Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Lake Tahoe (CA)

After both a shuttle ride on the Downieville Downhill and some laps on Armstrong Connector & Corral, we were feeling warmed up for a more spicy run in the South Lake Tahoe (SLT) area. With Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (or simply, Toads) being the famed ride of this zone, we set our sights on that and looked over the various maps and guidebooks to determine our specific route. In the end we decided to do a partial shuttle to the top of Fountain Place Road, where we'd ride up Armstrong Pass Trail and then traverse over to Toads on the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). For this adventure we'd be down a few riders who wanted to bag the 38 mile IMBA Epic, which I certainly didn't have the legs or lungs for, especially while riding between eight and ten thousand feet in elevation.

After eating breakfast and readying our gear, we packed up the cars and headed out from our rental house in Meyers. Within a few miles we found ourselves at the parking lot at the bottom of Toads, where we dropped off a car and continued up the steep one-lane road. Along the way we passed by a few bikers who were riding up the pavement, and although we felt a little guilty about driving up, we were on vacation and do plenty of that in our own stomping ground. Once we reached the top of the road at the gate, we unloaded our bikes while under assault from the hungry mosquitoes that must have been awaiting our arrival. I sprayed myself down with some bug spray and quickly geared up so that I could keep moving, hoping to leave the blood-suckers behind.

Now that we were on the trail and making our way up toward the pass, the bug problem was minimized, but another kind of suffering was only beginning. Since our hometowns in Oregon are near sea level, the elevation proved to be a factor, and even though the trail was climbing at a fairly modest pace I found myself much more winded than I would be on climbs that were much steeper back home. Furthermore, the trails around Eugene are not nearly as technical so the punchy ups with rock moves were especially exhausting. After a bit I did settle in, and as my legs started to warm up I was able to find at least a little bit of a rhythm. Speaking of the technical features, the rounded granite rock scattered along the length of the trail created a lot of really fun puzzles to solve. Although most sections weren't overly difficult going down with momentum, climbing up, around and through them was certainly challenging in spots. At around the 3.5 mile mark and after climbing around one thousand vertical feet we reached Armstrong Pass, which had a nice open flat area to catch our breath and take in the amazing high Sierra scenery.

Danika, early on during the climb up Armstrong.

One of the more technical stretches on Armstrong

Kim picks her line through a typical section of Armstrong

Tait, enjoying the climb

Sandra, closing in on Armstrong Pass.

Since I didn't want to stiffen up and also knowing that I wasn't the strongest climber in the group, I decided to jump out ahead while the others were still snacking. Now on the TRT, the climb continued, only this time along a sidehill traverse, alternating through sections of wildflowers and rock gardens. Once the trail had gained the top of the ridge, it flattened out and traveled through some sandy sections that were reminiscent of the riding in Bend (OR). Soon after, the trail started a short descent with some really fun rocky bits, including a drop down some stairs that were hand built using the readily available granite for its structure. As we rounded one of the next few corners the trail opened up into a large meadow, with wildflowers adding an impressive array of color to the amazing setting, which also reminded me a bit of Oregon.

Typical scenery on the climb up the TRT

Just like Bend (OR) on the top of the ridge

Emily C., leading the pack.

Randy, in hot pursuit.

Danika drops down a fun rocky bit.

Kim prepares for another rocky section

Randy gives the stairs a go

Entering the large meadow

Danika and Kim, deep in the meadow.

Hard to complain about this!

Once most of the crew had regrouped, we continued on through Freel Meadows, and eventually started our descent down toward the start of Toads. There were actually some pretty fun drops in this section of the TRT, and I could only imagine what it was going to be like once we were on Toads itself. Upon reaching the intersection I found a nice flat piece of granite to sit down on and armor up for the descent. About the time that the rest of the crew showed up I was all geared up and ready to go. I figured this would be a good opportunity for me to start heading down the trail and setup for some shots at one of the rock drops that I knew would be starting just around the corner.

One of the only views of the lake from this section of the TRT, which provided a great place to regroup.

Randy rockets down the final descent to the Toads intersection

As I dropped in I tried to stay light on my pedals, unweighting my front and rear tires over the rock obstacles that seemed to grow in size and difficulty as I made my way down the trail. Sure enough, in about a 1/4 mile I found a sweet little rock pitch to get some shots of the crew coming down. Like clockwork, just as I was pulling out my camera both Randy and Tait came flying into view. I quickly gave them the "It goes!", and without hesitation they both cleaned the drop in style and then disappeared around the corner. I quickly jumped back on my bike and gave chase, hoping to find a different spot to take photos of the second wave of bikers.

Randy and Tait, coming in hot!

Tait, between a rock and a hard place.

Before long I came up on the tail end of Randy and Tait, who were both off their bikes. I was coming in too fast to process what was going on but soon discovered for myself what they had dismounted for -- a rather nasty boulder jumble that I was only able to ride about halfway through before getting lost in the mess. Apparently Randy had also pinch-flatted on this drop and was in the middle of the repair process, with Tait lending a hand. I could see that directly below us was another tricky drop or two and that the trail seemed to be descending at a rather alarming rate. With that, I leaned my bike against a tree to see what lay in front of us. What I found was at least two more sizeable drops and who knew what below that! From my scout it looked like both drops looked fairly ridable, with the first being both more chunky and more difficult. Since the other two were still putting Randy's bike back together, I figured I may as well give the drops a go and report my findings back to them. With only a short flat section to clip into my pedals, I barely got into them before my front wheel started to crawl over the baby heads that lined the entrance of the drop. Even though I was able to line up like I had planned, as soon as I entered the crux of the drop my front wheel fell into a pocket that just about sent me over the bars, forcing me to dismount. After seeing our buddy, Andy, blow out his shoulder and fracture his ankle the day before by going over the bars, I decided to walk the drop instead of giving it another go.

Looking back up at the first drop in the crux section,
which felt much more chaotic when entering from above. 

The second pitch was also a bit of a mess

The author, able to put it together on a more recent trip
(photo by Bill Riedl)

The third pitch, which I was now above, was much cleaner than the other two and more akin to the many drops I'd ridden in Squamish and Whistler (OR). It ended up going pretty smooth and I was stoked to have cleaned it on my first attempt. After getting off my bike and finding a nice place to get some shots, I relayed my findings to the others, who had just finished up with Randy's bike. Like me, no one else was able to clean either of the first two drops, but the third went well for a few more in the crew. Just below here was another tough section that was both rocky and loose as it made its way down a couple of switchbacks before finally flattening out to a more manageable gradient. This ended up being quite a series of drops and in my opinion fully deserving of the double-black rating that was indicated on the map.

Tait with a solid line down the third

The author somewhere in the mix during a more recent trip
(photo by Bill Riedl)

Now through the crux section, Toads continued to descend at a rapid pace, with many technical rock features along the way -- they weren't nearly as difficult as the stuff above, but they still provided plenty of fun lines and excitement! Tait was also taking photos in this section, which helped to slow him down and allow me to leapfrog while getting some shots of my own. At one point, the trail rounded a right-hand bend and dropped down a long series of stairs, built from rock and pressure treated wood beams. They continued for quite a distance and by the time I had reached the bottom my eyes felt like they were going to bounce out of my skull. I quickly jumped off my bike to snap some photos of the others coming through, who were also a bit shaken up by the experience. Just after the extended staircase the trail continued down a technical rock pathway, which showed off some more impressive workmanship.

A typical section of upper Toads

On to the next

Emily C. drops into another rock garden

Sandra and Tait finishing up the stairs

Kim, about halfway through the stairs.

More fun rock!

Lining up another drop

The author makes a rare appearance on one of the many fun rocky pitches
(photo by Tait Grundyson)

The further down Toads we went the less technical it became, and eventually it turned into more of a flow trail, with some fast straightaways and banked turns. There were also a few rock drops and kickers scattered throughout to spice things up a bit. Mixed in there somewhere was a deep puddle where Tait had setup for some photos. Not wanting to disappoint the camera man I hit it full speed, and I must say, I'm pretty happy that it wasn't any deeper...

The author going full Moses
(photo by Tait Grundyson)

The author, loving Toads!
(photo by Tait Grundyson)

Tait nears the end of the techie stuff on the top half

Gotta love the sub-alpine landscape!

Danika, somewhere along the second half of Toads.

  All too soon, the gradient tapered off and the trail surface became quite dusty, to the point that we needed to increase the space between us. There were few more technical bits in this bottom stretch, but nothing that is really worth mentioning. Probably the coolest part down low were the rock bridges that had been built over the small stream crossings, which if you weren't paying attention you may not notice. After regrouping at a trail intersection, we rode down the last three quarters of a mile of trail to where it ended at a dirt road, which we then followed back to our awaiting car for some cold beers and clean clothes.

Some fun berm sections on the lower half

Rock drops too!

Tait, kickin' up dust near the end of Toads

Parting thoughts:
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is certainly that, and then some! If you're in Tahoe and a 6 mile descent with plenty of technical rock features is your cup of tea, this ride should not be missed. The top part has some spots that will challenge even the most aggressive downhill folks, but seasoned XC riders will also enjoy it, assuming you're okay with walking a few of the drops. I do wish that the bottom half was a little more technical like the top, but that's being a bit nitpicky, since you certainly get your fill early on. Even with the partial shuttle, getting to the Toads trailhead was a grunt but also very rewarding, with some fun punchy climbs and short descents, all while riding through spectacular sub-alpine meadows and forests. This is definitely a ride that will be on my to-do list whenever I'm in Tahoe with my mountain bike!

Our tracks:

Downieville Downhill (CA) -- The Classic Route

Located in the northern California Sierra, Downieville is a place I've visited about a half dozen times, mainly for whitewater kayaking on Pauley and Lavezzola Creeks (trip report here). With the drought of 2015, we decided to head there for mountain biking instead, knowing that the Downieville Downhill is considered one of the classic rides in the United States. During our trip over Memorial Day weekend we encountered one of the hardest rainstorms that I've ever experienced, while we were still on the trail. Within an hour we received a couple inches of rain and there was a ~8" deep river running straight down the trail. We ended up cutting our losses and bailing from the ride at the start of First Divide. We now affectionately refer to that particular ride as the Downieville Downpour...

Chris on typical section of Butcher Ranch, during the Downieville Downpour

Soaking up the trail, literally...

Roman, is that mud or...?

Bill dropping into a typical rock pitch near the end of Butcher Ranch

Now 2016, and with a trip to Tahoe already planned for the 4th of July, Emily and I decided that it would be a great opportunity to hit it on the way. Five others in the Tahoe crew were game as well – Emily C, Arthur, Danika, Andy, and Erin. Since it was the 4th of July and we figured it would be busy, we booked our 10:30am shuttle ahead of time with Yuba Expeditions. It wasn't until about an hour before our shuttle that we met up with our fellow companions, where we did some catching up while waiting to depart. Once everyone had checked in, we loaded into the shuttle van and started the drive up to Packer Lake Saddle, where we'd be starting our ride. As I recall, the shuttle to the top took around 45 minutes, which gave us plenty of time to take in the great scenery that this part of the Sierras has to offer. Once we reached Packer Lake Saddle our shuttle driver, Billy, gave us the rundown on the trail options as well as some basic etiquette for the trails we'd be riding, which were mixed use. Once all the bikes were unloaded we thanked him and bid a farewell, stoked for the ride that lay in front of us!

Loaded up and ready to go!

Starting off on the Sunrise Trail, we traveled less than 100 yards before taking a left on the newer "flow section", which was a recommended alternative to the top end of the trail. Immediately we were deposited through a field of wildflowers before dropping into a series of banked turns and flowy traverses. Although it was a bit dusty, the trail rode well and we were all enjoying the ride. All too soon the trail reached forest road 93, where on the other side we'd be entering the famed Butcher Ranch section.

Andy and EGP startin' things off

Not a bad way to start the ride!

Arthur finds some fun stuff early on

Emily rounds one of the last corners on the Sunrise Trail

Erin finishing up the Sunrise Trail

Butcher Ranch started off much like our trails back home, alternating between forest and meadows, albeit through a much drier landscape. Although the top part of Butcher Ranch was a bit pedally and didn't present much of a technical challenge, I knew from riding it the year before that the bottom half would be a different story. That said, it was still plenty fun and provided a great way to warm up the legs for what was to come. The end of the top portion was a dry creek crossing, which had both a steep technical down and up, with the latter tripping up a majority of the crew. On the other side of the crossing was an obvious place to rest and wait for the rest of the riders to catch up.

Entering the meadow on the first part of Butcher Ranch

Danika lines up the dry creek crossing

Since I wanted to snap some photos I jumped out ahead, knowing that I'd have plenty of good technical drops to setup at. This part of Butcher Ranch was just as I had remembered, continuous sections of root and rock with a bigger drop mixed in here and there for good measure. Unlike the granite rock found in nearby Lake Tahoe, this was much sharper and more broken up, making for a more helter-skelter technical challenge, which was feast for those who like their trails a bit more rugged. Eventually we reached one of the more difficult features, a long and rocky creek crossing that proved challenging to even the most experienced riders in our crew. The last time I had ridden the trail the stream was flowing pretty good, which made it almost impossible to ride. This time it was fairly dry, which allowed me to make it through sight unseen and without dabbing – Hey, the sun shines on a dog's ass every now and again...

Gettin' into the goods on Butcher Ranch

Andy in hot pursuit

Emily on a typical stretch of Butcher Ranch

Arthur lines up the crux drop on Butcher Ranch

Finishing up nicely

Soon after the crossing we found ourselves high above and riding along Pauley Creek, one of my favorite class IV whitewater kayaking runs anywhere! In between the technical drops I'd catch a quick glimpse of it, remembering the great times I'd had running it with my buddies back in the day. Since I was taking lots of photos along the way, I was working hard to leap-frog the others in the crew, which gave true meaning to anaerobic exercise. As soon as I reached the foot bridge over Pauley Creek I remembered that the biggest climb of the ride started just on the other side. Danika and Andy were stopped in the middle of the bridge to take photos and as I passed by I let them know to gear down and raise their seats, while I mentally prepared for it myself.

Although the technical features were mostly rock, there were some fun roots thrown in as well

Lots of drops like this while paralleling Pauley Creek

Loose but still fun!

Danika and Andy chillaxin' over Pauley Creek before the climb

The climb was actually not bad at all and only gained about 300 vertical feet. At the top we reached the start of the Third Divide Trail, which would be the next section of our ride. This was also the location where the Big Boulder Trail exits from above, which is another trail option from which to start the ride, and one that I hope to do at some point. If the backboard and neckbrace that is stationed at the end is any indication, it should be a great one indeed! Once we had regrouped we dropped into Third Divide, which would be the fastest and most flowy leg of the entire descent. It was in stark contrast to the technical riding found on Butcher Ranch, and it took me a minute or so to get comfortable with the speed of the trail -- with the long sight lines you could really rip! I actually scared up a couple of deer along the way, who led me down a few hundred yards of trail before leaping back into the forest and out of sight. Toward the end of Third Divide were a few more technical rock features, which can take you by surprise if you're coming in hot from the smooth section above. After crossing the bridge over Lavezzola Creek the trail climbed up a short steep pitch to country road 514, ending the short but sweet Third Divide Trail.

Lots of flow on Third Divide

Next, we headed down the 514 road to where it crossed over a bridge. On the other side we jumped onto the First Divide Trail, which would ride high above and parallel Lavezzola Creek. Aside from some exposure in a few spots, this section of First Divide was pretty uneventful and relatively flat. We soon rode past the place where I had a very close call while kayaking Lavezzola Creek some years back -- thanks to my buddies for helping to get me out of that situation (see my report here).  The trail then crossed over a road, and after traveling along a doubletrack for a short bit, the trail climbed up to the right and continued in similar fashion to the top part, only this time along Pauley Creek. All too soon, the singletrack transitioned into more doubletrack, and not long after that deposited us down and into the town of Downieville, marking the end of our ride. Back at the cars we loaded up our bikes and headed toward our next destination -- Lake Tahoe!

Arthur, near the start of First Divide

Standard affair on First Divide

Coonabomber, enjoyin' the secrecy on First Divide!

Conclusion:
This time around, the Downieville Downhill was in fantastic shape and certainly provided a much better ride experience than we had the year before when we got dumped on with a few inches of rain. This is a fantastic shuttle ride with many variations to choose from. We happened to do the most popular route, going down both Butcher Ranch and Third Divide, but I've heard good things about the other options, and really look forward to jumping on those as well (i.e. Big Boulder, Pauley Creek, and Second Divide). Most of the trail sections we did were more of an aggressive XC downhill affair as opposed to a true DH run, with Butcher Ranch certainly being the most challenging, from a technical standpoint. That said, a long travel bike is not a requirement for this ride but it will certainly smooth things out a bit. I probably wouldn't want to bring a novice rider on this trail, but for anyone that has a good base set of MTB skills this trail is a real gem and deserves its reputation as one of the classic descents in the US!

The tracks from our ride: