TAKE ACTION: Caldor Fire Hazard Tree Removal Project
The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking public comments on a proposal to remove hazardous trees from the Caldor Fire area. This project would utilize heavy machinery to remove all fire damaged trees within 200 feet of trails, roads, and facilities within the Caldor Fire scar. They intend to use heavy machinery to perform work on slopes below 50 percent in steepness (which is a majority of the project). Please find project details here as well as the directions to make comments by the March 14th deadline.
Don’t miss your chance to speak up and preserve trail access this summer. The public comment period for the Caldor Hazard Tree Fuels Reduction Project ends in a few days. Comment on the project to ensure the greatest efficiency in removing hazard trees while protecting trail infrastructure and minimizing trail closure times in the burn area.
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2021 Trail Work Recap
Despite an ongoing pandemic, heavy smoke from area fires and the Caldor Fire itself, we had an extremely productive 2021. This is in great thanks to our dedicated volunteers, donors, and partners who worked collaboratively to overcome the various challenges thrown our way.
We completed 4 major trail projects last year including the Lily Lake Trail, Stanford Rock Trail, Stumpy SG, and Upper Tyrolian Reconstruction. These projects are spread around the lake and provide for a variety opportunities for a wide range of riders. This includes fun flowy singletrack on Stumpy, long climbs and descents on Stanford Rock, big jumps with lake views on Tyrolian, and seemingly endless rock gardens on Lily Lake.
In addition to the major projects we wrapped up, we also faced a huge unexpected challenge from the Caldor Fire, which severely damaged some of the most beloved mountain bike trails in the region. We are incredibly grateful to the LTBMU staff that worked so quickly to mitigate the most dangerous hazards so that we could get our paid crew and small groups of volunteers in there to perform emergency repairs before winter. These efforts made it possible for the fire closure area in the Basin to be dropped ahead of schedule and allowed our community to get back in on their favorite trails to enjoy some excellent fall riding before December storms. There is still major work to be done on the Caldor affected trails, including rebuilding bridges, replacing signage, and fixing retaining walls.
Here are some of the key accomplishments from last year:
- Over 2000 volunteer hours contributed
- 2+ miles of new trail built
- 100+ miles of trail maintained
- 300+ trees cleared
TAMBA volunteers work on repairs in the Caldor burn area
Volunteers ride up to a work day on Corral Trail
Stanford Rock berm work
Installing the final sign on Stanford Rock Trail
2022 Riding and Trail Work Season
The 2022 riding and trail work season is rapidly approaching. We’ve begun clearing down trees on Tahoe Mountain, so lower elevation, south facing trails will be the first to open up. It’s important to remember that early season conditions exist including snow patches, rock/branch debris, mud/standing water, and downed trees. Please use caution as you venture out and go early in the morning if possible to prevent damage to wet and muddy trails. It will also be easier for you to navigate standing snow. Now is also a great time for riders to brush up on trail etiquette.
If you come across any major trail hazards while you are venturing out, let us know by dropping us an email at trails@tamba.org. Please include the approximate location and a photo if possible.
Our first volunteer trail days will start in April, so stay tuned for those opportunities!
Conditions Update: While most trails are still snow covered in the Tahoe Basin, Tahoe Mountain South and Valley View trail are starting to show themselves. There are still plenty of snow patches and it gets muddier as the day warms up.
Event updates
A big thanks to all that stopped by the TAMBA booth at the Winter Festival of Lights on December 10 & 11. South Lake Brewing Company provided some amazing local beer and good times were had by all. Our most notable sale was 12 pairs of TAMBA socks for x-mas gifts! How cool is that family!
On February 6, Heavenly Ski Patrol held a fundraiser at Base Camp Pizza Co. to support TAMBA. It was a blast to spend time with the Patrol crew and get a welcome wag of the tail from the 4-legged patrollers!
Mark your calendar for the upcoming Earth Day celebration on April 24th at Bijou Park. TAMBA and our good friends from South Lake Brewing Company will be there and we can’t wait to see you! We are working on our summer event schedule and will be sharing updates soon.
Thank You to Our Recent Large Donors
TAMBA appreciates every donation. Shoutout to these highlighted donors for their generous support:
| Aaron Daniel $1,100
Adrian Taylor $500 Adriana Maggiore $1,000 Alexis Novacek $500 Alpen Sierra Coffee $1,500 Andrew Magiera $500 Bill Miller $1,000 Bill Russell $2,000 Bob Campbell $5,000 Bruce Rogers $2,000 Chris Gibson $2,500 Collin Huston $3,400 Corey McLeod $500 Dan Robertson $1,000 Daniel Martin $5,000 Dennis Morgan $1,000 Donny Friend $1,000 Edward Villanueva $2,000 Erik Van Der Poel $5,937 Erin Jones $500 Frank Galli $500 Frank Muscat $12,000 Jack Wurster $7,500 James Galletto $1,000 James Yasueda $1,000 Anonymous Donor $20,000 Jeremy Feinberg $1,000 John Percy $1,000 Johnnie Smith $500 Joseph Roop $1,000 Joshua Buck $1,000 Joshua Hutchens $1,000 Justin Thomas $1,000 Karl Olsen $500 Keira Armstrong $500 Kent Bell $2,500 Kris Spevak $1,000 Lars MacLeod $500 Mary Frandsen $1,000 Matt Rolandson $1,000 MWA, Inc. Architecture and Engineering $500 Nicholas Abelow $500 Orri Rail $500 Paul Osborne $800 Thank you for your support! |
