Will Lumpkin making the biggest navigation decision in his life, Go Forward! Photo Ky Plaskon October 14-15, 2023 This year’s Rides with Friends crown jewel route was the Hot Springs - Micro Playa Loop. The route traveled northeast from 12 Mile playa access to Double Hot Springs, then south on the Applegate Emigrant Trail route, …
Continue reading Rides with Friends #7: Hot Springs – Micro-Playa Loop
September 22-24, 2023 In response to the feeling like I am the king of overnights I wanted to create a series of 3 day - 2 night trips in Black Rock Country. I had some feedback from Sasha Magee of San Francisco, that making the trip to Gerlach from the Bay was a little much …
Continue reading Route Development: Seven Troughs-Lava Beds Loop
Celebrate rolling sagebrush grasslands under Nevada's blue skies Sept 16-17, 2023 I really wanted a ride for Rides with Friends that showcased the Massacre Rim International Dark Sky Sanctuary. But not surprisingly it is one of the most remote places beyond the NCA. So I planned a route from the turnoff from Co Rd 34 …
Continue reading Rides with Friends #6 Massacre Ranch Dark Skies Overnight
September 13, 2023 South of Gardnerville on US 395 is Simee Dimeh Summit and just beyond that is Leviathan Mine Road. The mine's name had always intrigued me, why have a nautical themed mine? Even if in name alone. I looked up the explanation of Leviathan and it was a Biblical sea monster, serpent or …
Continue reading Ride Report: Leviathan Mine Rd. Desert to Alpine
Doug makes a quick check on the route as we leave Paradise Valley. Sept. 6-7, 2023 Doug had a route to an area I have long been advised to ride. It was an easy yes when he asked if I was interested. On top of that it was a bikefishing trip! This was my first …
Continue reading Paradise Valley, Santa Rosa Range Bikefishing Overnight
8/29/2023- This May I met Karen Rusiniak at the Black Rock Rendezvous. She asked me if I would be interested in giving bike tours of the perimeter fence, aka “trash fence,” during Burning Man as a part of the Earth Guardians camp. I am not good at saying no, so I said yes. I had …
Continue reading Bikepacking Northern Nevada Goes to Burning Man
Welcome to the Perseids Meteor Shower Campout Photo Marc P August 12-13, 2023 The Perseids Meteor Shower Campout is a longstanding event hosted by Friends of Black Rock High Rock. Two years ago I decided to ride out to the camp rather than drive. Why not, I’m the bike guy. It was a smokey evening …
Continue reading Rides with Friends #5 Perseids Meteor Shower Campout
Doug Artman, up for adventure! August 9, 2023 Doug Artman invited me to go bikerafting on Stampede Reservoir. As bikepacking loves compound words, bikerafting is the blend of bikepacking = off road touring and packrafting = travel by lightweight inflatable rafts. This route was splendidly that blend of activities, we rode the Truckee Emigrant Trail …
Continue reading Bikerafting Overnight; Emigrant Trail and Stampede Reservoir
Riding out of Lone Juniper Canyon on Day 2, there is no escaping the sun While early summer was cool and stormy, the switch was flipped to peak summer temperatures just weeks before this trip. In anticipation of this, the climb to the summit of Fox Mountain at 8,196’ with a descent into camp by …
Continue reading Rides with Friends #4 Fox Mountain Loop Overnight
June 15-18, 2023 My earliest exploration of the Granite Range had me riding along Cottonwood Creek. It gets contributions from Wagon Tire Creek and a few springs between 6000’ and 7000’. At some point I dropped a fly line in lower Cottonwood Creek and pulled out a Brook Trout! I couldn’t figure out how they …
Continue reading Rides with Friends #3 Bikefishing the Granite Range