Tahoe conditions?

ja_surf and nater: thanks for the information. I actually like shallower grades, because then the trail lasts longer. What I don't like is the idea that everything has to be ridable by beginners. Usually this is a misconception by people who don't ride, who look at a pile of rocks in the trail and think "horrible trail that we need to fix", as opposed to "fun challenge for mountain bikers and no problem for hikers".

I certainly hope that the tide is turning re: horses...one of the problems locally is that the planning meetings are frequently held DURING THE DAY. This means that all the equestrian trophy wives show up and complain about bikers, but none of the mountain bikers (who actually have jobs, or are in school) can be there to address the slander.

I figured any public comment was long ago. I'm not local but I wouldn't mind doing a trail work day.

D: your PM box is full.

So, what would y'all recommend for South Shore based XC rides?!? Are there any to speak of, or is everything gnarly/snow-covered? I'll be up this weekend, but don't think I'm ready for gnardenelles . . . suggestions much appreciated!

Firebreak is a good XC ride.

Corral loop is another option. It has an uphill on pavement and a fairly mellow downhill. Just a couple of rocks and some whoopty doos. It's mostly dirt though.

I'm sure there are others; I just don't know about them yet.

What are some good car shuttle rides in South shore which is free of snow? Anything on Luther Pass? Toad's?

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Originally Posted by Kellie

So, what would y'all recommend for South Shore based XC rides?!? Are there any to speak of, or is everything gnarly/snow-covered? I'll be up this weekend, but don't think I'm ready for gnardenelles . . . suggestions much appreciated!

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Well how YOU doin? Do you still have all my ski posters that I left in your truck at the TGR show back in...oh....November?

Spats- I cleaned my pussy... I mean emptied my box.

Yep, I've got your posters . . . I've just been waiting patienty for you to come get them :cool:

Is firebreak singletrack or fire road? I'm lookin' for something longer than corral loop, although it is a fun ride :biggrin:

Anyone riding Sunday? I've got a commitment down here Saturday evening.

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Originally Posted by Kellie

Is firebreak singletrack or fire road?

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Fire road.

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I'm lookin' for something longer than corral loop, although it is a fun ride :biggrin:

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When in Rome...ride it twice. :D

When/are you guys doing Toads tomorrow? I'll be doing it with some other friends tomorrow, and it might be fun to get everyone together.

I'm so jealous - Tahoe was soooooooooooo fun last weekend. I'm stuck here in the crappy, sloggy, Bay (not that I'm complaining too much - trails are at least sticky, we have that going for us).

mmmm.... Gnardanelles!!

If anyone had any doubt, Toads is good to go. No need to get off the bike for snow patches.

I hate you all.

*sigh* Once more around the block on flat pavement for me...

Did Gnardanelles in the morning, with the ride out to the lake and back.

Gnardanelles was the shit, but the Dirty Aussie w/ 3 weeks of MTB experience hated the technical section.

Got eaten alive by Mosquitos the size of fucking stealth bombers.

Back to the cars, left one at Oneitas, up Waterhouse, climb up to start of Toads and Fucking Toads was Fucking SWEET!!!

There's the death rock section up top which was Endo City, then ass-haul sections very similar to Downieville 3rd divide.

All a blur...mosquitos splattered on your face and sunglasses, whole body shaking from adrenaline overload.

Lower part starting to get sandy in parts.

So fucking good.

Sun 10:30am - getting ready to head out. Probably do the same and check out Upper/Lower corral.

in a nutshell, my one memory of the one ride i did w/ pu last year ( on a wussy-ass flume/marlette lake climb no less) goes like this.....WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! :wink:

but seriously, whining about climbing is for fags too out of shape to be able to climb. :the_finge


bent my frame end that holds the derailer and it caught in the spokes and got cranked around at that 1st rockgarden out of dardanelles lake. derailer is toast but the rest was fixable. that whole lake linkup trail is pretty tough. the swimming in the lake right now is great and some deet and some wind work wonders on those pesky little bloodsuckers. this time, xmas valley/dardanelles kicked me and my bikes ass.

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Originally Posted by gimpy

in a nutshell, my one memory of the one ride i did w/ pu last year ( on a wussy-ass flume/marlette lake climb no less) goes like this.....WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! :wink:

but seriously, whining about climbing is for fags too out of shape to be able to climb. :the_finge


bent my frame end that holds the derailer and it caught in the spokes and got cranked around at that 1st rockgarden out of dardanelles lake. derailer is toast but the rest was fixable. that whole lake linkup trail is pretty tough. the swimming in the lake right now is great and some deet and some wind work wonders on those pesky little bloodsuckers. this time, xmas valley/dardanelles kicked me and my bikes ass.

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WAAAAAAAH! :D

Gnardanelles is fun. I forgot how gnarly the first rockgarden is, and down the bottom I got completely spanked by the staircase and the sisters.

The lake was good but wind chill on Sat made it not too tempting for a swim.


Now for the one-meeelion dollar question. We met up with a couple locals at Toads (Jason from Meyers, rides a VP-free, hauls ass). He was telling us about Upper Corral trail. Basically the Forest service cut down shitloads of trees. Just find the chopped down trees, pick up your bike, walk 100 yards and follow the trail of rollercoasters and big open faces "like skiing".

Anyway me and the Dirty Aussie drove up as far as Oneitas would go, past the Corral proper entrance all the way up that hill where it dead ends. ("Private Property"). There's a gate which leads to the Tahoe Rimjob trail and Armstrongs. Rode that for a bit up and down but that wasn't it.

Eventually we just climbed the dirt road past the private property gate. We found a bunch of chopped down trees, walked a 100 yard radius but can't find the secret Upper Corral trail. Where is this?

We eventualy gave up and hauled down the road back to Corral proper and then lapped that 3x.

On a separate note, Toads is sooo fuckin sick! I am still replaying that in my mind. It sucked going the first time down the rockgarden / big drops section and not knowing what line to pick. My wrists are sore, my palms are calloused and blistered, and I have to get chicks to give me hand jobs until all these heal up. Toads rules.

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Originally Posted by Superstar Punani

WAAAAAAAH! :D


Eventually we just climbed the dirt road past the private property gate. We found a bunch of chopped down trees, walked a 100 yard radius but can't find the secret Upper Corral trail. Where is this?

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Hey SP

Forest Service decommissioned that trail a couple years ago They are going to build a new one late this summer or next year that will drop down from the other side of the road from were the Armstrong Pass trail starts. Sounds like people must be starting to ride it again.

Road the Rim trail from the Stagecoach lift at Heavenly to Toads Saturday. 25 miles of single track bliss, only a few snow patch's left that were no big deal at all. This is my all time favorite ride in Tahoe and the Trail is not going to be in any better shape than it is right now unless we get some rains. Plus the wildflowers are going off right now. Banged it out solo in 4 hours and 20 minutes trying to beat the heat, but expect it to take around 7 hours with a group of people.