Did you think there woudn’t be a MUni Weekend on the West coast this year? You thought wrong. Too many of us didn’t make it to NAUCC, and we haven’t had a lot of organized rides since U Games. So it’s time for the “original MUni Weekend” to return to its source!
The current plan is to do the rides we did at the very first MUni Weekend in 1997: Auburn (Clementine Loop +), and the Salmon Falls trail. Plus we may venture onto the brand new South Fork American River trail as well. A bonus ride on Friday will be Stevens Trail in Colfax, famous for its cliffside retrievals.
How does October 7-9 fit for you? Those are almost the same dates as the original MUni Weekend also. If that weekend is a problem, please let me know.
A little more about the rides:
Saturday: Clementine Loop, Auburn. This was where it all began; the first ride of the first-ever all-offroad unicycle convention. The unicycle version of the loop is about 7 miles, with about 1000’ of climb, and a really fun, technical downhill. We will add some optional out-and-back on the Foresthill Divide Connector Trail at the top, for people who want more.
Sunday: Salmon Falls (aka Darrington Trail), and maybe some out-and-back on the new South Fork American River Trail. Salmon Falls will also be an out-and-back. The one-way ride we did in '97 involved an extra 20 miles for shuttle drivers, so we’ll try to do without that. If the lake level gets low enough to expose the old Salmon Falls Bridge, it becomes a loop ride. But this is highly unlikely because the lake is currently as full as it’s been in many years.
Optional Friday ride (dangerous cliffs!): Stevens Trail, Colfax. This trail is not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights, and extra caution must be used because it gets very narrow with very steep drop-offs toward the river below. Riders should NOT attempt to ride every inch of this trail! Many expert riders have had to retrieve unicycles that have fallen 100-250’ down the canyon on rides over the years. This ride is also an out-and-back, on a trail that was originally a toll road from the town down to the river, where the early miners were working. The trail drops 1200’ to the river in about 4 miles, then you turn around. But first you can go for a swim, in an excellent swimmin’ hole, complete with a nice spot to jump in from the rocks.
There will be a nominal registration fee, at least one competition event (Confluence Uphill Race), and (almost) free accommodations at my house. After the rides, you can jump in the pool! Hit the shower first. 
I’m working on insurance coverage through the USA Inc., and will be putting up the 2011 web site shortly. Discuss in this thread!
Note:
Like the “classic” rides of this coming MUni Weekend, the initial description links for each ride are also classics; written in the late 1990s by MUni pioneer Brett “Bloodman” Bymaster. I may do some updates to those as well, if time allows. Bring your unicycles, bring your Tecnu and sunscreen, and be ready for another great weekend of MUni!
