Northern Sierra Micro Adventure

Sierra City River Cabin Blog…

Thoreau’s Micro Adventure

"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."

— Thoreau

On vacation we expect amenities, but if these amenities are distractions or for amusement only they end up getting in the way of our FUN!

—

Steve agreed that he needed a 3 day break from his anesthesiology practice in the Bay Area to wander through the woods on his bike and challenge his focus on some of the more technical portions of the little traveled trails (we didn’t see a soul in 3 days of riding). The single mindedness of a mountain bike ride, ski or climb puts us in a state of crystal clear awareness that is often hard to achieve or gets muted somehow in our rush through a get it all done with our 21st century schedule. The only burden we experienced out on our daily rides was the need to stop and eat to refuel our muscles. We soon began to discover life's true essential needs: to stay watered, fed, breathing, upright on our bikes and get a solid night’s rest, not necessarily in that order. After a long ride the river cabin was a welcome haven where we could recover properly for the next day’s journey. It is amazing how much you appreciate a hot shower or bath, glass of cold water, and a cup of hot tea at the end of an active day in the outdoors.

Putting yourself out there is the first step and is the hardest to initiate, that’s why having a well-stocked cabin with healthy food, warm and comfortable atmosphere and good company to share experiences with is important. You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to prepare a simple tasty meal, I find that if I hit the grocery store - and load up on easy-to-prepare vegetables, hummus, pesto, quinoa, rice, sea salt, olives, eggs, chicken, fish, turkey bacon, pita chips, popcorn, green tea, ginger, oatmeal, corn flakes, pineapple, peaches, apples and chocolate - you can keep the troops pretty happy.

Being free of distractions gives you mental space to appreciate the landscape that surrounds you. The sounds of the river frame a unique orchestrated blend of bird calls, summer crickets, a distance coyote yelp and the whoosh of the west wind pushing the tops of pines to the east.

The chance to settle into a new or old environment opens opportunities to move in a new rhythm, with your surroundings. The "lost weekend" at the river cabin is a chance to do this, it’s a mountain bike ride that winds through golden aspens, a lazy wander along a mountain river, ski tracks following coyote prints down a pristine powder snow slope, or just reclining in a swinging hammock staring at the wispy clouds above. A place like this can spur mental transition and shift if one is open to the total experience

And so with this 3-day/1-client escape, we launched our concept. It included mountain biking and just relaxing in a quiet and unrushed and noncompetitive environment. If this summer pilot worked we would plan to expand to backcountry skiing in winter and kayaking / rafting in the spring.

To slow down and take in the landscape of wild undeveloped rivers, jagged peaks, wooded old growth pine forests, alpine meadows, aspen groves, avalanche paths, miners’ cabins, fire tower lookouts, turn of the century stone walls, animal and Indian paths, all accessible by foot, bike, raft or kayak on friendly trails and flowing rivers. All this is the landscape of our micro-adventure.

To escape via an expeditionary experience has been woven into our cultural psyche, but to micro-adventure based in a comfortable cabin setting condenses the experience, but gives one time to look around for more than just firewood or a tent platform. Acclimatizing versus conquering is what we are trying to facilitate with our new river cabin micro adventure.

I have been on big, expensive expeditions that included days of logistics, multi-day plane rides, cancellations, porter hiring, luggage loosing, permit getting, partner issues, illness, political delays, weather problems, food incidents, occasionally, an elephant in the middle of the road not to mention the hefty price tag usually paid with maxed out credit cards. Those trips are some of the fondest memories I have, but a condescended version of the big expedition can be just as compelling and a lot cheaper.

Steve and I had no time schedule or rules to play by. We simply wanted to immerse ourselves for three days in mountain biking, solitude, good food and deathlike sleep. That’s it!

We stuck to these 5 suggestions remembering that nothing was set in stone:

1. Use all your body fuel until nothing is left in the tank, new fuel is on its way!

2. Standings and rankings don’t matter.

3. Do something everyday that makes your heart beat faster.

4. Spend most of the day outside.

5. Once you have committed to being all in let the experience rinse societal residue from body, mind, and spirit.

Being in the micro adventure zone is addicting and I try to plan at least one of these a season or four a year.  This summer I was fortunate enough to explore a new area in Chile called Corralco.  The next blog will reveal one of the grandest micro adventures I have done to date.  Stay tuned!

Details....Micro-MTB  adventure 89 north

The lodge is located in Sierra City, CA along the North Yuba River with the Sierra Buttes in view (the Buttes are elevation 8,600’). The Lodge sits within 15 miles of 45 alpine lakes. This heavily forested area makes it one of the largest carbon sinks in North America. A class 5 + rapid: Love's Falls takes out just 1 mile down the road and the Pacific Crest Trail passes less than 2 miles north of us. Downieville, home of the classic downhill mountain bike race is 12 miles down stream. The Downieville Downhill is one of the premier mountain bike races in the United States.

With new construction -completed in 2006 - this cabin is the perfect combination of escape, comfort and adventure. Call Chris or Jenny about renting it or booking a micro-adventure.

530.582.4772 chris@skiNASTC.com

Thanks for reading!