Bike - Hole-in-the-Ground

Kevin chugging up the first climb, with Andesite Peak (8219’) in background.

Checking out the view on Andesite ridge.

Nancy’s buddies at TTSA decided to ride the Hole-in-the-Ground trail, so I tagged along, despite knowing that I would get my butt kicked.

Hole-in-the-Ground is a fun trail that throws a little bit of everything at you: tight switchbacks, dusty descents, granite slabs, forest duff, gravel roads, etc.

The trail is maintained by the Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition, so the trail stays in good shape despite its popularity, with lots of pavers placed in the trail to prevent erosion.

Regrouping at the first creek crossing.

It was hotter than snot, and there’s mosquitoes at various points in the ride, but it’s still a fun trail. I snapped my chain just past Lower Lola Montez Lake, right where the mosquitoes are thickest. By the time I got my chain fixed, all the mosquitoes had left, apparently too stuffed from feeding on me to fly.

End of the trail at the Soda Springs fire station. (Back: Tom, Greg, Dave, Michael, Jay and Rob. Dead: Kevin.)

I got my butt kicked, as predicted, but then half of these guys are impossible to keep up with. I decided to ride back home over Highway 40 because I'd never ridden down from the summit to Donner Lake. It added nine miles to the ride, but you get to coast down three and a half miles with fantastic views.