Ash Canyon to Kings Canyon Trail

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jeff Moser

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.”

Changes and Thoughts Off the Bike

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Jeff Moser

After several years of working in the same old basement day after day, I decided it was time to switch things up a bit. I left a very bicycle friendly office where several of us simply kept our bicycles right at our desks, and accepted a job where a bicycle policy was unclear. Although it’s a modern building, bicycle facilities weren’t incorporated into the remodel, and there are currently no bikes allowed inside the building. There are some pretty nice ashtrays on the property, but no bike racks. I wasn’t overly concerned though, because bicycling seems to flourish wherever I go. I’d simply have to win the hearts and minds.

Walking by the old Carson Brewing Company

While I’ve been figuring out my new bike situation, I’ve been doing a lot of walking. Spending a few days without a bike or a car can give you a new perspective on things. Walking is to biking what biking is to driving. Not in the sense of its impact on society and the environment, but your perception of the world and how you interact with it. If you want to slow down and get to know your neighborhood really well, spend a few days on foot. You’ll see and notice far more than you ever would on your bicycle.

My route to work takes me through the historical area of Carson City. I really like taking the time to enjoy the old buildings like the old Carson Brewing Company that once brewed beer with water from Kings Canyon Creek, or the Sweeney Building where Mark Twain’s brother Orion Clemens used to have an office. Some of the buildings even have plaques or signs indicating the historical significance (and insignificance in some cases…) of the site. These are some of the things you just don’t see at the pace of a bicycle commute.

Without all the preparatory tasks of bicycle commuting such as donning helmets and other gear, tire inflation, chain lubrication, packing your locks, cables, and lights, simply walking to work seems so easy in comparison. Just lace up your shoes and go. And walking is pretty relaxing. No covering the brakes. You’re not constantly scanning traffic and watching for opening car doors and other hazards.

Sweeney Building – Mark Twain’s brother Orion Clemens used to work here

Since you have access to additional routes where bicycles are not allowed, walking can be an all new adventure as well. You can use shortcuts between buildings, one way streets, and crosswalks to your advantage when you’re on foot. I really enjoy cutting through the park like settings of the Capitol grounds with all the big trees, meandering sidewalks, and interesting statues.

There are drawbacks to walking though. Time is definitely a consideration. I found it takes about 3 times longer to reach work when walking. Errands outside a mile radius might not be possible during the work day if you’re on foot. Here in Carson City, the bicycle gives you pretty much the same range as a car.

An old horse watering fountain – apparently the lions didn’t scare the horses

We sometimes like to complain that there aren’t enough bicycle facilities to get around town, but at least when you’re riding, you can still share the road with cars. The streets are in pretty good shape, and you can go with the flow of traffic. Our pedestrian infrastructure is much more neglected in comparison, which is kind of strange if you think about it. Most of us can walk no matter what age we are or what income bracket we’re in, yet many of our sidewalks are falling apart or simply end before you get where you’re going. School zones are more about safe parking than they are about safe walking. And since sidewalks border private property, you have to rely on the owners to trim their bushes and trees, and clear the paths of debris and snow.

But probably the worst thing about walking is trying to cross the main thoroughfares. It seems my best or more direct routes for walking take me away from the block corners where the traffic lights are, and I end up utilizing the crosswalks with no traffic controls. While I feel like I’m tolerated when riding my bike with traffic, I feel despised when having the audacity to stop traffic to cross a street on foot. Most people will stop for you, but they’re not happy about it. And they’ll remind you of this as they mash their gas pedals to the floor boards just as you complete your crossing as if to say, “You see how much time you just cost me? I’ll be lucky to make it on time now!”. Such strange behavior for someone kicked back in their heated leather chair, sipping a venti Starbucks, while listening to satellite radio in their climate controlled environment. The car companies are geniuses at getting people to commit large portions of their salaries to buy their products, but still haven’t figured out how to make people actually enjoy using them. As “luxurious” as they may be, apparently people can’t wait to get out of them.

A place of no historical significance

Luckily though, we’re starting to see more safe pedestrian crossings like the recently refurbished crosswalk on Stewart Street. Over-the-street flashing lights are immediately activated at the push of a button, and it really seems to legitimize your crossing attempt. I tried it this week, and cars began stopping far sooner than they would without the flashing lights. This new crossing on Stewart Street is obviously much safer at night as well. It’s dark when you get off work these days, so crossing the wide 35-40 mph corridor at the flashing lights may be a life saver. In addition to the new Stewart crossing, many of the walk lights at the downtown intersections have been re-timed to give pedestrians a little more time to cross safely. It pains me to see people hurrying or running across streets as if they don’t deserve to. It’s what we’ve been conditioned to do. These new signals will definitely help in this area.

New Pedestrian Crossing on Stewart Street

I’ve ridden to work a couple times this week, locking my bike to a ramp railing outside the building. It also appears I may soon have even more secured bike parking inside the main gates that could even include a bike rack. This is great news and will hopefully encourage more bicycle commuters here.

Riding to the C

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Jeff Moser

We rode the new C Hill Trail today at lunch, but this time decided to go all the way to the “C” and big American Flag that overlooks Carson City.

Top of new trail where it meets the road

The new trail doesn’t go all the way up yet, but it does end near the old access road. From there, it’s just a short steep climb up to the next saddle where you can access the trail that leads to the Flag and C.

At the flag above the C

The trail up to the C is a steep climb, but pretty smooth. I had to walk up some of it on my single speed, but the guys with granny gears went right up it. It was quite a thrill to get out on the face of the mountain. The face drops off dramatically, giving you a really high up feeling.

Looking east

It’s still an out and back from here, but at the saddle below the C and flag, the trail is at a good elevation to easily connect it around the south side of the mountain to the Longview Trail. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this happen soon!

View to the North

Warning!

As I was typing up this post, I read that a mountain lion was seen in this area recently, and even appeared to be stalking a jogger. This is after one was killed over the weekend in Lakeview! Be careful out there!

Ride to Star Lake

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Jeff Moser

I recently had the opportunity to ditch work and get up into the high country for some riding and adventure. My friend Ryan was up from the Bay Area, and wanted to ride something up at Tahoe that he hadn’t done yet. I had been wanting to get back up to Star Lake before the summer was over, and so plans were easily agreed upon for a Tahoe Rim Trail ride leaving south from Kingsbury Grade.

Top of the switchbacks, ready for some cruisin’

There’s no warming up when leaving the trailhead at the Heavenly Ski Resort Stagecoach Chairlift. To get to the singletrack, you need to climb up a sandy ski run, or go back up the pavement on the one-way Tramway Dr you drove in on. We chose the pavement option to conserve a little energy, but it was still tough, loaded down with larger packs and plenty of food and water for a few hours in the saddle.

Smudgemo Skipposaurus

The Tahoe Rim Trail site says this section of trail is for experienced riders only. Once on the singletrack, the grade becomes more moderate, but numerous rock challenges await you. In the first five miles, you’ll find yourself getting off the bike a lot to get around a switchback or to get up one of the frequent steps along the climb. You get a break after the first mile of climbing switchbacks, but many more steps must be climbed before reaching Monument Pass. This may be disappointing for the rider looking to get into the groove with some uninterrupted saddle time. But for the mountain biker looking to enjoy a day of outstanding scenery in the back country no matter what your mode of travel, this ride is for you. It’s also good to know that with gravity and momentum on your side, many of the obstacles are quite rideable on the return trip. It’s actually quite a fun downhill for those who like technical riding. Tough it out, and you won’t be disappointed.

High above the Carson Valley

This was Ryan’s 2nd ride on his new Smudgemo Skipposaurus. Never heard of it? That’s because he built the frame himself. Ryan was riding version #2 that day. Version #1 had a coke can shim in the seat tube due to tube thickness problems, and a Krylon paint job. It was a joy to ride, but it had a few errors that made him want to do version #2. Version #2 was powder coated professionally, and turned out to be a pretty decent bike. Ryan said other small details, like cable routing, might be changed if there is to be a Version #3. He said the bike was riding great on the trail that day, and was stoked to be riding on something he created. As for the name, you’ll have to ask him for the back story.

Way better than being at work

As we made our way around the east side of Monument Peak, we could hear heavy equipment working the Heavenly Ski resort area. While our eyes said we were out in the wilderness, our ears made us speculate that there were service roads just out of sight through the trees. When we began our ascent out of Mott Canyon though, these sounds began to fade, and feelings of solitude started to settle in. Just before the final ascent to Monument Pass, the trees thinned, and we had airplane like views of the Carson Valley. The trail is narrow here, and it felt like you could just jump off the edge and fly all the way down to the valley floor. We didn’t attempt this though.

Stairs on the way to Monument Pass

Monument Pass

Crossing Monument Pass is significant in this ride. I was happy to tell Ryan that we’d get to ride our bikes for the next 4 miles without having to get off every 50 yards. He seemed pleased with this. Monument Pass is also geographically significant, since this is where you cross from the east side of the mountains to the west side. Suddenly the pine trees you’re used to seeing along the Rim Trail give way to widely spaced mountain mahogany and very old and large juniper trees. It feels more desolate here, and has a totally different feel than the first half of the trail. The trail gets pretty sandy here in spots, and Ryan commented how squirrely it felt compared to his Bay Area dirt. For local riders accustomed to the summer sand of Ash Canyon, it won’t feel too unnatural though. My bike’s larger 29″ wheels were definitely an advantage in this section.

We still need to ride all the way over there…

With the exception of a few day hikers near the trailhead, we only saw one group of backpackers on the trail all day. We didn’t see any other bikes. There are still areas around the Tahoe that you can enjoy solitude, and this is one of them. Compared to the overcrowded parking lots and beaches below, this area is quite a contrast. You’re actually happy to see another human being periodically, knowing that someone else may be in the vicinity should you need help. The backpackers were eager to get to Star Lake, their destination for the day after 9 miles of hiking. We were too, because it was time for lunch!

Star Lake

West side of Star Lake

Just when you start thinking, “When are we going to get there? We’ve been climbing a long time…”, you arrive at Star Lake. The blue green waters of Star Lake rest at 9,100 ft elevation, and the still snowy 10,823 ft tall peak of Jobs Sister towers above it. You can take all the photos of it you want, but you still can’t capture how big it all feels.

Heading back to Monument Pass

We enjoyed a nice lunch on the lake and talked about bikes. We had a comfortable log to sit on while we gazed out across the lake. There were no mosquitoes. A father and son quietly fished nearby. Hikers off in the distance towards Freel Peak cried out to each other. Ryan shared his tuna fish sandwich with me. The places you can get to on a mountain bike are just as cool as actually riding the bike itself, if not more so.

Fun Boulders on Monument Pass

After a nice rest and lunch, we were eager to get some downhill. Early into the downhill we encountered the backpacking family. “Are we almost at the lake?”, he tiredly asked me. Like a good dad, he was carrying most of the load and letting his kids hike mostly burden free. I felt like a boss giving out a raise and a bonus when I told him, yep, you’re almost there…just around the corner. He couldn’t have been more pleased. We had a fun descent down from the lake, then a short climb back up to Monument Pass.

Mott Canyon Creek

We were back to the rocks. All the boulders and steps that were a pain on the way up were now a play ground. We had a blast rolling and bumping our way back down to Mott Canyon. There’s a nice little creek here, a lot of wild flowers, and a chair lift above your head. Shortly after this there’s a short road climb to gain altitude back up to the TRT. It takes less than a minute to descend, but on the way back, it takes a few minutes to hike. As we were pushing our bikes up the road, a couple of chicken sized birds crossed in front of us. I had never seen a bird like this before in the wild, but the name Sage Grouse popped into my head. They almost looked like quail on steroids. I compared my photos to Internet photos when I got home, and my identification was confirmed. What a cool sighting!

Let’s do it again, but take the lift!

Once we had hiked to the top of the road, we were in for the most fun singletrack of the day. Fast, windy trail through the woods with many fun obstacles. Even the last mile of switchbacks was a lot of fun to come down. It was surprising how much you could ride on the return trip that seemed impossible on the way in. We finished the ride with a short trip down the ski run. 50 yards from the car we had to ride through a mud hole! The bikes were nothing but dusty all day, and now the bikes were muddy right before it was time to load them on the car. Oh well. Can’t expect to stay clean when mountain biking, right? We stopped at the ski lift before loading up for the day, and thought we could probably do that downhill one more time if only we could get the lift working…

Interested in doing this ride? I wrote a pretty good trail guide last year HERE.

Back in 2008, I got to ride in Ryan’s neck of the woods. Read about our Oakland mountain bike ride HERE.

Tahoe Rim Trail to Flume Trail Loop

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Jeff Moser

Not only was summer late getting here this year, but my wife and I found ourselves moving across town just as the season started. Hearing our friends talk about their Lake Tahoe adventures as we spent our weekends in a dirty garage sorting through old junk was getting us down. But finally we were moved, and ready to go play on the trails! It was a celebration. Last weekend Kristy and I headed up to Spooner Summit for a loop on the Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail.

North Canyon

After a leisurely morning of getting the bikes ready, we headed up to Spooner Lake. We were on the trail just after noon, and took our time getting over to North Canyon. Riding up at the Lake is exciting, and sometimes you catch yourself heading out too fast. It’s best to conserve your energy for the climbs that await you though. It was on our initial climb that we had the only “crash” of the day. I was in the middle of the trail, letting Kristy get by me as I rested. As she passed, I swung my body around, hitting her firmly in the shoulder with my backpack. This sent her front wheel up the steep bank, causing her to loose balance and fall over. Oops. “Sorry, sweetie! I’m sure those people up the trail pretending not to look didn’t see a thing!”.

Lush Forest on Hobart Road

When we got to the really steep part at the end of North Canyon, we played mountain bike leap frog. Kristy rode the hill non-stop in the granny gear, and I, being on my single speed, would pass her and then rest. Then she’d pass me again while I was getting my lungs back in my chest. We repeated this sequence all the way up to the saddle above Marlette Lake.

Climbing the very steep Hobart Road

After a nice descent down to Marlette Lake, we just kept riding, heading along the east side of the lake on Hobart Road. The foliage is lush and thick here, and the road was pitted with many mud holes. For a time, it felt like being in New England rather than Nevada. It wasn’t long before we left the deciduous trees though, and climbed up and away from the lake. The road gets really steep here, and I decided that I wasn’t going to get any medals for not putting a foot down. It was time to push my bike. My knees thanked me. This section of trail is under 2 miles, and there are breaks here and there, but I was really looking forward to getting to the top.

Mules Ears on the Tahoe Rim Trail

I’ve done this loop a few times, but always in the clockwise direction. My reasoning was that I didn’t want another big climb immediately following the grueling ascent up North Canyon. After being chastised by a friend though, “You never climb singletrack, and then ride down a road! You did it backwards!”, I decided to toughen up and just get all the climbing done up front.

On top of the world

We had just finished the worst of the steep climb when we ran into friends Dan and Wendy. They were doing the loop clockwise for the first time and remarked that counterclockwise was the way to go. With their insight and the worst behind us, I was excited to get on the Tahoe Rim Trail just ahead.

View of Marlette and Tahoe from the Rim Trail

Not far into the Tahoe Rim Trail section, we came to the TRT Campground. It’s developed quite nice with a few sites, complete with some nice picnic tables, a bathroom, and even a well. If you’re running low on water, and don’t have a filter, this stop may be your best bet.

We have to go over this? Really?

From here, the Tahoe Rim Trail climbs up out of the trees, and gives the rider good views of the valleys to the east. One particular section is full of tall healthy Mules Ears, and the trail looks like it climbs up into the clouds. A group of mountain bikers apologized that they were blocking the trail for photos, but I told them not to worry. I was stopping too!

Hiking the snow bank

The remaining climb up Marlette Peak was very enjoyable with incredible vistas. A variety of wildflowers covered the ground, nearby mountain peaks towered around us, and the trail climbed and twisted its way to the top. As the trail crests the peak, you feel like you’re riding on top of the world. Once back on the west side of the mountain, you get treated to an almost sacred view of Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe together. I always have to stop here and just stare. It’s a wonderful spot to have lunch and rehydrate.

Descending the switchbacks to Tunnel Creek Road

After reluctantly leaving the heavenly views of Marlette Peak, we continued north along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Riding on perfect trails with only a bit of mud here and there in the shadows almost made me forget the trail conditions mentioned on the Flume Trail website. We came around a corner to a massive white wall, and then I remembered the words, “A bit less than 5 minutes of hiking is all it takes to traverse this snow bank.” Wow. How could it be that the ground was completely dry where I was standing, but covered in 10 feet of snow just a few feet away? The trail disappeared underneath the glacier, and a dirty staircase stomped into the snow climbed up and over and out of sight. Kristy said, “Really?”

Twin Lakes

The soles of Kristy’s shoes are pretty worn, and she was having problems getting traction climbing the snow. It took some time to get up onto the bank, but once up top, we found firm snow for walking. The path came perilously close to some deep tree wells, so we took our time. Before long we could see the dirt again. Once we rejoined the trail, it was clear of snow for the rest of the ride.

View of Sand Harbor from the Flume Trail

After finishing up the last little climb, it was time to descend the switchbacks all the way down to Tunnel Creek Road. We had a blast zipping through the trees, rolling over boulders, and trying to find the best line through the obstacles. Kristy thanked me for not making her climb this section. At the bottom we passed Twin Lakes. This may have been the first time I’ve actually seen water in these two seasonal ponds. Usually it’s just a meadow by the time I get up there.

Keep Left

Once at Tunnel Creek road, it was just a short descent down to the Flume Trail. Climbing this steep road is always tough, so it was a real treat to just effortlessly coast down! We got onto the north end of the Flume Trail and began our easiest pedal of the day so far. The smooth, packed, heavily-used Flume Trail gave us a nice break from the technical Tahoe Rim Trail.

Water Crossing at Marlette Dam

When we got to the cliff section, we both remarked that it seemed scarier than normal. Maybe it was just a different feeling having the drop-off on the right hand side. Or maybe a cliff is just a cliff, and this trail gives you a thrill no matter how many times you’ve ridden it. I said I wasn’t going to stop for pictures that much, but the views are so beautiful through here, that it’s almost impossible not to reach for the camera. It was a bit later in the day by now, and we didn’t encounter too much oncoming traffic. We even saw some groups we passed in North Canyon earlier in the day.

Smooth forest road along Marlette Lake

We climbed up to Marlette Lake at the top of the Flume Trail, and rode past the dam. Later in the year it’s possible to ride this section and stay dry, but with the water so high right now, we were going to get wet. Normally I like to keep my drive train and other moving parts dry, but there wasn’t an easy way around the water this day. It was splash, splash, splash as the pedals smacked the water until we were back on the road around Marlette Lake.

Marlette Lake

It was nearing 5PM, and the forest road was peaceful and shady. It was nice and relaxing after the Flume Trail where you constantly have to pay attention. I even rode with no hands for a bit. Storm clouds were brewing to the south, and far away thunder rumbled. It still seemed far in the distance though, so we didn’t feel rushed, only enjoying the beauty of Marlette Lake in the subdued light.

Still some big puddles

The climb back from Marlette Lake to North Canyon is not long, but it always seems like a grinder at the end of a long day. We took our time getting to the saddle, looking forward to the long four mile descent back to the trailhead. The sky was getting darker, and a few raindrops fell here and there. There were still riders coming up the canyon, just starting their ride late in the day with the dark clouds chasing them.

Leaving Marlette Lake

We made it back to the trailhead and checked in with my son. He said he was worried about us, because of all the thunder and rain back home. Apparently most of the weather had missed us. We only had a few drops, and the weather was already starting to clear again. It’s strange to go to the mountains to get out of the weather. We were both exhausted, but had a great time. Plans for the next adventure are already underway!

The complete photo collection of this trip can be found on Flickr HERE.

Maps, trail conditions, and information about bike rentals can be found on The Flume Trail Website.

Lake Tahoe Photoshoot with RoadBike Magazine

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Jeff Moser

Back on July 14th, I had the opportunity to guide a cycling photoshoot of Lake Tahoe for German magazine, RoadBike (http://www.roadbike.de/). They were in the area to explore and take photos for a story on Lake Tahoe as a bicycle travel destination. When the Nevada Commission on Tourism presented me with the idea of being the guide for this, I wasn’t sure what to say. Although I do love road bikes, I don’t have the time to ride them as much as I’d like with all the mountain biking I do. I don’t have much in the way of roadie looking clothes, and I don’t shave my legs either. I mulled it over. I’ve led many a friend up into the surrounding mountains, and all have returned alive and mostly undamaged. I like to take photos, I love bicycles, and I’ve lived in the area my whole life, so I figured why not me? I decided to take the job.

The Germans were smaller than I had imagined

I arrived up at the Mont Bleu Hotel Casino at Stateline on what was shaping up to be a fine morning. I was supposed to call upon my arrival, so I got my phone out and punched in that long international number. “I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed to dial this number from this line.” Great! Prompt German efficiency was about to meet lackadaisical Carson City bumpkin. I rode around the parking lot for a bit, hoping I’d catch someone’s eye, but then thankfully my phone rang, and they were just around the corner in front of the casino.

Björn Hänssler takes the higher ground

When I pulled around front, I found writer for the magazine Felix Krakow, and freelance photographer Björn Hänssler waiting patiently for me. Thankfully they were distracted by one of the many large bike sculptures erected for the Lake Tahoe Tour of California stage (that almost happened). As Felix was climbing up onto the giant bike for some silly photos, the nervousness melted away, and I knew it was going to be a fun day. And in addition to me being the guide for the day, I was to appear in almost all of the photos.

Felix Krakow says he’s OK with Emerald Bay

After we made our introductions, I was surprised to hear how well these two Germans spoke English. They spoke better English than many Americans I hear on a daily basis. I think I was expecting to hear thick accents as well, something similar to what you might hear in an Indiana Jones movie. The accents were very subtle though. Someone from Alabama or New England would have been more noticeable. I heard plenty of German throughout the day though, and usually when Björn wanted Felix to know exactly how he wanted the next shot to go. Things just sound more authoritative in German.

Björn gets some photos of the latest Specialized wheels

The east side of the Lake was still mostly in the morning shadows, so we loaded up the van, and headed around the south side of the lake to Emerald Bay. We didn’t ride from place to place, but we did get a fair deal of riding in at each location. We spent a lot of time riding up the climbs and and bombing down the corners around Emerald Bay, each time Björn having us try something different.

I feel that I take some pretty decent photos, but I wouldn’t go as far as to title myself a photographer. Björn was a pro. He had some really good ideas, and was not a bit afraid to get into a good position to shoot, no matter how dangerous it was. “Maybe I could climb that tree…”, he’d say, and many a cliff was scaled to get a good position above the bikes that included panoramic scenes of Lake Tahoe. Sitting on the shoulder as giant RVs skimmed me was far less scary than watching him climb the loose rocky shale to dig his heels in on a precipice above the road. Sometimes I couldn’t even watch.

Mount Rose Summit

After getting great shots at Emerald Bay, we drove north to the area around Kaspian Campground, just south of Tahoe City. The road and bike path come very close to the road here, and in the case of the bike path, just inches. Before hitting the bike path, we spent some time on a private dock. Björn wanted some shots of Felix and I relaxing and taking a break from our grueling trek around the lake, including soaking our tired bare feet in the water. A guy had just got done telling us that the water was 10 degrees cooler than it normally is this time of year due to the extended snow. The water was freezing! Felix and I were just about in tears by the time Björn was done taking all his shots. I have a new respect for models now. It’s not as easy as you may think.

A touching moment

Next we got several shots on the bike path where it brushes the shore of the lake. Björn had Felix and I racing up the path, and each time we were supposed to get closer together and further to the right. I was sure we were going to lock bars and go flying over the rock embankment, but we finally got it right!

It was approaching noon, and it was time to take a break. We were starving, but more importantly, the light wasn’t ideal for photography. This was funny to me, because high noon is when I take most of my cycling pictures. Not by choice really, but it’s when I usually get a break to ride. We drove through Tahoe City, and Felix finally picked Rosie’s Cafe. His bike senses must have been tingling, because inside we found the restaurant decorated with all sorts of old bikes! We had a good lunch, but were actually still at work. Björn wanted to get photos of us enjoying some Sierra NV Pale Ale and eating large portions of American fare.

Sorry folks, park’s closed. Moose out front shoulda told ya.

After lunch, the sun was in the right position again, and the next stop was the Mount Rose Summit for some mountain shots. As we rode back and forth across the summit for photos, I wondered if passersby thought I was heroic for scaling the 8,900 foot high mountain pass on my bicycle. In reality though, I still had a full water bottle, and not a drop of sweat on my brow. Our little secret. We hit a couple more spots for photos on the way down. Björn drove the van, while Felix and I got to descend on our bikes. There was a bit of a headwind, but we still managed speeds close to 40 mph for a fun descent.

Late afternoon shimmering water

The Germans were interested in visiting the Ponderosa Ranch, the movie set from the old TV series Bonanza. This surprised me, because the show officially ended in 1973, and the ranch has been closed as a tourist destination for so long that I almost forgot about it. The show must have really made a world-wide impact! We hiked down to the entrance, but were stopped when we got to the end of the parking lot. Cameras, double rows of fencing, and spiked gates surrounded the mock town. Whatever is left in there, they don’t want you looking at it. We moved on to the Sand Harbor area instead for the next series of photographs. This was the most dangerous spot for photos, since the traffic is fairly fast, and the road is twisty which prevented the motorists from seeing us until the very last second. This area will be a lot nicer when the Stateline to Stateline off-highway bikeway is completed sometime in the future.

Björn and Felix reviewing the Cave Rock photos

We finished off our photoshoot with some pictures at Cave Rock. Thankfully Björn was not insistent that Felix and I ride the tunnels. We instead rode on the south side of the massive rock, using it as a backdrop. We finally loaded the van one last time and returned to the Mont Bleu where we parted ways. The Germans had a long day ahead of them on Friday, first driving to San Francisco, then flying non-stop back to Hamburg.

In the end I think we got some great photos for the magazine that will really show off our beautiful area and encourage international cycling tourism. The article will be in the magazine later this year, or possibly as late as next year. It was also great to meet these two guys, and it’s my hope they come out again soon for some more riding. Maybe even a mountain bike tour of Lake Tahoe!

Getting the Kids Outdoors

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Jeff Moser

When I was a kid, we spent a good deal of our summer outside, coming home only to eat and sleep. Our BMX bikes were our ticket to freedom, allowing us to get all around town and out into the hills for some play and adventure. These days though, not as many kids are doing this. Many of our childhood play places have been developed. Traffic isn’t as safe. The houses have air conditioning. Video games, Internet, iPods, and other electronics keep our kids (and to be fair, many adults too…) enthralled and entertained. Too many excuses. Too many distractions.

Young Mountain Bikers

I want to make sure I instill the love of the outdoors in my son, the same way it was done to me when I was young. And although I’ve tried hard to make this happen, I still see all that other stuff taking hold of his attention. With my son’s recently acquired full-sized 26″ wheeled mountain bike though, the outdoors now have more than a fighting chance to keep him interested.

Summer vacation is in full swing now, and we’re finally getting some nice weather. My son and his buddy joined us for a lunch ride today, and we climbed up into Vicee Canyon for some singletrack. I was on the lookout for snakes or some other creature, something the boys might find exciting. Near the top of the climb, we spotted a large bird circling above us. Too big to be a hawk? Too far away to tell… A short time later, the bird had caught something, and was beginning its meal on a log. The prey looked too big to be a large mouse…

The bird was way too proud of its catch to take flight and leave it behind, and it allowed us to creep in for a really close look. Definitely not a hawk, and definitely not a mouse. It was a Golden Eagle, and it had a rabbit the size of a cat in its talons! Fur that was stuck to its beak blew in the light breeze, and its steady raptor eyes warned us that it would fight for its lunch. We crept up within 12 feet of the eagle to snap a photo, then retreated to let it do its thing.

Golden Eagle with a freshly caught rabbit

This turned out to be an exciting distraction from the workout of the climb, and then it was time for some downhill! We reached the turnoff to a nice long singletrack that follows the rim down along Vicee Canyon. We descended down smooth, fast, swooping trail, and marveled at the creek far down below us in the canyon. Perhaps not unlike what the eagle experiences during its hunt. We had one wipe-out in a sandy corner that got some laughs, and at the bottom, there was much excited talk and instant replay of the descent. We had just had a lot of fun outside. An adventure even. Take THAT, Nintendo.

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