Grouse Ridge Trails

Some changes are coming to trails in the Grouse Ridge area. The USFS has planned re-routes of the Lindsey Lakes and Crooked Lakes trails. Additionally, the Tahoe National Forest and Gold Country Trails Council have created a new trail from Loney Meadows to Bowman Mountain. See the map here (PDF).

On paper, the re-routes make a lot of sense. The Crooked Lakes re-route eliminates the obnoxiously steep climb heading north from Penner Lake, while the Lindsey Lakes re-route replaces the fall line trail that leads down to the Grouse Ridge Trail. The existing LL descent is fun for advanced riders who like a technical challenge, but it is a hike-a-bike for others and a hike-a-bike for everyone heading up. The USFS just received word that they have received additional funding to work on these projects.

I do wish the USFS would cut the large fallen trees that have blocked many Grouse Ridge trails for years now.

Recap: South Yuba Ridge Trailwork, 8/29

Eleven of us made the trek up beyond Washington to work on the South Yuba Ridge Trail yesterday. With three hedgetrimmers, a quad, a chainsaw and many loppers, we cleared brush and downed trees off the newer trailbed that the USFS built some seven years ago. As this section has remained unused, it needed a serious effort to clear. Regardless, we worked our way much further up the trail than we expected. There were cold beers waiting for us at the end of the day. See pictures.

This trail provides an important connection between the South Yuba Trail and the Grouse Ridge Trail system. It will be a spectacular descent from Camp 19 (Bowman Lake Road) down to Washington. Thank you to our outstanding volunteers yesterday, including Robert Joynt, who was kind enough to bring his quad which we used to transport tools yesterday.

Next up - We have a small section remaining of the newer section to clear and then the flagging can begin on top of the ridge. Joe Chavez estimates that this will require about 2 more days of volunteering. Please consider joining us on September 12 @ 8AM at the USFS station in Nevada City for our next volunteer trail day.

Tahoe Trail Event 2010 - Recap

In the middle of August, twelve of us BONCers joined over 100 Northern California mountain bikers at the 2010 Tahoe Trail Event.

We ate great food, rode *fantastic* Tahoe trails, drank donated New Belgium beer, raffled off swag, built a great new section of singletrack near Daggett Pass and a lot more. This year's event was the best yet! For me, my favorite times were laughing and hanging with other BONCers at our campsite, building trail rock features on the Tahoe Rim Trail and riding the improved Armstrong/Corral trails (much better descent than Mr. Toad's).

See the pictures. Thanks you to our great volunteers and our sponsors (New Belgium, Specialized, Passion Trail Bikes and CLIF Bar). And of course, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

Hope you can join us for next year's even

South Yuba Ridge Trail - Volunteers Needed!

In cooperation with the USFS, BONC is targeting an early October deadline for a grant to build the South Yuba Ridge Trail (see map). We need your help to make this happen. The USFS has asked us to round up as many volunteers as possible to help clear the trail corridor of brush so that final trail flagging can occur. Please consider joining us for one of the following dates:

Sunday, August 29, 8AM - Meet at the USFS office in Nevada City
Sunday, September 12, 8AM - Meet at the USFS office in Nevada City

If we can meet this deadline and our grant application is successful, trail construction could begin next year! Please let us know if you plan to join us by signing up today.

ABOUT THIS TRAIL
The trail will start off Bowman Lake Road near Grouse Ridge and extend down to just east the town of Washington. When it is done, you will be able to ride between Grouse Ridge and Purdon Xing on ~30 miles of singletrack above and near the South Yuba River.

RECAP: August BONC Gala Ride

We had a great time on Saturday's BONC Gala Ride. Four new members joined our ranks and the weather was great. Pictures.

We'll see a bunch of you this weekend at the Tahoe Trail Event. Watch for an announcement soon for our September Gala Ride.

Land Trust Trail Work - 8/7

If you are not attending the BONC Gala ride this weekend, please consider helping the Land Trust with the following project. From Bill Haire:

"We will be doing some trail maintenance work at Alta Sierra on Saturday, August 7, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. (at the very latest).

Work will consist of cutting the tall grass along the grassy areas the Alan Thiesen Trail passes through, trimming back blackberries, Scotch broom and other brush, and any other vegetation that is protruding into the trails. If you have a weedeater or gas powered hedge trimmer, we can put it to good use. Otherwise, bring loppers, brush clippers, or brush shears to assist with the trail work (if you have them).

Meet at the corner of Dog Bar Rd. and Alta Sierra Drive at 8:00 a.m., to start work and be sure to wear appropriate clothing to work in the brush and grass (long sleeve shirt, trousers, boots or shoes, a hat or cap, and work gloves. Bring water, sun screen, and insect repellant for protection from the elements.

ASPOA (Alta Sierra Property Owners Association) will be providing a snack, and I will have water for those who forget to bring water."