The Carson Valley Trails Association (CVTA) is making plans for the grand opening of the 16-mile Genoa Trail System, 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. This free event is open to the public and will take place at the Eagle Ridge Trailhead, located next to the green water tank, approximately 1.8 miles north of Genoa off of Jacks Valley Road on Eagle Ridge Road.
CVTA member, Jeremy Vlcan, will brief guests about the new trails. Informational displays and maps will be available. Complimentary breakfast snacks will be provided. Following the briefing, guests are invited to participate in a 4-mile guided hike from Eagle Ridge to Sierra Canyon or set out on their own to explore the new trail system.
Funded by a Nevada Division of State Lands Question 1 grant, construction of the Genoa Trail System began in May 2011, with both volunteer hand crews and a professional trail building contractor using two trail building machines. In September, it was determined that the first 500 feet of elevation on the south ridge of Genoa Canyon was too narrow, rocky and steep to use trail building machinery, so that portion of the trail has been hand-built. Work on the trail continued until just before Thanksgiving.
Trail work in Genoa Canyon resumed in March. Widening of the trail in hard rock areas has been completed. A demolition hammer, using an electric jackhammer powered by a 3000 watt generator, was used in some locations. The generator was manually carried as needed over a three-quarter mile trail segment with multiple switchbacks. Home Depot in Carson City contributed to this challenging trail building work, providing the jackhammer and generator at half of their normal rental cost.
Volunteers are needed to help with cleanup on the Sierra Canyon Trail over the next two months. No previous trail building experience is required. For more information, contact Jeremy Vlcan at 775-722-8784 or jrvlcan@aol.com, or visit the CVTA website: www.carsonvalleytrails.org.
The Carson Valley Trails Association is a nonprofit, volunteer based organization working with partners to provide access to public lands through a recreational trail system for present and future generations to enjoy.