7/11/12 Soda Springs
I’ve got to start with a big thank you to all of you following along and leaving comments. It is wonderful to have your support while I’m on this trek.
This last stretch was a walk from my mom to my dad through familiar territory. I had a blast hiking out of Highland Lakes campground with my mom and sister. After a difficult goodbye at the top of a pass (Tryon Saddle), from which we could see the Highland Lakes, I was headed North once again. From that point on the trail I hiked through country I had seen over two day hikes with my mom last September from a different Ebbett’s Pass campground (Bloomfield).
Sonora Pass, Ebbett’s Pass, on to Carson Pass and Donner Pass, this section of trail is rich in California History. Climbing to a ridge above Carson Pass afforded my first view of the Big Blue (Lake Tahoe). Three years ago I hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) with my friend Kris. The TRT and PCT overlap for about 35 miles on the western side of the Lake. A day later I hiked into bustling Echo Lake, hiking the morning with Kiros. We chatted about triathlons, physics, yoga and life.
At Echo Lake, after enjoying a chocolate-strawberry milkshake, I ran into Nips and Wildflower. I was stoked to hike with them for the next three days to Donner Summit. The trail traverses several ski resorts that I have spent a lot of time at. They are getting off trail for a few days to attend weddings and I’m not sure when I will get to hike with them next. I received royalty treatment from Nips’ mom, Mary, who picked us up and took us to her condo in King’s beach. I relaxed the night with them; I was meeting my dad the following day in Soda Springs.
My dad and I hung out at a ski cabin he is a member of and went out to dinner in Truckee. I couldn’t resist the all “you can eat” option at Java Sushi. I had at least eight sushi rolls and some miso soup, it was hard to keep track. Though my thru-hiker stomach was put to shame by the skinny blonde woman sitting to my right who ate about the same amount of food in less time than I. I’ve been on the trail for 76 days, I wonder where her appetite came from.
I’m on to Northern California where they say the trail is softer and the elevation change less severe, time to bust out some miles.
(Dad Insert) Histo (Karl) and I met up for an awesome get together. I found him strong, healthy and mature both in body and soul. He knows what he is doing and where he is headed. I got to experience hiking a little bit of the PCT. I hiked a couple of hours with him as he continued. However going from my sailing adventure (sea level) to starting at 6800 ft above sea level did slow me down. It was difficult parting for both of us but we knew the PCT was calling. I got to also experience some of the “loneliness” of the trail he mentioned, when not hiking with others. On my return hike, I met few hikers on the trail. However one can really tell the day hikers from the thru-hikers.. I admire you all for your internal strength to continue. Whenever I stopped to rest, the trail seemed to pull me along urging me to continue. See you down the trail.
(Note from Mom July 16: just spent the past weekend working with the PCTA and Trail Center--see Karl's intro for information about them--on the trail north of Ebbetts Pass through gorgeous Raymond Meadows. Karl probably got his legs scratched on this stretch of trail, but no one else will for a few years, as we lopped and pick-mattocked our way from forest edge to forest edge. I carried "mini-magic" for thru-hikers, providing a cookie treat to 38 over three days. Several knew Histo, but hadn't seen him for awhile, since he's 8-10 days ahead of them. More great trail names, including Snow White, Mismatch, Pocahontas, Trooper, Caveman, Jungle cookie, Not-so-bad, Lunchbox, and Uhaul, who says Hi to Histo!)
I’ve got to start with a big thank you to all of you following along and leaving comments. It is wonderful to have your support while I’m on this trek.
This last stretch was a walk from my mom to my dad through familiar territory. I had a blast hiking out of Highland Lakes campground with my mom and sister. After a difficult goodbye at the top of a pass (Tryon Saddle), from which we could see the Highland Lakes, I was headed North once again. From that point on the trail I hiked through country I had seen over two day hikes with my mom last September from a different Ebbett’s Pass campground (Bloomfield).
Sonora Pass, Ebbett’s Pass, on to Carson Pass and Donner Pass, this section of trail is rich in California History. Climbing to a ridge above Carson Pass afforded my first view of the Big Blue (Lake Tahoe). Three years ago I hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) with my friend Kris. The TRT and PCT overlap for about 35 miles on the western side of the Lake. A day later I hiked into bustling Echo Lake, hiking the morning with Kiros. We chatted about triathlons, physics, yoga and life.
At Echo Lake, after enjoying a chocolate-strawberry milkshake, I ran into Nips and Wildflower. I was stoked to hike with them for the next three days to Donner Summit. The trail traverses several ski resorts that I have spent a lot of time at. They are getting off trail for a few days to attend weddings and I’m not sure when I will get to hike with them next. I received royalty treatment from Nips’ mom, Mary, who picked us up and took us to her condo in King’s beach. I relaxed the night with them; I was meeting my dad the following day in Soda Springs.
My dad and I hung out at a ski cabin he is a member of and went out to dinner in Truckee. I couldn’t resist the all “you can eat” option at Java Sushi. I had at least eight sushi rolls and some miso soup, it was hard to keep track. Though my thru-hiker stomach was put to shame by the skinny blonde woman sitting to my right who ate about the same amount of food in less time than I. I’ve been on the trail for 76 days, I wonder where her appetite came from.
I’m on to Northern California where they say the trail is softer and the elevation change less severe, time to bust out some miles.
(Dad Insert) Histo (Karl) and I met up for an awesome get together. I found him strong, healthy and mature both in body and soul. He knows what he is doing and where he is headed. I got to experience hiking a little bit of the PCT. I hiked a couple of hours with him as he continued. However going from my sailing adventure (sea level) to starting at 6800 ft above sea level did slow me down. It was difficult parting for both of us but we knew the PCT was calling. I got to also experience some of the “loneliness” of the trail he mentioned, when not hiking with others. On my return hike, I met few hikers on the trail. However one can really tell the day hikers from the thru-hikers.. I admire you all for your internal strength to continue. Whenever I stopped to rest, the trail seemed to pull me along urging me to continue. See you down the trail.
(Note from Mom July 16: just spent the past weekend working with the PCTA and Trail Center--see Karl's intro for information about them--on the trail north of Ebbetts Pass through gorgeous Raymond Meadows. Karl probably got his legs scratched on this stretch of trail, but no one else will for a few years, as we lopped and pick-mattocked our way from forest edge to forest edge. I carried "mini-magic" for thru-hikers, providing a cookie treat to 38 over three days. Several knew Histo, but hadn't seen him for awhile, since he's 8-10 days ahead of them. More great trail names, including Snow White, Mismatch, Pocahontas, Trooper, Caveman, Jungle cookie, Not-so-bad, Lunchbox, and Uhaul, who says Hi to Histo!)
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