All Signs Point to a Great Ride!
Ride Date: July 20th, 2024
Enter the ride on or before Wednesday, July 7th to avoid the $100 late fee.
President’s Message
Dear Tevis Family,
How is your summer calendar shaping up? The rest and relaxation are enjoyable, but perhaps your summer needs more adrenaline, inspiration, challenge, and, maybe, even a buckle. If so, block out the weekend of July 20th and join the annual migration to the Sierra Nevada for the iconic Tevis Cup 100 Mile Ride. I can guarantee adrenaline, inspiration, and challenge. The buckle? That’s up to you, but you will never know if you don’t try.
The Tevis Cup Ride is the first modern day endurance ride and the ride that all other rides around the world are modeled after. The trail is full of California history as you travel over paths trod by the indigenous people and settlers and have your horse checked by some of the best vets at old Gold Rush town locations. You will be riding from East to West, point to point, and if your vision is good, you can probably see your ultimate destination from the summits.
Need more magical moments in your life? I suggest climbing out of Olympic Valley on a Saturday morning in July astride an athletic horse and looking back at Lake Tahoe. You will feel truly alive; you will also feel grateful for these mountains, your horse, and the opportunity that you have this day. Every hoof step gets you closer to the finish. There are no out-and-backs, no repetitive loops – just forward motion. Keep going and you won’t have to worry about the clock.
What if the canyons and growing temperatures get you and your horse down? Here’s what. Your true enduring spirit will carry you through it, and when the sun goes down and the temperatures cool, it feels like a new day. There is magic in the night. When you head down into the American River Canyon at dusk, the voices get quieter, the stars and the moon grow brighter, and all you hear are the sounds of the hoofbeats and the river below. You may be tired, but you will be aware of your privilege to be part of this day and, what is now, night.
Still not enough magic? Consider this. At Mile 99, when your mount still feels eager and sound, you will realize that the journey is almost over. You will know that your horse, one of the best partners you have ever had, has given you everything he can. He has done so willingly and because you ask. Humility never feels as good as it does now. Two different species, not even close in the animal kingdom, yet mutually dependent and taking care of each other over 100 miles. You will have that last exquisite moment between the two of you, as you drape your arms around his neck and whisper, “Thank you,” before climbing out of the darkness and into the lights and the cheers.
Make your summer magical and one you will never forget. The WSTF Board of Governors and the Ride Director welcome you to test your endurance and your horsemanship over the Sierra and under the full moon. Ride a horse, really ride.
Barbara White
President, Western States Trail Foundation
Ride Director’s Message
With the launching of the 2024 digital entry, be sure to proceed with plans to enter the ride as the forecast for another stellar Tevis event is bright.
The trail has had extensive work over the last two years, and the expectation is for entries to be moderate in number. Now is the time to ride!
Safety is always a top priority for the riders and horses of the Tevis. We have spent many hours refining personnel availability and training, supply and equipment deployment and expanding our contacts with agencies should we need them on Ride Day. This is a challenging ride, worthy of the bravery and skill of the pioneers who blazed this event. Train and prepare accordingly, as we are ready to share in this adventure with you and your equine partner.
One of the ongoing changes we have addressed for 2024 is the use of lights. We HIGHLY recommend you acquire and practice using a headlamp with red and white light options. The rule states that only colored lights may be used when moving forward down the trail. Use your white light only when stopped along the course.
Every year of the Tevis is an adventure. This year is not unique. We have dealt with fire in the past, high snow loads in the back country, lots of water in the western half. . . as well as drought. Improvements to the trail due to the challenges of nature only serve to enhance the magic of the Tevis experience.
The Ride Committee has added new equipment to update the Ride and aid Head Volunteers at their stops. The BOG of the Western States Trail Foundation actively solicits your entry. This year your ride will be the best ever.
Chuck Stalley
Ride Director, Western States Trail Ride
Trail Update
WSTF has had a crew from Sutter Buttes Trail Stewardship as part of the American Trails Legacy grant working on the trail between Last Chance to Deadwood through May 9th. There are volunteer trail work opportunities coming up throughout the remainder of the year, please go to https://www.wser.org/volunteering/trail-stewardship/trail-work-opportunities/ to sign up for trail work dates!
Volunteers Wanted for the 68th Annual Tevis Cup Ride!!
The Western States Trail Foundation is looking for volunteers for this year’s Tevis Cup 100 Mile One Day Ride from Truckee to Auburn on July 20th, 2024.
The Western States Trail Foundation is looking for volunteers for this year’s Tevis Cup 100 Mile One Day Ride from Truckee to Auburn on July 20th, 2024.
Whether you’re a seasoned Tevis volunteer or have yet to experience the fun and excitement of assisting with our historic equestrian event, we welcome your help. We need volunteers at vet checks, water stops, for horse transport, communications, parking/traffic control and more. No experience necessary and you’ll go home with a coveted Tevis Volunteer T shirt for your efforts!
Each year ~800 people volunteer for the Tevis Cup.
Why so many volunteers?
Since the Western States Trail Ride (the Tevis Cup) is a 100 Mile One Day “point to point” ride traversing remote, rugged terrain over the mountains and through the canyons from Truckee, CA to Auburn CA, volunteers are needed all along the trail as well as before and after the Ride.
What do Tevis Volunteers do?
- Check Riders In
- Put Numbers on Horses
- Distribute GPS Trackers
- Parking and Traffic Control
- Set up Vet Checkpoints
- In and Out Timing at Vet Checkpoints
- Take Horses’ Pulse at Vet Checkpoints
- Assist Riders and Horses at Checkpoints
- Fill buckets and troughs
- Horse Transport for Pulled Riders
- Trailside Photography
- Radio Communications
- and more!
To find out more information or to sign up as a volunteer, simply click this button:
(or email volunteer@teviscup.org for more information. Thank you!)
Forum Incoming!
Tevis FORUM – our annual magazine is coming together and should be mailed out in early June. We would like to make sure that all of our supporters receive a copy! If you have not been receiving a FORUM each year and would like to be on our mailing list, please send your name and address to us at wittenauer.jerry@gmail.com.
The trail is now open for THE 2024 VIRTUAL TEVIS CUP!
The original Tevis Cup ride was first organized by Wendell Robie, an Auburn businessman and devoted rider of the Sierra Nevada high country. The Western States Trail Ride has had many names, but most people know it simply as “Tevis”. The ride has evolved a great deal in 69 years; some of the trail has changed, the entry has changed, and even the criteria for completion has changed. One thing has not changed. One Horse, One rider, 100 Miles in One day.
The Tevis Cup Ride itself – due to the scope and difficulty of execution – operates at or near a financial loss. So, the Western States Trail Foundation needs to raise funds beyond the ride in order to continue our mission of historic trail preservation.
In 2020, the Virtual Tevis was created in response to the cancellation of the actual ride because of the global pandemic. To everyone’s surprise and delight, the Virtual Tevis has become a premier fundraiser for the Western States Trail Foundation. The support of virtual ride participants allows WSTF to not only put on the iconic endurance event, but – most importantly – continue with our efforts of trail preservation and improvement.
Click for more details and frequently asked questions about the Virtual Ride – and to watch progress and hear about the competitors experiences visit the Virtual Tevis community on our Facebook group.
Look for the Tevis Store at Horse Expo – June 7th-9th!
