On the initiative of our PR RADmin, Donny Schmidt, we met with the leadership of Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and Truckee Dirt Riders to discuss our favorite topic: dirtbike trails.
 
If you like mountain singletrack riding in areas such as Downieville, and you don’t know who Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is, then you should because they are the angels who have built over 90 miles of new singletrack and maintained over 1,100 miles of trails since 2003. 
 
Their current epic project is the planning and development of 300 miles of new multiuse (translation: dirtbike friendly) singletrack trail connecting the communities of Loyalton, Sierraville, Sierra City, Downieville, Quincy, Graeagle, Portola, Taylorsville, Greenville, Chester, Westwood, Susanville, Jonesville, Truckee and Reno.  How cool is that?
 
This massive undertaking beginning this year is estimated to take approximately 10 years to complete.  The project will be completed in three phases: (1) inventorying, planning and mapping trails, which includes coordination with all of the land managers and various communities; (2) completion of environmental studies; and finally (3) the construction of trails.  Greg Williams, the Executive Director of SBTS, estimates that the first two phases of planning and environmental assessments will take approximately three years. Yes, Greg and the devoted people of SBTS are in this for the long haul.  What a way to devote your life to making a difference and benefiting so many people who share the passion of trail riding.
 
The project will cost $9.1 Million, to be funded largely by California OHV grant funds and support by their community partners. In addition to the endless potential of braaapy bliss of having this trail system, the local communities will realize economic benefits as riders stop into town for resources like dining, fuel and hospitality. SBTS also anticipates job creation in connection with the maintenance of this trail system.
 
Separately, Truckee Dirt Riders have been working with the Truckee Ranger District by providing feedback regarding whats called the "East Zone Connectivity Project". This is a very large project initiated by the Forest Service to connect OHV trails in the Truckee area to create better, sustainable trail systems. One part of the plan is a brand new 70 mile motorcycle loop on Verdi Ridge that connects to the Prosser, Boca, and Stampede Reservoir areas and campgrounds. The plan should be in the public comment phase sometime in February 2020. They are also in the process of signing a trail adoption agreement to provide volunteer labor for maintenance on the existing dirtbike trails.
 
These are two great examples of how having a travel management plan through the local land managers (e.g., Forest Service and BLM) can mean great things for OHV users – like getting more access. 

We are going to continue to follow up on the progress of these projects, and do what we can to support them.

RAD can learn a lot from TDR and SBTS.  RAD and TDR are particularly interested in the development of new singletrack between Reno and Truckee.  I don’t know about you, but I would sure love to ride to Truckee, grab lunch, play on their trails and ride home on some sweet singletrack! Similarly, the Truckee guys can ride down to Verdi and check out our awesome distilleries and restaurants. Toward that goal, we have more meetings planned with the leaders of these two great organizations and look forward to collaborating with them.

Your RADmins hit the ground running in 2020, rolling out some plans to make this a rad year! Watch out as we fill up the calendar with projects, clinics and fun times for everyone. Rest assured, we are conscious of the MRANN race schedule and intend to plan around those weekends.           
 
It’s been so exciting to see the OG membership renewals and new member signups rolling in during these first couple weeks of January.  We are so honored to have this support and we recognize every single one of you.  Your membership dues allow us to have some capital to work with to get supplies for our projects and also give back to the members and other people who volunteer their time as much as possible.
 
First order of business this year is going to be our first clean-up day, which was one of the smaller objectives of our OHV Grant Project. We’ve identified the area above the Horizon Hills community off Kiowa Way north of Reno – part of our stomping grounds on USFS land at the base of Peavine – needs our help. 

RADmins are coordinating with the Washoe County Sherriff’s office regarding the removal of the boat, camper and car.  Extra consideration also needs to be given to the proper disposal of the tires and abandoned vehicles. There's plenty of other debris that are a blight on the area, as marked by the points on the map. We are still ironing out all of the logistics and gathering our community supporters.  If you have any resources to share with us, please let a RADmin know about it.  
 
If you are super-rad and want to be a part of this solution, mark your calendar for February 22nd beginning at 9:30AM to help out!  Anyone who has any special tools or equipment which can assist with dragging that car up the hill out of the pond or dismantling the trailer would be incredibly valuable. RAD will supply some gloves, hard hats, safety glasses and other PPE, per Forest Service standards, and some hand tools - however, if you have your own PPE we encourage you to bring that. 

RAD Volunteers will receive a special long-sleeve “Keep Trails Rad” t-shirt.  In the morning, we will have coffee and breakfast pastries for everyone.  In the afternoon, lunch is being catered by Sparks Chick-Fil-A.  
 
Directions from Reno: Take 395 North to the Lemmon Drive exit.  Turn left on Lemmon Drive, and right on N. Virginia Street. Take a left on Seneca Drive.  Take another left on Kiowa Way, which will turn into a dirt road leading to the OHV staging area, where our tent and dumpster will be.
 
Circling back with Sierra Trail Works for the meat and potatoes portion of the grant project devoted to our singletrack, Kevin’s schedule proposes approximately 3-4 weekends of work beginning in mid-May.  Look for further updates with this schedule this Spring.
 
We’re looking forward to engaging with the community and getting the ball rolling toward making our trails a better place for all!