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Truckee Winter Wonderland

Our pretty little mountain town in the Sierra Nevada got buried last week, Tuesday-Thursday, as a classic atmospheric river rolled across the state. The first 24 hours, the storm was underwhelming. We were disappointed to only get about a foot of snow that first night. Weak. It snowed lightly during the day, off and on, accumulating about 6″, but nothing serious. Wednesday evening, we shoveled the decks again, just in case the storm wasn’t over. Spoiler alert – it wasRead more

Truckee 29: a scenic loop

The following photos and trail directions are from a loop I ran around Truckee on a warm September afternoon. With a start/finish in downtown Truckee, you can take advantage of free parking, easy access to breakfast/coffee at Coffeebar, and many options for finish-line food or beverages like Alibi or the Pour House. I recommend parking in the free lot on Jibboom Street (across the street from the Pour House). And now for the route… from the parking lot, head EastRead more

Robinson Flat to Drivers Flat – Western States Trail

Saturday, May 19, 2018, Gretchen and I met in Auburn at 6am to begin the chain of carpools that would get us to Robinson Flat, a campground located at mile 30.3 of the Western States 100 mile endurance run. Nearly 2 hours later, with thanks to my coach, mentor and hero Meghan Laws, and her friends Dave and Manoush, the five of us were at Robinson Flat and ready for some adventure. Meghan, Dave and Manoush were doing a loop in theRead more
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Marin Ultra Challenge 50 miler 2018

In the week leading up to the Marin Ultra Challenge 50 (MUC for short), I was pretty terrified. I believe I was suffering from a mild case of TRT-PTSD, after the last race I’d entered, the TRT100, didn’t pan out so well. I went into that race feeling strong and ready, but my stomach rebelled and I spent a lot of time in a heap on the side of the trail. I’d trained consistently leading up to MUC, thanks to guidance from Coach Meghan, but after TRT, I knew that anything could happen.Read more
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First big storm of 2018 – Truckee

We are on day 2 of a 3-day winter storm, the biggest storm we’ve seen since last year… so far it looks like the predictions below are going to be accurate: Last night, Bev the pup and I went out for a run, in the blizzard, in the dark, and it was ridiculously fun. Dressed properly, I stayed plenty warm for the entire 9.75 miles. The wind picked up here and there, but my Yooper Chook hat protected everything butRead more
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Johnson Canyon, Truckee, CA

While driving west up Interstate 80 from Truckee, California, you may notice a beautiful canyon, just north of the Donner Lake exit, in between Truckee and Donner Pass. This canyon, at one time slated for a 200+ home development, was acquired by the Truckee Donner Land Trust in two transactions between 2006 and 2012, effectively protecting it from any future development. Until this point, the canyon was referred to as “Negro Canyon”, in reference to the African-American landowner at the base of the canyon around the turn of the century.Read more
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Thanksgiving at Camp Whiskey Jack

Papa’s camp, aka Camp Whiskey Jack, originally built around 1905 and acquired by the Potvins in 1944, sits on a couple of 40s (40-acre parcels) in the middle of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Every year since my dad was a kid, the men of the family have headed to camp for Opening Day of Deer Hunting Season (a holiday in the U.P.), and the women joined the following week for the days surrounding Thanksgiving. My parents continued this traditionRead more