The dog and I explore more of the Somersett Trail System this am

There’s this really high hill just south of the Somersett Town Center that I have for a long time wanted to climb but finding the exact access point to the trail clearly evident from afar was something I hadn’t done before, until this morning when the dog and I were out walking.  I was curious about two things:  would I have another view of Reno and would I be able to see the Truckee River.  As it turned out, yes and yes.

Here’s a view of the Town Center (and the development just south of it):

And, looking straight north, I pan in to get a close up of the Peavine Mountain peaks:

We walked up a .8 mile trail identified as the Town Center trail and when up near the top of the trail encountered the beginning of the Riverside Trail (2.25 miles).  When we got back down from the hill, to the paved trail below, we came out onto a street just west of the Town Center and saw another Somersett trail system sign, identifying the Silver Willow Trail (.8 mile)

A walk to western edge of Peavine today and the view that afforded of Reno…

For some time I have been taking walks up the southern face of Peavine Mountain, taking advantage of the new trails built by the Somersett community.  Today I explored a new route which took me to the most western point that I have gone so far.  The view of Reno (in this picture) is from the water tank near the western edge of Peavine Mountain.  (The other 20 plus photos taken on this walk are now posted at my flickr account—see link in the Photo Gallery category on the right side of page—and will be added to the already extensive photo set of Peavine Mountain photos.)  In the Somersett trail map, recently completed, the future trails to be made are in the upper left portion (in purple color).  Those trails will allow even greater and deeper access to the western edge of Peavine Mountain (and will allow folks to hike even higher up). 

Looking forward to trails being developed up this part of the mountain (taken by water tank):

About time to plant tomatoes now, on a superbowl weekend??

Uhhh….there’s almost no snow on Peavine Mountain.  Traditionally the signal to gear up for planting tomatoes in this area:

And, this is only the superbowl weekend, far away from springtime.  Yesterday’s closing of Virginia Street in downtown to celebrate today’s superbowl game was enjoyed by many people taking in the sun and some young girls preparing for the future of football:

Just a short few months from now, our new downtown ballpark, hosting a Triple AAA team called the Reno Aces, appears to be nearly ready for the opening home game near mid April:

Peavine Mountain Wanderings

On Peavine Mountain, standing 2 miles south of Summit and looking east

Several months ago I started taking pictures from up on Peavine Mountain.  Here’s the flickr photo set so far (many more to be added over time):

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/28424275@N06/sets/72157610852305579/

“Base camp” for these wanderings has been located out in Somersett, a location about three miles directly south of Peavine Mtn. Peak Summit (and about 2 miles directly north of Mogul).   The mountain now has many developed trails on it and soon this portion of the many miles long range will have its trail system laid out in a map.

Today I reached a height that I had not attained before and for the first time got a full view of Reno and some of the valley south of it.  (A few years back, when exploring the very eastern end of the mountain range from the “base camp” of Rancho San Rafael Park, I would see stunning views of downtown.)

The photo in this article was taken just a week ago.  Tonight storms are raging, with our first real high winds in a long while, and snow is expected beginning tonight.  Peavine Mountain will becoming white as I spend the next couple of days up here.  And, that’s the way it will be for the next few months at least.