Greg, Vince and Rich at the Mt. Rose TRT trailhead.
I joined Rich, Vince and Greg from TTSA for a bike ride on the Tahoe Rim Trail. They planned to ride from Mt. Rose Highway to the Marlette Lake overlook, and then drop down the Chimney Beach trail.
I drove out to Incline Village, where they drove down to pick me up and leave a car at Chimney Beach.
Greg finessing the granite.
This part of the TRT is relatively easy, except for occasional granite steps that you have to walk over or risk a pinch flat.
Rich rocks & rolls.
I hadn’t ridden this section in a couple of years, so it was great to get back on such a fun and scenic trail.
Bret at Tunnel Creek Road.
The trail is predominantly downhill until you reach Tunnel Creek Road. If you drop down to the Flume Trail instead of climbing up to the Marlette Overlook, it’s as easy (effort-wise) a trail as you’ll find in Tahoe.
Vince negotiates a loose, steep corner.
However, if you stay on the Rim Trail and skip the Flume Trail, there’s a little more effort involved. You end up re-gaining all the elevation you lost in the last nine miles.
Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe in the smoky haze. The Marlette Lake dam is to the left of Vince.
The view makes the climb worth it. The recent fires have been filling the Tahoe Basin with smoke, but we lucked out for a fairly clear day.
After taking a break for some food, we rode the long, smooth downhill to the south end of Marlette.
Taking a break after climbing to the top of the Chimney Beach trail.
There were still two short climbs to go: the easy climb out of Marlette Lake, and the much steeper climb to the top of the Chimney Beach trail.
The Flume Trail map warns that the Chimney Beach trail is “steep and difficult.” It’s steep, but not difficult, since there are virtually no rocks on the trail. However, it’s about 2,200’ of constant downhill, so your brakes get a workout.
Greg fixes his flat, Rich supervises.
Greg got a flat, possibly from his rims getting too hot, and Vince had to eke his way down on one brake, because his rear brake was leaking fluid and became useless three miles into the ride. I could smell his front brake pads burning.
It was a really fun ride, about 21.5 miles in four hours.
1 comment:
Bret,
The white granite is very vivid against the blue sky; it's a very nice contrast! The acuity of the photos is superb with needle-like sharpness. Love, Dad
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