High Camp Gravel Social | May 31 – June 2

— SOLD OUT —

Register & Sign Waiver to be added to the waitlist. We’ll contact you if a spot opens up and, then, you’ll be asked to pay.

Email questions to: [email protected]

What is the High Camp Gravel Social?

It’s 3 days of riding beautiful gravel routes in the Lost Sierra. You end end each day at an off-grid glampsite on Beckwourth Peak and share delicious, catered meals and campfires with other riders. Tent camping and glamping options are available.

• Day 1: ride from Truckee to Beckwourth Peak High Camp (43 or 58 miles)
• Day 2: ride one of three suggested loops (47, 61, or 66 miles)
• Day 3: ride back to Truckee (46 or 62 miles)

The rides are unsupported (we provide only suggested routes; no support), but you’ll experience plenty of pampering over the weekend… We’ll shuttle 1 bag (tent, clothes, towel, etc.) for you to/from High Camp. At High Camp, you’ll enjoy hot showers, catered dinners, breakfasts, snacks to take on your ride, campfires, and camaraderie with other riders. The experience is designed for both seasoned and newer riders who enjoy beautiful routes and hanging out with other humans.

The suggested routes are demanding and there is no support, so come prepared.

Where are we staying?

On Friday and Saturday night, you’ll stay at Beckwourth Peak High Camp, which is an off-grid, 60-acre property on Beckwourth Peak. It’s inside the Plumas National Forest, so it feels remote, but the small town of Portola is only 1 mile down the mountain. Facilities include two modern bathrooms with hot showers, potable water, shaded picnic area, communal campfire, and power outlets (no wifi, but great cell service). There’s plenty space for tents – you can setup closer to the central hangout area or go farther up the mountain if you’d prefer a quieter spot.

What’s the itinerary?

Day 1 (Friday): Drop off your shuttle bag and then park and ride from Truckee or Stampede Reservoir — 58 or 43 miles to High Camp (2k feet of elevation gain) with an optional stop in Loyalton for lunch. At High Camp, pitch your tent or rent a cabin or the yurt. Hydrate with amazing Alibi Ale Works beer (provided), enjoy a communal dinner (provided), and a campfire with your fellow riders.

Day 2 (Saturday): Start the day with coffee and grab-n-go breakfast (provided). Grab snacks and a PB & J sandwich (provided) to take with you on your ride. And then, channel your inner mountain goat because all three route options (47, 61, or 66 miles) have solid elevation gain (5k, 6k, and 7k feet). All of the routes offer great views, but the longest includes a visit to the Smith Peak fire lookout. Optional lunch stop in Graeagle or beers at The Brewing Lair in Blairsden. Back at High Camp, enjoy another happy hour (provided), communal dinner (provided) and swap stories around the campfire.

Day 3 (Sunday): Coffee, breakfast, and ride snacks are provided, while you pack your gear back into your shuttle bag. Then, ride 46 or 62 miles (4k or 5k feet) back to Stampede Reservoir or Truckee (different route than Day 1). Optional lunch stop in Sierraville. After returning to your car, stop by Alibi Ale Works in Truckee to grab your shuttle bag before heading home.

What meals are included?

Delicious dinners and breakfasts are being catered by local restaurants. For snacks to take on your ride, we’ll have PB & J, fruit, & chips and there are optional lunch stops in towns on each route.

And we’re excited that Alibi Ale Works is sponsoring the Friday and Saturday night happy hours.

Breakfasts – provided by Nicole’s Coffee Depot in Portola

• Coffee & hot water for tea
• Breakfast bagel or burrito (egg, ham, cheese, bacon)
• Fruit
• Vegetarian option: oatmeal with dried fruit

Friday Dinner – provided by Cuccia’s in Graeagle

• Pasta with pesto and grilled chicken
• Meat Ravioli with Marinara
• Vegetarian option: Sacchetti with Alfredo sauce , mushroom filled pasta
• Salad: Classic Caesar Salad & Spinach Salad
• Garlic bread
• Tiramisu or cheese cake

Saturday Dinner – provided by Sierra Smokeshow in Blairsden

• Grilled Tri Tip
• Cedar plank salmon
• Vegetarian option: smoked portobello mushrooms
• Seasonal Salad
• Potato Salad & Cornbread
• Banana Cake

Are the rides supported?

No, not at all. Although there will be other riders on the suggested routes, you are solely responsible for getting from point A to B and for your own health and safety… no traffic controls, no directional or hazard markings, no aid stations, no sag vehicles, no mechanics. Nothing. Nada. We just provide suggested routes on Ride with GPS, which you can navigate with your phone or GPS device. Some sections of the routes do not have cell coverage, so consider riding with a friend or carrying a satelite device, such as a Garmin InReach.

What bike do I need?

The suggested routes are mostly gravel, forest roads, but they include some pavement and non-technical singletrack. The ideal “freedom machine” would be a gravel bike (42-45mm tires) or hard-tail mountain bike. And, since the rides are unsupported, plan on carying 3+ liters of water, snacks, extra clothes, and tools. High Camp has power, so e-bikes with adequate range are an option.

What’s the bag shuttle?

Pack what you need for the 2 nights at High Camp into a duffle bag (check the Portola weather forecast & please keep your bag size reasonable) – clothes, tent, sleeping bag, towel, toiletries, etc. Meet our shuttle vehicle between 8:00am-9am. Join the group rollout from the parking lot at 9am.

If you are starting from Stamepe Reservoir (shorter distance option), you must first drop your bag with the shuttle vehicle in Truckee (8am-9am), before heading out to the reservoir to park and start your ride.

After you return to your car on Sunday, swing by the shuttle vehicle in Truckee to grab your bag.

What’s the price?

$350 per rider (early-bird discounts available). This includes a 2-night tent permit, bag shuttle, all the amazing food mentioned above, campfires (if fire ban isn’t in effect), modern bathrooms and showers, and a 14% occupancy tax and transaction fee. Cabin and yurt rentals are extra.

What is the cabin or yurt rental option?

Turn up your glamping experience and rent a modern, bunkhouse cabin or our yurt and share it with friends. The price for a 2-night stay in a cabin or yurt is $550 + $75 cleaning and taxes. Everyone staying in a cabin or yurt still needs to register and pay for a Gravel Social spot.

To book a cabin or yurt: 1) click on a link below, 2) click “Join Waitlist”, 3) input your contact info and in the “Preference” field, under “Additional Information”, type in “gravel weekend”. We’ll circle back with you to complete your booking. We are doing this to make sure the units are booked only by riders (not some poor tourists who find themselves surrounded by hungry people in spandex).

Currently available:

• Book Bunkhouse Cabin – East (2 queen beds; 4 people max)
• Book Bunkhouse Cabin – West (2 queen beds; 4 people max)
• Book Yurt (1 queen, 3 twin beds; 5 people max)

What’s the cancellation policy?

If you cancel by May 17th, you get a refund, minus 10%. After May 17th, there are no refunds, but you can transfer your spot — you must notify us and the new rider must sign a waiver. No transfers after May 27th. The cancellation policy applies to cabin and yurt rentals too.

What happens after I register?

After you sign the waiver and pay for your spot, you’ll be invited to a private Facebook group where additional information will be posted. You can also ask questions and chat with other participants (e.g., consider coordinating carpools to Truckee).

Do you have a map of the routes?

Yes. Here is a draft of the routes. Final route details and addititional information will be provided to registered riders a couple weeks before May 31.

• Green = going out on Day 1
• Blue = coming back on Day 3
• The other colors are the 3 loop options on Day 2