Off-Road

Last weekend we attended the Giant Bicycles Demo up at Spooner Lake State Park hosted by Bike Habitat. Giant and Liv (Giant’s women’s line) had a wide variety of 2015 model year bikes to try out, both mountain and road machines. Here’s a look at what we saw.

UPDATE: The Nevada Appeal announced on its Facebook page today the death of its long-time pressroom manager Larry Ronhovdee in an ATV accident.
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Carson City sheriff’s deputies responded early Sunday night to an accident involving an all-terrain quad vehicle, about 3 miles up a canyon on the east side of Carson City off Deer Run and Sedge roads. It appears to be an accident-related fatality and a coroner was called to the scene, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong.

A mountain is being destroyed, and the neighborhood below it is being polluted by off-road vehicles in Douglas County.
Hot Springs Mountain is on BLM land, and it towers right above the neighborhood known as Johnson Lane.
The mountain has been cut up by a web of trails created by off-road vehicles.
Heavy use of the trails pulverizes the soil and the trails become loose and unable to support even foot traffic yet alone the vehicle traffic. The off-road operators then cut new (bypass) trails. Ultimately the new trails get pulverized and the process starts again.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the sale of fuelwood permits at the South Shore office on Monday, May 19, 2014, and at the North Shore office on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household.

Christmas tree cutting permits in the Lake Tahoe Basin go on sale Nov. 18 with only 2,500 permits available on a first come, first serve basis, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday.

Permits cost $10 each (cash or check only, no credit cards) with a limit of two permits per family. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar in designated cutting areas.

Many U.S. Forest Service roads in the Lake Tahoe Basin have closed or will close soon. Meanwhile, fuelwood permit sales will end Nov. 22 with the last day of cutting on Nov. 24.

Fuelwood permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household.

Forest roads and gates began closing in late October for soil protection and public safety. Some cutting areas may not be accessible by vehicle in areas where gates have closed. Permit holders should check whether road closures are in effect and should not go behind closed gates.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the sale of holiday tree permits the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 23. Permits cost $10 each (cash or check only, no credit cards) with a limit of two permits per family. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar in designated cutting areas and must abide by specific permit conditions for proper and responsible collection. Harvesting smaller diameter trees offers residents and visitors a traditional holiday experience while helping to thin the forest.

In late July, more than 500 women from throughout North America rolled into Carson City, Nev., to celebrate their shared passion for motorcycling. The 2012 American Motorcyclist Association International Women & Motorcycling Conference featured presenters from around the globe and drew a healthy share of cruiser riders, with a splash of sport bike, sport touring, dual-sport and off-road enthusiasts mixed in for good measure.

The newspaper headline on page one on Aug. 15, 2002 said it all:
“They made it!”
Yes, they did! And, they did it in record-setting style.
Four athletes, who are personal friends of Elaine and I, completed 10 very physically and mentally-demanding challenges in a period of 10 grueling days, way back in 2002.
I know because we were there for each and every one of those 10 memorable days that resulted in the very first Nevada 10-in-10 Challenge going into the Nevada record book.
Those four were Karl Horeis, Jeremy Evans, Rick Gunn and K. M. Cannon.

Sierra Front Interagency Fire Dispatch Center is asking citizens to stay out of the area where the Preacher Mine Fire recently burned in Douglas County.
Curious citizens and off-road vehicle operators have been utilizing the roadways and backcountry area where the fire burned, and this has caused problems for the fire mop-up crews still operating in the area.
Some smoldering hot spots still remain in the area, and hand crews will be operating in the area for several more days extinguishing them.

A new bus service at Lake Tahoe that will run from Incline Village to Sand Harbor Beach State Recreation Area will begin this month.
A collaboration of the Tahoe Transportation District, the Nevada Division of State Parks, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol and Washoe County School District will inaugurate the East Shore Express, a pilot Park and Ride bus service beginning June 15 and will run to Sept. 3, 2012.

Extremely dry conditions has prompted the Bureau of Land Management Carson City District to urge cities, counties and residents to be aware of the increased chance of wildfire due to extreme dry conditions and warmer temperatures.
“The current conditions for this time of the year are dryer than what we have seen in the last 20 years," said Ken Smihula, fire management officer. “The public needs to be aware of the dry conditions and the very high risk of wildfire. We encourage everyone using public lands to be careful in regards to human-caused fires and take appropriate steps to prevent them.”

**Press release available for download below**

The Carson City Sheriff's Office has issued a statement regarding ATV and off-road safety in light of the ATV accident late Sunday evening.

"There are many measures you can take to stay safe when off-road driving. These include the following:

1. Always wear protective gear to include a seat belt if in a vehicle.
2. Before you leave let someone know where you are going and how long you plan to be gone.
3. Make sure you have plenty of water.
4. Take extra provisions in case you get stuck.

This weekend saw two more tragedies for the motorsports world with Nevada connections.

Most people have already heard about or seen the video replays of the horrific IndyCar crash in Las Vegas on Sunday that claimed the life of two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon.

The same day, off-road racer Rick Huseman was killed in a plane crash in California after taking off from North Las Vegas.

Looking for a great place to dirt bike, four-wheel or cruise through rocks with breeze on your ATV? The public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and BLM-Carson City District offer plenty of opportunities for off-road vehicle and ATV recreation. Check out the latest blog from the Carson City Convention and Visitors Bureau outlining some of the local hotspots for off-road adventure.

An early morning rollover accident took the life of a 23-year-old Carson City man, authorities report.

The man was found dead after being thrown from a van after it had rolled down an embankment in Ash Canyon about two miles up a narrow road, said Carson City Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jim Primka. The accident was reported at about 12:45 this morning.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com

Some Idaho hunters who prefer to mount all-terrain vehicles to pursue their big-game quarry are chafing at Department of Fish and Game restrictions on where they can ride.

Under current hunting regulations, the state requires armed hunters who head out onto public land in about a third of Idaho's 99 hunting units to stick to established roads, while keeping away from off-road vehicle or jeep trails and areas that are otherwise open to unarmed recreational ATV riders.

Bike Carson'sJeff Moser and friends take an awesome journey on some of the most desirable off-road routes that connect Carson City to Virginia City. Click here to read about it. Moser's perspective into the two-wheel world around Carson City, Northern Nevada and the Sierra is bookmark-worthy +10.