If you absolutely have to get out and be active in this smoke, check the air conditions in Truckee and the West Shore of Tahoe. Excepting this morning, they seem to be incrementally better than Reno. And if you can’t get out of town, kn95 and n95 masks make a significant difference.

Something you CAN do for the outdoors while staying indoors is take a survey about trails and your perspectives on what it means to be part of trail communities. The survey is being conducted by the University of Maryland and you can click through to their information and to participate here. It took me about ten minutes to complete.

Ongoing Fall Trail Karma Opportunity:

• If you have ever been interested in getting involved with trail stewardship beyond just volunteering for work days, Nevada State Parks has partnered with American Trails and created an opportunity for just that. Via the Regional Trails Training Program, anyone can learn how to up their trail stewardship skills through workshops that are currently being offered both online and in person over the coming weeks. Topics of the workshops include all aspects of trail planning, construction and maintenance, vary by date, and are offered both online and in-person. Content is appropriate for all skill levels and interest, individual workshop topics can complement each other but anyone can take any workshop of interest. For more information check out the detailed course descriptions booklet here, register directly here through American Trails, or send questions to Kim Frederick or call him at 303-718-0829.

This Week’s Events

• Summer Weekends

  • Sky Tavern Ski and Bike Park is now offering youth half day sessions and adult yoga. Youth sessions include a General Fitness, ACL Injury Reduction,or Women’s Mountain Bike Skills. Age ranges from 8-16yo. Sign up for one half day up to every summer weekend. Details at the link.

• Tuesday, August 17:

  • 5:00pm:

    • Reno Wheelmen’s Twilight Road Race series features the Geiger Grade Hill Climb. This is a roughly 1 hour effort from bottom to top. Due to the air quality, this event is tenuous and so the most current status will be posted to the Wheelmen’s FB page.

  • 5:30pm:

    • Tuesday Night Ride Group, as their name suggests, will have their weekly mountain bike ride. The ride changes location each week so check their Facebook group or join their google email group to get direct updates. This week (8/17) they are riding from the Thomas Creek trailhead and rolling out around 5:30pm. If this is your first TNRG ride, know they don’t have a mass start or group guides so it’s on new riders to either bring their own friends or make some by introducing yourself.

    • Muscle Powered’s Tuesday Ladies Ride in Carson. Meet up at Foothill Dr. just off of N. Winnie Ln. (aka Pooh Corner). Rides are open to all skill levels. Contact bike coordinator Beth Harrison with questions.

  • 5:40pm:

    • Reno-Tahoe Junior Cycling’s club ride is for youth and parents is expected to roll pending air quality. Free to participate but RSVP and Waivers are required and the location is announced via their mailing list. For more details and required forms, check out their website.

  • 6pm:

    • Silver State Striders have decided not to organize group runs this week due to air quality issues.

• Wednesday, August 18, 5pm:

  • Reno Wheelmen’s casual Verdi road ride rolls as a group from the CVS parking lot at Booth and California Ave at 5pm. ~25 miles paved with the option to add loops in verdi and multiple regroup points on the way out for those less familiar with the route. Open to members and non-members alike. Details on their website.

• Thursday, August 19, 6pm:

  • Silver State Striders have decided not to organize group runs this week due to air quality issues.

• Friday, August 20, 6:30pm:

  • Biggest Little Trail Stewardship’s monthly meeting will be held at Mi Casa Two on West 4th Street. This meeting is open to anyone and generally covers group business, project updates, and upcoming initiatives. If you want to get more involved in trails organizing, sitting in on these meetings is a low effort entry point. Additional information at their FB event page.

• Saturday, August 21:

  • Silver State Striders have decided not to organize group runs this week due to air quality issues.

That’s what’s on my radar at the moment. If you know of something I missed or is coming soon, send me an email and it might get listed. See you outside!