Fat Tire Taco Thursday

Since no one was IN this Tuesday, the FT3 Executive Steering Committee decided to move the normal events to tonight. All the same fun just substitute the T, what could be easier. 

Regular start time, regular parking spot. Temps dip below freezing, so bring your taco warmer. 

Pollywood Prime Time

Last week's trail conditions were a complex mix of smooth-tacky, slushy-muddy, and icey-snowy. This week should be almost 100% perfect conditions; big moon, cool temps, well drained dirt. Don't miss it. 

What a White Tuesday

Epic White Tuesday. A completely novel riding surface: fluffy, untracked snow piling quickly on top of dry, dusty dirt. Very shreddable.

The taco session was punctuated by wind gusts that tried to steal our shelter, and we narrowly avoided a tent fire when a flurry of snow hit the stove and grease burst into flames.

Good times!

Tonight should be mild and wet from snowmelt. Who's IN?

Looking ahead, Mrs. Nocar let me know that I would NOT be able to ride on Tuesday, December 24. As I am probably not the only one in this situation, how about A Fat Tire Taco Thursday that week?

Time to Put Your Tacos Where Your Mouth Is

The FT3 Untethered experiment has been nothing less than a radiant success. Since the very beginning, the tacos have been delicious

and the rides have been exceptional.

But, for this year, the nights of high mountain, full moon madness are behind us.

As are the nights of leisurely sipping rye and gorging on pie.

Last week got the littlest taste of what is to come, as developing showers forced the end of the taco session and one rider described it as "the coldest I've been in my life."

The Tuesday Pollywood forecast is for six inches of snow between 4 and 10 pm. We could ride lower, but that would mean riding in rain instead of snow (lame). Since this is the start of the storm, it is unlikely that the snow will begin sticking immediately. However, it will start accumulating before we finish eating tacos, so it may be treacherous trying to haul a trailer out of the normal parking spot. Alternatives could be either the equestrian pull out or the EID pay parking lot, as both have a downhill exit. Whatever we decide, the ride will probably be on the short side as we will need to devote time and energy to figuring out how we can have a relatively warm and dry dinner. 

Riding High Again

The extended summer of 2019 is providing for the proliferation of FT3 rides in the high country. Grandiose plans remain in place even with NoCar riding the couch. The Van provides the access to the high country, adventure and limited sleep. Will you be among the select group who create memories and assert that last Tuesday was the best Tuesday, especially because you were there?

One.

+ New Rider "O'Brian" = 2

Hop in the Taco Van

The call has been made. Time to pull up stakes and get out of Pollywood; 5:45 departure from Mosquito Lot. Proposal is to ride in the Strawberry area, there are many potential routes. Probably won't do a full S-Kw, but you never know.

One Hour Late

Sunset at 4:58 tonight, so don't forget to charge your lights. And check your chain for defects.

 ONE

Fine Particulate Matter

We finally accomplished the much anticipated Loon Lake Loop last week; huge granite slabs, chunky jeep trails, and flowy singletrack. Fortunately, we didn't have a good idea of how long it would take. Returning to the van at 11:30, the call was made to no-taco.

Which means this week we are going to have to extra-taco. Reportedly the controlled burns in Pollywood are being extinguished. The air quality monitors are showing a steady decline in PM 2.5 as the day continues. A good night for a normal roll out. 

RED FLAG WARNING

After acquiescing to several requests to return to Pollywood last week, the Loon Lake Loop is back in consideration for tonight's ride. Of course, that plan likely requires the substantial resources of Jr. Rideleader, and his employer may have other plans for him this evening.

This just in:
XT will NOT be able to make the ride tonight. Though, he does intend to meet at Blue Gouge for tacos. So, back to the simple schedule for this evening.

What Trail Is Sickest?

Last week we hiked a Trail That Will Not Be Named, and then dropped a trail through high mountain meadows, followed by an ascent of the best part of the XP.  Temps got down to 36F during the taco session. 

The first rain in months has elevated Pollywood trails to the level of pretty good. However 3 inches of snow fell on Emigrant Pass reinforcing the point that the mountains won't be accessible much longer.

As of last week, the call for this Tuesday was for riding the Loon Lake Loop. As these trails have recently been rebuilt no one in FT3 has ridden all of them yet. Alternatively, we could ride in Pollywood, and ensure a civilized bedtime. 

  

Carpool is also looking slightly later than our recently established early rollout. Consequentially, I'm going to try a new text thread for organization. Needless to say, XT still owns the materials of taco production, so this is not a democratic decision. 

 

More Mountains, More Biking, More Tacos

Was last Tuesday awesome?

Yes it was. 

Will this Tuesday be more awesome?

Yes it will be. 

NoHandle and Fro will meet at chez NoCar where the FT3 kitchen got deposited in the middle of the night. 

Capacity for two more riders in NH's truck. Hit the road by 5:30 and we might make it home before Wednesday. 

 

Have Tacos Will Travel

A quick storm freshened the Christmas Valley trail last Tuesday night. So, the FT3 Traveling Taco Team decided to go shred it. Conditions were perfect.

Tacos were delicious.

Exciting though it was, that ride was just practice for the more ambitious undertaking this evening.

Meetup is at 5:15 at Mosquito Lot or 5:45 at MET or 7:00 at Martin Meadow Campground.

Be ready to crush Thunder Mountain in the dark.

Unmoored

Heady days for FT3.

For starters, this guy came to visit

So, we rented a mansion, cooked some dinner,

got a crew together,

and did some shredding.

After four Untethered rides, it seemed like we had worked out every kink. Then, UL started bringing dessert.

But, there still remains room for improvement. Pollywood trails are dusty.

Its time to load up the Taco Truck and set forth from Pollywood, in search of new trails to bring under the banner of FT3. So, charge your lights and don't plan on going to bed until Wednesday. 

To facilitate a Long Tuesday, it is proposed that the carpool leaves the Mosquito Lot at 5:30. Carpool meetup location is subject to change depending on riders, drivers, destination, and grocery needs. Pipe up early and we'll stay organized.   

TWO

Dedicated to Tacos + Rose 2 Keys

I called XTeric this weekend and he was at Costco. He was rolling solo, as the family didn't want to join him. He was there for one purpose. FT3. Shopping for FT3 Untethered. Getting supplies. If you ask yourself, who is most dedicated to FT3's untethered status, it is clearly XTeric, he is FT3's Golden Boy. He spent the evening last night working on NoCar's hammered bike as well. Three cheers for XTeric. Alas, tonight we go untethered once again. Don't miss it.

It is also notable that Unknown Local was in MT Riding with B this weekend. Strong work UL!!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SNGcAjfpjTkD9SNb8

One.

###

LRP PLANNING

And of significant importance, tonight we will discuss the Rose-Keys LRP going down this weekend.

Here's what I know.

Saturday:

Head count: Cap'n, NoCar, XTeric, Fro, Newb, UL for half ride? Any others?

1. On Saturday we need to make a food and drink drop along Kingsbury. 
2. Do a ride with Cappy if your available to leave early (I am leaving Pville before Noon on Saturday to get a short Tahoe ride in before the evening festivities at the Keys house, if you can join me hit me up.)
3. Meet at the Keys house, time TBD (Fro please advise).  How many does Keys house sleep, should we bring pads and sleeping bags etc? 
4. Make dinner (what do we all bring to contribute?). Will there be tacos?

Sunday: 

1. Wake Early. Eat breakfast (what should we bring?) McDonalds stop? Hah ha  
2. Depart in XT's van (Time?) to Rose. 
3. Ride alllll day. 
4. Drop Armstrong/Corral and roll to Keys House. 
5. Return to Rose to get van if needed. 
6. Go home happy. 

Don't Touch That Tether

The second night of untethered tacos was as glorious as the first.

Though perhaps we enjoyed the no-ride-bedtime concept too much. We started late, rode far and then lingered after dinner; didn't make it home until Wednesday.

Tentative discussion at the end of last week concluded that we should revisit the Knot Hole tonight for a check-in. This was because XT was likely unavailable and no one else volunteered to handle the taco kitchen. However, now XT is IN, so tonight's tacos will be untethered.

FT3 Untethered First Edition

The return of Buttons marked the first edition and trial of "FT3 Untethered." Turns out that Buttons is a very capable and self sufficient taco maker, as he sat out the later half of the ride to rest his Achilles and prepare the tacos. The spread the XTeric had laid out was beyond compare. He even ordered taco papers and baskets off Amazon! Foil tins for food storage, and NO Recycling! It is clear that if XTeric and Buttons wanted to start a taco truck, it would be a resounding success. Here are some snaps from the evening. 

We were stalked by a bear during the ride near the over grown Cache. Fortunately, the last rider made it out without being eaten alive. There was talk of sand dunes. This video came to mind:

And so it goes. FT3 may be better cooks and food preppers than what is available late on a Tuesday night in Pollywood. When will we see FT3 Untethered Version 2.0?? 

FT3 UNTETHERED

Its happened at least twice before. We made our own dinner.

There was this night:

And then this one:

On a scale of 1 to 5, both nights were beyond categorization.

We will meet at the Blue Gouge Mine Road parking lot (also the Fleming Trailhead parking lot, also the start of Redneck Rising) at the usual time. XT has picked up everything for dinner service (food rye, cookware, taco baskets,...). Additional offerings encouraged. Also, everyone should bring a chair, a headlamp, and a shot glass if you think you'll want one. If this works out we'll never have a ride bed time again! (At least not until its raining slush.)

ONE

Taco Report

Last Tuesday was very different.

New parking space

New tacos

Even the route had a different flavor. Biased to the northeast, we hit SPI roads, Park Creek, Barnes Back, 1A, and B is for Barf. Felt like the days when Lars would lead.

The pine Lodge was moderately busy when we arrived, and nobody noticed us. Chickenbake didn't ask for Taco Handles. And the party was still going when we left. Though Cappy hated everything about the experience at first, by the time we were leaving he couldn't wait to come back. And the consensus was that we would give it another Tuesday.

Some notes:
Bring cash for your tacos, if possible. Bar tab is separate from meal tab. The carnitas tacos (pictured) are superior. The ground beef are mediocre, though Chickenbake acknowledged that they weren't her best. I had no problem eating six. Wednesday morning reactions were mixed. At the parking area there is plenty of room to park down towards the gate and still be off the road. Do NOT make eye contact with the loud chick at the end of the bar. 

For anyone still reading, the running of Strawberry Kirkwood that went down on Sunday was the hardest ever.

The downed trees weren't too bad, but the steep snowfields on the Sentinel Trail were treacherous.

The Strawberry Jeep Road threw every possible condition at us, from long snow rides to hub-deep mud.

Can't wait for the next LRP.

ONE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Owing to pressing circumstances, the FT3 Executive Steering Committee convened an unusual closed session and made two determinations.

First, a new dinner venue will be tested this Tuesday. For many months now, FT3 has contemplated how Tuesday nights could exist without the Knot Hole. After an appalling meal service last Tuesday, proposals for alternative taco service were solicited. Hands down the superior bid came from Chickenbake, who promised to serve delicious tacos to all riders at the Pine Lodge. A 9:30 dinnertime was agreed upon, with taco orders placed before riding. To accommodate the different dinner location, the new parking spot will be the area to the east of Sly Park Road at the saddle, across from the intersection with Onyx Trail.

Second, as no long rides have been scheduled for July, the quintessential LRP, Strawberry-Kirkwood, has been slated for Sunday July 7. Interested riders should contact Junior or Nocar. Uninterested riders should be bummed, because its going to be awesome. 


Also of note, the Rose to Keys ride is scheduled for the first weekend of August, details to follow. 

  

For Consideration

Tahoe MTB Fest:

The route for the Triple Crown has been altered as the USFS wouldn't permit the activity when the soils are still so wet. To see the new route go here:

https://www.trailforks.com/route/iron-butterfly/?fbclid=IwAR1swvFCgVTVHT4iq0JO06EUETua4Zoj9PHCafJVKFDOQrmMaK9ljyDrz2Q

Worth noting that the route is only 20 miles with 4100 feet of vert and starts/finishes a few miles away from the festival location. Not sure if this matters as FT3 doesn't always ride the official route.  

Taco Tuesday:

I finally stopped in at Chickenbake's cafe (South Fork Eatery) and was pleasantly surprised by the nice space and the masterful sandwich she created. But, the big news is that she has teamed up with the Pine Lodge to put on a Taco Tuesday. She prepares the food ($2 ground beef tacos, $3 carnitas tacos) and when her shop closes she keeps it going at the Pine Lodge. Last week she didn't close the kitchen until 9:40! I am confident that the tacos are 100% more delicious than Knot Hole tacos.    

Long Days Long Rides

Last Tuesday proved, again, that FT3 rides are hard on bikes. But, in the face of a catastrophic mechanical, FT3 made it to the Taco Table on time by marching up the spillway corridor, pushing Lars on his unchained bike along the dam roads, rolling down to the boat launch, then letting Lars do what he does best the rest of the way. 

Some fine riding this weekend:

UL new trails in North Tahoe

Father's Day Pollywood Perimeter Ride

King Fire Forest Destruction Tour

That last one confirmed a route connecting Ice House Road from Peavine Ridge with Forebay Road or Mosquito Road. 

Almost solstice, big moon, water temperature at the Jenkinson marina is 78.

ONE