Adventure Sports Journal // Fall 2021 // Issue #120
Downieville, California is, as SBTS founder Greg Williams puts it, “a big empty space full of empty trails.” On your first visit you’ll see the passion and skill that goes into making those relatively empty trails so amazing to ride (or hike or horse ride or moto). Zoom in really close and you’ll see there’s a lot more work that goes on behind the scenes to make “dirt magic”.
SBTS is at the forefront of advocacy efforts in wild spaces and revitalizing communities through sustainable recreation. Their work
THE ORIGINAL PAYDIRT PARTNER:
with decision makers in the Forest Service and other government bodies has positioned them as an outstanding example of how non-profit and volunteer organizations can operate to increase trail access. The future plans they have around continuing to expand the maintenance of the enormous recreational haven of the Lost Sierra, reviving forgotten trails and connecting 15 California mountain communities with 300 miles of new off-road trails are worth paying attention to. Downieville is wildly unique, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We want more Downievilles
in the world. We’ve been supporting the SBTS since day one and want to help establish the same reliable, sustainable support structures for more areas. The Paydirt fund was started as an increased commitment to support areas like Downieville and the SBTS across the globe.
Find out more at santacruzbicycles.com/ paydirt
GREG WILLIAMS
Founder of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Plumas County, California
Leonie Sherman, Matt Johanson, Krista Houghton, James Murren, Jim Scripps
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Rick Gunn, Jay Melena, Ken Etzl, John Watson, Chris McNamara, James Murren, Matt Niswonger, Ryuji Morishita
LAYOUT
Cathy Claesson
COVER DESIGN
Lauren Worth
ADVERTISING
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@asjmag.com
ADVERTISING REP
Krista Houghton I 831.332.7188 krista@asjmag.com
EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION
Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com
Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com
Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Adventure Sports Journal or our advertisers. We usually agree with our articles, but sometimes we don’t. We welcome all contributions.
PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453
asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com
PROUD MEMBER
asj contributors
How have you changed your behavior to help mitigate humancaused climate disruption?
I
mattjohanson
Twenty years ago, my wife and I bought a house less than a mile
kristahoughton
I consciously try to have no drive weekends, where I walk or ride a bike to any events or places. It takes a little more time and effort but it’s gratifying.
Ride Bikes. Grow my own food.
The Free Mind
Breaking the cycle of digital addiction
Buddhism is often considered a religion, but it’s more of a philosophy and a method of creating happiness. Buddhism works in combination with Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and any other religion. That’s because Buddhism isn’t concerned with the existence of God or the afterlife.
The purpose of Buddhism is to liberate people from suffering in this life, on a daily basis. According to tradition, the creator of Buddhism was a man by the name of Siddhartha Gautama who lived about 2600 years ago in India. He was the first to achieve a state of mental liberation known as nirvana. Thus, he became a “Buddha,” or enlightened one.
The Buddhist method of helping people achieve mental health has proven itself throughout history. Starting with the simple truth that craving and desire are at the root of all unhappiness, modern practitioners extoll the virtues of letting go of outcomes and seeking mindfulness. Being mindful helps one slow down distracting mental chatter and be more effective in the moment. If you think about it, being in the moment is a prescription for happiness. The future and the past exist only as interpretations of reality; the present moment is all we have. That’s where happiness is possible.
Without happiness human existence is futile. Here at Adventure Sports Journal (ASJ) we have made human happiness our mission. That’s why we prioritize human powered adventure. That’s why we promote mountain biking, surfing, climbing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and other nature-based activities. We consider these activities to be a form of active meditation. To us, outdoor recreation is a sacred path to healing and happiness. More than anything else, we believe that without human happiness the fate of the world is hopeless. That’s why we are so passionate about tearing down all barriers that exclude certain groups from outdoor recreation on public lands.
If you agree with our mission, please help us. We are fighting a quixotic battle against Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and smartphones in general. We condemn these addictive devices as antithetical to happiness. Smartphones are designed to constantly pull you out of the moment
and into a cycle of craving meaningless digital affirmation. If you spend two hours a day on your phone, they want you to spend three, then four, then five. It’s not complicated. All these big technology companies really care about is money.
Sadly, many of the outdoor brands that used to support ASJ with their advertising dollars are now saying their marketing budget is “100% digital.” It doesn’t cost much for a big company to support ASJ, but they have chosen to let us wither and die because someone high up in the company has decided, “It’s all about smartphones.”
We are fighting tooth and nail to keep this from happening. We think smartphone usage has peaked because people see how miserable the cycle of digital addiction truly is. Personally, I feel like a fool when I respond to my phone like an addict trying to get high. These devices have hijacked our lives and turned us into zombies. Frankly, it’s embarrassing.
As Buddhism has been emphasizing for
THANK YOU!
thousands of years, happiness involves being mindful of the present moment. Smartphones are making us miserable because they destroy this mental state. We are pushing back against companies who embrace this 100% digital future. We feel it is irresponsible for them to turn their backs on printed magazines like ASJ to exclusively promote digital addictions that are destroying people’s lives.
Smartphones are a useful tool but they shouldn’t be all consuming. For the sake of our children’s future, we need to fight back. Please tell outdoor companies to support Adventure Sports Journal. There simply must be an alternative to digital marketing. Without your help, we simply cannot survive. Read this magazine and reduce your addiction to digital devices. Your happiness depends on it.
Thanks for reading. You can also support our mission by going to asjmag.com/ membership to support us with a monthly donation.
If you have any suggestions or comments to help us survive please send me an email.
Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com
CONTRIBUTORS, ADVERTISERS, VENDORS & READERS
Thanks for your continued support and inspiration. ASJ isn’t possible without you. It hasn’t always been easy, but your help keeps us going.
EVENT PRODUCERS
Thanks for the fun times and opportunities to collaborate. We can’t wait to be together again.
BUSINESSES
Thanks for making room on your shelves to share ASJ with your customers.
STOP WHINING
Love your magazine. Thank god Trump is gone so you don’t have to continually whine about everything he did or said. Next it would be nice if you could not look at everything through the lens of a person’s skin color or ethnicity. We are all just people, in this case people that enjoy outdoor activities. Let’s enjoy running, biking, etc., have a beer afterward without all the political crap.
Paul Hanson, Tahoe & Santa Cruz
TAKING MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE
I guess I’ve never been in Gardnerville/ Minden at sundown, just usually a gasup, Grocery Outlet and maybe a noodle bowl and/or sandwich. But reading about a daily siren with origins in the hateful, zenophobic, manifest destiny, colonial heyday of American western expansion continuing on under the guise of emergency services testing not only turned my stomach but fanned the fires of rage. For the last seven years I have been neighbor to a community with such a siren stemming from the days of air raid fears during which time I have heard
it twice during real emergencies. That said, any pretence made requiring a daily(?!) test flies in the face of logic and is seemingly a thinly veiled insult if not affront. Who would desire a daily loud claxon if not to harken back to some misperceived glory days and laud the expression of racist transgressions? To me this is disappointingly unacceptable and I will take my business elsewhere. Let me know when the only sound at days end are crickets chirping and I’ll stop in.
—
Patricia Dunlap-Griffin, Santa Cruz
HAPPY NEW ASJ MEMBER
I’ve been meaning to subscribe ever since I read your Aug/Sep 2019 edition. Matt’s editor’s note said, “We seek inclusion because nobody wins until everybody wins.” And, ... why aren’t more CEOs of large outdoor companies stepping aside to allow more diversity in leadership positions?
Great vision, great philosophy, and great magazine. Sign me up! I look forward to my hard copy of the magazine coming in the mail.
Oscar Gonzales, Davis
THANKS ASJ RIDERS AGAINST RACISM
As a black mountain biker, I thank you and support you. You, and the people who look like you, are the only ones who can really change racism in America. Looking at America’s history is a start. Understanding the little things that go unnoticed like a siren, which has caused so much terror and pain for so many people, is important.
Most black folks my age will tell you they’re tired of trying to convince white people about racism. We need more people doing what you are doing.
Mark Stone
We love hearing from our readers. Drop us a line at: staff@adventuresportsjournal.com
CALDOR FIRE BURNS MOST OF MR. TOAD’S AND OTHER ICONIC TAHOE TRAILS
As of press time the Caldor Fire has thankfully spared homes and businesses in the Lake Tahoe Basin, due to the efforts of firefighters from all over the country. However, the news is not so good for many of the iconic mountain biking trails that unfortunately stood right in the raging inferno’s path. This includes most of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the most well-known mountain bike trail in the Basin. Other South Lake Tahoe MTB trails affected are Sidewinder, Connector, Armstrong, Cedar, Hawley Grade, Powerline, Cold Creek, Christmas Valley, and Railroad. As of press time the fate of the Lily Lake Trail is unknown. Some mandatory evacuations in the Tahoe area have not been lifted and many details are sketchy.
“This fire will forever change the riding landscape in Tahoe. We want to get home but we are grateful to the firefighters who continue to battle this fire up to the highest reaches of the mountains,” wrote Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) in a recent Facebook post.
For more information about Tahoe trails, or how to donate or volunteer, follow TAMBA on Facebook or check them out online at tamba.org
Ear to the Ground, cont.
News & notes from the outdoor industry
DIXIE FIRE EDGES CLOSER TO 1,000,000 ACRES BURNT, INCLUDING DOZENS OF LOST SIERRA TRAILS
After starting on July 13 near the Cresta Dam in the Feather River Canyon, the Dixie Fire is on pace to become the largest wildfire in California history. The fire’s path has defied all predictions, literally burning in a complete circle around five counties: Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Tehama and Shasta. It has wiped out entire communities including Greenville, Indian Falls and Canyon Dam. Mount Hough, where the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) has spent the last 20 years building a 100 mile network of trails, has suffered significant damage with many trails burnt or dozed over including Mount Hough trail, Indian Falls Ridge, Berry Creek, Tollgate, Cashman, Keddie, Troy’s and dozens of miles of two-track OHV trails.
Beyond the trails, nearly 75% of Plumas County has burned since 2020, a county reliant on the lumber industry for economic health. The widespread destruction will
have long-standing societal impacts on the Lost Sierra region. Help SBTS bring trails in Lost Sierra communities back by donating at sierratrails.org
DODGE RIDGE SKI RESORT TRANSITIONS TO NEW OWNERS
After more than four decades of family ownership, Dodge Ridge Ski Resort, on the Stanislaus National Forest, will have new owners this month. Owners Frank and Sally Helm have decided to retire, having operated the resort as one of the few remaining familyowned ski resorts in the country. Sally Helm, CEO of Dodge Ridge, announced that the new buyers will be Invision Capital, owners of Mountain High Resort in California, and Karl Kapuscinski, President and CEO of Mountain High Resort.
Founded in 1950, Dodge Ridge has remained a family-owned and operated resort with only two owners throughout its distinguished history, beginning with Earl Purdy, who founded the ski area. The Helm family purchased Dodge Ridge in 1976, setting in motion a new era for the area.
The Helms’ love and passion for the resort created a community that thrives to this day, and they are truly grateful to the generations of loyal skiers and riders who have graced this mountain for so many decades.
“The new owners truly appreciate the family-oriented culture that has made this resort special for over 70 years and the
existing Dodge Ridge team will continue to deliver the guest-focused culture our visitors have come to expect,” said Sally Helm. Jenni Smith will remain as General Manager leading the team with new President and CEO Karl Kapuscinski. He brings over thirty years of ski area operations experience.
Read more at asjmag.com/dodge-ridgenew-ownership
ADIDAS TERREX ATHLETE TIMOTHY OLSON SETS NEW RECORD ACROSS THE PCT
On July 22, adidas Terrex ultrarunner Timothy Olson set a groundbreaking new record for the Fastest Known Time (FKT) across the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), clocking in at 51 days, 16 hours and 55 minutes (preliminary calculation).
Extending 2,650 miles from the United States/Mexico border to Canada, the PCT is the most iconic footpath in the US and beyond. Amidst the peak summer heat wave and traversing across the most demanding terrain west of the Mississippi, Olson — accompanied by his support team including his expecting wife and two children — began his journey on June 1 from the south. He averaged over 51 miles and more than 8,000 feet of vertical gain per day, ultimately accomplishing the feat by reaching the Northern Terminus.
“Training your body, both physically and mentally, for a challenge like the Pacific Crest
Trail is a full-on experience. When it all comes together in moments like these, the sense of gratitude for the hours of preparation that you have put in is quite overwhelming,” says Olson. “I couldn’t have imagined a better way to finish than with my family alongside me, and I’m eternally grateful for the unrelenting support they’ve given me, not only over the past 51+ days but also in the buildup to this incredible moment. For me, the opportunity to connect with this beautiful land and run this challenging trail was a deeply moving and spiritual experience. I felt more in harmony with nature and my body than ever before, and that is something that will nurture me for the rest of my life.”
Read more at asjmag.com/timothy-olson
REMEMBRANCE RUN HONORS INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL SURVIVOR
On August 14, ASJ joined runner Kutoven Stevens, his family, and about 100 other runners, volunteers and journalists from all over the US on the Remembrance Run, a two-day, 50-mile odyssey from Stewart Indian School in Carson City to Yerington, Nevada. The route honored Kutoven’s great grandfather Frank “Togo” Quinn who escaped the Indian School and ran 50 miles home to Yerington on three separate occasions — the first when he was just eight years old.
Read more at asjmag.com/remembrancerun.
EARN YOUR BEER
Hike and Bike the Day Away in
By James Murren
THE EARNING
It is impossible to go to San Luis Obispo (SLO) without finding multiple opportunities to Earn Your Beer. The sustainability-focused city is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and green spaces, offering miles and miles of coastline and trails for your favorite activities, and there are numerous award-winning, wellestablished breweries, as well as newer ones, around town. Simply put, put SLO on your outdoors/ adventure/craft beer town list and go.
Bluff Trail, MDO: Montaña de Oro State Park’s Bluff Trail is beautiful. Walk, stroll, power hike, run, bike, wander along it for four miles (outand-back) and not only will you get some exercise, you’ll ease your mind.
Irish Hills Nature Preserve: If you enjoy classic cross-country mountain biking, Irish Hills is a place for you. Want a challenge? Climb up Mariposa to Mine Trail. Then look at your map and work your way over and up to Ocean View Trail via Froom Creek Trail, riding it all the way to Wednesday Trail. Connect into what locals call Chutes and Ladders and you will have a blast. Want more? Take the connector over to King Trail and climb up it to where you’ll connect back into Mariposa. At that point, you’ll recognize where you are, the climb you completed earlier in the day now a ramblin’ downhill.
West Cuesta Ridge: Mountain bike all the way up TV Tower Road to the little kiosk on the left that provides the botanical lesson on the board. Turn around in the direction you came and on your right now is what looks like a gravel two-track. Take it. Called Botanical Trail, this run turns into single track. Follow the signs and you’ll connect into Morning Glory. Yes, it is glorious. That will drop you at The Eucs. Have fun on the wooden roller coasters! Stenner Creek Flow Trail is as good as it sounds. Where do you begin this ride? There are many options for looping this ride, or shuttling it if you have two vehicles.
THE BEER
SLO
There is no shortage of independent, craft beer in SLO. I can honestly say that I did not have one bad/off-tasting draft while in town. I can say the same for the cans I picked up at Sandy’s Deli-Liquor, which are great for taking back to your camp, house rental, hotel. Speaking of hotel, inside The Kinney is Leroy’s. Leroy’s has an excellent local tap list, as well as free skee ball and shuffleboard.
SLO Brew has a tasting room called The Rock. It has it all, literally, with beer, wine, and their own distilled liquors, as well as food. SLO Brew is not to be missed. The tortillachips lager was on draft while there. Yep, you read that correctly –tortilla chips in the brewing process. slobrew.com
The Libertine Brewing Company has all of your sour beer needs, as well as a long tap wall of other beer offerings. Wine too! Hungry? Well, the tot-cho plate might be what you need after a big outing, but maybe get a half order. libertinebrewing. com
Central Coast Brewing has two locations in SLO town, a standard in the central coast brewing scene since 1998. Their cans are easily found around town. Want something a little lighter? Their Power Hour Pilsner is what you need. centralcoastbrewing.com
Barrel House Brewing Company is a newcomer to the scene. I walked downstairs and found a home away from home. The old timey jazz coming out of the speakers was not what I would expect in a brew pub with that kind of décor, but it somehow fit. I ordered the Curly Wolf, a 10.1% Bourbon Barrel-Aged Coffee Stout. The night cap lit the way on the walk down the street. barrelhousebrewing.com
For local beta and all things biking stop by Cambria Bike Outfitters. cambriabike.com
PUSHING FOR OUTDOOR DIVERSITY
“We’re going to change the world”
By Matt Johanson
S’lacio Bankston struggled on the icy pitch, lost his footing and backed off. Later, the 20-year-old refocused and invoked Mohammed Ali to pump himself up:
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!” Bankston sent the frozen waterfall on his second effort as his friends erupted in cheers.
If Black climbers are rare, African American ice climbers are especially so, but trying to change that is a group of alpinists featured in Black Ice, a new 40-minute Reel Rock film.
Californian Manoah Ainuu helped lead the athletes from Memphis, Tennessee on their first ice climbing experience. A North Face-sponsored athlete with Yosemite credentials on Half Dome and El Capitan, Ainuu gracefully led a pitch up the jagged ice. Then, the Compton native and other trip leaders helped the Memphis climbers follow suit with their ice axes and crampons.
“This is what it’s about, getting people psyched on being outside and connecting with each other through the vehicle of climbing,” said Ainuu. Despite bone-chilling cold, the group experienced a heartwarming journey of discovery and growth.
Famed mountaineer, Conrad Anker, another California native, assisted the group as its only white member. “This trip is a great opportunity to learn more about people and in the process hopefully become a better person,” said Anker. Ainuu and Anker aren’t the only Californians trying to diversify the outdoors. Throughout the Golden State, groups are trying to make outdoors recreation more inclusive and welcoming.
HERE IS A SHORT LIST OF GROUPS
Outdoor Afro organizes frequent outings in California and beyond. Participants this year enjoyed paddle boarding in San Francisco Bay, bird watching in Oakland, kayaking in Richmond’s Marina Bay, and visits to Tomales Bay, Point Pinole and Redwood Regional Park. Group members celebrated Juneteenth with a trek to Etiwanda Falls near Rancho Cucamonga.
“Outdoor Afro is important because it provides a refuge for Black folks to come together in community and build some Black joy in nature. Nature makes me feel at peace, at home in my body, in my mind and spirit, and just feel free,” said group leader Julius Hampton. outdoorafro.com
Spanish speakers enjoy magical experiences like exploring Yosemite, kayaking on the Russian River and spotting bald eagles through the Vamos Afuera (Let’s Go Outside) program of the Sonoma County
nonprofit LandPaths. Vamos Afuera leads at least a dozen outings per year for hundreds of Spanish speakers, and LandPaths delivers monthly information to some 10,000 households about the outdoors, provides youth education and runs a summer camp.
Helping families who have never camped nor visited Yosemite discover those pleasures provides joyful memories for Guadalupe Casco, a bilingual field specialist and trip leader. “We are committed to fostering a love of the land for everyone,” she said. landpaths.org
More than 3,000 people new to the outdoors are getting inspiration from Bewilder, a new venture by Yvonne Leow of June Lake. Bewilder publishes free camping and backpacking trip itineraries along with guidance for how readers can reserve campgrounds, backcountry permits and enjoy their outdoor experiences. Bewilder’s newsletter promotes beginner-friendly
outings to places like Angel Island, Mount San Jacinto, Morro Bay and Pinnacles National Park.
Most of Bewilder’s subscribers are women and people of color, though Leow offers her information and services to anyone for free. “Everyone should have a chance to experience the beauty and freedom of the outdoors,” she said. bewilder.com
Gateway Mountain Center began a new effort to introduce the outdoors to under-resourced youth in the South Lake Tahoe area, with a focus on engagement with the Latinx community. Youth Empowered Action (YEA!) Camps exposed kids to camping, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and more at no cost thanks to community donations.
Based in Truckee and Donner Summit, Gateway Mountain Center offers enviro-literacy and outdoor adventure experiences to school groups from all over Northern California, including many Title One Schools. Gateway also runs a robust nature-based therapeutic program for youth in their region suffering from serious emotional disturbance, complex trauma and substance use disorder. Before Covid, the different programs supported around 2,000 young people per year.
“Every kid can benefit by having their hearts and minds opened to the natural world,” said Peter Mayfield, the center’s founder and executive director. sierraexperience.org. *****
Two years after Scouting BSA began admitting girls into its troops, nearly 1,000 girls nationwide have earned the program’s highest rank of Eagle Scout. Boy Scouts of America began allowing gay youth in 2013, lifted its ban on gay adult leaders in 2015 and changed its name to Scouting BSA in 2018. The group endorsed Black Lives Matter and introduced a diversity and inclusion merit badge, required for Eagle Scouts, last year. scouting.org
ICE,” GREW UP IN COMPTON BUT BECAME A PROFESSIONAL CLIMBER; YOUNG CLIMBERS LEARN THE ROPES FROM THE GATEWAY MOUNTAIN CENTER.
“All Californians outdoors” is the vision of California Outdoor Engagement Coalition, an association of businesses, advocacy groups, land agencies, and other groups which share that goal. Participants share information about job openings, funding opportunities, workshops and other events. “We serve as an umbrella that can help bring people together,” said organizer Jenny MulhollandBeahrs. inclusionoutdoors.com
Rounding out this far-from-complete list, the Black Folks Camp Too company and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics aim to promote inclusion with a unity blaze patch and message. The symbol represents community, welcome, and equality. Earl Hunter, who founded Black Folks Camp Too, hopes to encourage more African Americans to enjoy outdoor recreation and find employment in the industry. “Enthusiasts want to see more diversity in the outdoors,” Hunter said. “We’re going to change the world.” blackfolkscamptoo.com
TOP TO BOTTOM: MANOAH AINUU, FEATURED IN THE FILM “BLACK
BEAUTY OF BACKPACKING
By Matt Johanson
When the bear wandered by my camp, I grabbed my camera and shot pictures like mad. Unwisely, I followed the bruin, which snarled and bluffed a charge. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest and I backed off, wiser than before.
Fifty years of outdoor experiences have taught me a few things which I hope are worth sharing. Through this series, I offer you 50 tips to judge for yourself. This column, the fourth of five, focuses on backpacking.
1START EASY AND BUILD UP GRADUALLY. Hiking out for a single night will help you learn to make a longer trip more comfortable. Exercise before a backpacking trip, especially a long one.
2TRAVEL LIGHT. The less your pack weighs, the easier and happier your hiking becomes. Shoot for a base weight of 20 pounds or less.
3HIKING POLES TAKE PRESSURE OFF YOUR KNEES. Break in your footwear before your trip. Sandals let you take off your shoes in the evening and give your feet a break.
4LEARN TO USE A MAP AND A COMPASS. Don’t rely only on electronics to navigate. Phone apps and GPS work great, until they don’t. When batteries die, signals disappear or gadgets break, you need a backup plan.
5WATER WEIGHS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. Carry the right amount of water and plan ahead. Guidebooks, maps, apps and fellow hikers can all provide information on finding water.
6AVOID MOSQUITO BITES AND DON’T LET THE BUGS BUG YOU. Time your outings to avoid the pesky blood-suckers, which hatch during spring in the lowlands and then work their way up the mountains through summer. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to guard against them.
7LEAVES OF THREE, LEAVE THEM BE! Learn to recognize poison oak. The enemy’s leaves are green in spring and summer, red in fall, and fall off the plant in winter. Thankfully, the oily plant doesn’t grow above 5,000 feet. When in doubt, touch nothing suspicious.
8BRING
FISHING GEAR. If you camp near backcountry lakes and streams, you’ll have better action than more easily-reached fishing holes. Fish bite best in morning and evening hours. Landing a few will make you a hero in camp.
9BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE. Mountain miles take more time and energy than lowland ones. The trail doesn’t care if you’re in a hurry. Take enough time to enjoy yourself.
10FINALLY,
LEAVE WILDLIFE ALONE! Don’t stalk a bear like I foolishly did. In bear country, carry a bear can. Clean your camp and don’t leave out food for animals to access. Dependence on human handouts means death for our furry friends.
I try to hit the trail for a few weeks every year. Every trip produces
special memories. When I look back at some years, my backpacking trips are the events I remember best.
Spotting wildlife always delivers thrills, too. I’ve been fortunate to spot bald eagles, California condors, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and quite a few bears. I love taking pictures of them, which I happily shoot from a respectful distance.
Matt Johanson recently released a new guidebook “California Summits,” available at sierrasplendor.com/books.
VITAMIN 0
Why surfers need it
By Krista Houghton
Over coffee this morning, my husband asks what I have on tap for the day. I immediately reply, “I need to get in the ocean. I’ve gotta get some Vitamin O.”
Being a surfer for over 25 years, my body craves the ocean. I am not alone, most of my surfing friends will attest to their need to get wet on a regular basis.
I came to recognize the Vitamin O factor while living in Kauai. The Hawaiians did in fact invent surfing and their entire culture and existence was factored around the ocean. Being on an island that small, you literally are surrounded – you can’t escape it. Everywhere you look, you see surfboards, paddleboards, outriggers, fishing poles, scuba fins, boogie boards and snorkels. “If you no like ocean, no go Hawaii,” as the locals say. So, for Hawaiians and those born on the Islands, Vitamin O is in their blood.
The act of surfing waves was originally reserved for Hawaiian royalty. It was an extreme privilege to catch waves, and I still consider it to be just that: a privilege. Every time my toes leave the sand and I paddle those first few strokes, I can feel the ocean seeping into my pores. I mean how lucky are we? We have the most high-tech wetsuits to keep us warm, making not just warm water surf breaks possible — we can now surf in Alaska. Thank you, Jack O’Neill! (Whom, by the way,
The act of surfing waves was reserved for only Hawaiian royalty. It was an extreme privilege to catch waves, and I still consider it to be just that: a privilege.
is about being in the ocean, seeing an otter crack open a clam, having a pelican swoop overhead, and feeling the ocean glide through your fingers like silk. Surfing should be safe and inclusive to everyone, something to be cherished, not something you’re entitled to. To all you surfers out there, please stop and take a deep breath. Fill your lungs with salt air and realize what a true privilege it is to enter the ocean and get some Vitamin O.
SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURES
Six tips to green your outdoor adventures
By Leonie Sherman
I became vegan in 1991 and chose not to own a car until 2010. I hitchhiked, caught rides, hopped freight trains, rode a bike and sailed, but I didn’t get a driver license until I was 38, when my adventure lust surpassed my carbon guilt. I’ve been climbing, canyoneering, skiing and backpacking out of a 2004 Honda Element for the past decade.
Istill struggle with carbon guilt, but I’ve realized that the goal of reducing my carbon impact is only reached when I stop breathing. So now instead of focusing on how to reduce my carbon footprint, I focus on how to make my adventures more sustainable. It’s a lot more fun.
The pursuit of sustainability involves meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Quite simply, we’re trying to find a way for human civilization to coexist with and maybe even enhance the earth’s biosphere.
On the one hand, that ship has sailed; the sixth mass extinction is well under way and humancaused climate change poses an existential threat to our species’ survival. But the consequences and magnitude of our past mistakes are not an excuse for inaction or apathy. Striving on behalf of all life, against terrible odds, is pretty much the basis of every Hollywood action flick. We all love a good challenge!
The bad news is that behaving responsibly may involve changing our habits and actions. Change is hard. The good news is those changes bring us joy and a deep connection to life. Change is fun. Our efforts to increase the sustainability of outdoor adventures may not change the overall trajectory of life on earth, but they will definitely change the overall trajectory of our lives. Adapting sustainable habits isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for us.
Hopefully, we are all on board with reducing plastic consumption, refilling our water bottles and recycling. Here are five tips for taking your sustainability to the next level.
1Don’t Just Get Out, Stay Out
Extend your adventure to reduce your transit time. When you spend less time driving, you have more fun!
Instead of a weekend of two long day-rides, make a bikepacking adventure out of it. Don’t buy a season pass to a ski resort, earn your turns and escape the crowds by climbing up what you ski down. Or invest in some gear and try ski touring.
The more time you spend in wild places under your own power, the healthier your body, mind and spirit will become. Calculate the amount of time it takes to get to a place and the amount of time you’ll spend enjoying it and figure out what ratio you can live with.
2Food
Glorious Food
You’re eating while you’re out there playing. Eat like your life depends on it!
Move towards a plant-based diet; emissions from plant-based foods are 10-50 times less than from animal products. Enjoy local food as much as possible. Peruse farmers markets. Learn the wild edible plants of your local ecosystem and how to prepare them. Reduce packaging by purchasing in bulk. Consider investing in a dehydrator, so you can bring local food with you when you travel.
Healthy sustainable eating habits make us feel better, both in our bodies and about our impact on the world.
3Think
Globally, Recreate Locally
When we stay close to home, we deepen our understanding, connection and allegiance to the specific part of the planet that sustains us. Find a way to pursue outdoor adventure without getting in a car.
If you do need to drive to get to a trailhead, cram as many people into the car as you can. Almost any car can fit four folks and their bikes or gear. Connecting with others who enjoy the same activities builds community and trust.
Relating with each other is the bare minimum amount of cooperation required if we are going to tackle climate change and the sixth mass extinction.
Sometimes, a place is so magnificent, an adventure so epic, that we decide to travel great distances in pursuit of a soul-affirming, life-changing experience. When you succumb to the siren call of petroleumbased travel, patronize local establishments. Resist the convenience of the big box store. Searching out
local shops may cost a little more and take more time, but it also enriches your experience and allows your money to directly benefit the community you’re visiting.
Buy from companies with a history of supporting environmental causes. In 1985, Patagonia began donating 1% of their gross sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Since then, they’ve donated over $140 million in cash and donations to various groups and causes. In 2002, they helped found the non-profit 1% For the Planet to encourage others to do the same.
5Give Back
If there’s a place you love to bike or hike or ski or play, chances are it needs your help. How can we give back to the places that give us so much?
Doing volunteer work has brought me to raucous camp-outs in Big Sur and remote lake basins in the High Sierra. I’ve occupied old growth trees and conducted biological surveys a hundred feet up in the forest canopy. Working outside, with like-minded people, whether you’re picking up trash or yanking invasive plants, feels great. We become more connected to others, to place, and to ourselves.
When we set out to benefit the planet and others through our actions, we inevitably end up benefiting ourselves.
6Keep It Fun
Nobody wants to hear about how their dietary choices are killing the planet, but most people can enjoy a tasty vegan treat. Practicing sustainability means we create a culture where it’s cool to harvest wild foods, carpool, and volunteer for our favorite environmental groups.
Argentina-born Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara said “Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.” Pursuing sustainability is like taking care of someone you love when they’re suffering. We are born into this world hard-wired to love and nurture the place that sustains us.
During the pandemic, many event producers created virtual events that allowed folks to participate in their favorite event remotely while still connecting with others. One such event is Yosemite Facelift, which traditionally has volunteers come to the Valley for a massive clean-up. Though there are still plans for a clean-up in Yosemite this September, Facelift is encouraging folks to participate locally. Learn more and register at YosemiteFacelift.com to stay in the loop.
THE AUTHOR PICKING NETTLES, WHICH SHE DRIES AND TAKES ON ADVENTURES.
give for gratitude Package
During the anniversary of the CZU Fire Complex, we want to once again say thank you to all of the brave first responders and to give back to our incredible community. Mention the “Give for Gratitude” package and 10% of your stay will be donated to local wildfire relief funds. *Certain restrictions apply
GLAMPING
The Art of Camping in Style
By Anthea Raymond
COVID
Glamping is short for glamorous camping, and a good glamping experience will get you close to nature without leaving the comforts of home behind. Beyond that, what else makes something a good glamp? Price? Location? Amenities? Accommodations?
As the seasons begin to change and unpredictable weather can put an uninvited test to three season gear, glamping is certainly a good choice — yurts, cabins, trailers, and even deluxe tents provide protection from wind,
rain and cold temperatures. Some places are cheaper in the off-season with fewer crowds. Here we look at a few California glamping options that can take you outside as we head into cooler weather.
TREEBONES on the Big Sur coast has offered luxury camping in a rugged natural environment long before “glamping” was even a word. Treebones co-founder Corrine Handy recalls saying things like, ”Come and enjoy nature close up, but in the comfort of a round tent with a cozy bed, linens,
blankets and electricity.” Corrine notes that it is easier to describe Treebones now that there is a word — “glamping” — to describe the experience. Those round tents Corinne mentions are yurts, and they are central to the Treebones experience. John and Corinne initially chose yurts because they were a year round way to help folks engage with nature. They’re warm and cozy but let you hear and see what’s outside. Starting at $340 per night, the yurts are a key part of Treebones, and for privacy most are limited to two people.
In addition to the yurts, there are two “autonomous tents” that are powered by their own dedicated solar arrays. Here you will experience posh upscale “off grid tenting” in one of Big Sur’s most luxurious and private locations. The resort also includes a more traditional campground, a pool, sauna, sushi bar, restaurant, and organic garden. Guests are warned that “the wifi is weak,” which many prefer. With glamping, the comforts of home have come more in demand, and the cost of running a glamping venue along the Big Sur coastline has increased, and so have the prices. Resulting in Treebones serving guests who have more disposable income. Corrine says,
Treebones Resort, Big Sur (Photo: Ryuji Morishita)
INN TOWN CAMPGROUND in Nevada City is also family-owned and operated. Inn Town features twenty “glamping tents,” that owner Erin Thiems says evoke the Gold Rush era that the area still identifies with. The glamping frames sit on raised wooden platforms and are covered by canvas.
The tents are all unique, with nightly rates between $95 and $170. They are roomy enough for the families who like a cozy experience. The Inn Town Campround glamping tents and their amenities (including housekeeping) have helped a lot of folks tiptoe their way into outdoor adventure, especially in COVID times. They “just show up, order a pizza and sit outside and relax,” she says.
COSTANOA sits right on the rugged coast in northern Santa Cruz County. They also offer similar structures known as “tent bugalows.” Costanoa General Manager Trent Bridges says, “We call them tent bungalows so people understand that they don’t need to put tents up themselves.”
In addition to their tent bungalows, Costanoa has rustic cabins and a luxury lodge. For those who prefer pitching a tent or bringing their own RV, reservations can be made at the Costanoa KOA. Comfort stations are scattered throughout the property and they each include a central courtyard with a fireplace, dry sauna, heated concrete floors, private indoor and outdoor showers, sinks, flush toilets and complimentary wifi. Similar to other glamping resorts, there is onsite access to high-end services and artisanal cuisine.
Formerly known as Sorensen’s Resort, WYLDER HOTEL HOPE VALLEY near South Lake Tahoe offers up a variety of glamping options. After purchasing the resort, owner John Flannigan and his team restored the 30 rustic cabins of the original Sorensen’s Resort formerly owned by John and Patty Brissenden.
Winter Tahoe in
These include some log cabins that were built in the early 1900s. Flanigan expanded the resort and bought the campground next door, which now includes scenic sites with seven custom yurts and a bakery. There’s also a vintage 1951 Spartan trailer on the property, perhaps heralding the arrival of more to come. Flannigan believes the mix of accomodation options makes it easier for folks to explore the outdoors in their own way.
The glamping industry has also caught on to the consumers’ attraction to trailers, both vintage and new. Small independent resorts like WAYPOINT VENTURA and THE TRAILER POND at Alta Colina feature restored trailers: the former at the beach; the latter in the wine country. AUTOCAMP is a corporate chain offering campgrounds built around Airstream trailers. They are already on the Russian River and near Yosemite, and are coming soon to Joshua Tree. These companies tend to emphasize the unique connection their properties make between design and the environment.
Purists may think that glamping dilutes the true camping experience. Alan Bair of Pacific Yurts says otherwise, “There are people who just enjoy going out and roughing it, but there is a much larger segment that wants comfort. Glamping helps them experience nature in ways that creates more stewards for the outdoors.” And that’s a win for all.
Costanoa, Pescadero
Inn Town Campground, Nevada City
Wylder Hotel Hope Valley Wylder Hotel Hope Valley
RADICAL ADVENTURE RIDERS
Enhancing gender inclusivity and racial equity in the bicycle and outdoor scene
Words by Leonie Sherman • Photos by Jay Melena
What does it mean to be part of a team in a Covid world? Like most of us, the Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) gravel bike racing team struggled to adapt to the new world order of a global pandemic. Before a joyful reunion this past June, they had met in person only once. They formed in February 2020, a month before coronavirus shut down the world.
And they’re a new kind of team, based on cooperation and collaboration, not competition. “We are a team that allows for all different levels and experience,” explains member Natalia Cortes of San Jose. “We are all about people doing what they feel best about.”
Formerly called WTF (which stood for Women Trans Femme), RAR embraces gender inclusivity and racial equity in the bicycle and outdoor adventure scene by providing education, resources, and support for the community and industry.
Their gravel team, local chapters and scholarships strive to create a welcoming, inclusive space for folks to develop their love of off-road riding – by excluding men. “We realized there was a need to create a space for cyclists that was free of CIS-dudes telling folks
“A training regime is not really my style, for me it’s all about how connected do I feel with the folks I’m riding with, who can I ride with?”
— Natalia Cortes
what to do,” explains founding member Everett Ó Cillín “So we focused on creating that space.”
Ó Cillín was one of a group of six nonCIS dudes who kept seeing each other out riding local trails in Santa Cruz. In 2017 they began having conversations about the lack of gender diversity and inclusivity out on the trails, and decided to do something about it.
“First we started organizing a grassroots ride series,” explains Ó Cillín. “And then we hosted a summit in Whitefish, Montana in the summer of 2018.”
They found a women-owned mountain bike camp, arranged for female caterers, and accepted workshop proposals only from women. “It’s like adult summer camp, with camping and riding trails and skill sharing,” Ó Cillín says with a laugh. “We sold out fast.”
Their second summit, in 2019, sold out in less than two hours. “Those summits were amazing!” Ó Cillín gushes. “But they take so much time, energy and resources, and we got some push back about our limited capacity and accessibility.” So the group re-grouped and decided to expand their focus.
RAR shifted their leadership, with some founding members stepping aside to provide space for new leaders. “Most of the original cohort was west
coast and white, and we wanted to expand to be more representative of the folks we were serving,” says Ó Cillín.
They also decided to support the development of local chapters instead of an annual national summit. Atlanta, the Bay Area, Reno, Santa Fe, New Haven, Philadelphia, Richmond and Salt Lake City now all have RAR groups that host rides to foster gender inclusivity in their local bike communities.
Through dedicated community-based fundraising and outreach, they started a scholarship program to provide gear and resources for BIPOC folks who might not otherwise have access.
And they developed a gravel team to encourage trans and femme riders to travel together to events.
Cortes is a recipient of the scholarship and a member of the gravel team. “That scholarship launched my ability to be involved with RAR, and biking, at this level,” says Cortes.
Cortes was a bike commuter at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, along with co-worker Ó Cillín. When Ó
Cillín invited Cortes on a four-day threenight bikepacking trip called the Big Sur Ramble, Cortes happily accepted.
“I might have been under-prepared,” admits Cortes. “But that trip taught me how resilient I am. And even though most of it was on pavement, I fell in
THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: THE RAR GRAVEL TEAM RIDING A CLIFFSIDE IN SANTA CRUZ. FOR SOME TEAM MEMBERS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST TIME SEEING AND RIDING BY THE PACIFIC COAST; NATALIA CORTES STANDING FOR A PORTRAIT AFTER A LONG DAY OF RIDING.
love with the unpredictability of riding dirt.”
Two weeks later RAR announced the formation of their gravel team. Cortes won a scholarship to attend gravel camp in Arizona in February 2020. She got a travel stipend, food, a bed in a cabin, a sleeping bag, a camp stove, a rain jacket, a tent and bike bags. “I still use a lot of that gear today,” Cortes says with a laugh.
“We weren’t timed during the gravel camp,” explains Cortes. “It was more about different interests and strengths. It was super-relaxed.”
Cortes was among seven folks chosen for the original gravel team; four more were added later and one dropped out.
“If you made the team, you got a bike and all this sponsorship gear that is often only available to elite athletes,” says Cortes. “To have all that high quality stuff available for amateurs was life-changing.”
And then a month later the world shut down. “We stayed connected through bi-weekly Zoom calls, Instagram and a Slack channel,” explains Cortes. “We took place in on-line panels to introduce our team to the world. And honestly quarantine gave me more time to train, to learn to be an athlete and find local trails when I moved to San Jose.”
“I’ve never been an all-star athlete, but I love being part of a team,” says Cortes. “A training regime is not really my style, for me it’s all about how connected do I feel with the folks I’m riding with, who can I ride with?” So during the fallout from the global pandemic Cortes has gotten involved with local groups and found a riding buddy.
“Our Bay Area RAR chapter is focusing its outreach to BIPOC folks, who are often not comfortable in big group rides,” explains Cortes. “So we just did a full moon ride in San Francisco. It was a chill six mile ride along the Embarcadero, a chance to get together and build community, be social, create a space for folks to connect and build trust.”
After over a year of Zooming and online meetups, the RAR Gravel Team was eager to connect and build trust in person. “We finally found a weekend where we could make it happen this past June!” Cortes gushes with excitement. “It was all self-planned, each of us cooked and provided, feeding each other and biking together, all wearing the same striped jerseys. People on the trails were calling us Team Zebra.”
The last 18 months have taught us plenty. Importantly, that one size does not fit all and it’s critical to have options. To that end, we’re working harder than ever to bring you an inspiring collection of bicycle brands. We’ve set the stage, so get out there! Do it now, and do it with style.Your style.
Four folks from Specialized, one of their sponsors, showed up and they contracted a photographer to document the weekend of joyful riding through Wilder Ranch State Park and the Marin Headlands. “The folks from Specialized kept saying what a fun, relaxed and silly team we were,” laughs Cortes. “We don’t really care about being the fastest team, but we hope to be the funnest!”
RAR’s Gravel Team will have a chance to put their fun to the test when they meet in Colorado for their first inperson race at the Steamboat Gravel August 15. On September 18 they will meet again for California’s Grinduro race. “And for our third race of the season, we are encouraging all our members to do a local course,” Cortes explains.
Cortes’ athletic development and love of gravel riding would not exist without the nurturing and support of RAR. “This group has really created a space where we can accept ourselves for who we are, where we are,” says Cortes. “As soon as people do that, we invite more diversity.”
Cortes doesn’t think about the CISmen who dominate the sport and events much. “But sometimes I feel bad for bros,” Cortes admits. “There’s so much pressure to be the shreddiest, and perform at such a high level. RAR riders are there to remind them they don’t have to do that. We are taking the time to accept ourselves and hope they can too.”
THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: THE TEAM POSING ON A HITCHING POST. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: NATALIA, DELANEY, CHARLIE, M, DEVIN, IZZY, EFFIE, DART, HANNAH; DEVIN AND HANNAH CLIMBING UP WILDER RANCH.
KURT GENSHEIMER
Building Trails, Building Communities
By Jim Scripps
In the pantheon of endurance sports, mountain biking is unique in the high frequency with which it reminds its mid-level practitioners how bad they suck. Such is the case for mortals who attempt to stay on the wheel of Kurt Gensheimer, the eponymous ASS (Angry Singlespeeder), as he navigates the long, techy, high-elevation trails of Northern California’s Lost Sierra. While he’s leading out epic climbs around the Lakes Basin and above Downieville like Lance Armstrong on a fresh EPO infusion, you can only hope he’ll wait at the summit. It’s 90 degrees, and this is a one water bottle day.
For more than a decade these mountains north of Lake Tahoe have been Gensheimer’s home turf, part of the draw when he escaped Southern California and moved to trail-adjacent Reno.
The 44-year-old lifelong mountain biker and former racer of all disciplines, has made bike evangelism his life’s work, through his writing, event promotion and trail-building. Readers of his columns in this publication under the “Angry Singlespeeder” moniker, or his writing using the “Trail Whisperer” handle, might identify Gensheimer as a mischievous antagonist in the bicycle culture wars, but that caricature belies his true nature. For Kurt it’s not important how you play in the mountains, it’s just important that you do.
“I am not on this planet to judge how somebody has a good time,” says Gensheimer. “People should do anything they want to do to have a good time. We all take the outdoors in differently. As long as you’re being responsible, and courteous, you’re doing it right.”
It’s a curious position for fans of Gensheimer’s writing, whose agitated alter ego was born from single-speed mountain biking culture, perhaps the second most insufferable of recreational cohorts (the first being fixed-gear aficionados). Despite the ASS’s curated curmudgeonly persona, in the real world Gensheimer is driven by a deeper ethos: a more global vision of trail development as community reclamation.
To this end, three years ago Gensheimer and a group of investors, including several bicycle industry heavyweights, bought The Lure, a then-dilapidated resort property located one bend of the North Yuba River from downtown Downieville. The idea was to contribute to and build on the economic ecosystem supported by hundreds of miles of local trails. Since the group made the purchase, Gensheimer has applied his inexhaustible work ethic and jack-of-alltrades construction and problem-solving skills to transform the cabins and property.
BUILDING TRAILS BUILDS COMMUNITY
Today, with significant investment of capital and sweat equity, The Lure and its 70 acres of wooded paradise is a beacon for visitors to this part of California’s Gold Country, whether they are coming for the best-in-the-west shuttle-served downhill mountain biking, or just to hang out on the porch, read a book and occasionally cool down in the river.
Gensheimer has lived on site part-time and put himself to work reviving the once-tired cabins, and doing project after project, from rebuilding a springfed water system to clearing acres of overgrown brush. It’s been a lot of work. “You won’t believe what I have to deal with today,” an exasperated Gensheimer said earlier this summer during a phone call. “The fucking dumpster is in the river. This is the second time.” In the mountains, dumpsters shouldn’t have wheels. Thankfully, Gensheimer’s truck has a winch.
Chris McNamara, a mountain biker, rock climber, author, and pioneering wingsuit jumper who calls Lake Tahoe home, came in as an investor. He believed in Gensheimer’s vision of building a place that has character, but is also operated with integrity to benefit the adjacent mountain town communities racked by economic turmoil. The Lure is a thriving business, but it’s also jobs, and it’s affordable housing.
“It’s just been great being a part of it,” McNamara says. In addition to its riverfront cabins, The Lure has an extended property that includes a barn and two houses. The houses are perfect for local families on a budget, while the barn and pasture have become a magnet for the property’s owners, friends and families to come, unwind and celebrate the community. “Just meeting the people who have been such a big part of this area is part of the experience.”
McNamara sees Gensheimer as a connector. “At the heart of all these things, it’s about getting all the right people aligned,” he says. “Now there’s this great cast
of characters, going [to The Lure] and actually doing work and creating the sweat equity.”
Modern-day Downieville is proof that trails can help sustain a community. If you believe the magazines and YouTube videos it’s easy to credit the boom in mountain bike popularity to advances in technology that have made bikes lighter, more efficient, and even motorized. But, trails are the central character in this story.
For decades after the last of the gold rush’s riches were mined from the hills around Downieville, the town subsisted on a mix of other resource extraction industries and eventually developed an economy as a recreation destination, mainly for gold dredgers and anglers. But, in the modern era, it has been remade as California’s epicenter of mountain biking, thanks in part to the attention created by the Downieville Classic (formerly the Coyote Classic) bike race and the prolific efforts of the region’s flagship trailbuilding non-profit, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS), and its visionary leader Greg Williams.
Building on its success, SBTS is in the midst of an expansion of its charter with a large-scale trailbuilding and economic development project called “Connected Communities.” The plan is to develop and promote hundreds of miles of multi-use crisscrossing trails while bringing fresh economic opportunities to the larger Lost Sierra community.
“That dude’s a hero,” Gensheimer says. Williams showed that trails can be the key to unlocking a community’s potential. Understanding that power reprioritized Gensheimer. “I’ve been outside my whole life. Always outside, always in the woods. Trails have always been an integral part. And I’ve always raced. “Racing is fun and all, but ultimately it’s kind of selfish and kind of vapid. But trails, they’re selfserving, but they’re also selfless. They’re an asset for the community that can live forever.”
“I am not on this planet to judge how somebody has a good time. We all take the outdoors in differently. As long as you’re being responsible, and courteous, you’re doing it right.” — Kurt Gensheimer
BRINGING A NEVADA TRAIL BACK TO LIFE
Outside the Great Basin town of Austin, Nevada, rising above the sunbaked desert valley floor, a renovated trail of epic proportions is coming to life. Gensheimer’s latest obsession is a 32-mile stretch of the Toiyabe Crest. For three years he has spearheaded a renovation of what he claims will be “one of the greatest single-day epics in North America,” a project that embraces the spirit of building community through building trails.
Although the trail has a historic pedigree, it has suffered from decades of disuse and neglect. Gensheimer, volunteers, and a crew of grant-funded trailworkers have been hard at work buffing out trail, cutting back overgrowth, rerouting lines and dialing drainage in an effort to transform a great trail into a masterpiece … still technical and rowdy enough for core riders, while befitting of the capabilities of modern mountain bikes. When he’s not at home in the small town of Verdi outside of Reno, or on hand at
The Lure in Downieville, he’s usually out here, off-grid and living out of the Toyota Sunrader camper that he converted to a 4-wheel drive overlander, scratching at the trail with McLeods, axes, shovels and a cordless sawzall.
The trailhead lies near the outpost of Kingston, Nevada, and is striking distance from the towns of Fallon, Austin, Tonopah, and Ely, which is to the east near the Utah border.
Ely, population 4,000, gives off the shine of an old west town with heart. The main drag is a mix of local diners and feed stores, fast food and gas for road-trippers passing through, and motels for weary travelers. But it’s also a gateway to the Silver State’s abundance of outdoor opportunities, the Toiyabe Range among them.
Kyle Horvath is part of a new breed of adventure seekers who are rediscovering the riches of the interior public lands in the west. As executive director of the White Pine County Board of Tourism, he is spreading the gospel for this corner of outdoor paradise, charged with getting the word out that Ely, and its expansive high desert surrounds, has the goods. He considers Gensheimer a brother in arms in the battle to reposition this area as more than just a destination for hunters and fisherman.
THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: THOUGH GENSHEIMER IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP UP WITH ON ANY TRAIL, HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING EXTENDS WELL BEYOND RACING (RICK GUNN); THE ASS IN FULL DISCO REGALIA, FEATURING A 1970S DISCO BALL HE CONVERTED INTO A HELMET (GENSHEIMER COLLECTION/ SEA OTTER CLASSIC); PROVIDING MOTIVATION FOR DOWNIEVILLE CLASSIC RACERS, GENSHEIMER SLAPS THE SKINS ABOVE DEER LAKE (KEN ETZEL) OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: GENSHEIMER, ALONG WITH KYLE HORVATH, FAR LEFT, RALLIED A GROUP OF FRIENDS IN 2018 ON A WEEK-LONG HIGHWAY 50 ADVENTURE, PROMOTING NEVADA AS A MOUNTAIN BIKE DESTINATION (JOHN WATSON); GENSHEIMER AND HIS LADY ELISABETH, AKA SWAN JOHN, ON THE TOIYABE CREST TRAIL NEAR KINGSTON, NV, A HISTORIC NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL HE’S SPENT THE LAST THREE YEARS WORKING TO RESURRECT (CHRIS MCNAMARA)
“He’s really been instrumental to the success of mountain biking in this part of the state,” Horvath says. “I don’t know if people understand how instrumental he’s been to these projects. And these aren’t small projects.”
The two met each other when Horvath was marketing manager for the tourism promotion agency in Nevada’s capitol of Carson City, located just east of Lake Tahoe’s south shore. Gensheimer approached Horvath with a vision to help bring a festival-style mountain bike race to the then-new Ash to Kings Trail. At the time, Carson City was warming to the idea of evolving beyond its staid casino-wild west tourism brand, and Gensheimer tapped his old friend Todd Sadow, the progenitor of the Epic Rides races (Whiskey Off-Road, 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and Tour of the White Mountains among them). The Carson City Off-Road was born.
“We were planning, going out to dinners, and going on big rides with each other, and talking about how big this could be for Carson City and Northern Nevada,” Horvath says of Gensheimer.
“Racing is fun and all, but ultimately it’s kind of selfish and kind of vapid. But trails, they’re selfserving, but they’re also selfless. They’re an asset for the community that can live forever.”
— Kurt Gensheimer
“His enthusiasm was infectious. Kurt saw it as ‘Look what mountain biking can do for the community.’”
Despite challenges — the race has been beset by bad weather, course changes and a pandemic cancellation — hosting a big-time bike race brought hundreds of visitors who might have otherwise thought that great riding in the central Sierra stopped at the edge of Lake Tahoe. The Carson City OffRoad put the 55,000-population town on the proverbial mountain bike map.
“Kurt in a great way steered us to Carson City,” Sadow says. For years, Gensheimer has been one of the voices of Epic Rides, crafting promotional content for its storied races. “When Kurt relocated to the Reno area, his eyes were opened to that market. And he knew Carson City was looking to feature their trails. Beyond the connections, he spent a lot of time riding the course, and helped lay out the course. When it came time to promote the event, he was really instrumental.”
Before he moved to Northern Nevada, Gensheimer similarly put his stamp on San Diego’s cycling community, helping to develop the Quick n’ Dirty Mountain Bike Racing series. The owner of the series, Victor Sheldon, says his relationship with Gensheimer started around 2011, when Sheldon was repping eyewear brand Spy, and looking to sponsor a cyclocross race.
“We started off a little shaky,” Sheldon says. Gensheimer doesn’t shy away from expressing his opinions. “I was coming from a motorsports background and Kurt had different ideas. We started on a different page, but eventually we figured it out, and after that it sparked a friendship.”
When Sheldon moved on from Spy, he and Gensheimer started the series with three mountain bike races, and, after an overwhelming positive reception, planned for five the next year. The growth of the series has continued. This year, Quick n’ Dirty will hold 16 races over the course of 2021, with hundreds of riders participating, including a big contingent of kids and high schoolers.
“Kurt leaves that kind of mark wherever he goes,” Sheldon says. “He’s a loved individual.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: GENSHEIMER ACHIEVES A FIRST IN THE DOWNIEVILLE CLASSIC LOG PULL ... BREAKING THE ROPE (MATT NISWONGER); VICTOR SHELDON AND GENSHEIMER POSE AT THE VERY FIRST QUICK N’ DIRTY MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE THEY FOUNDED TOGETHER IN 2013 IN NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO (GENSHEIMER COLLECTION); GENSHEIMER ON THE SET OF A YUBA EXPEDITIONS COMMERCIAL DRESSED AS “SPOT,” THE INFAMOUS PINK GORILLA OFTEN SEEN ROAMING THE TRAILS ABOVE DOWNIEVILLE (GENSHEIMER COLLECTION)
Horvath sees the same growth potential for Ely, which is already entrenched in mountain bike lore with a unique June race called Fears, Tears and Beers, the self-proclaimed “oldest enduro mountain bike race in the country.” The race/party (maybe actually a party/race?), offers several classes from beginner to pro, and a course with a uniquely Nevada twist: racers literally ride through a casino. The region has an impressive mix of trails like Ice Plant, High Roller and (the also uniquely Nevadan) Whorehouse Downhill. As a bonus, a 50-mile trail expansion plan is approved and waiting for funding, Horvath says. As part of Ely’s newest bike event, called “Race the Rails,” riders sprint against a train, riding the gravel next to the tracks for a 6-mile burst. Like with Fears, Tears and Beers, the winners are the riders who have the most fun, Horvath says. This being central Nevada, there is no shortage of gravel roads, which are bringing new cycling enthusiasts to the party. “It’s about having fun in a beautiful place and doing what you love,” Horvath says. “It’s definitely more social than competitive.”
In Ely, kids are riding more — there’s a National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) team approximately 15-20 riders strong —and more and more people are finding their version
of mountain bike Mecca in this region, Horvath says.
“What’s so cool about this happening is that it just takes the energy of someone who believes in it,” he says.
“Kurt’s a modern-day explorer. He’s so connected to the old days. He can look at the old maps and see the potential for forgotten trails. But in that he can see the potential for the community.
“I’m just blown away by what the mountain biking community is doing here. They are driving cohesion in the region with things like trail-work days and people getting together at events. It’s an awesome thing to see it bringing people and a town together.”
This story was reported at the beginning of what has turned into a catastrophic fire season in the Sierra Nevada. The Lost Sierra and nearby communities were hit hard by the 105,000-acre Beckwourth Fire, and the behemoth Dixie Fire, approaching 1 million acres. South of Lake Tahoe, the Caldor Fire has claimed nearly 800 structures, and was at 215,000 acres as of this publication. The fire required evacuation of communities along Lake Tahoe’s south shore. As a result of these fires, we already know that hundreds of trails have been lost, and that we have a huge trail rebuilding effort ahead of us. Support the organizations that will be at the front and center of this effort at SierraTrails.org and TAMBA.org
ONLY 3 HOURS & 150 YEARS AWAY FROM THE BAY AREA. THINGS TO DO IN DOWNIEVILLE
Hike/Bike/Motor on the Epic Trail System • Dip into Hidden Swimming Holes • Find Secret Mining Tunnels • Fish for Wild & Stocked Rainbow Trout • Pan for Gold • Visit Prohibition Era Wine Bars & Historic St. Charles Place Saloon.
ADVENTURE EVENTS CALENDAR
BIKING, cont.
October
Filthy 50+ — Oct 30, 2021 —
Filthy 50+ / San Diego / 50+ & 30 Mile Rides / Kids Ride / Fast and flowy for all skill levels / Awards for top finishers / QuickNDirtyMTB.com
30 — Tour de Lincoln / McBean Park, Lincoln / Metric Century / Half Century / Quarter Century / tourdelincoln.org
30 - 31 — Surf City Cyclocross / Santa Cruz / New location at Crest Ranch Xmas Tree Farm / Two days of racing / Limited camping / cyclo-x.com
December
Dirty 30 — Dec 4, 2021 —
Dirty 30 / Lakeside / 30 & 12 miles / 100% hand-built trails / fun and flowy terrain / Occasional rock features / QuickNDirtyMTB.com
E-Dirty Cross — Dec 5 2021 —
E-Dirty Cross / San Diego / Class 1 e-bikes only / Singletrack, fireroads, jumps, rock features and more / standard bike kids race / QuickNDirtyMTB.com
MISCELLANEOUS
September
Film Festival — Sept 17, 2021 — Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival / Santa Cruz / Carefully selected films / Be moved. Be Inspired. Don’t miss out! / RioTheatre.com
Adventure Van Expo — Sept 18 - 19, 2021 —
Adventure Van Expo / Lake Tahoe / Free entry / Van builds, campers, and open house vans / Food, gear, tunes and camping / AdventureVanExpo.com
Yosemite Facelift — Sept 22 - 26, 2021 —
Yosemite Facelift Yosemite / Pre-registration required for clean ups / Join virtual evening programs with Ken Yager and Timmy O’Neill / YosemiteFaceLift.com
Urban cyclocross races for all ages! Join the gals for a weekend of food, wine, cycling & fun! An epic 125 mile mountain challenge with 13.5K ft of climbing
October 22nd-24th
October 17th September 26th MareIslandPedalfest.com Napa9.com CampoVelo.com
October
Adventure Van Expo — Oct 16 - 17, 2021 —
Adventure Van Expo / Big Bear Lake / Free entry / Van builds, campers, and open house vans / Food, gear, tunes and camping / AdventureVanExpo.com
5 - 7 — Nor Cal Ski & Snowboard Festival / San Franciso / Attendees
