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| COMMUNITY TRAIN TUNNEL GRAFFITI REMOVAL PROJECT Thursday, July 29th 9AM – 12PM and 1-4PM MEET AT THE LAMSON-CASHION TRAIL HUB (Sugar Bowl’s Summit Haus)Please help preserve Donner Summit’s History by participating in the Graffiti Removal project. Graffiti is defacing the historical landmarks and destroying artifacts of Donner Summit. Please sign up for one of the time slots below. Also make sure you wear old clothes, sturdy shoes, and bring water. A bicycle (optional) and headlamp are recommended. We will supply paint and rollers. Any donations to help with materials and supplies are welcome, please click on the link below and reference Graffiti Removal. Since there are so many stakeholders when it comes to Donner Summit it is important to have the support of the community. Removing graffiti from the railroad snowsheds is an ongoing project. If you’d like to make a financial contribution to this effort, visit https://www.donnersummitca.com/donate Anyone witnessing suspicious activity should contact the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office at 530-265-7880. |
Donner Pass Road (Old 40) closures continues…
Traffic Delays and Road Closures Scheduled – Beginning in the summer of 2020 and continuing through this summer, the Project on 6.5 miles of Donner Pass Road to rehabilitate and widen the shoulder continues to focus on rebuilding the roadway on the west side of the summit from the intersection of the Soda Springs exit on I-80 up to the summit. Although there are no road closures on this section of roadway, please expect up to 20 minute traffic delays. On the East side of Donner Pass Road from the summit to the Truckee Town limits the roadway will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
As reported on Nevada County’s website:
https://www.mynevadacounty.com/230/Donner-Pass-Road-Reconstruction
This project consists of road rehabilitation and shoulder widening on 6.5 miles of Donner Pass Road beginning at the Soda Springs exit and ending at the Truckee town limit east of the summit. A typical road section will consist of two 11-foot lanes with 4-foot shoulders plus safety edges, except in the downhill direction on the east side due to topographical constraints. The project will also improve recreational and sightseeing access, with enhanced parking on the east side of the summit that connects to rock climbing, hiking, and biking amenities, as well as to historic and prehistoric features. Bicycling conditions will be improved with bike lanes in both directions on the west side and in the uphill direction on the east side. Enhanced pullouts and parking areas include the Rainbow Bridge parking lot, School House pullout, Star Wall pullout, Snow shed North and South pullouts, Space Wall pullout, and Black Wall pullout. During the winter the widening will also provide additional snow storage and improve access to winter recreational destinations. Nevada County received California Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding for this project in 2015. The project is being managed and delivered by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD). More information can be found at CFLHD’s website at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ca/donner-pass
Donner Summit Graffiti Removal Project – September 24th
The graffiti at Donner Summit has again come to a point where the local community is ready to spend another day working to clean the slate. We are continuing our efforts cleaning the Snowshed. Hope you can attend.
If you are interested in assisting in this project, please use the following link to sign up for this event. This will help us organize for those that can attend and ensure we have enough tools to complete the task…
Donner Summit Graffiti Removal Project – September 2nd – 4th
The graffiti at Donner Summit has again come to a point where the local community is ready to spend another few days working to clean the slate. We are not cleaning the slate to create a new canvas but to keep it “au naturel”. Hope you can attend.
If you are interested in assisting in this project, please use the following link to sign up for this event. This will help us organize for those that can attend and ensure we have enough tools to complete the task…
Donner Pass Road (Old 40) closures due to ongoing road improvements.
Traffic Delays and Road Closures Scheduled – Beginning on July 6 running thru October 15, Donner Pass Road from Rainbow Bridge to the Town of Truckee Limits , will be closed to all traffic from 7:00 am Monday- 5:00 Friday. The road will be open with one way traffic control on the weekends.
As reported on Nevada County’s website:
https://www.mynevadacounty.com/230/Donner-Pass-Road-Reconstruction
This project consists of road rehabilitation and shoulder widening on 6.5 miles of Donner Pass Road beginning at the Soda Springs exit and ending at the Truckee town limit east of the summit. A typical road section will consist of two 11-foot lanes with 4-foot shoulders plus safety edges, except in the downhill direction on the east side due to topographical constraints. The project will also improve recreational and sightseeing access, with enhanced parking on the east side of the summit that connects to rock climbing, hiking, and biking amenities, as well as to historic and prehistoric features. Bicycling conditions will be improved with bike lanes in both directions on the west side and in the uphill direction on the east side. Enhanced pullouts and parking areas include the Rainbow Bridge parking lot, School House pullout, Star Wall pullout, Snow shed North and South pullouts, Space Wall pullout, and Black Wall pullout. During the winter the widening will also provide additional snow storage and improve access to winter recreational destinations. Nevada County received California Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding for this project in 2015. The project is being managed and delivered by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD). More information can be found at CFLHD’s website at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/projects/ca/donner-pass
Climbers urged to stay home for now
As reported in the Sierra Sun on April, 9 2020 by Justin Scacco.
As temperatures warm and snow melts from granite walls and crags, climbers are gearing up for another season at their favorite locations around the region.
Climbing coalitions from around the nation, however, are urging individuals to keep their gear packed away for now, sending the message to stay at home and out of the backcountry until the spread of COVID-19 is under control.
“We think the right thing to do at this point is to strongly discourage climbing,” said Gary Allan, executive director of the recently formed North Lake Tahoe Climber Coalition.
Popular climbing areas like those in Bishop, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Gunks in New York have all taken aggressive stances on climbing at this time, and in some cases, like at Yosemite National Park, are enforcing full closures.
“We don’t want to have to take the steps of closure, we would rather see voluntary compliance through education,” Allan said. “Lets think about others’ health first and not our own personal needs and desires.”
The coalition maintains several climbing areas around the region, including Black Wall on Donner Summit, which was purchased by the Truckee Land Trust several years ago. In the coming months, Allan said the coalition is planning on working to improve sites by maintaining trails and routes, while addressing such problems like graffiti, human waste, and litter. In the meantime, however, the board of 11 experienced climbers from around the area are urging users to stay off the region’s granite.
“The scientific community still doesn’t know how long the virus can stay on climbing holds, and it would be impossible to properly disinfect a route,” he said. “Please encourage your friends, climbing partners and colleagues to respect and abide by this request.”
Being in the backcountry at this time also brings about the potential for an accident, which could end up exposing dozens of rescue workers to the coronavirus, while also adding stress to an already burdened health system.
Other issues are also present, said Allan, such as the amount of time the virus might stay on gear like ropes and carabineers.
Along with the coalition asking individuals to stay out of the backcountry, officials from Tahoe National Forest are sending a similar message.
“We are asking folks now more than ever to be prepared, and recreate responsibly,” said Tahoe National Forest Public Affairs Officer Joe Flannery. “High risk activities … these can increase your chance of injury and distress and should be avoided.”
The North Lake Tahoe Climbers Coalition is a climbing advocacy and stewardship group of dedicated local climbers working toward nonprofit status while currently working under the fiscal sponsorship of the Truckee Donner Land Trust.
View this article as it was originally posted in the Sierra Sun newspaper.