Why Mountain Biking In The Sierra's Rules

(Jeremy Benson Tahoe Rim Trail)

Mountain biking during the off season in the Tahoe area is pretty amazing. Trails that don't regularly get ridden in the summer months are pretty much fair game in my book during the months of September, October, & November. The perfect cycling trail & tires rotating trail are as good as it gets when it comes to fun cross country trail riding in the Tahoe basin. Enjoy the photos and get out on the trails while you can.

(Sweet Views from the tires rotating trail)

(Fast Descents on the Perfect Cycling Trail in the Sierra Buttes)

(Perfect Cycling Trail overlooking Spencer Lakes)

(Perfect Cycling Trail in Route to Jackson Meadows from Donner Summit)

(Downhill from Mt. Elwell to the town of Graeagle)

Mountain Biking Post Canyon

My good buddy Charlie Berg decided to have his Bachelor Party in Hood River, Oregon.  The goal of this trip was to Mountain Bike our balls off.  We didn't waste our time or money seeking out women or strip clubs, instead we spent our days in the forest pedaling and jumping our bikes down the smooth well maintained trails of Post Canyon.

Charlie and his brother Pete organized a group of 11 of Charlie's close friends to converge and shred the trails that Post Canyon had to offer.  All of our ability levels varied, but we all managed to get some truly fantastic riding in.  Charlie has a group of great friends which makes sense because Charlie is one of the nicest and classiest guys you will ever meet.  He also rides a mountain bike extremely well.

Bryce Phillips setting up to send this air a little too deep.  He gave us all a scare when he over shot the trany and fell hard.  He got redemtion on the same air 2 days later though with a clean landing right in the sweet spot.

Charlie Berg Making this 15ft double look easy.

Me looking like I know what I'm doing at the top of the Drop Out trail.  This picture makes me look better than I am at mountain biking.  Thanks for nailing the shot Benson!

Jay Lynn showing us all how too Ride a bike off Big Doubles!

A little video of Jay and Nick.  Unfortunately Nick fell hard into the take off of the second jump. Lucky for him he only got a minor shoulder injury.

California Dreaming In The Sierra Buttes

Yesterday, my buddy Charlie Berg and myself successfully hiked and skied the prominent Couloir lookers left of the central spire in the above picture.  We started our ascent at 5000ft off highway 49 in tennis shoes. We proceeded up a well maintained hiking trail that was built to access some really interesting bouldering rocks.  After about 800ft of dirt trail we reached snow and began our skin to the base of the Couloir we had set out to ski.  It took us about 2 hours to reach the base of the Couloir from the road.  

Once we arrived at the base of the Couloir we chilled out for a bit, and took in all the beauty that the gut of the Sierra Buttes has to offer. After our brief break we continued straight up the 1000ft Couloir.  The boot pack was steep, but surprisingly easy and fast.  It took us about 45 minutes to charge up the Couloir and summit out at about 8200ft.  We kicked it under the towering rock faces for a good 1/2 hour enjoying the warm California sunshine and beautiful scenery surrounding us.

Eventually, we decided it was time to ski the Couloir.  So we gathered our gear and began our 1000ft descent down the Couloir.  The pitch of the Couloir varies between 30 degrees and 40 degrees.  The conditions were a bit variable, but for the most part the snow in the Couloir was picture perfect corn snow.  We both cruised through the Couloir and continued down some more low angle corn snow back to the trail that would lead us back to the truck.  It was a good long fun descent.  

We arrived back at the truck psyched and proud of our accomplishment.  It was 1:00pm and 65 degrees at 5000ft.  Since we had a little time to kill before we both had to be at work, we grabbed a quick beer at Bassetts.  It was a rewarding beer and one that will not be forgotten along with the spectacular spring day spent in the Sierra Buttes.

The Buttes Couloir from the bench

Charlie cruising up the Buttes Couloir

Me dropping in!