Tahoe Rim Trail

High above the Truckee River

        

Near Painted Rock, a few stone's throws from Mt. Baxter

      This summer I took my annual trek to Squaw Valley,  not to play so much but to work.  However, I did take a couple afternoons to go riding.  Since I flew up there, I had to rely on a rental.  There are several shops in the North Tahoe area with rental outfits.  My goal was to find a bike that would fit me - I'm tall as far a people go, and very tall for a mountain biker.  After a couple of inquiries I found Olympic Bike in Tahoe City, which had 21" Rumblefish 29er.  Not bad.
       Olympic Bike, near the lake in Tahoe City, is also within riding distance of the Tahoe Rim trail.  I rode a loop route on this trail, pretty much the same ride on two separate days, and was not disappointed.
      TRT is a long single track - 100 miles long - that traverses above Lake Tahoe -  starting where I rode in Tahoe City, and wrapping around the big lake, past some smaller lakes, over a few peaks, all the way to Mt. Rose.  It is multi-use trail, most of which is open to mountain bikers.  On the section near Tahoe City, there seemed to be more MTBers than hikers, but I ran into a few campers and backpackers.
    The route I rode was not steep, but steep enough considering the 7-8k altitude, and not overly technical, but technical enough for a rental bike and a first-time go through.  From the Tahoe City trailhead, the singletrack rises up to the ridgeline, running parallel with the Truckee River  and back towards Squaw Valley.   The views are magnificent - bluer than blue Lake Tahoe, Squaw Peak, Heavenly Peak (if that's what is called) and the Truckee River.  The trail meanders between meadows, small fields of lava rocks, and slight hillsides topped by mounds of boulders and pines.  Most of the route I rode was well shaded by groves of mature trees.

   After about 4 miles, there is an opt out point from the TRT.  The Western States Trail descends directly down to the Truckee River.  I did not ride this route, but I've hiked it, and it would be a fast, fun descent.  On my two rides, I kept going, past Painted Rock and down to a paved road which provided the second opt out point.  After a slight cruise down the paved road, I descended back to Tahoe City on a series of trails.  I have no idea about the trail names - nothing was signed - I just kept riding downhill and toward the lake.   The lake is such a prominent landmark, and it's easy to find one's way home.  The first descent was on a fast and smooth trail with about dozen kicker ramps.  It was fun doing the small jumps on the 29er.  After a few traverses, I found my route home (somehow finding the same small trail on both rides), descending on a narrow trail that meandered between tight strands of trees, following a brook, and ending at the reservoir on Jackpine St. in Tahoe City.  This trail was certainly unmapped, and I was happy to find it - it wasn't overly technical, but had a couple short steep sections, some tight switchbacks and a couple logs to roll over - fun riding with the feeling of complete isolation.
    I'm sure there are plenty of other nice rides on the TRT, and I'm hoping to go back to do more exploration in this great expanse of wilderness.