Tahoe Mags: Hole In the Ground is Open!

[freshies]

Yep, finally, that hot spell melted the last snow and Hole In the Ground is good to go! Rode Emigrant w/the GF on Fri, then snuck off on a solo mission yesterday to recon HIG.

Man, I forgot how much I love that trail, it rocks. Parked near the fire station at the Sugarbowl exit and spun it up the road to the fire road that spits you out in Boreal's parking lot, under 80 to the Castle Peak trail head, then up and up and up, huffing and puffing through the switchbacks to gain Andesite Ridge and the most beautiful display of mules ear and wild flowers blowing up everywhere....then the goodness begins....smokin' fast single track w/amazing views of Castle Peak, then down, down, down, into the nice technical sections of granite goodness....some nice drops and swoopy bank turns, a deep creek crossing or two, then the fun plunge down the trail stairs that spit you out on the hell'ish loose gravel climb out....ahhhh, HIG is open and life is good.

Git out there while its still tacky, the flowers are blooming and its not too dusty!

[onehotchili]

shhh..... it's actually been pretty good for awhile

FYI, be careful parking near the fire station. supposedly cars have been broken into etc. a "safer" bet might be parking across I-80 by the hotel and gas station. it is only another couple hundred yards and much busier to prevent folks from messing with your car.

btw, next time your are up... drop me a line for a ride etc. i hit Emigrant early Sat morning before the crowds etc. in any case, i am always game for some mtn biking (at least until the new road bike arrives...)

[Superstar Punani]

Can you car shuttle that or do you have to climb it like a fag?
(blatant absence of winky intentional)

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Can you car shuttle that or do you have to climb it like a fag?
(blatant absence of winky intentional)

my god you are a pussy
(blatant absence of winky intentional)

[freshies]

shhh..... it's actually been pretty good for awhile

FYI, be careful parking near the fire station. supposedly cars have been broken into etc. a "safer" bet might be parking across I-80 by the hotel and gas station. it is only another couple hundred yards and much busier to prevent folks from messing with your car.

btw, next time your are up... drop me a line for a ride etc. i hit Emigrant early Sat morning before the crowds etc. in any case, i am always game for some mtn biking (at least until the new road bike arrives...)

ahh, didn't think it had been open all that long....was up last weekend too and guys at Backcountry said still hike a bike, etc.....have you hit it already?

yeah, will shoot you an email next time i am up so we can ride, but won't be for a few weeks now. Off to Yosemite next w/e, then off to Sun Valley for a week after that....so end of Aug i will be back up ready to ride. Want to do the Mt Rose TRT - > Flume ride if you are up for that....

[onehotchili]

ahh, didn't think it had been open all that long....was up last weekend too and guys at Backcountry said still hike a bike, etc.....have you hit it already?

yeah, will shoot you an email next time i am up so we can ride, but won't be for a few weeks now. Off to Yosemite next w/e, then off to Sun Valley for a week after that....so end of Aug i will be back up ready to ride. Want to do the Mt Rose TRT - > Flume ride if you are up for that....

been on it a couple of times... and yes, it was hike-a-bike for a few sections (until this past week). but for the most part, it has been awesome after work. The mosquitos have been sucking though.

i am totally up for Mt Rose TRT->Flume. it is a fun one on the SingleSpeed. Just let me know...

[Arty50]

my god you are a pussy
(blatant absence of winky intentional)

I'd like to second this. Especially since shuttling HIG is kinda pointless. You just save a short bit of essentially flat riding.

[Superstar Punani]

I'd like to second this. Especially since shuttling HIG is kinda pointless. You just save a short bit of essentially flat riding.

You'll shuttle Corral with me and LIKE it.

Actually I'm thinking of heading up there weekend after next 8/13-14 to try and do Toads 3x in one day. Shuttling of course. I need 2 more trucks- yours and the Dirty Aussie's.

[freshies]

SuPu, no way to really shuttle HIG to avoid the climbs, I guess you could start at the Castle Peak trail head proper to avoid the fire road climb from SB - Boreal parking lot, but then you would need a car stashed/waiting for you back at the SB fire station, where the ride spits you out. Anyway, the climbing isn't bad, just sandy fire road to Boreal, then the switch backs from CP up to the ridge, takes like 15 mins, no biggie. But the reward is $$, that single track section on the ridge and the granite playground is fun as hell.

Go git sum

[warthog]

I'll be out that way this weekend, aug.5th- 9th. Got a wedding to attend Sunday, and a bbq at 4 on Sat. Anybody riding there Sat. morning?

I will need to find a bike shop that rents higher end bikes w/ clipless pedals, and helmets, since I really don't want to bring my ghetto helmet.

If anyone wants to do this, pm me. I am camping fri. night somewhere near Truckee. The whole trip is really up in the air. My only plans are getting there, and renting a large vehicle/bed. Otherwise, i am free to do what I want until sat at 4.

I ride a bit here in Florida, but my sea level lungs will need a warm-up. I should be able to hang pretty well though. At least the heat won't get to me.

[Darkside]

I'll be out that way this weekend, aug.5th- 9th. Got a wedding to attend Sunday, and a bbq at 4 on Sat. Anybody riding there Sat. morning?

I will need to find a bike shop that rents higher end bikes w/ clipless pedals, and helmets, since I really don't want to bring my ghetto helmet.

If anyone wants to do this, pm me. I am camping fri. night somewhere near Truckee. The whole trip is really up in the air. My only plans are getting there, and renting a large vehicle/bed. Otherwise, i am free to do what I want until sat at 4.

I ride a bit here in Florida, but my sea level lungs will need a warm-up. I should be able to hang pretty well though. At least the heat won't get to me.

I might be down for riding, but definetly come to Cyclepaths in Truckee to get set up with a rental (we rent Rocky Mountains mostly).

Sorry for the shameless plug.

[warthog]

I might be down for riding, but definetly come to Cyclepaths in Truckee to get set up with a rental (we rent Rocky Mountains mostly).

Sorry for the shameless plug.

Nothing shameless about helping me out. Will you be there sat. morn.?

i think the campsite is outside of Tahoe City. I have no idea where it is, and am trying to get the info. This is the half-assed trip to end all half-assed trips. at least I know I have a bed Sun. night, after Powpig gets us all loaded at the wedding.

[Superstar Punani]

SuPu, no way to really shuttle HIG to avoid the climbs, I guess you could start at the Castle Peak trail head proper to avoid the fire road climb from SB - Boreal parking lot, but then you would need a car stashed/waiting for you back at the SB fire station, where the ride spits you out. Anyway, the climbing isn't bad, just sandy fire road to Boreal, then the switch backs from CP up to the ridge, takes like 15 mins, no biggie. But the reward is $$, that single track section on the ridge and the granite playground is fun as hell.

Go git sum

That's what I like to hear. You're the 3rd person whose raved about HIG (others are in my Weekdat ride crew) so I wanna check it out.

[Arty50]

You'll shuttle Corral with me and LIKE it.

Actually I'm thinking of heading up there weekend after next 8/13-14 to try and do Toads 3x in one day. Shuttling of course. I need 2 more trucks- yours and the Dirty Aussie's.

Looks like you're SOL. I'm gonna be in LA that weekend listening to the smoove sounds of Tony Bennett.

And yes, HIG kicks serious ass...unless of course you get lost, ride half-way down Donner Pass, ride back up, ride up the wrong side of the main peak, ride back down, finally get your head out of your ass, hit the main trail, climb the peak again, bonk like you never have before only halfway into the ride, forget your name, it's getting dark, there's 3 miles left, and you can't comprehend riding another 3 feet much less 3 miles.

[karma]

Nothing shameless about helping me out. Will you be there sat. morn.?

i think the campsite is outside of Tahoe City. I have no idea where it is, and am trying to get the info. This is the half-assed trip to end all half-assed trips. at least I know I have a bed Sun. night, after Powpig gets us all loaded at the wedding.

Darkside wont be here saturday, and neither will i (goiing to Park City to huck my shit) But let me know if you want a bike and how tall you are and ill reserve one for you and have it here setup for you. Whatever pedals you want and a helmet too. PM if you need more info.

Now that the rest of the plug is done...
I second that Hole in the Ground is in great shape, most things around here have turned to dust but the majority of HIG is still in great shape. Rode it for the first time last sat and went back again sunday for more. So much fun.