NORTH AMERICAN ADVENTURES. THE FLUME TRAIL FOLLOWS THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WAS ONCE A FLUME THAT DELIVERED WATER AND LUMBER TO THE THRIVING COMSTOCK MINING BOOM IN VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA. THE FLUME IS GONE, LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL WITH ICONIC VIEWS ABOVE BIG BLUE. THE ADVENTURE STARTS AT SPOONER LAKE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 50 AND HIGHWAY 28. IT’S HERE WHERE A GROVE OF ASPEN TREES DISPLAYS THEIR SHIMMERING GOLDEN COLORS ALONG THE DIRT ROAD THAT WILL TAKE US TO MARLETTE LAKE. THE TRAIL STARTS A 1000 FOOT CLIMB, MOST OF THAT IN THE FIRST FOUR MILES LEADING UP TO MARLETTE, A PRISTINE ALPINE LAKE FRAMED BY ANOTHER GROVE OF ASPEN TREES. A SMALL PENINSULA HERE, WITH THE REMNANTS OF A CABIN MAKES THE PERFECT PLACE TO REST AND GET READY FOR THE EXCITING FLUME SECTION AHEAD. FROM HERE, THE TRAIL TRAVERSES THE HILLSIDE HIGH ABOVE TAHOE’S EAST SHORE AND IS ARGUABLY THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL ANYWHERE, WITH SCENERY LIKE THIS, IT CAN BE HARD TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE TRAIL, BUT RIDERS BE WARNED, STAY FOCUSED AND WALK WHEN NECESSARY AS A FALL HERE CAN HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IN THIS SPOT. THE TRAIL IS CARVED INTO THE GRANITE, GIVING RIDERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS THROUGH THE ROCK. THERE ARE SEVERAL VISTA POINTS ALONG THE WAY WHERE YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO STOP, TAKE IN THE VIEWS AND A FEW PHOTOS TO SHARE, BUT NOTHING WILL DO THIS EXPERIENCE JUSTICE. FROM THE EXPOSED TRAVERSE THE TRAIL WINDS BACK INTO THE FOREST FOR A FUN DESCENT TO INCLINE VILLAGE, ENDING NEAR THE TUNNEL CREEK CAFE, WHERE RIDERS AND HIKERS CAN ENJOY A SANDWICH AND AN ICE COLD DRINK TO CELEBRATE THE EPIC ADVENTURE. AND HERE’S A LOOK AGAIN AT WHERE THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. SPOONER LAKE IS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 50 AND 28. THAT’S JUST BETWEEN LAKE TAHOE AND CARSON CITY. THE BIKE SHOP, THE FLUME BIKE SHOP AT THE END OF THE TRAIL OFFERS A SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE TRAILHEAD. IT’S AN EXCELLENT OPTION IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CAR AND DON’T WANT TO RIDE THE HIGHWAY BACK TO SPOONER LAKE. THEY ALSO RENT MOUNTAIN BIKES AND E-BIKES, BUT MAKE A RESERVATION IF YOU PLAN TO USE THOSE SERVICES. LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE PRETTY STRONG MOUNTAIN BIKER THERE IS A PRETTY GOOD HILL FROM SPOONER LAKE UP TO MARLETTE LAKE, AND THEN FROM THERE IT’S EASY SAILING. DEIRDRE, YOU’VE DONE IT. I HAVE LONG TIME AGO, BUT I SENT MY BROTHER THERE A FEW YEARS BACK AND HE GOT HOME. HE’S LIKE, OH MY GOSH, LIKE I THAT’S THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER DONE BECAUSE YOU’RE SO DISTRACTED. SO A LOT OF THE NEWBIES UP THERE, IT’S JUST YOU JUST CAN’T EVEN BELIEVE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT. FOR THE MOST PART, NOBODY’S REALLY FLYING. THEY’RE NOT BOMBING DOWN THAT SECTION OF THE TRAIL BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING IN THE VIEWS. SO YOU JUST TAKE IT AT YOUR OWN PACE. IT’S A GOOD HIKING OPTION AS WELL, I’D SAY IF YOU’RE GOING TO HIKE IT UP TO MARLETTE LAKE, I WOULD SAY IS PRETTY GOOD FROM I WOULDN’T GO OUT ONTO THE FLUME FROM THAT SIDE, BUT IF YOU COME UP FROM THE INCLINE SIDE, THEN THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD OPTION TO SEE SOME OF THE FLUME TRAIL. AND IT ALL ENDS RIGHT WHERE THE OLD BONANZA. YEAH. PONDEROSA RANCH REALLY? WHERE THEY USED TO SHOW THE TV SHOW BONANZA. THAT’S WHERE IT ALL ENDS. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA. AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT, GOOGLE IT. YEAH. FOR YOU WHIPPERSNAPPERS OUT THERE THAT DON’T KNOW WHAT BONA