I am trying something new here – posting on upcoming events I am hosting. According to Facebook I have hosted 37 rides and 1 social as Kurstin Graham and 10 rides and 2 socials as Bikepacking Northern Nevada. The internet never forgets! While Facebook Events (Facebook Event here) provides an easy template to create a good event announcement there are folks who do not use FB for personal or professional reasons. So what are my options? Direct email? Instagram? This Blog? Substack Newsletter? LinkTree? For now I will continue with FB, IG, Substack, update LinkTree, and add a blog post. I don’t have any plans to start an email marketing campaign, ha! Too pro. This is all for fun!

So, coming up: Rides with Friends #3, October 5-6, 2024 Fly and High Rock Canyons

Meet at 41.140354, -119.370746, the start of the route, about 40 miles from Gerlach. Meet at 10 am.

Day 1 We will ride down Willow Creek, Little Smoky Creek, and Smoky Canyon through sagebrush grassland that is primarily being used for grazing. We will pass High Rock Lake and enter Fly Canyon on the Applegate Emigrant trail. We will explore the wonders of the Potholes on foot.

Then we will continue on the Emigrant trail in High Rock Canyon. The walls of the canyon are 500-800 feet above the canyon floor. Post Office Cave and the Garage are two historical highlights. Above Yellow Rock Canyon we will turn off to Bernards Corrals on a cherry-stem road into the East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness Area.

End of Day 1 35 miles, 1,200’ of climbing, with challenging terrain and water crossings in High Rock Canyon.

Day 2 We will descend High Rock Canyon and reverse our route past the mouth of Little High Rock Canyon. We will meet the stewardship team from Friends of Black Rock High Rock to do a clean-up project at this high impact area. FBRHR will provide all the necessary tools for the job as well as a cooler of snacks and drinks. FBRHR also makes every stewardship project educational and entertaining. After that we will ride out to our vehicles by 4 pm.

End of Day 2 31 miles, 1,400’ of climbing.

October’s Trip is the Crown Jewel. I try to make the October trip the “Best of”. Past Crown Jewels include, 2020 High Rock Canyon – Stevens Camp Loop, 2021 Black Rock Desert Hot Springs Loop, 2022 Soldier Meadows – Fly Canyon Loop, and 2023 Hot Springs – Micro-Playa Loop. This year’s route is a combo of 2020 and 2022.

FAQ’s: What do I provide? A hand picked route. I have given it a pre-ride. I have noted highlights to share. I am here for your success!

What style bike do I recommend? I recommend a mountain bike or monster gravel bike. Think 2-3” wide tires. I will ride my rigid Falconer with 27.5×2.8 in tires.

What will the weather be? I use the website weather.gov for forecasting. I expect fair weather, 40’s-70’s this time of year. With that said a sleeping bag in the 20-30o range is good. Sunscreen and dark glasses are key. I plan on 2L of water for drinking during the day and 1L for cooking.

Is there a recommended/mandatory gear list: No. Best practices followed come from LNT, Love Where You Ride, and Tread Lightly. The backpacker’s 10 essentials cover you for the overnight. Everyone is self sufficient, so there is plenty of overlap to keep you covered. 

Bikepacking Bags and Gear Library? I have a limited supply of extras but I am happy to share. Please contact me: kursting@yahoo.com

Is food provided? No. Bring your own. 2 Lunches, 1 Dinner, 1 Breakfast, Snacks. It is always great to see what people bring.

Are e-bikes allowed? Sure. The distance and terrain are provided. It is up to you if you think your battery life is sufficient. We have had several successful e-bike tourists on these trips. 

What are the fees? None. Free. Gratis. But these trips meant to foster stewardship for our public lands and specifically the Black Rock Desert – High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area. Consider becoming a member of FBRHR, donating frequently and generously, as well as volunteering on any of their events. Thanks! Please signup for the event at FBRHR’s website and if you can signup at the stewardship event it helps the project lead prepare for equipment and snacks!

Do you provide transportation? No. Gerlach is about 107 miles from Reno, 1 hr 46 min (thanks, Google!) and the start of the ride is 41 miles, 1 hr, beyond Gerlach. Carpooling is encouraged.

Everyone is welcome! Spread the word. See you out there. Critical updates will appear in the comments of this post, in the discussion of the FB event page, and in the comments of the IG post.