When we were at the Castle Rock trail last week there weren't many folk on the trail, but nearby but there were plenty on the nearby trail head for the Tahoe Rim Trail, so we decided give that path a check. It's the leg of the Rim circuit we had never tried. There is a vista point about a quarter mile along up the Rim trail so we headed for it.
Easy to get to: Take Kingsbury Grade from either Stateline or from Minden, turn off at Brautagain Park and follow the road, which changes names along the way. It's several miles to the wide part of the road for the trail heads for Castle Rock and the Rim Trail. Not marked is the road continuing up the hill where the Forest Service has posted warnings about a rough road. This will take you to Genoa Peak, a trek well worth the effort (there's the remains of a crashed aircraft along the way).
The Rim Trail is not as easy as the Castle Rock trail. At many places the rocks make for one- and two-foot steps as you climb. Had the trusty old hiking stock along, which came in handy at some of the steep step offs. Big rock steps can put pressure on knees, new and old, so the stock was a welcome "third leg."
Like much of the Rim Trail, this short jaunt was at least at the moderate effort level, with moments of arduous effort. But the frequent glimpses of such as Heavenly Ski Resort ski trails cutting through the forests and isolated patches of snow were rewarding.
At the vista point, marked by a guidepost in the middle of the trail, you peel off toward Lake Tahoe, climb a few hundred feet and find several trails wandering off to spots for the best views. We went for the high point and were rewarded with spectacular views of Carson Valley. Up there the air was clear and the winds cool and soothing. Not the Rim Trial at its most demanding, but a very pleasant beginning.
A short Rim Trail excursion certainly whets the appetite for more of that magnificent trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association trail crew is working in the Kingsbury area, reports John McKenna, with whom I once sat on the Carson Parks and Rec Commission.
"We are taking the TRT off of the road and putting it on dirt. This is the last phase of a seven-year volunteer project.
"From the North Kingsbury Trailhead to the South Kingsbury Trailhead (currently at the Stagecoach Ski Lift) we are building a loop trail. Getting the permission to build on private property and all of the various approvals has taken a lot of effort. As far as the volunteers of the Tahoe Rim Trail Association go one person, a retired Marine, stands out Clay Grubb. He has worked full time on the project for many years."(We'll bring you more about Grubb soon.)
New trail is being constructed on both sides of Kingsbury and in the VanSickle State Park. It is a coordinated effort by the TRTA and the USFS and other groups."
We are working Saturday at 9 a.m. (every Saturday and Tuesday); meet at the North Kingsbury Trail head (just North of the Castle Rock trail."
For more info, call Grubb at (929) 795-8035 or Ben Storrud at 298-0012.
Burning man nears
The Burn begins Aug. 31, late due to the vagaries of the calendar. And ends Sept. 6 after the Man goes up amid fireworks and flames. We'll be there from Sept. 3 on; if you're going to be there from Carson City, drop in at Media Mecca usually from 4-6 p.m and share your experiences with us. We'll be on a bike much of the time, thanks to the help of Dan Turne of the Bicycle Authority, who got our two-wheeler in shape.
• Contact Sam at 841-7818 or
sambauman@att.net.