Day: 222
Direction: Southbound
Trail location: 1544
Cumulative miles hiked 2019/2021: 2263
Cumulative miles hiked 2021: 246
Miles hiked today: 15.29
Elevation: 7980
High/low temp humidity: 69/59/50
Spinning on the turntable: Grouplove: Healer
It’s again very humid this morning. It was raining last night, so the ground is wet. I forgot that wet branches stick out onto the trail and slash my legs with rivulets of cold water as I walk past. It’s not bad, like today, when it’s a short event. I recall that it’s a little wearisome when it’s hours and hours of wet branches soaking my legs, socks and shoes.
I’m definitely seeing a lot more hikers today. I think it’s the combination of approach South Tahoe and a upcoming weekend that is filling the trail with all sorts of folks.
I don’t mind the company, it’s interesting to see other hikers that are also moving in a South direction. What is different though is the size of their backpacks! Holy Cow! It’s tempting to offer a pack shake down to a few of the most egregious offenders, but I remind myself that we’re each doing our own thing. Yet…some of these packs are huge!
I stopped at a lake this morning to collect some water right about the same time a group of six guys were headed down the trail. We exchanged pleasantries and found that we’d be camping at the same location tonight. I wished them well, and off they went on the path next to the lake. I finished my business and left a few minutes later, on the path that I had been traveling on (PCT).
The same hikers passed me several hours later when I was sitting on the side of the trail eating my lunch. I was surprised that they were behind me! They left the last lake before me….I asked, and found out that they’d taken the wrong path at the lake and ended up doing a large half circle around the lake before realizing their error. Ouch. I’ve been to that rodeo! I wished them well.
When I next passed them a hour or two later, they were sprawled on the ground and rocks like dollops of wet glue. Of the six men, five had their eyes shut. I waved silently at the lone survivor and continued my southern trek.
After reading a lot of “noise” on Guthook about upcoming bears, and hearing murmurs from passing hikers, I decided that I’d add the bear canister a few miles early. Benefits of a rolling resupply camper truck! Honestly, I think this sucker is super heavy. It’s a real pig, but if it does the job…
The only action I saw in my camping spot tonight was a few very aggressive chipmunks. The way they ran up to me, or within a foot or two of my spot, tells me that these Chip/Dale’s are accustomed to being fed from hikers. They seemed fairly fearless.
Tomorrow morning I’ll head over Dick’s Pass. I think I’ve positioned myself in a good position, but it’s hard to know. With my luck a group of 85 year old ladies will pass me while I’m huffing and puffing my way up the hill. We’ll see!
The views from Dick’s pass are awesome and the hike from Aloha to Echo Chalet offers lots of ankle breaking rocks. From Echo to Carson Pass is really nice and you’ll have lots of company. Love that you’re in my neck of the woods.