News from Muscle Powered:

Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail Public Meeting
February 13th 5-7 p.m.
Carson City Community Center- Bonanza Room
851 East Williams Street

Lumos & Associates’ Tom Young and Chas Macquarie survey the Ash Creek bridge site

Carson City and Muscle Powered have been working with the U.S. Forest Service and public for many years to develop a trail system along the foothills of the Carson Range with connectivity to Carson City. Most of the trail will be located on Forest Service lands and some will be on Carson City lands. The project proposes to construct approximately 6 miles of single-track trail designed for non-motorized uses including mountain biking, hiking and equestrian between Ash Canyon and Kings Canyon. Trail access points will be Kings Canyon Road, Waterfall Road, and Ash Canyon Road.

This meeting is one of the last steps before we can start construction on what is sure to be a fantastic trail!

If you would like to learn more about this project,  have questions, or would like to show support for the trail, please attend this meeting.

Thanks!

Cycling really is pretty simple. Just hop on and ride. But like most things we do, we tend to make it way more complicated than it needs to be. Have you ever caught yourself saying something in this video?

Carson officials, volunteers carving trail system in mountains west of city
By Teri Vance (Story originally appearing in the Nevada Appeal)

In the super-abridged version of the story, Jeff Potter complained to city supervisors in 2006 that more mountain bike trails were needed in the area.

Their response: Then do it.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple. There was the master plan to consult. Permits needed to be acquired. Plans needed to be drawn up.

But after years of working with Carson City’s open-space manager, Juan Guzman, to negotiate with city, state and federal agencies as well as private property owners, the plan is starting to take shape.

Max Jones, who owns Spooner Lake Cross Country and Flume Trail Mountain Bikes, lent his expertise to determining three routes connecting Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon.

Potter said they settled on the mid-line route, traversing seven miles along the east-facing slopes of the mountains. It begins around 5,600 feet and climbs 1,100 feet to the highest point of 6,700 feet. The average grade is 6 percent.

Potter said it was an easy decision.

“If this was the only trail I could put in, it would be a killer trail,” he said. “Plus, we had fewer obstacles with this option.”

He said the gradual ascents with some steep climbs will make the trail a challenge for the experienced mountain biker while still being accessible to the novice.

“This is for everybody,” Potter said. “All skill levels.”

The trail also will be open for other non-motorized use, like hikers and equestrians.

While there are some trails now in the hills of east Carson City, they are what’s known as non-system trails. They don’t connect in a meaningful way and may not have the proper permits.

The trail, with access points in Kings Canyon and Ash Canyon, will make sense to users, Guzman said.

“It’s from a very well-known point to another well-known point,” he said.

It also could draw other outdoor enthusiasts to the area, Guzman said.

“This is the kind of thing that people will drive thousands of miles to come and experience,” he said. “We have a hidden spot here. People do not realize what a unique place this is. The Sierra Nevada is just spectacular.”

Potter said while users will be able to begin at either point, he imagines most will prefer to begin from the Kings Canyon side and climb about 2.5 miles to the highest point.

Once there, they’ll be on an outcropping with views of the entire city, along with Job’s Peak, the Sweetwater Range and Washoe Lake.

From there, it will a 5.5-mile descent into Ash Canyon. Along the way, there will be other overlooks for users to take in the view.

Work on the trail is expected to begin in the spring and could take up to five years to be fully complete.

Guzman said he appreciates the dedication and expertise of volunteers like Potter.

“This is the perfect use of our lands,” he said. “This corner of Nevada is just fantastic.”

Here is a press release from Flume Trail Bikes:

“No snow = great mountain biking! Come ride The Flume Trail!  We will be running our Flume Trail Shuttle this Saturday and Sunday, JANUARY 14 & 15, 2012. Crazy yea?

Flume Trail – Photo taken 1st Week of 2012!

• Shuttle will depart Tunnel Creek Station 1115 Tahoe Blvd. Incline Village, NV 89450, 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am and noon.
• Most people take two to four hours to ride to Incline. Remember it gets dark (and cold!) at 5:00 now.
• 14 seats available per shuttle. Our trailer with bike rack will transport bikes.
• Reserve your seat via e mail – mlj3@me.com or via text at 775 450-1945. We will confirm your reservation.  Make sure to note the time and day you want a ride.
• Bring $15 cash to get on the shuttle. Or you can pre pay using a credit card via the phone number above before Friday afternoon.
• Please let us know if you cannot make it the day before so we can free up your seat for someone else.
• Important: please be there 20 minutes before the shuttle departure. Your seat will be gone at 10 minutes till.

High temps both days is forecast to be in the mid 40s and sunny. Dress warm. There is ice in the shady sections of the trail. Use caution on blind corners especially around Marlette Lake.

This is really a rare treat to get to ride the Flume in January. Marlette Lake is frozen over and really pretty.

I got out for my first mountain bike rides of the year last week. Typical January weather…sunny and in the 50s! Shorts and a short sleeve jersey were all you needed on some days. With the exception of a little ice in the shadiest areas, conditions on the ground feel more like late summer or early fall.

A less than snowy Sierra Nevada

Just how dry is it out there? It’s been reported that December was the driest on record for this area in 130 years, with no rain or snow recorded. We’re continuing the streak into January, with no precipitation on the horizon at least through the middle of the month. Fire danger warnings have been issued, and many wild fires continue to pop up throughout the area.

Snowpack compared to last year

Flume Trail Bikes up at Spooner Lake reports that the high country is even still open for riding. People are actually riding the Flume Trail! According to their Facebook page:

If you ride in the high country assume that there will be water/ice around every corner. Have fun but be careful. There have been a few rescues from the Marlette Lake area in the last couple of weeks. It is a bit snowy and icy around Marlette Lake.

Looking towards Kings Canyon in the distance

This north facing canyon is usually buried in snow

I also heard from a running friend that her group was able to do the Lakeview-Hobart Reservoir-Ash Canyon Loop without much trouble at all. Just a little snow and ice here and there in the shade.

Tom Price on the high plateau

Here are a few more photos from the area…

Canyon behind C Hill, looking towards Prison Hill

Dry golden grass in Ash Canyon

No snow along the creek either

There is no snow to be seen on Slide Mountain or Mount Rose either. For a 10,776 ft mountain to be snowless in January is just crazy. Strangely enough, the water level in Washoe Lake looks decent without much beach exposed.

Even the high peaks above Washoe Lake are snow free

For the next several days, we don’t have much choice but to enjoy this nice weather. I think everyone feels a bit nervous though. Low snowpack can mean bad wildfires later in the year, making it too smokey to healthily enjoy outdoor activities. Drought in the mountains has also driven the bears into town in years past. There seemed to be bears everywhere back in 2007! Who knows what the months ahead will bring though. We sure got a big surprise last February.

For now, get out there and ride!