Regional Op-Ed | Kathryn Gray: The Tahoe Sierra 100: Come And See If You Have What It Takes To Challenge The High Sierra!

Published on Mar 24, 2008 - 8:52:51 AM

By: Kathryn Gray, Serene Lakes

"Come and see if you have what it takes to challenge the High Sierra and try to win part of the $15,000 in prize money." So begins Royal Gorge/Global Biorythm's invitation to enter the Tahoe Sierra 100 Ultra Endurance Bicycle race, a 700 entrant mountain biking race that has been billed as an "inaugural event," and the first National Ultra Endurance Bicycle event on the West Coast. The promoter states that, "this great first time event will take place in the Tahoe National Forest along parts of the historic Western States 100 Mile Trail and Tevis Trail," and that "riders will pass through areas no bike has ever gone before." The promoter touted 30% single track, but then when questioned about the whereabouts of that single track, pulled the 30%, leaving "70% fire roads and double track," but has now pulled any description of the terrain involved, perhaps to foreclose questions as to what sort of terrain/trails will be impacted by the proposed race.

There's been quite a buzz for more than a year in the mountain biking community about this proposed inaugural race. Where, exactly will the Tahoe Sierra 100 be carried out? It's hard to say, as the promoter pulled the map off of his website once people starting asking hard questions. Here, though, is a tantalizing comment from one of those who rode the pre-ride, "I plan to hit the lower part of the course, hopefully, next week and will provide some feedback on it. Jim's gotten creative and found some trails/roads that even the forest Service didn't no linked together (sic)."

Last September, 30 or so riders did a pre-ride of portions of the race route, despite rain and snow. In fact, the promoter had supposedly cancelled the pre-ride because of the anticipated inclement weather, but, as one intrepid rider put it, "we all got the e-mail that this ride would be called off, but I guess all us hardcore nuts talked Mr. Jim into it." Perhaps his hardy band of adventurers were also enticed because the promoter told them he had "the key to the Lodge."

30 or so mountain bike riders out sloshing through the snow, rain, and mud- what's the problem with that, besides cold noses and possible chilblains? For trails, it can mean big trouble, as wet trails can be transformed to rutted, sludgy messes when they are subjected to mountain bike tires. Besides rutting, soil compaction,and subsequent channelization, run off and erosion are all major problems. That mud you see on rider's goggles, bikes and garments after they've churned through the rain, or used trails soon after precipitation used to be the surface of a hiking path or trail- and while it will certainly wash off of the bike rider and his gear, the loss to the trail in terms of erosion will not be so easily remedied.

Besides the marring to the land that you can see, it's the injury to the whole ecosystem - damage that has significant, long term effects - the silent ravages you don't readily see, that causes one to question the wisdom of allowing any mountain bikes to ride fragile paths in the Sierra Nevada. Sedimentation caused by erosion has been proven to have huge negative consequences for amphibian and piscine development. Since the last few years have been a sad, downhill slide for fish in California, it would seem prudent to take an extra hard look at any activity, mountain biking included, that increases the chance of sedimentation in fish breeding waters, threatening the survival of native fish. And a hard look at a proposed inaugural 700 entrant 100 mile ultra endurance mountain bike race, which one eager rider defended, "MTB's do represent a threat to many people's idea of nature. Jim is trying to get access to trails that are previously unridden?" Shouldn't that extra, concerned look at negative impacts resultant from 700 mountain bike racers on unknown trails, all competing for a cash purse be a no brainer?

Apparently not. At the outset, I do wish to say that Tahoe National Forest (TNF) employees have an enormous task, juggling, often with inadequate staffing, the many competing interests of those who wish to use Forest Service lands. However, when I attempted to find out the particulars of the Tahoe Sierra 100, including a complete map, and other details, I was met by what I would call, to be polite, obfuscation. And as I'm always polite, I won't be more descriptive- but first, I was told the race was permitted, and then a day or so later I was told I should retract that (after I'd published that the race was permitted- coincidence?). My phone number was provided to the promoter, who, calling twice, indicated that the race was permitted, and had been in the planning process for over a year; he could not, however, remember the month the race had been permitted, and when questioned further, said he'd have to consult his lawyer and lobbyists, or, rather IMBA's lawyer and lobbyists. He also told me he "knew where I lived." About that time I became aware that there was an entire strand on a mountain biking forum discussing how to respond to my first YubaNet editorial, "Troubled Trails on Donner Summit." They'd decided not to "flame" me, such a relief, but I must say, as a newbie in questioning mountain bike riders' rights to ride absolutely anywhere hikers hike and equestrians ride, I was a little intimidated. Oh, was that what they were trying to do?

Here's what motivates me, despite the glimpse of bullying tactics on the part of mountain bike extremists. Tahoe National Forest belongs to us all. It is a rare treasure, made more valuable by the central fact that, for the past century at least, California has been all about development. The Sierra Nevada has been subjected to incredible accelerating pressures to build ski resorts, golf courses, luxury hotels, condos- the list goes on and on. We've small bits of designated wilderness up here, such as Granite Chief, and there are high hopes to have Castle Peak and surroundings declared a wilderness- but when the day is done, the wilderness, and perhaps the wolverine, and all other wildlife are losing.

The wilderness loses when, and if Royal Gorge LLC, the host of the Tahoe Sierra 100 race, succeeds in persuading Placer County to change their General Plan, and zoning to allow a iconic cross country ski resort to be obliterated by 1000 units. The wilderness loses when portions of a heritage trail, one runners and equestrians are only permitted to race on once a year, those races 'grandfathered' because of the recognition that people and horses have been historic users of the trail, whether native peoples, or later emigrants to the West, is opened up to 700 racing mountain bikes, and all the spectators who will come out to view them, and perhaps, return to bike the same trails themselves. The wilderness loses when a 700 entrant mountain biking race is allowed, without serious inquiry into the impacts on trails, historical resources, wildlife habitat, wildlife migration routes, late season foraging areas, and the consequences to fish and amphibians from the erosion consequent to a race grinding over 100 miles of Sierra Nevada trails. Hikers and equestrians lose if this 700 entrant race is permitted, because their safety and enjoyment of the TNF will be impacted by a race that for all effects and purposes forecloses their use of the forest lands. The Tahoe National Forest loses if the forces of commercialization are allowed to outweigh the forces of preservation.

This proposed race does not have permits, and as of last week, the promoter had not even applied for permits, to either TNF, or Placer County, despite the fact he has been accepting registration predicated on camping for all registrants being available at Royal Gorge (still up on e-reg button). As the promoter has not been forthcoming with the actual and complete map of lands that would be affected by the proposed race, it has been impossible for private land owners to assess whether their land will be impacted.

The promoter calls for entrants to see if they have what it takes to "challenge the High Sierra." Let's hope those responsible for issuing permits for the Tahoe Sierra 100 prove themselves to be as concerned with the huge load of challenges facing the Sierra Nevada, as they are with the desires of those who seem to regard the Sierra as little more than an ultra endurance mountain bike race course.

Kathryn Gray is a Donner Summit resident.

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