TRT Day 7, Aloha SOBO

September 10, 2016
117.3 to 137.5 for 20.2 trail miles.

I was on the trail a bit before half past seven and started the climb up Dicks Pass. Near the top, while taking some pictures, I noticed another hiker behind me. At the pass, we introduced ourselves. The hiker's trail name is Solar Body and he is sobo hiking the PCT. He hiked the AT last year and intends to hike the CDT next year.

We ended up hiking together to the Echo Lake trailhead where he hitched into South Lake Tahoe for resupply. I was getting water when he got a ride so we didn't really get to say goodbye.

Solar Body and Me

The trail was so much eye candy today as we really saw the beauty the Sierra has to offer. I think I only covered eight miles the first five hours on trail. We kept stopping to gawk and take pictures and video. I even went for a quick dip in Susie Lake.

Dicks Lake

Looking Back on Dicks Lake and Fontanillis Lake

Me and Beyond Dicks Pass

Half Moon Lake and Susie Lake

Lake Aloha

Echo Lake

Solar Body Nearing Echo Lake Marina

After Aloha Lake, there was a long rocky and hot descent to Echo Lake. There were tons of people going up. Then we traversed the lake to where the marina is. I ran out of water just before we arrived but would have drank more if I had it.

The store at the Echo Lake marina closed last week so I wasn't able to get anything to eat like icecream. There were trash containers and an outhouse though so I was able to dump my trash and uded TP before continuing on.

I met a man section hiking the PCT. I think he was heading to Donner Pass on this outing. I also stopped at Echo Summit to look for a geocache but wasn't able to find it. Echo Summit was used as a high altitude training center for the 1968 Olympics. Shortly after that, I met a couple finishing up their PCT thru-hike. They skipped ahead and are hiking where they skipped. I believe they'll finish at Donner Pass.

Log Water Crossing

I wasn't sure if there would be water at a stream near where I planned to camp so I stopped earlier to get water for the night and the next morning. That made my pack a bit heavy on the climb up to my campsite. Along the way there was a couple practicing bouldering. They even had a couple of those pads in case you fall.

Today was long, mostly because Solar Body and I were moving slow this morning with all the lovely scenery. It was getting dark when I arrived at camp. Once at camp, I had cell service so besides dinner and the normal camp chores, I putzed around online for a bit and called Barbara.

Only 35 miles left.

TRT Day 6, Desolation Wilderness

September 9, 2016
97.9 to 117.3 for 19.4 trail miles. Plus a few geocaches.

I slept pretty good last night but still felt really tired this morning; it was hard to get up. I was on the trail at half past seven.

Last Night's Camp

Sunrise

Not long after I started, I went to find a geocache up on a rocky peak. I dropped my pack and went around a rock and there was a set of trekking poles. A bit farther around and there was a woman who had camped on the rock. I should have announced myself when I first saw the poles but didn't think of that. We talked for a minute and then I continued to the top and found the geocache.

I found another geocache near the Barker Pass trailhead. There was a whole bunch in the area but I skipped them.

When I reached Richardson Lake, I stopped for lunch and got some water. I also took my shoes off and washed my feet. That felt great. It was nice to relax for a bit. I noticed two other backpackers a bit farther down the lake but never talked to them. They left just before I did and were heading where I had come from.

Richardson Lake

Shortly after lunch, I found another geocache that wasn't far off the trail. There was a metal pole about 8' high near it with what looked like an antenna at the top. There was another similar pole near the trail too. I'm curious what they are for; I should have taken a picture of one.

I was pretty excited to enter the Desolation Wilderness. It's supposed to contain some of the best scenery along the trail and is a very popular area. I imagine I'll see more people out today and tomorrow because of it.

I talked to couple going other way. I told them I am doing the TRT and that I was heading to Dicks Lake. As they were leaving, the gal suggested Lake Fontanillis. She said it was near Dicks Lake and was very nice.

I was about to catch up to another couple but needed a drink so I stopped to do filter some water from one bottle to the one I drink out of before I passed them. It didn't take very long to catch back up to them after that. I talked to the man for a minute then continued on.

It seemed to take forever to get to Middle Velma Lake. It was hot and the climb was tiring. Finally I made it. There were lots of people camped around it. I stopped and took a short break before continuing up to Lake Fontanillis. On the way some people that had been doing trail work were heading out. The first one asked where I was sleeping tonight. I said I planned to stop at Dicks Lake. It's nice to know that people like to help maintain the trails.

Middle Velma

I really enjoyed walking past Lake Fontanillis. It was very nice, like the one gal said, but the trail was rocky and slow going. I was about out of water so I filled a liter up when the trail crossed the lake's outflow. There were lots of people camped along Fontanillis too. I passed one camp where a very big dog barked at me. I'm glad it was tied up.

Between Lake Fontanillis and Dicks Lake, I ran into another couple with a dog. We talked for a few minutes and the dog promptly lied down. I commented how it was ready to call it a day. They had been out for several days but hadn't gone real far. They do short days with a lot of relaxing.

I made it to Dicks Lake and wandered around a bit looking for a campsite. There's a nice campsite right off the trail but there were a couple men already camped there. They said rumor had it that the best sites were to my left so I went there and didn't find anything so I went back and went to the right and found a nice one. I guess the rumor was wrong.

I went to the lake and got water then went back to my camp and noticed an even nicer spot a short distance away, so I moved there. Then I went back to the lake and washed up a bit before going back and setting up camp and getting dinner. I was able to get all that done before dark. It's nice to not dry camp for once this trip. It's also different to have so many people around.

TRT Day 5, Twin Peaks and the PCT

September 8, 2016
82.8 to 97.9 for 15.1 trail miles. Plus resupply and doctor, .4 miles to get on trail, and .5 miles for Twin Peaks.

During the night, I decided to go to urgent care to make sure my arm isn't infected from the sting. I noticed after showering that it was red and hot from my armpit to my elbow.

Urgent care opened at nine and the post office opened at eight so I went and got my resupply first and got it organized, then went to urgent care. The prognosis was that there is no infection just a reaction to the sting. So I went across the street to CVS and bought some Claritin to help. I also went back to the post office to get my tent pegs. They arrived earlier but hadn't been sorted yet.

I was a bit late checking out of the room but that wasn't a problem. It was about 11:30 when I left Tahoe City.

Most of the day's hike was in the forest, so there wasn't much scenery. Three TRTers were heading into town for food. They said a fourth was farther back having gone on his own nursing foot issues. I saw him a bit before the Ward Creek bridge. He said water wasn't reliable so when I reached Ward Creek, I filled up. That was a mistake.

Ward Creek

When I was done getting water, a large group of older hikers passed by. One said a tour bus dropped them off up the hill. One man gave me a smile and winked at me. What was that about? It was kind of creepy.

There was a 1600' climb from there to Twin Peaks and I had all that water. Ugh. Finally the trail would break out of the forest and there were some great views.

When I reached the junction to Twin Peaks, I dropped my pack and headed up. The last bit was a steep scramble to the top. There was a geocache and a benchmark up there too so that was a bonus. The views from the top were amazing, I could see forever in every direction. I could see where I was heading into the Desolation Wilderness.

A bit past Twin Peaks, the TRT joins the PCT for 50 miles. I more or less lost it when I reached the junction. I dream of hiking all of the PCT one day and actually stepping on it overwhelmed me. As far as I know, I've never been on it before. Perhaps when I was a scout in the seventies, when in Washington it was known as the Cascade Crest Trail.

It's the PCT!

Looking Back at Twin Peaks

I was going to camp near there but it was early enough to hike farther, to get some miles on the PCT! The trail plunged down and I came across a few grouse. I passed a few streams and finally found a nice place to camp.

TRT Day 4, Run to Tahoe City

September 7, 2016
60.9 to 82.8 for 21.9 trail miles plus .4 miles into town to the hotel.

The bugs were gone when I got up this morning so I didn't have to deal with them when I broke camp. It took me close to an hour and a half to get going. I don't know where the time goes.

Last Night's Camp

I found a geocache just up the trail from where I camped. I was looking on the GPSr to see where the next one was when another hiker approached. He was hoping to finish his TRT thru at Tahoe Meadows today.

After that I got to thinking that maybe, if I really hoofed it, I could make it to the Tahoe City post office before it closed at 4:30 and get my resupply. It seemed possible but difficult. I took the challenge. So much for an easy day and hiking into town tomorrow morning...

Today was actually a good day to make miles. The terrain wasn't that difficult and the trail mostly was in the forest so there wasn't many views to distract me. I tried to keep my pace up and keep my breaks short and few.

There was only two water sources today and they were only .8 miles apart. The first was a small stream that crossed the trail. I got water there because I figured it was better than lake water at the second. It was quicker too.

First Water

Watson Lake

Just before I got water, a couple thru-hiking the TRT came by. They were packed light and were both wearing Luna Sandals. They were also hoping to finish up today at Tahoe Meadows. If they make it that would be a long day.

I was making good time but my left foot felt like a hot spot was developing so I stopped to shake out the sand and grit that fills shoes and socks on this dusty trail. The yellow jackets were all over. They are everywhere and there's no getting away from them. When I was done, I had to grab my pack and move with it to get them away before putting it on. It was the same throughout the day.

That slowed me down so it was going to be very tight making it to the post office on time. I was able to keep my pace up for several miles farther but I was fading and my foot was giving me concern again and a geocache was coming up so I decided to find the cache and shake out my shoes and socks again. I ended up having to change the batteries in my GPSr too. By then it was half past three and I had a bit more than three miles left. Game over. It was a fun attempt at any rate.

From there, I slowed my pace down and cruised into Tahoe City. I was tired, hungry, and finished my water as I entered Tahoe City.

I went to a hotel I had contacted on my way into town and checked in. Next I went to Rosie's, a restaurant recommended by the hotel receptionist. I had a bacon chile cheeseburger, fries, and a beer. They really hit the spot. After dinner I went back to my room and got cleaned up and hand washed my clothes in the sink. Then I just relaxed for the rest of the evening and called Barbara. What a day!