Tahoe basin pumping up mountain bike trail

By Kathryn Reed

Heading into fall, the Corral Trail may be an entirely different experience for mountain bikers and motorized vehicles.

This is because the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit spent $24,000 from its trail budget to bring in Hilride Progression Development Group to design the trail that could lead to a more sophisticated mountain bike system throughout the basin. Construction is slated to begin in late summer. Between now and then a series of design workshops will be conducted.

Improvements to the South Shore's Corral Trail are likely to begin this summer.

At a meeting Thursday night of more than 24 fat tire die-hards, it sounded like a foreign language was being spoken – though it was a bit like how riders talk about terrain parks at ski resorts.

Right now three jumps are on the trail that is accessed off Pioneer Trail at Oneidas Road. Those who spoke out April 28 want more jumps, some want bigger features, all said it needs to flow better.

Len Holmgren cautioned that the route needs to match the ability of the riders – who aren’t all gnarly riders like many of whom attended the meeting put on by the U.S. Forest Service.

Garrett Villanueva, assistant forest engineer with the Forest Service, agreed after the meeting that the array of users on this particular trail were not at the meeting – particularly the mainstream mountain biker, motorcyclists and quad ATV.

“Without input, they won’t have the options they desire,” Villanueva warned.

The next meeting is June 11 at the Forest Service office in South Lake Tahoe. The morning will start at 9 going over a map Hilride officials will have devised that will contain potential locations for various features. The rest of the day, which will end about 4pm, will be scoping out the actual trail.

“This will be built by volunteers. It’s the only way it will be put in the ground,” Villanueva told Lake Tahoe News.

Several at the meeting are members of Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, which has pledged its support to help build the trail.

Mountain biking is big business. People travel all over the world to ride specific trails. In Whistler, 10 percent of the residents belong to the cycling club there, according to a Hilride official.

Matt Lopes of Hilride showed endless video of trails – mostly in the Western United States. Most people at the meeting have traveled to these and other locations to ride their mountain bikes.

Rose Daiek is one of those traveling riders. But she also likes the idea of improving her back yard. And she recognizes needing something for all levels.

“Progression is how people get better,” Daiek said.

For more information about the Corral Trail project, contact Villanueva or Jacob Quinn at the LTBMU office at (530) 543.2600.