Heavy thunderstorms likely today

FRIDAY JULY 31 5:24 AM….More thunderstorms are in the forecast for Tahoe today and Saturday, and they could extend from the typical afternoon hours into the evening. The culprit: a low pressure system parked off the Pacific Coast. Energy spinning off that low is taking a trajectory out of the southeast and over the Sierra, dragging plenty of moisture with it. That moisture is feeding into the convection that is already ongoing over the Sierra, adding to the potential for serious thunderstorms. Look for storms this afternoon over the crest with heavy rain and hail possible, then moving slowly to the north. The forecast had called for the storms to taper off over the weekend but it now looks as if Saturday will be similar to today. As long as that low pressure sits where it is today, the flow will continue.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City
Today 81
Saturday 81
Sunday 81

7000 feet
Today 72
Saturday 72
Sunday 70

Tough fire season forecast

The US Forest Service is forecasting a severe wildfire season for the remainder of 2009 because of the ongoing drought and lightning-prone weather.

Key points in the forecast:

–Severe or extremely dry conditions are now found in almost all of central California and the Sierra Nevada mountain range, much of western Oregon and Washington, and parts of coastal and central North Carolina, central Florida and northern Wisconsin.
–Extreme drought conditions exist north of Los Angeles; in all three directions from San Francisco; in pockets of southwest, west central and northwestern Oregon; and western Washington including the Olympic Peninsula.
–Much of the Midwest is far wetter than usual, along with the Northeast and parts of northern Minnesota and North Dakota.
–Very large amounts of fire are projected for northern California and small parts of southwest Oregon; coastal areas north of Los Angeles; large portions of the Sierra Nevada in California; and a huge area of northwestern Texas and eastern New Mexico.
–Significant amounts of fire that are considered “above normal” are predicted for most of Texas and the Southwest; many parts of Oregon and eastern Washington; and northern Montana.
–Drought doesn’t always mean fire. In the Pacific Northwest, some of the very driest areas, such as the northwestern corner of Oregon and most of western Washington, are not projected to have unusually high levels of fire.
–Almost no areas east of Texas and the Rocky Mountains are expected to have higher-than-normal amounts of fire, except for some small pockets in central Florida, northern Georgia and northwestern Nebraska.
–A total of 3.66 million acres of the U.S. is expected to burn.

See a report on the forecast here from the Reno Gazette Journal.

Rides of the week: Barker Pass and Mt. Rose summit

Barker Pass Road
Difficulty” difficult
Distance: 17 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 2500 feet in about 5 miles

Barker Pass Road is a local’s favorite, and it’s not even that well traveled by locals. The road is an out and back best done as the midpoint of a longer ride from either South Shore or the north. It includes about 5 miles of strenuous climbing, averaging about 9 percent, after an easy run-up of about three miles. The pavement is far from smooth, but it’s fine on the way up. The descent can be a little rough. The paved road ends at the pass and turns to dirt, near where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the road.

The ride: Not much more to say. Find Barker Pass Road near Tahoe Pines about 4 miles south of Tahoe City. Follow it to the top. After a few miles of relatively flat run-up, the road crosses the creek on a bridge and then begins the ascent. Stop when you get to the dirt, unless you want a real adventure. No services anywhere on this road, but plenty out on Highway 89 as you approach.

Here is a map and elevation profile:

Mt. Rose Summit

At just under 9,000 feet, Mt. Rose summit is probably the highest point in the Tahoe region you can reach on a road bike, and you can climb to the top from either Tahoe or Reno, or both. If you really like to climb, start in Incline Village, go up and over the summit and descend to Reno, then turn around and climb back up the other way. This is for advanced riders only, or intermediates who want a serious challenge.

If you are going to do just one side, the Tahoe side is definitely the better of the two. The shoulder is wider, it’s more shaded and generally cooler. And the descent into Reno is a bummer because it is too straight to slow down the cars, which means the bikes have to stay on the side of the road and get passed by cars going 55 mph or 60 mph.

The start: Begin either at the Intersection of Highways 28 and 431 (also called 27) in Incline Village or at the Galena Market 19990 Thomas Creek Road, in Reno. From the Tahoe side the climb is about 8.5 miles, 1500 feet of elevation gain. Watch out for the false summit about 1.5 miles from the top. From the Reno side it is tougher: 14 miles, 3700 feet of elevation gain. Bring a couple of water bottles, but there are stores on each end to replenish, and you will probably need to do so.

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