Day 110 - Saturday, September 18

Wow, what an epic day! Plan B had me going from Carson City to Washoe Lake which is on the other side of the mountains from Tahoe where I could cross and come down into Incline Village. I figured this route using Google maps that showed a direct line front the base of 4.6 miles, driving at 33 miles and lastly the run over the mountain at 9.6 miles. I met Chris at the dirt road where the climb would begin. I jumped into the RV to refuel and had Chris’ wonderful scrambled eggs cheese on toast with butter.

The Washoe valley was an Eden with and as I came towards the RV Chris was petting a pretty horse. A man in his 30’s pulled up in a pick up truck and knocked on our door. He asked what we were doing parked in his neighbors dirt driveway? We told him that I am running across America and because of the wildfires we needed to detour and our route provided by google has us going up this dirt road - which is fenced off and has a no trespassing sign - and over the mountain into Incline Village. He explained that the driveway was a private house and there was no way through. I asked him if he could call the woman who lives there and he did but no one answered. I asked him what other options existed and he told me that the entire valley is privately owned by someone and no one can get up and over because this one man owns 800 acres on top of everybody else, essentially owning the mountain. He suggested we go back where we came from and try another route.

With that info I went back to my eggs coffee and doughnut trying to think of a Plan C. Shortly there after, another knock on the RV door. It was the woman who lives in the driveway where we are parked. A talkative, kind woman named Carol told us that she has livestock including cows horses and 15 bulls on her property and that it would not be a good idea for me to cross. Secondly, her next door neighbor is a lawyer who owns the 800 acres, the mountain and the properties above all of their houses and he strictly forbids anyone from crossing his lands. He is litigious because he is a lawyer and has prosecuted trespassers. She told us there is no way to pass. I asked her about the road running parallel before her driveway and she told me it is a private road that is closed off a quarter of a mile up after the houses and is owned by the lawyer next-door. She mentioned there are surveillance cameras… Carol also had a fascinating story of how she became the owner of the land that was part of a larger deed that was originally signed by Abraham Lincoln. She was kind enough to give an interview and tell us the story.

Once Carol left, I fell back on my motto, “ don’t take no for an answer, don’t break the law just bend it as far as you can.” I told Chris I’m gonna go on the private road and work my ass off to get up as quickly as I can in case somebody comes after me. After the last few of days big miles and especially yesterday, the 5 miles up and 3k’ elevation will hurt but it had to be done. Chris gave me a look like he did in Sedan, Nebraska as I starred in a breaking bad episode. “Time to go!” I told him and jumped out.

As I went back down to the road and turned on it I did see a sign that said private road, I thought OK so far so good. Then just as Carol had mentioned, a sign read no trespassing which I interpreted as I shouldn’t go off the road into the woods. A little further up a gate that said private road but the gate was open so I proceeded. I noticed that there were fresh horse hoof marks in the sand and then a little later fresh horse manure. Someone was riding up here and had opened the gate. I found the next three gates also opened and more tracks - I prepared myself to meet the someone…

Someone never appeared and before I knew it I was at a sign that read “Entering Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park” and while I was sweating profusely, wiped out from the hard pace up, I was also clear of going to jail!

The trail from there to the top was very remote. I came upon a herd of deer that was curious about me and followed me for a few hundred yards until I met two mountain bikers Will Stoger and John Hegstrom. We chatted about the route I had taken and I learned they enjoy doing back country routes. I told them I was heading to the Tunnel Cafe and they suggested I say hi to the owners, Max Jones and Patty McMullen who are well know mountains bikers and climbers - Max having climbed El Capitan.

I finished the day with close to 5,000’ of climbing and staying on schedule by reaching Truckee. Today was the biggest day of the trip and we survived to fight another day.

Eskaton Village is now 93 miles away on I80 and we have 3 days to dance around the interstate where possible. Rain and cold in the forecast tomorrow as well. But, we will deal with it tomorrow…for now its time for some rest after running until 7pm.

Thank you all for the support.

Cheers,

David.

Leaving Carson City and heading up into Washoe Valley

Beautiful neighborhoods surround the city with magnificent houses

In the valley there is a golf course

As I run up the road to the spot where google map showed the forest road there are nice houses on the left and open grazing pastures on the right

Chris found a friend…

Carol owns the house where Google maps showed a dirt road going through her property

Up beyond the private road, a dirt road took over and I ran into the sign that told me private road

Daily Brief

After the first closed gate though, the others were open

I worked hard to make progress as quickly as possible

Fresh horse manure made me think I would run into the person who opened the gates

And then I saw the sign to enter State Forest and I was clear

A few deer stood right in front of me as I ran up to them

As I ran by they followed and 2 became 4

Will and John

And they took a picture of me and texted it to me

Turn the volume up and enjoy the sound of a water fall

I finally reach the top!

Incredible vistas from the top

Stateline NV at the Biltmore where there is a bike show

On my way to Truckee this is the second to last climb of the entire run up to Brockway Summit

Reaching Truckee close to 7pm - usually I’m asleep by then!

Get ready Eskaton, next stop!