Date: 2015-09-30
To: A week on the Tahoe Rim Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I received my Grand Canyon permits but they're for the beginning of November so I decided to hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. I hadn't realized how much I missed the trail until I put on my pack and started walking.The TRT is a 165 mile loop on the mountains around Lake Tahoe. The east side is dry with a couple of water sources, the west side has many and also merges with the PCT for a few miles. 3 resupply points on the trail, Tramway Market in Kingsbury, the Chalet at Echo Lake (until Labor Day) and Savon Foods in Tahoe City.Day 1 - I got a late start so I stopped early the first day and camped at Marlette Peak Campground to take advantage of the food lockers and water pump.Day 2 - Got going a bit past first light and I made it to Spooner Summit late morning. I saw a couple of deer herds but they took off when they saw me. Stopped at the Tramway market for water and a Gatorade. Got going and camped a couple miles past Kingsbury south TH. The hiking on the east side up to Kingsbury South is not difficult, mostly ridge walking. After that, it¢s gets pretty challenging.Day 3 - I was up early and caught a great sunrise. I had breakfast and got going and made it to Star Lake mid-morning then took a break. I crossed over Armstrong Pass just before noon. The weather has been gorgeous so far and I'm watching Fall in action. I stopped before Big Meadow TH and got water at the creek and took a break. I took off and hiked a couple more hours and I'm camped at the Upper Truckee River just after merging with the PCT.Day 4 - It was a cold breezy night so I got up before first light, packed up and took off to warm up. Stopped at Shower Lake to get water and started towards Echo Summit. Half the morning was up hill and then down. Ran into some hunters and they wanted to know if I'd seen any deer, I said nope. I wonder if they would still be out here if the deer shot back.I crossed HWY 50 late morning and then stopped at the Chalet for lunch. After lunch I got started into the Desolation Wilderness. I been through here a number of time and it never looks the same to me. The lakes are really low and I hope we get a good snow year. Lots of hikers on the trail today and I always laugh at some because their packs are bigger than they are. Another great day on the trail. Camped at Lake Gilmore and setup for Dicks Pass.Day 5 - Oatmeal for breakfast and off at first light. Got to the top of the pass a bit before mid-morning, great views on top. Stopped for a cold coffee and bar at the top of Eagle Falls which also has a view of Lake Tahoe.Didn't see many hikers on the north half of Desolation Wilderness, I think because there's better access from Echo Lake. Got to Barker Pass midafternoon and I'm camped a couple miles past it. This week is going too fast.Day 6 - I slept great till 4, then I woke up starving so I got up and ate, packed up and then started hiking. This is my favorite time of day because you normally get to see a great sunrise and there is also a lot of stuff going on in the forest this time of day, its fun to watch. I left the PCT about an hour later and as soon as I crossed under Twin Peaks and heading down towards Tahoe City I started thinking about the chicken strips I was going to get when I got there. It only took 5 days to get my hiker hunger back. I got to TC a bit past mid-morning and my eating machine was cranked up so I indulged. After, I bought water and got going. The climb away from TC was challenging with a full stomach but once on top, I was sidling until I got to Watson Lake. From the lake to my jeep at the TH is 27 dry trail miles this time of year. I topped off my water so I had 4 liters and got going again. Not too many hikers out today but I met a woman on her way to Tahoe City and she wanted to gab. So we talked trail and about the new Everest movie then I said so long. Hiked a few more miles and I'm camped a bit before the Brockway Summit TH.Day 7 - I woke up at 1 hungry and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to do some night hiking. I had a couple of pop tarts and a large coffee, packed up and took off. I crossed Brockway Summit a couple hours later and stated up towards Relay Peak. I took a break up top since it¢s a 3000 foot gain from Brockway summit and I was wore out. I started down and got to the TH a bit before noon.This was an absolutely perfect week and I would recommend this hike to the beginner or experienced hiker. If you plan this hike and need info, send me an email. kldurham1958@gmail.com