Limited projected mileage for today, so a leisurely start. We left the lake and hiked out into the morning. According to the interactive maps-app there’d be trail-magic after a little over six miles; exciting! The trail weaved through pines-trees and meadows, past ridges and along boulders and the surroundings were very enjoyable.
We arrived at the information-station around lunch-time. Upon our arrival the volunteers asked us if we were PCT-hikers. After confirming, they gave us cold soda, clementines,Twinkies and Oreos. Happy days! We got comfortable in the shade, and were glad to sit down in chairs for a change. It wouldn’t be long before Snow-White showed up, letting us know that Photo-op and Rocket were not far behind! Yay, a little afternoon reunion! We got our lunch out and sure enough there they were! The Houser-Creek-Wrecking-Crew was re-grouped once more!
It was good fun to catch up, and everyone would hike out today to get some more miles in, aiming to stop a little ways before South Lake Tahoe. After spending way too long in the comfort of the patio of the information-center, we packed up our stuff and got cranking on the last 10 miles. Photo-op and Rocket lingered a little longer, but they would soon catch up with us during the afternoon-stretch.
Even though It would be a ‘smaller’ day in terms of mileage (18), I still found myself pretty tired in the final hours of the day. I finished my audio-book and once in town will have to look for something new. I have been listening to ‘No shortcuts to the top‘. A personal account of American high-altitude mountaineer Ed Viesturs, describing his climbing career in the Himalayas and the Karakoram mountain ranges. In 2005 he became the first American and 6th person in the world to top out on all fourteen 8000 meter exceeding peaks without using supplemental oxygen. It’s a truly riveting and inspiring story, and I can highly recommend it. His detailed and exhilarating stories made it seem I was out there with him at times. A strong desire to travel back to Nepal and do some high-altitude hikes, crept up on me more than once while listening to this audio book. There’s so much more places to travel…
Around 1830 I reached the campsite where Jukebox and Pops where already setting up camp. It wouldn’t take long for Photo-op, Rocket and Snow-White to join us. Enjoying the last dinner of this stretch, cozied up next to a small camp-fire, we discussed all the wonderful things we are going to eat once we get into town. It’s only 3 more miles into South Lake Tahoe, and we will be hitting a diner to get a gigantic breakfast, first thing. Everyone is amped, spirits are high.
Reaching South Lake Tahoe marks the end of another chapter of our hike of the PCT. We will officially be out of the Sierras and heading into the section of North-California.
The past 350 miles have been absolutely amazing. Gorgeous views, pristine lakes, impressive mountain-features, amazing flora & fauna, great trail-towns and wonderful people all blended together in the marvel that are the High Sierras. A magical, beautiful, breathtaking part of the trail, and such an enriching experience. Woah!
Now that we’re leaving the Sierras behind, there’s been quite some talk about people dropping out, and getting off-trail during the following section. This because the novelty of the hike wears off, and the impressive parts of the first 1000 miles (Desert & Sierras) are now over. In his book Pacific Crest Trials, author Zach Davis describes the drop in motivation and increased number of drop-outs during the coming section as: “The death of the honeymoon”. We’ve actually already seen familiar hikers get off trail not too long ago…
In North-California the hikers tend to up their daily mileage (significantly). The terrain will start to allow for bigger days, and after the mountains of the Sierras the legs are strong. Our intention is no different, and I’m curious and excited to see how much more my body is capable of once we will start to push harder. The plan is to start averaging 25-mile days pretty soon, and possibly even more. But before the official entering of North-Cal and initiation of crushing bigger days, we will wind down in South Lake Tahoe. A full day of relaxation, food, showers (and some chores) awaits. And I’m really looking forward to it.
Things could be stranger, but I don’t know how
I’m going through changes now…
Could spend a lifetime, trying to figure it out
I’m going through changes now…
And it just begun
Under a purple sun
There’s many reasons we are what we become
I’m going through changes,
ripping out pages
I’m going through changes now
Changes – Langhorne Slim
