Adventure Sports Journal // Feb/March 2022 // Issue #122

CALIFORNIA ENDURO SERIES TURNS

2022 RACE CALENDAR

Longboard Racing

BETH PRATT

SAVING THE COUGARS

BIKEPACKING

The Sonoma Coast

YOUR BACKYARD JUST GOT A Lot Bigger

Discover the beauty of road tripping through Tuolumne County – an easy getaway, 2.5 hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area, with miles of fresh air, outdoor adventure and charming historic towns. From hiking and kayaking to strolling unique shops and enjoying local cuisine, there’s plenty to explore throughout the High Sierra, Gold Country and Yosemite. Wander freely, and plan your trip today. VisitTCToday.com/AdventureSports

Pure Elegance in a Wilderness Setting. The McCaffrey House has created an experience of comfort and culinary excellence in a setting that is social and intimate just for you. mccaffreyhouse.com

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Located at the Highway 120 West entrance to Yosemite, Rush Creek Lodge & Spa includes a restaurant, tavern, pool, daily activities, guided trips throughout Yosemite, and now

brand new indoor/outdoor spa! rushcreeklodge.com

MCCAFFREY HOUSE B&BRUSH CREEK LODGE & SPAHOTEL LUMBERJACK

Photo credit: Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite

HETCH HETCHY RESERVOIR, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Groveland

Located in downtown Sonora, Hotel Lumberjack offers all the comfort from home. Recharge your batteries before or after heading to Yosemite or any trails in the area! Complimentary WiFi, free breakfast, free parking. hotellumberjack.com

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

PUBLISHER

Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EDITOR

Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com

COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Stein jen@adventuresportsjournal.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Marissa Neely marissa@asjmag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Leonie Sherman, Matt Johanson, Krista Houghton, James Murren, Kurt Gensheimer, Cody Siler

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Cody Siler, Terry Baier, Eric Highlander, Bixxel, Matt Johanson, James Murren, Called to Creation, Kasey Carames, Jay Melena

LAYOUT

Cathy Claesson

COVER DESIGN

Lauren Worth

asj contributors

what is the most ridiculous item you’ve ever brought into the backcountry?

leoniesherman

I hiked a week on the Appalachian trail with a full size banjo. Evening campfires were amazing and I became a shortlived legend but my pack weighed about 50 pounds!

kurtgensheimer

That would have to be an extra battery ... for an e-bike.

mattjohanson

I wore all the wrong clothes on early climbs and ski trips: cotton shirts and socks, jeans, and baseball hats. More ridiculous were essentials I did not bring, like adequate sunscreen and ski wax on a few occasions.

mattniswonger

A home made poop tube for climbing El Capitan. I made it out of PVC to be “stink proof,” but it didn’t work and stunk to high heaven.

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION

Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

EVENTS MARKETING

Michele Lamelin michele@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.

All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2022. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editors

ADVENTURE SPORTS JOURNAL

PO BOX 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 Phone 831.457.9453 asjstaff@adventuresportsjournal.com PROUD

codysiler

On multi-day trips I always carry a variety of fine cured meats, cheeses and olives. Like a summer storm in the Sierras, a hunger for charcuterie can appear suddenly and be dangerous if you’re unprepared.

jamesmurren

Ridiculous, perhaps, in that I had to pack out the containers and they might be considered heavy food weight — I carried a few tins of sardines on a backpacking trip. They tasted great, though!

kristahoughton

I always pack in potatoes, onion and salami. It adds weight, but by day three when you fry them all up together it’s a 5-star meal and so worth it!

jaymelena

If not cameras and multiple lenses, then a dutch oven.

Thich Nhat Hanh

The power of right now

As we go to press we have learned that Vietnamese peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh has passed away. He was 95. He is known as the “father of mindfulness.” This is a great loss to the world, but the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh will live on. His philosophy of mindfulness works with any religion or faith tradition. While it is true that Thich Nhat Hanh was a Buddhist, his practical approach to daily life can be taken at face value. His wisdom aligns perfectly with anyone who cares about reducing suffering and increasing happiness.

Thich Nhat Hanh said that we humans are endlessly striving — after love, wealth, happiness, enlightenment, whatever. This tendency to always be striving causes great suffering.

I see this in the digital age. Because of social media we are not living our life; we are striving to show others a digital version of our life. Nature pulls us into the present moment. Then our phone vibrates and demands we look at it. The moment is lost. Nature fades and striving takes over.

When we started Adventure Sports Journal in 2001 our goal was to document and inspire the practice of outdoor adventure in California. This seemed like a noble goal at the time. Little did we know that Facebook and Instagram would change everything. Little did we know the virtual world was quickly becoming more important than the real world. For many years we tried harder and harder to keep up. In addition to the printed version of ASJ we built a website. Then we had to have a Facebook page. Then it was Instagram. We were tagging

and hashtagging and boosting and promoting. Soon we were exhausted. The digital treadmill was getting us nowhere. Thich Nhat Hanh taught that the present moment is our only chance at happiness. Everything else is just striving. Here at Adventure Sports Journal we are tired of striving. We don’t like having to play the digital game. We are a humble outdoor magazine.

We are passionate about words and photos on printed paper. We love seeing ads in our pages from companies who support us. These ads don’t track you. These ads won’t stalk you. They are just here, in the moment.

These are words on printed paper. The future is a concept. These are words on printed paper. The past is a concept. These are words on printed paper. Life is right now. Liberation is only possible right now. That’s what we believe. That’s what Thich Nhat Hanh stood for.

We are tired of the harm social media platforms have caused. We recommend you get off your phone and go outside. Grab your skis, grab your bike, grab your surfboard, grab your running shoes, grab your backpack. Clear your mind. Breathe. Take a hammer and pound a nail right through the center of your smartphone.

As you crush your phone into tiny bits, repeat after me: “Screw you Mark Zuckerberg. Screw you corporate media.” Ok, don’t actually do that. I’m just being dramatic to make a point.

Digital striving causes suffering. Outdoor adventure with friends is part of the cure. Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh for teaching us the power of mindfulness. Less is more. Simpler is better.

I hope your ideas spread like wildfire and change the world before it is too late. RIP Thich Nhat Hanh 1926-2022

— Matt Niswonger

matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

THANK YOU!

For 20 Years

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 are excited to be attending events again.

BUSINESSES

Thanks for making room on your shelves to share ASJ with your customers.

With your support we can continue to inspire adventure, event participation, exploration and environmental stewardship. — Matt Niswonger & Cathy Claesson

I see this in the digital age. Because of social media we are not living our life; we are striving to show others a digital version of our life. Nature pulls us into the present moment. Then our phone vibrates and demands we look at it. The moment is lost. Nature fades and striving takes over.

EAR TO THE GROUND

News & notes from the outdoor industry

LOVED THE ARTICLE ON BLACK GIRLS SURF

In the past, I have seen the Adventure Sports Journal at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek, and occasionally I would pick it up to read at home. However, when I saw the July/August issue at Sports Basement with Black Girls Surf on the front, I was extra excited to read the journal.

I’m inspired by seeing athletes from under-represented groups. I had learned about Black Girls Surf last year, so it was exciting to see this group of women featured on the front of your magazine. Please keep highlighting examples of under-represented people doing sports of all kinds. From now on, I will be much

more proactive looking for your magazine’s latest edition.

— Christie McNickle, Concord

ARE YOU CRAZY?

I was in my bike shop the other day and saw your magazine. It looked cool, so I took it home. Then I read the letters in that issue (Issue #120) and I thought, “These guys are all crazy!” They did little to change my mind. Which raises the question: Can one be an avid cyclist and not be an avowed communist? Just wondering.

— Daniel Sonnet

PRINT EVENT LISTINGS

I am a long time runner (30 years) and look forward to event listings in your print edition. I do not use social media and rarely access online sport info. PLEASE continue the print edition. For runners like me, we embrace the outdoors through your informative, funny, push back editions. Don’t give up the fight to maintain PRINT. Your work is appreciated. Fight on to keep your “personality” in a digital world. With much thanks that you are still here.

— Sandra Anderson, Rocklin

We love hearing from readers. Drop us a line at: staff@adventuresportsjournal.com

ASJ TO BE ARCHIVED AT UC MERCED’S LIBRARY

After nearly 21 years of publication and more than 120 issues, Adventure Sports Journal has created a substantial archive of legendary people and moments in the history of adventure sports and the outdoor industry. Interviews with outdoor luminaries who are no longer with us, such as Royal Robbins, Warren Miller, and others, as well as coverage of early-career victories by athletes like Cody Townsend and Alex Honnold have populated the pages of ASJ over the past two decades.

Over time, however, there are fewer and fewer remaining copies of each issue, making some of that history subject to disappearing. Recently, Publisher Cathy Claesson, Editor-in-Chief Matt Niswonger, and their early days’ partner, Christa Fraser, met to scour the archives for a complete set of ASJ issues to save for posterity.

After finding a good copy of every issue, we are excited to announce that we are now in the process of making an agreement with the University of California, Merced Library to host our archives permanently. While details are still under discussion, each issue will likely be digitized and then also be available as part of UC Merced Library’s Special Collections online.

We look forward to sharing more details of this exciting new project in the months ahead.

THE GREAT SKI RACE’S NEW LOOP COURSE

After more than four decades of using the same route, the biggest cross-country ski race west of the Mississippi is changing course. It’s an idea they’ve been mulling for some time: Send The Great Ski Race course through a loop — that ends where it begins.

The course will still feature the epic Starratt Pass climb from the usual start zone at Tahoe XC, but after Soup Station One, it will keep going on the Fiberboard Freeway around Mt. Watson almost all the way to Northstar California, then swing back through whoop-dee-doos in the forest above Carnelian Bay onto Tahoe XC’s beautiful Blue Trail, crossing Dollar Creek to finish on a spectacular downhill back to where the race started from at the Tahoe XC lodge in Tahoe City.

Along its 26-km (16.2-mile) length, the race will show you some gorgeous areas you may not yet have seen on skis. Of course, as always there’ll be a finish-line party including lunch, awards, and a live band on the Tahoe XC patio. Proceeds from The Great Ski Race benefit the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a group of more than 100 volunteers who search for lost skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, and others lost in the backcountry around North Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

Learn more at thegreatskirace.com

BLM ANNOUNCES MORE WILD HORSE ROUND UPS

More than half of the approximately 86,000 horses roaming US federal lands are in Nevada. Bureau of Land Management director Tracy Stone-Manning has announced the agency plans to permanently remove at least 19,000 wild horses and burros from Western federal lands in 2022. Critics say it’s a continuation of a decades old policy that kowtows to ranchers who don’t want horses competing with cattle and sheep for forage of federal lands.

In Nevada three groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the roundup of more than 2,000 horses currently underway near the Utah border. “Using drought as a fig-leaf for its illegal actions, the BLM is depopulating the West of its wild horses and burros herd by herd and burning through taxpayer dollars with their endless roundups and holding facilities,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, in a recent interview with the Associated Press.

WINTER OLYMPIC ATHLETE DAHRIA BEATTY PARTNERS WITH BUFF AND PROTECT OUR WINTERS

BUFF® is proud to announce that Canadian Cross Country Skier and BUFF Athlete, Dahria Beatty, will be representing Canada in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Beatty is a proud climate activist and will use her partnerships with BUFF and Tahoe based non-profit, Protect Our Winters (POW) to drive awareness to the climate crisis and climate activism.

Dahria has competed twice on the Olympic stage in Cross Country Skiing, first earning her rings during the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang. Yet, throughout her skiing career she has experienced first-hand the impact of climate change, and has made it her goal to bring awareness to its effects and the importance of protecting the places we love. “It’s worrisome how the climate is shifting in a way where we aren’t really sure where it’s going and how erratic the climate has become,” says Beatty.

BUFF North America Media Communications Manager, Casey Rolig remarked, “We’re so proud of Dahria’s accomplishments and climate activism. We wish her success as she competes at the 2022 Winter Olympics.”

BUFF North American is based in Santa Rosa, CA. Through their global partnership with POW, BUFF is raising awareness and raising funds to protect landscapes, preserve playgrounds, and maintain the natural beauty of public lands. Dahria Beatty is a proud ambassador of the BUFF and POW partnership collection, which includes three designs by artist and outdoor guide Jessa Gilbert. The three designs will represent humans, the elements, and our playground. Read more at buffusa.com/protect-ourwinters

FLIGHTS TO BISHOP CA ARE NOW AVAILABLE

United Airlines has started direct flights from three major hubs into Bishop, CA. The airline moved all commercial flights to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport/Bishop (BIH) located just two miles east of Bishop, CA. The move to Bishop, a scenic 45 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, allows United Airlines to improve the reliability of service and expand to offer daily flights. During the winter months, guests can take advantage of nonstop flights from; Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. Stay tuned about summer flights.

Now closer than ever before, guests can connect to Eastern Sierra Regional Airport/ Bishop (BIH), from major US and international cities to Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, the Owens River, Buttermilk Country, Bishop Creek, Death Valley and Eastern Sierra adventures abound. Learn more at bishopvisitor.com/air-service/

QUICK N’ DIRTY ANNOUNCES NEW MTB EVENT IN LAS VEGAS

Over the past six years, Quick n’ Dirty has been providing a diverse, year round calendar of racing events in the San Diego area. These events attract racers and their families from all walks of life and racing abilities ... from world, national and state champions to first timers and an ever growing female category.

This spring, Quick n’ Dirty is bringing their series to the Las Vegas area with the all new Chain Smoker event in historic Blue Diamond, Nevada. A place that takes you back in time, where burros wander the streets and tortoises can be found in the shade of cottonwood trees. The Chain Smoker is situated under the beautiful backdrop of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This area has a network of trails providing opportunities to experience desert riding on a 15-mile course.

The course is all single track and includes big sweeping views. It’s a maze of canyons, peaks, ledges, chimneys, chutes and gullies that leads to surprises around every turn. Learn more at quickndirtymtb.com/raceinfo/chainsmoker

JIMMY PANETTA TOURS COTONI-COAST DAIRIES PROJECT

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (formerly Mountain BIkers of Santa Cruz) has completed one mile of trail as they work along Agua Puera Creek in the open hills at Cotoni-Coast Dairies. The crew has been breaking trail with a mini-excavator, with trail builders following behind to finish-shape the trail with hand tools.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta and his staff came out to tour the property to show his support. Panetta is supportive of the CotoniCoast Dairies project and the property will be in his district (a newly formed coastal district) come 2023.

Read more mbosc.org/blog/keeping-upwith-cotoni-coast-dairies

Spell of the Sierra

Kim Stanley Robinson’s Love Story

By Leonie Sherman

filled with granite and bluebird skies reflected in alpine lakes. The spell of the Sierra.

Ifirst felt it 25 years ago. Changed my career so I could pursue it. Devoted a thousand days and a thousand and one nights to exploring it. Tattooed it across my forearms. Wrote songs and articles about it. Started romances and friendships based on it. The Paiute felt it and visited summer camps on hallowed ground for millenniaas they continue to do today. John Muir felt it and convinced President Theodore Roosevelt to preserve Yosemite National Park. Norman Clyde felt it and put up wild first ascents. Mary Curry Tresidder felt it and built a backcountry ski hut still loved a century later. David Brower felt it and co-authored the Wilderness Act. Shelton Johnson felt it and brought the history of Buffalo Soldiers to

international attention. Gary Snyder felt it and wrote Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry. Tom Killion felt it and created stunning woodblock prints. Mary Austin felt it and wrote a classic book.

Some of the best speculative fiction of the past thirty years has been inspired by the spell of the Sierra as well. In between writing award-winning bestselling novels, Kim Stanley Robinson has been exploring the range of light for five decades. He will publish his first non-fiction book, The High Sierra: A Love Story in May 2022.

“I often struggle with the titles of my books,” Robinson told me recently. “This is one of the few times I have felt really great about the title and the subtitle of a book.”

March 19, 2020, he emerged from an 8-day Grand Canyon rafting trip into lockdown. “Shelter-in-place was the perfect writing retreat!” he exclaimed.

“I’ve been thinking about this Sierra book for at least 30 years,” he mused.

“This Sierra effect, it’s been such a major feeling in my life, I didn’t want to avoid it

any longer. I wanted to try and express what the mountains meant to me and why, why do you get the Sierra effect, and could it be written?”

After devoting almost two years to the project, he’s still not sure. “I have this lurking feeling that I somehow missed,

If you’ve been up there, you’ve felt it. The magic of the alpenglow. The stillness of fresh fallen snow. Carpets of wild flowers every spring. Summer days

Photo: Joe Holtz

there’s something on the tip of my tongue, or behind the back of my head, that I didn’t manage to get into the book,” he said.

“I had to give up on that feeling, it’s not going to go away,” he admitted. “We talk about the inexpressible, the ineffable, and I’m thinking it’s a real thing. You can’t name it or expect to express it.”

The spell of the Sierra can only be experienced, but The High Sierra: A Love Story, takes readers into the heart of the range. Part guidebook, part textbook, part biography and part memoir, its 536 pages are filled with poems, personal anecdotes, detailed maps, woodblock prints and satellite imagery. Robinson’s personal experience of the Sierra knits together chapters about geology, place names, gear suggestions, pocket biographies, hike recommendations and descriptions of wildlife. Sci-fi fans, Sierra lovers and complete newcomers will find love and learn something new in its pages.

“Writing the memoir part was a little nerve-wracking,” he explained. “I’ve gotten comfortable with novels, I’m never there, my characters are never me, I always get to have a mask on, I’m always behind the scenes. And of course, this book isn’t just about me, it’s about my friends Terry Bauer and Michael Blumlein. Getting all the parts into balance was quite a challenging formal problem.”

But perhaps the biggest challenge he faced was philosophical. “Is it really a good idea to tell people to go up to the Sierra?” he asked. “Yosemite and Mammoth are already so heavily impacted they’re like sacrifice zones, and the John Muir Trail is suffering the same fate.” Despite these concerns he decided the benefits of inviting people to visit the High Sierra outweigh the risks.

“There are people who have never even had one wilderness experience, who have to imagine it. And if you have to imagine it, you’re not going to get it,” he said. “These folks are not quite connected to reality. It’s amazing, really, these highly intelligent primates conquered the world, and now spend most of their time living in boxes and staring at screens. It’s like a mass hallucination, a cultural insanity. We need to be connected to the planet, we need to get out there.”

“We need to have an open invitation to every living thing to get into the wild,” he continued. “I’m thinking of Antarctica, that’s a highly packaged, managed experience but every single person who goes, it blows their mind and they come back an advocate.”

“Most wild places aren’t that extreme, the effect isn’t so much like a sledgehammer to the head,” he admitted. “But there is something beguiling and charismatic about the High Sierra.”

Robinson reckons that exploring the High Sierra can alter the course of lives. “If you can get people to go up there, spend at least two nights, fumble around and come back out together, I reckon about a quarter of the people who try that, it will hit them the right way,” Robinson explained. “If it hits them while they’re young, their lives will be fundamentally changed.”

As he reflects on a lifetime of Sierra wandering, gratitude overwhelms him. “The High Sierra have been an incredible blessing for my whole life,” he explained. “I love it all- the insomnia, the bushwhacking, the talus slopes. I’ve gotten more and more appreciative.”

Mixed in with the gratitude is fear. “I’m scared to death about the future of the Sierra,” he admitted. “I was up there last summer and it’s so desiccated, the glaciers at the top of Deadman Canyon are gone. I have a sense of terror about the future for these mountains.”

Speaking at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference inspired that same mix of gratitude and terror. “Glasgow was awesome, definitely the most intense 12 days of my life as a public intellectual,” he recounted. “Instead of an observer I was part of the party.”

“It’s a great process, all the major players are there, but it’s too slow,” he explained. “Because every nation has to agree to every statement, statements are cautious and moderated. If we had 30 years, the process would be adequate to make the transition to a more sustainable world. But we only have 10 years.”

Participating in Glasgow forced Robinson to confront the limitations of bureaucracy and the importance of individual action, themes he often explores in his novels. “It comes back to us. You can’t actually say industry will change and the diplomats will take care of this for us. Each person is going to have to take action as they can. And it’s an open question: can people of the world pressure their governments to the point where they do more than they would otherwise? ” He paused. “It’s inspiring and frightening. Everything is getting great but scary.”

The spell of the Sierra gave Robinson the grounding and energy to write gamechanging novels and this spectacular non-fiction debut. But enjoying the sublime is no longer enough.

“As users and citizens, we’ve got to speak for government, for wilderness protection, for public land,” he said.

“There is so much anti-government sentiment right now, we have to talk about the commons. We have to be complete ambassadors for the world.”

“I’m scared to death about the future of the Sierra,” he admitted. “I was up there last summer and it’s so desiccated, the glaciers at the top of Deadman Canyon are gone. I have a sense of terror about the future for these mountains.”

Kim Stanley Robinson

WILDLIFE CROSSINGS

How Beth Pratt is saving cougars with wildlife crossings

By Leonie Sherman

The jury is still out on the chicken, but we know why the mountain lion crossed the road. Or at least why one particular mountain lion crossed two busy highways. He was looking for a date. He found a home.

Ten years ago, a lone male mountain lion made international headlines when he settled down in Griffith Park, eight square miles of open space in Hollywood, surrounded by urban development. Scientists named him P-22. His story, along with the tireless efforts of Beth Pratt, Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, helped raise over $76 million for an enormous wildlife bridge across Highway 101. Liberty Canyon, at the Ventura Freeway, is the last 1,600 feet with undeveloped land on both sides of

Highway 101 in the Santa Monica Mountains. It separates the Santa Monica Mountains from the Simi Hills and beyond, creating genetic isolation for animals large and small. Even with vast open spaces, the area mountain lions face extinction from inbreeding due to lack of dating options. Mountain lions face a similar dilemma in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and several wildlife crossings have been proposed for Highway 17.

But the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, named after the philanthrophist who donated $25 million, is past the proposal stage of

development. Construction will begin by spring of 2022. The crossing won’t help P-22 find a mate — Griffith Park is about 30 miles east of the proposed bridge across Liberty Canyon. But its strategic location, surrounded by open space and spanning ten lanes of pavement will prevent the extinction spiral of isolated populations. “This wildlife crossing will allow animals to date outside of their family!” Pratt explains.

Wildlife crossings like this one look like a slice of the local ecosystem suspended on a concrete platform above traffic; a bridge for flora and

fauna. Engineers consider light and noise, trees and shrubbery when designing these structures that will support the weight of a natural landscape.

Pratt began working on the estimated $87 million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in 2012, the same year P-22 arrived in the LA area. She gets calls to advise on other projects but devotes most of her energy to the nation’s largest urban wildlife crossing in the nation’s second largest city. She’s given Governor Newsom a tour. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, David Crosby and Barbra Streisand have contributed

to the cause. Donations roll in from across the country and around the world.

Meanwhile P-22 has settled into an urban bachelor existence. The chances of a female mountain lion crossing one of the major highways that ring his new home are slim. Most towns would have a problem with a 140-pound predator prowling in backyards, but LA embraces him.

“P-22 is in a park that 10 million people visit every year!” enthuses Pratt. “In any other state in the country he would have been shot or relocated right away. But in LA, people celebrate him, they report sightings of him wandering around at 2 AM like any other celebrity. He’s a folk hero. LA is coexisting with mountain lions.”

P-22 has a Facebook page with over 16,000 followers. Pratt even made him a fake Tinder profile. “We do a lot of education and outreach work in Watts,” explains Pratt. “Folks there see P-22 as a symbol of systematic oppression, they notice that he struggles with a lot of the same things they do.“ This dateless mountain lion’s story has captured imaginations around the world and changed the way people think about the wild.

“Thirty years ago, the dominant view was to put wildlife in a refuge and put people in a place like LA, and check the box, we saved wildlife,” says Pratt. “Now we understand that even having a place like Yosemite isn’t enough.

LEFT PAGE: P-22, WHEN HE WAS RECAPTURED IN APRIL 2019 TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN HIS GPS COLLAR (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE). THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: VISUALIZATION OF THE WALLIS ANNENBERG WILDLIFE CROSSING BY LIVING HABITATS, LLC (NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION); BETH PRATT, WEARING A P-22 THEMED HOLIDAY SWEATER, AT THE SITE OF THE SOON-TO-BE WILDLIFE CROSSING (BETH PRATT’S PRIVATE COLLECTION).

Of course we need to keep putting aside places for wildlife, but they also need connectivity.“ All animals, from the tiniest pollinators to the most charismatic mammals, need to move so they can find mates and new territory.

Wildlife crossings are not a new idea; France began building them in the 1950s. Canada built a single dramatic overpass in the heart of Banff National Park 25 years ago; now there are 42 wildlife crossings along an 88-km stretch of road. The idea is gaining traction; in November 2021, Congress allocated $350 million for wildlife crossings throughout all 50 states.

“Where humans see a highway, animals see a wall,” explains Pratt. Building wildlife crossings, either bridges or tunnels, opens up new terrain. Elk, deer, bears, coyotes, toads and even plants benefit. Vehicle collision numbers fall.

“What’s even more alarming than one species going extinct is that the research by the National Park Service is starting to show that genetic isolation is impacting all species. The

“Where humans see a highway, animals see a wall,” explains Pratt. Building wildlife crossings, either bridges or tunnels, opens up new terrain. Elk, deer, bears, coyotes, toads and even plants benefit. Vehicle collision numbers fall.

— Beth Pratt

is not as imminent for lizards and birds, but they still face threats,” Pratt sighs. “Turns out that when you plop down a 10-lane freeway in the middle of an ecosystem, that has consequences.”

And those consequences ripple out to the human world in complex ways. The extinction of the Eastern panther led to a dramatic rise in their main prey, deer, which may have resulted in a spike in Lyme disease. “And the pandemic! Why are we having a pandemic?” Pratt asks rhetorically. “It’s because of habitat degradation and loss.“

“We are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, and unlike the previous five, we are the cause, we are the asteroid,” Pratt says. “The moral responsibility to the rest of life on earth is huge. But we also need to shape up for our own survival.” Decades of science demonstrate that wildlife will find and use these crossings. “They don’t want to cross the road. Animals are looking for every option to avoid crossing a busy highway,” says Pratt. “I visited a crossing in Colorado, deer started using it two days after it was done. And some deer tried to use a crossing on the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass before it was even finished.”

In a culture and a time that is saturated with bad news, it’s encouraging to realize that some problems have practical solutions. “When you look at climate change, it’s overwhelming, there is no magic bullet. But wildlife crossings are a magic bullet. Wildlife are getting hit by cars, you build a crossing, the problem is fixed.”

Solutions happen in our own backyards. Pratt is currently fighting a proposed 60-mile graded trail along the Merced River near her home. “I’m all for recreation, and ten years ago I wouldn’t have thought anything of it,” she explains. “But an improved and graded trail along a riparian ecosystem disrupts how animals move and use the landscape. It could make newts and butterflies go locally extinct.”

Each of us can help wildlife survive by changing the way we view new construction, and advocating for building that allows wild animals to thrive. “Our human infrastructure impacts wildlife in ways we didn’t expect,” explains Pratt. “We need to see the land and human development in a whole new way.”

PORTABLE RELAXATION, REIMAGINED.

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: PRATT GIVES GOVERNOR NEWSOM A TOUR OF THE WILDLIFE CROSSING SITE IN 2019 (AMY CANTERBURY); AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO, INTRODUCING P-22 TO SEAN PENN AND LEILA GEORGE (FROM PRATT’S PRIVATE COLLECTION).

Brighten your adventures with our reimagined DoubleNest and SingleNest Hammocks, now updated with new features, responsibly made fabric, and refreshed colorways.

“We are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, and unlike the previous five, we are the cause, we are the asteroid. The moral responsibility to the rest of life on earth is huge. But we also need to shape up for our own survival.”

— Beth Pratt

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Kings Canyon

High Country Winter Treks

By Matt Johanson

Those seeking winter wonder without the crowds and traffic of Lake Tahoe can find an attractive alternative at Kings Canyon National Park. Striking scenery and moderate trails in the Grant Grove area provide rewarding day trips for beginning and advanced cross country skiers and snowshoers.

Grant Grove Village, with a visitor center and store, makes a perfect starting point. Highway 180 leads directly there from Fresno. Visitors can find parking, trail maps, rental gear, food and supplies. Most of the marked snow trails begin here, too. Here are a few favorites listed from easiest to more challenging.

GENERAL GRANT LOOP TRAIL

This four-mile outing, which takes two to four hours, leads through a wondrous grove of giant sequoias. General Grant Tree, the best-known of these, boasts numerous distinctions: it’s the largest tree in the park and secondlargest in the world. President Coolidge named it the national Christmas tree and President Eisenhower declared it a shrine to the nation’s war dead. Ulysses Grant, the 18th President and Civil War general, never laid eyes on the tree or the park. Still, he fought to end slavery, making him more worthy of tree-naming than others so honored. Follow green trail markers north past the stables. After about a mile, the trail splits as the loop begins. Turn left for the shortest trip to General Grant Tree. From here, you can simply return the way you came, but why not continue the clockwise loop for the full experience.

BUENA VISTA PEAK

This outing does not appear on the park’s ski trail map but provides a fun adventure for those willing to explore without trail markers. To climb the little mountain that deserves its name requires two miles of cross country travel and about two hours. Be advised, this trailhead may be inaccessible during and after heavy snowfall.

Drive about four miles southeast on Generals Highway from the Y intersection and park at the Kings Canyon Overlook. Cross the road and walk 500 feet south to a trailhead sign (which may be snowed over).

Trek south past Jeffrey pines, incense cedars and large granite boulders. Our route curves slightly east as the summit comes into view; it’s more of a dome than a peak. Avoid the steep north-facing slope. Instead, traverse clockwise around the dome to its gentlest southeast face. Buck Rock Fire Lookout may be visible to the northeast, as are many grand Sierra summits. This spot has particularly good views of Redwood Canyon and Redwood Mountain, home of the largest of all sequoia groves and the largest area of old-growth sequoia trees.

PANORAMIC POINT / PARK RIDGE LOOKOUT

BIG BALDY

To climb this modest mountain that looks like a bald hiker’s head involves a 4.5-mile outing and two to four hours. The approach trail traces Big Baldy Ridge which minimizes elevation gain needed to achieve the summit. This trailhead may also be inaccessible during and after heavy snowfall.

Drive about 6.5 miles southeast on Generals Highway from the Y intersection to find the signed trailhead. Red trail markers show the way. The route begins in a vibrant forest and ends on an exposed granite summit with excellent views in all directions. This trail skirts the national park boundary, so expect to see skiers, snowshoers and connecting trails from the nearby Montecito Sequoia Lodge.

Some stop at a nice vista about a half mile short of the peak, but if you’re after the true summit, keep going because you’re almost there. From the top, we see Redwood Canyon and Redwood Mountain Grove to the west and High Sierra peaks of the Great Western Divide to the east.

This trail leads to a spectacular vista at Panoramic Point on its way to a second rewarding view at the more distant Park Ridge Lookout. Most visitors trek to Panoramic Point and return, making a five-mile outing in two to four hours. The full journey to Park Ridge Lookout and back covers ten miles, taking six to eight hours.

Yellow trail markers lead the way. The park does not groom trails, but if you’re lucky, a snowcat may have compressed the powder for part of the way.

These two vistas show off Hume Lake and distant High Sierra summits of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

Kings Canyon attracts just a small fraction of the visitors who flock to Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. An even smaller number enjoy the park in winter, but those who do enjoy snowy solitude, sequoias, slopes, summits, often by themselves. That’s an experience worthy of kings, or queens.

If you go: Kings Canyon National Park charges a $35/week entrance fee. During winter, carry chains and prepare for adverse weather. Generals Highway, which connects Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, closes for the winter between them. Access on its northern end, which leads to the Buena Vista Peak and Big Baldy trailheads, depends on weather and snow conditions.

EARN YOUR BEER Snowshoeing Lake Mary

By James Murren

By James Murren

THE EARNING

When I saw two people skiing across Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes, I knew my day’s plans had changed in an instant. Instead of snowshoeing the groomed trails through the woods to all of the lower-lying lakes in the basin area, I was going to circumnavigate Lake Mary on snowshoes. Watching the skiers had me thinking that if I stayed along the shoreline area, I would be fine. How could I possibly fall into a frozen lake with several feet of snow on top of it?

For some two miles, I stepped on solid snowpack, not sinking at all, and in the next step, at times, my snowshoes were eight inches below the snowy surface. I broke trail the entire way, with no other people in sight. The majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains wrapped the basin in astounding beauty.

The 360-degree view as I circumnavigated the lake was nothing

short of spectacular. The effort was labored; sweat poured from my brow in the late morning sunshine, with air temps in the mid-40s. Here and there, xc-ski tracks, some older than others, came down to the shoreline and traversed the lake. All I could hear was the sound of my heavy breaths and of my snowshoes crunching and compressing the snow. When I paused a few times, stood still, and controlled my breathing, I heard the sound of silence.

THE BEER

Distant Brewing opened just before the pandemic hit. I was there then, when there weren’t yet any food offerings from their planned kitchen. I went back a few times on this most recent trip to Mammoth, finding the brew pub pretty much like it was two years ago: an easy-going spot to kick back, have a beer or two and eat. This

time around, though, the beer tasted cleaner, more polished. During the three days I was in town, I stopped in and had mostly the pale ales and IPAs, none of which I could say I thought were merely average. They were better than that.

The one I really liked was Crystal Crag Pale Ale. Coming in at 5.4% ABV, you might say it is perfect as an aprèssnowshoe beer. There is a blend of hops in there that provide the taste you are looking for, but whatever the malt profile is, it keeps it refreshingly light and easy to drink, meaning the idea here is not to impress you with how to make a pale ale taste like an

India Pale Ale. It is an easy drinker, which was all I wanted after a six-mile snowshoe outing.

All I could hear was the sound of my heavy breaths and of my snowshoes crunching and compressing the snow. When I paused a few times, stood still, and controlled my breathing, I heard the sound of silence.

DOPE IS KING Plumas County Celebrates the Return of Longboard Racing

By Kurt Gensheimer

In the English language, the word “dope” takes on many meanings from a controlled substance and getting the inside scoop on a story to describing a dimwitted soul or using it in 1980s parlance for something very cool. But there’s another term for dope lost in modern vernacular; a preparation giving a desired quality to a surface.

In the case of longboard racing in the Lost Sierra region of the Northern Sierra Nevada, a pastime involving 15 foot-long planks of wood shaped into skis, dope is the wax applied to the bottom of skis determining the fate of their pilot. And the term “dope is king” means exactly that; when it comes to racing said planks of wood down a mountain, everything depends on how good your dope is.

This crossroads of chemistry and woodworking comes together every winter in the Plumas County hamlet of Johnsville, California at the Historic Longboard Revival Race Series, under the auspices of the Plumas Ski Club. Aside from being the epicenter of the 1849 Gold Rush, Plumas County also lays claim as the birthplace of downhill ski racing, not just in America, but arguably in the entire world. And because of the tramway mining ore buckets skiers used in the winter, Eureka Peak is also arguably the site of the first ski lift in the world.

Even the Sierra Nevada skiing legend Snowshoe Thompson, a native from the Telemark region of Norway who delivered mail across the Sierra Nevada

Aside from being the epicenter of the 1849 Gold Rush, Plumas County also lays claim as the birthplace of downhill ski racing, not just in America, but arguably in the entire world.

in the 1860s, got his hide whooped by the Plumas County boys after they invited him to a longboard race. He might have had better skiing technique, but Snowshoe Thompson was no match for a race-tuned concoction of dope that was sworn to secrecy by its creator.

Wintertime as a Lost Sierra prospector during the Gold Rush was a snowbound existence, so in order to fight off months of cabin fever, miners took to the timber denuded slopes of mountains like Eureka Peak and Pilot Peak above Onion Valley, lined up sideto-side, took a nip from a flask and sent it down the mountain. Nearly every high elevation mining camp had a longboard club, traveling over snow to other camps for monthly races. Stakes were high, with some races handing out $1,000 in cash and gold; a heap of money today when adjusted for inflation. In the late 19th Century, longboard racers in the Lost Sierra were the fastest humans on the planet, clocking 12-second quarter-mile times at 90 miles an hour; faster than most modern cars can accelerate. Dope is king indeed.

Celebrating this rich history of daredevil antics and good-natured fun, 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Revival Longboard Races at the Johnsville Historic Ski Bowl in Plumas Eureka State Park. After a two year hiatus, the long-anticipated return of longboard racing happened on January 16, bringing a record crowd of spectators, aided by deep snowpack and bluebird weather.

Unlike most other social gatherings, the two-year hiatus wasn’t forced by a pandemic, as the outdoor setting with plenty of space makes for an ideal socially distanced event. The culprit preventing this popular

TOP TO BOTTOM: LOCAL GRAEAGLE LEGEND DALE “THE BUTCHER” LAMBERT POINTING HIS LONGBOARDS TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE (ERIC HIGHLANDER); MARCH 1906 “SNOW SHOE” RACES AT LA PORTE, CA (COURTESY OF PLUMAS COUNTY MUSEUM, QUINCY).

gathering of Plumas County longboard skiers and historians was simply a lack of adequate snowpack, a concerning trend in the Sierra Nevada.

This winter in the Sierra has bucked the trend so far, as record-breaking December snowfall brought more than 15 feet to Plumas County, with the storms cold enough to drop snow all the way down to Mohawk Valley and nearby Graeagle, leaving the historic mining outpost of Johnsville buried up to second story windows, just like old times.

Also just like old times, all participants who strap on longboards must wear period-correct attire, honoring the historic nature of the event. Top hats, leather boots, vests, duster coats, and Victorian-era dresses are all welcome at the starting line, as is a flask and a little friendly frontier trash talk. The only rules are “…no spittin’, no cheatin’ and no cursin’…” but the lattermost is inevitable up here in the mountains, especially after a few nips on the flask.

ABOVE: LEFT TO RIGHT: AFTER A TWO YEAR HIATUS DUE TO LACK OF SNOW, LONGBOARDS MADE A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE JOHNSVILLE HISTORIC SKI BOWL ON JAN. 16 (ERIC HIGHLANDER); THE LONGBOARD RACES ARE AN IMPORTANT FUNDRAISER FOR THE PLUMAS SKI CLUB, HELPING MAINTAIN THE LODGE AND SKI HILL (KURT GENSHEIMER). LEFT: QUINCY RESIDENT MANDY BEATTY SHOWS OFF HER LONGBOARD BATTLE SCAR AFTER GOING FACE DOWN ON THE SNOW (KURT GENSHEIMER).

Held every third Sunday in January, February and March – snowpack permitting – the January 16th running of the Longboard races was a spectator’s delight, as the excitement of returning to the groomed slopes of Eureka Peak must have gotten the best of competitors, evidenced by numerous harrowing wrecks drawing huge applause from the crowd. Thankfully there were no serious injuries beyond a few bruised egos. One of the female competitors, Mandy Beatty of Quincy, wore the most evident battle scar, using the side of her face as a brake after taking a tumble at full speed. It didn’t seem to phase Beatty one bit though, as her skinned up face earned her multiple apres-crash sympathy beers from spectators.

the Revival Longboard Races are also an important fundraiser for the Plumas Ski Club. In partnership with Plumas Eureka State Park, Plumas Ski Club works to maintain the ski hill as well as the historic Intorf Lodge at the foot of the hill. Thanks to donations, raised funds and the hard work of club members, the lodge was recently wired for electricity and powered by an on-site generator to aid in future events.

Long Live Longboards.

Snowpack permitting, the 2022 edition will continue with the second race on Sunday, February 20 and Sunday, March 20. Races start at High Noon with registration opening at 10am. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early as parking is limited. For more information on the event, the history of longboards and donations, visit plumasskiclub.org.

(excluding

Featuring 1,500 acres of spacious slopes and plenty of beginner terrain for the whole family, June Mountain’s easy-going atmosphere and breathtaking views make for the perfect Eastern Sierra ski day.

BIKEPACKING THE SONOMA COAST

A planning guide to a paved, gravel and singletrack paradise

Less than two hours from San Francisco, Sonoma County’s riding is world-class. Routes range from rocky dirt roads and singletrack to deserted stretches of swooping asphalt that feature soaring sea views, misty stands of redwoods and miles with barely a car in sight. Names like King Ridge and Fort Ross appear regularly on lists of the world’s best cycling routes, not to mention the incredible off-road riding that hides inland or the gorgeous stretch of coastal Highway 1 that runs from Gualala to Bodega Bay.

The riding in Sonoma isn’t easy. The county’s coastal hills are steep, and even the paved roads tend to be rough and remote. They’re often tackled by racers at iconic events like Levi’s Gran Fondo or the Grasshopper Adventure Series. But if you’re not in a hurry, there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy a multi-day bikepacking trip in Sonoma. Hidden and not-so-hidden campgrounds abound, along with opportunities for swimming, quirky towns where you can resupply and quiet dirt roads that connect in surprising ways. If you want to enjoy the back roads of Sonoma County at a slower pace, read on to discover some tips to help you make the most of your adventure.

CAMPING IN GUALALA & JENNER

Unless you’re going for distance, it’s best to plan around your overnight stops. Sonoma county abounds with campsites both public and private, but two of the best for bikepackers are conveniently located just outside of Jenner and Gualala, both towns where you can pick up a few beers and some snacks to carry to camp. Just across the river from the town, you’ll find the Gualala Point Regional Park Campground, which has a hiker-biker site, hot (coinoperated) showers and even wi-fi at the bathrooms. This is a popular stop, and since it’s just off Highway 1, you might run into bike tourists who are riding the whole coast or a big section of it.

Slightly more off the beaten path is the Willow Creek Environmental Campground, tucked away across the river from Jenner. This one doesn’t feature a hiker-biker site, though you’re unlikely to have trouble snagging a spot when rolling up late on the bike, nor does it have showers.

It makes up for it, though, with an amazing beach that’s perfect for taking an evening or morning dip in the Russian River when the weather’s warm. Watch out for skunks.

STAY HYDRATED & FEND OFF HUNGER

North of the Russian River, potable water is scarce, especially if you’re riding off the beaten path. Luckily there are a few tucked-away places that offer water and snacks for bicycle travelers. The Ratna Ling Retreat Center on Hauser Bridge Road, a steep connector between two Sonoma classics, King Ridge and Seaview, usually sets out a water tower near the gate that cyclists can use. Similarly, if you’re lucky (and passing by in the summer), the Starcross Monastic Community on Annapolis Road sometimes opens up an honor-system store across the street where they sell homemade pickles and other snacks alongside a jug to refill your water.

If you’re not carrying your dinner, you’ll want to figure out your plans ahead of time depending on where you’re camping. Plenty of bike travelers have eaten dinner from the Sea Store, the quirky gas station in Jenner, but unless you really want a microwave bagel dog or mac n’ cheese with canned tuna, you’re better off going elsewhere. Luckily, the grocery down the road in Duncans Mills features delicious sandwiches and a full range of produce, hummus and a variety of delicious snacks for eating on the bike or at the campground. In the mornings, the café across the street also has delicious pastries and coffee, though the line can be long.

Another place worth a visit is Russian House #1. There are plenty of oddball establishments worth a visit in Sonoma

County, but this Russian lunch spot might be the best— and the most eccentric. This restaurant, founded in 2015, harkens back to the area’s fascinating past of Russian settlement, also displayed in nearby Fort Ross. But it merges that history with the new-agey vibes of west county Sonoma by encouraging diners to “pay from your wisdom” and advertising local classes ranging from cosmology to breath work. Stop in for a borscht, a cabbage salad and an astrology reading before rolling on your merry way.

ROUTE PLANNING

If you’re trying to stick to flat-ish riding for at least some of your trip, following the Russian River can be a great choice.

This page, top to bottom: Reaching the summit of King Ridge Road on a hot summer day; An iconic intersection linking three stunning roads in Sonoma County.

Words and photos by Cody Siler

It’s a beautiful area with lots of personality and plenty of towns where you can cool off, resupply and have a drink. But River Road, the main artery connecting Jenner to Guerneville to the 101 corridor, is busy and

inconsistently bike-laned. One good carfree alternative is Moscow Road, a washedout parallel route on the south side of the river between Duncans Mills and Monte Rio. Another slightly more challenging (and

more thrilling) alternative is Old Monte Rio Road, which climbs up a hundred or so feet above River Road’s northern side and eventually crumbles into a sidewalk-width path before depositing you in Guerneville.

For those of us who live in the Bay Area, Santa Cruz or further south, an underappreciated resource is the SMART train, which begins at the Larkspur ferry terminal (where the ferry connects to the city) and ends in Windsor. It runs Monday through Saturday and has a place in each car to hang

your bike. From the northernmost station in Windsor, it’s an easy connection to River Road, Sweetwater Springs Road or West Dry Creek Road. And most importantly, as my friend Matt would say, taking a train to the start of your bike tour feels like being in France.

Once you get north of the Russian River in Sonoma, it can seem like every road offers world-class riding—albeit with plenty of elevation gain. Famous gravel routes like Old Cazadero Road and Willow Creek are featured in races and epic group rides every year and will doubtless scratch your itch for adventure. Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to Highway 1, which offers endless sea views and relatively gentle grades. But if you really want to get off the beaten path, you’ll have to do your own research. There are a number of semiprivate fire roads avoided by the big group rides but still worth exploring. Heat maps are your friend, and good luck!

Top row, left to right: Cows grazing on Hauser Bridge Road; Refueling with wild blackberries on Kings Ridge Road; Hiding from the heat on a summertime tour; Refilling water at the Stewarts Point Post Office. Bottom row, left to right: Rolling out of Willow Creek Campground on a sunny morning; Fueling up with a sandwich from the Duncans Mills grocery store.

CALIFORNIA ENDURO SERIES

Celebrating

ten years: Steve and Megan Gemelos’ labor of love

By Krista Houghton

We got to talk with Steve and Megan and about the series’ origins, its high points and challenges, and what it’s like to run a popular race series while balancing careers and family.

WHEN DID YOUR PASSION FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING RACE EVENTS BEGIN?

Megan and I have been avid mountain bikers for ages and have strong ties to the sport in Santa Cruz. We served on the board of Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC — now Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship) from 2007 to 2016 and pushed the idea of using events to build the mountain biking community, fundraise for trail development, and show local businesses and government officials how the sport can economically benefit our area.

Together with other dedicated MBOSC members, we helped create the Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival (SCMBF) in 2009. The festival, which featured several mountain bike races and contests, was an immediate success and grew to over 11,000 participants with over 100 industry vendors and sponsors. This popular community event clearly demonstrated the importance of legal mountain biking access in Santa Cruz County and helped grow our passion for mountain biking events.

YOU BOTH PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN BRINGING AN ENDURO RACE – THE FIRST EVER SANTA CRUZ SUPER ENDURO – TO THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. HOW DID THAT COME TO BE?

Local pro mountain bike racer Evan Turpen had seen the enduro race format growing in Europe and wanted to bring such an event to Santa Cruz. He partnered with MBOSC to make it happen,

and the first-ever Santa Cruz Super Enduro (SCSE) took place as part of the 2012 SCMFB on the world-class trails of Soquel Demonstration State Forest (Demo). It was an extraordinary experience for Megan and me, working hard alongside our MBOSC friends to bring this thrilling new format to our local trails.

Out of that inaugural event, Megan and I developed a vision for SCSE’s second year: a fun-filled mountain bike race weekend at Demo. Presented again by MBOSC, the 2013 event included tent camping, catered meals, and a postrace celebration complete with live music and plenty of beer. That incredible weekend of racing and camaraderie would later serve as inspiration for the vibe of CES events.

SO, HOW DID THE CALIFORNIA ENDURO SERIES COME TO BE?

In 2012, while Megan and I were running the SCMBF and SCSE with MBOSC, we met Erik Saunders of VP Components, one of MBOSC’s event sponsors. Erik was in the midst of organizing an enduro race in Los Olivos, and he explained his vision of bringing a whole series of enduro races to California to help grow the sport. Meanwhile, Evan — who shared this vision — was helping to build a bike park at China Peak Resort and had plans to create an enduro event there.

Megan and I were inspired to jump in, and with MBOSC’s initial support, the California Enduro Series was founded. We kicked off in 2013 with a loose schedule of four events: the VP EnduroFest in Los Olivos, the China Peak Enduro in Lakeshore,

the Riverside Enduro (put on by Eric Carter and Robert Herber) and of course, the Santa Cruz Super Enduro at Demo.

It was an exciting but rocky start. It was clear that we needed to define guidelines for CES events. We needed to better tie the events together into a series, and we needed to figure out how to ensure accurate timing and results. Bringing everything together was the focus after that first season.

As we gained steam, more and more local mountain biking clubs and race organizers wanted to partner with us to host an event in their area. CES’ main role is to help independent organizers to be successful, and of course, marketing them as part of the series line-up. This way, CES meets its mission of growing the sport of enduro, and the local communities benefit from the funds raised from the event.

AS YOU TOUCHED ON, ENDURO RACE TIMING CAN BE QUITE THE CHALLENGE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TIMING SYSTEM AND HOW YOU CREATED YOUR OWN SOLUTION.

During the first year of CES, each hosting organizer had their own timing solution and all had problems with results, which would not work to grow the race format and a series. So, we subcontracted Bike Monkey to time CES races for a few years. While that worked out really well, it ultimately ended up being too cost prohibitive. In 2015, we looked at modeling our timing system on that of the Enduro World Series (EWS). They were using a chip timing system from a German company, SPORTident, which looked promising.

The saying “labor of love” means different things to different people. To Steve and Megan Gemelos — cofounders of the California Enduro Series (CES) — it means crafting the most inspiring enduro mountain bike race series possible. Ten years into the project, the series has seen extraordinary growth and has attracted countless riders to the enduro format.

OPPOSITE PAGE: CALIFORNIA ENDURO SERIES CO-FOUNDERS STEVE AND MEGAN GEMELOS SHARE A DECADE OF MEMORABILIA INCLUDING CUSTOM RACE PLATES BY MEMORY PILOT, AWARDS, EVENT SWAG, SERIES MERCHANDISE AND MORE (JAY MELENA).

WHAT IS ENDURO?

Enduro is a type of mountain bike racing in which riders are timed on (mostly) downhill stages, but must also complete untimed climbing transfers to each timed portion. Stages vary in difficulty and involve navigating steep pitches, technical rock gardens, and man-made features. To excel at enduro racing, a rider must have outstanding bike handling skills as well as an exceptional level of fitness.

SPORTident provided the hardware, but they didn’t offer effective software for enduro timing. Being a software engineer, I decided to write my own timing software for the timing.

AS YOU ENTER CES’ 10TH SEASON, WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT STARTING THE SERIES?

The best thing about founding CES is that we get to be part of an amazing community that draws

people from all over California. The race organizers, the volunteers, the racers and all of their families … it’s a warm, welcoming, and friendly tribe. Megan and I — along with the rest of the CES crew — really look forward to seeing everyone each summer when the racing starts. We’ve watched young racers grow into adults over the past ten years. We’ve seen riders grow from racing their first event to racing National Championships and the Enduro World Series (EWS).

Speaking of which, in 2016 we reached out to

Chris Ball at EWS — on Curtis Keene’s suggestion — about bringing an EWS event to Northstar. It took three years of collaborating with Eric Whitaker at Northstar to add this California stop on the EWS schedule. Seeing it come to fruition in 2019 … well, that was seriously a high moment for us. Deeply gratifying.

Another thing we’re especially proud of is that, as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we’ve been able to hold some fundraisers to benefit the communities our races take place in. Long-time

OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PRO RIDER CODY KELLEY PINNED ON THE 2021 ASHLAND MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE COURSE (BIXXEL); CES CREW MEMBER DANIEL GILLOOLEY ASSIGNS A TIMING BRACELET TO AN ASHLAND MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE RACER (BIXXEL); CO-FOUNDER STEVE GEMELOS WROTE HIS OWN TIMING SOFTWARE TO HAVE A TIMING SOLUTION FOR THE SERIES (JAY MELENA). THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: THE CES TEAM TAKES TO THE PODIUM AT THE 2013 SANTA CRUZ SUPER ENDURO (CALLED TO CREATION); MEGAN AND CES TEAMMATE MICHELE LAMELIN ON PATROL AT THE 2016 TORO ENDURO’S TRP BRAKE ZONE, A FUN CONTEST THAT AWARDED THE FASTEST RIDER THROUGH THE SPEEDTRAP (CONTRIBUTED); STEVE AND MEGAN’S SON MICHAEL PICKS THE WINNING TICKETS FOR THE 2020 FUNDRAISING RAFFLES (CONTRIBUTED).

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: THE WORLD’S FASTEST AND MOST TALENTED ENDURO RACERS, INCLUDING NOGA KOREM, COMPETED ON NORTHSTAR’S BURLY TERRAIN IN THE 2019 ENDURO WORLD SERIES — ROUND 4 OF CES THAT YEAR (KASEY CARAMES); DIRT TANS AT THE END OF A ROWDY DAY OF RACING AT THE 2018 CHINA PEAK ENDURO (KASEY CARAMES); RIDERS TAKE IN THE SCENERY AND CATCH UP WITH FELLOW RACERS ON THE TRANSFERS BETWEEN STAGES (BIXXEL); STEVE RAISES A PINT AT THE WRAP OF A RACE (BIXXEL); THE CES ENDURO VIBE INCLUDES CAMPING, CAMARADERIE AND CANINE PALS (BIXXEL).

sponsors Specialized and FOX donate bikes and suspension products respectively for us to raffle off each year.

YOU AND MEGAN RUN THE SERIES WHILE JUGGLING FULL-TIME CAREERS AND RAISING A CHILD. HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT ALL?

Megan and I got married the same year we founded CES, in 2012. So, we’ve always had it in our life together … it’s kind of like our first child. The thing is, we don’t see CES as work. It’s a labor of love … a project Megan and I get to grow with together. In the beginning, it did require more time, but we’ve found a symbiotic balance

with the race organizers and each other. I get to geek out on some of the things, like the software. Megan loves working with our sponsors to create fun experiences for the racers like speed traps, and stage win challenges. The division of labor makes it doable.

Plus, well, let’s face it: CES events are incredible weekends on bikes with the best trails laid out and marked, camping, food and beer, wonderful people, great times and memories. Now we have a 5-year-old son, and we love that he gets to grow up in this healthy, family-friendly environment and travel to different places. It really doesn’t get better than this.

2022 RACE & EVENT CALENDAR

Go to the EVENTS page on our website for more information and direct links to events.

BIKING

FEBRUARY

5 — Winter XC Series #3 / Barona Oaks MX, Lakeside / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

12 — Rock Cobbler & Pebble Cobbler / Bakersfield / Gravel / RockCobbler.com

19 — Camino Real Double Century / Lake Forest / PlanetUltra.com

Huffmaster

— Feb 27, 2022 —

Huffmaster / Maxwell / Stunning rolling gravel roads tucked between Hwy 5 and the Mendocino National Forest. / Two ride options / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

27 — MTB Madness / Folsom Lake SRA / XC MTB race / TotalBodyFitness.com

MARCH

5 — Solvang Century Reboot / Solvang / PlanetUltra.com

5 —Shasta Gravel Hugger / Montague / GravelHugger.com

13 — MTB Showdown / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

19 — Solvang Double Century / Buellton / 200 mi & 200 km / PlanetUltra.com

21 - 26 — Solvang Spring Tour / Solvang / PlanetUltra.com

Sagebrush Safari

— March 26 – 27, 2022 —

Sagebrush Safari / Campo / Cross country MTB 19 & 27 mile & kids race on Sat / Gravel 40 mile race on Sun. / QuicknDirtyMTB.

King Ridge Dirt Supreme

— March 27, 2022 —

King Ridge Dirt Supreme / Duncans Mills / King Ridge with Willow Creek Rd. dirt descent / Kruse Rd. dirt climb / Two timed segments to keep things fun / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

27 — MTB Throwdown / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

APRIL

2 — Fish Rock / Booneville / BikeMonkey.net

9 — Mulholland Challenge & Double Century / Agoura Hills / PlanetUltra.com

10 — MTB Mayhem / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

Lake Sonoma

— April 16, 2022 —

Lake Sonoma / Lake Sonoma / 22 miles / rolling & flowy single track / A big loop MTB race /Single Speed State Championship / 24 mi. / 3500 ft. / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

23 — Bike Around the Buttes / Sutter / BikeAroundTheButtes.com

23 — Levi’s GranFondo / Windsor / BikeMonkey.net

23 — Tierra Bella Bicycle Tour / Southern Santa Clara County / TierraBella.org

23-24 — Chico Velo Wildflower Century / Chico / WildflowerCentury.org

24 — MTB Championship / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

29 - May 1 — Belgian Waffle Ride California / San Marcos / BelgianWaffleRide.bike

30 — Ridge to Bridge / Marin / RidgeTrail. org/events

MAY

1 — Grizzly Peak Century / Moraga / 3 routes / Grizz.org/century

5 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #1 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

7 — I Care Classic Bike Tour / San Jose / 4 routes / ICareClassic.org

8 — Mother’s Day Tahoe NF / Tahoe / ybonc.org

12 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #2 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

14-15 — Bike MS: LA Coastal Challenge / Santa Monica / BikeMS.org

15 — Strawberry Fields Forever Ride / Watsonville / StrawberryFields.org

Sherwood Adventure

— May 15, 2022 — Sherwood Adventure / Fort Bragg / Epic coastal roads. / Half gravel and half pavé / Finishes with 40 miles of gravel back to Fort Bragg / 88 mi. 8500 ft. / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

19 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #3 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

21 — Grinduro / Shasta / Grinduro.com

Chain Smoker

— May 21, 2022 — Chain Smoker / Las Vegas / Desert Riding / Beautiful Red Rock Canyon as backdrop / 15 mile loop / 1, 2 & 3 laps / E-bike category / QuicknDirty.com

Georgetown Enduro

— May 21, 2022 —

Georgetown Enduro (all-new) / Georgetown / Presented by MTB Experience and California Expeditions / CaliforniaEnduro Series.com

21 — Stetina’s Paydirt / Carson City, NV / StetinasPaydirt.com

23 — Mt. Laguna Classic / Pine Valley / PlanetUltra.com

26 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #4 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

27-30 — Paso Robles Cycling Festival / Paso Robles / GreatWesternBicycleRally.com

28 — Ridin High at the Ranch / Susanville / ybonc.org

28 — Heartbreak Hundred / Los Padres National Forest / PlanetUltra.com

28 — Heartbreak Double Century / Los Padres National Forest / PlanetUltra.com

JUNE

4 — Wente / Willits / RaceWente.com

4 — Eastern Sierra Double Century / Bishop / PlanetUltra.com

Lost and Found

— June 4, 2022 —

Lost and Found Gravel Grinder / Portola / 40 mile, 60 mile & 100 mile / Epically beautiful / Pavement, dirt road, gravel road and historic railroad grade / SierraTrails.org/events

Mammoth Bar Enduro

—June 4, 2022 —

4 — Mammoth Bar Enduro / Mammoth / Presented by TBF Racing and The Hub Roseville / CaliforniaEnduro Series.com

Humboldt

— June 5, 2022 — Humboldt / Weott / Series Finale / Two timed segments / Two dirt sections / Redwoods, river crossings, remote coastal roads / Best 100 mile ride in NorCal / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

5 — America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride / Lake Tahoe / BikeTheWest.com

9 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #5 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

11 — Truckee Dirt Fondo / Truckee / BikeMonkey.net

11 — Tour of Two Forests / Santa Clarita / PlanetUltra.com

Fears, Tears & Beers

— June 11, 2022 — Fears, Tears & Beers / Ely Nevada / The oldest and toughest MTB enduro in the US / ElyNevada.net/ fears-tears-and-beers

11 — Gold Country Cycling Challenge Road & Gravel Ride / Nevada City / RotaryGoldCountryChallenge.com

16 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #6 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

18 — Osborne Hill/TDS / Grass Valley / ybonc.org

2022 Race & Event Calendar

BIKING, cont.

18 — Climb to Kaiser / Clovis / ClimbToKaiser.com

18-25 — Sierra to the Sea Bicycle Tour / Lake Tahoe to SF / SierraToTheSea.org

Lake Tahoe MTB Race

— June 19, 2022 —

Lake Tahoe Mountain Bike Race / Lake Tahoe / Tahoe XC

MTB & 4-Hour Racing / Juniors and all NICA riders welcome / AdventureSportsWeekTahoe.com

23 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #7 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

China Peak Enduro

— June 25, 2022 —

China Peak Enduro / Lakeshore / Presented by China Peak Mountain Resort / CaliforniaEnduro Series.com

25 — Alta Alpina Challenge / Markleeville / AltaAlpina.org/challenge

30 — Quick n’ Dirty Summer Series, #8 / Escondido / QuicknDirtyMTB.com

JULY

Tour of the California Alps

— July 16, 2022 —

Death Ride - Tour of the California Alps / Markleeville / 5 pass ride, 129 mi, and 15,000 ft of lungbusting climbing / DeathRide.com

Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge — July 23, 2022 — Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge / Santa Cruz / Four ride options / challenging climbs / coastal views / gorgeous scenery / SantaCruzMountainsChallenge.com

Mt Shasta Enduro

— July 30 -31, 2022 —

Mt Shasta Enduro / McCloud / Presented by Mt Shasta Ski Park / CaliforniaEnduro Series.com

AUGUST

6 — Marin Century / Marin County Fairgrounds / 6 routes / MarinCyclists.com

27-28 — Northstar Enduro / Truckee / CaliforniaEnduroSeries.com

SEPTEMBER

Race the Rails — Sept 10, 2022 —

Race the Rails / Ely, Nevada / Mountain bikers and road bikers race against the train / ElyNevada.net/racethe-rails

Mendo Hopper

— September 10-11, 2022 —

Mendo Hopper / Mendocino County / Two day adventure ride.

/ Little known dirt roads / Day 1 — 75 miles &

6,500 ft / Day 2 — 79 miles & 7,990ft / GrasshopperAdventureSeries.com

California Coast Classic

— Sept 10 - 17, 2022 —

California Coast Classic / SF to LA /

Fully supported / Ride

iconic Highway 1 at your our own pace / Use code ADVENTURE for $25 off / Events.Arthritis.org

11 — Tour de Tahoe - Bike Big Blue / Lake Tahoe / BikeTheWest.com

16-17 — Silver State 508 / Reno, NV / the508.net

17 — Tour of the Unknown Coast / Humboldt County / TUCcycle.org

BikeMonkey.net

15 — Solvang’s Autumn Double Century & 200K / Buellton / PlanetUltra.com

16 — Solvang’s Finest Century / Santa Ynez Valley / PlanetUltra.com

Filthy

— Oct 29, 2022 — Filthy 50+ / San Diego / 50+ & 30 Mile Rides / Kids Ride / Fast and flowy for all skill levels / Awards for top finishers / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

NOVEMBER

2 — Wine Country Tour de Cure / Sonoma SU / Tour.Diabetes.org

5 — Gran Fondo Las Vegas / Las Vegas / PlanetUltra.com

19 — Death Valley Century / Death Valley National Park / PlanetUltra.com

20 — Heart of Gold / Nevada City / BikeMonkey.net

2022 Race & Event Calendar

BIKING, cont.

DECEMBER

Dirty 30 — December 3, 2022 —

Dirty 30 / Lakeside

/ 30 & 12 miles / 100% hand-built trails / fun and flowy terrain / Occasional rock features / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

E-Dirty Cross — December 4, 2022 —

E-Dirty Cross / San Diego / Class 1 e-bikes only / Singletrack, fireroads, jumps, rock features and more / standard bike kids race / QuickNDirtyMTB.com

RUNNING FEBRUARY

5 — Jed Smith Ultras / Sacramento / BuffaloChips.com/JedSmith

12 — Escape from Folsom 10 Miler & 5K / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

19 — Saratoga to the Sea Half Marathon and 8K / Sanborn County Park, Saratoga / PacificCoastTrailRuns.com

26 — Lost Trail 5K & Half Marathon / Granite Beach, Folsom SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

26 — Almond Blossom Run / Ripon / OnYourMarkEvents.com

26 — Seize the Moment Run for Epilepsy / Crocker Park, Sacramento / STMrun.com

Surfer’s Path 10K/5K — February 27, 2022 — Surfer’s Path 10K/5K / Santa Cruz & Capitola / Coastal courses / Breathtaking scenery / Beachfront finish with music and celebration / RunSurfersPath.com

MARCH

5 — Way Too Cool 50K / Cool /Breathtaking trails with amazing views. / NorCalUltras.com

6 — Chinese New Year Run / San Francisco / OnYourMarkEvents.com

12 — Chanoko 50K, 31K, 5 mile Trail Runs / Folsom Lake SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

12-13 — Shamrock’n Half, 5K, 10K, Leprechaun Dash / Sacramento / ShamrocknHalf.com

13 — St. Patrick’s Day 5K / Downtown Santa Rosa / SRcity.org/2175/St-Patricks-Day-5K

19 — Napa Valley Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K / Calistoga / Envirosports.com

19 — Turkey Vulture Stretch 5K / Ely, NV / ElyNevada.net

19 — She.Is.Beautiful 5K & 10K / Santa Cruz / RunSheIsBeautiful.com

Badwater Cape Fear

— March 19, 2022 — Badwater Cape Fear / Bald Head Island, NC / 50km & 51-mile race options /onelane-wide roads and maritime forest trails and secluded sandy beaches / exquisite natural setting / Badwater.com

26 — Golden Gate Headlands Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K / Sausalito / Envirosports.com

26 — Blood,Sweat, & Beers / Boulder City, NV / DesertDash.com

APRIL

2 — American River 50 Mile Endurance Run / Sacramento to Auburn / ar50mile.com

9 — Romancing the Island Half Marathon & 10K / Angel Island State Park / Envirosports.com

9 — The Mighty Dog Trail Runs / Granite Beach, Folsom SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

23 — Mt. Tam Wild Boar Half Marathon & 10K / Mt. Tamalpais State Park / Envirosports.com

24 — Big Sur International Marathon / Big Sur / BigSurMarathon.org

30 — Ridge to Bridge / Marin / RidgeTrail. org/events

30 — T9 Mermaid Run East Bay / Fremont / MermaidSeries.com

Badwater Salton Sea

— April 30 - May 1, 2022 —

Badwater Salton

Sea / Borrego Springs / So Cal

deserts & mountains

/ 81 miles & 9K’+ of elevation road and trail / teams of two to three ultra runners / NOT a relay / Badwater.com

MAY

1 — Fair Oaks Sun Run / Fair Oaks / FairOaksSunRun.com

7 — Miwok 100K / Stinson Beach / Miwok100K.com

7 — Wild Wild West Marathon / Lone Pine / plus 50K, 50mi, & 10mi / LonePineChamber. org/events

7 — Dirty Secret Trail Run / Cool / DirtySecretTrailRun.com

14 — Muir Woods Marathon, Half Marathon, & 7 Mile / Stinson Beach / Challenging trail run / EnviroSports.com

14 — Quicksilver Endurance Runs - 100K & 50K / San Jose / Quicksilver-Running.com

14 — Wounded Warriors 5K Run/Walk / Manteca / OnYourMarkEvents.com

15 — Gold Country Half Marathon & 5K / El Dorado Hills / runsra.org/gold-country-run

21 — Malibu Creek Trail Run / Malibu / TrailRace.com

Surfer’s Path Half Marathon

— May 22, 2022 —

Surfer’s Path Marathon / Santa Cruz & Capitola / Coastal courses / Breathtaking scenery / Beachfront finish with music and celebration / RunSurfersPath.com

28 — Armed Forces Half Marathon / Concord / ArmedForcesHalf.com

28 — Heartbreak Hundred / Los Padres National Forest / PlanetUltra.com

30 — No Excuses 5K / Sacramento / noexcuses5k.com

Bishop High Sierra Ultras

— May 31, 2022 —

Bishop High Sierra Ultras / Bishop / 20mi, 50K, 50mi, & 100K in the scenic foothills of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas / BishopUltras.com

JUNE

TBA — State Street Mile / Santa Barbara / StateStreetMile.com

3-4 — Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure / Reno-Tahoe / RenoTahoeOdyssey.com

4 — Truckee Running Festival: Waddle Ranch Trail Half, Legacy 5K & 10K / Truckee / TahoeTrailRunning.com

4 — Marine Corps Mud Run / Camp Pendleton / MarineCorpsMudRun.com

5 — Women’s Fitness Festival / Sacramento / WomensFitnessFestival.com

11 — Olympic Valley Half and Run to Squaw 8 Miler / Olympic Valley / OlympicValleyHalf. com

18 — Rock Tahoe Half Marathon / Lake Tahoe, NV / EpicTahoe.com

18 — Ward Mountain Trail Run / Ely, NV / ElyNevada.net

19 — Burton Creek Trail Runs / Tahoe City / 6K, 12K, Half Marathon / TahoeTrailRunning. com

25-26 — Western States 100 / Squaw Valley / wser.org

JULY

4 — Run to The Beach / Tahoe Vista / 5K & 10K / TahoeTrailRunning.com

Badwater 135

— July 11 - 13, 2022 — Badwater 135 / Furnace Creek & Lone Pine / “World’s Toughest Foot Race” / demanding & extreme race / three mountain ranges / 14,600’ ascent / 6,100’ descent / Badwater.com

16 — Color Me Ely / Ely, NV / ElyNevada.net

Big Chief 50K

— July 17, 2022 —

Big Chief 50K / Tahoe / Loop course / Single track and fire road / Beautiful views / At 6,000’ - 7,000’ / 4,500’ elevation gain / BigBlueAdventure.com

23-24 — San Francisco Marathon / SF / TheSFMarathon.com

24 — Blood, Sweat & Beers / Auburn / BloodSweatBeers.com

Truckee Half Marathon

— July 30, 2022 — Truckee Half Marathon & 5K / Truckee / Diverse beauty / Start and finish in downtown Truckee / BigBlueAdventure.com

AUGUST

6 — Twilight Trail Adventure / Auburn / 5K & 10K options / NorCalUltras.com

APRIL 16, 2022 | MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN

Lung-burning fun for all. Starting from Canyon Lodge, participants ski and skin their way through ve ascents and descents on Mammoth Mountain to complete this battle against themselves and the terrain for a spot on the podium. Elite and recreational routes available.

FOR MORE INFO AND TO REGISTER, VISIT

MAMMOTHMOUNTAIN.COM/CALDERA-BURN

RUNNING, cont. Emerald Bay Trail Run

AUGUST

Marlett 50K & 10 Miler

— August 13, 2022 — Marlett 50K & 10 Miler / Spooner Lake, Tahoe / Diverse beauty / 31 miles of epic trail and views / BigBlueAdventure.com

21 — XTERRA Lake Tahoe 5K and 10K / Incline Village, NV / TahoeTrailRunning.com

27 — Angel Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K / Angel Island State Park / Envirosports.com

28 — Good Dog - Dirty Dog 5K/10K / Folsom SRA / TotalBodyFitness.com

SEPTEMBER

3 — She Rocks the Trails / Auburn / 10- & 25- mile options /NorCalUltras.com

— September 10, 2022 — Emerald Bay Trail Run / Lake Tahoe / 7 mile point to point / Starts at Eagle Point / Finish at Lester Beach / BigBlueAdventure.com

11 — Buffalo Stampede / Sacramento / BuffaloStampedeRun.com

17 — Lederhosen 5K / Squaw Valley / TahoeTrailRunning.com

17 — Take it to the Lake Half Marathon, 10 K & Kids Fun Run / Ely, NV / ElyNevada.net

24 — Gold Rush Growler 10 Mile & 5K Trail Runs / Granite Beach / TotalBodyFitness.com

24 — Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile / Big Sur / EnviroSports.com

OCTOBER

1-2 — Urban Cow Half Marathon, Relay & 5K Run/Walk / Sacramento / UrbanCowHalf.com

8 — Ruth Anderson Memorial Endurance Run / Lake Merced, San Francisco / UltraSignUp.com

2022 Race & Event Calendar

8-9 — United Airlines Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose / San Jose / RunRocknRoll.com/san-jose

15 — Beatty’s Backyard Ultra / Spicer Ranch, NV / DesertDash.com

Wahine 10K / 6K

— October 16, 2022 — Wahine 10K / 6K / Santa Cruz & Capitola / Coastal courses / Breathtaking scenery / Beachfront finish with music and celebration / RunSurfersPath.com

22 — Napa Wine Country Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K / Calistoga / Envirosports.com

23 — Folsom Blues Breakout 13.1 / Folsom / Plus 5K, Relay, & Kids’ 1K / FolsomBluesHalf.org

24 — American River Parkway Half / Carmichael / ParkwayHalf.com

NOVEMBER

5 — Rio Del Lago 100 Mile Endurance Run / Folsom / NorCalUltras.com

13 — Mermaid Run San Francisco / Golden Gate Bridge / 5K, 10K, Sirena 10mi, Virtual Run / MermaidSeries.com

11-13 — Monterey Bay Half Marathon / Monterey Bay / MontereyBayHalfMarathon.org

DECEMBER

3 — Death Valley Trail Marathon and Half Marathon / Death Valley National Park / Scenic wilderness trail / EnviroSports.com

4 — California International Marathon / Folsom / #1 Boston Qualifier / RunCIM.org

4 — T9 Trail Mermaid Trail Run / Woodside / MermaidSeries.com

17 — Bootlegger 25K/50K / Boulder City, NV / DesertDash.com

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

FEBRUARY

Bjornloppet

— February 12-13, 2022— Bjornloppet XC Ski Race / Bear Valley / The oldest race in the West. 5K, 10K & 20K courses / skate & stride / BVadventures.com

Luggi

Compete

2022 Race & Event Calendar

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING, continued FEBRUARY

27 — Alpenglow 10k & 20k Race / Tahoe XC / TahoeXC.org

MARCH

The Great Ski Race

— March 6, 2022 —

The Great Ski Race / Tahoe City / New Race Course / Mt

Watson loop / 26

KM (16.2 miles) /

$80 through March

3 ($30 kids ) / $120 on race weekend ($60 kids) / TheGreatSkiRace.com

12 — California Gold Rush Festival / Royal Gorge / FarWestNordic.org

Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill

— March 26 - 27, 2022 —

Luggi Foeger Uphill/ Downhill SkiMo Race & Festival / Diamond Peak / Race up & race down /Recreational courses available / Fun activities & music / DiamondPeak.com/events

27 — Sierra Skoggsloppet XC Fun Ski Race / Truckee / TahoeDonner.com

APRIL

10 — Mammoth Marathon / Mammoth Lakes / FarWestNordic.org

16 — Billy Dutton Uphill / Palisades / FarWestNordic.org

Caldera Burn

— April 16, 2022 —

Caldera Burn / Mammoth Mountain / Ski & skin / five ascents & descents / Elite and recreational routes available / MammothMountain.com/ caldera-burn

SWIMMING

JUNE

25 — Tahoe City Swim / Tahoe City / TahoeSwimming.com

JULY

23 — Golden Gate Sharkfest Swim / Sausalito / SharkFestSwim.com

24 — Alpine Fresh Water Swim / Truckee / TahoeSwimming.com

AUGUST

6 — Golden Gate Bridge Swim / San Francisco / WaterWorldSwim.com

7 — Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim / San Francisco / 1.5mi from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park / SharkFestSwim.com

14 — Tahoe Sharkfest Swim / Incline Village, NV / SharkFestSwim.com

28 — Lake Tahoe Open Water Swim / Tahoma / TahoeSwimming.com

SEPTEMBER

5 — Alcatraz Invitational / San Francisco / 1.27mi open water swim / SERC.com

24 — San Francisco Bay Area Swim / San Francisco / SwimAcrossAmerica.org

OCTOBER

1 — Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions / San Francisco / WaterWorldSwim.com

2 — San Diego Sharkfest Swim / San Diego Harbor / SharkFestSwim.com

TRIATHLON / DUATHLON

FEBRUARY

12 — Double Duathlon & Happy Kids Duathlon #2 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

26 — Happy Kids Duathlon #3 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

MARCH

12 — Pasadena Triathlon, Duathlon, & Angel 5K / PasadenaTriathlon.com

26 — Happy Kids Duathlon #4 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

APRIL

2 — IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside (Charity entry for Challenged Athletes Foundation) / challengedathletes.org/events/ironman-703-california

3 — Millerton Lake Triathlon / Millerton Lake / SierraCascades.com

23 — ICE Breaker Triathlon & ICE Breaker Dash Triathlon/Duathlon / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

MAY

14 — Folsom Lake International Triathlon / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

15 — Herbalife24 Triathlon / Los Angeles / Herbalife24tri.la

22 — Orange County Tri Series / Lake Mission Viejo / OCTriSeries.com

22 — Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon / UVAS Reservoir / USAPevents.com

JUNE

11 — TRI for REAL / Rancho Seco Park, Herald / TotalBodyFitness.com

12 — TRI for FUN / Rancho Seco Park, Herald / TotalBodyFitness.com

25 — Tahoe Off Road Triathlon / Tahoe City / AdventureSportsWeekTahoe.com

26 — Dip and Dash / Santa Cruz / FinishLineProduction.com

JULY

9 — TRI for REAL Triathlon #2 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

10 — TRI for FUN Triathlon #2 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

16 — Great American Triathlon / Sacramento / GreatAmericanTriathlon.com

Donner Lake Triathlon — July 23, 2022 —

Donner Lake Triathlon / Truckee / Half Tri, 70.3, Olympic Tri, Sprint Tri, Kids’ Tri, Aquabike / DonnerLakeTri.com

27 — Granite Bay Triathlon / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

AUGUST

7 — Tri Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz / FinishLineProduction.com

13 — TRI for REAL Triathlon #3 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

13 — Sky High Triathlon / Ely, NV / Tri, du & relay / ElyNevada.net

14 — TRI for FUN Triathlon #3 / Folsom Lake / TotalBodyFitness.com

20 — Alcatraz XL Escape from the Rock Duathlon / Alcatraz to SF / EnviroSports.com

21 — XTERRA Lake Tahoe / Incline Village, NV / BigBlueAdventure.com

27 — Oakland Triathlon / Jack London Square / OaklandTri.com

Lake Tahoe Triathlon

— August 27 - 28, 2022 — Lake Tahoe Triathlon / Tahoma / Half Ironman / 70.3 / Olympic / Sprint / Duathlon / Aquabike / BigBlueAdventure.com

SEPTEMBER

11 — Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz / Santa Cruz / Ironman.com

18 — Pacific Coast Triathlon/Duathlon / Crystal Cove State Beach / OCTriSeries.com

25 — Santa Cruz Triathlon / Santa Cruz / SantaCruzTriathlon.org

OCTOBER

1 — T9 Mermaid Tri & Du / Capitola / International Tri, Sprint Tri, Sprint Du / MermaidSeries.com

23 — San Diego Triathlon Challenge / San Diego / ChallengedAthletes.org

MISCELLANEOUS

FEBRUARY

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival — Feb 25 - 27, 2022 — Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour / Santa Cruz / Exhilarating films / remote landscapes / adrenaline-fueled action sports / Be moved / Be inspired / Don’t miss out. RioTheatre.com

APRIL

30 — Ridge to Bridge / Marin / RidgeTrail. org/events/

LOOKING AHEAD

Artsakh Ultra Stage Race — September 2 - 9, 2023 — Artsakh Ultra Stage Race / Armenia / Six-day trail race / Dramatic mountain landscapes /Meals and luggage transport provided /Badwater.com Check