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• I’d love to know more about who you so I can continue to improve this website. Please complete the IPD Reader Survey linked here. The responses will help me better understand who is using the website, how, and what I can do to keep being a useful resource in our trails community. Thank you in advance!

Trail Outlook: Gorgeous Twilight Conditions

• More amazingly good weather expected with some afternoon gusts. Otherwise, the dawn and dusk hours will be very pleasant for getting out. With this warmth, snakes and other mountain denizens are likely to be more active. Keep an eye out and pets close by. Otherwise, pack some extra water and snacks, slop on the sunscreen, and have fun.

• This winter has reshaped a LOT of trails. Keep your head up and speed down even on trails you knew well last season. Nearly every trail has new hazards this year.

• Peavine Upper Mountain Snow: Mahogany Forest trail climbing to Peavine access road has a number of large snow fields covering it still as well as long swampy areas and creek in trail conditions from runoff.

• Tahoe Pyramid Trail in the canyon between Truckee and Verdi is clear.

Truckee Meadows Trail Damage:

• Peavine’s Keystone Canyon is washed out for a couple hundred yards above the intersection with the Fisticuffs trail.

• Lower Thomas and White’s creek trails are dry but both feature major washouts and creek running in trail sections. Please avoid for the time being as there are no easy reroutes for the damaged areas.

Local Trail Closure: In Carson City, King’s Canyon loop and waterfall trails are closed due to a rock fall. Check out the monster boulder and debris field on Carson City Parks and Open Space’s Facebook page here.

Trail Karma Opportunity:

• Saturday, May 20:

  • Silver State Striders are looking for volunteers to help staff their annual Silver State 50/50 trail race on Peavine. This is a great way to have fun outside, give back to the trail community, and meet a lot of very appreciative runners. For more information about the race and to contact them to volunteer, check out their event website linked here.

This Weekend’s Trail Reports:

• Monday, May 15, 5:00 pm:

  • Climbed up Whites Creek from Timberline. The amount of water coming down the creek is kind of amazing and definitely scary. Areas that were damaged last fall have had social reroutes so there is ridable trail nearly up to the bridge. About 100 yards from the bridge there is major creek in trail conditions mixed with snow fields. The water on the trail (not to be confused with the massive water in the main creek) has cut some deep holes in some places and in others is less than an inch deep but is so brown with silt you can’t tell. It also runs under the snow in places and the social boot tracks over the snow have you hiking directly above the creek hollow. If you’re going to hike the snow, be very careful with your foot placement or you might punch through right into a knee deep creek. Above the bridge on the climb to dry pond, there are at least two downed trees requiring carrying bikes around or over. There are clear boot trails around both. A trail pro with a good saw would be appreciated up there. We turned back before dry pond due to time and attending to another rider taking a heavy fall, but other riders coming down were reporting heavy snow and mud conditions on the Thomas Creek side of the top. The switch backs on the Whites Creek side have been heavily washed of soil over the winter so rocks ranging from baby head to golf ball litter the trail and make it much more technical and dangerous in places. The rider who fell lost their front wheel when a large rock rolled out from under it. Below the bridge, down to Timberline, the trail is in good shape for the most part. Maybe another week and those last snow fields will be melted off the trail. There are fuels reduction controlled burns going on in that area right now so if you head up there, keep your eyes out for heavy equipment and fire pros. -Patrick S.

Trail Traffic Advisory:

• Saturday, May 20:

  • Peavine Trails

    • The Silver State Striders annual endurance trail running race, the Silver State 50/50, will start and end at Rancho San Rafael and travel through Upper Rancho, Hoge Road, Stagecoach, Total Recall, Norton’s Toll Road, Three Trees, Kiowa road, and 4wd roads further up the mountain. There are three different distances starting as early as 6am so expect plenty of runners and volunteers on trails and roads in that region throughout the day. If you head out there, keep the speed down and the friendliness up. And cheer on the runners as they challenge themselves on what will be a hot and long run this year.

  • Carson Valley Trails

    • The Stetina’s Paydirt gravel race will be winding it’s way through much of Carson City and nearby trails. For my readers, the trails of interest are Clear Creek, both the Indian Hills loop and the popular climb. They will also traverse trails near Prison Hill, Silver Saddle Ranch, and Mexican Ditch before crossing over to Brunswick Canyon and climbing South to Sunrise Pass and Johnson Lane. At clear creek trailheads, expect race crew all morning and riders on trail from between 9:30 am and about 2:00 pm. Both trail sections there are timed sections for the riders and flow very fast and a bit blind so please avoid the course. Course details can be found in the Rider’s Handbook if you want to spectate and cheer on riders. And if you’re riding the event, let me know. I’ll be there with a teammate and we’re looking to connect with readers, have a rolling party, and take advantage of draft packs between stages.

  • University/Rancho Area

    • Beginning Wednesday evening through Saturday, spring graduation events are going on on campus at the University of Nevada Reno. While it may not impact trails as much, there may be parking and pedestrian spill over into and around Rancho San Rafael. If you normally drive through, consider routing around the area to avoid the increased traffic.

This Week’s Events:

• Tuesday, May 16:

  • 5:15 pm

    • Tuesday Night Ride Group is riding at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park from the Softball Fields. This is a choose your own distance ride so do as many laps as you like. TNRG is a casual mountain bike ride group for all skill levels. They don’t wait for a mass start, so when you arrive, introduce yourself or just start riding as you like. More details can be found at their Facebook Group Page linked here.

  • 5:30 pm

    • (Carson City) Muscle Powered is leading an all skill levels Ladies mountain bike ride from Foothill Dr. Great group of ladies on some awesome trails. For more information, check out their website or their Facebook Group Page.

  • 5:45 pm

    • Silver State Striders are running a trail loop from Woodchuck Dr. This is a very welcoming group for all skill levels. The planned route is 8ish miles and may feature mud. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Wednesday, May 17:

  • 5:00 pm

    • Reno Tahoe Junior Cycle/ Reno Devo is holding their third Wednesday Night Worlds Short Track Cross Country mountain bike race of the season at Hidden Valley Regional Park. These races happen once a month through July and funds raised go toward local youth athletes training and racing. Registration closes Monday nights on the event website here. Even if you don’t race, come out and cheer on the racers and enjoy the local enthusiasm. Novice heats start at 5pm, Open rolls at 6:10pm.

    • Reno Del Fuegos are riding mountain bikes from Hoge Road trailhead. This is a very welcoming group of intermediate riders who ride at a relaxed pace. They tend to stay out for a while so carrying lights is always suggested for their evening rides. For more information, join their Facebook Group Page linked here.

  • 7:45 pm

    • Bike Night Reno will be rolling out a 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. This is a mostly flat road ride friendly to all wheeled contraptions at an extremely social pace. For more information, follow @bikenightreno on instagram.

• Thursday, May 18:

  • 5:00 pm

    • (Earlier Start Time) Silver State Striders will be running/course marking starting at Hoge road trailhead. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

  • 6:00 pm

    • Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Reno, Northern Nevada Bikepacking, and Truckee Meadows Bike Alliance are putting on an Adventure Cycling fundraiser and informational session at Craft Wine & Beer (22 Martin St). Enjoy some refreshments while learning about and supporting RAR’s upcoming AIDS Lifecycle Ride. Kurstin Graham (Northern Nevada Bikepacking) will also be giving a talk about riding all the Nevada dirt, and Ky Plaskon (TMBA) will provide an update on their efforts for better Truckee Meadows cycling infrastructure. For more information, check out @rar.reno on Instagram.

• Friday, May 19:

  • 7:30 am - 8:30 am

    • Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Reno and Northern Nevada Bikepacking are teaming up to bring you Coffee Outside. This week’s morning cup of micro-adventure on bikes will meet at Plumas Park. More information about joining can be found by following @coffeeoutsidereno on Instagram.

• Saturday, May 20:

  • 8:00 am

    • Silver State Striders are not planning a social long run since they are putting on their annual Silver State 50/50 endurance run event. For more detail on that, see the trail traffic advisory for Peavine Trails above. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Sunday, May 21:

  • 9:30 am

    • Tahoe Pyramid Trail is holding their annual Cookie Ride at Crystal Peak Park. Bring homemade cookies to share or just show up and enjoy what others have provided. This event is called a ride, but is open to all trail users and you get to choose your own route and just make sure to tie it to the park somehow. More details and contact information to volunteer cookies are available in TPT’s May newsletter linked here.

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. Heavy melt and rapid temperature cycling are remaking the hazard landscape daily. 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!