Outdoors in the Divide

Remember – 70 of the 278 California State Parks are designated to close later this year.  If you intend to purchase a Golden Poppy parking pass, be sure to purchase your pass where you want the funds used, i.e. the Auburn State Recreation Area office along Hwy 49.  If on the other hand, you opt to purchase a pass online, the fees paid will go toward the general fund and not reflect any benefit locally.  Fortunately, nearby Parks have been spared closures but they do need our support.

On a somber note, (running) Race Directors Robert and Linda Mathis were killed December 30^th while in Nevada.  A few of the local events they put on include:  Cool Trail Runs, River City Marathon & Half Marathon, Auburn Trails Runs, Cool Moon 24 and 12 Hour Runs and Rock’n River 50.  A Memorial Run in their honor is scheduled for February 25^th starting at 9:00a.m.  The Start and Finish are at the Auburn Overlook, continuing to the Cool Fire Station turnaround via No Hands Bridge.  A BBQ follows.

One of our cherished local events is truly getting International recognition!  34 Countries, including Uruguay, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, South Africa, France, China, Singapore, Ireland, Tanzania, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, Lithuania, Belarus Slovenia, Guatemala, Japan, Spain, Costa Rica, Norway, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Iceland, Mexico, Denmark, United Kingdom, Senegal, Poland, Italy, Israel, Australia and the U.S. have entries selected (as of January 17^th) for the 2012 Western States 100 Mile Run in June.  OMG!  What did Gordy Ainsleigh do?  He brought the whole world to our back door to compete in one of the most prestigious running events in the world!

October 1^st is the official opening for a new trailhead at the Skunk Hollow parking lot by the Salmon Falls Bridge in Pilot Hill.  It is immediately open to hikers, runners and cyclists.  Within another couple of years, it should also open to equestrians.  This addition completes a 25 mile trail system within the 1,425 acre Cronan Ranch.  Among other contributors are Divide Horsemen and El Dorado Equestrian Trails Foundation.

Within approximately one hour’s drive, we have two significant and accessible trails; the Pacific Crest Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail.  The PCT stretches 2600 miles from Canada to Mexico, passing over or through the Mojave Desert, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Hood, Crater Lake, the Columbia River Gorge, and Mt. Rainer.  There are roughly 300 attempts to hike the entire length of the trail each year.  Oddly enough, fewer people have hiked the entire Trail than have climbed Mt. Everest.  The website, www.pcta.org, provides a wealth of information, including planning tips for equestrians.  The 165 mile Tahoe Rim Trail overlaps 49 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.  It is a multi-use trail, however mountain bikes are excluded in the wilderness areas.  A free guided hike is offered October 8^th.  To register for this, or learn more about this nearby trail, refer to www.tahoerimtrail.org.

Sixteen local athletes have been especially patient, waiting for the 56^th Annual Tevis Cup 100 Miles in One Day Ride, scheduled this year on October 8th.  Years of training will pay off when they perform their “victory lap” at Auburn’s McCann’s Stadium, having ridden for up to 24 hours beforehand clear across the Sierras.  This year, the heat of the typically late July event will be replaced by cooler night air.  The best of luck to our sixteen competitors:  Roger Yohe, Fred Emigh and Loreley Stewart from Georgetown; Crystal Costa, Leigh Bacco and Luanne Holmesen-Thomas from Cool; Becky Spencer, Trina Romo and Maria DeCarlo from Greenwood; Katherine Mason from Garden Valley; and Pamela Baillie, Doyle Baillie, Robert Weldin, Sharon Wimberg, Kadee Felton and Beth Felton from Pilot Hill.

Tevis week begins October 5^th with a Tevis Hamburger BBQ at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn.  A full day’s events takes place on Friday at Robie Park in Truckee:  rider check-in, BBQ lunch, veterinarian check-in, crew briefing, new rider meeting, junior rider and sponsor meeting, pre-ride dinner, and pre-ride briefing.  Horses and riders start their 100 mile journey promptly at 5:15a.m. Saturday morning.  Athletes must complete the ride before Sunday at 5:15a.m. to claim a “finish”.  Afterwards, breakfast, judging top condition for the Haggin’s Cup, the awards ceremony and presentation culminates not only a grueling event but years of conditioning and training.  Check out the very informative website, www.teviscup.org.

This International event would not continue without the heart of the roughly 800 volunteers who dote on horses and riders, making sure dreams come true for these spirited competitors who ride this historical trail in our backyard.  Thank you ALL!

As of July 18^th, the Peninsula Campground at Folsom Lake (off Rattlesnake Bar in Pilot Hill) was forced to close due to a lack of staffing and equipment failure.  Normally, the 100 site campground is open between April 1^st and September 30^th.  Folsom Lake has 75 miles of shoreline and 100 miles of trails.  This is a sad reflection of the state of our California Park system.  It reminds us that we need to both make sure destinations are open in advance of outings, and support organized efforts to keep our Park gates open.