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August 2025
News From the Trail

From the Chair

A Challenging Loop

A group of mountain bikers was riding east from Hirschdale and shared that they had ridden up Dog Valley Road (Hennessee Pass Road) from Verdi and were making their way back onto the TPT.  Many people like riding loops rather than out-and-back and this one is a fairly epic ride.  I’ve done this many times, but hadn’t combined them into a one-day ride.  This time of year, heading up early in the morning will make the assent cooler.


The first part, departing from Crystal Peak Park and riding over Verdi Peak past Stampede and Boca Reservoirs to Hirschdale is 20 miles with about 2,000 ft of elevation gain and a 1,400 elevation drop.  If you haven’t ridden up this way before, be warned that the first mile of dirt is very rocky although not too steep.  Once you hit the tree line, there’s shade and the road is in great shape.


At the top, bear to your left and next thing you know you’re flying down the road beginning an epic speed ride with three big downhills to enjoy.  It’s pretty much that way all the way to the Hirschdale Store.  Just after crossing under Interstate 80, it’s on the right side with great sandwiches and refreshments, plus a restroom.  It’s a convenient and welcome stop before heading down the remaining 15 miles through the canyon on the TPT.


Although the entire ride is about 25 miles, the section on paved roads is virtually all downhill and very fast.  The entire ride takes anywhere from three to four hours and every inch of this loop is gorgeous, especially this time of year.  You may even see a herd of sheep as you pass the valleys by the reservoirs as this is a historic grazing area and still active.

~ Chris Askin, Chair of the TPT Board

 
 

Tailwinds Stories

Photo from a cycling trip to Prague ... The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow

I have always been an avid reader, thanks to my Mom, who was a 1st grade teacher.  My favorite books were and still are in the fantasy genre that takes you down the rabbit hole, into a new world.  I also enjoy books of other people's adventures, real and sometimes not!  The Prague Sonata, photo above, was a book I read after visiting Prague and it brought back memories of that amazing cycling trip. The narrow streets, castles, and the history that surrounds you there.

 

My latest book was called Heartwood by Amity Gaige.  It is the story of a hiker on the Appalachian Trail. I won’t ruin it, but she becomes lost.  It is fictional but takes inspiration from an actual situation.  It’s a great summer read. My book club loved this book and we hardly ever agree!  But when I go back and look at the many books I’ve read over the years, they often inspire me to take on a new adventure or at least dream of one!   

 

For those who have been following Tailwind Stories over the past few years, you know I have a fondness for rivers, which is why I'm drawn to the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.  Before I went to the Grand Canyon to see the mighty Colorado, I read The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon by Colin Fletcher.   After reading that book, I’ve traveled to the Canyon numerous times.  I’ve even taken several backpacking trips to that mighty Colorado from various starting locations. Every trip was such a different experience.  I never tire of going.  It’s a book I have shared over the past 30 years with so many people.  Whether it inspired them or not, I am not sure but hopefully yes, it did! It truly inspired me! 

 

My list of adventure books is too immense to share but I challenge you not only to get out and pick up a book this summer that hopefully will positively inspire you somehow, be it real or not.  A quote from one of my favorite authors, C. S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”  So long from Narnia!

~Mary Beth Roselli, Past Chair of the TPT Board

 
 

Introducing Our New Program Coordinator

 

Catherine Escamilla is the new Programs Coordinator for the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (TPT), where she brings a diverse background in public land stewardship, community engagement, and environmental planning. Before joining the TPT, she worked with the National Park Service in Southern California, contributing to a wide range of efforts including, trail maintenance, wildlife biology, historic preservation, GIS mapping, volunteer coordination, and wilderness planning and safety.


Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management with an emphasis in Public Land Management from Western Colorado University. She discovered the TPT shortly after relocating to Reno and was immediately drawn to the organization as both a trail enthusiast and a community-minded conservationist. She volunteered for the TPT helping to survey and catalog trail signage and helped synthesize trail survey data collected by a UNR graduate studies program on behalf of the TPT.  We knew right away she was a good fit for the TPT team.

 
 

Completing 93 Miles of the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail

 

The theme of the Tailwind Stories hopes to inspire you to a grand adventure, to go beyond a dream.  We’ve followed the adventure of Sandy and Lauren, who hiked the completed sections of the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail twice, and we can enjoy another trail enthusiast striving to complete the entire trail with a friend and their children in the photo above. The Challenging Loop article by Chris Askin also provides a great adventure.  If you're interested in bikepacking, the Boca/Stampede/Prosser Reservoir area offers many camping options and a convenient connection to the TPT.  I hope that it may inspire others to create their adventure along the completed sections of the TPT, 93 miles.


If you are up for the challenge or have already hiked/biked the completed sections of the TPT,  please send us the details of your journey in a paragraph or two describing your experience and the general time it took to complete the trip.  Pictures would be great too.   Please allow us the opportunity to use your submission on social media.  


In return, after you have traveled the completed sections of the TPT, you will have the feeling of accomplishment and a few swag items!  We will send you a specially designed sticker and a certificate of completion, suitable for framing!.   


Please email me at  mbroselli@tptrail.org.  I look forward to reading your stories and I hope to encourage others to take on the challenge this year.

 

~Mary Beth Roselli, Past Chair of the TPT Board

 
 
 

Tahoe-Pyramid Trail Cycling Jerseys

 

If you follow us on Facebook, then you know we have newly designed cycling jerseys for sale. Thank you to Sarah Bousfield for the design and Trish Hall for the design/production end of the process. We are excited to offer these to the public.  Voler is the manufacturer and they are club cut, for those who are familiar with sizing.

 

Our board members wanted to maintain the same look as the previous design but Sarah’s goal was to have the colors and design represent more of the Nevada and California scenery.  The front features Lake Tahoe prominently, set against the Sierra’s in the background, with the greenery that people associate with California. The Nevada side presents a more sparsely populated image, with mountains in the background and the fall colors of our cottonwood trees. Pyramid Lake and the Paiute Tribe are well represented in the design as well. They retail at $95.00.


You can purchase them at the following bike shops:

  • Olympic in Tahoe City

  • Paco’s in Truckee

  • College Cyclery in Reno

If you are not conveniently located by these stores but would like to purchase one, please reach out to me at mbroselli@tptrail.org.  We have extra stock available and are taking orders.  Shipping will be an additional charge.

 

~Mary Beth Roselli, Past Chair of the TPT Board

 
 

~ Photo by Addy Garibay

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Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is a 501(c)3 Non-profit Organization. Trail building, maintenance, and access is the result of many collaborations and partnerships with private landowners, private donors, utilities, state and local government agencies, other non-profit organizations, local businesses, community leaders, as well as a small army of dedicated volunteers, all of whom are valued trail partners and whose supporting efforts are critical to continued trail health.

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