Aka: Carr-Free-ley!
This entry is a really special one. Autumn Auburn Multi Modal (aka Carr-Free-ley) is a route concocted by my lovely girlfriend Elka, primarily with the goal of seeing the leaves change color up in Tahoe National Forest. We set on this route as a couple who had dipped back into dating after a year of friendship, and we returned as BF/GF. This post celebrates the 1-year anniversary of that. Her route is a lovely romp, connecting to the Bay Area via Amtrak, slowly climbing up MTB trails and canal service roads to Grouse Ridge and Carr-Feeley lakes 7000ft above sea level. It is a spectacular place, and I was so lucky Elka took me up here. I hope you have as magical of a time as we did…
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/57849412
We began our adventure at home in Berkeley – rushing to pack everything before our train. There is only one train per day from the Bay to Auburn, and it comes in the evening. We felt empowered to not take the day off and kinda work half a day, but because of that we had a mad dash to get everything ready before the trip. Bringing bikes onto the Capitol Corridor is a smooth experience, and made for a great start to the journey.
The only thing Elka and I wished was that the train ride was longer.
We started from Auburn the next morning, and rode some country roads and side streets to Nevada City. Still getting used to timing and what touring together is supposed to feel like, we took a break to smell the roses. Nevada City is a pretty fun stop – Elka stopped by a thrift store and I grabbed a hat from a local skate shop after the one I brought flew off. In the mad dash to catch the train, I also somehow managed to forget our stove, and was able to grab one from a outdoor store. And yes, the leaves were indeed changing colors here.
After leaving civilization, we hopped into Tahoe NF and started climbing trails. We both are primarily interested in riding dirt when we go touring, so Elka routed us on some MTB trails that ran parallel to CA-20. They were tough and slow going on the way up – the Pioneer trail is tight single track with steep pitches. It really pushed the limits of what I felt comfortable riding on a loaded touring bike.
Elka, on the other hand, was shredding.
Prior to this trip with Elka, I only had toured solo. It’s great touring solo but this ride really showed me how special touring with others can be. You aren’t just focused on yourself or your needs. You have to make decisions and set priorities as a group, and it’s interesting to see how routines change. It wasn’t always easy – Elka tends to sleep in and isn’t about to have a shitty meal on tour. At first, it felt hard to give up this control over our planning. But, once you give in to co-planning, you realize how special it is to share these moments with someone else and how lucky you are to spend your days with people you love.
A consequence of the whole ‘rising late while touring in winter’ thing is riding at night – everyday of this tour we did a significant amount of riding in the dark. At first I was a little spooked to be out so far at night, but Elka was able to keep my head level. I saw how calm the forest was in the night, an insight I would not have had if I stuck to my routines.
After spending the night at Skillman Campground, we continued on to the lakes. We kept going up that cursed Pioneer trail.
By the second day, we had gotten into our touring groove and the gravel roads were beginning to open up. Silence was cut by people on dirt bikes ripping on the trail around us, but it didn’t really bother us. As mentioned, Elka does not have shitty meals – and that definitely holds on tour. I usually plan to eat tortillas and peanut butter and canned fish – stuff to just get me by. But Elka, well just see for yourself. I had never eaten so well out in the woods, haha.
We finally arrived at the lakes at the end of day 2. It was a long climb from Skillman, and we could slowly feel ourselves ratcheting higher and higher. Most of it was on NF-18, paved in some sections and dirt in others. We were overjoyed with how amazing the campsite was. Technically, the season was closed and the parking lot was shut, but it was getting dark and so we set up with the intent of leaving early the next day.
Those plans, however, did not hold. The lake was so amazing, clear and cold, with the most amazing forest around it. Elka went for a frigid dip that night and we went for a short hike that morning. The trees were unlike any I had seen before – they were massive, covered in a bright green lichen that looked out of this world. Walking behind her on that hike, I felt like the luckiest guy on Earth.
We dilly dallied as much as we could, reading by the lake and looking around. Our plan was to ride all the way back to Auburn that night, but because our train was the next morning, we felt like we could take as long as we wanted up at the lake. After lunch, however, we both started to feel antsy and so we set off, and went hurtling back towards civilization.
We came back down NF-18 and found a restroom open. Just as we finished a worker came by and locked everything for the season – one week later the entire pass would be closed because of a blizzard that came through. We laughed at our luck and as we continued down the road, Elka said something.
‘Simar, let’s do it! I want to be your GF.’
I blinked twice, not knowing if it was a dream. ‘Are you serious?’, I replied.
‘Yea! I feel ready to DTR, I think I want to be your GF!’
I took it in. Something I had wanted since I first met Elka was actually coming true. I couldn’t believe it. ‘I’d be honored to be your BF’, I replied. I felt incredible, and was so happy to have this moment with her out in the forest on NF-18.
And so, further solidified with our DTR, we continued our drop to civilization. Instead of taking the Pioneer trail down, we went down a mix of fire roads starting with the Drum Canal trail. Technically a poach, it is this lovely fire road running parallel to a PG&E canal. Elka really knows how to pick ’em! Plus, look how cute she looks here next to the NO TRESSPASSING signs.
We continued along dirt roads like this until we hit Colfax. It was dark when we arrived here, but that also meant we caught an amazing sunset at elevation.
After getting into Colfax we were wiped, but still had 20 miles or so to go. Not only were we tired, but on the way down Elka got bit by a dog on a dirt road. I think if I were alone and had this happened to me, I would have given up.
Elka, however, has this spirit in her that makes you feel like you can do just about anything.
It’s so special to tour with someone who makes you feel limitless, and who themselves feel they can do anything. It gives you wiggle room to not hold the bravery by yourself, because you know they will always be there to hold you when it gets hard. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever tour alone again.
We soared back to our hotel in Auburn and grabbed the train the next day. The ride home felt extra special after everything we just shared together. And with that, our magical adventure, Auburn Autumn Multi Modal, was complete.
You may have noticed some of the drawings – for Christmas Elka made a lovely ‘zine with drawings from this trip. You can see the whole zine here (and at the bottom)! It was so sweet, probably one of the best gifts I have ever recieved. Check out some of the process!
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