Historic Sierra snowpack modifies, enhances Carson City Off-Road course

Adapting to a very snowy winter in the northern Sierra Nevada, Epic Rides announced Tuesday a modified course for the Capitol 35 and Capitol 50 events for the 2nd Annual Carson City Off-Road mountain bike festival June 16-18. The Capitol 15 will be unchanged from last year.

Although the official water year doesn't end until October, the northern Sierra Nevada has already surpassed the wettest water year ever recorded for the region. While this means the much needed snowpack will keep reservoirs and rivers full at least through next year, it also means that high elevation trails like Tahoe Rim Trail, North Canyon, Sunflower Hill and Snapdragon will still be under as much as 12 feet of snow come event weekend.

This historic snowpack presents a very unique opportunity to showcase the dozens of fun and challenging lower elevation singletracks winding along the east slope of the Sierra Nevada only a couple miles from downtown Carson City. Riders in the Capitol 35 and Capitol 50 events will leave downtown Carson City the same as last year, riding up King's Canyon Road to the Ash to King's Trail. After the long and grin-producing descent into lower Ash Canyon, riders will finish descending on Deer Run, Postal Route and Jackrabbit Trail, finishing the lap by riding through downtown loaded with cheering spectators.

Riders will then tackle a formidable 900 vertical foot climb up C-Hill, the peak just to the southwest of downtown with the giant C and an American flag. The deceptively named EZ Trail climb has numerous technical features and a couple punchy sections that will surely elevate the heart rate. Then after a short descent, riders will loop back into the Ash to King's trail again, repeating the first loop. Capitol 35 riders will finish after the second lap, with Capitol 50 riders going a third lap.

This modified course is nearly 80 percent singletrack, with the Capitol 35 totaling 35 miles and approximately 5,000 vertical feet of climbing and the Capitol 50 totaling 53.7 miles and approximately 7,500 feet of elevation gain. Both courses will surely provide plenty of grins and a few grimaces.

“Although we would have loved for people to experience all the high country between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, we're really excited to show everyone how much singletrack exists within a couple miles of downtown, all built and maintained by Muscle Powered, our local trail building force,” said Kurt Meyer, Carson City Off-Road event manager. “I think people will be very pleasantly surprised with the quality of trails, and it will be fun for both riders and spectators with multiple laps coming through downtown.”

All course details can be found on trailforks.com or Carson City Course Info on the Epic Rides website.

For more information on the Off-Road Series, visit epicrides.com or follow Epic Rides and Carson City Off-Road on Facebook, @epicrides and @carsoncityoffroad on Instagram and Twitter and search the hashtags #carsoncityoffroad.

About Epic Rides
Founded in 1999, Epic Rides has become world famous for producing events that celebrate the many positive aspects of mountain biking. Events such as the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo presented by Tucson Medical Center, Tour of the White Mountains, Grand Junction Off-Road, Whiskey Off-Road and Carson City Off-Road are popular with participants because they offer challenging, fun riding and emphasize the joy and camaraderie inherent in the sport.