Adventure Sports Journal // Aug/Sept 2015 // Issue #86

Groveland I Matt Becker Surf Photos I Save Our Shores I Event Profiles

Aug / Sept 2015 Issue #86

Dream Paddles S U P a r o u n d L a k e Ta h o e

Women Who Rock the Boat California C lif i Women’s W ’ Watersports W t t C Collective ll ti MOUNTAIN BIKING It does a community good

TENAYA CANYON Hiking Echo Lake to Barker PAss

lone pine peak

In praise of moderate rock

Green Budweiser

WHAT’S MISSING FROM THIS PICTURE? (besides the top of the mountain.)

ANSWER: YOU If you can’t make it to Mount St Helens, try one of our great Bay Area maps.

Golden Gate-Mount Tam (Map 1187S) details more than 400 miles of closer-tohome trails. It’s waterproof, tear resistant, ultralight, and solar powered.

Or pick up Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument (Map 332S), new for 2015. It was mapped by Green Trails boots on the ground crews in 2014.

Our maps are available at select bookstores and all the best outdoor stores.

Table of Contents

departments

7 8 10 12 13

eDitor’s note Some Pig

ear to the grounD

News & notes from the outdoor industry

14 27

Photo: David Clock

Photo Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

ePiC Save Our Shores

aDventure triP

Tenaya Canyon, Yosemite

California BreWing Anheuser-Busch

liquiD imagery

Nelly’s surf photos of Matt Becker

gear We love

Goodies for your active life

Photo: Eric Petlock Photo: Lauren Norman

28 30

Destination Groveland

event Profiles & CalenDar Upcoming events

features

16 18

Dream PaDDle

20 22 24

lone Pine Peak

In praise of moderate rock

PoPular for a reason A Classic Hike

healthy mtB trails

How mountain biking trails benefit communities

SUP around Lake Tahoe in 9 days

Cover Photo

Women Who roCk the Boat

Three people stand-up paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe, California.

California Women’s Watersports Collective gains momentum

Photo: Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

DON’T MISS AN ISSUE – Subscribe to Adventure Sports Journal Mail a check for $20 to PO Box 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 along with subscriber name and address, or order online at adventuresportsjournal.com/subscribe.

That floating feeling of taking off your pack, now available all day long.

Innovative, revolutionary, maybe even a little bit magic.

Introducing Osprey Anti-Gravity : A pack suspension so comfortable, it’s like wearing nothing at all.

TM

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4 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2015

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EPiC

Adventure Sports Journal’s

EnvironmEntAl PArtnErShiP CAmPAign ASJ’s EPiC program is designed to bring awareness to non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting stewardship and access for the adventure sports community throughout California.

Our mission is to provide inspiring coverage of California’s epic terrain, and to help the outdoor sports community preserve and maintain access for future generations.

We encourage outdoor non-profit organizations based in California to contact us for the chance to be featured in our publication and receive FREE display and web advertising space.

Doing great work in California?

We want to help you reach your highest potential!

For more information, email michele@adventuresportsjournal.com Photo: Ansel Adams Wilderness by James Bradley

adventuresportsjournal.com • facebook.com/ASJmag 6 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2015

asj contributors how does your sport inspire you to take care of the environment?

PUBLISHING + EDITORIAL

leoniesherman The sports I engage in take me to wild untamed places that inspire me to give back. I pick up trash, steward with Save Our Shores, eradicate invasive amphibians and plants, and educate visitors.

PUBLISHER Cathy Claesson cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com EDITORIAL/MARKETING Matt Niswonger matt@adventuresportsjournal.com

havenlivingston Kayaking protected rivers like the Smith inspires me to advocate for all rivers.

I volunteer for American Whitewater and other nonprofits about public access, water quality, fisheries and dam removal.

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Pete Gauvin CONTENT DEVELOPMENT Michele Lamelin michele@adventuresportsjournal.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Leonie Sherman, Aron Bosworth, Haven Livingston, Laura Norman, Dave Zook, Arial Galos, Matt De Young

davezook

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave “Nelly” Nelson, Aron Bosworth, Jonathan Matthews, Bruce Dorman, Laura Norman, Corey Rich / Aurora Photos, Melissa DeMarie, Adam Walker, Eric Petlock, Called to Creation, Etienne van Rensburg, David Clock, Mike Hupp/Dawn Patrol Images, Paul Reinhardt, Dave Zook, Pierce Moran, Eric Harger, Andy Selters, Brandon Griep

lauranorman Stand-up paddleboarding allows you to see landscape and wildlife which gives you a greater appreciation for quiet, untouched places and a fierce determination to keep them safe.

COVER DESIGN Brooklyn Taylor brook@adventuresportsjournal.com

arielgalos Building sustainable MTB trails that mitigate potential damage caused by erosion or habitat destruction is how I help protect my natural surroundings while creating opportunities to do what I love.

DESIGN ASSISTANT Lindsey Johnson ADVERTISING SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy Claesson I 831.234.0351 cathy@adventuresportsjournal.com

mattdeyoung Mountain biking exposes me to wild spaces, be it a hidden away city park or a remote backcountry locale. I have developed a deep appreciation for those spaces lightly touched by man.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Geoff James I 415.828.8322 geoff@adventuresportsjournal.com EVENTS & DISTRIBUTION Steve Shaw steve@adventuresportsjournal.com All content © Adventure Sports Journal 2015. 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 MEMBER

Surfing has opened my eyes to how sensitive and fragile the surface of the ocean is. It makes me far more conscious of waste and consumption after a few hours in the water.

aronbosworth Spending time outside and engaged with nature is a constant reminder that everything is connected. Outdoor pastimes have been the seed from which my personal stewardship ethos has grown.

davenelson

Since I live in and around the ocean daily, the environment has always been important to me. I do what I can to help Save Our Shores and Surfrider Foundation. Each person can do a little and it makes a huge difference.

EDITOR’S NOTE

at home in nature

SOME PIG

Eating less meat and loving the outdoors

L

™ ™

ike a lot of kids I was introduced to the book Charlotte’s Web while sitting cross-legged on the carpet and listening to my teacher’s soothing voice.

The book held my attention. Was Wilbur the smart pig going to get sold and eaten?

Even though I really connected to the story, I made the decision that eating pork was OK because pigs don’t talk to geese in real life and after all, Charlotte’s Web is just a silly farmyard story.

At the time I was taking some intensive training courses that were about business and entrepreneurship and also about just being a happier person in general. My thoughts about eating meat shifted all of a sudden after seeing the pig factory and right there, in line at the DMV, I decided to stop eating pork. It just seemed like a compassionate act and I knew it would not be hard to give up bacon, hotdogs and pork chops.

Even though my kids thought I was a bit odd they were generally supportive and I really felt empowered by the whole process. I’ve been pork free (with a couple of slips) for almost a year now.

In fact, I have been able to pretty much phase out chicken and beef from my diet as well.

Cutting out almost all meat from my diet has been empowering and fun and simple. I saw something that I knew in my heart was wrong, and I acted out of compassion in response. And it was easy.

A few months later I had an idea. What if one million people gave up eating pork between now and the end of 2016?

What if one million American consumers boycotted pork in a short period of time and it sent a message that animal cruelty matters? Even more, what if the whole movement was easy and fun and nobody got hurt feelings and the entire pork industry reformed itself and switched to free range organic farming methods?

If you are reading this I challenge you to play a game: convince ten people you know to stop eating pork for one year.

For us, being green is a natural act of compassion that flows from playing in California’s adventurous terrain.

8 ASJ—Aug/Sept 2011

F

rom seaside getaways to mountain retreats, the Pacific Yurt goes where you want to be.

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We can also start Facebook pages asking people to stop eating pork and wear buttons that say “Some Pig.” How about the hashtag #SomePig with Instagram shots of these intelligent, gentle animals?

Let’s start a movement right now and live every day as if making a difference is fun and easy and empowering.

Speaking of making a difference, our Environmental Partnership Campaign (EPiC) award winner for this issue is Save Our Shores. Longtime ASJ editor Leonie Sherman takes a look at this powerhouse organization that started out as a beach cleanup group and has gone on to make huge strides in spreading awareness about preserving shoreline ecosystems.

Cottage Grove, Oregon

No One Knows Yurts Like Pacific Yurts

TM

Also in this issue we take a look at the ways mountain biking benefits communities. Michele Lamelin presents a list of major accomplishments towards trail building and community involvement that highlights how mountain biking is making a difference throughout California.

© PatitucciPhoto

Decades later I was waiting in line at the DMV and I clicked on a video that showed up in my Facebook feed. What I saw was a pig facility where thousands of pigs were laying in steel pens and nursing piglets as far as the eye could see. Normally I would have dismissed the video as vegetarian propaganda but this time I felt different.

We explore circumnavigating Lake Tahoe via SUP, hiking a well loved Sierra route, climbing Lone Pine Peak, and descending Tenaya Canyon. Plus, kayaking editor Haven Livingston introduces us to California Women’s Watersport Collective, a group that supports women who challenge themselves in the water.

We hope you enjoy ASJ’s annual “green” issue. As always, we share about the human powered activities we love and renew our commitment to giving back to the earth. For us, being green is a natural act of compassion that flows from playing in California’s adventurous terrain. Hopefully you feel the same way and understand that eating less meat is one of the most important ways to save resources and help suffering animals at the same time. I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Feel free to drop me a line at matt@ adventuresportsjournal.com.

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Thanks for reading!

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7

Outdoor News and Notes for the California Region

EAR TO THE GROUND how well the event went. Everyone I talked to was very complimentary of the event. We’re on board for July 1217 next year and are looking forward to producing an even better event. We hope everyone will now join us for the Kamikaze Bike Games September 24-27!”

View the full USA Cycling MTB National Championships results at usacycling. org/2015/mountain-bike-nationals.

partners at the California State University of Monterey Bay and the JFK Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. The VetFit program seeks to offer sessions four times a year with a culmination race for the homeless veterans in transition in Monterey. Fleet Feet Santa Cruz/ Monterey owners Russ and Tina Coillot are passionate about recognizing the sacrifice and service of our countries veterans and are committed to serving these individuals in whatever unique and impactful ways they can through the opportunities that Fleet Feet affords.

Learn more at fleetfeetaptos.com.

El Nino expected to be biggest since 1997

USA Cycling MTB Championships Enduro Pro Women podium. 1st (Gold) Jill Kintner, 2nd (Silver) Georgia Gould, 3rd (Bronze) Lauren Gregg, 4th Rachel Throop, 5th Amy Rambacher (Pierce Moran).

Jill Kintner sweeps gravity disciplines at MTB championships

Red Bull / Norco Bicycles pro rider Jill Kintner came out on top at the 2015 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships at Mammoth Mountain in July, taking first place in all three gravity races: dual slalom, downhill and enduro.

Kintner’s fellow champions include Chloe Woodruff (cross country and short track

ASJ—Aug/Sept 8 ASJ — Aug/Sept2011 2015

pro women) Aaron Gwin (downhill pro men), Mitch Ropelato (enduro pro men), Luca Cometti (dual slalom pro men), Howard Grotts (cross country pro men), and Russell Finsterwald (short track pro men). For the first time in five years, the same venue hosted all mountain bike disciplines during a single event.

Mammoth Senior Vice President and Race Director Bill Cockcroft says, “We were thrilled to hold the championships here at Mammoth, and are ecstatic with

Mizuno funds Fleet Feet Monterey VetFit program

Sports equipment and athletic wear company Mizuno has awarded a grant through Fleet Feet, Inc.’s FITlanthropy grant program for the continuation of Fleet Feet Sports Monterey’s VetFit program. VetFit provides a comprehensive running and walking training program to homeless veterans in transition in Monterey County. The grant will assist in the development of a sustainable VetFit program through collaboration with the local Veteran’s Administration office and the development of internships with

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the El Niño conditions that began in March of this year are expected to remain throughout this coming winter, and claim it could be one of the strongest on record. This is good news for California, desperate for an end to its four-year drought. El Niño occurs when the Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than usual, releasing heat which changes wind directions and the jet stream. This in turn feeds thunderstorms above, creating increased rainfall.

Although past El Niños – most recently last year – have fizzled out, chances this year are very good for conditions similar to the 1997-1998 record-breaking El Niño event. Could this end California’s drought? California State Climatologist

Michael Anderson reports that this is possible if the state receives 150 percent or more above average rainfall, filling the California’s largest reservoirs. Plus the rainy season would have to start around Thanksgiving, with storms cold enough to significantly build up Sierra snowpack in order for melting spring snow to continue filling reservoirs.

since 1993, recently completing a wellreceived upgrade to the furnishings in all rooms at Yosemite Lodge. They operated and maintained two of the park’s National Historic Landmarks and major visitor attractions, The Ahwahnee and the Wawona Hotel, completing numerous upgrades to these facilities over the course of their contract, as well.

Become a Tahoe Keeper and learn how to self-inspect for aquatic invasive species.

CLEAN

DRAIN

DRY

TAHOE KEEPERS

TahoeKeepers.org • 888-824-6267 Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

Lake Tahoe Water Trail offers paddling adventures

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is a 72mile water route along the shoreline segmented into seven day trips, including more than 50 public launch and landing sites or “trailheads,” paddle route itineraries, and navigation tools.

Whether you’re looking to access waterfront attractions, historic sites, bird watching sanctuaries, picnics on the beach or a lakeside bistro, you’ll find it along the Water Trail. As the only paddling source for Lake Tahoe, the website and Water Trail maps include paddle routes to match your ability levels, paddle shops, water safety and aquatic invasive species prevention tips.

Maps are free to download and include details about parking, on-site facilities and amenities, as well as public beach access to nearby hiking trails, restaurants, shopping, historic sites, lodging and campgrounds. The Water Trail helps paddlers understand the interconnected relationship between man and nature, and how to safely navigate and protect Lake Tahoe’s pristine watershed. Learn more at laketahoewatertrail.org. Can’t get enough of the lake? Turn to page 16 for a 9-day itinerary and photo gallery.

Yosemite Hospitality takes over Yosemite contract from Delaware North

The National Park Service has selected Yosemite Hospitality, a subsidiary of Aramark, to receive the new primary concession contract for providing visitor services in Yosemite National Park. The 15-year contract – the largest single concession contract in the NPS – is begins March 1, 2016, and include accommodations, food and beverage operations, retail and fuel sales, bike and raft rentals, and a variety of other recreational activities. Delaware North has operated under the existing contract

Graeagle’s Chalet View Lodge welcomes dogs

There’s nothing better than heading up into the mountains for some quality time with a four-legged best friend, and the Chalet View Lodge is the best base camp for any traveler and his/her canine companion. The Chalet View Lodge in the High Sierra abuts thousands of acres of Forest Service land just waiting to be explored, dotted by alpine lakes and close to the Feather River. When a furry guest arrive, they’re treated with a dog biscuit at the front desk, and plenty of fun places to explore on the property.

But how about nine holes of golf with your pup? With the Chalet View Lodge Golf Course, visitors can work on their stroke and walk their dog at the same time. More than half of the Chalet View Lodge’s rooms are pet friendly, with fresh bowls of water on the property. Pets can join their companions for dining on the terrace or on the lawn, and a variety of pet supplies are available. Learn more at chaletviewlodge.com.

Tahoe Wellness

Osprey Packs founder awarded with “OutDoor Oscar” The founder of Osprey Packs, Mike Pfotenhauer, was recently named OutDoor’s Celebrity of the Year for 2015. Pfotenhauer is the tenth person to be recognized for his/her special contribution to the outdoor industry by this award, referred to as the “Outdoor Oscar.” Pfotenhauer was honored for the AntiGravity 3D suspended mesh back system with fully ventilated hip belt, which retailers at 2014’s OutDoor show acclaimed as the most significant invention of the year. As a young entrepreneur in Santa Cruz, Pfotenhauer opened a retail shop in the front of his rented house where backpackers and travelers – drawn by word of mouth – came to get measured for the customfitted, made-to-order packs. Each was constructed by Pfotenhauer himself over the course of several days. To these avid travelers, the legendary packs were worth the wait. Since Osprey – originally Santa Cruz Recreational Packs – was founded in 1974, every single product design bearing the Osprey name has passed through the hands of owner and founder Mike Pfotenhauer, undergoing relentless scrutiny.

September 4-6, 2015

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9

EPiC: Environmental Partnership Campaign

Saving the Beaches After nearly forty years Save Our Shores continues heroic work

By Leonie Sherman

L

ots of people move to Santa Cruz to be near the ocean, but Rachel Kippen moved there to save it. After years of working on marine science and policy from Orange County to San Francisco Bay, she got frustrated talking about problems but not participating in solutions. “I wanted to be part of a group that did advocacy and education and accomplished measurable goals,” she explains. “Save Our Shores was the only logical choice.”

Without the work of hundreds of Save Our Shores volunteers and dedicated staff, the pristine coast that millions of us love would be marred by oil derricks. There would be a few more tons of plastic pollution off-shore, and tens of thousands of school kids might not understand how their actions on land affect the health of the oceans we rely on for food, recreation and the very air we breathe.

But those sweeping changes were hardly imaginable for the small group of volunteers who coalesced in 1976. The California Coastal Act, passed in 1972, empowered this collection of surfers, sailors and activists to understand the fate of the oceans as their personal responsibility. When industry began eyeing the Central Coast for off-shore oil drilling, the concerned citizens who would become Save Our Shores turned their attention and energy to legislation.

Though the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors had opposed a permit for offshore oil exploration in 1967, there was no policy governing drilling off the coast, or the on-shore facilities that accompany these rigs. Santa Barbara’s 1969 oil spill triggered environmental concerns. The group of folks who incorporated as Save Our Shores in 1977 reasoned that decisions effecting local beaches should rest with local communities. Their hard work led to Ballot Measure A. Approved by 85% of Santa Cruz voters in 1985, Measure A created a de facto moratorium on drilling off the coast of Santa Cruz by requiring a popular vote for the creation of on-shore facilities. The city of Santa Cruz went the extra mile and contracted with Save Our Shores to organize communities up and down the coast.

Save Our Shores hired Dan Haifley as their first paid staff member and he travelled from San Diego to Crescent City, speaking with anyone who would listen about Measure A and local control of the marine commons. His energy and passion led to the passage of 26 other ordinances similar to Measure A. This radical legislation was accompanied by a cultural sea change. These days a single oil platform off of Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County is the northernmost off-shore rig along California’s thousand plus miles of coast.

Not content to rest after such a monumental achievement, Save Our Shores then turned its attention to the other regulations proposed for the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, including water quality. They had their eye on nothing less than permanent federal protection of the Monterey Bay. The creation of the country’s first National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of North Carolina in the early 1970s protected the sunken USS Monitor civil war ironclad. Save Our Shores aimed to protect mostly biotic, environmental and recreational resources under the same rubric. Super human commitment and dogged persistence led to unlikely alliances. In 1992, in an effort to woo moderate Republicans, George H.W. Bush designated the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Spanning five counties and containing four harbors, the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is the most heavily impacted of the nation’s fourteen Marine Sanctuaries.

Without support from organizations like FarmLink, the next generation of small farms will cease to exist. As a 10 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Aug/Sept2013 2015

Spanning five counties and containing four harbors, the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is the most heavily impacted of the nation’s fourteen Marine Sanctuaries. Save Our Shores Executive Director Vicki Nichols realized that community engagement was the key to protection. She started the Sanctuary Steward program, and created an army of uber volunteers who do community outreach to fishermen and boaters, make educational presentations and haul thousands of pounds of trash off the beaches every year.

The first Save Our Shores beach clean up took place in the early 1970s. Last year they organized over 350 beach, river mouth and neighborhood clean ups and removed over fifty thousand pounds of trash. Seven years ago, they began collecting data about the stuff they were picking up along the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary’s 276 miles of shoreline. The results were shocking; 78% of the trash they removed was plastic.

Save Our Shores staff set out to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean – globally there are over five trillion pieces of the stuff floating around – through a plastic bag ban.

“Banning single use plastics is a totally different ball game than banning offshore oil drilling, but they’re both related to carbon use and ultimately climate change,” Rachel Kippen explains.

In 2007, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to ban single use plastic take-out bags. The plastic industry promptly sued them. Instead of scaring other cities into abandoning their own plastic bag bans, the lawsuit only encouraged collaboration as cities joined forces for regional environmental impact reports and legal support. By January 2014, a third of all Californians, about ten million people, lived in areas that had banned single use plastic take-out bags.

A state wide plastic bag ban was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, but a bitter fight from the plastics industry means the issue will come before voters in the 2016 election.

Ultimately, though, reducing plastic pollution in the ocean is not just about legislation, it’s about changing behavior.

Towards that end, Save Our Shores runs educational programs in local schools that help students understand the importance of their actions on the fate of the ocean in their backyard. They’ve

reached tens of PHOTOS thousands of students Top left: Passionfish in the city of Santa restaurant volunteers Cruz through in-school care for Lover’s Point presentations and in Monterey as part collaborations with of SOS’s Adopt A O’Neill Sea Odyssey.

Beach program. Top right: Middle School In October of 2014 students prepare to they launched a clean Capitola beach. program to reach Bottom left: SOS under-served communities in Pajaro founder Kim Tschantz and other volunteers Valley, northern survey a marine Monterey County and mammal. Bottom the Live Oak area. Ten right: Dan Haifley months later, they’ve (right) and Santa Cruz brought over two City Councilmember thousand kids – many Don Lane (left) on an oil platform off of whom live within Vandenberg Air Force twenty miles of the ocean but have never Base in the early 90s. visited a beach – out to experience the windswept shoreline of the Monterey Bay. Contemplating the fate of our oceans can be a terrifying experience. Issues like climate change, biomass extraction and changing ocean chemistry are abstract and it’s hard to see how one person can make a difference.

Dan Haifley insists that change has to start with each of us and prescribes a simple three step program that can drastically improve the health of our oceans if we all get on board. The first step is to be aware of what you eat, and only consume seafood approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium on their walletsized Seafood Watch cards. The second is to dispose of waste properly, reusing, repurposing, recycling and composting whenever possible. The final step is to reduce your personal carbon footprint; the more carbon you burn, the more ends up in the ocean.

The actions of beachcombers, joggers, surfers, paddlers and kayakers influence popular opinion, which in turn affect political decisions. During the course of writing and researching this article, I’ve picked up dozens of cans and bottles from local beaches and changed the way I order drinks: I’ve started asking my server to leave out the straw, which is just another piece of single use plastic destined for the landfill at best, and the Pacific at worst. Are there any steps you can take to improve the health of our oceans today?

JOIN SAVE OUR SHORES AND MORE THAN 60,000 CALIFORNIANS TO CLEAN OUR STATE’S BEACHES AND WATERWAYS ON

SEPTEMBER 19TH FROM 9AM- NOON.

To register for a cleanup site, visit www.saveourshores.org/acc

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Descending Yosemite Dropping into Tenaya Canyon

By Aron Bosworth, Outdoor Project

Y

osemite National Park is well known for the aweinspiring granite formations that tower overhead, crooking the neck of visitors and drawing in climbers from around the globe. Lesser known, however, are some of the natural features that beckon from below.

One such descending feature is the rugged chasm known as Tenaya Canyon, an infrequently travelled granitic trench of glacial-carved bowls and eroded gorges that connect the Yosemite Valley floor to the park’s high country at Tenaya Lake, by way of Tenaya Creek.

As a canyoneering route, Tenaya Canyon is an exciting, demanding endeavor offering a level of solitude that is difficult to find in other areas of the park. Canyon descents provide unique perspectives on notable landmarks such as Half Dome, Clouds Rest, the Quarter Domes and Mount Watkins. The polished granite open bowls of the upper canyon provide striking contrast to the jagged, boulder-lined slot canyon of the deeply eroded gorges below; together the terrain raises the bar on ruggedness typically found on a day trip.

Tenaya Canyon also holds a reputation for being dangerous, and it is full of terrain that is difficult to navigate. Hikers should not set out in the canyon on casual exploratory outings. Lives have unfortunately been lost here. As a deterrent, the Park Service has posted signs warning unprepared visitors against venturing on.

The Tenaya Canyon descent is considered a technical canyoneering route (3B IV, three stars by the American Canyoneering Association) that requires critical route finding, climbing/canyoneering gear, creek and pool fording, and multiple rappels. The route starts at 8,200 feet and drops approximately 4,200 feet over ten miles, requiring off-trail navigation over creek crossings, talus fields, steep exposed granite slabs, boulder-lined gorges, wet rocks, ledges, and cliff drops. Four drop-offs ranging from 30 to 70 feet, each equipped with rappel anchors, are found within a section called the Inner Gorge. The climbing gear needed includes a 60-meter rope, a helmet, webbing/slings, climbing harnesses, a rappel device and carabiners, and essential backcountry safety gear you shouldn’t leave home without. The ability to treat water for resupply is also helpful.

The ACA rating details the route as taking a long day; experienced canyoneers should be able to complete the route in ten hours. Tenaya Creek runs the length of the canyon, so the route is more easily navigated during low summer flows. Setting up a car shuttle the night before on the valley floor at Trailhead Parking is key.

“Tenaya Canyon is an exciting, demanding endeavor offering a level of solitude that is difficult to find in other areas of the park.”

18 ASJ 22 ASJ—April/May Dec/Jan 2013 2014 12 — Aug/Sept 2015

The Route Upper Canyon + Lone Boulder The 3.5-mile upper section of Tenaya Canyon from the Sunrise Trailhead to the navigational marker known as Lone Boulder is relatively tame terrain compared to the steep slabs and gorge that lie below. Off-trail beyond the first half-mile, much of the terrain is flat and easy to navigate. Downhill sections of the upper canyon are mild and the talus fields minimal. The key to this section is locating Lone Boulder beyond the first forested valley while descending the upper granite bowl, as it gets lost once in the valley. Lone Boulder is the navigational aid that positions parties for the more critical route finding ahead.

Steep Rock Slab Descent + Lost Valley This section drops from Lone Boulder, bypasses Pywiack Cascade, and proceeds down the safest possible route, a 700 foot line down a steep rock slab, to reconnect with Lost Valley below. Leaving Lone Boulder the route trends left down talus fields and bushwhacks through a dense brushline. At a second bush patch the talus becomes solid rock and marks the area of descent down the slab.

A solitary fir tree marks the descent route to the bottom with little room for route-finding error due to the slabs exposure. Parties should be able to spot the best approach and avoid any unexpected ledges or steepening. Toward the bottom of the slab, more bushwacking leads to the lone large fir tree.

The route then continues down to a pool along Tenaya Creek and into Lost Valley, the descent’s second picturesque cradled forested valley.

The Inner Gorge Beyond Lost Valley the canyon forms a narrow “V” as it drops gradually toward the Inner Gorge, the dramatic boulder-lined slot canyon that holds multiple ledges and four exciting rappels. Boulder hopping and scrambling over the van-sized boulders is the norm here, and progress in the Inner Gorge can be slow. The rule of thumb is to stay right as nearly all navigational aids, rappel anchors, mandatory downclimbs, tunnels, and bushwacks are on the canyon’s right-hand side.

The four rappel points along the route are found within the Inner Gorge. The first and third anchors are located along right-side ledge terraces and drop 45 feet at the start of the gorge, and 70 feet towards the middle of the

gorge, respectively. The PHOTOS second rappel surmounts Main image: Evaluating a LeConte Boulder, a ledge in the Inner Gorge (Aron massive boulder blocking Bosworth). Upper left: Shot passage early in the from the upper canyon with gorge, and drops down Lone Boulder and Half Dome in a waterfall into a crystal view (Aron Bosworth). Middle clear pool. The fourth right: Dropping into Lost Valley (Jonathan Matthews). Above: rappel is more of an Rapping down Leconte Boulder aided descent down and gearing up to get wet (Aron a sloping rock located Bosworth). between a series of emerald green pools.

Between the second and third rappel, look for a keyhole tunnel through a group of large boulders that appear to form another barrier in the canyon.

Lower Canyon to Mirror Lake And just like that, following the fourth rappel, the Inner Gorge opens up to a much broader lower canyon approximately 5.75 miles from the trailhead. The route continues down the stream bed, stays right and up along the eroded cliffs above Tenaya Creek, eventually finding use trails that connect to the Mirror Lake Loop. The mile and a half beyond the Inner Gorge remains rough terrain that only eases up on the Mirror Lake Trail. At a footbridge, the route intersects the eastern portion of the Mirror Lake Loop as it turns back to the Mirror Lake Trailhead at the intersection with Happy Isles Loop Road.

From here parties can either walk back to Trailhead Parking a mile away or catch the free valley bus to pick up the shuttle car that was dropped previously on the valley floor.

Note: This information is only an overview and is not intended to serve as a guide through Tenaya Canyon. More detailed information including photos can be found at outdoorproject.com

CALIFORNIA BREWING

Anheuser-Busch

Something more than beer is brewing in Fairfield

By Derrick Peterman

I

recently visited a brewery that’s one of the most aggressive in California at reducing its environmental footprint.

Since 2007, it reduced its water usage by 47%. It installed its first wind turbine in 2011 and its second one in 2014.

Combined with a 7-acre solar array, 30% of its power is generated by renewable energy. It initiated a number of bioenergy recovery systems and recycles 99% of its solid waste. What brewery is this? It’s the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Fairfield.

Does that surprise you? Craft breweries like Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Anderson Valley have long been examples of how beer can be brewed with less water and energy, while using fewer materials and releasing less carbon into the air. Plenty of other smaller, local breweries followed suit. Say what you want about Anheuser-Busch being one of those big evil corporations, they are getting into the environmental act in a big way. While I’m all about championing small, local breweries doing good things for the environment, when a huge brewery like Anheuser-Busch’s Fairfield brewery gets in the act, it not only shows the movement has finally arrived, it makes a much larger impact.

To put the size of Anheuser-Busch’s

When a huge brewery gets in the act, it not only shows the movement has arrived, it makes a much larger impact.

Fairfield brewery in perspective, 4.5 million barrels of beer are brewed there each year. (One barrel of beer equals 31 gallons.) That’s almost four times the size of Sierra Nevada Brewing. A typical brewpub produces 500-1,000 barrels of beer annually, while a mid-size brewery like Anderson Valley brews 50,000100,000 barrels per year. You could fit about 75 randomly selected craft breweries inside this one brewery.

Anheuser-Busch’s Fairfield brewery is part of a company-wide pilot program, where environmental and cost saving processes are tested and evaluated for export to the other eleven breweries Anheuser-Busch operates nationwide.

Altogether, these twelve breweries brew between 150-200 million barrels of beer each year. It’s not just a saying.

Anheuser-Busch really does spill more beer in a day than most breweries brew in a year. That means the water and waste reductions achieved at the Fairfield brewery can potentially be multiplied by more than a factor of twelve throughout the United States.

Could Anheuser-Busch’s environmental initiatives simply be a big corporate cost savings program wrapped in a feel good environmental story?

Perhaps. As Fairfield brewery engineer Damon Walker explains, “Like most companies, any project we undertake must present a business case in addition to the environmental benefits.”

Environmentalists have been claiming for decades that good business and good environments can co-exist. AnheuserBusch’s Fairfield brewery validates that.

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13

Nelly’s Pics

Liquid Imagery

Matt Becker Hometown: Santa Barbara

Stance: Regular

Specialty: Big Waves

Sponsors: COVA Clothing, Futures Fins, Pro-lite, Bark Surfboards, Surftech, Maui Jim, Buell Wetsuits Favorite waves: Rincon, Sunset Beach, East Point, Ocean Beach, Mavericks Goals: Not to get scared out of big wave surfing. Surf Jaws on a proper swell and backdoor that terrifying west bowl. Qualify for the Mavericks contest one day. Learn how to avoid doing wheelie airs ... and have a good time doing it!

Your scariest wave: My scariest wave was one I shared with Pat Gudauskus this last year at Mavericks on December 20. I had ridden a bunch of waves already and had wanted to get a bigger one, and was “in the zone” as they say. I saw the one I wanted right after paddling out from another wave, turned around really deep, and paddled for it. I just barely made it over the ledge and was flying down a huge vertical wall of water, and as the drop became longer and longer I realized how big of a wave I had just caught, and pretty much started freaking out in my head. I made it to the bottom of the wave and the force of the wave exploding behind me was just enough to tip me off my board. After that I pretty much got throttled by this thing. The impact of the wave was enough to cause the C02 cartridge in my safety inflation vest to go off, and I still got annihilated.

Luckily I hit an upward moving current of water and I popped up on the surface much sooner than I should have. Thankfully Jamie Mitchell was right there with a rescue ski to pick me up, and I got away from that wave with my tail in between my legs and so grateful that things didn’t go as bad as they should have. I hung out in the channel for a half hour, calmed my nerves, had a few PowerBars, and went back out to get a few more.

What do you like to do when you aren’t surfing? When I’m not surfing I love to snowboard, hang out at the beach, hike, go camping, eat good food, and work on my dad’s commercial fishing boat. I’m a huge fan of traveling and road trips.

Thoughts on the lineup: My thoughts on the lineup change wherever I go. Most of the time I dig paddling out, meeting new people, and enjoying the ocean with others. Then other times you add in egos, too many people out at one surf spot, and people being ungrateful in general, and it really turns me off to wanting to go out and catch a few waves. If I can, I prefer to surf where there’s nobody out, then all you have to worry about is yourself.

To see more of Nelly’s photography, visit adventuresportsjournal.com/nelly 14 14 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept 2012 2015

To see more of Nelly’

s photography, visit

adventuresportsjou

rnal.com/nelly

Dream Paddles

SUP around Lake Tahoe in nine days

By Laura Norman

S

tand up paddleboarding is one of the fastest growing watersports, and with its clear water and dramatic shoreline, Lake Tahoe is one of the premier paddling destinations. If you’re a SUP enthusiast, why not circumnavigate the lake this summer?

It’s just 72 miles around the lake, so you can do it in stages over a few days with a willing driver to help. Even if you don’t have time to go all the way around the lake, any of these suggested routes will make for a great day on the water.

Keep in mind that although the weather in Tahoe is generally nice in the summer, the wind usually kicks up by 11am so it’s best if you can get on the lake before 8am.

You’ll also avoid most of the boat traffic if you go in the morning. Plan to do the busier sections of the lake on weekdays to miss the weekend traffic.

At an altitude of 6,000 feet, applying sunscreen and staying hydrated is critical.

Be sure to bring lots of water with you and snacks too. I always bring a phone in waterproof case, just in case. Some of the stretches can be lonely on a weekday morning but you can usually get cell reception. A PFD is required by law, and a leash is a good idea too.

Follow these paddles to circumnavigate the lake (distances are approximate), or check out LakeTahoeWaterTrails.org for their suggested paddles.

DAY 1 - SAND HARBOR to SPEEDBOAT BEACH

DAY 2 - SPEEDBOAT BEACH to CARNELIAN BAY

8 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰

6.5 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰

It’s easy to start from the boat launch at Sand Harbor but be sure to get an early start because the parking lot fills early and there can be a lot of boat traffic.

Head right out of the bay toward Incline Village. You’ll pass the turquoise water of Secret Beach and then along the sandy beaches of Incline Village and Crystal Bay. The shoreline is steep as you wind along the far side of the bay. As you turn the point (where the water is often choppy) you’ll approach the rocks and cove of Speedboat Beach (located at the end of Speedboat Drive, the last road in north shore California before the Nevada border). Be prepared for a long walk from the water with your board.

Although Speedboat Beach is a small beach with no parking, it still manages to fill up even on the weekdays. It’s a long walk to the water with your board, so it’s best to start very early. Make a right out of the beach by the dramatic piles of rocks into Agate Bay and paddle past Kings Beach, where you’ll see lots of swimmers and first time paddlers.

Continue on past Tahoe Vista and Moon Dunes Beach around the point until you find yourself in Carnelian Bay. In the middle of Carnelian Bay you’ll find Waterman’s Landing, a paddleboard shop and cafe with easy parking, and a great place to finish for the day.

16 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Aug/Sept 2013 2015

DAY 3 - CARNELIAN BAY to TAHOE CITY 7 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰✰

Head to the right as you leave the beach from Waterman’s Landing and pass west shore homes and boats and the Chinquapin development until you round Dollar Point. Pass more beaches including the Dollar Point Association and the small pier at Skylandia Beach, as well as the very shallow rocky area around Lakeshore Beach. After another mile of housing developments, you’ll enter the more developed area of Tahoe City and see the Tahoe City Marina. Continue past the marina to stop at Commons Beach.

DAY 5 - CHAMBERS LANDING to D.L. BLISS STATE PARK 9 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰✰

Chambers Landing is one of the best launch spots on the west shore. Although it looks like a private beach, there’s a public section and plenty of parking during the week. Make a right out of Chambers Landing and within a mile you’ll see the wild shoreline of Sugar Pine Point. Pass the Sugar Pine beach and pier, where it can be choppy from boat traffic if you don’t get an early start. Round the corner into Meeks Bay’s beautiful turquoise water. Pass the marina and State Park, and round another point into Rubicon Bay, for an even longer stretch of beautiful blue water. Finish at the far end of Rubicon Bay, at Lester Beach.

DAY 4 - TAHOE CITY to CHAMBERS LANDING 9 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰

Commons Beach is typically a great place to launch from, although low water levels can be challenging and you might prefer a dock start at the marina. Make a right out of the beach and paddle past the west shore communities of Tahoe Tavern. There’s typically a nice paddling corridor between the boats and shore.

Round the point, pass Sunnyside Marina, and continue on along Hurricane Bay and the west shore, past Fleur du Lac (from the Godfather movies) into McKinney Bay. Continue past the Homewood Marina until Chambers Landing.

DAY 6 - D.L. BLISS STATE PARK to BALDWIN BEACH 5.5 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰ (parking fills early)

The parking at D.L. Bliss fills quickly even on weekdays, so make an early start to paddle here. You’ll cross the entrance to Emerald Bay, the lake’s most popular boating spot, so be sure to go on a weekday to minimize traffic. The water along the shoreline at D.L. Bliss is some of the deepest in the lake, and you’ll pass dramatic cliffs before the shallow entrance to Emerald Bay. Take a four mile spin around the bay if you have time, and

Lake Tahoe Water Trail Open Year-Round

PHOTOS

OPPOSITE PAGE Main image: Two stand up paddlers having fun on the Lake Tahoe Water Trail along the East Shore near Cave Rock (Corey Rich / Aurora Photos).

Paddle photos: Sand Harbor, Speedboat Beach, Waterman’s Landing, Hurricane Bay, Sugar Pine Point, D.L. Bliss (Laura Norman).

PHOTOS THIS PAGE

Above: A female stand up paddle boarder makes a splash on the Lake Tahoe Water Trail along the West Shore (Corey Rich / Aurora Photos). Top left: Skunk Harbor (Laura Norman). Circle: Paddling with pooch (Laura Norman). Paddle photos: Baldwin Beach, Cave Rock, Secret Harbor (Laura Norman). © Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

check out Fannette Island, the only island in the entire lake. After passing Emerald Bay you can make your way along a quiet section of shoreline until you get to Baldwin Beach.

before Zephyr Cove (which can also be busy on weekends). After Zephyr Cove, it’s mostly private homes and some beautiful rocks as you make your way up to Cave Rock. There’s a little beach on the south end where you can pull ashore.

Find your paddle adventure at www.LakeTahoeWaterTrail.org Launch & Landing Sites • Paddle Routes • Paddle Shops • Shoreline Businesses • Campgrounds & Lodging Order the Waterproof Map & Guide with GPS Waypoints, Points of Interest & Underwater and Land Topography

DAY 7 - BALDWIN BEACH to NEVADA BEACH 9 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰

You’ll find plenty of parking at Baldwin Beach, and it’s an easy place to launch from. Head west from the beach and pass the undeveloped stretches of Kiva Beach, Tallac Shoreline, and Pope Beach, interrupted by the development at Camp Richardson. Pass the canals at Tahoe Keys (watch for boat traffic) and the Upper Truckee Marsh. A popular spot for jet skiing and parasailing, you’ll pass more development at this point including lodging, casinos and the dock for the Tahoe Queen. You’ll finish your paddle by a golf course and the long, sandy stretch of Nevada Beach. For this entire paddle the water is fairly shallow and usually a gorgeous color blue.

DAY 8 - NEVADA BEACH to CAVE ROCK 6 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰✰

Nevada Beach can be very crowded on a summer weekend, so be sure to start early. It’s a gorgeous deserty beach, and you can launch anywhere along it. After you round the rocky point at the north end, you’ll pass the long bay of Round Hill Pines and then another long flat point

DAY 9 - CAVE ROCK to SAND HARBOR 13.5 MILES • SCENERY ✰✰✰✰✰ SERENITY ✰✰✰✰ PARK/LAUNCH ✰✰✰✰✰

The longest segment finds you in the most undeveloped, scenic, and tranquil place to paddle. Start at the beach at the end of the Cave Rock marina. Arrive early to avoid boat traffic and find ample parking. For the first 3.5 miles, you’ll pass intermittent homes and the rocks of Logan Shoals. After the bay and long beach of Glenbrook, the next five miles will be wild with no road access. Round Deadman Point and then the beach of Skunk Harbor (at this point you’re at least a mile from the road), then continue on to the dramatic rocks and turquoise waters of Whale Beach, Secret Harbor, Secret Beach, and Chimney Beach.

Nevada beaches are dog friendly, so you may see people out with their pooches.

Also, Secret Beach is “clothing optional” so you may see scenery of another kind.

After Chimney Beach you’ll pass another rocky point, and Thunderbird Lodge, then it’s just one mile to the finish at the southern end of Sand Harbor.

Look carefully photo by Justin Majeczky / varient3.com

Can you spot the people protecting Lake Tahoe?

After joining one of our free Eyes on the Lake trainings, kayakers and SUP enthusiasts like these have the skills to identify the aquatic invasive plants threatening Lake Tahoe.

Do more with your adventure. Protect while you play.

FREE Trainings

Laura Norman spends summers on Lake Tahoe’s west shore and has paddled every inch of the lake’s shoreline. She’s the author Aug. 12 South Lake Tahoe of Paddleboard Guide to Lake Tahoe, Aug. 22 Truckee available at local retailers, Amazon.com, and in the Keep Tahoe Blue online store.

Sept. 9 South Lake Tahoe Follow her on Instagram at Tahoe_sup.

Sept. 16 Tahoe City Can’t get enough of the lake? Flip to page League to Save Lake Tahoe 9 to learn about the Lake Tahoe Water Trail keeptahoeblue.org hands-on and more details aboutApaddling Tahoe.volunteer restoration & education event www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

17

Women Who Rock the Boat California Women’s Watersports Collective gains momentum

By Haven Livingston

T

he first thoughts Melissa DeMarie had after landing a 20 foot waterfall on a low brace and feeling her shoulder pop out were certainly not, “Oh, I think I’ll use my down time to create a nonprofit for women’s watersports.” She was kayaking in Chile and as anybody who has traveled for sport knows, the big bummer of seeing your trip cut short by injury was first and foremost in her head, but as healing time extended, she knew she had to do something else.

“I moped around for a few months, but then realized that I had had this idea for starting up a women’s community group and it seemed like a good way to channel my energy and give back to the sport,” DeMarie said from her post as shop manager at California Canoe and Kayak Outpost in Coloma.

DeMarie’s idea cascaded into the California Women’s Watersport Collective, a community hub based in the foothills of the American River for women who want to get out and get wet. In a matter of months since returning from Chile, DeMarie struck a match in this dry state PHOTO and fired up interest from You have to start small hundreds of people that can to go big. Melissa only be quenched by getting DeMarie hucks Celestial together on the water. Events Falls in Oregon (Ben started by word of mouth for York).

women’s paddle gatherings ranging from stand up paddle outings on Lake Tahoe to kayaking and SUPing class II-III sections of the South Fork American River.

The first official event went down in June on Barking Dog, a play wave on the South Fork American. “I thought we’d have maybe five women show up and we saw closer to 35,” said DeMarie. “There were a lot of faces I didn’t know which meant word was spreading fast.”

International kayaker Katie Scott led the group with coaching tips for play boating, but according to DeMarie, it was really about creating a safe environment where women cheered each other on and felt comfortable pushing their boundaries.

Local Coloma resident Robin King took advantage of the free clinic and came away feeling empowered in a way she didn’t expect. “I’ve always been a little bit intimidated with surfing and had been in the mindset of just running rivers,” King said. “It was really nice to have this clinic because it created an atmosphere where I was comfortable and I knew there was safety downstream if I swam.

One of the neatest things about it was that there were a lot of women there who have huge successes in whitewater and yet, they don’t have any ego; they’re there to help everyone get better. Whatever the skill set, from beginner to expert, everybody is bringing something to the table. That specific day wasn’t in my comfort zone, but being with this group made me want to try something new. I usually don’t even get on the wave, but I was surfing it. It’s nice to have that outlet to know that you can push yourself and everybody’s there supporting you. It instilled that confidence and gave me a new fire to want to continue boating more.”

It sounds like a simple thing that should occur naturally, but getting women together on whitewater is clearly a niche need that hasn’t been filled in the Golden State.

PHOTOS Women are still the minority on the Top: Robin King hits her groove on water and more Barking Dog wave (Melissa DeMarie). often than not, when Circle: Melissa DeMarie has a women go paddling moment of calm on the North Fork they are one woman Payette (Adam Walker). Middle: Girls gather at Barking Dog while Katie in a group of men.

Scott Gives surfing tips (Melissa There’s nothing inDeMarie). Bottom: It’s not all about herently wrong with kayaks in this collective. Emily Yeates this picture, except stands it up at Barking Dog (Melissa that over time it has DeMarie). potential to lead into one of two negative patterns: reliance on male paddlers to lead down the river, or the opposite – getting pushed into paddling something too difficult too soon with the “you’ll be fine” statement.

“There’s a different dynamic among women, we have different mentalities and needs in the learning process.

Women are often more honest about their fears and

“It sounds like a simple thing that should occur naturally, but getting women together on whitewater is clearly a niche need that hasn’t been filled in the Golden State.”

18 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept2012 2015

CALIFORNIA’S TOP 25 ADVENTURE CHECKLIST:

Raft Tunnel Chute on the Middle Fork of the American River Running Tunnel Chute on the Middle Fork of the American River with O.A.R.S. combines high adrenaline and good times with friends into a refreshing summer adventure.

abilities on the river and acknowledging that is an important part of progressing as a paddler. Sometimes you just need to have a woman role model to believe that you can do it too. It’s a huge confidence booster when women can get together and lead themselves down a river,” said DeMarie.

Anna Levesque started her company, Girls at Play, over 10 years ago in North Carolina and continues to fill her SUP and whitewater kayaking classes, clinics and even trips to Costa Rica with women who want to learn and experience kayaking in the company of other women. As it states on the Girls at Play website, their goal is to provide an environment where paddlesports feel accessible, fun, inspiring, adventurous and supportive. This is exactly the type of community DeMarie is building in Central California.

While her breadth of experience more than qualifies her for the lead role in the Collective, DeMarie’s enthusiasm and persistence ground her commitment to it. Beginning as a raft guide in California in 2005, she has been a guide, safety kayaker, kayak instructor and kayaking photographer since then in countries around the world including New Zealand, Uganda, Costa Rica, Norway, Panama, Chile and Nepal.

If overflowing turnout at the free events and meet ups aren’t enough to prove the need, the sign-ups for a weekend long clinic certainly do. With the support of

Email cwwcollective@gmail.com or visit cwwcollective.com or Facebook at facebook.com/cwwcollective to get involved.

California Canoe PHOTOS and Kayak and Top: Melissa DeMarie volunteer instrucpowers down Bald tors, DeMarie Rock on the Middle hosted a two day Fork Feather River whitewater river (Eric Petlock). Above: clinic for all levels Pig tails fly as Katie on the South Fork Scott demos a loop American in early (Melissa DeMarie).

August. Registration was full by the first week of July.

“I just know that it’s really important that there is someplace for women to go,” said DeMarie. If you can inspire women to be confident on the water, that will translate into other areas of their lives. In turn, if they feel good about something that they’re doing they’ll want to pass that on to someone else.”

Events planned for August and September include North Fork Feather River kayaking and Tahoe SUP, with spontaneous meet ups and spinoff groups paddling every week.

Repair, Repurpose, Recycle that Kayak Rule of thumb: When a kayak cracks, fix it. Cracks again? Fix it and donate it to a pool or school for roll practice. Cracked beyond repair? Turn it into dirt-bag kayaker’s lawn ornament by planting flowers in it. When that fails, cut it up and use parts of it for welding other boats. And the rest: recycle it.

Most whitewater kayaks these days are made of linear high density polyethylene plastic. You might recognize HDPE as an indicator for plastic recycling. When linear HDPE plastic cracks it can be welded back together, unlike the less common cross linked polyethylene, which won’t bind to added plastic material under heat.

Kayaks aren’t exactly stamped with a recycling code, so call the manufacturer to find out how to best repair or recycle it. Liquid Logic Kayaks takes back their boats for recycling if you cut them up and ship them. They don’t exactly make it convenient, but it’s an option. If you live in the right place and it’s the right plastic, you could also put the pieces in your own recycle bin.

Plastic is no small deal anymore and best practices are to buy something that you know can be recycled and ask the retailer or manufacturer to create take-back systems that make it easy.

Top if off with FREE CAMPING before or after your trip at O.A.R.S. River Park Campground and you’ve got the perfect trip for you and the crew.

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Recognized by National Geographic Adventure as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” and by Outside Magazine as one of the top outfitters in the world, O.A.R.S. has the right mix of experience, great guides and top-tier service for an ideal California adventure.

O.A.R.S. River Park Campground is a great place to unwind before and after your day on the river

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19

Lone Pine Peak In Praise of Moderate Rock

By Leonie Sherman

T

here’s not much that can convince me to skip out on eight days of High Sierra cross-country rambling. But when Brandon offered to climb the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak with me, I only needed about 30 seconds to abandon my plans and submit to the siren call of the mountain. Every High Sierra climbing book raves about this “super mega ultra classic” route and I’d been denied twice already.

If you’re escaping the congested freeways and snarling humans of Southern California, the sight of bulky Lone Pine Peak heralds your arrival in the Land of Big Mountains. Rising straight out of the barren desert, the peak’s lower flanks start in dusty hills and culminate in crenelated granite and fluted spires. Looming over the town that shares it name, this mountain dominates the skyline of the southernmost High Sierra. Tourists often mistake it for Mt. Whitney; when viewed from the Alabama Hills, the tallest mountain in the lower 48, many miles distant, is dwarfed by this prominent peak.

The list of people who have first ascents on Lone Pine Peak is a veritable who’s who of California climbing. In 1925, the original Sierra hard man Norman Clyde became the first European to stand on the summit; Warren Harding climbed the Northeast Face almost three decades later. Fred Beckey showed up in 1969 to conquer the the Bastille Buttress; he returned four years later to climb a grade IV route that’s rated 5.10+.

Internationally acclaimed photographer Galen Rowell put up two bold routes in the winter of 1970. And Em Holland, with her off-width master husband Bruce Bindner, climbed a grade V, 5.10, A3 route in 1999, recently free climbed by the soon-to-belegendary climbing couple Amy Ness and Myles Moser.

The mile-wide 3,000 ft. big wall on the peak’s south face attracts climbers from around the world and features the most poetically named routes on the peak: Streets of the Mountains, Land of Little Rain, Dynamo-Hum, the Windhorse.

What the North Ridge lacks in poetry it makes up for in aesthetic appeal. This sweeping proud line rises over 7,000 vertical feet from the monochrome baking valley floor to the sparkling granite pinnacle.

The complete route from sagebrush to summit was first climbed in 1986. Most mountaineers follow the classic route put up in 1952, which features a three and a half mile approach, a mere 5,000 ft. of gain and about PHOTO: A view of the summit panorama (Brandon Griep).

20 ASJ—April/May 20 ASJ — Aug/Sept2013 2015

1,500 ft. of technical climbing.

This route is rated grade III, 5.5, by R.J. Secor and Peter Croft. The grade is a highly subjective rating that refers to how long a climb will take. Secor claims grade III means you should allow 4-7 hours to complete the route. Climbing Magazine estimates the climb of Lone Pine Peak’s North Ridge will take most people ten hours and suggests the descent will take five.

Amy Ness can climb the North Ridge in a casual morning and be back at the Whitney Portal Store for an afternoon shift. Myles likes to add the 17 pitches of 5.9 climbing on nearby Mt. Irvine’s East Buttress for a complete day. Most mere mortals want a pre-dawn start and will be lucky to return to their car by dark.

One of the most skilled climbers I know bailed at the base because it’s Just So Long.

The 5.5 rating is deceptive. A friend of mine’s nine-year old daughter climbed a 5.8 the second time visiting our local gym, but she won’t be attempting the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak anytime soon. A single pitch of top-roped gym climbing is to an alpine back-country ascent what riding down the driveway on a tricycle is to riding down 18,491 ft. Pico de Orizaba on a unicycle. What a kazoo solo is to Beethoven’s Fifth; what a walk to the corner store is to hiking the 3,000+ mile Continental Divide Trail in a single season. The rating may be easy, but the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak will probably kick your butt.

PHOTOS It won’t increase your Upper Left: Brad finger strength, Rassler on the crest force you to rely of the North Ridge of on a desperate Lone Pine Peak (Andy Selters). Top: Mt. ring lock or Whitney and Lone Pine demand that Peak, winter sunrise you grovel up a (Andy Selters). Above: gnarly chimney.

John Dittli on the North Nobody’s doing Ridge of Lone Pine any super fly heel Peak (Andy Selters). hooks or battling Circle: A view from the with barely top (Brandon Griep). perceptible crimpers. There’s nothing to brag to your buddies about in the parking lot. You’ll just stretch your imagination, challenge your endurance and have a great time as you cruise what my friend Emma calls “five fun” climbing.

Besides, the further you get from a trailhead, the less accurate the rating.

The venerable Doug Robinson has climbed the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak over a dozen times and says it never goes easier than 5.8. Secor admits there’s an awkward 5.7 off-width section and a 5.7 lie-back pitch. Route-finding is a major challenge: Peter Croft offers only a thin paragraph of description, which includes: “basically stay on the right side of the ridge to the summit.” There’s probably a Super Topo somewhere that details each hold and belay stance, but I never saw it. Choosing your own adventure on an ocean of granite is a large part of the fun on the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak.

Lone Pine Peak, lying just off the spine of the Sierra, provides a stellar view of the crest. Three of the tallest mountains in California – Whitney, Russell and Langley – were visible from our airy perch.

One problem with a moderate rating is knowing when to pull out the rope. If you start pitching it out too early you’re wasting time, too late and you’re frantic and cursing. Being the weaker link in our climbing chain, Brandon and I resolved to free solo everything I could. When I got nervous we pulled out the rope and climbed the most difficult route we could see. We never did encounter the old fixed ring piton Secor talks about but we found four pitches of challenging climbing and hours of physical exciting scrambling. We topped out at 12,944 ft. around 2pm, visions of veggie burgers at the Portal Store dancing in our heads.

The vision that danced before our eyes was more spectacular than the finest burger and fries. Lone Pine Peak, lying just off the spine of the Sierra, provides a

LONE PINE; Small Town, Lots of Charm Lone Pine isn’t just a great climb, it’s also a charming little town. The hamlet serves as the gateway to Mt. Whitney and hosts thousands of visitors every year. They come for the hiking, climbing and skiing; they return for the great food, sweet accommodations and friendly locals.

Where to Eat: After a hot day on the trail, the Bonanza restaurant on Main Street will delight tired diners with margaritas, cold beer, an extensive menu and bottomless salsa!

Where to Stay: Looking to meet other outdoor enthusiasts, need to wash away the grime from an extended adventure or just seeking reasonably priced shared and private rooms? The Whitney Portal Hostel and Store on Main Street has you covered.

Where to Climb: The baking heat of the Owens Valley can sap the energy of the most dedicated climber. Head for the hills!

The Whitney Portal offers challenging trad routes in the blessed relief of the alpine zone. During winter and early spring, the Alabama Hills provide mostly single pitch sport climbs in a sunny mild climate. A variety of moderate routes and few crowds make this an ideal place to build skills.

Where to Shop: The folks at Elevation Sierra Adventure can help outfit you for any adventure from snow camping to rock climbing. This tiny store is crammed full of high quality gear and apparel and the staff are a wealth of local knowledge and friendliness.

stellar view of PHOTO: Lone Pine Peak, the crest. Three left, and Mt. Whitney, of the tallest right, as seen from near mountains Lone Pine, autumn (Andy in California Selters).

– Whitney, Russell and Langley – were visible from our airy perch. The jagged teeth of Corcoran, LeConte, Mallory and Irvine commanded the western skyline, while the vast expanse of the Owens Valley stretched away to the east.

Everyone knows the summit is only halfway, but we’d been assured of a pleasant boot ski descent, a loose and gentle scree slope, twenty minutes max.

So we lingered on top, savoring the view, perusing the register, calling out the names of friends, before we started skipping south along a sandy ridge. Hung a right and began picking our way down steep loose sand towards Grass Lakes and Little Meysan Lake.

Our chosen chute featured sand on slab, minuscule ball bearings, and we skittered down about six hundred vertical feet before coming to a cliffy section.

We down climbed with care, slid down another couple hundred feet and halted at a precipitous drop. My partner scouted to the south, I scouted to the north; we came up with sun cracked slings looped around a rock.

“Wrong chute?” I inquired, as Brandon tugged on the slings and added one of his own.

Brandon nodded, grimacing as he threaded the rope through the old tat.

Our twenty minute boot ski devolved into four hours of treacherous down climbing and sketchy rappelling, spitting us out on the shore of Little Meysan Lake at dusk, just in time for the evening hatch of mosquitos. As we filled up water bottles and swatted at winged bloodsuckers, a thundering noise turned my gaze back to the gully we’d just descended. Dust rose hundreds of feet in the air as a roaring freight train of rock fall obliterated the chute we’d been struggling in half an hour before.

I pointed and stammered, but Brandon, ever the competent climber, kept his focus on the important details. He didn’t even glance up.

“If we hustle, I think the taco truck in Independence will still be open.”

We did, and it was. www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

21

CALIFORNIA HIKING

Popular for a Reason Hiking the ultra classic route from Echo Lakes to Barker Pass Photos and story by Dave Zook

“W

hat has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there’s nothing new under the sun.”

While this biblical refrain from the Old Testament may have been written to touch upon the cyclical nature of human life and injustice, it is also a good description of the vast majority of Lake Tahoe outdoor adventures.

Virtually everything that can be hiked, biked, skied, run or climbed in the Tahoe area already has been. Ever since the 1960 Olympics, there has been an explosion in tourism with athletic-minded individuals making the Tahoe pilgrimage to test themselves in the outdoors. The fiercest and fittest guys and gals still push farther into remote areas and achieve firsts, but for the majority, if you’re in the Tahoe Basin, you’re on well-traveled terrain.

The 32-mile stretch of trail from Echo Lakes in South Lake to Barker Pass epitomizes the phrase “well-traveled terrain.” Not only is this section part of the popular 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), it also overlaps with the world-renowned Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and crosses into Desolation Wilderness, a wilderness area with an estimated 120,000 visitors per year.

But don’t let the crowds deter you. There is a reason the trail is so popular — it charts a course through some of the most awe-inspiring alpine terrain in the world. My friend Anthony Santos and I recently set out to survey this stretch in a two-day, one-night exploratory mission to find out why so many people love this hike.

Logistics The easiest transportation scheme is to be chauffeured to the Barker Pass trailhead on the West Shore and then picked up to the south at Echo Lakes in South Lake Tahoe the next day. Lacking a chauffeur we settled for a twocar shuttle instead.

From Tahoe City, we each drove the 90-minutes south to Echo Lakes and dropped one car. Then we carpooled back up the highway and up the twisty Barker Pass road through Blackwood Canyon to the trailhead. With burrito and gas stops, we were on the trail nearly four hours after originally leaving, making the shuttle logistics a bit of a hassle.

The second day would bring pay dirt in the form of some of the most renowned Tahoe mountainscapes in all of the Basin. The trail goes around huge mountains and a handful of crystalline lakes.

22 ASJ ASJ—June/July — Aug/Sept 2012 2015

Freedom of the Hills And then it’s pure, true hiking. Left-right-left. For hours.

From Barker Pass you descend into the lush forests, ripe with lodgepole pines, red firs, and a few remaining wildflowers like the Sierra larkspur. I knew this not from an intricate understanding of Tahoe’s flora but from the maestro himself John Muir and his paperback field guides, one of which Anthony had tucked away.

“I could rally this trail on my bike,” said Anthony, itching to let the wheels of efficiency do their thing. “I just don’t actually do a lot of hiking trips that are based just around hiking, so I’m always looking at trails from a biking perspective,” he added.

I realized I didn’t either, and perhaps much of the younger generation looks more to geared machines and ropes and boats to traverse through wilderness. But we settled into the cutting-edge technology of caveman conveyance and seven miles in, saw the veritably pleasant Lake Richardson, displaying banks of yellow and orange shrubbery, signs of fall as we were close to Labor Day. The goal was to camp near Dicks Pass for the night at the 19-mile mark, but we called it at Middle Velma Lake, about four miles short but within the Desolation Wilderness boundary.

With only a few other campers dotting the lake with their jittery headlight beams, it felt right. With enough room for hundreds of campers around the wide lake, the human presence of others had no suffocating effect on our solace. Santos took a swim and I looked on at the many tiny pine-ridden islands that floated on what was now a pink and orange lake. “Next time we swim and camp out there,” I said, pointing to a fifty square-foot oasis with pines instead of palm trees.

We ate couscous with sausage, had a few nips of reposado tequila, and slept. We could have chosen to boil some water the night before to have it chilled for the next day, but we blanked on that and did it in the morning, leaving us a few hot liters of Velma for the midday heat.

Winter Recon The second day would bring pay dirt in the form of some of the most renowned Tahoe mountainscapes in all of the Basin. The trail goes around huge (for Tahoe) mountains and a handful of crystalline lakes.

We paused at every lake to drink it in, always figuratively and sometimes literally, as we ran out of boiled water and drank raw from a few lakes. Not wise, but we survived and tested our gastrointestinal mettle.

I aligned my solar radio to Reno’s classic rock station, 105.7, and ZZ Top and Pink Floyd bounced off the granite-rimmed emerald green lakes, perfectly still save a few birds diving for the kill.

Ascending Dicks Pass, the 1,300-foot ascent was

PHOTOS demanding, but reasonable considering Main image: Anthony Santos the jagged topography. executes a fine trundle We stood at the pass, with Cracked Crag in the sweating in the hot, background. Middle: A handful windy, and golden grassy of lakes lie within feet of the field at 9,300 feet, and trail on this stretch of the PCT. feasted our corneas on Above: Middle Velma Lake at sunset. Right page, left: a view of big peaks and Santos stands near one of the lakes. dozen tiny islands on Middle Anthony and I enjoy Velma Lake. Right page, a good snow pursuit, right: Even the clouds seem to and as we were in be better in Desolation. some hallowed Tahoe backcountry ground, we let our imaginations go berserk. The trip evolved into rambling about our bold plans for powder season.

“You could climb this ridge to Dicks, ski the south facing slope in the morning and smash back up to the north or west side and rip a huge line in the afternoon,” said Anthony.

And for about six hours we gawked at what might be skied come winter, envisioning it with a big fat layer

Just what is a wilderness area?

of Sierra cement to act as a base, and maybe six inches of fresh on top. The thoughts snapped our woozy legs to a fresh strength.

Tour de Lakes Our attention steered from mountains to water. Fontanillis Lake laid warped and still, butted against the ice polished granite slabs. Dicks Lake lay right below its summit’s namesake and seemed an aesthetically inspiring place to camp.

Circular Gilmore Lake proved too good to not swim with a steep dropoff and open beaches. From there it was Susie Lake, Heather Lake, Lake Aloha and the grand finale of Echo Lake.

Each watering hole beckoned a rest

and some meditation and reflection. But the day was flying by; Anthony’s phone/ camera ran out of batteries, and snacks were diminished.

But a final swim in Lake Aloha couldn’t be missed. Shallow from the late season and low snowfall it was more like an alpine bath in about six inches of water, the view south toward Pyramid Peak showing miles of connecting granite slabs spread out like a rocky meadow.

The last miles grinded our ankles and knees from the 10-plus hours of hiking.

Passing Echo Lake we re-entered a form of civilization as a few dozen houses and huts lined the lake, and a boat taxi ferried its residents around.

Relieved to see the Subaru waiting, we hightailed it to South Lake, feeling our pampered stomachs yearn for hot food after nearly 48 hours away from an oven.

Relief came in the form of a well-stocked Chinese buffet and a cold Tsingtao.

Looking over a map a few days later, surrounding the PCT/TRT route were a scribbling of dozens of jeep roads, old and new trails, primitive trails, and more.

They too have surely been explored before, but to our eyes and feet they looked like just another way to become an ant in the mountains. And whether or not more ants have been there before couldn’t matter less to me, as it was a fresh path to us.

The Desolation Wilderness Area is one of about 750 designated wilderness areas around the country, comprising over 110 million acres in the U.S. and counting. The Wilderness Act of 1964 created these designations, considered the highest where human impact is kept to an absolute minimum. Though exceptions exist, these areas are free of roads, mechanized vehicles, permanent structures, logging, and more. According to the language in the original act: “A wilderness … is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

Desolation Facts -Estimated 120,000 users per year, one of the highest in the country -Managing agencies: Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit -Elevation: 6,500 feet to 10,000 feet -Size: 63,960 acres (about 12.5 miles long and eight miles wide) -Year granted wilderness status: 1969 -Regulations: Permits required for both day and overnight uses due to heavy usage

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www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com 23 7/17/15 10:17 AM

MOUNTAIN BIKING

à Votre Santé

How mountain biking trails benefit communities

A

s mountain biking continues to grow in popularity, communities are rapidly discovering the many benefits of a healthy, sustainable trail system.

Community involvement in the natural environment gives people a reason to care about environmental conservation and stewardship, and engages them in the beauty of our public lands. Mountain biking and stewardship provide a positive experience of personal achievement and confidence, health and fitness for adults and children alike, and offer excellent opportunities for families to connect.

Well-designed and maintained trails are an increasingly recognized tourism asset, attracting visitors who come to ride, eat, shop and stay. Read on about how mountain biking and healthy trails have benefited communities throughout California.

AUBURN / FOLSOM The recent restoration of the Culvert Trail in Auburn State Recreation Area has opened this well-loved trail to a wider range of mountain bikers. Severe erosion and damage from a wildfire led to a major revamp led by Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition.

The resulting flow trail allows for both novice and expert riders to have their frills while improving their skills. The Culvert Trail serves as an artery connecting over 40 miles of other trails in the canyon. Its location – nestled between the populous Sacramento metro area and Lake Tahoe – allows for year-round riding that’s easily accessible.

This helps to supports the Auburn economy, with four bicycle shops, an array of specialty restaurants, and a growing list of breweries in a nod to the beer-loving mountain biking community.

Learn more at fatrac.org.

24 ASJ ASJ—April/May — Aug/Sept 2013 2015

DOWNIEVILLE / GRAEAGLE Downieville and the Lakes Basin region

by Graeagle are proven examples of how trails can help communities thrive. Downieville’s population of 282 supports two full service bike shops and shuttling services driven solely by mountain bike tourism. Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and their bike shop, Yuba Expeditions, helped transform this small community into an internationally known mountain bike destination.

The Downieville Classic Mountain Festival draws hundreds of people which directly benefits local eateries, stores and hotels. With the growing popularity of Mills Peak Trail and the Lakes Basin trails, neighboring Graeagle is quickly becoming another must-visit destination. Other towns in the region are now looking to recreation as their next economic boon and are rapidly growing their trail systems.

Learn more at sierratrails.org.

GROVELAND Groveland is a gateway community that lies just 25 miles outside of the Northern Yosemite Gate. Though this tiny community of 2,500 has seasonal vacation amenities and sees millions of tourists drive through town on their way to the park each year, it has yet to find a way to bolster its offseason economy. As a result, businesses have a high rate of failure, schools lack funding, and there are few community organized recreation opportunities for youth. A local mountain bike club, The Groveland Trail Heads, hopes to change all of that. The club is focused on the construction of destination-worthy mountain bike trails that would attract year-round tourism and strengthen community ties to the surrounding

forest, and providing a healthy outlet for local youth and families. Learn more at grovelandtrailheads.org.

MARIN The multi-use 680 Trail is a great accomplishment for Marin’s mountain biking advocates. It added three miles of new bike-legal trail in a community that’s struggled to bring its trail system into balance for mountain biking. The trail connects a number of communities to the Loma Alta and White Hill Open Space Preserves and provides a corridor the the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

While the trail was designed and built as a shared use trail, mountain biking may be the most popular activity given its high elevation and distance from trailheads. The trail utilizes both out sloping and grade reversals to whisk water off the trail in the rainy season, and annual trail days have resulted in enhancements to improve both the user experience and sustainability of the trail.

Learn more at marinbike.org.

MENDOCINO Mendocino – well known for its quaint bed & breakfast inns, whale watching, art, and wine – is quickly becoming an epic world-class mountain biking destination. The timber industry, once

Demonstration State Forest, the state’s largest forest, which covers 48,652 acres amongst majestic redwoods.

Mendocino’s trails are starting to attract bike races, as well. This past June, local mountain bike guiding company and race organizer, Mendocino Bike Sprite, presented The Wild Wood Adventure Enduro, round 3 of the California Enduro Series, which introduced hundreds of mountain biking enthusiasts to the area.

Learn more at mendocc.org.

PHOTO Mendocino is one of many California communities discovering the significant benefits of a healthy, sustainable trail system (Called to Creation).

MOUNT SHASTA Mount Shasta, premier destination for all things outdoors, has begun a One Hundred Miles of Trail campaign with a goal of building ten miles of multi-use trail each year. Driven by the Mount Shasta Mountain Bike Association, the campaign grew out of the success of numerous existing trails such as the recently completed Gateway Trail, an adventurous nine-mile long single track that climbs, dips and banks through nine plus miles of pristine National Forest.

The area boasts wide forested multi-use trails idea for families as well as rugged

downhill runs that end with a river crossing for the more adventurous rider.

Riders can build their skills at the newly minted bike park in Shastice Park. In the development process, the community has been energized by these new sources of healthy recreation, formed closer community bonds, and benefited from tourism. Learn more at bikeshasta.org.

RENO / PEAVINE Just over the California border sits the bustling town of Reno, Nevada. Hailed as the Biggest Little City, this town is shifting from the casino culture that built it to being the baby sister of Silicon Valley with a hip midtown district, several micro-breweries and easy access to outdoor recreation. At the forefront of the latter is the expansion of multi-use trails on nearby Peavine Mountain. With

Mountain biking and stewardship provide a positive experience of personal achievement and confidence, health and fitness for adults and children alike, and offer excellent opportunities for families to connect. the economic engine of Mendocino County, has been in steep decline for over a decade, and the area has been shifting from a natural resource-based economy to a more service-based economy that relies on tourism and recreation. Leading this trend, the Mendocino Coast Cyclists have been at the heart of designing, building and maintaining singletrack trails in Jackson

the closest trailhead only one mile from downtown and numerous neighborhood access points, there is easy access to the 40 mile singletrack trail network.

Over half of that has been built since 2008 by the Poedunks/Biggest Little Trail Stewardship with a trails plan underway for another ten miles in the next few years. Learn more at poedunks.org.

SAN DIEGO Since 1980, San Diego County’s population has increased double that of the national average. The impact of increased urbanization threatens to fragment the county’s open space lands into “islands,” and the associated wear and tear on such areas is severe. The benefit of non-fragmented open space for trails connectivity allows for multiple route options, distributing the user base to reduce local densities. In 2008, San Diego Mountain Biking Association (SDMBA) mobilized to raise awareness via the annual Archipelago Ride (archipelago being a chain of islands).

The route, from Carlsbad to Sorrento Valley, has evolved steadily and new trails are currently being built exclusively with SDMBA trained volunteer labor (saving taxpayers about $31,000) to IMBA sustainability standards. Learn more at sdmba.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO Thanks to the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers and allied hikers and equestrians, the long-standing trail culture of San Luis Obispo County is all

about building and sharing sustainable multi-use trails. With about 90 miles of trails built, maintained and amicably shared by hikers, bikers and equestrians (in Montana de Oro State Park, County Parks, SLO City Open Space and the Los Padres National Forest), the community benefits are so obvious that San Luis Obispo made the acquisition of Open Space and the creation of multi-use trails its highest funding priority for the next two years. The tradition of shared use and the wide recognition of community benefit also convinced the local land conservancy to purchase an $11 million property in 2014 and to build 16 miles of new sustainable multi-use trail in the next year. Learn more at cccmb.org.

SANTA BARBARA With 220,000 residents and 9,000,000 annual visitors enjoying Santa Barbara’s 40+ miles of multi-use single track; the trail network supports thousands of trails users in a single day. Despite this extreme popularity, the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMTV) has sustained and maintained the health of the trail network through sustainable trail maintenance, collaboration with local land managers, and community outreach. A regional chapter of the International Mountain Biking

Association (IMBA), SBMTV navigates the multi-jurisdictional spaghetti of Santa Barbara land managers and trail politics to keep trails safe and open for all users to enjoy. A big part of this success is due to SBMTV’s bell program which distributed over 10,000 bike bells. Bells alert other trail users to an approaching rider and reduce the number of surprise encounters, ensuring good times on the trail for all. Learn more at sbmtv.org.

SANTA CRUZ The creation of the Emma McCrary Trail in Santa Cruz and the flow trail at Soquel Demonstration State Forest (SDSF) created much-needed legal mountain biking trails in the area. The process of building both trails – driven by local mountain biking advocacy group Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz – raised the profile of mountain biking in the community and laid the groundwork for capitalizing on future trail building opportunities. These trails offer more options for riders of all abilities to enjoy the area’s renowned riding, encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Local businesses benefit as a post-ride treat at a favorite brewery or restaurant is often just as important as the ride itself. The Emma McCrary Trail played a key role in the elimination of a hotbed of illegal activities that involved drugs, gangs, transient camping and fires. Learn more at mbosc.org.

INSET PHOTOS SOUTH LAKE Auburn/Folsom (Folsom TAHOE Auburn Trail Riders The South Lake Action Coalition); Tahoe community Downieville (The rallied behind Sierra Buttes Trail the unique and Stewardship); Mount popular Corral Shasta (Mike Hupp / Trail. In partnership Dawn Patrol Images); with the Forest San Diego (San Diego Service, Tahoe Mountain Biking Area Mountain Association); San Luis Obispo (Paul Reinhardt / Biker Association Central Coast Concerned (TAMBA) Mountain Bikers); Santa volunteers Cruz (Bruce Dorman / crafted a series Mountain Bikers of Santa of mountain bike Cruz); South Lake Tahoe specific features (Tahoe Area Mountain including berms, Biking Association). table tops, rollers and step ups. A full range of people use the trail from downhillers to families with kids in tow. The influence of Corral Trail has inspired more people to get out and ride. Businesses and marketing agencies (that typically promote nearby casinos) promote the local mountain biking scene, proving its benefit to the community. Learn more at tamba.org.

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

25

TRAIL ADVOCACY

Ride By Design How to plan a healthy trail system

By Matt De Young

W

hat makes a good trail experience for a mountain biker? Is it immersion in nature, technical challenge, a place to enjoy with friends, or simply a place to get a good workout? Maybe it’s a combination of all of these things for some, or just one or two of these components for others. These are things that must be considered when a land manager is considering building new trails.

A well planned trail system should satisfy the needs of a diverse user group. It should provide options for beginners and options more fitting for intermediate and advanced riders.

A thorough trail builder starts off the process of trail design by assessing the purpose of the trail. Is this trail simply a connection between point A and point B? Or is this trail being constructed to deliver a specific experience? A trail intended for climbing should be built very differently than a trail meant to be descended. If a trail is intended to be multi-directional, compromises must be made to ensure that it will satisfactorily meet both needs. A trail that is to be ridden in both directions will need especially long sight lines, so that users will be able to see each other at a safe distance to allow passing.

Multi-use trails offer another set of design constraints. If bikes are to share the trail with hikers and equestrians, trail design should incorporate features to ensure all user needs are met and that different users can share the trail safely. Windy, narrow trails will keep mountain bikers speeds down, which equates to

fewer surprises for hikers and equestrians. Periodic widening of the trail will allow users to pass safely.

Bike specific trails can take on a variety of different forms. Gentle rolling trails will provide beginners with a safe pleasant experience, while steep technical trails will provide a venue for experts to hone their skills. Trails can be designed with features that lend themselves to skill building such as banked turns and low consequence jumps or drops.

Downhill specific trails might have high consequence terrain such as steep rock gardens, or large gap jumps, designed to test elite riders.

After considering a trail’s intended purpose a builder then must figure out how to use

the terrain so that not only is the intended user experience created, but that it’s done so in a sustainable manner.

A well built trail should need minimal maintenance. One of the biggest factors in trail wear is water. Water flowing on the trail will erode the trail surface, by transporting soil and carrying it off of the trail. The faster the water flows, the more soil is transported off the trail.

To mitigate this, trail builders design their trails to slow water and to shed it as often as possible. Trails built with a lower average grade will keep water from running too quickly.

A grade reversal, a change in the trail’s dominant grade, i.e. a descending trail turning upwards for a short distance, provides a means to stop water and shed it off of the trail. Grade reversals can be entertaining trail features for riders as well.

Another factor of trail wear is the user itself. Hikers, horses, and mountain bikers all wear down a trail by transporting dirt from the trail’s surface. Trail builders have lots of ways to

On the coast 22 miles north of Santa Cruz

mitigate this. PHOTOS Top left: Specialized If there is a soft wet spot pro rider Curtis Keene pitches in on a flow in a trail, the trail build day at Soquel surface can Demonstration State be armored Forest in the Santa Cruz with rocks.

Mountains (Etienne Sharp, van Rensburg). Below: blind turns, South Lake Tahoe’s will cause Corral Trail offers riding mountain opportunities for all bikers to abilities (David Clock/ skid, so a trail Tahoe Area Mountain builder could Biking Association). either figure out a way to open up the sight line around the turn, or create a feature before the turn to slow riders down so that they are not approaching a turn so quickly.

These are just a few of the considerations that trail builders must take into account when designing trails appropriate for their intended use. Starting off with comprehensive trail design is the best way to ensure that a trail can meet users’ needs. Next time you are out on your favorite trail, think about what makes it special to you, look for the features that make it fun, and for the elements that make it a lasting resource.

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1. Scarpa Vapor V Climbing Shoe This highly technical shoe from Scarpa is perfect for the climbing gym or outdoor bouldering. The fit is more about putting power towards your toes than just squeezing your toes together so toe hooking feels natural and comfortable.

As with any downturned bouldering shoe the fit is not right for slabby outdoor routes in Yosemite or Tuolumne, so if you climb outdoors and are looking for an all around shoe then the Scarpa Vapor V is not it. On the other hand if you are looking to focus on bouldering and powerful, steep routes this is a great climbing shoe.

degrees Fahrenheit. Anti-compression pads ensure even distribution of insulation to prevent cold spots. The Blue Kazoo comes in Short (under 5’6”), Regular (up to 6’) and Long (up to 6’6”) lengths. The North Face also offers a women-specific version featuring a unique women’s fit in shoulder, hip, and length, and a design that places more insulation around the chest and feet for optimal warmth. The women’s Blue Kazoo comes in Regular (up to 5’6”) and Long (up to 6’).

MSRP $159.00 • scarpa.com

4. FOX 831 36 Fork Dirt jumpers and slopestyle riders don’t need lots of travel but they do need a way to absorb big hits quickly. The FOX 831 is designed to handle the demands of big doubles with little margin for error. The fork uses the RC2 damper in a 100mm-travel package – making for a burly look with very stiff rebound that can handle the demands of big air.

Perfect for the neighborhood dirt jumps, the 831 can accept 15 or 20mm thruaxels and only accept 26-inch wheels because bigger wheels on a dirt jump bike would be, you know, silly.

2. Club Ride Jewel Padded Innerwear The Club Ride Jewel perfectly complements a properly fitting saddle to alleviate the discomfort of being saddle sore.

Designed for casual rides of up to one hour, the Jewel’s ActiveFlow™ quickdrying, breathable, stretch fabric with power mesh inserts, wide waistband with soft inside for comfort & lasting fit, bikini brief fit and anatomically shaped 3mm single-density short-range chamois pad makes a big difference for overall comfort and performance.

MSRP $34.95 • clubrideapparel.com 3. TNF’s Blue Kazoo Sleeping Bag An ideal three-season bag that’s been used by mountaineers and backcountry explorers for decades, The Blue Kazoo is a great choice for anyone looking for a bombproof sleeping bag that is guaranteed for life. The mummy bag is now filled with water-resistant 650 ProDown™ for reliable warmth in wet conditions and temperatures down to 20

MSRP $249.00-309.00 • thenorthface.com

MSRP $1,050.00 • ridefox.com 5. Good To-Go Thai Curry Good To-Go makes dehydrated backpacking food in a variety of dishes.

These dishes are a nice way to throw together some quick meal planning for a weekend outing when you don’t have much time to shop for something elaborate. After hiking all day there is nothing more convenient than having a complete meal that only needs a little

boiling water and less than five minutes to satisfy your hunger. The Thai Curry is a spicy yellow coconut curry with fresh broccoli and cauliflower, peas and green beans all on a bed of Jasmine rice. With the addition of Thai chilies this dish has a little kick too. Cooking a complete meal from scratch in the backcountry is a great idea on rest days, but usually it’s hard to beat the ability to feed a group of hungry hikers in less than five minutes after a hard day on the trail.

MSRP $10.95 • goodto-go.com 6. Eno HiFi Speaker System The Eno HiFi Speaker Case carries and protects your music player wherever you go. Great for family/car camping and backpacking, it’s lightweight (6 oz) and compact (7” x 4”). Take along some great tunes on your next adventure. You’ll love how this set up delivers excellent sound for hours!

MSRP $19.99 • eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com 7. Justin Nut Butter Squeeze Packs Maple Almond Butter, Classic Almond Butter, Honey Almond Butter, Vanilla Almond Butter, Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, Classic Peanut Butter, Honey Peanut Butter, OH MY! This selection of delicious, protein-rich spreads in perfect little 1.15oz squeeze packs that squish just so into your bear canister no matter how packed it might be. Just the thing for backpacking and day hikes, or any other adventure you might embark on. Justin’s products are created in small batches to ensure higher quality, and they use only the finest, all natural ingredients.

MSRP $5.99-11.99/10 pack • justins.com

A Beer Worth Earning: Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager

W

hile we highlighted the Anheuser-Busch brewery as an example of a green brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing has long initiated numerous water and energy reduction practices long before Anheuser-Busch got in the act. And for my taste, Sierra Nevada brews a better tasting lager than Anheuser-Busch’s iconic Budweiser.

Lagers differ from ales in that they are fermented at low temperatures, typically around 40 degrees F as opposed 50-75 degrees F ales normally ferment at. The yeasts used at these lower temperature result in a cleaner beer, letting the malt and hops shine through.

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager is a crisp dry lager with a herbal, slightly floral finish from traditional Czech hops. It’s one of those beers with subtle flavors you can carefully appreciate, or simply ignore as you quickly cool off.

— Derrick Peterman

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com 27

DESTINATION

Groveland Discover the charm and outdoor experiences of this Old West town

By Ariel Galos

G

roveland is quickly becoming a destination hub for California outdoor enthusiasts. Situated on the south bank of the Tuolumne River and surrounded

by Stanislaus National Forest, Groveland is home to beautiful foothill terrain on the doorstep of Yosemite.

Just 25 miles from Yosemite’s north entrance, Groveland is a convenient destination for visitors who are looking for an authentic wild and scenic California outdoor experience. Groveland offers access to whitewater rafting and kayaking, pristine granite climbs, secluded swimming holes, challenging and scenic road biking, hikes through conifer and pine forest, horseback rides, and, within the next few years, will be home to a regional mountain bike and multi-use trail system offering a full spectrum of riding and hiking experiences.

With all of these assets, and the upcoming addition of new trails, Groveland is looking to become the hottest adventure destination in Northern California.

Nestled into the Western edge of the 208,000+ acre Groveland Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest which includes the Tuolumne River watershed and numerous other tributaries, lakes, and ridges with stunning views of the High Sierra, this town feels like a retreat in the foothills where outdoor adventure is a step away from the front door.

Groveland’s accessiblilty is one of the reasons for the town’s growing buzz among the outdoor recreation set.

Just a little over two hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, and Sacramento and situated along the most-used route into Yosemite, Groveland is the perfect weekend get-away for many population centers. If you travel from the west into Groveland via Highway 120, you will first pass through the town’s historic downtown.

Many Gold Rush era buildings and establishments have been preserved including the original jailhouse, the Iron Door Saloon, the Groveland Hotel, and the Hotel Charlotte.

Just beyond Groveland’s downtown area lies Pine

28 ASJ ASJ—Aug/Sept — Aug/Sept2011 2015

Mountain Lake Association which was founded in the 1960’s as a vacation community whose lots were carved out of a historic timber plantation.

Today, Pine Mountain Lake holds the majority of Groveland’s population base with close to 4,000 homes, many of which are vacation properties.

At around 3,000 feet in elevation, Groveland’s climate easily allows for year-round recreation with over 300 days of sunshine per year and little annual snowfall. Topographically, the Groveland Ranger District offers ridges, valleys, and meadows with seasonal wildflowers, an abundance of wildlife, and gorgeous vistas of the peaks in Yosemite’s High Country.

Where to stay: If you stay in Groveland, you’ll have no shortage of choices when it comes to accommodation style. Camping is available just outside of town in the USFS managed campgrounds along Highway 120 and within the community of Pine Mountain Lake. If you prefer a home and kitchen, you can stay in any number of vacation rental homes in the community of Pine Mountain Lake or Groveland. The downtown area has two historic hotels – The Hotel Charlotte and the Groveland Hotel – and a hostel. If you enjoy bed and breakfast accommodations, you can stay at the Sugar Pine Lodge, the Yosemite Rose, Red Tail Ranch, the Blackberry Inn, or the All Seasons Bed & Breakfast.

Where to eat: If meals on the town are your thing, there are several dining options in Groveland, each offering a unique experience. For killer Michoacan style Mexican food, eat at Cocina Michoacana. For an upscale bistro experience with wine pairings, locally sourced meats and produce, and rustic ambiance, eat at the

Charlotte Bistro and Bar. For PHOTOS mouthwatering burgers and Main image: Guided high American food, a historic country fishing (Evergreen setting, and a stiff drink, eat Lodge). CIrcle: White water at The Iron Door Saloon. For adventures are at your finger a fine-dining experience, try tip in Groveland (ARTA).

Middle square: Road bikers the Groveland Hotel. For a heading to the waterfalls meal with a perfect sunset (Evergreen Lodge). Bottom view over the Highway 120 right: Hotel Charlotte invites grade, eat at Priest Station visitors to experience the Cafe. For breakfast, head ambiance of an Old West to Dori’s Tea Cottage or historic hotel.

Tangeld Hearts Bakery. For a deli experience (and for ethically-sourced meats) go to Kevin and Randi’s Meat Market.

When you want a break from the outdoors, you can shop for antiques downtown, peruse the town’s two thrift stores, grab a bag of coffee from Firefall Roasting company, or enjoy an artisan coffee or tea while swinging on a hammock at the Mountain Sage Nursery and Cafe.

The summer months offer a variety of entertainment and activities. Enjoy bluegrass concerts on the Mountain Sage Nursery’s outdoor lawn amphitheater, participate in the annual Gears and Grooves Triathlon, shop at flea markets, try chili from local competitors at the 49’er Chili Festival, and bring the family to movies in Mary Laveroni Park.

Hotel Charlotte

Nostalgic Old West Boutique Hotel with Contemporary Sensibilities

SAMPLE 5-DAY ITINERARY

Boutique hotel with 12 guest rooms including free WIFI, parking and buffet breakfast.

Vacation rentals available for larger groups.

Pet friendly.

Whether camping or staying in a B&B, hotel, or vacation home, discover Groveland in a myriad of ways DAY 1: After breakfast, head up HIghway 120 to Rainbow Pools on the South Fork of the Tuolumne and jump off the 15-foot cliff into the large pool at its base. Hike upstream and have a picnic in the shade by the river.

Spend the afternoon cruising around downtown and shopping at Miss Kailey’s Consignment store, Serendipity Antiques, Firefall Coffee Roasting Company, the Iron Door Store, and the Helping Hands Furniture Barn and Thrift Store.

Head to dinner at the Charlotte Hotel and grab a table on the balcony overlooking downtown Groveland. Enjoy a Sierra Pack Mule and Wondernut Farms pulled pork tacos with a kale and kabocha squash salad.

DAY 2: Go whitewater rafting on the Tuolumne River with one of the three rafting outfits in town (ARTA, Sierra Mac, or All Outdoors). Before your trip, pick up breakfast at Tangled Hearts Bakery where you can enjoy freshly made pastries, breakfast burritos, quiche and more.

To refuel, stuff yourself with delicious Mexican food at Cocina Michocana.

DAY 3: Grab breakfast at Dori’s Tea Cottage.

Get on your road bike and ride the Cherry Road/Evergreen Road/Highway 120 loop. Stop at the mid-point for a snack at the Evergreen Lodge and enjoy stunning views of the Tuolumne River Canyon along the way.

If you aren’t biking, head over to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (Yosemite fees apply) and hike to Wapama Falls. Have lunch at the Evergreen Lodge on your way back to Groveland.

If you’re staying in Pine Mountain Lake and have access to the private lake, bring food to BBQ at the Marina. If you’re staying in town, grab a burger and a beer at the Iron Door.

DAY 4: Enjoy a pastry and a coffee or tea latte at Mountain Sage Cafe and then go for a stroll in the Nursery. Swing on a hammock, watch the kids play in the treehouse, hula hoop on the outdoor stage, and relax in the tranquil garden setting.

Play an afternoon round of golf.

Prepare dinner at home or enjoy the scenery from the dining deck at Priest Station Cafe.

Charlotte Bistro & Bar

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Mention this ad and receive a free bottle of wine at check in.

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big wave surfing & ultra distance SUP

Mail a check for $20 payable to Adventure Sports Journal to PO Box 35, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 along with subscriber name and address, or order online at adventuresportsjournal.com/ subscribe.

DAY 5: Go to the river! Drive down the raft access road (Lumsden) and play in the water at Merle’s Pool. Catch some fish and watch the rafters launch. Or, if you prefer some effort, hike down the Indian Creek Trail and enjoy the fishing and wading. Either way, bring yourself a sandwich from Kevin and Randi’s Old Fashion Meat Market.

In the evening, catch a movie in the park with the family or boogie to the music at the Mountain Sage and, while you’re there, enjoy a slice of gluten-free pizza from the pizza truck.

www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

29

Event Profiles a sneak peek at some of the best upcoming events Radical Reels Tour

MERMAID TRI & DU CAPITOLA October 3, Capitola

Troy Dean Photography

SURF CITY AIDS RIDE September 20, Santa Cruz

The Surf City AIDS Ride is your destination bike event!

Santa Cruz is home to some of the most impressive riding in the country. With four ride lengths to choose from, we have something for the casual cruiser, the masochist, and those who stand somewhere in between.

Pick from 12, 30, 65, and 100 mile rides that will bring you ocean views, take you through fragrant strawberry fields, and wind you through meandering, country roads.

There are seven themed rest stops in all, including the famous Gizdich Pie stop where you can replace muchneeded calories with Ollalieberry pie and Marianne’s ice cream. Finish the ride at the expo, which includes free massages and refreshments (65 & 100 milers get an additional hot meal – tickets available for purchase for other riders). 100% of the event proceeds benefit the Santa Cruz AIDS Project. surfcityaidsride.org

The Mermaid Tri & Du Capitola is one of the best all women triathlons on the west coast. Capitola is the perfect venue offering an ocean swim around the wharf, views of the pacific, fun bike course featuring a gradual climb into the coastal redwoods, followed by a run on the ocean bluff overlooking the town. Triathlon and duathlon participants receive a stylish women’s cut shirt, custom finisher’s necklace, and post race food.

The Family & Friends category allows athletes of any age to start together and is a popular option for first time triathletes, mother and daughter combos and friends who would otherwise be in different start waves.

The Age Group category is for Mermaids who wish to compete against Mermaids of a similar age. The Athena category is for athletes 160lbs and over. Event distances include: Mighty Mermaid Triathlon - 1.5K Swim, 23 mile Bike, 10K Run; Mermaid Sprint Triathlon - 600m Swim, 11.5 mile Bike, 2.5mile Run; Mermaid Duathlon - 1.5mile Run, 11.5 mile Bike, 2.5mile Run. mermaidseries.com

RADICAL REELS TOUR The Radical Reels Tour runs every spring and fall and spans North America, bringing a variety of mountain sport films to a wide range of viewers from hard-core outdoor adventurers to weekend warriors.

Grab your tickets and hang on to your seat for the best jaw-dropping mountain sport films on skiing, boarding, climbing, biking, kayaking and more – all brought to life on the big screen. Experience more than half a dozen wild action sports as seen through the eyes of some of today’s top athletes and most talented adventure sport filmmakers.

ASJ is proud to sponsor the Santa Cruz screening at the Rio Theatre on September 27 at 7pm. For tickets and information, visit riotheatre.com.

For more information on the Radical Reels Tour, including tour locations and dates, visit radicalreels.com.

MONTEREY BAY 15K September 20, Monterey

The Monterey Bay 15K takes place at Fort Ord Dunes State Park, and its fast, paved course travels along the coastline with dramatic views of the Monterey Bay and the coastal bluff. The event also offers a 5K, 10K and Kids Festival. This event, presented by Fleet Feet Sports Santa Cruz/Monterey, benefits the Whole Kids Foundation, a program created by Whole Foods that supports schools and inspires families to improve children’s nutrition and wellness. fleetfeetaptos.com/racing/montereybay15K

KAMIKAZE BIKE GAMES September 24-27, Mammoth Lakes

The Kamikaze Bike Games are back for 2015, and once again a collaboration between the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, and the town of Mammoth Lakes under the direction of Race Director Bill Cockroft. New this year is the Pro GRT Downhill, which has been included as a UCI event to offer racers the opportunity to receive UCI points.

The Dual Slalom and XC are now USA Cycling sanctioned events, and the Enduro will run over the span of two days to accommodate a greater field size. Don’t miss this exciting event which offers a free expo, kid’s races, entertainment, and more. kamikazebikegames.com 30 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2015

Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

COOLEST RIDE & TIE, EQUATHON & RUN October 3, Cool

Bring your horses and a partner. Or come to run. Set in the Sierra outside of Auburn, the Coolest Ride & Tie, Equathon and Run events are challenging, interesting and fun. Co-sponsored by the Western State Trail Foundation, this year’s event will benefit the Tevis Trail.

The Ride & Tie features 6, 9, 14 and 23-mile ride & tie courses; the Equathon offers 9 and 14-mile course options, and Run distances include 5K, 10K, 9-mile, 14-mile and 23-mile runs. Ride & Tie is an endurance race, run on trails and cross-country, involving teams of one horse/two humans, competing against a number of other like teams. The humans alternate riding the horse a mile or so, tying him/her to a tree, and taking off running, while the other human catches up to the horse, unties him/her and rides past the other human, and so on. The human teammates work closely with each other and their equine teammate throughout the race, and mandatory veterinary checkpoints are in place to ensure the horse’s welfare. The course varies from singletrack to fire road, mostly rolling with a few short to medium climbs, ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate. rideandtie.org

Eric Harger

BIKETOBERFEST MARIN October 17, Fairfax

With group road and mountain bike rides, cargo bike racing, 20 breweries tapping 35 different beers, great food, exceptional live music, and a comprehensive vendor expo, this year’s Biketoberfest Marin is not to be missed. Cyclists and west coast brewers alike in join forces for this popular family-friendly bicycle expo and brewfest that raises funds for local cycling advocacy organizations Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) and Access4Bikes (A4B) in their work to continue improving on and off-road bicycling conditions and access in Marin county. As Marin County’s premier social bicycle event, Biketoberfest Marin draws over 5,000 brew and bicycle enthusiasts from throughout Northern California, and takes takes place at Fair-Anselm Plaza in downtown Fairfax, one of the Bay Area’s most popular bicycling destinations and home of the newly-opened Marin Museum of Bicycling. It’s a great way to have fun while helping a good cause. biketoberfestmarin.com

And wa’SUP? See the next page for ASJ sponsored summer paddle events!

Upcoming SUP Events DOWNIEVILLE CLASSIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT July 30-August 2, Downieville

The Downieville Classic is a weekend of racing and

TA-HOE NALU August 14-16, Kings Beach

TAHOE FALL CLASSIC September 13, Lake Tahoe

BATTLE OF THE BAY October 17-18, San Francisco

Come and enjoy the fun, family and high Sierra aloha at this year’s festivities at Kings Beach State Park in Kings Beach on Lake Tahoe. The Ta-hoe Nalu is the oldest SUP event in the world and the first paddle festival to take standup paddleboarding inland. Ta-Hoe Nalu started the flat water movement and helped to create the inland market that is thriving today. The Ta-Hoe Nalu draws over 4,000 spectators and up to 500 competitors from all over the globe. Two days of racing are scheduled for all ages and skill levels, with free demos and clinics for all. New for this year is the addition of Outrigger OC-6, OC-2 OC-1, Surf Ski in 10 mile and 5 mile races, plus Jay Wild’s Waterman’s Challenge: SUP - Swim - Prone.

Take advantage of the Ta-Hoe Nalu Super Pass (one discount price for all races) or Ta-Hoe Nalu Family Pass (one discount family price for up to five members for all races). tahoenalu.com

The final race in the Tahoe Cup Paddle Racing Series, The Tahoe Fall Classic – which features a 22-mile course – is the longest inland distance paddleboard race in the world. The cross-lake race starts from El Dorado Beach in South Lake Tahoe and finishes at Kings Beach State Beach in North Lake Tahoe. The 2015 event is open to all paddling craft, advanced recreational paddlers and elite class SUP participants. Two other race events will be held on Sunday in addition to the lake crossing, including a 3-mile short course race for paddlers of all abilities and a grom race for paddlers under 11 years old. Following the race, lunch will be provided to the long and short course participants and awards will be presented.

Spectators are welcome and free demos will be provided

by Surftech and Willard’s Sport Shop.

The Battle of the Bay is the largest paddling event of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area. Stand up paddleboarders, prone paddlers and OC1 watercraft alike are welcome to take part in this festive weekend of racing. Races include short courses, distance, a kids’ course and relays, and the routes take paddlers around Alcatraz, down the shores of the Presidio National Park and around the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. On shore, paddling enthusiasts can check out the latest paddling gear, meet the pros, learn about sports nutrition and even take a yoga class at the event’s expo.

Now in its fifth year, the 2015 Battle of the Bay will cap off the World Paddle Association’s race season. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate paddling in one of the world’s most iconic bodies of water! battleofthebay.com

“Take the most beautiful lake in the world, gather the best SUP athletes on the planet, mix in a little Aloha, and you have the perfect recipe for an event known as the Ta-Hoe Nalu.”

In addition to the Tahoe Fall Classic, the Tahoe Cup included the Donner Lake Race on May 23 and Waterman’s Paddle Jam on July 11. Founded in 2009, the series is presented by the Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association (LTPA) to benefit local environmentally friendly human-powered paddlesport activities in the Tahoe Basin area. tahoecup.org

Visit us on-line at

adventuresportsjournal.com for a

full listing of SUP events. And turn the page for our events calendar!

OCTOBER

17-18

2015

SAn FrAncisco, CAliforniA

Grab Ye Paddles And Join The Battle!

$ 24,000 booty!

SU P OC1 PRONE

5th

annual

RUSH RA BLUE C R

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Bl

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Visit: www.BattleOfTheBay.com ~ Facebook: SUP.BattleOfTheBay ~Twitter: BattleOfTheBay ~ Instagram:BattleoOfTheBay www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

31

2015 Essential Race Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events.

Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.

Adventure Racing AUGUST 8 — Urban Dare, Long Beach. urbandare.com OCTOBER 25 — Mud Mash, San Luis Obispo. A 5k run with tough trails and various obstacles. www.MudMash.com

Biking AUGUST 1 — 53nd Marin Century & Mt Tam Double, San Rafael.

MarinCyclists.com 1-2— Mt Shasta Summit Century, Four rides to choose from, ShastaSummitCentury.com 8— Annadel XC, Santa Rosa Race singletrack; bikemonkey.net

15 — Tahoe Sierra 100 Endurance Race Soda Springs northlanderevents.com

15 — 12th Annual Tahoe Sierra Century, Squaw Valley TahoeSierraCentury.com

21-23—Mendocino MTB Madness (M5) Three fully supported days of amazing singletrack riding, family-friendly , includes rustic accommodations with fire places and meals. superproracing.com

20— Surf City AIDS Ride From the redwoods to the ocean. Riding to end HIV. 100, 65, 30 & 12 mile route options. surfcityaidsride.org

23—Great Tahoe Flume Race Lake Tahoe, NV. Sierra Cup Mountain Bike Series, sierracupMTB.com

24-27 — Kamikaze Bike Games, Mammoth includes Round #6 of CES Enduro, and also downhill, crosscountry, kids races and much much more. californiaenduroseries.com

29-30 — Northstar Enduro at Northstar California Resort, Truckee. Round #5 of the California Enduro Series. californiaenduroseries.com

26-27 — Bike MS: Waves To Wine Ride, From SF up Hwy 1 to Sonoma County.

Two days; 40, 75 or 100 miles; wavestowine.org

SEPTEMBER 11-12 -- Mammoth Gran Fondo, Mammoth, 42 mile, 70 mile, and 102 mile races through the beautiful Mono County. fallcentury.org

27 — Princess Challenge Women’s Bike Ride, Folsom.

A cycling event for women and girls with trail rides from 15 to 64m. PrincessPromenade.com

Surf City AIDS Ride

Climbing Free Clinics @ Pacific Edge Climbing Gym, Santa Cruz.

PacificEdgeClimbingGym.com, (831) 454-9254 Sept. 1 - Dec. 31 — Bouldering Season Pacific Edge, Santa Cruz. Ages 8 - 18 years.Go to PacificEdge ClimbingGym.com or call (831) 454-9254

Miscellaneous SEPTEMBER 4-7 -- Endless Summer Yoga Retreat Granlibakken, Tahoe City For all yoga level abilities.

Join us for a rejuvenating weekend of yoga, meditation, daily restorative meals live music, etntertainment, activities and lodging. Contact shawnalee@granlibakken.com o r visit granlibakken.com.

26 -- Radical Reels Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz The best high adrenaline films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Brownpapertickets.com

OCTOBER 7-8 -- Women’s Wellness Weekend Granlibakken, Tahoe City Fhe event fuses Western practices with Eastern philosophy to offer a balanced weekend of information, inspiration, activities, food & wine. Contact shawnalee@ granlibakken.com o r visit granlibakken.com.

Paddling Whale Watching Tours, Kayak Connection Santa Cruz Harbor.

During the spring months, migrating Greys are often close to shore for the protection of their young calves. In the fall and summer seasons, playful humpbacks enter the Bay. Visit KayakConnection.com or call 831.479.1121 AUGUST 14-16 -- Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival, Tahoe, Races, clinics, demos, expo in a great festival like atmosphere on Lake Tahoe. tahoenalu.com 22 — Eyes on the Lake Training Truckee. Do more with your adventure. Protect while you play. keeptahoeblue.org

29 — Full Moon Tour, Come enjoy the beauty of a full moon out on the water. We will paddle out at dusk and await the rising of the moon over some of Tahoe’s highest and most sectacular peeks. Visit kayaktahoe.com or call (530-544-2011) SEPTEMBER 1 - 3 — Wine Tasting on the Toulumne River http://www. oars.com/our_adventures/ winetrips 13 — Tahoe CupFall Classic Paddle Race, Tahoe, Go to tahoecup.com for more info.

16 — Eyes on the Lake Training Tahoe City. Do more with your adventure. Protect while you play. keeptahoeblue.org 18 - 19 -- 100 Mile Paddle Race LA to San Diego, Redondo Beach, paddleguru.com 21 - 23 — Wine Tasting on the Toulumne River If wine is the most civilized thing in the world, why not enjoy it in the wilderness on one of O.A.R.S.’ Wine Tasting on the River, oars.com/ our_adventures/winetrips

WORLD-CLASS ENDURO EVENTS EVERYONE FROM AMATEUR TO PRO CAN ENJOY!

HIV d n e g to n i d ri

CALIFORNIAENDUROSERIES.COM

Sunday, September 20, 2015

15K, 5K & Kids Festival Fort Ord Dunes State Park Monterey, CA

From the redwoods to the ocean...

100 - 65 - 30 -12 mile route options 100% of proceeds goes towards the Santa Cruz AIDS Project a program of Encompass Community Services

September 20th, 2015 www.fleetfeetmonterey.com Benefits Whole Kids Foundation

www.surfcityAIDSride.org 32 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2015

Adventure Events Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events.

Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.

26-27 — Feather River Festival. Party hard at the Feather River Festival. Hosted by the Chico Paddleheads, the festival weekend features a downriver race on the Class V Tobin run, a slalom event upstream, and a raucous party Saturday night.

ChicoPaddleHeads.org OCTOBER 17-18 -- Battle of the Bay San Francisco The largest paddling event of its kind in the San Francisco Bay Area. See the Event Profile on page 31. battleofthebay.com

Run/Walk AUGUST 1 — 35th Annual Squaw Mountain Run/Hike. Choose to run or take a more leisurely pace and hike, or Nordic walk (hike with poles). For the less energetic, let the cable car do the

2,000 foot elevation gain & join our knowledgeable guides for a beautiful & easy flower walk. squawmountainrun.com 8 — Sierra Crest 50K Ultra Run The Sierra Crest 30 and 50k is an exciting point-to-point trail run that takes advantage of some of the Truckee/Donner Summit region’s best single track. sierracrest50K.com SEPTEMBER 12— Lost Sierra Endurance Run, Plumas National Forest. lostsierraendurancerun.com 12 — Headlands 50, 75 & 100-Mile Trail Runs, Sausalito.

PCTrailRuns.com 20 — Monterey Bay 15K, Fort Orde Dunes State Park, Monterey. 15K, 10K 5K & Kids Festival. FleetFeetMonterey.com 20 — Whiskeytown Relays 19.9 mile paved/dirt, for more info go to sweatrc.com

26— Big Sur Trail Marathon, Half Marathon & 5-Mile, EnviroSports.com

RIDE TIE

OCTOBER 3 — Coolest Ride & Tie, Equathon & Run This course is on the Beautiful Olmstead Knickerbocker trail that includes views of Sierra Nevada. Trail varies from single track to fire road, mostly rolling with a few of short/medium climbs - ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate. rideandtie.org 4 — Cow Half Marathon, Relay & 5k, Sacramento UrbanCowHalfMarathon.com 10 —Skyline to the Sea Trail Run, Boulder Creek, Marathon & 50k. PCTrailRuns.com 10-11 — Bizz Johnson Marathon, Half, 10k & 5k, Susanville. Run through scenic Lassen National Forest. coastaltrailruns.com

TWO PEOPLE AND A HORSE ... ONE EXCITING RACE

A STRATEGIC EQUINE AND TEAMMATE PARTNERSHIP, RIDE AND TIE EVENTS COVER 15 TO 25 MILES. Mentors or horses are available in many areas.

TRY THE COOLEST RIDE AND TIE, OCT. 3rd

Includes runs, ultra run, ride and tie and equathon. susansmythjackson@gmail.com Go to RIDEANDTIE.ORG for more information and events. contact@rideandtie.org Photos: Corey Rich / Aurora Photos

Fat Tire Tuesday

a mountain biking addict reflects on ... well ... everything mountain bikers reflect on: crashes, new possibilities, off days, sheer bliss, camaraderie, rad components, shredding ... and of course – cooling off your brake rotors in a Kernville bog. cuz doesn’t everyone do that? catch up with Sarah Hansing every Tuesday at adventuresportsjournal.com laughter ... guaranteed #FTT

A benefit for Snowlands Network In cooperation with REI

It’s a Night of 100% Pure Adrenaline !!!

Sunday, September 20, 2015 Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

There is no better way to get stoked about skiing, boarding, biking or paddling than by seeing the 2015 edition of the Radical Reels Tour! We’re talking jaw-dropping bike jumps, nail-biting kayak drops, and mindblowing powder. The Radical Reels Tour, now in its 12th year, continues to push boundaries with the best action sports films from the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival. See you there, adrenaline film lovers!

Reno, NV

Thursday, September 24, 2015 California Theatre Berkeley, CA

Friday, September 25, 2015 Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA

Doors open 6:15 PM. Films begin 7:00 PM. Tickets: $20 online starting August 1 at www.snowlands.org/events Tickets available at door if not sold out Film list and more information at www.snowlands.org/events

FASTER • STEEPER • HIGHER • DEEPER !

The best high adrenaline films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival www. advent ur espor t sjour nal. com

33

MARKETPLACE

Adventure Events Calendar Visit us online for a full listing of upcoming California events.

Go to AdventureSportsJournal.com and click on the EVENTS button.

Run/Walk, cont.

18 — Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon, Folsom. folsomblueshalf.org 31 — Stinson Beach Marathon, Half Marathon & 7k, Stinson Beach. EnviroSports.com

Wet(Surf Suit& Tri) Repair

Swim

• Hawaiian CDs & Gifts • • • •

Old Honolulu Tees Surf Accessories Warm Rashguards New and Used Wetsuits (featuring Hyperflex gear) • New and Used Boards • Kids through Adults

AUGUST

BLOWN BLOWN OUTOUT WETSUIT REPAIR WETSUIT REPAIR YOUR ALOHA SHOP YOUR ALOHA SHOP

Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 10:30 - 5:00 3055 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz 831.475.4942

Rentals Service &, Sales

Stand Up Paddling, Kayaking, & Mountain Biking

2014

Triathlon/Duathlon AUGUST 1 —Semper Tri & Devil Dog Duathlon, Camp Pendleton, half marathon, 10K, 5K Kids 1K. mccscp.com

2 — Folsom Olympic, Sprint & International Triahlon, USAproductions.org

29 — Bridge to Bridge, San Francisco. Golden Gate to Bay Bridge. WaterWorldSwim.com

2 — Tri-for-REAL Triathlon, Rancho Seco Park, Herald. TBFracing.com

16— Orca Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon & Swim, San Francisco. tricalifornia.com

9 — Tri Santa Cruz. International Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, Dip and Dash Aquathlon #2, Aquabike & Relays available.

FinishLineProduction.com

30 — Lake Tahoe Sharkfest. 1-mile swim on Crystal Bay. EnviroSports.com SEPTEMBER 5 — Golden Gate Sharkfest. San Francisco, EnviroSports.com

OCTOBER 17 — Golden Gate Bridge Swim, San Francisco. 3k WaterWorldSwim.com

6— Bear Valley Triathlon, Bear Lake.

OnYourMarkEvents.com 13 — Pacific Coast Triathlon, Crystal Cove.

OCtriseries.com 11-13— The Triathlon at Pacific TriCalifornia.com 13 — The Paradise Lake Adventure Relay A 3 mile run, 10 mile Mtn bike and one mile kayak triathlon that can be completed as a triathlon or a relay. https:// paradiselakeadventurerelay.wordpress.com 13 - Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz (Big Kahuna Triathlon), FirstWave-Events.com 27— 33nd Annual Santa Cruz Triathlon.

SantaCruzTriathlon.org

1 — Tri-for-Fun Triathlon & Du-for-fun Duathlon, Herald. TBFracing.com

8 — 22nd Annual Alcatraz Sharkfest.

EnviroSports.com

6 — 12th Annual Alcatraz Swim with the Centurions, San Francisco. 1.25-mile swim from Alcatraz to Aquatic Park. WaterWorldSwim.com 13— Alcatraz Invitational, San Francisco. southend.org

209-753-2834 • BearValleyXC.com

18 — San Diego Sharkfest. Tidelands Park to Coronado Bridge EnviroSports.com

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER 2 - 4 — Scott Tinley’s 20th Anniversary Triathlon,, San Luis Obispo. TriCalifornia.com 3 — Mermaid Santa Cruz, Capitola. All women triathlon and duathlon. MermaidSeries.com 11 — Golden State Triathlon & Super Sprint Triathlon, Discovery Park. TBFracing.com

15 — Spare TimeTeam Challenge Triathlon, Folsom Lake, TBFracing.com 22 — Alcatraz “Escape from the Rock”™ EnviroSports.com

18 — Annual SuperKid Triathlon, Santa Cruz.

This event gives your children the opportunity to be triathletes! 14 and under. FinishLineProduction.com

Looking Ahead

29 — The Dignity Health Women’s Triathlon Festival, Rancho Seco, TBFracing.com 30 — Oakland Triathlon Festival, Jack London Square. USAproductions.org 30— Dip and Dash Aquathlon #3, Santa Cruz.

FinishLineProduction.com

November 8 — Big Sur Half Marathon, bsim.org

View & list events for free at

adventuresports journal.com

2014

We’re hitting the road again We’re hitting the road again 2014 2015 at this summer’s hottest events! at this summer’s hottest events!

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34 ASJ — Aug/Sept 2015 winfrom cool our gearsponsors! and getaways Come by our booth for chances

July 30 - Aug 2 — Downieville Classic, Downieville Aug 9 — Tri Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Aug 14 - 16 — Ta-Hoe Nalu, Lake Tahoe Sept 13 — The Fall Classic, Kings Beach Oct 3 — Mermaid Triathlon & Duathlon, Capitola Oct 17 - 18 — Battle of the Bay, San Francisco

Photo: Markus Greber

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