Outdoors in the Divide

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.

May 1^st:  Auburn Downtown Criterium, www.globalbiorhythmevents.com. 

May 1^st, 8^th, 15^th:  Cool Cycling Club Breakfast Road Bike Ride, 9:00a.m.  Meet at ALT 3^rd gate.  Contact John at 885-8661 or www.meetup.com/coolcyclingclub.  Helmets required.

May 4^th:  Sierra Club Western States Trail/Railroad Bed Section Hike (seniors).  Preregister with Sheila at 886-0673.

May 4^th:  Sierra Club Bike Ride Quarry Trail.  Preregister with Stan at 916-216-0923 or geezenski2@sbcglobal.net. 

May 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th:  Cool Cycling Club Tour de ALT, www.meetup.com/coolcyclingclub.  Meet at ALT main gate, 1:30p.m.  Helmets required.

May 7^th:  Nature Fest, 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m., www.georgetownnaturearea.org.

May 7^th:  Wakamatsu/Gold Hill Walk & Historical Tour, 10:00a.m. – noon.  Preregister with Julie@arconservancy.org or 621-1224.

May 7^th, 21^st, 28^th:  Auburn State Recreation Area Hike – Bridge at Confluence to Cool, 8:00a.m., www.sacramentotrailmix.com.

May 11^th:  Sierra Club Foresthill Divide Loop Hike (seniors).  Preregister with Sheila at 886-0673.

May 12^th:  Cool Cycling Club Monthly Potlick Meeting at 6:30p.m., www.meetup.com/coolcyclingclub.

May 13^th – 15^th:  Sacramento County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Sensory Training Clinic for Horse & Rider.  Learn Search & Rescue technique, etc.; train with the pros.  Pre-register at sensory@sacsar.com or 916-956-3025.

May 14^th:  Sierra Club Salmon Falls to Cronan Ranch Hike.  Preregister with Mike at 916-966-0531 or greatstuff959@hotmail.com.     

May 14^th:  Gold Country Century and 3 Mile Fun Ride, www.goldcountrycentury.com.  Benefits Auburn Community Cancer Endowment Fund.     

May 14^th:  Divide Horsemen’s Association 2^nd Annual Tack Sale, Hwy 49/Meadowview Acres, Cool.  Call 887-8914 or 823-3142 for more information.

May 14^th:  WS100 Trail Work Project, Dusty Corners – Last Chance – Devil’s Thumb -Swinging Bridge.  Pre-register at trails@ws100.com before May 7^th. 

May 14^th:  Fleet Feet Cool Trail Run.

May 14^th – 15^th:  2-day Re-Balance Interactive Riding Clinic, saddlesthatfit@earthlink.net or 209-245-3789.

May 17^th:  Victory Velo Basic Bicycle Maintenance & Roadside Repair, 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.  Contact Isaac in advance at 885-3986 or inc123g@gmail.com.

May 17^th:  Amgen Tour of California Stage 3, Auburn to Modesto, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. 

May 21^st:  Divide Horsemen’s Association Spaghetti Feed & Silent Auction, Pilot Hill Grange.  For more information, contact cbancroft222@att.net or 888-8104. 

May 21^st:  El Dorado Chapter of the California Native Plants Society Naturalist Hike at the Olmstead Loop, 10:00a.m.  Contact rosemarycarey@comcast.net or 620-3631.

May 21^st, 22^nd, 26^th, 27^th:  El Dorado Equestrian Trails Foundation Clean-up at Dru Barner Party in preparation for EDETR Fun Ride, EDETF.net@gmail.com or Ann at 823-7470.

May 22^nd:  Auburn Triathlon, www.auburntriathlon.com.

May 22^nd:  Afternoon on the Hill – Sunday Lunch in Cool Hike, 10:00a.m., www.sacramentotrailmix.com. 

May 22^nd:  Sacred Nature Trail Walk, 9:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.  Preregister with Julie@arconservancy.org or 621-1224.

May 22^nd:  Using Your GPS, 9:00a.m. – noon.  Preregister with Julie@arconservancy.org or 621-1224. 

May 27^th, 28^th, 29^th:  Wild West Pioneer Multi – Day Endurance Ride, www.aerc.org. 

May 28^th:  Cow Horse Clinic with Tim Thomas at Loomis Basin Horseman’s Arena.  Contact Kathy at moomom@garlic.com.  

May 28^th, 29^th, 30^th:  WS100 Memorial Day Training Runs, www.ws100.com. 

May 29^th:  Wild West Ride & Tie, Nevada City, www.rideandtie.org.

May 29^th:  Annual EDETF Fun Ride at Dru Barner Park, www.EDETF.net.    

May 31^st:  Victory Velo Intermediate Bicycle Maintenance & Roadside Repair, 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.  Contact Isaac in advance at 885-3986 or inc123g@gmail.com.   

Upcoming Events:

Jun 4^th:  Auburn Trail Runs 34Mi, 21Mi, 25K, 8Mi Run, www.sntrailruns.com.

Jun 4^th:  Wildest Ride in the West 40Mi, 70Mi, 110Mi, 140Mi, www.ultrasignup.com.

Jun 4^th:  Semi-Annual Bayley House Barn Sale, 8a.m. – 3:00p.m.

Jun 9^th:  Annual EDETF BBQ.

Jun 10^th – 12^th:  Western States Horse Expo, www.horsexpo.com. 

Jun 10^th – 12^th:  Tevis Trail Education Ride, www.teviscup.org.

Jun 11^th, 12^th:  American River Confluence Festival.

Jun 17^th – 18^th:  WS100 Trail Project, Robinson’s Flat, www.ws100.com.    

Jun 25^th – 26^th:  WS100 100 Mile Run, www.ws100.com.

Jul 2^nd:  Gold Country 30/50 Mile Endurance Ride, www.aerc.org. 

Jul 4^th – 17^th:  World Masters Athletic Championships (WMA).

Jul 16^th – 17^th:  Tevis 100 Mile in 1 Day Ride, www.teviscup.org.

Jul 16^th – 17^th:  Cool Moon 100Mi, 24Hr, 12 Hr Day & Night, 10K, www.sntrailruns.com.

Jul 23^rd:  Cool Summer Duathlon 10K Run – 30K Bike – 10K Run or 2-person Relay, www.sierrapacificendurance.com.

Jul 23^rd:  Eppie’s Great Race, www.thegreatrace.org.       

Jul 30^th:  Snow Tent Slide Ride & Tie, Nevada City, www.rideandtie.org. 

Aug 6^th:  NATRC Competitive Trail Ride, Georgetown.  Contact Helen at 333-4364 or hsteenman@yahoo.com or www.natrcregion1.org.

Oct:  Rescue Run 10K & 20K Fun Run benefiting Placer County Mountain Rescue Team, www.sierrapacificendurance.com.    

Oct 1^st:  Gold Country Trail Runs 23Mi, 21Mi, 25K, 8Mi, www.sntrailruns.com. 

Oct 15^th:  Rock’n River 50 Mile Run, www.rocknriver50.com.