I should start keeping track of all the times the local riders rebuild this popular trail (Jackie Chan Downhill). This is the second time the forest service has had to spend time and money removing what they call an illegal trail. Illegal trails will continue to be blazed through National forest lands due to the advances in downhill mountain bike designs.  As Downhill mountain bikes improve every year the riders are able to descend steeper and steeper terrain.  With riders able to drop almost anything put in their way, the forest service has an impossible task. The solution to me seems very simple, allow downhill mountain biking at Heavenly Ski Resort.  Lets look at all the up sides to this idea. First, instead of spending tax dollars on taking down trails that keep being rebuilt, Heavenly will collect taxes.  Heavenly is set for injuries in terms of established first aid,  the forest is far more riskier for riders to ride.  This is not to say the forest service should ban all mountain biking, but by allowing the advanced riding at Heavenly it would greatly reduce the risk on forest service land.  Heavenly has already invested in erosion control according to the TRPA’s standards.  In other words if we believe that mountain biking increases erosion, causing the lake clarity to suffer, then decreasing the riding on forest lands, and moving those riders to areas that have sedimentary pools already in place is the quickest way to help the Lake Tahoe environment.

It is my understanding that the TRPA will not allow Heavenly to offer it’s terrain to mountain biking. This restriction, is understood by all parties, and makes logical sense, but over time many other mountain communities have been able to protect their environment, and offer mountain biking.  With the growth in popularity of mountain biking,  I’ve heard countless guest’s respond in shock and unbelief when we tell them they’re not allowed on Heavenly with their bike.  One visitor assumed he could ride the lift like other resorts he had been to, but when I informed him he couldn’t, he went nuts. He had planned his trip around the idea of mountain biking at heavenly, he swore he would never return to Tahoe because from his perspective all ski resorts should be open to mountain biking, and why wouldn’t they?
So to the powers that be, please reconsider the up side to allowing Heavenly the right to offer mountian biking acess via its lift system.

This guy has got crazy skills, check it out!!

Shoreline of Tahoe is setting up a Chumba Down Hill Mountain Bike Demo Center at their Kingsbury Grade location. Beginning in May, anyone interested in trying a Chumba Mountain Bike on some of tahoe’s best down hill rides can do so. Just stop by and we’ll set you up to try before you buy. If your going to Northstar or Kirkwood, we can set you up the afternoon before at no extra charge. We can apply your demo charge towards a brand new Chumba DH. We will be selling our Demos at a reduced price later in the season. The Demo stock will be on a first come basis.
We will also have the full Chumba fleet up for demo some time in May. Check back for the date. Shoreline has a large selection of biking resources and accessories (maps, helmets, rentals, pads, replacement tubes and lots of parts