

At the Auburn State Recreation Area, the American River confluence outside of Auburn is already moving fast, and it's only expected to pick up more speed and depth as more snow melts.
"That water is coming down all our rivers, all our creeks. Last week just three days ago, this river was flowing at 1,600 CFS. That's cubic feet per second. Today, it's over 2,600 cubic feet per second - a thousand cubic feet change within 3 days," said Griffiths.

Griffiths says the temperature of the American River confluence outside of Auburn recently reached 44 degrees. It's cold enough to cause hyperthermia in about 15 minutes.
"With the amount of rain and precipitation that we had this winter, it's created a lot of hazards that shown up that were not here last year. So the tree that's behind us is considered a strainer, which is essentially anything that water can move through and a person cannot," said Nick Salas, a captain with Cal Fire and the Placer County Fire Department.

This week, Cal Fire is training its crews in classrooms and out in the water for water rescues.
California State Parks also has lifeguards on vehicles and foot patrols.
"Downstream, the river widens out a little bit. It looks more peaceful and calm on the surface, and so we have to be diligent and take foot patrols downstream and make sure to let people know that the water is still moving very quickly," said Christian Bryan, a lifeguard with California State Parks.

Officials say sometimes it can be too late for someone to be saved because of the difficulty in a swift water rescue.

"Stay out for the next month. Couple of weeks, let's take a look at it and let us evaluate. We will come back and say, 'Hey look, we're getting back to the norms," said Griffiths.

Officials don't want people to fear visiting all the rivers and waterways. They said people should never swim alone, should have a life jacket, and if you happen to get yourself caught, try to remain calm, stay in the same spot and have someone call 911.

Hammerin Wheels Mt. Bike club riding Empire Mine on Saturday

4/24/2023

On Saturday, April 29, the Hammerin' Wheels ride will be at Empire Mine in Grass Valley in Grass Valley, and possibly more outside of the Mine, depending on what the club riders want.
Meet at 10AM at Penn Gate.
Ideally 20 miles with 2500 feet of climbing, 3 hours.
This can be quite a good ride ride, w/ plenty of climbing if we do the whole loop, which would be outside of the mine too. Roughly 14 miles (inside mine only) or 20 miles 2500 ft. of climbing.
No bikers left behind.
Proposed route for longer riding (3 hours). https://strava.app.link/mxXes4tJgzb

CLICK HERE for MeetUp Group information.

American River Classic Endurance Ride happening this weekend April 21-23

4/20/2023

The ride is scheduled April 22, but visitors, horses and their rigs will be on the trails and Cool Staging Area all weekend. The ride will take place on the Olmsted Trail, Salt Creek Loop and Western States Trail. The ride will be starting and ending in Cool Staging Area this year. To see the updates, visit their Facebook page HERE. (No Hands Bridge photo credit Dan Burkhart)

From the Ride Manager:
We would like to welcome you to the 48th annual American River Classic Endurance Ride, the oldest A.E.R.C. sanctioned 50 mile endurance ride in the world. We elected to move the ride start to Cool, CA. Cool was always the last vet check for the 50's which meant the 25 milers never had the opportunity to ride to Cool on ride day. The trail will consist of loops on the Olmstead Trail, along with Salt Creek Loop. I feel confident that there will be a lot of natural water out there this year. Both distances will make their way over to Auburn via Western States Trail and ride parts of Coffer Dam. This ride does provide plenty of hills and scenic views by and above the American River. This year riders will be provided a meal ticket for a Friday dinner meal hosted by American River Pizza and Grill that will be located next to Cool Staging Area. Also this restaurant along with a few others will be available for anyone and everyone Saturday.

Website HERE https://www.americanriverclassic.com/

Trailmeister says, "Dogs on trails, hardly ever."

4/16/2023

Dogs are truly man’s best friend and joy to be around. I’ve belonged to numerous canids throughout my life and I have a soft spot for these most loyal of critters. And, although I love my dogs, they don’t accompany me on trail rides nor do they venture out on wilderness trips with the horses.
Here’s the four reasons why as well as five things your dog should know if you do choose to take them on a trail ride.

To protect your dog from other animals
Sure, your pooch might be a descendant of the mighty wolf, but allowing them to travel the trail off-leash still poses a number of threats. One major threat is that domesticated animals are often targeted by predators. Coyotes, cougars, and others pose threats to off leash dogs. These predators are brash and often not fazed by a dog’s size. Other less thought of, but equally real, threats include porcupines and snakes. Keeping your dog at home also helps to avoid the risk of your dog triggering a predator (think bear) while off-leash before fleeing back to you with said predator close behind.

The animals your dog may encounter don’t have to be wild to be a danger. There’s also the issue of other domestic dogs, especially poorly trained ones wandering off leash. The aftermath of two strange dogs getting into a rumble isn’t pretty. Topping the list of trail dangers are our own livestock. Untold numbers of dogs that have encountered a horse, or mule, that wasn’t keen on their attention, and suffered for it. A well-aimed kick from a 1,000 lb. equine can make for a very unpleasant trip to the emergency vet.

To protect your dog from trail hazards
Every year you’ll find stories about dog rescues that could have been avoid entirely had the animal simply been kept at home or on a leash. Natural spaces pose a number of risks to our less than wilderness savvy companions, from hidden mine shafts to cliffs, getting lost, and beyond. Keeping your dog on leash helps keep them away from these hazards that their canine brain may not fully understand as they follow their nose. Other trail and wilderness hazards include various parasites including giardia and plague.

For the safety of other trail users
It seems that every dog owner thinks their dog “isn’t aggressive”. However a dog doesn’t have to be aggressive to be a problem. Many of the people that we share our trails with have well founded fears of dogs. Your pups bounding, happy, barking, greeting may well be interpreted as aggression by a stranger. There’s also the instance of dogs running loose and causing horse accidents when they spooked another rider’s horse.

For the safety of the locals
When a dog spots native wildlife, there’s a good chance they’ll want to chase it. When this happens, it stresses out the native animal, something that itself can lead to death. Your dog’s predatory behavior is normal. The chase prey drive is instinctual. The issue is that when prey animals are harassed they uses up energy they may need to survive. It’s one thing for the locals to deal with each other, it’s entirely another for us to bring our dogs into the mix and cause further problems. Loose dogs chasing wildlife is such an issue that most states have laws that penalize owners of dogs chasing wildlife.

These are the four main reasons that my dog doesn’t accompany me on trail rides. That’s not saying that he doesn’t get to go out. We go on many hikes together where he can stay safely on leash and out of mischief, or go off leash, where legal, when I can keep an eye on him without also having to control one or more horses and mules.

IF YOU MUST TAKE YOUR DOG, MASTER THESE COMMANDS
This isn’t to say that there aren’t dogs that are great as trail riding companions, just that there are a lot of things to consider. If you insist on bringing another furry four legger with you on the trail I would suggest that your dog have an excellent grasp of these basic commands first.
Master These:

Come – A recall command should be the most important word in a dog’s vocabulary. It’s critically important on the trail because you don’t know what distractions your dog is going to find.
Stay – You need to be able to stop your dog in his tracks. Your dog will encounter squirrels, rabbits, or other dogs. Without a solid stay he may dart after an animal, unaware of other hazards.
Leave it – From dead animals to porcupines, a dog will always find items of interest on the trail. Items that you may not be as enthralled with.
Go ahead – It is much easier to stay focused on your horse and riding if you can keep fido in your line of sight ahead of you.
Go behind – Sometimes you’ll want the dog following behind you at a safe distance.

Before you go check the dog rules for the area that you’re riding to be sure that off leash dogs are allowed and be painfully honest about your dog’s abilities: If your dog listens to your voice only some of the time, he or she is not ready to accompany the ponies on the trails. In the decades that I’ve been trail riding I’ve only seen one dog that was worthy of the title “Trail Dog”, and he wasn’t mine. Here’s looking at you Bandit!

For more practical information on trail riding and camping with horses visit us at www.TrailMeister.com. We’re also the world’s largest guide to horse trails and camps! Until next time Happy Trails!

CLICK HERE to see the original article on TrailMeister.

Ticks! It's Lyme Time!

4/15/2023

Several trail users have told of dozens of Black Legged Ticks crawling on hikers, riders, and particularly dogs. After a hike on the Independence Trail, one hiker removed 20+ ticks from one dog. Parks and trails in our area right now are loaded with ticks waiting to jump on you and your pets. Be aware in ALL grassy and treed areas. Where ever there are deer, there will be ticks.

WHY SO MANY TICKS??
We have had much higher than normal rainfall resulting in a higher mouse and deer population, the main carriers of the Black Legged Tick. Add the lush grass and brush where they can hide and drop on any person or animal that brushes past, and we have a perfect storm.

BLACK LEGGED TICKS ARE A MAIN CARRIER OF LYME DISEASE
Approximately 10% to 30% of the ticks tested in our area are affected by Lyme Disease and can pass it to you and your pets. If not identified and treated quickly, Lyme can become a chronic and debilitating disease. Lyme disease in humans has more than doubled in the past decade. Ticks cause more disease than any other insect except mosquitos, and only because mosquitos have a much larger geographical range.

WHAT TO DO?
For humans, wear light colored clothing, stay on the trails, and use sprays containing DEET, or better for the environment, Picardin. You can even apply Picardin products to your clothes that lasts through washing. The best tick repellent and killer for horses is Farnam BiteFree Spray. Perform a thorough tick check on yourself and your animals when you get home. See the poster below showing the only approved way to remove a tick.

MORE INFO
To see all the information posted about Lyme Disease, and ticks in our area, and how to deal with them, just type in Lyme in the search function box at the top of this page.

E-bike rules lead to confusion on state park and national forest trails (news video)

4/14/2023

As motorized electric bikes (e-bikes) become more popular, rules are confusing and not getting any better. The best rule is to know before you go because almost every park has different rules and signage.

Mother Lode Trails has supported those who wish motorized bikes to stay on motorized trails. Just because the e-bike's motor is electric doesn't change the fact of what it is. An electric car is still a car with a motor and they all use the same roads. Bikes are the same.

See video here:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/e-bike-rules-lead-confusion-041620205.html

Folsom Lake SRA Beach Trail under water again

4/14/2023

Almost every year, the temporary "beach trail" goes underwater as Folsom Lake is fills up with snow runoff held behind the dam. Several riders have posted that the trail is under water between Sterling Pointe and Beeks Bight. It probably will be under water through the snow melt season. In the summer, the Department of Water Resources draws down the water as they provide irrigation for central and southern California agriculture, and the trail reappears.

The alternate trail is the Pioneer Express Trail, or, the "upper" trail. It is open, but is rough going in a few places where the generous rain this year has rutted the trail and trees may be down. Please report any down trees on Pioneer Express high trail and note GPS location. Photos very helpful for staff. Folsom Lake SRA - (916) 988-0205.
Photo Credit: Bob Sydnor

Bear Yuba Land Trust NEW Trails Portal

4/13/2023

Big announcement! from Bear Yuba Land Trust!
Our new and improved online Trails Portal is LIVE!

Find your next adventure at:
www.bylt.org/trails

Follow us on FACEBOOK - CLICK HERE!

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