Tahoe Gathering Info...better late than never

[bigboulder]

Due to much initial confusion and my inability to spend much or any time in the organizational process during the first half of this year it seems that most folks already committed to attending will be camping and lodging in various places in the Tahoe area. I aplogize for being so slow to get this thing going but I am hoping we will still have a real good turnout. Some of us will be camping at Nevada Beach in the south lake Tahoe area and all of the scheduled rides and git togethers will be at the south end of the lake. If you are planning to attend and do not already have a place to camp or lodge....focus on the south lake tahoe area.. Over the next month please feel free to contact me (Steve) at 916-223-3868 if you need any help or would like to help out in some way.

Here is the official schedule of meeting times and places. Please print this out and bring it with you!

Thursday July 7th. For those of you who will be in the Tahoe area on Thursday we have planned an afternoon "social ride". We will meet at the large parking lot next to Burger King one block north of Kingsbury Grade on Highway 50. This is just north of the casino area of South Lake Tahoe. From there we will "parade" down Highway 50 through the casino area and hook up on some lower elevation trails...maybe stop for a swim. This will be an easy, slow, goof off ride / social event culminating with beer and food at the Mott Canyon Tavern about 1/4 mile up Kingsbury grade from Highway 50.

Friday July 8th. We will meet at the Tahoe information Center on hwy 50 near the intersection with hwy 89 in Meyers at 9:30 am . Or if you are familiar with this area you can meet us at the bridge on Upper Truckee Road at the Dardanells / Round Lake Trail Head. This will be a pretty technical ride with probably two or more groups taking routes of various lengths. If you would like to help lead on of these groups and are familiar with this area and Christmas Valley...please contact me at the Phone number above.

Saturday July 9th. This will be a long, technical high elevation ride. You must bring lots of food and water to complete this ride. We will be doing this 34 plus mile ride as a shuttle so you will need arrive on time at the same Burger King location listed above on the Thursday ride. 8:30am Sharp! Please! From here we will shuttle to Mount rose and ride the TRT to Flume Trail, Spooner Lake, Spooner to Kingsbury on the TRT and down Chinese Downhill. Again, if you would like to help please contact me. Saturday Night we will be gathering again at the Mott Canyon Tavern 1/4 mile up Kingsbury Grade from Hwy 50 for food libations and maybe some live music.

Sunday July 10th. Mr Toads Wild Ride. There are various ways of doing this ride depending on you skill and strength....some may choose to do this as a shuttle....there are also a couple of options for riding to the top....including the "punisher". Lets plan on meeting at the Tahoe Info Center on hwy 50 in Meyeres at 9:30am and we will figure it out from there.....

Sorry that it took so long for me to get moving on this but please don't be put off by the lack of initial organization. It will be fun because of the great people and incredible riding opportunities. Again, feel free to contact me at 916-223-3868 with any questions or offers to help out. As some of you may know contacting by email or on this site may be futile....sorry!

Hope to see you in Tahoe!

Steve

[Strafer]

Cool! I'll be doing a cross country MTB vacation on the way to MotoGP race in Laguna Seca in a month, and should be there about that time.
If I don't linger too long around Fruita/Moab that is......
But something to look forward to definitely.

[Finch Platte]

I hear Fast Ed will have a Titus frame for sale at this Gathering- zat true?

fp

[SinglePivot]

you got first dibs?

-Sp

Originally Posted by Finch Platte

I hear Fast Ed will have a Titus frame for sale at this Gathering- zat true?

fp

[Ebo]

Hey Steve. Glad to see you resurface. Looking forward to the gathering. For all those searching for camping, check out Zephyrcoveresort.com or Reserveamerica.com. There may still be some walk in sites available at Zephyr Cove Resort, which is where many already have sites.This is close to Nevada Beach campground which is probably sold out. Might also find sites at Fallen Leaf Lake campgrounds on Reserve America.

Quick check at Reserve America says Nevada Beach sold out. Fallen Leaf Lake still available. For those interested, this is a good campground about 5 miles west from the Y on south shore. They allow pets too.

[Wherewolf]

Is UncleMTB still leading a Saturday July 9th Spooner - Kingsbury - Spooner ride?

[UncleMTB]

Originally Posted by Wherewolf

Is UncleMTB still leading a Saturday July 9th Spooner - Kingsbury - Spooner ride?

...broke my frame yesterday!!!
I'll let ya' know if Marin still wants me as a customer.
Tim(should'na lusted after the Titus swag...)

[Finch Platte]

Originally Posted by UncleMTB

...broke my frame yesterday!!!
I'll let ya' know if Marin still wants me as a customer.
Tim(should'na lusted after the Titus swag...)

You're kidding, right?

WTF??

fp

[UncleMTB]

Originally Posted by Finch Platte

You're kidding, right?

WTF??

fp

...up Gails extension bedding in the trail and wondering why anyone wouldn't love virgin singletrack...Snap !!!
I looked down as the pedal hit the ground...Ahhhrggg!!!
The squared up downtube section broke away on the welds...as I rolled it down to the main fire road back to the Glomar the seat tube snapped in simpathy...all that holds the two halves is the shock and some cables!!!

I carried my dead companion two and half miles back to the Glomar knowing the bike had carried me for more than three years...I thought of burying it on the trail but decided that being an organ donor would be better...so other bikes could live!

I'm not sure what did it in...was it BBQ'd doughnuts? or a bottomless IPA keg I'm still working on...Thoughtless trail Karma?
Lusting after the Titus swag surely didn't help...
I'm glad it didn't snap while I jammed down Repack last week...that could have been major!
Me and my bike parts tumbling down the fireroad with only a styrofoam hat for protection...

Anyhow I will check with Marin and see who's lifetime they were refering to...if it is the shop where I bought it, they dropped Marin.
Santa Rosa cyclery may be willing to jump into the frey...
If Marin won't touch it...I'll be looking for something to hang the parts on!!!

Tim(might have to sell the dregs of my Calpine stock for a frame)

[bigboulder]

Thanx for posting that info....

Looks like I need to petition the powers that be to get the latest info posted on the 2005 gathering links to the right...

[vibromatic]

anyone know if toads is clear yet?

[JFR]

My time off is scheduled... hopefully they'll let me use it this time

[fred-da-trog]

I'll be in Zephr Cove RV site #177 Wed. July 6. I will need to ride that afternoon as a family obligation will take me home early Sat. I will have to miss the weekend rides.(poop!) If any one is interested in riding on Wed the 6th, PM me. Looking forward to seeing everybody.

[wg]

Well I've got the week off but not sure where I'll be staying. We'll be at Donner lake the prior weekend and I'm hoping to stay there for the duration. If my wife needs to return to work, I may be begging for a camping spot Thursday, possibly Friday night.
Fred, my schedule is still in flux that week but a Weds ride may work. I'll know more in the next week or so.

Werner

[jrm]

Originally Posted by wg

Well I've got the week off but not sure where I'll be staying. We'll be at Donner lake the prior weekend and I'm hoping to stay there for the duration. If my wife needs to return to work, I may be begging for a camping spot Thursday, possibly Friday night.
Fred, my schedule is still in flux that week but a Weds ride may work. I'll know more in the next week or so.

Werner

Im going to be in Alta/Dutch Flat from the 31st on. We need to hook up and do some riding the week before the gathering. Dang HITG, Yuba Gap, and Grouse Ridge come to mind. According to the BONC website theres still snow @ 6K ft. and lots of it...

Heres a good link..

http://www.bonc.org/trailguide.htm

[bigboulder]

for DGC.....Hello Dave?

[Captain Kana]

Steve,
What time is the social ride on Thursday?
Dan C.

[bigboulder]

[quote=bigboulder]
Here is the official schedule of meeting times and places. Please print this out and bring it with you!

Thursday July 7th. For those of you who will be in the Tahoe area on Thursday we have planned an afternoon "social ride". We will meet at the large parking lot next to Burger King one block north of Kingsbury Grade on Highway 50 [SIZE=3]@2:30pm[/SIZE]. This is just north of the casino area of South Lake Tahoe. From there we will "parade" down Highway 50 through the casino area and hook up on some lower elevation trails...maybe stop for a swim. This will be an easy, slow, goof off ride / social event culminating with beer and food at the Mott Canyon Tavern about 1/4 mile up Kingsbury grade from Highway 50.

[29erchico]

Originally Posted by vibromatic

anyone know if toads is clear yet?

Just called a local bike shop and heard "there is quite a bit of snow up there". Upper Saxon Creek is north facing. The "Star Wars"section should be sweeet about now. My vote is hike-a-bike at the upper start of Saxon Creek trail by the gathering. This is based on doing a couple of rides on the north shore Tahoe trails last week. That and spending every available second (2-4 days a week) riding in Tahoe/Downieville whenever the trails are snow free. That's usually June/July 'til the snow flys in the fall.

BTW: the south shore area is cool but the trails on north shore are much more extensive and varied. I did toads (Saxon Creek trail) three times last year, once sag free, so I do love that one.

29erchico

[DGC]

Originally Posted by 29erchico

Just called a local bike shop and heard "there is quite a bit of snow up there". Upper Saxon Creek is north facing. The "Star Wars"section should be sweeet about now. My vote is hike-a-bike at the upper start of Saxon Creek trail by the gathering. This is based on doing a couple of rides on the north shore Tahoe trails last week. That and spending every available second (2-4 days a week) riding in Tahoe/Downieville whenever the trails are snow free. That's usually June/July 'til the snow flys in the fall.

BTW: the south shore area is cool but the trails on north shore are much more extensive and varied. I did toads (Saxon Creek trail) three times last year, once sag free, so I do love that one.

29erchico

I just did the Friday gathering ride today, a decent amount of snow and mud right now up top, in 1-2 weeks that should be just fine and good to go. Toads.....I will ride tomorrow up the dh side and check it out, the word I have heard is barely 1/2 way up and you run into lots of snow, but that is what I heard. So before getting all bummed, I will go check it out personally tomorrow. Supposedly the East side/Flume side is in good shape with less snow to deal with, but Flume Trail Bikes and the Spooner Lake State Park would know the exact on that area.
The bench ride which will be part of your Saturday ride is looking good, many riders locally have reported snow 2/3 of the way up and not a ton left to melt, so that should be good in 1 week according to others, if I get a chance i will check it out too. That part of the East side of the Lake does not get the snow that the North and South Shores get. It just ends up being the north facing back sides in the shade that take awhile longer to melt.
Anyways, for now here is a few pictures of the Dardanelles/Christmas Valley decect that I rode today.

[DGC]

Originally Posted by DGC

I just did the Friday gathering ride today, a decent amount of snow and mud right now up top, in 1-2 weeks that should be just fine and good to go. Toads.....I will ride tomorrow up the dh side and check it out, the word I have heard is barely 1/2 way up and you run into lots of snow, but that is what I heard. So before getting all bummed, I will go check it out personally tomorrow. Supposedly the East side/Flume side is in good shape with less snow to deal with, but Flume Trail Bikes and the Spooner Lake State Park would know the exact on that area.
The bench ride which will be part of your Saturday ride is looking good, many riders locally have reported snow 2/3 of the way up and not a ton left to melt, so that should be good in 1 week according to others, if I get a chance i will check it out too. That part of the East side of the Lake does not get the snow that the North and South Shores get. It just ends up being the north facing back sides in the shade that take awhile longer to melt.
Anyways, for now here is a few pictures of the Dardanelles/Christmas Valley decect that I rode today.

Well, as i said in above post yesterday I would go check out Toads, the sad thing for you guys, is you were not with me.....4.5+ miles up from the bottom and only about 5 bike tracks, not much traffic up there at all. So all I can say is the dirt is in the best condition that I can remember with early riding. The typical sandy spots on the lower areas were dry and still packed dirt, which like never happens. The sections that are normally firm were flat out fast and buff. The snow level was also higher than I thought it would be. The first tiny 1 foot patch of snow (white parasite picture) was just below the area where the cabin used to be, that has always been about the half way point in mileage. So I figured there would be snow right away around the corner......not to be. The next sight of snow was over 1 mile farther up the trail. When I did find the first actual snow on the trail, you come around a corner and then there was a bunch of snow patches not very deep, maybe 1-2 feet, but also a bunch of dirt too. That was at about 8000 foot elevation, that only leaves 1000 feet of elevation to melt.
In 2 weeks time everything but the very top will be clear I would say, and since the trail is getting far less than average traffic this year and the dirt is in such good packed condition, you would be crazy to pass it up. You guys are in for some excellent dirt conditions for the gatherings' rides.

[bigboulder]

Thanx for info Dave!! My SS will be very happy on Toads.

[Finch Platte]

Originally Posted by DGC

Well....rides.

Thanks for the update and pics- looks supremely sweet! I can't wait to hear Big Boulder's knees screaming in agony.

You ever get Sun/Mons off?

How were the mosquitos?

Gary

[kidwoo]

Melted all the way up to the creek crossing?

I know what I'm doing tomorrow after work!.

[DGC]

Originally Posted by Finch Platte

Thanks for the update and pics- looks supremely sweet! I can't wait to hear Big Boulder's knees screaming in agony.

You ever get Sun/Mons off?

How were the mosquitos?

Gary

The mosquitos were out, Toads was not too bad, but X-Mas Valley was definately worse being a lot more wet in there, glad you asked because it would be a good idea for gathering goers to be stocked with "Backwoods Off"....!!!!! I used it and It was plenty to keep them away from me on both rides. Just as summer has been delayed in coming the normal time, so have the hatching of the skeetoes, they are just now coming out.
I do get Mondays off, some Sundays. Just depends on whats going on at the shop event wise and weather I have to cover people gone from the shop.

Hey Big Boulder.......Just another possibility to add to Fridays ride could be Hawley Grade Trail, dumps out about 100 yards away from the end of Christmas Valley ride, only adds around 6-8 easy-ish miles. The reason I mention this is the amount of snow up there above and beyond the X-mas Valley loop and side track to Dardanelles Lake might stop anyone from getting much past Round Lake to venture towards the TRT/PCT to the South. Therefore the ride might be a bit shorter. The Hawley Grade ride is where the waterfall shot of me was taken a few years back. I will check that area out this coming weekend.

For Toads-Unless someone else is going to do this specifically to check out conditions, I will also do the punisher route on the Holliday weekend July 3-5, the Armstrong Pass TRT version to Toads and see how clear the trail is of snow. By then it may be fine.

[Finch Platte]

Originally Posted by DGC

For Toads-Unless someone else is going to do this specifically to check out conditions, I will also do the punisher route on the Holliday weekend July 3-5, the Armstrong Pass TRT version to Toads and see how clear the trail is of snow. By then it may be fine.

If you want some company, keep me in the loop, please.

I'll have the 3 & 4 off. PM me!

Gary

[wg]

Some questions...
How long is the ride on Friday? (hours). Just so I can tell the other half what to expect. She still vividly remembers (and reminds me) of the year I came back waaayyy after dark with a separated collar bone.

Also.... I'll be staying at Donner Lake all week. There's some back and forth between JRM and me about doing a ride on the 5th in the North shore area (Grouse etc). Any takers? How about at the top of the ridge where the boulder field sits by the old highway? Anything up there? Ideas from locals who would like to be a slacker that day?

Werner

[bigboulder]

wish I coulde slack on the 5th! Try spaulding lake trail if your willing to drive that far....if not I would recomend Watson Lake from WS trail near Squaw Valley....Great out and back ride...and if you know how to find missing link on the way back down it's even more fun.

Just a couple hours on the thursday social ride....plus some swimming time....and a stop at the pub....that'll get you back by say.....MIDNIGHT!

Does your wife have a recent picture of you in case we lose you?

s

[bigboulder]

until the 2005 Tahoe Gathering!

[bigboulder]

Remember your Mosquito Repelant!....And your snow shoes!

[Wherewolf]

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...20290#poststop

[wg]

Yeee Haaahhh
Outta here.
See ppl Thursday

[bigboulder]

That’s right! Myself, JFR, Ogre, Jilm, George da Trog and Big Trees (interesting that we had “big trees� and “bigboulder� today because that pretty much describes the ride at Grouse Ridge) did the Blue lakes / Spaulding Lake trail loop. Trail conditions were excellent…a few downed trees, beautiful weather, lots of spills and thrills. A fitting opening to the Tahoe Gathering 2005.

Which brings me to some last minute details on the rest of the gathering that begins Thursday.

And speaking of Thursday…The “social� ride starts at 2:30 pm ( I left that out of the official posting) The Burger King meeting place is the same. Afterwards we will be going to the Mott Canyon Bar and Grill on Kingsbury Grade. Consult the official Tahoe Gathering post for details

Friday… The meeting time and place have not changed but be aware that if you are going to meet the group at the bridge on upper truckee road you are going to want to go to the second bridge that is about 4 miles past the first one after the road leaves the normal houses and the road gets narrow, your almost at the bridge at the SOUTH end of South Upper Truckee. Parking spots along the road are either side of the bridge within 200 yards of the bridge.

Saturday….meeting time and place has not changed….IMPORTANT! our ride will probably have to be reconfigured. We will make the call on Saturday. The section of TRT from Mt Rose to Tunnel Creek Rd. (beginning of the flume) looks like it will still be impassable due to snow. That is only the 1st 7.5 miles of the ride though so here are some options we will discuss 1. Starting at the Ponderosa Ranch and climbing up Tunnel Creek Rd to the Flume then continuing the planned route. This will shorten the ride by five miles but it will add on nasty climb Option 2. Spooner to Kingsbury out and back…not such a bad option (25 miles). Option 3. Head for California! Tahoe City Area.

Sunday….meeting time and place have not changed. The Oneides Road climb up to Toads is out because you can not get over Armstrong Pass. So the only way to do Toads is to ride up Upper Truckee Rd to the Big Meadows area and climb the TRT from the south.

See Ya!!!

Steve

[Wherewolf]

UncleMTB was supposed to post details and perhaps he will. But since some people may be heading up soon I want to get this out. As of now the people I know that are in for this ride are UncleMTB, Lamerider, Lemonhead and myself. I seem to recall some others expressed an interest but I can't remember who they were. Since Lamerider is coming all the way from Georgia and he has to pick up a rental bike at the Spooner bike shop at 9 am, we will not leave without him. Hopefully that will be by 9:15 - 9:30.

Unless UncleMTB says otherwise I suppose we should meet at the trailhead a bit after 9 am. I'll get Lamerider there as quickly as possible.

[UncleMTB]

Steve Wolf and I will be doing an Intermediate ride on Saturday.
Here is Steve's description:

The ride is an out and back of 12.2 miles each way, total 24.4 miles. The ride is NOT easy. It starts at 7,150 ft. and you climb for nearly the first five miles. There are many 1-2 ft. rock "stairs", mostly going down on the way to Kingsbury. Obviously they are then mostly up on the way back. The good news is that if you make it back you get nearly five miles of downhill at the end. Also, since it is an out and back nobody can get left behind because the leaders will run into them on the return. Map, photos and video here: http://arnica.csustan.edu/mtbike/Kingsbury

We will meet at Hwy 50 trailhead at 9 am and will leave as soon as Steve and Jim get the rental bike to the Trailhead...probably 9:30

This will be a self supported ride...Bring extra water, tubes, D'hanger etc...
Steve and I will be shooting video so our pace will be dependant on the equipment and our ability to "herd cats".

I'll be arriving Thursday and staying with Ebo and AussieBob at Zephry Cove...

Tim

[wolfy]

Sounds like fun to me too!

Unless you guys are really averse to snow I'd try the original ride. There were some anoying patches up above Marlette lake yesterday, but nothing showstopping. Only on the dark slopes in the trees anyway. The TRT from Mt. Rose to TCR is mostly west facing. Nothing AT ALL on the flume.

-M

[bigboulder]

Be aware that the entire group may be doing this ride along with you....depending on trail conditions from Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek road.....We are considering several options for redirecting our ride. We will make the call in the Burger King parking lot @ 8:30 am...are you guys going to come by there before heading up to the trailhead?

[wolfy]

Yeah, I know. I'd hate to be the one making a recomendation and have everyone be miserable.

If I come I'll come to the BK. Don't wait up for me though, I'm flakier than filo dough. But I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY want to do EXACTLY that ride!

-M

[bigboulder]

Originally Posted by wolfy

Sounds like fun to me too!

Unless you guys are really averse to snow I'd try the original ride. There were some anoying patches up above Marlette lake yesterday, but nothing showstopping. Only on the dark slopes in the trees anyway. The TRT from Mt. Rose to TCR is mostly west facing. Nothing AT ALL on the flume.

-M

Are you saying that you think the Tahoe Meadows to Flume section should be OK....we are not worried about the snow very much....Flume Trail Bikes is using the word "impassable to describe that section and I don't really buy it....did you ride that entire section?

Thanx for the info wolfy!!

[wolfy]

Sorry for the cornfusion. I did not ride that particular section. We did Tunnel creek to flume to Marlette lake and up to the summit and around back to tunnel creek road where the TRT dumps off from Mt. Rose Meadows.

We did encounter snow on the northeast facing slopes in the trees. Many short drifts across the trail (mostly rideable) Several portages. One or two 50+ meter hike-a-bikes.

There's no snow at the meadows though, and from there to TCR most of the trail faces west. There is that last little strech up to Tunnel Creek Road that is on the back side. Thest's where the problem would be.

It just depents on what the group thinks about that kind of snow. And weigh that against the 3 mile steep sandy climb up Tunnel Creek Road.

-M

[bigboulder]

To go take a closer look....but it sounds like it may not be that bad....Hmmmmm....what to do?? The riders who are going to join us on this ride probably won't mind some hike a bike.....hopefully we will see you on Saturday!

[wolfy]

Mystery is the spice of life! Or is it Mrs. Dash? I'm not good with names.

-M

[Captain Kana]

I've got beer, wine and the singlespeed is back together. Steve won't be alone. My knees might as well suffer as well.
Dan C.

[bigboulder]

I won't be the only dumb a$$ out there.

I did back down from the 2 to 1 set up (32/16) that I was running. I put on a 17 freewheel and tested it out at Grouse Ridge yesterday. I was very happy with the way that worked out. The one big advantage I'll have is the ease at which one can carry a 21 pound bike over a snow drift...

[Ebo]

TahoeRimTrail.org has an update as of today 7/5 which states it is open with some snow on north sides. I'm planning to ride it on friday, so will certainly find out.

[Wherewolf]

Originally Posted by bigboulder

We will make the call in the Burger King parking lot @ 8:30 am...are you guys going to come by there before heading up to the trailhead?

No BK for me. I will be taking Lamerider to the Spooner bike shop to pick up his rental bike and then proceed to the trailhead sometime shortly after 9 am. Regardless, we would not be riding with the A group anyway. A friend of mine hiked Spooner-Kingsbury 10 days ago and only encountered a bit of snow toward the top. And there will have been two full weeks of nice warm weather since then. In light of what wolfy says I think you A folks could handle occasional snow on the TRT from Mt. Rose. I thought you always had to come back with some big stories from these rides anyway?

[pimpbot]

Originally Posted by Wherewolf

UncleMTB was supposed to post details and perhaps he will. But since some people may be heading up soon I want to get this out. As of now the people I know that are in for this ride are UncleMTB, Lamerider, Lemonhead and myself. I seem to recall some others expressed an interest but I can't remember who they were. Since Lamerider is coming all the way from Georgia and he has to pick up a rental bike at the Spooner bike shop at 9 am, we will not leave without him. Hopefully that will be by 9:15 - 9:30.

Unless UncleMTB says otherwise I suppose we should meet at the trailhead a bit after 9 am. I'll get Lamerider there as quickly as possible.

Gotta figure out where I'm crashing. Do we have a consensus on camping yet?

-p¡m[]D