Rim Job: a Tahoe Rim Trail story (and photodump)

last saturday found me in the saddle for a few miles on the Tahoe Rim Trail.  this trail actually makes a loop around the entire Lake Tahoe basin, a total of 165 miles, but only certain sections are open to bikes (no ridin' them bikes on the PCT or in them wilderness places).  with tons of other spur trails leading to and away from the TRT one can choose from tons of riding options.  i chose a healthy dose of mileage (since i'm trying to keep on schedule for my Kenny Annihilation Training Plan) that started from Spooner Lake - 7000ft -(located on the Nevada side of the lake, north of where i live) heading north on a forest service road, climbing up to the TRT.  the B was kind enough to drop me off near the trail since she had to drive up and over the pass anyways to meets some clients in the carson valley.

i found myself climbing out of this meadow a little before 7am

seems i wasn't the only one up early saturday morn

climbing, climbing, climbing.  finally got up to the TRT singletrack and continued north.  this section of trail peaked out around 8700ft.  sweet views of the valley to the east of the lake and great views of the lake west once you crested out.  all singletrack winding in and out of forests and scrub and rocks.

looking east into the valley

once i reached Tunnel Rd - 7700ft -(dirt road that intersects the TRT) i turned down it to catch the north end of the famous Flume Trail and start heading back in a southern direction.  the TRT continues north from this point to Mt Rose but its closed on odd numbers days of the month to bikes.  my original plan was to ride from Mt Rose but with the closure i figured out a loop to make up the mileage.  the Flume is super fast and flowy with sick views and a few places with serious consequences.  a sometimes crowded but classic tahoe ride.  since i was out early, no worries.

view looking west from the Flume Trail down on Sand Harbor and a very calm lake

Flume Trail

the start of the Flume trail is at Marlett Lake, which is where i ended up since i was riding it in reverse.  no rope swing swimming this time.  just busting ass around the lake to get back to Spooner and continue south this time.

Marlett Lake - 7823ft.  look at that new helmet!  can you believe it?

once back at Spooner i crossed hwy 50 and headed south on the TRT towards my house.  the trail is mostly smooth dirt through a pine forest, climbing towards 'the bench' - 8800ft - for the first 7 miles, followed by a technical 6-7 miles section.  this part of the morning felt long after the 24 mile loop i had completed to the north.  i just put thoughts of Kenny foaming at the mouth about zeppelins, mustache wax and grandpapy's old-timey nerve tonic in my head and pushed the pedals over as hard as i could.

forest

view from 'the bench' area.  there is an actual bench to take in the view, hench the name.

looking south.  the mountain with all the ski runs on it is Heavenly.  i live in the notch just before the ski resort.  we should be there shortly.

the trail from the bench to my house at Kingsbury (Daggett Pass - 7200ft) is super technical and rocky, but mostly fun in the direction i was riding.  i did happen to overhear a trio of hikers' conversation . . . and i quote, "were you walking with the lord before?"  wow, if one of the other guys was 'the lord' i feel bad for not stopping and introducing myself.  although it probably wouldn't have won me any points anyways, my fate is about as sealed as Kate's.  CWP!  back to riding.  shortly after my possible passing of 'the lord' i went over the bars in a rocky section.  no biggie.  except for the fact that the camera came out of my camelback unbeknownst to me.  so when i got to the house for lunch and figured out it wasn't in my pack i had to backtrack 2 miles - and there it was safely nestled in the dirt where it was ejected.

lunch time.  this one is for you Kenny!  40 miles in, 30 still to go.

heading up Heavenly ski resort.  aka - my backyard.

after lunch and such and finding the camera it was back to business.  and by business i mean climbing and pushing my bike over rocks.  suddenly it was hot out.  suddenly i was wishing i hadn't had beer at lunch.  suddenly there were tons of technical rock steps to climb everywhere.  suddenly my 32x20 felt over geared (yeah, i said 32x20 felt overgeared, who do you think i am?  the dickster?)  miles and miles went by with great views and hard riding.  and a little bit of delirium.

mott canyon area of the ski resort.  fun stuff in the snow.  Monument Peak on the left - 10,067ft

view into the carson valley - 4800ft - to the east of the lake.

a view south on the TRT.  i'm headed over the notch to the right of the bald mountain (about where that tree/bush is poking through the skyline).

Star Lake - 9100ft.  finally.  cold and refreshing.

looking back north at Heavenly.

Freel Peak, highest around the basin - 10,881 ft.  i'm also at the high point of my day - 9700ft

heading down to Armstrong Pass .

once i got to Armstrong Pass i had some choices to mull over . . .  sack up and climb 2.5 miles more to Tucker Flat and descend either Mr Toad's or Big Meadow and end up in Meyers OR start descending now on some of my favorite trails back to the town of Meyers.  fortunately i'm not one to get bogged down on a decision like this (unlike someone else i know).

descending Armstrong . . . to Upper Corral to Sidewinder to Meyers.  fuck yeah.

Sidewinder.  don't know if you can tell but there is a mile+ of swoopy switchbacks.  sick trail.

so all in all a 70 miler with tons of climbing and insane views and lakes and whatnot.  good trails all right around the house.  basically you kids need to get your asses out here and ride.  we could plan on one hell of an epic (epoch, eeeepock, tupac) adventure.

Kenny Annihilation Training Plan continued sunday as well with a road ride around the lake at somewhat of a race pace with 2 others.  73 miles with plenty of climbing and a 20+ average.  it hurt.  a lot.  and oh yeah, forgot to mention some old news . . .

Nevada Single Speed State Champ bitches:

kenny, kyle, will, and any others (jimberly?) with one gear bikes . . . its on it october.  i'll be ready.