In July 2002, I hiked around Lake Tahoe on the newly finished Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). It was a summer of fires. There was so much smoke in the air that my pictures really didn't come out well.
It was a great hike on a beautiful trail. My one complaint was that you could always hear civilization. You could hear cars, horns, sirens, and even voices as they drifted up from the lake. That combined with the smoke...made this a tough trip at times.
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 1 - 7/15/02
Today's Miles- 14
Total TRT Miles-14
I am grateful for the beauty of this small lake that I sit beside.
Here I am again. Alone in the mountains listening to the music of nature. I am taking a well needed break at dinner time here at Watson Lake. Tough day on these first day feet, legs, shoulders, and lungs.
Tom drove me into Tahoe City this morning and I got my permit and headed out...but not before my trail stalker, Tom, followed me on my road walk to snap a few pictures of me. Then it was "Up, up, up" as the Tahoe Rim Trail web site had promised. Went through lots of lava flows today and took some pictures of the beauty. I'm not sure how my pictures will come out today due to some very hazy skies above.
Lost TWO things in the first day out. First, after being SO careful, I must have dropped the lens cover to the 55mm lens. Then...a few miles later my bandanna was missing! I can live without both but I can't believe I lost them both!
Mountain bikers galore today! As a matter of fact I haven't seen a single other hiker...just bikers.
I have entered a new phase in my hiking. I am carrying a Cannon 35mm with a 55mm lens and a 200mm lens. I have a photography field guide with me and am really excited about doing some experimenting out here. I've also got a Sierra Nevada wildflower guide as well as a Sierra Nevada tree field guide. Doing lots of identifying today! Red fir, Ponderosa Pine, Jeffery Pine, and too many flowers to name before I hike out.
I'm going to finish up so I can slide the pack back on and hike outta here. I want to get a couple miles past where I cooked so that the bears stay away!! More later or tomorrow!!
Peace, Love, Courage...
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 2 - 7/16/02
Today's Miles-17
Total TRT Miles-31
I am grateful that I have a beautiful place to camp.
I feel much better than I did an hour ago but I'm still not sure if I will be continuing after tomorrow. You see....so far..it's not that fun. When I hiked the AT a couple of years ago I hiked with a guy named Commodore for about a week. He was finishing up his adventure early because his mom had told him that whenever it stopped being fun...he should stop hiking. I know it's only my second day but I've done a couple of these thru-hike things and kinda know how it goes.
My heels are a mess....plain and simple...huge painful blisters on both. I've tried some different techniques to reduce the rubbing and the pain, but none have worked.
I also don't really feel in the best of hiking shape. I could power through...but again why?
You see this is a very different place than I have hiked. For 31 miles I have only a few times been away from the sounds of "The other reality." No matter where I am I can hear a boat, a low flying plane, a car, and I even can hear quite a few ambulances. As I type this I am listing to the hum of the Mt. Rose Highway.....hmmmm
Now to put this day in even more perspective it was hot...very hot. I woke up this morning having only about 1 1/2 liters of water. That was OK because the information I printed out told me that there was water at "seasonal" springs at mile 6,7, and 8. Had lunch on a beautiful overlook after taking a couple photos of my trail work from June 4th. Then started walking towards the springs. None had water..none. That meant a very hot and dehydrated 15 miles over 4 peaks. It almost killed me. Well maybe not killed, but I started to get very unstable and began having shooting stomach pains. I stooped once and had a fruit leather thinking that it would help me not think about it...didn't work. Than I found some snow. I know I'm not supposed to eat it because I cold get sick but I was getting a little delirious so I dug deep down and ate for a few. Then started hiking again and about 5 hours after running out of water got to Mud Lake. Tried to find the listed spring but it was dry so I treated the lake water (yick) and started to rehydrate. It was awful...I threw -up a couple times because my stomach was so sick from having no water for so long. After about an hour I had had a couple liters and I decided to hike on another mile or so to make tomorrow's hike to meet Santa, Carmen and the kids shorter. Glad I did for this place (minus the noise) is pure heaven.
So I'm really not sure if I will hike on after tomorrow. I'm not having that much fun so far....should I give it another day or two? If I do, getting off would be much harder. I will have to go with the gut feeling tomorrow.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 3 - 7/17/02
Today's Miles-13.9
Total TRT Miles-44.9
I am grateful for shade.
Late night, while sleeping under the stars...it started to rain. Very slightly and I got my tap up in no time. It stopped for a while and then started again a couple more times in the night. The tarp worked just fine! I was in an area with very few walking or flying insects! The night before I was constantly attacked by mosquitoes and ants. Better planning next time. Yes, I said next time. I will be staying on the trail.
I woke up to a new thought process. I will fix all my complaints. I will choose better campsites so I don't have to fight insects and so I stay away from the sounds of civilization. I will get rid of some of the weight (tripod, 200mm lens, and some other misc. things) that I am carrying so that I can carry more water and not take the chance of running out again. I will plan my hiking time to correspond with the most shade possible...(that will really help!)
Sound like a plan? I think it will work! I am waiting for Santa, Carmen and the kiddos right now. Gonna have some lunch with them, walk the interpretive trail, and give them some of my weight and all of my trash before I head out. Today and my finish day are my only schedules. Yea, I made the first one!
Had a large "Port Of Subs" sandwich with chips and a ton of water before walking the 1.1 mile interpretive trail with the family. Great to see Carmen, John and Santa. Left the Tahoe Meadows trail-head at 1:30 in a cloud filled sky. (It had rained hard while I was waiting for them to show up and had stopped just as they showed up. I was hiding under the edge of the bathroom roof and stayed very dry.) I had put on my pack cover before saying goodbye and put my rain jacket on the top of my gear to be able to get to it easily. About 15 minutes into the hike it started to drizzle. The jacket came out and I kept hiking. Passed a few day hikers hiking out and seemingly to giggle as I walked past them and deeper into the woods. About 30 minutes into the drizzle it turned cold suddenly and then into a fierce hail storm. Hail a little larger than marbles covered the forest floor. It was beautiful from under the tree I took cover. About 10 minutes into the hailstorm I decided to walk a little further on the trail to find better cover. I walked about 100 yards to find two women in their late thirties huddled under a tree in shorts and tee shirts with 5 children!! I took cover under a nearby tree and continued my wait saying "Hello" to the stranded women and children. The hail lightened up for just a moment and in that moment they ran! In the same moment that they ran the hail picked back up to it's earlier fiery. The middle age child (maybe 10) yelled, "We're finished," and started yelling out in pain as the ice balls hit him on the run. Almost as signaled to participate, all the children began to yell each time they were hit (which must have been 10-15 times a second!)
I stood under my protective tree and could only giggle to myself as I listened the yells and screams fade further and further into the distance. The hail turned to rain and I walked on.
Passed and talked to a nice biker while later and we shared "hail stories."
It rained and hailed a couple more times before about 4:00. At that time it appeared that the sky was about to explode. I quickly found a tenting spot and as I was setting up the tarp an amazing hail show began and beat me up. I got the tarp up in pretty good time and got all my stuff inside. Things are pretty wet but not the stuff that's important. In the last couple hours it's drizzled on and off and the sky is still rumbling. Wow. It was in the 80's all day yesterday and I couldn't find water. Now look at this place. Tomorrow should be interesting with all the wet gear. Oh well, it'll dry out. No cooking tonight.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 4
Today's Miles-18.9
Total TRT Miles-63.8
I am grateful for Stoneman's lesson to me that said, " If it makes a good story, it's worth it!
Woke up to a cool, sunny, cloud filled sky. My camp spot was still in the shade so I packed most things and carried the rest about 100 yards up the trail and into the sun. There I laid out and hung up all my wet things to dry. Ate breakfast (Carnation Breakfast Drink) while the drying went on. Then I began to hike. In and out of sun and shade as I hiked under pine cover and also as the sun came out and hid behind cumulus clouds a lot of the time.
Hiked to Twin Lakes..and what would you guess? Yes, both twins were dry...bone dry. I did see a coyote walking across them...but at the time would have traded for water. Hung out there for a while and looked at my map. It really didn't show any other water for about 12 miles! I had about 1 1/2 liters left but I know how fast that goes also. Anyway, let's just say I had a good feeling about water today..especially looking at the sky.
Climbed Herlan Peak at 8840 feet and it started drizzling toward the top so I put the rain fly on my backpack. After crossing the ridge I met a guy, girl, and dog....I was never formally introduced to the dog....and the guy and girl were putting up ribbon on the trail. One was wearing a Fleet Feet hat. Then I remembered that this Saturday there is a 50k and a 50m race up here. Talked to them for while about what they were doing, what I was doing, and the absence of water in these parts. They confirmed that the only water before those 12 miles mean that I would have to hike 2 miles down a road to a lake to get water. Hmmmm So I began walking again. After about an hour or seeing ribbons on trees there was an intersection where the race and TRT split. I looked at my map and saw that the race added an extra .3 to summit Marlette Peak. I followed the TRT and in about 1/4 of mile came to a place that appeared to have water coming out of the side of a hill. Upon further investigation, and one wet boot, I discovered that all of the ice still laying on the ground had created this artificial spring. I drank a liter, and treated 4 more to carry. I am not getting stuck without H2O again!
As I was packing up I could see a storm south of me heading directly north...right at me. I started hiking and at one point stopped and took some picture of a lightning storm north of me where I was yesterday. No sooner did I turn around and start hiking again did I notice that the approaching storm was...well...about twice as close.
Now..those of you that have read my journals before may remember my White Top Mountain, Virginia lighting story. Or you may remember my John Muir Forester Pass lightning story. This one blows both away. I think I may have done a bit of prayin'.
The trail was ziggin' and zaggin' up some unnamed mountain. The lightning and thunder were coming from my left or east. When I ziged to the right I felt OK but when I zaged back to the left and towards the storm I grew more worried...especially because I was gaining altitude with each passing zig and zag. The entire time I was climbing I was looking for cover. Always for a place to hide if I had to immediately. There were lots of good boulders but I really thought I could make it over this one and take cover on the other side. I was wrong. The storm had moved directly over me just at the time when the last zig and zag were to carry me over the mountain. No place to hide. Rocks but no over hangs at all. It began to hail. Big hail. Bigger than yesterday's hail. The flashes were everywhere around me and the claps of thunder shook me deep to my soul. I began running down the hill to my right, looking for any rock that could shelter me. Nothing. The ground was turning white!
And it was getting harder to move downhill. I was being shot at by Mother Nature, and damn, does she have good aim. I saw a large rock to my left that I could hide behind but not under. It would have to do. I made it there just as the loudest crash of thunder hit. I got down on all fours (the way the survival book says to) and it began. The storm of my life had me on my hands and knees in the dirt. I could do nothing. My backpack blocked the nickel sized hail from my back but my calves were bare and getting nailed. I had my rain jacket on but the blows of hail on my arms, neck, and head were like getting shot with thousands of BB's from thousands of BB guns. But the worst...the worst was my face and hands. My hands were growing colder and colder and the pain grew worse as they did and were struck by a buckets of hail. And the face. As the hail hit the soft forest floor it would bounce back up about a foot. On my hands and knees my face was about a foot from the ground. Luckily my sunglasses were still on and luckily they didn't break from the pounding force of the hailstorm. I knelt like that for about 20 minutes, and for most of that the storm was right above me with no time between lightning and thunder. I was beggin' for at least a 1 Mississippi so that I knew it was moving away. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and had to find a better place to hide. I began running around as much as my now soaking wet and very cold body would let me) looking for another place to hide. Nothing. But in the few minutes I spent, looking like a chicken without a head, the storm seemed to be moving to my north a bit. I decided it was time to get over the top and get over fast. My cold body and shot nerves had another plan. I moved cautiously up and over as the hail turned into a rain. I dared to look back and was amazed at the sight. Everything was white and the sky was on fire. It was a reddish purple and streaks of lighting shot through it every few moments. I couldn't take a picture of this because my hands were completely numb.
Little did I know that the top of the mountain meant ridge walk. Great, just were I want to be..on a ridge. I didn't know how long a ridge walk because I couldn't look at my map..my hands were numb. I headed south on the ridge to the ironically named Snow Valley Peak at 9214 ft. The sky turned to lighter broken clouds with blue sky to the east but none above. Better! After about 30 minutes of brisk walking my hands warmed up enough to look back and take a picture of the scene and to look at my map. It showed another mile to a mile and a half of ridge walk left. Just then my attention was captured by a clap of thunder to my SOUTH again. Another storm had simply materialized while I had stopped. I put my gear back on and was completely focused on getting off this ridge before the storm caught me. To my left a treeless rise to the top about 100 feet up. To my right a treeless rock filled drop to the valley. No choice but forward on the trail. I began jog walking and giggled through my anxiety as I passed another ribbon for the race Saturday. As I got closer to the end of the ridge the lightening came faster and so did the thunder. My plan...get off the ridge and into the trees (hopefully before the rain hit) so that I could set up my tarp and either wait it out or call it a day. I made it! Just after I got the last things under the shelter the rain started. I collapsed inside for few moments safe and out of the rain. I got into dry clothes and was too exhausted to eat. It was 2:00. I fell asleep. I awoke at about 2:45 and took some Motrin and ate. It's now 4:30 and the rain has finally ended. I haven't been out of the tarp for 2 1/2 hours. I plan to hang out for another hour or so and then make the call about moving on. I am 4 miles north of Spooner Summit where I was to get to so we shall see. It was a scary touch and go kinda day. But it sure makes for one great story!
9:00 PM-Well, I hiked 7 more miles from 5:45-8. Down to Spooner Summit and back up the other side. Made lasagna at my campsite...don't like to eat where I cook...I swore I heard a bear in the woods while I was eating...hmmm...
Off to sleep....wearing lots of DEET!
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 5 - 7/19/02
Today's Miles-19.5
Total TRT Miles-83.3
I am grateful to still be here!
Weird night last night. I forgot to tell you just how ugly the forest was that I camped in...and it didn't get much better till about 4 miles in today. The forest had been cut by lumber companies during the Virginia City silver and gold rush days. The forest had been massacred. And to top it off it looked like a fire had gone through many years later. That meant for lots of stumps, dead trees, and dead wood everywhere. As a matter of fact, you couldn't go 5 minutes without hearing a branch break off a tree and crash to the ground somewhere nearby. Needless to say I didn't camp under any trees. I guess the bear last night may have been a breaking branch....hmmmm..
I did see a many pointed buck and I tried a few pictures. Woke up at 5:30 and was on the trail in less than an hour. My tarp had a lot of condensation on the inside which made for a dewy mess of my gear. My plan was to get to the top of the ridge early. Early enough to dry all my gear out and get off the ridge before the daily thunderstorms start. You better believe that I've got my eye and ear to the sky today. High cirrus clouds but nothing that even closely resembles a thunderhead. Yea!!! I am aiming to pick up my food drop today for one reason only....water. Today is another 12 mile dry section. I'm not worried about it because I have two liters and am very hydrated right now. But if I were to try to camp in the dry section and have dinner...that would be another story. I've checked the maps very well and from Kingsberry Grade (207) till I finish I should never!!!! have any more than a 5 miles stretch without water again. Five miles is two hours and I can't finish all my water in two hours. So, my miles will be less on the south side and that's OK with me. The south and Desolation sections have been the ones I've been most excited about. Time to get packed and head out....been here about an hour. More later....
It's later all right. It's 8:00 and I am getting ready to sleep under the stars for only the second time since I got here. Due to the weather I have been under the tarp. But not tonight baby! The rest of the walk became really pretty this morning. Very similar to the stretch between Tahoe Meadows and Tunnel Road (my favorite so far.) Got to the road for a 3.4 mile road walk on two roads and Highway 207. The first road I came out on seemed simple enough. Rolling ups and downs (but mostly downs) to 207. Simple enough till I hit the road construction. They were resurfacing about a mile of the road. The was no sidewalk, only a 8 inch or so scooped out gutter that I walked in. It wasn't too bad until I got to the stretch that they had just laid and rolled. If you have never been near (or walked a few inches from) newly rolled asphalt before...it's quite a thing. First of all it's hot...really hot. And all that heat is being pushed straight up...unless there's a wind blowin' it right at you! Second of all it's got a sound. The sound is kinda like when you take Pop Rocks and put them in your mouth and leave your mouth open......yea..you get it. The rest of the road was hot but uneventful. Got my drop and water at the Tramway Market and the two added about 20 lbs to my pack. Glad I got rid of that other stuff the other day!
Hit the trail at 2:30 planning to do a couple more miles. And as my hiking buddy on the AT was named...I walked "Mo Miles." Walked about 7 instead. You see for the first couple miles I played leapfrog with a family who was half from Canada and half from Michigan. Very nice people. At about mile 3 I took a break to look at the sky and my map. A few minutes later I heard someone coming up the trail behind me and looked quickly assuming it was the family I had met earlier. I didn't see the person because they were so far back and turned back towards the view of the Carson Valley. A minute or so later I turned again to see a man carrying a water bottle, wearing a baseball cap, tee shirt, and shorts....that was it...not shoes! I thought I just saw wrong but was still baffled. As I shouldered my pack I was convinced he must be camped just nearby. I started up the trail behind him. No sight of him anywhere...hmmmm... Hiked for about 45 minutes and a couple times I swore I saw him ahead of me...guess not. Finally I saw him...and he was wearing NO shoes! I hiked a fair distance behind home for another 20 minutes or so before I came around a bend and there he was. We small talked or a few minutes and I finally asked about his feet. He started telling me about how he has been going barefoot since childhood and loves to hike that way. He kept talking and then asked what time it was and decided to join me hiking up the trail. He told me all about the myths of going barefoot and how it has nothing to do with calluses. He was quite interesting. Had been in Tahoe for about 4 years and was originally from Germany. He is 53 but sure didn't look it. We talked mostly about back country travel during summer and winter. He has had many amazing trips. We walked all the way to the top of Monument Pass at 8820 and then sat and talked for about an hour more. The sun was getting low against the mountain side I was next to so I decided to hike a little further to give me more sun tonight. It was perfect! I got just enough sun to cook and set everything up. There was quite a wind when I set up, but as with most nights...after the sun goes down it gets perfectly still with an occasional soft breeze. Now I am officially a day ahead...Yea!!! I can really shorten my days up.
Ironic though over the last 5 days. All day I am thirsty and looking for water. All day I am gazing at the crystal blue waters of Lake Tahoe.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 6 - 7/20/02
Today's Miles-13.5
Total TRT Miles-96.8
I am grateful for lakes!
Happy Birthday Mandy! Woke up with the sunrise but went back to sleep for about an hour because I could. Packed up and headed to Star Lake. The hike was 200 feet under a ridge paralleling the ridge. The views were to the west and they were amazing.
Forgot to mention that yesterday when I was walking with my barefooted friend, saw two other backpackers. The first of the trip. We passed each other going opposite directions and after their "Hello" their eyes were focused on those bare feet.
The reason I remembered to tell that now was that upon arriving at Star Lake, I saw a few tents. I found a nice place by the water to fill, up and clean up. While I was looking at my map, a guy came and got water from the spot I was sitting near. In talking to him he was a helper for a Tahoe Meadows Community course of about 30 people that hiked and took classes on botany, geology, geography, and history during a 6 day trip. He was from New Hampshire and worked for the ATMC (Appalachian Trail Mountain Club) as a maintenance worker for the hut system and as a caretaker for a campground in the Whites of New Hampshire. Wow.
Took a swim in the icy 9100 ft waters of this beautiful lake and just waiting for my clothes to dry. More later...
I just hiked .5 past Tucker Flat and that's exactly how I feel right now. I think that the big day yesterday really took it's toll on me today. I'm sore and exhausted. Hiked out of Star Lake about 12:00 (a 3 hour break :)) and up, up, up to Freel Saddle at 10080 ft. Then the long path down to Armstrong Pass. It was hot today but the sky was also filled with thunder heads and I was taking no chances. There was no thunder so I continued hiking. Wasn't sure how far I would hike but my body definitely told me when to stop. I am about 4 miles from the Big Meadow Trailhead on Highway 89. Nice camp spot for the night. Using the fly because of the clouds and bugs. Had an idea while walking today to seal the space between the tarp and the ground with something...I used a lot of somethings. I read that a guy sewed about 6 inches of bug netting all the way around the bottom. That is definitely my next move.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day - 7/21/02
Today's Miles-11.4
Total TRT Miles-108.2
I am grateful for short days.
Woke up about 6:30 and was on the trail in an hour. Walked the 4.4 miles to Highway 89. Met a troop of Scouts starting their first day of a 50 mile section of the Rim Trail. They were really excited! From there I walked up into Big Meadow. The name hit it on the mark. Wanted to get to Round Lake and have a swim so I took a picture and hiked on. Very different geology from Big Meadow to and past Round Lake. The rock is a different kind of volcanic rock. Here the rock was much more of a conglomerate in that big huge boulders were made up of thousands of little rocks. It also made hiking pretty difficult with so many thousands of little rocks laying all over the ground also. As I was walking through this not really appealing landscape I thought to myself, "I hope this lake's not ugly." To which I replied to myself, "Lakes aren't ugly." A few minutes later I got to the moderately ugly lake. At first appearance I could tell it was a very heavily used and over used area. Camp spots everywhere. Burned hunks of wood laying about blackened fire rings. Murky, white capped water. And those rocks. They were everywhere. On land around the lake and on the shores running into the lake thus making getting to and into the lake that much more difficult. I found a little spot to sit near the water and the flies immediately attacked. They were on my legs, arms, face, and bouncing off my eyes. It was just wonderful. I looked at my map found a water source that ran through a higher elevation meadow and I put my pack back on and walked. I passed a bunch of running creeks and streams, but didn't get water because I was getting water from the Upper Truckee River. Who would think that by looking at the lower Truckee River from Tahoe City to Truckee that the Upper Truckee would be empty? It was. But that was OK because I knew that from today on water would never be a problem. So I took advantage of the amazing meadow and the view of Carson Pass that it offered. I used the last of my water to make some humus and completely relaxed among the wildflowers, under the snow patched peaks, surrounded by silence. It was awesome. About an hour and a half later I got thirsty and decided that I better get walking to get myself to some water. The trail zig zaged through the forest before opening to another meadow and a connecting trail that leads to Highway 88 about 2 miles over Carson Pass. Once on the trail I was officially on the Pacific Crest Trail also. Since the trail at 88 was so close I should have expected some people. And I did. Day hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and trail runners. They were all spread out so I was never overwhelmed. One of the groups of day hikers (8 or so) stopped to talk with me about my trip. They had lots of questions. I asked what they were all doing out here together and told me about a bill they were all working on that would designate the meadow that I was sitting in a wilderness area. One of the guys pulled a pamphlet out of his backpack and gave it to me. I talked for a little while longer with them and then filled my water a the stream beyond the place we had talked. Nice couple breaks today. After the water fill it ways way back up to Showers Lake. I had been planning on staying at this lake I was just going to be a few hours earlier than I had thought. What a beautiful lake this is. Green bushes with forest behind on the east side. Tons of green grass growing into the lake with forest and views back towards Tahoe to the North. To the west, where I am camped, are various sized boulders that drop into the lake, some jetting 30 feet or more into the air. And to the south. To the south there is on of those ultimate Sierra Nevada ridge lines with patches of snow sitting on carpets of green, all dotted with large outcroppings of rocks. Made for beautiful scenery from the middle of the lake during my terrific swim.
Time for dinner!
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 8 - 7/22/02
Today's Miles-20.8
Total TRT Miles-129.0
I am grateful to be at Gilmore Lake tonight.
I know, I know....I was supposed to be doing shorter days. Well, I got a bit hurt and decided to do more. Make sense? Not really...ok..let me start from the beginning. On day 5 I felt a good amount of pain just in front of my ankle on my left foot. The pain was really strong, but it was worst when I was not walking, but in camp moving around and bending it differently than I would walking. Day 6 the pain was really pretty non-existent. Yesterday however, it came back with a vengeance. Only this time it had moved just behind the ankle and felt like the muscle of tendon. It stopped me dead in my tracks a few times with intense pain. I started popping Motrin and it helped, but I sure was glad to see Showers Lake and for the short day. I rested it all afternoon and the funny thing was the pain almost completely went away once the heavy pack was off.
Move to today... The first 8 miles were pain free and then it hit...like a train. I had been taking Motrin all day and was almost out and once again it stopped me in my tracks. I took lots of little rests on the last couple miles before crossing Highway 50 for the last time and hiking down to the Echo Lake Resort. They have a store and I was sure that they would have more Motrin for me. Got there and got myself 3 Gatorade before checking out the medicine section. No Way!!! I asked a clerk and he said he was sure that they had it and directed me back to the same place I was looking. He said he knew they had it and all they had was a liquid Motrin for children. Yea right. Instead of buying a bottle of 50 pills I would buy about 40 bottles of this junk (to take adult doses of this children's medicine) and haul it up and down mountains when I know a heavier pack hurts the foot more. I went outside and started to think about calling it quits here since I have already done this whole section a few years ago. Instead, I dumped all the food I knew I didn't need into the hikers box that the resort has.
Now my plan before all this pain was to stay the night right outside Desolation so that I didn't risk a fine for being camped in a place I didn't have a permit for. Then the next day doing a short day to get to Gilmore and hike Mt. Tallac that day. Well the plan changed when I figured out that the Rangers wouldn't know if it was my first night at the lake or more so.....the best thing to do would be to get to Gilmore late so I didn't chance a Ranger and then to stay for two nights and rest my foot completely. So here I am.....It's getting dark and I'm tired...gonna try to take some star pictures later when the alarm wakes me.
PS. There were some PCT Thru-hikers at the resort, but I was really trying to figure out what to do about my foot so I never had any real conversations with them.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 9 - 7/23/02
Today's Miles-0
Total TRT Miles-129
I am grateful for zero days.
Well, my foot really hurts today. I am doing nothing. Siting, reading and writing. That's it. It kills me to be in the shadow of Mt. Tallac and not climb it. Some other time I guess.
Sitting here and doing next to nothing is wonderful. The wind is blowing, the sun is out and it's beautiful. That's about it at 11:00 in the morning.
5:30 and life is still the same...people have come and gone...some have stayed to camp. This is a big day hike destination for those that climb Mt. Tallac from the lakeside. Gilmore is large enough that I only saw day hikers. They were too far away to talk to or even hear.
The foot is the same. Soaking it in the lake a few times helped. The next couple days should be interesting....
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 10 - 7/24/02
Today's Miles-23
Total TRT Miles-152
I am grateful for meeting new people.
Well today was the foot test. Woke up to a sore but not as painful foot. Packed up and hit the trail by 6:30 and up up up to the top of Dick's Pass. It was really windy and the foot was sore but not excruciating as it has been. Got to the top and ate breakfast, brushed and flossed my teeth (wouldn't dentist be happy) and headed on down the backside to Dick's Lake. This Dick must have been a pretty important guy to have a pass and a lake named after him!
Hiking down past Dick's Lake to Fontnellas Lakes, and on down to Middle Velma Lake to get water, eat, and soak my foot. As I was getting water baby duckling swam over to me and quacked "Hello."
And then the miracle happened. The healing waters of Middle Velma cured me. My foot was back to about 90%. It was amazing. I had soaked it at Gilmore for two days and had not had much relief and now after a mere 20 minutes in Middle Velma I was whole again. I was still very careful though out the day but had virtually no pain in comparison to the previous 3 days. Walked through a 6 mile section today with over 30 blow-downs. Wow! Stopped at a creek to get some water and a northbound PCT thru-hiker joined me. Her name is Lisa and she is from Texas and she started May 15th and hopes to finish October 1st in Canada. We ended hiking the next 6 miles together and she decided to camp in the spot I was aiming for, I camped here 3 years ago on my training hike for the AT. Great company and great talking to someone who understands the Thru-Hike thing. The are only 16 miles left for me. A short day tomorrow and an even shorter one the next day.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 11 - 7/25/02
Today's Miles-11
Total TRT Miles-163
I am grateful that I have this journal and my memories.
Slept late! Didn't get out of my bag until 8:00 because I didn't have to. Ate some breakfast with Lisa and hiked out with her. Our trails would split at in 5 miles. We hiked and talked for about two hours. When we got to the split we sat and had a 2 1/2 hour lunch and talked more. It was a lot of fun to talk to a thru-hiker. Said our good-byes and it was up to the top of Twin Peaks without my pack for some great pictures. Then got the pack back on and it was a long way down to Ward Creek. I got water, washed some shorts and was a bit distracted by a couple foreigners that asked if the water was safe to drink. In the commotion I left my black mesh bag. My bag had a lot of stuff that I really need...but it's all replaceable...that is except for the many rolls of used film that were in the bag. I know exactly where I left it and it would be about 9 miles back from here. I toyed with going back tonight or very early in the morning but it makes more sense to wait till my parents get here. We can drive up to a little over two miles from the spot. It's easy and flat. I can jog a lot of it without a pack. Hopefully no one will have picked it up already. It's sad and disappointing for me, but all I can do is hope it's there 16 hours from now. Hopefully it's either exactly where I left it, hanging from a tree in the spot so I won't miss it....or someone brought it to the trailhead for me. Hopefully. But if not I have this journal and the memories in my head. Till tomorrow....
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT
Tahoe Rim Trail
Day 12 - 7/26/02
Today's Miles-3 (15)
Total TRT Miles-165
I am grateful that most things eventually work out.
Well, I decided last night that instead of waiting to have my parents drive me to the place I would have to hike a total of 4 miles to try to find my bag today, that I would wake up really early and hike the 12 mile round trip to try to locate the bag. The first thing I did was to pack my backpack and "cashe," or hide it where I could easily find it but others could not. It was cold! I didn't take anything warm because I thought that with the brisk hiking I would warm up. Everything warmed up except for my hands. I did take my trekking poles, but had to hide those on the way also because my hands wouldn't warm up holding onto the cold poles. It was a beautiful morning and I jogged and walked briskly the rest of the time. It was extremely peaceful and I saw no one on the trip to the creek crossing I was aiming for or on the way back. During the hour and 20 minute trip to the creek crossing I tried to concentrate and enjoy my surroundings and not to think about the fact that the bag may not be there and the majority of my pictures might be lost forever. I really enjoyed the hike.
As I got close I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I rounded the corner and looked down to the rocks that sat in the creek crossing and what did I see? The black baggy! With everything in it! It had been opened so at least one person had looked inside and decided to leave it there.
I was sooooooo happy! I cannot explain in words just how excited I was to find the bag. I immediately started my hike back and although I didn't move quite as fast, I had a bit of a hop in my step.
Stopped to pick up my poles as my hands had finally warmed up. And got back to my backpack only 2 hours and 48 minutes after I had left. Put my backpack back together and set off toward the Truckee River and Tahoe City. My backpack was a bit heavy the past two days because of something I did yesterday which I forgot to talk about. After hiking with Lisa I took a look at her gear with her. I was amazed to see that she was still carrying a bear canister. She told me she had no rope so she couldn't get rid of it. Sooooo....I gave her my bear rope and offered to carry her bear canister out an send it back to her hometown in Texas. As I continued to look through her stuff I ended up taking all her trash for her and then giving her my toothpaste (which she was out of) and I switched Aqua Mira (water purification drops) with her because hers were almost out. I told her that for a long time I have wanted to help other thru-hikers out but didn't have the opportunity. She was going to be the lucky recipient. In addition, I got her mail drop addresses so I could send her a couple goodies every now and then.
It feels good to help out and give back.
So here I sit....by the Truckee River letting my clothes dry after I went for a swim to clean the grime off. My stomach is aching for food but I am holding out for my lunch with the parents. I am watching adults and children have water fights raft to raft with water guns and buckets. What a time they are having.
And me.... hmmmm... I am so happy to have been able to complete this trip. A trip filled with more drama per mile than maybe any other hiking trip I have ever done. It was all worth it. My foot aches a bit, but I don't think it's anything really serious. One of my heels looks great while the other looks terrible. But again...nothing lasting..it will heal soon.
Already thinking about the trip next summer. Hmmmm the Ozark Trail..... A different state every summer is the goal...we shall see....we shall see.
Peace, Love, Courage...
:)
Dreamer
TRT