Weekday Trail Outlook and Upcoming Events 3/14-3/20, 2022

Trail Karma Opportunity:

• Biggest Little Trail Stewards is collaborating on a fundraiser for two new park benches at Sierra Vista Park. The fundraising goal is $1500 and launched last week. These benches will be much like the benches around the Peavine trail network and will be much appreciated. To donate on the go fund me campaign or share the link, click here.

Trail Outlook: Wet Turning Nice

• Monday night to Tuesday morning is expecting rain followed by a burst of wind so Tuesday afternoon may be either too soft or just perfect with gusts in many places. The rest of the week will stay warm and dry with only moderate breezes so overall conditions will be great to be out with soft spots midmountain and snow and major water/mud in the upper mountain areas. I don’t expect any access in the mid to upper mountain to significantly change this week but if more rain comes down than expected, some of the lingering low snow is likely to wash away. This is most likely to impact the mud on Total Recall between Halo Junction and First Bench, on upper and lower Stagecoach, and on Halo between the R and Snow Terraces. The depth of the drifts on Snow Terraces and Halo between Snow Terraces and Total Recall make it unlikely that they will melt and dry enough to see major conditions improvement this week.

• Coming from Kings Row or Las Brisas areas, you can now get as high as the Crispy Bacon/ Bacon Strip/Halo Junction before running into significant snow. Keystone canyon and adjoining routes are clear as high as the Poedunk bench. All of the parks around Peavine are good to go. Recent pictures on social media show that upper Total Recall and Stagecoach have isolated patches of serious mud. Turn back or go straight through mud holes to prevent trail braiding. There was a very large snow drift across Norton’s Toll Road wrapping around the north side of the mountain a few weeks ago so I suspect there is still significant water and snow around 3 Trees and Kiowa Lane. Halo between the R and Total Recall still features significant snow and mud, but you can connect upper Fisticuffs to the Bacons if you use the 4wd roads. Mid to upper mountain continue to have persistent snow, but continued above freezing lows will be melting these slowly.

Note for dog owners:

• Over the past few weeks I’ve been getting the dogs out on the mountain for longer off trail hikes in the ridges and canyons above Kings Row, Leadership Parkway, and Keystone Canyon. We have very consistently been spotting groups of coyotes at close range moving through or bedded down away from the main trails around 4-5pm. They have demonstrated general caution and disinterest in us, but are not showing significant fear. My dogs are slightly smaller than coyotes (~tall 25lbs). In general, if you are out with dogs in the late afternoon, or exploring off trail, you may want to plan to keep the pups leashed. We are in coyote territory and they will defend dens or fight back if harassed.

This Week’s Events

• Tuesday, March 15:

• 5:15pm

  • Tentative Due to Weather: Tuesday Night Ride Group (TNRG) is kicking off the season with a ride along the Steamboat Ditch Trail. Start and end meeting point is at Horseman’s Park on Skyline Drive with most riders probably heading west. If you are new to TNRG rides, there is no mass start so bring a friend or introduce yourself to who ever is around when you set off. Ride as long as you like, but bring a light if you plan to be out for a long time. Most TNRG rides will have an after ride social at the start point so if you want to join in, pay attention to the flow of riders heading back. Due to the weather forecasting rain, there is a chance of cancellation. Check their Facebook Group Page for the most current updates.

• 5:45pm

  • Silver State Striders are running Keystone Canyon to Three Trees and back for ~8 miles. Meeting at Keystone East parking lot. Headlamps and reflective gear recommended. More details on their website.

• Wednesday, March 16:

  • 4:45pm

    • Reno Wheelmen’s weekly Verdi road ride starts up. Start and end at the CVS parking lot on California Avenue. There is a one time waiver to be signed so give yourself enough time before the 5pm roll out to set up and sign in. This is an out and back with social pace on the out and choose your own adventure pace on the way back. Lights, including rear red, and reflective attire suggested as well as be prepared to service your own flats should that happen.

• Thursday, March 17:

  • 5:00pm

    • Reno Del Fuegos MTB Club are riding Peavine from the softball fields parking lot above Rancho. This is tentative based on trail conditions but they are expecting a loop ride of Evans and Keystone canyons. For details and latest updates follow their Facebook Group page.

  • 5:45pm

    • Silver State Striders will be running out and back on dirt from Pinehaven to the ‘Gate’ for ~8 miles of pavement and hills. Headlamps and reflective gear recommended. More details on their website.

• Saturday, March 19:

  • 8:00am

    • Silver State Striders are running a Caughlin Ranch plus mixed surfaces loop including significant climbing. The run will start and end at Roy Gomm elementary school for a total of ~23 miles. More details on their Facebook Group Page.

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!

Afternoon walk with the pups above Keystone Canyon.