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June 2025
News From the Trail

Tailwinds Stories

Finding Joy on the TPT

Sandy and Lauren hiking on the first day

 

Janet Phillips, the visionary behind the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (TPT), had a way with people. Anyone who met her would agree. She was not only an inspiration but a motivator and a mentor. This story begins with such an encounter back in January of 2022.  

Two friends, Sandy Poupeney and Lauren Greenwood,  who were attending a birthday party for a mutual friend of Janet’s, met by chance that evening. One thing led to another, and Janet began discussing the engineering behind the Boardwalk at Floriston, which was completed late in 2019.  Sandy and Lauren made it their quest to find the boardwalk at Floriston, and the story begins.  


They found that boardwalk in June of 2022 and ended up hiking four miles that day. At some point in the day, they committed to hiking the entire TPT.  Fortunately, they are both semi-retired, so they reserved Fridays for hiking. One criteria they agreed upon was to take one car. This required them to do out-and-back hiking.  


The following Friday, they tackled another section. This continued for three years off and on due to injuries none of which occurred on the trail. Snow, smoke, and life situations also caused delays. On May 30, 2025, they completed their quest. Again, due to their out-and-back hiking, they completed the TPT not once but twice!  


Sandy kept very accurate records of their dates, distances, and specific information at their turnaround spots. They did not miss a single inch of that trail due to their meticulous planning, Strava, and photos that showed them exactly where they needed to return to. 


Here are some interesting statistics:

  • 36 Segments

  • 190.89 Miles Total

  • Average distance, 5.31 per segment

  • Longest: 9.61

  • Shortest: 2.04

  • Mistakes: 2!

  • 2 Extra segments because of redo, causing 11.21 extra miles (202.10)


When asked what their takeaway was, Sandy and Lauren both agreed: they hope that others will realize they too, can complete the TPT or something similar. It takes planning and commitment, but that is part of the process.  This story does not end here. We will follow these two hikers as they share with us some of their most memorable sections and adventures along the way. Stay tuned!

~Mary Beth Roselli, Past Chair of the TPT Board

 
 

Moving Forward to Complete the Final Trail Segments of the TPT

 

Exciting progress is underway for the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (TPT)! As we shared previously, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) awarded a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to the TPT— which will support a significant step toward completing a critical missing link in the trail system. NDOT is administering the grant and issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a Feasibility Study focused on identifying the most feasible routes to complete the trail from east Sparks to Wadsworth, including a spur to Fernley.


These important segments not only support recreational use, but also have the potential to serve as an alternative transportation corridor between Reno/Sparks and Fernley - providing an important commuting option for workers at the Tahoe Regional Industrial Center (TRIC), located between the two communities.


Three qualified consulting firms submitted proposals. On May 23, 2025, a five-member evaluation team - comprised of three NDOT staff and two TPT representatives - completed its review and ranking of the proposals. NDOT is now reviewing the evaluations and anticipates entering into a contract with the selected firm by late summer or early fall.


The Feasibility Study will also include robust community and jurisdictional outreach to private land owners, the communities of Reno, Sparks, Lockwood, Wadsworth, and Fernley, as well as both Washoe and Storey Counties. Collaboration with all of these partners is key to identifying a safe, feasible, and community-supported trail alignment.

TPT will work closely with the selected firm to define the project scope and will share all relevant data and research previously gathered. We look forward to sharing more updates as this exciting project moves forward!

~ Mark Cameron, President/CEO

 
 

The History of the TMWA Hydroelectric Power Stations

 

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA)  and the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (TPT) offered a tour of the Verdi Hydroelectric Power Station in May, which is a working power station off Bridge Street in Verdi. If you are a cyclist, you have passed it whenever you do the Verdi Loop, but probably never noticed it before. 


These electricity-generating stations were originally built to provide power to the Virginia City mines during the Comstock era. The first was Farad, built in 1899, and it began providing electricity in 1900. The remaining stations, Fleish (1905), Verdi (1903), and Washoe (1904), followed. 


Farad was shut down in 1989 after a major flood damaged the diversion dam and is currently in the hands of a private individual. The TPT travels very close to this structure, so please be respectful when walking on that section.   


The three other hydroelectric power plants are still operational with the most visible being the Fleish Plant at the end of Quilici Ranch Road. It’s quite a dramatic view with the water cascading out of the flume. 


The flumes are visible both on the Trail and I-80, and some remain operational. The higher the flume and the longer the drop of water creates the most power. The flumes were often built on cliff walls and supported by a trestle system. They required constant maintenance to keep debris and ice out during the winter. In 2005, due to constant repair of the flumes, TMWA dug a tunnel through granite to replace a section going into Fleish. The water was then diverted back into the flume system before entering the Fleish Plant. The Verdi and Washoe Plants still use the flume system and open canals to transport water to generate power. 


These three hydroelectric power plants provide 6.7 megawatts of electricity.  That is enough power to provide approximately 3,500 households with their power needs. This may not seem like much, but TMWA is the second highest user of electricity in Reno.  Because of the power they generate from these three plants, they are credited with a large portion of their utility bill from NV Energy.  


For more information, check out the TMWA website and an article written by Judy Depuy.  She is connected to the  Truckee Donner Historical Society.

Flumes of Truckee: Using the Power of the Sierras 

~Mary Beth Roselli, Past Chair of the TPT Board

 
 

Trail Stewardship Defined

 

According to AI, trail stewardship is defined as:

“In essence, trail stewardship is about ensuring trails remain accessible, safe, enjoyable, and well-maintained for years to come. “


People ask us if we need help building trail. Right now, TPT is planning future trail sections. Once we have the plans and permits in place, we will be in a position that requires volunteers for that purpose. But can we use your help now? Absolutely. Become a trail steward.  Here are a few ways:  


I have hiked many miles of the TPT picking up trash along the way. Carry a garbage bag in your pack!  Simple. How about that small tree limb that has fallen across the trail? One can easily walk over it, but that bicyclist might not see it in time. When a cyclist runs over it, the limb breaks in two and flies into his spokes. Loose rocks that can be easily kicked out of the way can also create a safer trail. These are small tasks that can easily be done by you.  


If you do see something that needs attention, such as weeds encroaching on the trail or downed trees due to the beaver activity, use this link and let us know where and what is causing an unsafe section. 



To ensure our trails remain accessible, stay on the designated trail.  TMWA is very specific about no trespassing in certain sections.  That is due to safety concerns. 


Donate to your favorite trails. Make sure land managers have the resources to maintain and build future trails.  We have a link for that:



So, next time you are on the TPT, leave it in better shape than you found it. Donate when you can. Practice trail stewardship and know that you're making a positive impact on this planet. 


Thank you from all of us at TPT and have a safe summer out there.


~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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Tahoe-Pyramid Trail, 4790 Caughlin Parkway, Box 138, Reno, NV 89509, United States

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