Nevada Rambler

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This is a nice snowshoe to a peak in the Sagehen Hills, along Hwy 89 north of Truckee. The route has views of Mt. Rose, Martis Valley, and Stampede Reservoir.  There was 8-10 inches of new snow to break through, so the going was slow until we joined a day-old ski track on the final ascent to peak 7104.

Statistics

3.50 mi (1.45 mi uphill, 1.53 mi downhill, 0.46 mi flat)
900 ft total ascent – 14.6 % uphill grade, 297.7 % downhill grade
3:01:07 total time (2:26:04 moving, 0:35:03 stopped)
0:41:47 pace (1.4 mph average speed, 4.6 mph max speed)
7.898 difficulty, 12.462 effort

GeoLocator for latitude 39.4255486 longitude -120.2012100

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We headed to a new snowshoeing place (for us), from Mike White’s Snowshoe Trails Tahoe. The trailhead for Scott’s Lake is in Hope Valley, on California Hwy 88 east of Carson Pass. This route is part following roads and part cross country. There was another group up at the lake, and some snowmobile and dogsled activity near the trailhead. Nice clear day.

Statistics

4.50 mi (2.03 mi uphill, 1.74 mi downhill, 0.68 mi flat)
900 ft total ascent – 13.4 %  uphill grade, 147.3 %  downhill grade
3:23:59 total time (3:01:16 moving, 0:22:43 stopped)
0:40:17 pace (1.5 mph average speed, 3.7 mph max speed)
8.530 difficulty, 14.003 effort

GeoLocator for latitude 38.7644386 longitude -119.9408493

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Headed up to Tahoe Meadows for a quick snowshoe. It was cold and windy, but the clouds and sun and heavy frost made for a beautiful winter environment.

Statistics:

2.16 mi (0.81 mi uphill, 0.98 mi downhill, 0.34 mi flat)
style=”text-align: left;”>424 ft total ascent (513 ft descent) – 13.9 %  uphill grade, 14.3 %  downhill grade
1:16:08 total time (1:02:47 moving, 0:13:21 stopped)
0:29:06 pace (2.1 mph average speed, 3.3 mph max speed)
3.055 difficulty, 5.191 effort

GeoLocator for latitude 39.3025208 longitude -119.9179611

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Snowshoe from the PCT trailhead at I-80/Castle Peak Exit to Flora, Azalea, and Angela Lakes, then up to the eastern high point of Boreal Ridge, overlooking Donner Lake. Nice clear day, lucky to follow tracks in the deep snow through the woods.

Statistics:

3.88 mi (1.64 mi uphill, 1.51 mi downhill, 0.66 mi flat)

600 ft total ascent

3:14:43 total time (2:41:21 moving, 0:33:22 stopped)

0:41:34 pace (1.4 mph average speed, 7.1 mph max speed)

9.810 difficulty, 16.637 effort

GeoLocator for latitude 39.3401604 longitude -120.3434677

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Our first snowshoe of the season. Spectacular views from Donner Peak.

Directions: Donner Pass on old Highway 40 (Donner Pass Road). Drive 3 miles east from the Soda Springs exit on I-80, or west from Truckee.  The route starts from the road behind the Sugarbowl Ski Academy parking lot. The way up from the PCT trailhead is quite steep; it’s somewhat better up the slope a bit to the right. We went to the end of Lake Mary before heading up, which was too far and also quite steep.  Parking is limited, no parking on the highway shoulder during snow removal. Guidebooks talk about parking for a fee at the school, but it has changed hands and has no indication that parking is allowed there.

3.5 mi (1.76 mi uphill, 2.24 mi downhill, 0.27 mi flat)
900 ft total ascent – 19.3 % uphill grade
3:57:28 total time (3:16:24 moving, 0:41:04 stopped)
0:40:28 pace (1.5 mph average speed)
14.603 difficulty, 23.457 effort

GeoLocator for latitude 39.3162498 longitude -120.3262634