If you have a 2015 Annual Pass or 2014-15 GOLD Pass, they will expire on December 31, 2015. (Please recycle/reuse as a luggage tag.)

 

The new 2016 ANNUAL Pass is valid for unlimited riding until December 31, 2016. The regular cost is $45 for the Individual Pass and $60 for a Family Pass (2 adults living in the same household and up to 2 youth).

 

The 2016-17 GOLD Pass is valid until December 31, 2017. The regular cost for a GOLD Pass is $85 for the Individual Pass and $115 for the Family Pass (2 adults living

in the same household and up to 2 youth).

 

 

To purchase a pass online, with a credit card, visit the Tamarancho Biking page.
 

If you wish to pay by check or cash or just not online, print out an application: Tamarancho Application.

 

Notes about the 2016 / 2017 passes:

 Also, you can purchase a day pass at the following bike stores:

 

Fairfax Cyclery and Sunshine Bikes (Fairfax)

Acme Bikes (San Rafael)

Caesar's Bike and Paradigm (San Anselmo)

Bike Works (San Anselmo)

Volunteer cyclists built the trails at Tamarancho over a 6-year period. In order to maintain the finest trail system in Marin, we have continued to do trail work since that time. In recent years with increased use of the trails, this is more important than ever. Now is your chance to give back to the trails you love to ride!

 

We are scheduling 5 Saturdays of work on the original 8-mile loop--

Dates: Saturdays, Dec 12 and 19, Jan. 9, 16, and 23.

Time: Meet at 10 a.m. at center of camp, top of Iron Springs Road.

 

The Flow Trail will get its own work days on Sundays--

Dates: Sundays, Dec. 13 and 20, Jan. 10, 17 and Jan. 24

Time: Meet at 10 a.m. at log ride area next to Flow Trail.

Bring: Work clothing, gloves, and sturdy shoes. We supply tools and snacks.

 

Steady rain cancels.

 

For more information about trail work email Jim Jacobsen.

Construction of a new downhill-only exit trail from the Tamarancho loop was started this spring, but it is on hold to deal with extensive permitting review of our trails by jurisdictional agencies. The process is complex, time consuming, and expensive and the Marin Council, BSA, has contracted with an environmental consulting firm to help expedite matters and communicate the environmentally-conscious trail-building practices we have always followed.

It was hoped we would be able to reactivate trail construction this fall, but with the onset of the rainy season, we will have to wait until spring. Updates on our progress will be communicated either through this newsletter or on the Marin Council's FOT Facebook page. Please remember, the unfinished trail is currently closed and we ask that you respect that closure and not ride on the trail until it is officially opened.

The permitting process does come at a high cost. Estimated costs are nearing $75,000 to finalize permitting, studies, and the remaining construction of the trail. To date over $35,000 in donations have been raised, and thanks go out to all the supporters who have contributed.

We are currently in the midst of a challenge grant from one of our FOT members who has donated $10,000 in the hopes it will be matched by other trail supporters. If you would like to donate, you can do so by clicking this link. You can save us the credit card fees and pay with a check by downloading a donation form to send in with your check.

The Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park has received a $25,000 Challenge Grant from the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Foundation. What this means is that if we can raise $25,000 by December 31st, Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Foundation will match our donations to bring the total up to $50,000!

 

So far we have raised about $10,000 toward the match with the Grand Opening Celebration. We are asking for support from the GoFundMe Community to raise the remaining $15,000.

 

The Grant is intended to help us raise monies from the community, so we prefer donations under $500. Each dollar raised becomes $2 as a result of the Challenge Grant!

 

MCBC has identified 3 high-priority trail projects to provide a contiguous off­-road route from Golden Gate Bridge to Olema when completed. These include:

 

1. California State Parks is now requesting public comment about making Easy Grade Trail multi-use. This trail is currently hiker only and connects Mountain Theater and Old Stage. This would be an important mountain biking link between the north side of Mt. Tam (Rock Springs Fire Road) and trails on the south side.

 

2. Dias Ridge Trail Phases 2 and 3, which will contact Dias Ridge Trail with Coast View Trail.

 

3. Liberty Gulch Ranch Road near Azalea Hill (Fairfax), which would provide a dirt connect between Mt. Tam and the Pine Mountain loop.

 

Sat 12/5: Ride Like A Girl @ Chabot Regional Park

Sat 12/12: Gala ride @ Pleasanton Ridge Park

Thurs 12/17: BTCEB Holiday Party @ SB Berkeley

 

We say, "When it rains, let it drain."

Tamarancho is open year round, but on rainy days, it is better to ride elsewhere.

A general rule of thumb for when it is safe to ride after rain is the "one day per inch" rule to stay off trails. Let trails dry for one day if one inch of rain falls in a storm, two days if two inches fall, and so on.

 

The flow trail is a bit more fragile, and people should stay off this trail for a day if a half inch falls, and stretch out to 1-˝ days off the trail per inch of rain. We will close the flow trail after significant rainfall during the winter. Please respect these closures.