Archive for the ‘Fall Recreation’ Category
By Tim Hauserman
When one is presented with a less then optimal winter in the snow department, it’s time to squeeze those lemons and make some lemonade. Within 45 minutes of Truckee several great mountain biking trails are in tip top condition and ready to ride. So get out there and enjoy the dirt until the snow flies.
Photos courtesy of Kelly Conley
Heading down Highway 20
Drive 25 miles west on Interstate 80, and then take Highway 20 towards Nevada City. The next 22 miles you pass through a deep forest of conifers, briefly interrupted by several awesome viewpoints. The second one, Alpha Omega Vista has restrooms and a view of the eroded hillsides that are the still visible impacts of the Gold Rush. Five miles east of Nevada City you reach the Harmony Ridge Market on your right. Park in the Trail Parking lot, and decide on your trail option: Pioneer Trail or the Scotts Flat Trail.
The Pioneer Trail starts on the Harmony Market side and follows the highway back the way you came. It’s a lovely gentle climb for five miles, all rideable for just about any mountain biker. At five miles the trail crosses the road, and begins to get more challenging and steep. This is a good turn around point for many. Eventually it reaches all the way back to the Alpha Omega Rest Stop, which would be a fairly lengthy adventure.
The Scotts Flat Trail sits across the highway, and about one hundred yards uphill of the Market. This trail, recently constructed for mountain bikers, begins with a rolling jaunt at the top of the hill before heading down a long series of fun switchbacks to Scotts Flat Reservoir. Strong riders will have a blast and can turn around and ride back up, while others can follow the more gentle paved road to climb back to the start.
Photos courtesy of Kelly Conley
Peavine
Take the first McCarran Exit off Interstate 80 at the eastern edge of Reno. Head north past all of the commercial hubbub for a mile or two to Keystone, turn left. You will find trailhead on your right. A map of the extensive network of trails sits at the beginning of the ride, the trick will be remembering this map once you’ve been riding for awhile. It’s a high desert romp on popular trails, sometimes rocky, but mostly quite rideable, with beautiful views of the Reno metropolis and the high desert.
Photos courtesy of Kelly Conley
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By Michelle Portesi
The Apple Growers of Apple Hill California
Nestled just off of Highway 50, from South Lake Tahoe past Pollock Pines is the area known as Apple Hill. Hidden behind the pines is a thriving community of apple growers, cider pressers, wineries, eateries and more.
The popular area’s season got off to a rough start with the King Fire nipping at its doorstep and the smoke making any foray outdoors hard on the lungs. Mercifully that didn’t hurt the harvest and blue skies and fresh air greeted us once the fire was snuffed out. (Thank you to all the fearless firefighters!)
A recent trip down to the area showed the fires vast expanse of devastation along the highway, but just past that it didn’t take long to realize that it didn’t dampen the desire for the freshest apples around by the general population. It was Saturday. It was a glorious fall day. The town was PACKED! (Do yourself a favor. Don’t go on a Saturday.)
Our first stop graced us with a riot of fall mums, marigolds and a plethora of apple varieties I’d never heard of before. I had to buy some, and I will tell you honestly, they were DELISH! Nothing beats a fresh, unbelievable crisp and sweet apple. I may never buy store bought again.
From there we followed the trail map to several other growers, quickly realizing we couldn’t buy every single variety at every single orchard and still make rent. Fortified with a tasty lunch from one of the orchards, sitting under the apple trees on picnic benches, we planned our route to a variety of places that offered different treats. One offered an on site cider press, and I couldn’t resist a freshly pressed half gallon of it. This too was marvelous, and I have just the recipe to use it for. (Chicken brined in cider with a reduced cider gravy. Yum!)
A man and his emu…
Several had craft fairs, pick your own produce and orchards, petting zoos and gift shops (Grandpa’s Cellar) offering a wide array of apple inspired motifs. Interspersed amongst the orchards were several wineries, and we did get to sample from one that carried hard cider.
But the best treat of all was a stop at an unassuming orchard named Honey Bear Ranch, with the best caramel nut apple pie ever baked. We sat under a beautiful outdoor gazebo adorned with vines, listened to some great music, and savored every mouthful.
Apple Hill is best visited in the Fall, however the area is also a major Christmas Tree grower, and some orchards are open year round.
I’m thinking I’ll be having a serious need for more of those Caramel Apple Holiday Pies…
To learn more and plan your trip, visit their website here: Apple Hill
Be sure to download the Apple Hill map.
The size of a dinner plate!
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By Michelle Portesi
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It’s time to embark on the annual trick or treat candy buy in the off chance I might get a trick or treater at my door. (Highly unlikely …it just started raining and is supposed to turn to snow tonight, LOL)
At which time I will then also embark on the annual, ‘I ended up eating it myself’ ritual…
That being said, stay warm, dry and safe tonight. The forecast is for winter to make an appearance a wee bit early, although it’s fairly common for Trick or Treaters to have their big winter jackets on over their Fairy Princess and Darth Vader costumes. And it’s always a bit weird and incongruous to see Jack – O – Lanterns with 6″ of snow on them.
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THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
Share this: Lynn Richardson, Your Friend in High Places
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