Trail Outlook: Freeze Thaw Dry Cycle

• This last Sunday storm came in with a fair amount of overnight rain which may have helped. The rain melted a lot of old snow and ice up to the snow line before the fresh snow fell. This means there is less ice under the new layer even in normally shaded areas. We are still in a typical freeze and thaw weather pattern this week but the highs are creeping up and the sun is up longer and longer to speed up drying. With no water in the weekday forecast, we may see limited trail sections firming up enough to travel on. There is still a LOT of water in the soil and we aren’t expecting winds that will speed up overall drying so expect peanut butter everywhere not under snow until at least Wednesday evening. Hidden Valley Regional Park trails inside the fence were still saturated as of Sunday afternoon and they are usually the first to firm up in the area. They may be good for limited loops by Tuesday afternoon.

• Up top, Nevada Nordic grooms trails in the trees to the West of Tahoe Meadows for public usage. The trails are primarily designed for cross country skiing, but are also great for snow shoes and fat bikes. If you are not skiing, it’s kind to the skate and classic skiers if you only use the right third of the trail. For more information and the latest grooming reports, check out their Facebook Group page linked here.

This Week’s Events

• Tuesday, February 07:

• 5:45 pm

  • Silver State Striders are running the Sparks Marina loop starting from the Scheels parking lot. This is a very welcoming group for all skill levels. The loop is around 2 miles and you can run as many laps as you like. Given the dark and lingering ice, headlamps, traction devices, and reflective clothing are a must. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Wednesday, February 08:

  • 6:45 pm

    • Bike Night Reno will be rolling out a hardy group of riders of all kinds from the Space Whale in Downtown. As their name suggests, this is a night ride so lights are required. Whether it’s a simple headlamp and taillight or full on burner bike light-splosion is entirely up to you. Expect it to be cold and wet so dress appropriately. This is a mostly flat road ride friendly to all wheeled contraptions at an extremely social pace. For more information, follow @bikenightreno on instagram.

  • 7:00 pm

    • Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Reno are organizing a game night with friends at Black Rabbit Mead company. This is a great way to meet and greet with RAR members and supporters in a fun and light hearted setting. More information about joining can be found by following @rar.reno on Instagram.

• Thursday, February 09:

  • 5:45 pm

    • Silver State Striders will be running 7 ish miles of hills starting and ending at Eclipse Running (Moana & Lakeside). Headlamps, traction devices, and reflective clothing are a must. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Saturday, February 11:

  • 9:00 am

    • Silver State Striders will be running 16 or 19ish miles of road with rolling hills starting and ending at Mayberry Landing (Mayberry & McCarran) and doing the Verdi loop out and back. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

If you are swapping the running and riding for a little back country sliding, check out the latest avalanche conditions over at Sierra Avalanche Center. Heat cycles and ridgetop winds can make for very localized hazards. Knowing where to look and when to stay home can make the difference of coming home.

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!