California Sierra Trail Race CSTR 2017

[maettu99]

The start date for the 2017 CSTR is out now.

Friday, July 14th, 2017 at 6:00 am

A new and shorter course is waiting to the participants.

See the details on the CSTR page http://californiasierratrailrace.weebly.com/

I did a short check of the changes made on the course compared to 2016. There are three sections on the course that have changed.
The blue track on the overview and on the detail pictures shows the 2016 version.

Section 1 is to stay longer on Elliot Ranch road
Section 2 is a shortcut around Soda Springs
Section 3 is an alternative track after Tahoe City

Maybe Sean can explain something about the changes?

We are two guys from Switzerland and we will do the course in bikepacking mode at the end of July.
Hope to see a lot of tire tracks of the race participants as these guys will start earlier in 2017...

[Sean Allan]

Matthias,
Easier is relative in this case. I took out the OHV Trail 6 because while it's fun in some spots, it's a tough HAB pretty early in the first day. I also removed the backwards ascent of Hole in the Ground trail. The third was just a correction of something I screwed up last year in the track and didn't notice, a reroute of the TRT that was years old but for some reason I didn't get it in the track

I'm trying to make an easier first day for everyone. It's gone from brutal the first couple of years, to really hard last year to pretty doable for everyone this year. I think a sub 4 day finish is very attainable now for anyone who's prepared. Mileage is just a little shorter, not enough to make much of a difference, but the first day climbing is much easier.

Thanks for providing the maps, as you can see, lots of squiggly lines got deleted!

Slightly earlier date this year as well, might be a bit of snow still in some spots.
 
Hoping my shoe holds together this year

[phillip]

Sean,

OHV 6 is a bear.  Now I will more seriously consider the route.

Seeing that Tahoe NF & Forresthill PUD are planning to raise Sugar Pine dam, the water level will increase by a max of 20 vertical feet.  That would inundate the single track on the north side.  https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47780

What are your thoughts on a reroute when the new gates are installed?

Thanks,  Phillip

[Sean Allan]

I'm guessing that FS will do a reroute to move the trail up higher on the north side, they paved the lower reaches of the trail on the south side which in hindsight seems like a waste of money. Really, most of the north side would be unaffected until it gets closer to the campground.
 
It's hard to know, I haven't seen a recreation analysis review of the project. That's a very popular area so I would hope that they supplement the project funding for recreational repairs.

There are plenty of dirt options to get around the lake if they don't. It won't be a problem if and when the project proceeds. This isn't a new idea, they've been floating it around for years. 

In the grand scheme of things, it's the least of my worries. Fires on the other hand......

[phillip]

Thank you. I seldom have the time to ride in that area so don't know it well.

[maettu99]

Holy moly, there's alot of snow to melt until summer!

Picture shows donner pass near lake tahoe...(pic taken on february 2017)

[phillip]

Sean, hope you see this question.  Do you have any recent knowledge of the conditions (other than snow) where there was logging on the WS trail portion that cuts across Rd 44 (cavanah) into private property?  See Duncan Peak quad, T15N R13E, section 20, near the section 29 line.  Last time I was on the portion, there were large dirt piles and logging debris (and a gate?) you had to ride through to get back onto FS land.  Hoping that has been cleaned somewhat.

[Sean Allan]

Yep, logging is what they do up in these parts, especially given the recent fires, so that will always be an issue. Generally it's never anything more than an inconvenience. Rarely are any roads closed due to logging, and we wouldn't know till sometime closer to the race regardless. WS will always be clear and Deadwood Rd. is a FS road, so unless there is a closure order for it they have to keep it clear or allow for some other way around it.

 I'm more worried about the 30' of snow at the top of the TRT than anything else....

[phillip]

Thanks for the response.

I bet TRT at Freel pass will have snow into August.  I skied at Heavenly 3 weeks ago.  MAN! tons of snow!

I'm in the Carson city off road (50 mile) race in June and I bet there will be snow fields.

[phillip]

Sean, another question. The route,  immediately after getting off the foresthill bridge, turns north.  I walked it and that goes down the steps, onto the dirt and climbs up the steep bank to the top of the knob. Or do you just enter at gate 114B?  The Upper portion needs clearing and there is lots of poison oak. I'll have to ride it now. Looks funner in the westerly direction from fuel break.

[Sean Allan]

That part if the route will be changing with the loss of some of the higher stuff. We'll likely do Manzanita down to the confluence and back up to the connector like we did the first couple of years. I haven't decided yet so I haven't changed it yet. I'll make a decision here pretty quick.

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[Sean Allan]

That part of the route will be changing with the loss of some of the higher stuff. We'll likely do Manzanita down to the confluence and back up to the connector like we did the first couple of years. I haven't decided yet so I haven't changed it yet. I'll make a decision here pretty quick.

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[phillip]

Thanks. You could take manzanita, flood, mossy and up mercy cross the bridge then to current fuel break if climbing is the goal. But you know that. I'm closer to deciding on the ride. I've not ridden from strawberry to French meadows but everything else I have.

[phillip]

Yep, another question. With all the snow, do you think Big Meadow in Christmas valley will be too swampy to cross? If so, is there a ride around?

[Sean Allan]

If it's too wet to cross the meadow, we'll be doing something else because just the act of getting there will be much harder than crossing a wet meadow.  If it looks like days of slogging through the snow I'll do a completely different course that stays down lower. It will be a surprise to all of us!

[phillip]

I hope any changes are not too drastic.  As is, the route is wonderful.  My main concern was how strict the organizer is when a rider must divert from the route for some reason.  What is the criteria to determine rider completes the route when diversion occurs?  No need to answer.  It's just the way my mind works.

[phillip]

Sean, if the course is ridden counterclockwise, does it count?

[Sean Allan]

I don't really care which way you go. Having ridden it both ways though, there's a reason it goes clockwise.

[wet__burrito]

Hey Everyone

Gonna be riding the first portion of this to get to Tahoe City for the weekend of June 2nd. Been looking at snow melt. Is it possible to use the 2016 Gpx to get to Tahoe City even with the snow? Also i didn't see any 2k17 routes on the website. I'm simply trying to get to Tahoe City so I'm only doing the first 150mi of the 2K16 route.


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[Sean Allan]

I haven't been up that way, but my guess is you'll get turned around before you get to Robinson Flat which is 7000'. It could be a long slog out Soda Springs Road so just be aware of that. You can use the current track on the website but the area across Foresthill Bridge is left out right now. Just go across the bridge and look for a gate going uphill to your left as you get to the end of the parking area. From there you'll be fine.