Northern California - Lake Tahoe Flume Trail report

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Tricia on the Flume Trail. Yikes!


There is no oxygen (or air in general) above 7000 feet, and therefore little wind resistance. So if one were to fall from three-foot-wide Flume Trail (http://www.theflumetrail.com/ridingmap/) ledge above Lake Tahoe it would be possible to gain amazing speed as one plummeted to ones death.

We had plenty of time to think about this as we rode through the startlingly loose sand and gravel. How far could we fall? Would we hit the lake? Why did we think this was fun?

At least we’d die with the satisfaction of having climbed up to 8156.3 feet. By climbing I mean blowing out our lungs in the rare air, slipping in the loose dirt and occasionally (much to our annoyance) having so little traction we had to get off and push.

But the trail itself , running uphill from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake, then along an old Flume and eventually to the old Pondarosa Ranch of Bonanza fame has views that make it darn near worthwhile.

Being a roadie at heart I have issues with climbing 1300 feet in 13 miles and having it take 4 hours. Even our on-the-bike time of just over two hours seems amazingly slow.

Note my extra swell K-Mart shirt. I packed the bikes, the helmets, gloves, shorts, shoes, but somehow missed the jersey. I know I like those rear pockets, but doing without them really showed me how much I use them.

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Curtis on the edge of Marlette Lake, just before the Flume Trail starts.

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Tricia and Curtis on the Flume Trail, Tahoe in the background. Check the loose sand

Fantastic pictures. I really am going to have to try the ride one day.

<drool>

I am jealous. Very nice pics.

Not sure how you got back to the start after riding the Flume Trail. Most people take the highway, which is kind of a slog. A nice alternative is to take the Tahoe Rim Trail back to Spooner Lake. It runs parallel to the Flume, but higher up the mountain (so there is a little climbing). The TRT gives you the same great mountain scenery as the Flume Trail, but with much less traffic.

Wow, splendid!
I just checked the location and trail map... and bookmarked it. It's seems to be a 'must' ride. A report I read mentions aspen groves and says the best time to go is October.

We "cheated" and took a shuttle back. The traffic on the road Sunday was more frightening then anything on the trail. It's amazing how many people feel entitled to park just anywhere, stop just anywhere, or do a three-point turn on a major highway. I was glad not to be riding in it.

Great pics! I love being up in the Sierra's. I need to get back up there soon. Thanks for sharing.

Between that Height and no air...Looks like a dizzy spell made to order!
I would like to ride up there. Time to start thinking CX bike.
You must have fried up there too?

How did you get to the trail head? One time we went up there, but no one could tell us where to start. :(

I smell a BF Flume trip this October :)

I haven't done the flume trail in about 8 years or so. Last time out there was a group of japanese tourists on rented MTB's wearing Tshirts, shorts and tennis shoes. It was in May and storm rolled in and it started to snow. We knew the weather was gonna turn bad, had the necessary clothing as the temp started dropping fast and were heading back as they were heading out. Always wondered what may have happened to them.

If you think the Flume is great - try 2nd Divide at Downieville. Nothing to stop your freefall...

Actually, the weather was very nice, warm to very warm , but not uncomfortable. Lots of shade.
We started at Spooner Lake just off HWY 28, abut 1/2 mile from 50 in South Shore. Pull into the Spooner lake park. There are signs and even a place to rent mountain bikes.

Or just go to
http://theflumetrail.com/
and get everything you need.

Thanks Curtis!! :thumb: