Tahoe Weather, Conditions, Stoke, and What's Up Thread...

[Huskier]

I'll be passing through these parts starting 8/3, gonna need some August turns. Likelihood of a sheltered, forgotten, dime-sized patch persisting for 2-3 weeks?

[dookeyXXX]

Still some skiable patches on the backside of Castle Peak for someone desperate enough, and I do mean desperate.

interesting, cuz from a distance (atop Mt. Lola), the only thing that looks like it's still holding is Basin Peak and those patches are really low-angle. didn't see much of anything still clinging to the Coon Canyon side of Castle Peak from my vantage point yesterday. what i saw from far away didn't look like it would be a good hike-to-turn ratio. but perhaps you stumbled upon some patches that weren't visible from across the way...

speaking of which, i guided a couple of split-boarder friends up to Lola and we rode the main ridge (while it's long, still stretching across the entire ridge, the pitch itself is short = 5 turns at the most) and then we got motivated and hiked down the back (north) side and hit a 22-turn strip that's still clinging there (the hike out, however, is a bit of a bitch in that it's straight up, storming the castle action). we did a 6 hour tour from truck to turns and back to truck (8 hours if you factor in our drive time from/to Truckee).

snow was sweet summer corn, though.

[WestCoastPDR]

Horse Shit.. Seriously this weekend was the worst I've ever seen it. I always hike with my dog and if for some reason he goes poo on the trail I clean it up. Have these horse owners ever heard of a poop bag? They take the biggest and smelliest shit's I have ever seen right smack dab in the middle of the trail. Must be a PITA if your on a bike and have to avoid it every 2 minutes so that you don't run over it with a tire so that it doesn't get flung up on you by a tire.

Seriously HORSE RIDERS/OWNERS CLEAN UP YOUR SHIT!!!

[old goat]

interesting, cuz from a distance (atop Mt. Lola), the only thing that looks like it's still holding is Basin Peak and those patches are really low-angle. didn't see much of anything still clinging to the Coon Canyon side of Castle Peak from my vantage point yesterday. what i saw from far away didn't look like it would be a good hike-to-turn ratio. but perhaps you stumbled upon some patches that weren't visible from across the way...

speaking of which, i guided a couple of split-boarder friends up to Lola and we rode the main ridge (while it's long, still stretching across the entire ridge, the pitch itself is short = 5 turns at the most) and then we got motivated and hiked down the back (north) side and hit a 22-turn strip that's still clinging there (the hike out, however, is a bit of a bitch in that it's straight up, storming the castle action). we did a 6 hour tour from truck to turns and back to truck (8 hours if you factor in our drive time from/to Truckee).

snow was sweet summer corn, though.

Looked like one or two narrow sheltered gullies under Castle holding a ribbon, as seen from the saddle between Castle and Frog Lake cliffs, and then from below. I say one or two because I couldn't tell from the trail if it was one long gully or two unconnected ones. Hard to tell if wide enough to make turns. The gullies might have been hidden by the sidewalls as seen from Lola. Death willow at the bottom. Like I say--for the desperate. I'm not a patch skier.

[old goat]

Horse Shit.. Seriously this weekend was the worst I've ever seen it. I always hike with my dog and if for some reason he goes poo on the trail I clean it up. Have these horse owners ever heard of a poop bag? They take the biggest and smelliest shit's I have ever seen right smack dab in the middle of the trail. Must be a PITA if your on a bike and have to avoid it every 2 minutes so that you don't run over it with a tire so that it doesn't get flung up on you by a tire.

Seriously HORSE RIDERS/OWNERS CLEAN UP YOUR SHIT!!!

Hiking behind Castle Peak a couple years ago I passed a rider going the other way--fortyish, beautiful, black hair in a tight bun, English riding pants and boots, English saddle, riding crop, tight riding shirt. I'm still in love. Her horse can shit where it wants, AFAIC.

[TahoeJ]

Seriously HORSE RIDERS/OWNERS CLEAN UP YOUR SHIT!!!

This. The fact that horses seem to get more trail preference/access these days than mountain bikes pisses me off to no end. They shit all over the place and cause way more trail damage and yet somehow that doesn't matter?

Around the bay the mtb vs. horse battle really had the flames stoked recently: http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_235...er-run-illegal (not defending the bikers who fled, just pointing out the incident).

P.S. - any north bay MTBers who like to poach, be careful, they're cracking down hard right now and the first violation is $200.

[PB]

Just out of curiosity, what's the ratio of MTBers vs HB riders? Not being an MTBer, I don't really mind stepping over the occasional pile (the odor doesn't even begin to compete with dog or human shit - but neither really bothers me smell-wise). Now if these Equs types were active in the Winter ........

[powdork]

I don't mind the smell of horseshit much, but the flies, oh my god the flies. and they do more damage than mountain bikes. it definitely bothers me when they are allowed on trails and mt bikers aren't

[RaccoonFace]

Hiking behind Castle Peak a couple years ago I passed a rider going the other way--fortyish, beautiful, black hair in a tight bun, English riding pants and boots, English saddle, riding crop, tight riding shirt. I'm still in love. Her horse can shit where it wants, AFAIC.

Until the end, I was not sure if you were talking about the horse or the chick...

Now I'm just pretty sure you're talking about the horse. That's an old horse.

okbye

[TahoeJ]

Just out of curiosity, what's the ratio of MTBers vs HB riders? Not being an MTBer, I don't really mind stepping over the occasional pile (the odor doesn't even begin to compete with dog or human shit - but neither really bothers me smell-wise). Now if these Equs types were active in the Winter ........

It's extremely skewed, with way more MTBers, but because the equestrian folks are typically trust fund babies and have influence, they have all the trail rights. In Marin at least. The home of mountain biking with almost no legal single track on public lands - slightly ironic. Fortunately I live in Sonoma County so it's less of a problem and the horse riders and bikers tend to get along pretty well... probably because when trails are mixed use most MTBers will ride with a bell to give them a heads up.

[powdrhound]

I don't mind the smell of horseshit much, but the flies, oh my god the flies. and they do more damage than mountain bikes. it definitely bothers me when they are allowed on trails and mt bikers aren't

Bella does not roll herself in MTB tracks like she does in Horse track poop. Point goes to MTB's.

[WestCoastPDR]

Shout out to Tom Wohrman sports in SLT. Super good boot fitter. Took my Cochise prolights out about 4mm in the toe box to fit my wide ass foot. He is new to the area residing from big bear/mammoth. Last time I skied these boots I hobbled around for the next day or so as my 6th toe was killing me... Headed up for some patch skiing soon.. Will report back on the snow and his work soon

[dhklauer]

Just got this email today in regards to the Peter Grub Hut, and thought I would spread the word.

The heart of Sierra Club’s mission has always been to share the outdoors with everyone. Nothing encapsulates this spirit quite like the lodges and huts we own and operate in the wilderness of California. Today, however, one of our most treasured retreats needs your help. Please visit savepetergrubbhut.org.

After 75 years of wear and tear in the wilderness, the Peter Grubb Hut was closed this March in order to assess its condition and schedule urgent repairs. We are currently determining the extent of the work required, but we would like to start the renovation as soon as possible so that we might reopen the hut in time for the upcoming winter season.

Please make a donation to help us repair and reopen the historic Peter Grubb Hut. You can contribute online or by sending a check payable to “The Sierra Club Foundation” with “Peter Grubb Hut” on the memo line (mail to 85 Second St., Suite 750, San Francisco, CA 94105). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Peter Lehmkuhl at peter.clairtappaan@gmail.com.

We greatly appreciate any support you can give us. With your help, we can make sure that the Peter Grubb Hut continues to provide the Sierra Club experience to outdoor adventurers for another 75 years.

Thank you for your support,

Dick Simpson
Hut Volunteer Coordinator

Peter Lehmkuhl
Manager Clair Tappaan Lodge


About the Peter Grubb Hut: Nestled in the wilderness north of Lake Tahoe stands the Peter Grubb Hut, a rustic Sierra Club shelter available to both our members and the general public. Built in 1939, the hut provides sleeping accommodations for skiers, snowshoers, and other outdoor adventurers. For many people, it has even provided their first overnight backcountry experience. The Peter Grubb Hut sees an average of about 1,000 visitor-nights reserved every winter, and many people use it as a convenient lunch stop during day tours. The hut also provides emergency shelter in all seasons for people caught by inclement weather, and it was credited with saving the life of a skier in 2004.

[Tahoe tim]

Isn't the hut in a Wilderness Study Area? If it becomes a Wilderness area, wont they have to remove it anyway? Cool hut and all but if they sink that much money into it only to have to do it again to move it would suck.

[LightRanger]

Isn't the hut in a Wilderness Study Area? If it becomes a Wilderness area, wont they have to remove it anyway? Cool hut and all but if they sink that much money into it only to have to do it again to move it would suck.

It's designated as non-motorized, but is not a wilderness study area. Similar to Grouse Ridge.

[lepistoir]

Equally mystified. Any equestrians can explain the conundrum?

Horse Shit.. Seriously this weekend was the worst I've ever seen it. I always hike with my dog and if for some reason he goes poo on the trail I clean it up. Have these horse owners ever heard of a poop bag? They take the biggest and smelliest shit's I have ever seen right smack dab in the middle of the trail. Must be a PITA if your on a bike and have to avoid it every 2 minutes so that you don't run over it with a tire so that it doesn't get flung up on you by a tire.

Seriously HORSE RIDERS/OWNERS CLEAN UP YOUR SHIT!!!

[lepistoir]

It's extremely skewed, with way more MTBers, but because the equestrian folks are typically trust fund babies and have influence, they have all the trail rights.

Horses spook and people get hurt. That's why everyone yields to them. They're also expensive and money does have a lot of undemocratic influence these days. The fact that horses are a prey species and can see any fast-moving objects as a threat will never change so behaving with respect around them is the only answer (short of banning them from MTB trails...good luck)

In Marin at least. The home of mountain biking with almost no legal single track on public lands - slightly ironic.

tell me about it. I lived in Boulder and never understood why IMBA was based there when you need to leave the county to ride. From very recent experience, I would say Idaho and WA are the places to go if you don't want to deal with organizing an advocacy group before you can ride.

Fortunately I live in Sonoma County so it's less of a problem and the horse riders and bikers tend to get along pretty well... probably because when trails are mixed use most MTBers will ride with a bell to give them a heads up.

More cowbell...even for horses.

[lepistoir]

Now if these Equs types were active in the Winter ........

http://www.nordicdesignhub.com/products/search/Dala

[Steven S. Dallas]

because the equestrian folks are typically trust fund babies and have influence, they have all the trail rights.

That was definitely true thirty years ago, or twenty-five, or whenever the biking bans were put in place. There are plenty of wealthy mountain bike people, too, these days, but once laws are in place it's hard to get rid of them and the horsey set was there first and had the argument from tradition on their side.

[MTT]

A survey, fast easy to take.
It's from TRPA
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TahoeTruckeeStewardship

[powdork]

Shout out to Tom Wohrman sports in SLT. Super good boot fitter. Took my Cochise prolights out about 4mm in the toe box to fit my wide ass foot. He is new to the area residing from big bear/mammoth. Last time I skied these boots I hobbled around for the next day or so as my 6th toe was killing me... Headed up for some patch skiing soon.. Will report back on the snow and his work soon

i'll have to check him out soon. i live just down the street and have seen him out working diligently on his new place, which is in the center of town on the 50 near the 7-11 in the sierra tract.

[TahoeBC]

This has possibly been posted already, but they are in the process on laying down cable to get Kirkwood on the grid.

http://kirkwoodmtn.tumblr.com/post/5..._rid=525111726

[powdrhound]

This has possibly been posted already, but they are in the process on laying down cable to get Kirkwood on the grid.

As it was explained to me, the cable they are laying will only be strong enough to cover the non-lift portion of the power requirements. This will give the home owners a more reliable source of power a much lower cost. And the powerhouse will be backup for the home owners.

The lifts will still be run by the new powerhouse.
We will continue to look over our shoulders for the black plume whenever a lift goes down.

[MTT]

PSA

Squaw Valley Free movie night Avengers 8:30 Tonight August 1st.

Not sure I want to burn the gas getting there. But that's sounds like a pretty cool way to spend an evening.
http://www.squaw.com/things-to-do/ev...r-movie-series

[Driver]

P.S. - any north bay MTBers who like to poach, be careful, they're cracking down hard right now and the first violation is $200.

+1. There are rangers all over the place. They hide in the bushes all night!