Snowshoe Running in Blackwood Canyon

Lake Tahoe has gotten hammered with snow the past few days.  Today after shoveling snow I went snowboarding in the "POW" at Squaw, then came home and shoveled some more snow, then off to Blackwood Canyon (and here) (google map) for a run.  Unlike the other day when there was nothing but sun, or the other night, today was snowing so the photos are not that great (never are with the Blackberry)

My calf's had been worked from all the hills and powder I had been running this past week. All my runs seem to start with a climb. So I needed a good flattish run and Blackwood Canyon fit the bill perfectly.  Blackwood Canyons entrance is right off of the lake on the Westshore of Lake Tahoe (California) and I was very confident that snowmobiles had been up there making a trail for me to run on.  Barker Pass is the name of the road that goes up through Blackwood Canyon and up to Barker Pass.  It is paved and open to cars in the summer and closed in the winter. It is an awesome place for biking, rollerblading etc in the summer.

Barker Pass Road,thanks snowmobilers!

When I googled "Blackwood Cannyon"  to get some info for this post I ran across this guys site and he was bent out of shape about the snowmobiles he encountered when he came hiking up the canyon one winter.  LOL to funny.  If it were not for the snowmobiles you would be busting trail in 3-6 feet of snow.  If you want serenity snowshoeing you will have to harden up and break trail in the powder and go to a place like Pole Creek Canyon.

"Multipurpose"

 

"My purpose"

I decided to just run to the bridge that crosses the creek and back no matter how far (short) of a run it was. I needed to have an easy day and I was just glad to be out running after doing nothing (except a core workout) on Saturday.

Bridge 

 

Blackwood Creek

 

Smokey was stoked today as the fire danger was very low, I think he was just chilin' in the woods taking a break or maybe doing some backcountry skiing.

 

For the beginner snowshoe runner this is the perfect spot to go since it is: flat, very likely is tracked out and scenic.  My Garmin has not been working to great (I have one of these on the way though!) so I am not sure about the mileage.  I think It was less than 5 miles round trip.  In the future for my longer runs this will be perfect because after the bridge the road climbs up to Barker Pass and Ellis Peak and the flat section will serve as a good warm-up before the climb. This as opposed to all my other runs that seem to start with a climb.

Time for my favorite post run snack (after a ton of water)

Peets coffee and a Chocalate Mint Builders bar.

Happy Trails !