Trail Outlook: Winter Strikes Back

• I’m writing this late (Tuesday Morning) because I didn’t quite believe the forecast of snow on Monday night. But sure enough, the white stuff has landed. And even though the cold snap is supposed to hold on for a day or two, I suspect most of this snow will burn off by the end of the day today. Shaded areas will be the last to go, but paired with the wind, we’re more than likely to see dry trails throughout the lower and mid mountain. There is no other water in the forecast and temperatures are expected to climb back to beautiful spring conditions by the beginning of the weekend.

• 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.

• North Valleys facing trails and any single track climbing out of Hoge road, or more northern access points, are still holding snow and generating mud especially above the Total Recall Bench. Halo, Bacon Strip, Stagecoach, Norton’s Toll Road, Three Trees, and Total Recall all feature mud or snow in increasing amounts as you get higher and away from downtown facing.

• Tahoe Pyramid Trail in the canyon between Truckee and Verdi is beginning to clear up. There are some significant trail damage sections but TPT reports they are not closing the trail, just advising extreme caution.

• 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.

Peavine Trail Damage: Keystone Canyon is washed out for a couple hundred yards above the intersection with the Fisticuffs trail.

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.

This Week’s Events:

• Tuesday, April 18:

  • 5:15 pm

    • Tuesday Night Ride Group is riding at the Sierra Vista Park. 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.

  • 5:45 pm

    • Silver State Striders are running trail from Rancho San Rafael. This is a very welcoming group for all skill levels. The planned route is 7-8ish miles and may feature snow and mud. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Wednesday, April 19:

  • 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, April 20:

  • 5:45 pm

    • Silver State Striders will be running 8 ish miles of hills starting and ending at River Bend. Check their Facebook Group Page for more details. You can also find their training schedule on their website at this link.

• Friday, April 21:

  • 7:15 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 Dick Taylor Park. More information about joining can be found by following @coffeeoutsidereno on Instagram.

• Saturday, April 22:

  • 8:00 am

    • Silver State Striders are running 18-21 miles of mixed road and dirt from Pinehaven in southwest Reno. 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, sun, and quick melting 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!