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So you think riding the trail is a
challenge?
Welcome to "Crewing the Tevis!" |
| A well prepared, calm, and positive crew can be
of tremendous benefit to riders of the Western States Trail. There's nothing
quite like slogging into a vet check, bedraggled and worn on a horse who's been
questioning the sanity of his human companion for hours and is wondering just
when all this fun is going to end, and then being rejuvenated in every way by a
capable, motivated crew! |
| Familiarity with the course, trail conditions,
and access roads is an invaluable tool for any crew, but a carefully organized
game plan will do the job for newcomers as well. Being met everywhere is
generally not an advantage to most Tevis Cup riders, as this slows momentum and
offsets the rhythm of progressing down the trail. A simple schedule based on
the particular needs and skills of each horse and rider team, combined with a
well thought out protocol, will provide the most effective strategy for
achieving a successful completion. |
Crew access is allowed ONLY at the following
locations:
- Robinson Flat
- Dusty Comers
- Michigan Bluff
- Bath Road to Mill Site
- Foresthill Mill Site
- Mill Site to California Trail
- No Hands Bridge
- Western States Trail Staging Area
- McCann Stadium
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| Access roads are narrow and parking is limited,
so it is highly recommended that crews park their trailers in Auburn, in the town of Foresthill or at the Mill Site, and work from a single vehicle. Car pooling is appreciated! Roads must be kept open and clear at all times for emergency vehicles. |
| Status boards that track rider progress will be
maintained at Robinson Flat, Foresthill Mill Site, and McCann Stadium. |
| Alfalfa hay, oats, wheat bran, and water will be
available at Robinson Flat, Deadwood, Michigan Bluff, Foresthill,
Francisco's, and the Lower Rock Quarry. |
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| Horses and riders pulled from the ride prior to the Foresthill checkpoint will be trailered to Foresthill when transportation becomes available. Trailering from Foresthill is the rider's responsibility. |
| Riders and horses that drop out after Foresthill will
be transported to the Gold Country Fairgrounds. |
| Despite the best efforts of Ride Management, the wait
for a trailer ride can be lengthy. Please be patient! |
| It is important for riders who decide to drop out to
inform ride management in order to avoid unnecessary distress and futile
searches. |
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| 1. Know the rules and follow them! If you're unsure of
something, ask a ride official. |
| 2. Take care of yourself throughout the long day and
night. Wear appropriate clothing to combat the day's heat and the evening's
coolness, stay well hydrated, eat real food at regular intervals, and bring a
chair, wristwatch and flashlight. |
| 3. Prepare your crewing gear in easy-to-carry
containers and pre-plan with your rider the necessities for each stop (and then
bring extra!) |
| 4. Allow plenty of time to reach each check-point,
always driving at safe speeds. |
| 5. As a minimum, plan to meet your rider at the one
hour gate-to-hold stops: Robinson Flat and Foresthill. Crews provide a
psychological lift to both horse and rider, in addition to their practical
contributions. |
| 6. Help your rider leave each checkpoint on time.
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| 7. Share your extra supplies and offer help to other
riders and their horses. |
Trail Maps |
| Because access roads are extremely narrow and parking
is limited, please obey the no parking signs wherever they exist.
Remember that Ride Management has to use these same roads, as does the general
public, including fire/rescue units. If a true emergency should develop, lack
of common courtesies by crews could lead to serious problems. Failure by crew
to observe no parking signs can lead to the immediate disqualification of an
entrant. |
1. Robie Park to Robinson
Flat: Allow 2 hours and 45 minutes.
To reach Foresthill from
Truckee, take I-80 West approximately 72 miles to the Foresthill Exit in
Auburn. Turn left across the freeway and head east along the Auburn-Foresthill
Road passing through the town of Foresthill (17 miles) to the Old Mill Site,
where there is plenty of parking for trucks and horse trailers. We highly
recommend that crews car pool from Foresthill to Robinson Flat.
NO HORSE TRAILERS OR MOTOR HOMES ALLOWED AT ROBINSON FLAT DURING THE RIDE.
Drop horse trailers in Auburn, Foresthill, or Foresthill Mill Site
NO MOTOR HOMES BEYOND SAILOR FLAT (four miles before Robinson).
ONE VEHICLE PER RIDER PAST SAILOR FLAT; A PASS IS REQUIRED FOR EACH VEHICLE. SPECTATORS ARE WELCOME TO WALK OR HITCH A RIDE..
To reach Robinson Flat, continue on the Foresthill Divide road approximately 27
miles. (Road name changes to Baker Ranch - Soda Springs Road part way along.)
Please consider parking in the Sailor Flat area, about 4 miles short of
Robinson, and taking the free shuttle bus provided.
Crew Tip: Robinson Flat is 36 miles into
the ride and is at 6,730 feet elevation. Consider bringing a light blanket or
horse cooler, extra buckets in which to warm water in the sun, spare tack, and
a tarp for spreading out gear, food and tired bodies. A farrier will be
available.
Cres may assist once the horse and rider are past the "No Crews Beyond This Point" sign on Soda Springs Road, but not before that point.
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2. Foresthill to Dusty Corners: Allow 1 hour and 30 minutes. Crew access to Dusty Corners (near Last Chance) is permitted, but not recommended.
To reach Dusty Corners, take Mosquito Ridge
Road 24 east from Foresthill for 24 miles. The road is steep and winding. Turn
left onto Road N-44, a paved road that turns to graded gravel after about two
miles (High clearance vehicle recommended.) Follow N-44 for 5 miles to the
Dusty Corners Vet Check. THIS IS THE ONLY PERMITTED ROUTE.
The Ride
provides necessary feed and water for the horses at this veterinary checkpoint.
There will be ride officials and communications support posted at this remote
location.
Should a rider need to pull at Dusty Corners, the Ride will provide transportation for horse and rider to Foresthill. Rider crews will be expected to check the "progress chart" located at Foresthill and confer with the volunteer staff in order to make arrangements for pickup and transportation of their rider's horses from Foresthill to Auburn.. |
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3. Deadwood: Crew access to Deadwood is prohibited and traffic is controlled along the Auburn-Foresthill Road (at the Deadwood turnoff).
The event organizers will provide necessary feed and water
for the horses at this checkpoint. Only ride officials, veterinarians, and
support staff will be allowed access to this remote location.
If a
rider's horse is eliminated at Deadwood, the event organizers will provide
transportation for horse and rider to Foresthill. However, riders may have a
long wait for such transportation as travel time is long and volunteer trailers
and drivers to handle this effort are limited. |
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4. Robinson Flat to
Michigan Bluff: Allow 1 hour travel time. Return to Foresthill on the Baker Ranch-Soda Springs Road, traveling approximately 22 miles to Michigan Bluff Road. Turn left and go 3 miles to town.
PREPARE TO PARK WELL BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO MICHIGAN BLUFF AND TO CARRY YOUR OWN SUPPLIES.
Past riders of the Tevis are very familiar with the small town of Michigan Bluff, usually a welcome sight for both horse and rider after two big canyon crossings. As usual, riders will find cool water and a group of smiling faces as they pass through town, but riders will not stop in Michigan Bluff for a vet check this year.
For the past several years, room to spread out and stage a vet check in Michigan Bluff has become more and more scarce; riders of past Tevis events are familiar with trot outs down the center of main street! For this year's event, the Ride Committee has secured use of a new staging area on Chicken Hawk Road, approximately 1.5 miles past Michigan Bluff on the trail.
Chicken Hawk: NO CREW ACCESS. For the 2007 Ride, Michigan Bluff will be a water stop with no vet check or hold. There will be a Gate & Go at the Chicken Hawk/Volcano Staging Area. Please be aware that crews will be able to meet their horse in Michigan Bluff, but will NOT be allowed into the Chicken Hawk/Volcano Staging Area. You can take your time in Michigan Bluff to enjoy all the town has to offer, but be aware that your rider will need to take some time at the vet check at Chicken Hawk/Volcano.
All checkpoint time estimates and cut-off times will be adjusted to accommodate this vet check change. Be sure your rider plans their pacing and feeding schedule as they move through the canyons in anticipation of a longer trail between vet checks.
The Ride Committee is working toward securing a permanent vet check, with full crew access, at the Chicken Hawk/Volcano Staging Area for next year. |
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5. Robinson Flat to
Foresthill: Allow about 1
hour drive time.
To reach the Foresthill Mill Site vet check, return along the Divide Road approximately 25 miles, about 3-1/4 miles past the turnoff to Michigan Bluff. Look for direction signs on your left as you pass Bath Road, turning in at the main Mill Site entrance, park your vehicle as instructed. Proceed slowly when entering/leaving the Mill Site area as you will be crossing the route being
taken by outbound riders.
Crews may meet their riders at the
in-timer station or on Bath Road, which must be accessed on FOOT ONLY.
Walk down Bath Road to where the trail comes out to the pavement, approximately
1 mile. Crews may assist their team anywhere along that stretch.
Crew Tips: Foresthill is 69 miles into the ride, elevation 3,225 feet.
Crews can check the progress of riders on the status board. Find a quiet spot
to set up before meeting your rider on Bath Road or at the in-timer: The Mill
Site is large and the crewing and vet areas are quite spread out. Foresthill is
the last time you will see your rider for several hours, so make sure that both
horse and rider are well-prepared for the evening hours, rested and refueled.
Crews should bring spare tack for the horse and dry clothes for the rider (the
evening can be chilly), a small flashlight for the rider and possibly glow
sticks for the horse (attach to breast collar; three are plenty; try these
ahead of time -- not surprises for the horse!) A farrier will be
available. |
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| 6. Mill Site to California Street: 1.5 miles; allow
about 5 minutes. As you pass through the town of Foresthill, California Street
is a well-marked left turn. With both horse and rider having just enjoyed an
hour-long respite, crewing here is more likely to delay than really help.
Crews are nonetheless welcome to assist their teams along Main Street and
California Street as far as where the dirt trail leaves the pavement. |
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| 7. Francisco's: Crew access to Francisco's is
prohibited. The Ride will provide necessary feed and water for the horses
at this checkpoint. Only ride officials, veterinarians, and support staff will
be allowed access to this remote location as the road is extremely steep and
narrow. Should a rider's horse be eliminated from the event at this checkpoint,
the Ride will provide transportation for horse and rider to Auburn. However,
riders may have a long wait for such transportation as travel time is long and
volunteer trailers and drivers to handle this effort are limited. |
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| 8. Rock Quarry/Hwy 49: Crew access to the Lower Rock
Quarry Road checkpoint is prohibited. Only ride officials, veterinarians,
and support staff will be allowed access to this remote location as the road in
is also the route taken by outbound riders. A variety of food and beverages
will be available for riders, with hay, bran, grain, water and blankets for the
horses. Horses eliminated from the Ride at this location will be trailered to
Auburn. |
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8. Foresthill to No Hands
Bridge: About 18 miles; allow 30 to 45 minutes. Crews can meet their
riders at No Hands Bridge, but actual crewing is usually unnecessary. It is a
good spot to see your rider (by moonlight) before the finish.
To reach
No Hands Bridge, follow the Divide road out of Foresthill for about 15 miles
and turn left onto Old Foresthill Road. Continue downhill about 3 miles to the
Hwy 49 bridge at the Confluence of the American River North Fork and Middle
Fork.
Park along the roadside near the Hwy 49 bridge and walk from
there to No Hands Bridge, either by crossing the highway bridge and turning
onto the access trail to your right to the east end of No Hands Bridge, or by
taking the trail that passes under the highway bridge and leads to the west end
of the bridge. |
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9. Foresthill to Finish Line/McCann Stadium: About 19
miles; allow 1 hour driving time. Crews may watch for their riders at the
official finish line at the Auburn Staging Area, but are encouraged to wait at
the ceremonial finish to observe the victory lap around McCann Stadium at
Gold Country Fairgrounds. Parking in or near
the Staging Area is very limited.
Follow the Foresthill Road back to
I-80. Take the freeway west to Auburn and take the Hwy 49 exit. Go right at the
bottom of the ramp, passing under the freeway. Go right at the light on Lincoln
Way, then left onto Auburn-Folsom Road. Look for the entrance to the
Fairgrounds main parking lot, about 1/4 mile on your left. |
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