2024 Endurance Rides (3/5): The Lost Sierra Ride

Stopped at the lone intersection in Sierraville, I spotted the first magpie I had seen since moving away from Montana the year before and was hit with a wave of longing for another mountain town I had left behind. About 45 minutes from Truckee, this “lost” section of the Sierra Nevadas somehow felt decidedly un-Californian to me, with a very different look compared to the granite peaks around Donner Pass that I associated with the northern Sierras. A little over a month after our last endurance ride, Retta and I were once again on route to get some miles in.

2024 was the Lost Sierra ride’s inaugural year, having been scheduled for earlier in the summer and subsequently postponed due to intense wildfire smoke in the area. Located near Graeagle, a small vacation town sitting around 4300’ above sea level, the ride was set to cover rugged mountain trails, my favorite type of terrain to explore. Ride camp was located right off the 89 in a large cow pasture. Aside from a few ruts and lack of any shade, this made for a great base camp with area to spread out. Pulling up on Thursday night with a full day to get settled, I unpacked quickly and layered up, noting the quick temperature drop after sunset.

After a pancake breakfast the next morning, I set out with a group of friends to get some riding time in. We had learned from ride management that they had been wrestling with securing trail access amidst the date change, logging operations in the area, and the need to gain permission from private landowners to get from ride camp to the Tahoe and Plumas national forest trails. Luckily, we were able to cross the road and ride some single track on Friday morning, although the area would not be part of the next day’s ride route. After some backtracking and navigating, we were able to get a few forested miles in as the sun rose higher and the day warmed up to around 80 degrees, a welcome change from the low 30s overnight. 

Camp had begun to fill up by the time we returned and it was time to check in. After vetting, I hopped on Retta bareback and wandered around the edge of camp, grateful for space to graze and take in the expansive views of Mohawk Valley and nearby Haskell Peak. At the ride meeting that evening, we learned the extent of the unfortunate route changes that had to occur. Instead of loops, the 30 mile LD ride was to be out-and-back, with a “lollipop loop” after the vet check where riders had to pick up a token in order to prove that they had gone all the way out before returning. 

We were once again reminded about the hard ground that made up nearly the entire route. Something that sets endurance riding apart from trail riding or packing is that horses are covering a lot of ground at speed, meaning that concussion from the ground is amplified and takes much more of a toll on the body than traversing rocky mountain trails at the walk. I was very glad that I had prepared for the ride by adding pour-in gel pads to Retta’s front shoeing package, which would aid in preventing stone bruising and reduce some of the impact on her distal joints. The ground would definitely prove to be the biggest downside to this ride, although I believe riders were adequately warned ahead of time.

Saturday morning was chilly, and plenty of horses were feeling their oats at the start. I let the majority of the crowd get ahead of us before starting out at 8:00, and after a few excited head tosses, Retta quickly settled in. The first few miles would prove to be my favorite of the ride, crossing pasture and beautifully manicured private property before getting on to the tiny section of single track that connected us to forest service roads which would take us all the way up the mountain. 

This section of trail wasn’t entirely monotonous, with subtle shifts in grade, moderate to slightly steep, footing, very hard packed dirt and crushed rock, and scenery, which was primarily dense pine forest. Retta and I kept up a moderate trot for the most part, occasionally passing others but staying solo for the majority of the ride. I had decided to dismount and hike into the vet check after miles of steady climbing, but I miscalculated the mileage with my GPS app, which seemed to be affected by the heavy tree cover. I ended up walking at least three quarters of a mile, but was ultimately glad to stretch my legs and let Retta’s pulse come down to a resting rate by the time we made it to the vet check.

The check was well stocked for horses and humans, and Retta was eager to get going by the time our hold was up. We set off to grab our token, which was only a couple of miles from the check. My horse seemed confused when I asked her to turn around after snagging a pipe cleaner to mark that we had completed the lollipop section, but took the request in her typical willing fashion, cruising back through the vet check and down the mountain. The grade was mild enough that I felt comfortable trotting most of the way back down, slowing for rockier sections and cantering the occasion flat, softer stretches. I was extremely proud of my horse for remaining focused, despite completing the second half of the ride completely alone. I often wonder if I am personifying my mare when I think about the way she responds to different types of trails- I am personally more motivated on twisty single track trails where I am curious to see what’s around the next bend. Retta seems to react the same way, yet she may just be feeding off my energy.

We got back into camp in the early afternoon and I was surprised to learn that we had come in 6th place out of 20. I had remembered overtaking a few riders on the way out after having started in the back of the pack, but I hadn’t expected to score our first top ten finish. There was a second day of riding offered, but I planned to head home on Sunday, especially considering the rough footing. We were graced with a gorgeous sunset and a mostly restful night, only interrupted when I awoke to a loose horse around midnight. Camping in a tent instead of a living quarters trailer or truck camper comes with the perk of being up close and personal with the horses, and I was luckily able to catch the escapee and return it to its owners. 

After loading up the next morning, I fueled up in downtown Graeagle and hit up the coffee hut for a latte and muffin for my long haul home through the mountains. Although the trails themselves were not my favorite, I was glad to make it up to the Lost Sierra to have the opportunity to see a new area which I would happily return to. I credit ride management for taking on the challenge of a new ride despite the challenges presented by fire and trail access. 

For anyone considering attending the Lost Sierra Ride: 

From what I have heard, management is planning a different route for 2025, which would be a big improvement to the ride. I can’t speak to the difficulty of new trails, but certainly come prepared with hoof protection. This ride is not likely a good candidate if you are wanting to race. September provided ideal weather and the ride felt well organized- complete with great communication, an excellent photographer, and creative completion and top ten awards. Above all else, Graeagle is a stunning area to explore, on horseback or otherwise!