Mind the Track

After a radical Thanksgiving on two wheels, the boys escape to Downieville to sample some late fall hero dirt on the ebikes and catch up on a variety of topics including the struggles of trying to survive in rural California amidst draconian laws and policies designed for big cities, the outlawing of gas-powered everything in California and the problems with electric battery powered replacements, living with constant power outages, the unregulated bear population that’s been wreaking havoc in peoples’ homes and in their cars, abandoned vehicles deep in the forest, the meaning of “Make Downieville Gold Again” and the much anticipated reopening of The Lure Resort, now known as The Yubaverse. Snoop Dogg weighs in with his Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderiffic Snow Report, shout outs to listeners and a PowBot photo makes Jerry of the Day. Also, go see PowBot present about Canadian Hut Life at Donner Creek Brewing in Truckee on Wednesday December 6. 2:00 – Riding ebikes aka the Rumspringa in Downieville. 4:00 – Make Downieville Gold Again – the meaning behind the hat.7:00 – Recorded on site at The Yubaverse, formerly the The Lure Resort where Kurt used to part own and work at. 13:00 – Shout outs – Adam Mahomed, Forest, Todd Birtch and Andreas. Thanks for listening!16:30 – Snoop Dogg’s Snow Sizzle My Dizzle Powderiffic Snow Report 19:30 – We might not be getting snow, but it’s the best Fall ever for mountain biking. 20:30 – PowBot presents at Donner Creek Brewing – Canadian Hut Life Photo Essay 22:00 – Fall mountain biking in Downieville on Second Divide, Third Divide, Halls Ranch, Fiddle Creek and Brown Bear Mine trail. 24:01 – PowBot rides Annadel Park with Duncan Meyers and Scot Nicol after going surfing with Storm Glover.28:30 – Undersea water temperatures are super warm. Hunga Tonga 29:30 – California banning the sale of all gas powered lawn and garden equipment, and no more two stroke dirt bikes.32:00 – Trying to survive living in rural California with draconian restrictions and laws.39:00 – Woman died in her house in Downieville, and a bear smelled the body and ate her.40:00 – All about bears breaking into cars and houses and their overpopulation in Lake Tahoe area and Sierra County. 50:00 – A Ford F250 gets stuck in the bottom of Rattlesnake Canyon above Downieville and bears eat the interior out of the truck. 53:30 – PowBot’s photo of a tipped over 4runner at Mount Rose makes Jerry of the Day. 59:30 – Thanksgiving talk

If you’ve ever watched Josh Daiek’s POV ski footage, you’ve probably been more gripped staring at your phone than he is straight-lining a couloir at Mach Chicken. So when Josh and his filmmaking adventure partner Hazen Woolson set out to make a new ski film for their sponsor Salomon, they wanted to do something different and unexpected to blow peoples’ minds. Mountain State and Mountain State 2.0 were the result; two films exploring the rugged and seldom skied wilds of Nevada and the Great Basin, the latter of which recently took home “Best Backcountry Segment” from the IF3 Film Festival. In Episode 26, the boys sit down with Josh and Hazen at Gear Lab in South Lake Tahoe to chat all about the making of the films, from the highs of scoring in last year’s record-breaking winter to the lows of getting skunked the two previous winters and Josh’s terrifying skirt with certain peril skiing the East Humboldt Range. Also, Pow Bot introduces Mind the Track’s newest correspondent, the one and only Snoop Dogg with his Snowsizzle My Dizzle Powderiffic Snow Report. 2:00 – PowBot finds the fresh pow on Mount Rose backcountry, first turns of the season.5:00 – Snoop Dogg Snowsizzle My Dizzle Powderiffic Snow Report.7:45 – Introducing Josh Daiek and Hazen Woolson – Mountain State and Mountain State 2.010:00 – Mountain State 2.0 wins IF3 Film Festival for “Best Backcountry Segment” 15:00 – The genesis of creating the Mountain State film and skiing in Nevada.17:00 – Remote triggering avalanches in Arc Dome Wilderness of the Toiyabe range. 18:00 – Not going to the Ruby Mountains because everybody knows the Rubys.20:00 – How Hazen and Josh met up with each other. 25:00 – Losing a GoPro on a ski line and trying to find it in the summer. A week of lost footage!27:00 – The importance of snow machines and snowmobiles.32:40 – Crashing and getting hurt far from any help way out in the Great Basin. 41:30 – Josh growing up in Rochester Hills, Michigan and skiing Boyne Highlands as a kid.45:00 – Moving to Lake Tahoe, skiing at Kirkwood and meeting Craig Garbiel. 50:00 – PowBot is an ordained minister, the Pastor of Pow, is officiating weddings now. 52:00 – Mountain State 2.0 – Redemption and great conditions all winter. 55:00 – Dealing with federal agencies and getting permits to film. 1:02:30 – Hazen’s upbringing, growing up in New Hampshire, skiing and filming.1:05:00 – Skiing the Sand Mountain sand dune out east of Fallon, Nevada. 1:08:45 – Middlegate Bar – a must stop. 1:12:45 – Going to Belmont, Nevada after skiing the Toquima Range and Mount Jefferson.1:15:00 – Great Basin National Park stood out as the most impressive zone for skiing.1:18:00 – Riding sleds and skiing in Jarbidge, Nevada. It’s Jar BIDGE not Jar BRIDGE.1:26:00 – Hazen crashes into Josh at 30 mph on snowmobiles.1:29:30 – Google Earth is the most valuable resource for figuring out new ski zones.1:36:00 – Not following a guide book and making your own adventure. 1:38:00 – What’s on tap for winter 2023/24?1:41:45 – What does Mind the Track mean to you? 1:43:00 – Follow @joshdaiek @hazenfilms and @trevski123 on Instagram

When it comes to skiing, there may be no other person in the Lake Tahoe region with more influence than Bryan Allegretto, known to many powder hounds as “BA”. With one word – Snowpocalypse – BA can send the entire region into a frenzy. As the lead Tahoe region snow forecaster and co-founder of OpenSnow.com, BA consistently outperforms the most advanced and complex snowfall computer weather modeling data through 20+ years of observational forecasting, studying other forecasters and the experience that comes from seeing thousands and thousands of model runs day after day in the Sierra Nevada. In Episode 25, the boys let their meteorologist alter egos fly free, nerding out on all things weather, including the origins of OpenSnow, the challenges of accurately predicting exactly how much it will snow and where, El Nino vs La Nina, Atmospheric Rivers, and if BA thinks volcanoes like Hunga Tonga have an effect on weather. BA also answers the burning question every powder hound is asking – will Tahoe have another big winter? 2:00 – Pow Bot skis the white ribbon of death at Mount Rose and the boys ride Badenaugh Canyon Trail.4:30 – Introducing Bryan Allegretto – BA – Snow Forecaster for OpenSnow Tahoe.7:30 – Pow Bot’s life history with weather.14:30 – Interview with Bryan Allegretto from OpenSnow Tahoe.16:30 – Growing up in Pennsylvania, skiing the Poconos and Camelback Mountain. 18:30 – Figuring out how to blend a business degree with meteorology. Moves to Truckee to work for Booth Creek right out of college. 20:30 – Starting a weather blog in 2006 connected to a weather page at Northstar and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Reading Howard Sheckter’s weather blog for Mammoth.28:00 – Starting OpenSnow in the 2011/12 season when a five year drought started.31:45 – The “Beard Shaver” storm idea during drought – 2 feet in 24 hours. 34:00 – Creating a community around weather – the comment section of the Tahoe Weather Blog. OpenSnow forum in testing phase. 41:20 – OpenSnow launching their first ski film (more of a snowboard film) about one of their forecasters chasing powder across the country. 44:05 – Trail Whisperer’s obsession with weather and finding the OpenSnow snow forecast.46:05 – How does BA regularly outperform National Weather Service with snow forecasting? 47:20 – Dealing with criticism, angry emails, trollers and mean comments on social media.55:20 – Weather forecast computer modeling like GFS, Euro, Canadian, NAMM versus observational weather forecasting from people with experience. 1:00:05 – Trying to be perfect in the world of imperfect weather forecasting.1:04:20 – The challenges of trying to accurately predict seasonal forecasting, and the warm ocean temperatures of 2023 and the potential El Nino winter.1:09:20 – Learning from past winters to help more accurately predict future winters with climate change – the variable that pushes seasons over the top: ocean temperatures.1:15:20 – Has Lake Tahoe been getting more Atmospheric River storms over the last 20 years?1:17:50 – Is Trail Whisperer’s theory of volcanoes warming ocean temperatures and Hunga Tonga affecting weather patterns accurate or inaccurate? 1:25:00 – El Nino versus La Nina seasons – when does the most snow fall in Lake Tahoe region?1:28:30 – The importance of human observational forecasting in a world of mathematics and computer modeling in meteorology and the AI bots that are coming. 1:35:00 – What webcams does BA use to give him a gauge of snowfall? Sugar Bowl, Palisades, Alpine Meadows and Mt. Rose.1:36:45 – Where does it snow the most in the Lake Tahoe region? 1:38:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you? 1:40:00 – How can people get in touch with BA? Tahoe Daily Snow at Opensnow.com – hello@opensnow.com1:43:00 – What is BA’s season prediction for this winter? We will be have snow level issues and a late start to the winter.

On the heels of Halloween, the boys catch up on a cornucopia of topics including the Hunter’s Moon, a recap of Trail Whisperer and Swan John’s annular eclipse wedding in the Ruby Mountains that Pow Bot officiated, taking the “Florida Man Challenge”, feeling out of place when traveling to a flat part of the country, Pow Bot’s sailboat racing adventure with John Morrison, Trail Whisperer’s weekend of granite slab riding in the annual Giro di StaMMina and a SENDY Send of the Week (Year?) shout out to Cam Zink for winning the 2023 Red Bull Rampage, along with his winning build crew and Mind the Track guests Henry Wilkins and Damon Iwanaga (Episode 10). The boys also debate whether or not you should kick over rock cairns, whether or not you are an early season skier on the “white ribbon of death” and whether or not getting rid of Daylight Savings Time will have an effect on ski resort operations. What say you, do you kick over cairns or let them be? Let us know in the comments, drop us a DM or email us. 2:00 – Snooze Bot – Tom is stress free and is getting good sleep!5:00 – Fall is fully setting in, time change, Harvest Moon and Hunter’s Moon. 7:00 – Trail Whisperer’s wedding in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada during the annular eclipse. 16:10 – Feeling out of place in a flat part of the country with no mountains. 18:20 – Florida Man Challenge. 22:00 – Hurricane Otis - Rapid Intensification, warm ocean water and Hunga Tonga.25:30 – Prime season for kayaking on Lake Tahoe, no motor boats in the lake. 27:00 – Halloween – celebrating your alter ego. 29:15 – PowBot goes sailing on a Santa Cruz Express with John Morrison at Richmond Yacht Club.35:15 – Trail Whisperer rides with Fred Stamm in his annual Giro di StaMMina in Pinecrest.42:30 – All about rock cairns. The importance of them, and when they are worth kicking over.52:30 – West View Park, Kennywood and amusement parks in Pittsburgh, PA. 55:20 – Early season skiing – the white strip of death - do you get after it or do you wait until the snow is deep enough? 1:03:30 – Daylight Savings Time – are you in support or against it? It’s effect on ski resort operations.1:13:30 – SENDY Send of the week goes to Cam Zink, Henry Wilkins and Damon Iwanaga for winning the Red Bull Rampage.

At age 54, Alenka Vrecek decided it was never too late for an adventure by bike, rolling out her front door in Tahoe City, aiming 2,500 miles south to her other door at the tip of Baja Mexico. For nearly two months Alenka rode alone, giving her ample time to think about life, struggle, love, loss, family and the meaning of home through the eyes of a Slovenian immigrant. A cancer survivor dealing with her husband’s recent diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, Alenka made the tough decision to temporarily leave her family behind, achieving a lifelong desire to adventure before she couldn’t any more. Alenka’s book, She Rides – Chasing Dreams Across California and Mexico is an exceptionally well-written account of the adventure, channeling the great alpinist authors Reinhold Messner and Nejc Zaplotnik, her literary heroes. Our discussion with Alenka is more than just about the bike or the book; it’s about self-discovery, finding strength within yourself and mustering the courage to persevere against all odds.  2:00 – Trail Whisperer gets married, Pow Bot served as officiant.9:00 – Introducing Alenka Vrecek, moving from Slovenia to Lake Tahoe.13:30 – Was it challenging to get on her feet once she first arrived in Alpine Meadows?15:45 – Ski racing, ski instruction and being a certified ski instructor, working at River Ranch.18:00 – Skiing at Squaw Valley in the 1980s with Mike Slattery, Tommy Day and Scot Schmidt. 22:30 – Getting into alpinism and looking up to Nejc Zaplotnik, who was a writer and climber.23:30 – Capturing the essence of Reinhold Messner, a huge inspiration in in writing She Rides.26:00 – The importance of mountains, being outside and exercising regularly. 29:00 – Living with tragedy and personal struggle, and rebuilding your life and identity through being outside and completing a personal journey. 30:00 – What made Alenka want to ride her mountain bike 2,500 miles from Lake Tahoe to Baja? 35:30 – The love of being alone, the power of spending time in the outdoors by yourself. 39:00 – Riding alone in Mexico, feeling less safe around people than around animals.42:00 – Appreciating simple luxuries of life like hot showers and good food. 44:15 – The difference between riding in California and Mexico through the Sierra Nevada. 47:30 – What is the meaning of home? Being content at home, finding adventure in the backyard and learning a life lesson from Alejandro. 53:30 – Pow Bot quotes “Truckin” from the Grateful Dead and its metaphor for life.56:00 – The concept of living to work vs working to live and city culture vs mountain culture.59:00 – Would you do the trip again alone or with someone?1:02:20 – The process of writing the book, “She Rides”. 1:12:00 – Promoting and marketing the book. 1:15:00 – Pow Bot opens up about his wife and her journey with breast cancer.1:17:00 – Did the bicycle heal Alenka mentally and physically?1:20:30 – The flow state and being in the zone and its importance to life, moving meditation. 1:25:25 – Wing foiling, e-foiling and being on the water. 1:27:50 – Alenka rode an Ibis Mojo 3 mountain bike, aka The Beast, from Tahoe to Baja with help from Big Tall Wayne and Karl Rogne at Olympic Bike Shop. 1:31:00 – What “oh shit” moments did Alenka have on the ride? 1:37:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

If you’ve ever piloted your mountain bike on the trails of Jackass Ridge (now called Donkey Town) and Yogi Bear, and finished with an ear to ear grin, you can thank the @truckeedirtunion . Formed in April of 2020, the TDU is the only trail organization in Truckee specifically focused on enhancing and expanding rad trail experiences for mountain bikers. In its short 3 years of existence, TDU has already amassed a volunteer trail force 550 people strong, supporting a crew of #corelord community builders who’ve been digging in the forest for 30 years, putting Truckee on the map as one of the best towns in the American west for mountain biking. In episode 22, we sit down with TDU founders Matt Chappell (@chappawitz), Skye Allsop (@tahoemtbiker) and Greg Forsythe (@cyclepathsmtb) and talk all about the past, present and future of mountain biking and trails in Truckee, where TDU fits into this quickly changing town and how you can help get involved with the #singletrackradness movement. Get on the dumb end of that shovel, kick some rocks and put some love, sweat and tears back into the trails you enjoy every day by joining TDU on their next volunteer trail day. Show Notes: 2:30 – Introducing Matt Chappell, Skye Allsop and Greg Forsythe of Truckee Dirt Union.7:00 – The history of Jackass Ridge and Hobo Hill.13:20 – The history of hidden and illegal trails in Truckee and adopting formerly social trails.16:50 – How has TDU grown from nothing to 550 supporters in only three years?18:40 – Jackass Ridge and Donkey Town trail – a network that accommodates everyone from beginners and families to experts.21:30 – Who are the main builders for Truckee Dirt Union?22:30 – The history of mountain biking in Truckee.25:00 – The history of JP Trail – the first mountain bike trail in Truckee.28:20 – Why was TDU created?33:30 – Taking community builders creating social trails and bringing them into the fold so they can get paid for their craft.42:30 – What is TDU working on currently and into the future? Enhancing the Jackass trail network, creating more trails after logging operations are complete.45:45 – What can Truckee learn from what’s going on trails-wise in Bellingham, Washington?53:00 – The evolution of mountain biking and its impact on Truckee and Greg’s business, Cyclepaths.55:55 – Parallels between the founding of TAMBA and the founding of TDU.57:45 – What is going to happen with Martis Peak area trails?1:03:40 – How can people step up, support TDU and support mountain biking in Truckee?1:10:00 – Jonnie Benda – the shaper, the visionary for TDU trails. 1:19:00 – A couple more volunteer days before end of season on Jackass and JP Trail - @truckeedirtunion on Instagram and truckeedirtunion.org1:20:25 – What does Singletrack Radness mean?1:22:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

In line with Episode 21 and its Fall theme, @pow_bot and @trail_whisperer chat (rant?) about a cornucopia of topics ranging from the possible arrival of a Super El Nino in Tahoe, looking back on summer’s favorite rides and new trails, the etiquette of riding illegal trails, Strava and social media, the season pass conundrum, Palisades Tahoe announcing parking pass reservations and overcrowding due to Ikon and Epic Pass sales, a 15 mph speed limit on trails in Truckee, a gang of Truckee kids on ebikes throwing apples at people and evading the law, Reno’s ranking by Outside as “happiest place to live in America”, remembering the legend of Robb Gaffney and more. Like most one-on-one episodes with the boys, this one gets a little ranty, channeling a bit of the Angry Singlespeeder (aka The ASS) in Kurt. The boys also ask listeners – what do you prefer to wear when riding, a hip pack or a backpack? Let us know your preference! 2:00 – Trail Running.4:00 – It’s Fall and it’s Snowing! Getting ready for winter. Trail Whisperer loves pumpkin pie. 8:20 – Ski Films – Do you watch ski films to get fired up for ski season?12:30 – Summer Recap – Lots of rain, never got too hot, no smoke.14:05 – Super El Nino is coming! Fall Tahoe weather is setting in. Early Winter?17:30 – What was your favorite mountain bike ride this summer?19:45 – What’s the etiquette of riding unsanctioned trails?22:00 – Strava and social media rant.30:00 – PowBot and 2NBen’s bear and bee encounter on JP Trail. 32:20 – Favorite new trail? Shark Bait at Sky Tavern and flow trail at Sugar Bowl. 35:40 – PowBot is almost 2 months into not drinking alcohol and he’s loving it.39:30 – Season Pass sales – PowBot buys Mount Rose, Epic Pass and Ikon Pass.41:50 – Palisades Tahoe announces parking reservations and pay for parking details.48:30 – Fighting for preserving the culture of Squaw Valley.49:20 – In memoriam – Robb Gaffney.51:40 – Outside ranks Reno as the happiest place to live in America. 58:50 – City of Truckee passes 15 mph speed limit on multi-use trails in town in response to an ebike gang of high school kids roaming Truckee throwing eggs and apples at people.1:05:00 – Focus on education, not enforcement. 1:08:00 – Sky Tavern fundraiser – Party in the Sky – October 14 at 10AM. Be there!1:08:40 – Sendy Send of the Week - @cascadeconnections – skiing POW in September. @amymo_11 winning the Enduro in Killington and @marcoOsborne92 taking 2nd in Enduro and 14th in the US Cup Downhill. 1:13:00 – Hip packs vs backpacks. What do you wear mountain biking?

In 2020, Harrison Biehl bought his first mountain bike and immediately put his mind in the track, progressively doing bigger and bigger rides. In summer 2022, he successfully completed his first “Everesting” mission - repeating the same climb until reaching 29,032 feet of elevation gain. As a fundraiser for TAMBA, Harrison tackled Stanford Rock trail on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and completed the mission in under 24 hours. In the afterglow, tragedy struck when his close friend Joe Fazzio took his own life a week before Christmas. To honor Joe’s life and bring awareness to mental health, Harrison partnered with High Fives Foundation and launched the Pedal for Positivity. His new mission; “Trench to Everest” - climbing 65,099 feet - the elevation difference between the lowest point on earth, the Marianas Trench, to the highest, Mount Everest. Harrison did the ride on Old Highway 40 from Donner Lake to Historic Donner Summit on September 8-9 with a group of friends who rode by his side, completing nearly 60 laps in 29 hours. Recorded on Donner Summit at the site of the event, this is a heavy story of friendship, community, commitment, struggle and loss. 3:30 – During the latest brown pow cycle, Tom crashes his mountain bike hard.6:40 – Steven Kotler – Gnar Country – learning to become a park skier at age 53. 9:40 – Introducing Harrison Biehl – Everesting Stanford Rock, trenching Old Highway 40.13:30 – Another sign of a big winter coming – crazy squirrels. Another Hunga Tonga correlation.16:22 – Harrison Biehl interview recording on old Highway 40 on Donner Summit. 20:00 – Riding from the lowest point on the planet, Mariana Trench to the highest point on the planet, Mount Everest. 381 miles and 65,249 ft of climbing in 29 hours 42 minutes.24:20 – Completing massive rides with only three years of experience cycling. 26:30 – Everesting Stanford Rock trail on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, a fundraiser for Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association.29:00 – Learning fitness, strength and training from Derek Teel of Dialed Health, who Everested Braille Trail in Soquel Demo Forest near Santa Cruz. 30:30 – Using the ride to raise funds for new mountain bike trails in Lake Tahoe, including the new Meeks Ridge trail. 37:00 – What did Harrison learn from the first big Everest challenge on Stanford Rock?39:45 – The backstory of the Old Highway 40 ride – in memory of Joe Fazzio. 41:00 – Living with loss and suicide, trying to make sense of those who take their own lives. 46:00 – The bicycle as a vehicle for blowing off steam, helping deal with the stress and loss.48:00 – Finding Joe on Donner Lake. 54:00 – Angry riding in the wake of Joe’s passing, starting Pedal for Positivity with High Fives Foundation. 1:04:00 – Riding Old Highway 40 from Donner Lake to Historic Donner Summit. 1:11:00 – Pro grade support from the folks at Paco’s bike shop in Truckee. 1:13:00 – Contribute to the Pedal for Positivity – highfivesfoundation.org/pedal-for-positivity/1:14:00 – Tom’s grandfather, Raymond Beckering and Robert Schuller, of Garden Grove Ministries, built the Tower of Hope in the early 1970’s; the first suicide helpline in North America – New Hope. 1:18:00 – What was harder, Stanford Rock or Old Highway 40?1:25:30 – Did Harrison ever think he couldn’t complete the ride?1:28:30 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?1:30:00 – Follow Harrison – @harrison_biehl and @pedal_for_positivity

In Summer 1983, Max Jones jumped on a strange new contraption called a #mountainbike and went looking for trails to ride around #laketahoe. There wasn’t really any singletrack until he discovered an abandoned flume line running high above the east shore of the lake. After a few failed attempts, Max finally uncovered the overgrown track, taking five hours to “ride” only four miles, fighting through brush and hundreds of downed trees. For the rest that summer, Max cleared the trail with nothing more than hand tools and dogged determination. 40 years later, thanks to Max’s efforts, the Marlette Flume Trail has become the most scenic trail in the world and a gem of recreation in Lake Tahoe. Max and his wife Patti have built a life and career around the Flume Trail, promoting the Great Flume Race for more than a decade, starting Flume Trail Bikes to shuttle visitors and opening Tunnel Creek Café to feed them at the end of the adventure. This is the story of Max Jones, a Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, the resurrector of the Flume Trail and an early pioneer of ecotourism in Lake Tahoe. 1:40 – PowBot gets a new vanity license plate – MRDRPOW – on his murdered out Crosstrek. 3:45 – Experiencing technical difficulties with our podcast player while interviewing Max Jones.5:20 – Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Max Jones reopening the Marlette Flume Trail. 10:00 – The first “winter storm” on September 1; a Pacific Low coming off the ocean!11:30 – Rose to Toads TAMBA ride is going to get snow Labor Day weekend. 13:20 – SENDY Send of the Week – 11 year anniversary of Joyce Beckering’s passing – Tom’s mom. Incline Burger taking donations for victims of the Maui fire in Lahaina.17:00 – Max Jones interview at Tunnel Creek Café. 20:00 – The history of Max Jones’ family, a fourth generation Nevadan. His family was into ranching. The Settlemeyer family came from Minden, Germany to what became Minden, Nevada.23:00 – Max’s history as a rock climber and ski racer and the first generation of his family to be a recreationist. 26:30 – The Germans came into the Carson Valley after the Mormons left. The Germans weren’t miners, they were ranchers, so they raised cattle and fed the miners.29:30 – Max transitions from rock climbing to mountain biking, and picks up Ritchey as a sponsor and started racing.35:00 – How Max originally discovered the Flume Trail. 41:00 – Helicoptering all the old aluminum flume pipe off the trail. 45:30 – The Great Flume Race put the Flume Trail on the map for visitors. 47:25 – The spiritual power of Herlan Peak – a leyline from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake.50:30 – Working with the Nevada State Park Ranger Mark Kimbrough in reopening the trail.53:30 – The original purpose of the Flume Trail – created for water in Virginia City during the Comstock Lode silver rush. 58:30 – Max’s first summer working on the trail, carrying a chainsaw and falling off the trail.1:03:00 – Max joins the Tahoe Rim Trail Association board representing mountain bikers.1:08:50 – Max started shuttling people in 1999 with Flume Trail Bikes. 1:10:30 – Flume Trail Bikes moves to the old Ponderosa Ranch site at Tunnel Creek and opened the cafe.1:12:40 – Max innovated a form of ecotourism that’s been sustainable for Lake Tahoe, shuttling 5,000 to 6,000 people per year, keeping extra cars off local roads.1:15:00 – Flume Trail Bikes might start running a shuttle for Cap to Tahoe trail, and building a new singletrack to Tunnel Creek from Flume Trail. 1:19:00 – Building a life and a career around the Flume Trail.1:21:00 – What does Mind the Track mean to you?

After the best winter and spring ever, the best summer in Tahoe ever continues its run with a return of rain and mind-blowing hero dirt. @pow_bot and @trail_whisperer go mano a mano and catch up on a variety of topics including crazy weather and its relation to the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption, nature’s signs of a big upcoming winter and the chances of an El Niño season, the “Amish bike” versus the Rumspringa (e-bike), an epidemic of bears getting hit by cars in Lake Tahoe, the migration of a wolfpack into the southern Sierra Nevada, preparing for 150 miles of new singletrack north of Truckee and an audience poll: do you wash your bike after every ride or do you just ride it dirty?1:30 – Hero dirt in Tahoe in August! The encyclopedia of brown pow.3:45 – Pow Bot gives Trail Whisperer a D.I.A t-shirt. Director of the Dirt Intelligence Agency.5:00 – Trail Whisperer flagging new trail out by Boca, finding an old crosscut saw.7:00 – Working for Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship and the Connected Communities project.10:00 – Ground truthing new trail using a clinometer.11:30 – The Verdi deer herd and their migratory paths.13:00 – Brief uninformed history of Truckee – Gray’s Crossing and Coburn Station.14:00 – Hurricane Hilary drenches southern California and Nevada.15:00 – Donate to Maui Strong to help people who lost everything in the wildfire.18:30 – The Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption and its effect on weather in North America.23:30 – Are Lake Tahoe and Reno going to have an El Nino winter?24:40 – Nature’s signs of a big winter coming29:00 – Lake Tahoe and an epidemic of bears getting hit by cars. 31:30 – The brain check – like a chain check, but for tourist brains.34:00 – Pro Tips – Do you ride your bike dirty or do you wash your mountain bike regularly?40:00 – The Amish bike aka muscle bike aka push bike vs the ebike aka the Rumspringa46:00 – Riding Martis in mid-August after 3 inches of rain. ALL TIME CONDITIONS.48:00 – Pow Bot takes a break from drinking alcohol.51:45 – The deeply ingrained culture of mountain biking and alcohol consumption.53:00 – Tyrolian Downhill – originally called the Chinese Downhill. 58:00 – The migration of a gray wolf pack into the southern Sierra Nevada.1:05:00 – Sendy send of the week goes to Nate Arnold and Keegan Swenson at Leadville. 1:11:00 – Pow Bot skis pow on Mount Elbert on May 5, Mount Hope couloir, A-Basin and Loveland Pass. 1:14:30 – Shout out to Matt Garrett – heal fast!