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NASTR
By Connie Creech With the rapid development in the Reno/Carson area,
NASTR members were concerned about keeping the trails open to ride and
became active in trail issues. In 1991, NASTR
purchased and built a mile
of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Confident with our trail building skills,
NASTR
formed an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service in 1993 to provide
maintenance on the Jones Creek/Whites Creek trail in the Mount Rose
Wilderness. NASTR has celebrated every National Trails Day, the first
Saturday in June, by working on this trail. In 1996, NASTR joined the
Nevada State Parks in receiving a $5,000 trail grant from the National
Recreation trails Grant Program through ISTEA, for a trails project at
Washoe Lake State Park. NASTR provided all of the labor for the project
which included trail building, clearing old fencing, setting posts and
markers, and planting trees and drip systems. In 1996, NASTR started
putting on a barbecure and auction to raise funds for trails.
Our membership has had a major influence in the sport of
endurance riding from the early beginnings to the present and will
continue to support a goal to reach the Olympics. |
30 Years Later
By Cliff Lewis (This article was written for
NASTR's 30th Anniversary of the Virginia City 100 held September 20, 1997)
It's hard to believe that thirty years have gone by since Dean Hubbard
and I had this idea for an endurance ride in Nevada. Perhaps most new riders
don't know the history of the club, but the history is important and has
much influence on the club today.
NASTR was started and developed to promote the 100 mile ride. Later,
by-laws and articles of incorporation were added. Today many issues
challenge the club.
The original idea was to raise money all year for the VC 100. By keeping
costs low, upgrading the quality of food, buckles and awards, we could have
the largest attended 100-mile ride. In the '70's this ride was considered
one of the "easiest" 100's, yet it covered a more difficult trail than
today.
Endurance riding has changed in 30 years. 100 mile rides were the
ultimate. 50 mile rides were "those little 50's" and were used for training
purposes. The inscription on the first Derby Ditch completion awards read
"spring warm up ride". 30 years ago we rode in jeans, boots and cowboy hats.
It was not uncommon for the local Nevada riders to ride from Reno to Tahoe
City the day before the ride, and then ride Tevis the next day. The riders
did not carry water, they drank from natural sources with tin cups tied with
strings to dip into the streams without getting off their horses.
The optimum word for these riders is tough. There is no better
word to describe Nick Mansfield, Pat and Donna Fitzgerald, Louie Henderson
and Abe Nance. Nevada and NASTR are to be proud these riders are in their
midst. |
