2nd Cavalry

Co. F

Sacramento Rangers www.californiacavalry.com

Thru-ride Tahoe Rim 09/23/2019-10/08/2019

PREFACE

September 23, 2019 to October 8, 2019, members of the living history group, 2nd California Cavalry Co. F, Sacramento Rangers (www.californiacavalry.com) set out on a thru-ride of the Tahoe Rim Trail. The riders were Brian Frontella, as 1SGT William Baldwin, Rob Wangberg, as QMSGT Thomas Carter, and Shawn Manville, as PVT. O. H. Cambridge (Shawn is a direct descendant of OH Cambridge). The original Company F patrolled the mountains in and around , looking for southern sympathizers and protecting gold shipments.

We were able to honor the men of the original company by riding in the area and using tack, uniforms and accoutrements that were reproductions of the original designs.

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are several publications available for planning purposes. Unfortunately, most are for hikers and bicyclists. They will include equestrians, but the information is minimal. As an example, the publication may say horse trailer parking available, but when scouting one of those parking lots I could just turn my truck around.

All publications or available information needs to be verified, double and triple checked. I made at least 10 trips to the Lake Tahoe area. I looked at trailheads, road crossings, talked to TRT people, US Forest service people, and other agencies needed in completing the preparation.

This pamphlet is an aide for planning a trip that will take you through beautiful country. It should not be used solely for water sources, campsites or riding distances. You must be willing to change your plans on the trail, ride more miles than planned, or ride less miles than planned.

Planning your trip requires you utilize several resources, such as the Tahoe Rim Trail Assc., U.S. Forest Service, and Lake Tahoe State Parks. All agencies have rules and regulations, some conflicting with others, that must be followed.

Detailed planning is a must. You must utilize everything and anything that is available. At minimum, Tahoe Rim Trail paper map, Tahoe Rim Trail website (maps, gps information), Forest Service maps, and a good GPS trail app, we used Guthook. Guthook was indispensable. (Guthook is the official TRTA App.)

You must get the most current information available prior to leaving. 1 week prior is not current, 1 day before is current, even that could be outdated.

On September 23, 2019 our group started a thru-ride, clockwise, of the TRT trail. There were 3 riders, 1 pack horse and 2 pack mules. The trail conditions I am reporting are from an equestrian rider point of view, and will include water sources and potential campsites for equestrians. I am reporting on general conditions at the time of the thru-ride. The trail conditions changed while we were on the trail, always check with the TRTA office for an updated report.

We left Tahoe City on September 23, 2019 and rode clockwise. Our destination for the 1st day was Watson Lake, about 13 miles. The trail is in good condition, no major obstacles or hazards for the horses. There are a lot of low hanging branches and branches protruding over the trail. You will be ducking a lot. We tried to break off branches, dead branches broke off, but the green branches would not budge.

We arrived at Watson Lake at around 1730 hrs., covering about 13 miles. Obviously your primary concern for a camp are the horses. You have to think outside of the box. There are very few ideal camps for equestrians. There is a developed campground on the southwest end of Watson Lake, but stock are not allowed in the campground.

The trail is part of a forest service road, which goes to the campground, then the trail peels off to the north, there is good signage. About 100’ from the road is a decent area, just east of the trail. We selected this area because it had large enough trees and room for 6 horses. The area is slightly sloped, so you will sleep at an angle. There is another spot that seems to be used frequently and may work for a couple of horses. It is about 100’ farther north. You must keep an open mind and may have to clear away dead wood for your camp and the horses picket line.

Watson Lake is the primary water source, but there is a small spring on the south side of the road, about 300’ before the trail leaves the road toward the lake. Riding clockwise from Watson

Lake is another potential camp. It is about ½ mile from the lake. There is a creek that may be seasonal and some good grass for the horses. We did not see it until we departed our camp at Watson Lake the next morning.

On September 24, 2019 we left Watson Lake for Mud Lake. It is about 18 miles to Mud Lake. We are anticipating no water until Mud Lake, which is why the creek that is about ½ mile from Watson Lake was a pleasant surprise.

The trail is in good shape and easily traversed. There are low hanging branches and branches protruding over the trail, which will be the norm for the entire trail. It was a pleasant and fairly easy ride to Hwy 267. We gathered the mules, who we allow to walk freely, prior to crossing Hwy 267. Fortunately, there was a woman at the trailhead who helped us by stopping traffic. We crossed Hwy 267 without incident. Prior to moving on, we checked all tack and adjusted accordingly, at the trailhead on the eastside of Hwy 267. There is room for a horse trailer, if cars park the way they should.

The trail from the east side of Hwy 267 is an ascent. The trail is not bad, some rocks and roots, but generally pretty good. It works its way up to a vista point cutoff. After ascending, you will drop down to a creek, at about mile 22 or so. The creek was dry for us, but there was green grass. Horses were able to graze for at least an hour.

There is a meadow at mile 23.1, but it was on a hillside somewhat below the trail. Useable, but dry. Trail is almost a continuous ascent. It follows the south side of the mountain and affords great views of Lake Tahoe. There is no water. There is a stretch with shale, be careful.

We reached Mud Lake. Gray Lake is about .8 of a mile off the trail. We did not go to Gray Lake. Mud Lake is south of the trail and down the hill a distance. There is a remnant of a trail down to the lake, looks like it has not been maintained. The hillslide is loose and slippery. We went down as safely as we could. Think about “The Man from Snowy River”, you will want to lean back.

The lake shore is a mix of sand and small pebbles and footing is good for the horses. This is a year round water source, during an average precipitation year. There is a “reliable spring” near Mud Lake, which we never found. Minimal grass near the lake, but there are plenty of trees for a high line. The night was quiet and comfortable.

On September 25, 2019 we left Mud Lake for Tahoe Meadows, about 10 miles. The trail is a continual ascent until the Relay Peak cut off for equestrians. The trail is in good shape, just uphill. The views are spectacular.

We reached the highest point of our trip, 10,285 feet. We were able to see both Lake Tahoe and the Truckee area lakes. The equestrian cutoff takes you down a forest service road. It is a descent for the most part. At mile 1.5 from the cutoff is Snow Pond (winter name) or Frog Pond (summer name). It is a year-round lake fed by Third Creek and is a good water source. The

banks of the lake are steep, there is not a graduated slope to the water. You may need to use a bucket to water stock. There is plenty of green grass and this site would make a suitable camp.

You will continue down the forest service road until reaching the cutoff to rejoin the TRT, it is about 3 miles. We followed the signage regarding equestrians until reaching the Mt. Rose trailhead. Signs said cross Hwy 431, and follow Campground Rd. There is a large sign on the tree across Hwy. 431. You will follow the road for about ¼ mile until the TRT trail. There is a nice post marking the trail, but it has a “no bikes and no equestrians” sign. I contacted the TRT Office and told them we followed the signs and have appeared to reach a dead end.

TRTA Note: The trail between Relay Ridge and Tahoe Meadows trailhead is closed to equestrians. If travelling clockwise by horse, leave the TRT at the top of Relay Ridge and continue on the dirt road (Relay Peak Road) that goes as described above past Snow/Frog Pond. This road is closed to the public. Continue on the road past the cutoffs that reconnect with the TRT until you reach Highway 431/Mt Rose Highway. Turn right and follow the highway for about ½ a mile until you reach Tahoe Meadows trailhead on the south side of 431. Rejoin the trail here. For those travelling counterclockwise by horse, simply reverse the directions.

Walking along Highway 431 is not ideal, so choose a time when traffic will be low. Another option that avoids the roadwalk is to take the Mt Rose Summit trailhead bike and equestrian connector which connects Relay Peak Road to the Mt Rose Summit trailhead. From there you would need to transport the animals and riders via truck and trailer approximately ¾ of a mile to the Tahoe Meadows trailhead. Doing this in the reverse direction will also work. Note that the only parking for trailers at Tahoe Meadows is along the pull off on Highway 431.

We rode into the campground looking for another possible access trail, but found nothing. We backtracked and followed the trail from the “no equestrians and no bikes” post. The TRT goes past the interpretive center/trail, which does not allow bikes or horses. The trail is good all the way to the trailhead, meadow, and beyond.

A couple of seasonal creeks were flowing across the trail, deep enough for a horse to drink. Ophir Creek was running good. We camped about 500’ from the creek and about 100’ off the trail. The entire area is good for camping. There is some grass, not as good as Snow Pond.

On September 26, 2019 we left Tahoe Meadows for Marlette Peak, about 13 miles. The water pump at Marlette Peak campground was inoperative. We filled our water jugs for the next 30 miles. We filled four 6 gallon plastic jugs and four 2 ½ gallon soft sided water bags.

The trail is tolerable and has the usual ascents and descents. There were a lot of mountain bikers on the trail, as it was an even day. We asked a hiker on the trail if there are any creeks with water. He stated that about ½ mile was a good flowing creek. We reached the creek. It was trickling, enough for a hiker to get water, a horse could not. You could use a cup and fill a bucket if you had to.

We reached Twin Lakes which had water and some grass. Twin Lakes is seasonal and you need to check with the TRTA or other sources as to the status of the lakes. Leaving Twin Lakes we came upon large rocks on both sides of the trail. A horse with a rider can make it through, but it’s tight. The mule with the bear proof panniers could not, fortunately there was a way around the rocks.

The Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park requires you camp only in designated campgrounds. There are 2 campgrounds Marlette Peak and North Canyon. Marlette Peak is right on the trail, so it is the obvious choice. We were not looking forward to making camp in a campground, but we did follow the rules.

The Marlette Peak campground is well maintained. It has a bathroom and usually would have water. It has bear boxes, tables, fire rings but hitching rails would be nice. We camped in the campsite closest to the willows. There was a lot of grass so the horses were able to graze. We looked around the willows for water. The ground was saturated and spongy. We found water near the surface, enough for the horses drink.

I have to reiterate the fact that you need to always get current information. With that said, it may not be accurate. We met a Nevada Wildlife Official at the campground. He was heading for the water pump, we told him it was inoperative. He did not know. We asked about the bear situation, since there are bear boxes at the campground. He said he had no reports of bears in the area. The next morning we had a guest for breakfast, a bear. Plus, there was a comment by a thru-hiker that the Nevada Wildlife was relocating city bears to Marlette Peak. The worker we met must have been at the bottom of the information chain. He did not know about the pump or the bears.

On September 27, 2019, we left Marlette Peak campground for Spooner Summit, about 13 miles. We are anticipating no water and are grateful there was water near the willows.

Trail a little rough in places. There are a couple of spots that are tight. The packs on the mules scraped and tore equipment and pulled ropes off. I know the TRTA does a good job maintaining the trail. They just have to remember that horses are wider than people.

The views of Lake Tahoe are incredible. We were battling 40-50mph winds across the rim. It took everything to keep our hats and glasses on.

We arrived at Spooner Summit. There is no water at the trailhead. You can ride ½ mile to , but you can’t camp there. The Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks boundary is close to the TRT. A sign shows the forest service boundary, about ¼ mile east of the TRT. Again, there is no water other than Spooner Lake.

Spooner Summit is the location of our first resupply. The summit is easy to get to and there is an equestrian access area off Hwy 50 and ties into the TRT. There is plenty of room to tie the horses and bring in a vehicle. Our resupply included alfalfa for the horses, water to refill our jugs and water for the horses and our food and supplies. The horses have been on half rations and whatever grass we can find for the last 5 days. The alfalfa will fill their bellies and give them a little boost.

On September 28, 2019 we left Spooner Summit for Kingsbury Grade, about 14 miles. This is another section with no water. The ride started out mostly uneventful. Then the winds started blowing (again) close to 40-50 mph, the temperature dropped and a storm was brewing. Even with the storm chasing us, the views are great.

The approaching storm was threatening all day. It was upon us at about 1600 hrs. Strong winds and snow blowing upwards. We were about 4 miles from our destination. We worked our

way through the snow to Hwy 207 Kingsbury Grade. The trail comes out above the highway and you have to switchback your way down. There is not a lot of room for 6 horses. Fortunately (for us), there was an accident at the curve and the Sheriff’s Office was directing traffic. We were able to cross without issue, otherwise it can be hazardous. The pedestrian trail is directly across the road with a nice staircase. Equestrians have to turn west and go to Buchanan Street and turn left down the street and pick up the trail at a Forest Service road. It is marked and it is only about 500’ until you reconnect with the trail. We followed the trail down the Forest Service road and made camp in a flat area.

It snowed most of the night. The area appears to get a lot of morning hikers and bikers. Just be prepared for loose dogs and people, out for their morning walks.

We were near Edgewater Creek. We could faintly hear it, but was very difficult to get to. We had plenty of water in our jugs. We did cross a creek when we left camp and headed towards Star Lake.

The below photo is a picture of one of us in the morning. There is a person under that canvas mantee. Our website has a video of him hatching.

On the morning of September 29, 2019, we left Kingsbury Grade for Star Lake, about 16 miles. The trail was covered in 4-6” of snow and the wind was still blowing. We crossed Edgewood Creek about 3⁄4 mile from our camp. The horses were able to fill up on water.

We were fortunate, there were hikers on the trail. They helped us navigate the trail in the snow, footprints. The hikers are not always right. The use of Guthook Guide is imperative.

TRTA note: The Guthook Guide is the same app as the official TRTA app which is available for Iphones and androids.

There are several ski areas on this portion of the trail. There will be a stock bypass. You will ride a trail until you reach a Forest Service road. You will take the road downhill until you intercept the trail. It is well marked, just remember to look up for signage.

You will cross the South Fork Daggett Creek. It was flowing in September, again always check for the most recent information. The trail will work around the east side of the mountain with exceptional views of the Carson Valley. The trail was good, even with the snow. There are

low branches and branches protruding into the trail path. And of course, steps. There are a couple of areas with steps.

The trail is continually ascending to Star Lake. There was 4-6” of snow and the wind was blowing hard, making for a chilly day. We reached Star Lake, the wind chill made it a long day.

There is plenty of water and is accessible for the horses along the banks. The trail crosses the outflow, which is about 18” deep and the horses have to step into the lake to drink water. There are trees for a high line, but grass is limited. Star Lake is at 9100’ elevation. The scenery is beautiful.

The wind continued to blow all night and a light dusting of snow fell. This is a nice spot for fishing and allowing the horses to rest, when grass is good and the weather is not below freezing.

Miserable night, wind blowing and all equipment was frozen in the morning.

The picture is what Star Lake looked like when we arrived.

On September 30, 2019 we intended to go from Star Lake to Round Lake. The trail is still covered in snow and the horses feet are holding ice on their hooves. The ice makes it difficult to walk, like walking with platform shoes.

The trail is in good shape, only one spot where a stump was protruding into the trail. It was protruding far enough to force us to walk on the edge of the trail and still break equipment. It is between Star Lake and Armstrong Pass. The TRTA is aware of the stump, apparently it has been sliding down across the trail slightly more each year.

We read a report, when the internet was available, and saw signs regarding hybrid algae in Round Lake. Plan change. We reached Freel Meadows, which is a large meadow. Freel Meadows was a possible destination, TBD upon arrival. We did not like the stagnant water in the meadow, though there was a lot of grass. We read a report about a stream about 3 miles down the trail, so we continued on. TRTA note: the reports were accessed via the TRTA app.

At mile 101, clockwise, we came upon a meadow that was about 150’ x 100’. There was a spring flowing through it and about 500’ down the trail a stream was flowing through the rocks. We camped, having rode about 10 miles.

The grass was tall and the horses grazed for about 1 hour that evening, happy horses.

October 1, 2019, zero day. We did not travel. We allowed the horses to rest and graze throughout the day. We repaired tack and planned our destinations. All plans are subject to change and you must be flexible.

It is still chilly and once it got dark, it was quite cold. Feet and hands still cold from the last 2 days. We crawled into our bedrolls immediately after dinner to get warm.

On October 2, 2019, we left mile 101 for destination unknown. Round lake is not an option, at this time. The trail was good. We reached Big Meadow and decided to push on to the Upper Truckee River. The ascent out of Big Meadow is steep, long and with steps. Switchbacks would be preferable. Big Meadow is just that, a big meadow. Lots of grass and a creek through it. There are areas to camp, so it is an available camp spot. I would water and graze horses prior to ascending. It is a long haul.

Round Lake appeared splendid and looked to have good camp sites. We did not let the horses near the lake (algae). There were several creeks flowing along the trail, again these creeks could be seasonal. We reached Meiss Meadows and allowed the horses to graze. After an hour or so, we moved on. We reached the Upper Truckee River and made camp, about 10 miles. The river is flowing and there is good grass.

October 3, 2019, zero day at the Upper Truckee River. Plenty of grass and water. We repaired tack and relaxed.

The views of the surrounding mountains were incredible. It was very relaxing to sit all day watching birds and looking at the rough, but beautiful mountains.

On October 4, 2019, we left the Upper Truckee River and headed to Benwood Meadow, about 13 miles. Most of the trail out of the Upper Truckee area was decent, it’s the PCT/TRT. On the top of the mesa the willows are crowding the trail and it is a little narrow for the horses and pack animals. The limbs are flexible and did not pose any issue, but should be trimmed back.

The descent down is not conducive to horses. There are steps and the steps are narrow and close together. The horses cannot get all four feet onto a step before having to negotiate the next step. This is a hazard when there is ice or snow on the trail. I found that out when my horse slid off a step and was unable to get his footing. He scrambled trying to get his footing. We slid off the trail, horse went tumbling down the hill with the rider following. This was the only time on the trip I was glad snow was on the ground, it cushioned my impact with the rocks.

Horse and rider fine after gathering scattered equipment and scrambling back up to the trail.

Granite and ice are a dangerous combination, always be extra careful when riding over this combination. Some of the switchbacks are tight and dicey. Be careful.

I know some hikers like the steps, but they are a pain in the butt for equestrians. To add to the unfriendly conditions, there was a large rock on the trail. It was just passable. (We were able to advise a trail crew at about the rock. They were aware and will remove when foot traffic subsides). TRTA note: this rock was removed, but rocks fall on the trail every year. They are removed as quickly as volunteer trail crews can get to them. The same is true with trees.

The area around Benwood Meadow is densely wooded. The meadow will appear when you get to the north end of the meadow. The grass was tall and thick. The horses grazed for 3 hours and we were rewarded with the quietest night of the entire trip. There is a pond in the middle of the meadow, which had water. The creeks feeding the meadow were mostly dry with only small pools of water in spots.

You can camp close to the trail or move a little farther away, within 300’ to have a little privacy. Benwood Meadow is a great area to camp.

On October 5, 2019, we left Benwood Meadow for Johnson Pass sno-park, our second resupply. We made our way to Echo Summit. The trail follows Hwy 50 and crosses about 1 mile west of the summit. (The TRTA has a new route in the works). We crossed Hwy 50 and worked our way to the sno-park, ½ mile east of the trail.

We met our resupply as planned. The parking lot at the Sno Park is large with plenty of room for the horses and resupply vehicles. Again, we fed horses alfalfa and free choice water while we stocked our panniers.

We left the resupply area for Lake Aloha, about 8 miles. There is an equestrian bypass at the Echo Lakes store to avoid a bridge with a steel grate surface. We rejoined the trail at the top of the hill above the bridge. The trail is rocky and uneven. There are rocks on the trail, tree roots and is a generally crappy trail for horses. There was a rock slide that proved to be a little dicey getting over. The trail all the way to Lake Aloha is generally a pain in the butt with stock animals.

We reached Lake Aloha around 1730 hrs. Lake Aloha is a popular destination, so there are a lot of people. We were able to find a place with trees, it was cramped, but worked.

Approaching the lake, there is a nice little meadow up the hill from the trail. Its condition throughout the year is to be determined. Otherwise, there is no grass near the lake.

Nothing special about Lake Aloha, other than it is scenic, but busy. At nighttime, there were too many lights around the shoreline to count. We saw more people on this section of the trail than we did in the rest of the 165 miles of trail combined.

On October 6, 2019, we left Lake Aloha for at minimum, Dicks Lake. The trail from Lake Aloha is not ideal for horses. There are rocks on the trail, 4” or bigger, making the footing difficult. In addition to the rocks, there are steps. There are several areas where the granite is slanted or sloped on the trail making it tougher for the horses. One horse slipped on the slanted granite and gouged his leg. The wound was deep enough to leave a blood trail, which got the attention of several hikers who stopped to chat while we tended to his injury.

About 1 ½ miles north of Lake Aloha is a small meadow adjacent to the trail. It was big enough to allow the horses to graze for an hour and they did not run out of grass. There is a seasonal pond on the south side of the trail, just opposite of the meadow. It had water in it when we were there, each year will determine if there is water.

The trail continues to be rocky and uneven for horses. I must reiterate that it is a terrible trail for horses. Granted, I am 12 days into a ride and being very critical. There is a portion of the trail at Heather Lake that has a section of jagged shale rocks and is slanted toward the lake.

We decided to dismount and walk the horses across this area. Again, the trail condition is what it is, the TRTA does its best to maintain the trial. Remember, there are more than one agency managing the trail.

In addition, there were several areas that had rock slides leaving a lot of loose debris on the trail. There are no decent camps at Heather Lake. There are several good sites at Susie Lake for a camp. It is flat, no grass, but plenty of water.

After Susie Lake you start the ascent up to Dicks Pass. The trail, again, not unduly horse friendly. There are steps with wooden braces and rebar protruding from the lumber. The rebar is a hazard to both horses and hikers. Much of this section of trail is loose granite and can be slick. We reached a mesa just below Dicks Pass. We met with a Forest Service worker, who was working on the trail. We unloaded on him, in a polite way. We tried to tell him that the trail is not very equestrian friendly. His response, “its budgetary”. He did say he would bring up the trail conditions regarding equestrians.

We grazed the horses on the mesa as we spoke to the forest service worker. The ascent from the mesa to Dicks Pass is pretty consistent. It is a steady ascent. The brush is quite thick for equestrians. You will continuously brush up against trees and brush. The trail is narrow in a couple of spots. The ascent will lead you to believe that the other side of the mountain will be the same. Fortunately, it is not. The trail improves a little bit on the north side of Dicks Pass. There are several narrow switchbacks, but the footing was good.

The north side of Dicks Pass had some snow and ice on it. The trail is good, the snow and ice is just annoying, especially after spending 2 days in a snow storm. We reached Dicks Lake. There are several campsites, but no grass. We decided to move on. We reached Fontanillis Lake. There appears to be no good camping there for horses. We continued to a meadow and flowing creek about 1 ½ miles north of Dicks Lake. We made camp, about 16 miles.

The grass was good and the creek was flowing well. We grazed the horses for at least an hour at night and in the morning.

On October 7, 2019 we left for Miller Creek, we planned to get to Miller Creek at minimum for the day. We would make a determination when we arrived. Velma Lakes has good access to water. There are several small meadows between Velma Lakes and Miller Creek. Most meadows are just big enough for about 30 minutes of grazing. There were several dry creeks.

The trail is not bad, a typical alpine type trail, without all the granite. It was a relief. We reached Miller Creek. The creek was flowing and there was some grass in the area. There are a couple of campsites. We decided not to stay there and moved on. We reached Bear Lake outlet. The water was flowing well, but there was no grass. There are not a lot of good campsites. You could camp there, but it is not the best place. The Bear Lake outlet crossing was challenging.

We decided to move on to Barker Creek, about 16 miles total. The trail is in good shape, like all portions of the trail there are low branches. We reached Barker Creek around 1800 hrs. We found a meadow on the south side of the creek, which was flowing well. There is an established, frequently used site south of the creek.

There are several meadows in the area. You can be more selective of where you camp, but that depends on the water situation.

On October 8, 2019, we left Barker Creek for Tahoe City, about 17 miles. The trail was pretty good, there was a dead fall protruding into the trail. It was about ½ mile north of Barker Creek. The trail works its way over Barker Pass trailhead. Large area, big enough for a horse trailer. But, no water. We worked our way over Barker Pass. The trail switchbacks down to a creek and more granite.

There are a couple of areas that would make good campsites. Again, depends on the time of year and a water source. There are several small meadows and flat areas to camp. Water is always the number one concern. Once you pass this area, you will be on the side of a hill until you reach Blackwood Cr, or one of its feeders. There will be an ascent that has long switchbacks. This area has several sections with shale, be careful. Just before that there are a couple of areas that you can camp in, some grass and the water would be seasonal.

The PCT/TRT are still joined, and will be until the Twin Peaks cutoff. The trail ascends and goes through the . There are great views on the rim. The trail will stay on the rim for a bit, before heading back into the trees. Trail is good and no major issues.

Reaching the PCT/TRT junction, you will turn right, east toward the Twin Peaks Pass. There are rough, but beautiful rock formations at the high point of the trail near Twin Peaks.

The trail will switchback down. There are several vistas just off the trail. The trail is in good shape, a few steps and roots. The trail works it way through until the Stanford Peak junction.

The trail is a steady descent from the Stanford Peak Junction until Ward Creek. It is somewhat narrow but otherwise is in good shape. There was a downed tree protruding out over the trail, about ½ mile down from the junction.

At mile 161, or so, there is a nice meadow. There is a creek, running during wet years, and there is plenty of grass. There are several places to camp.

The trail continues down, steps and more steps. We walked to the side of the steps, if we could. You will cross Ward Creek, via bridge and pick up a Forest Service Rd. The trail follows the road until Ward Rd. The road is actually good, they were logging the area, so the road was graded and nice. The logging crew was courteous, and idled their machinery for the horses to pass.

There is a gate at the Ward Rd crossing. At the time, there was a large boulder on the side of the gate, preventing passage on either side, if the gate was closed.

You will cross Ward Rd and the trail is a constant ascent, until it ties in with a Forest Service Rd, and then you will ascend some more. It will level off through Page Meadows, then descend most of the way to the Truckee River. Upon reaching the Truckee River, you will follow the river on a nice path, to the corner of the 64 Acre Parking lot. You will cross a bridge, follow the path until you have to cross Hwy 89. Believe it or not, people will stop allowing you to cross Hwy 89.

We crossed Hwy 89 and rode the last 1000’ to the vehicles. We completed the entire TRT in 15 days. It’s a great trail to ride.

We are actually happy. We completed the TRT, slept on the trail, bested 2 snow storms, cold and the usual adversity with horses. The TRT is a challenging trail and you will ride through rough and rocky mountains, forests, open vistas, and enjoy some spectacular views.

You must be prepared for all types of weather from heat to cold, clear skies to snow, winds in excess of 30 MPH. Expect the worst and enjoy the best. Your horses must be experienced trail horses. The trail is groomed and for the most part in exceptional shape, but there are sections with shale, narrow sections and uneven. There will be a wall on the left and a sheer drop off on the right. You must be able to mount and dismount from either side of your horse.

I have been riding for over 40 years and my horse is an experienced trail horse, still, we slid off the trail. It can happen to anyone at anytime. You can’t ride with your head in the clouds. You have to enjoy the trail and the scenery, but be cognizant of your surroundings. Enjoy the trail.

We visited a local Mexican restaurant for dinner and a toast.

Planning the TRT ride required a lot of research. You can’t decide on Monday to ride it on Saturday. During the planning I found there is very little information for equestrians. I hope this pamphlet is helpful for your trip. Remember, you will have to utilize all available sources, TRTA, US Forest Service, and any other source, such as thru-hiker bloggers, etc.

You can call or email us for information or questions.

Brian Frontella 209-769-1163 [email protected]

Rob Wangberg 530-715-4484 [email protected]

Shawn Manville 916-717-3562 [email protected]

Good luck. Enjoy the ride.