Showers Lake to Lost Lake

PCT day 5: Thursday 9/10/2015: PCT mile 1083 to 1070, distance 13 miles

The camp choice yesterday was great, I was rewarded with a wonderful sunrise. 

Considering camps without water allows so much more options. I had slept without tent again because it was warm enough and the stars were beautiful. This allowed being ready to go quickly. I hiked a few miles to Showers Lake for breakfast and swim. 

Shortly afterwards I met the only two backpackers since HW50, Francis and Martina who were hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail. 

There were some day hikers around Carson Pass, but no more backpackers. It's understandable, for backpacking the Desolation Wilderness is hard to beat. 

In the Desolation Wilderness there are so many nice lakes, it's easy to be spoiled. Today's camp is not the greatest, in the woods near Lost Lake, which is half dried up and too muddy. 

Trailhead

Lake of the Woods to camp north of Showers Lake

PCT day 4, Wednesday 9/9/2015: PCT mile 1097 to 1083, day distance 14 miles

We had a wonderful night cowboy camping at Lake of the Woods. On a little peninsula, clear sky above, the view of the stars and Milky Way was amazing. 

We had breakfast at sunrise, followed by a refreshing swim in the lake (water temperature was almost 60F). 

On the way to Echo Lakes we met more and more people, mostly day hikers. One exception was Inbar from Israel, she had been hiking for many weeks and had just aborted her John Muir Trail trip due to the bad smoke from the Rough Fire. This is also my worry, I have a few weeks before I get there. 

After we arrived at the car at Echo Lakes we went to South Lake Tahoe for lunch. Ahhhh, real food and beer. I ate so much. 

Steve brought me back to Echo Lakes and we had to say goodbye as I continued alone. Not even 20 mins later I was surprised by a challenging creek crossing of the Echo Lake outlet into the American River. I managed to walk over a fallen tree without falling into the water. 

Some sections were quite steep, I wondered how this would be possible with a horse?

Last view of Lake Tahoe. 

Initially I had planned to hike only three miles south of HW50, but the campsite beside a tiny creek was disappointing, I'm now spoiled. I decided to add five more miles to get to Shower Lake. About a mile before I got there I came to a nice spot, no water, but a beautiful view which should be even better tomorrow at sunrise. 

Good night, I'm going to watch the stars again.

Trailhead 

Susie Lake to Lake of the Woods

PCT day 3: Tuesday 9/8/2015: PCT mile 1102 to 1097, day distance 8 miles.

This mornings sunrise was so beautiful and we were in a perfect spot. 

Sunrise at Susie Lake

Shortly after we left we met PCT section hikers "hike alone" and kid within 20 mins of each other, both hiking the section between HW50 and I80. Hike alone had hiked most other sections already. We also met "camp post", who had hiked about 700 miles of the PCT earlier this year before he had to end due to an injury. 

Lake of the Woods was so beautiful. We went swimming, hiked all around the lake and found a very nice camp spot. No, it was a perfect spot. 

I'm getting more and more hungry. The food will just be enough until we get to the car tomorrow. 

After dinner we decided to Cowboy camp. The stars and Milky Way were amazing. It was not too cold and super dry - no condensation, no bugs - it was wonderful. 

Awesome tree on the way to Heather Lake

Near Heather Lake

At the Aloha Lake junction 

Beautiful Lake of the Woods 

Dinner preparation

Trailhead

Middle Velma Lake to Susie Lake

PCT day 2, Monday 9/7/2015: PCT mile 1110 to 1102.

Today Steve and I said goodbye to the rest of the group who had to hike out to Emerald Bay. 

We passed several beautiful lakes and then set up camping at Susie Lake. 

We met our first other PCT hiker, Reggie from Philadelphia. He had previously hiked from Canada to Tahoe and was just starting to finish the rest. He was already hiking 20 miles a day. We were taking it easy and enjoyed ourselves. 

Morning view onto Middle Velma Lake

Hard to say goodbye 

Steve and me continue 

View onto Dicks and Fontanillis Lake

Susie Lake and Aloha Lake in the distance.

Awesome swim in Susie Lake 

Trailhead

Stony Ridge Lake to Middle Velma Lake

PCT day 1: Sunday 9/6/2015, PCT mile 1111 to 1110, day distance 8 miles.

With a big group it often takes forever to get going, and the slow going is contagious. I was one of the first people to be up and in the end I was the last one to be ready. Definitely not earning the Trailhead name today:-) It was about 11 am until we were done taping Charlie's feet and were on our way. It was a good climb over Phipps Pass where we had lunch.

We joined PCT at mile 1111, from there it was only about a mile to middle Velma lake. We found plenty of camp spots and had time for a swim. 

At the PCT junction mile 1111

Dinner at Middle Velma Lake

The Start: Desolation Wilderness Meeks Bay to Stony Ridge Lake

PCT day 0, 9/5/2015: today we started our desolation wilderness trip from Meeks bay to Eagle falls, which was day 0 for my PCT trip. I can't imagine any better way to start. Awesome group and a great place. 

At the trailhead: Tracy, Tim, Jim, Marc, Katrin, Susi (turtle), Paul, Louis, Mercy, Veronica, Denis (Trailhead), Steve. 

Tracy and Steve at Stony Ridge lake

Susi at the beach

Paul checking out the water - it was cold

Stunning view for dinner

PCT Inspiration

Suddenly Timmy started barking. We looked up and there it was, maybe 30 m away down by the creek, a bear!

Susi and I had just sat down on a fallen tree at the side of the trail and were munching on trailmix. We were on the Pacific Crest Trail (or PCT) in Northern California near the Castle Crags State Park, where we had been camping. It seemed as if the bear did not notice us until Timmy had started barking. We stood up, Timmy hid behind us (he was never one of the bravest) and after a few seconds the bear retreated into the woods.

This was our first time on a section of the PCT, almost 15 years ago. We found it fascinating that there was a trail where one could walk all the way between Canada and Mexico. Since then we have walked shorter sections of the PCT, mostly in the California Sierras. The last longer stretch was a ten day trip on the John Muir trail section between Red's Meadow and Bishop. It was so beautiful. On the drive up to the hike we had picked up a PCT hiker, Heather "Two Feathers". She was resupplying near Sonora Pass and we listened fascinated as she told us about her trip so far. I was jealous.

I was making plans for us to hike more of the PCT in sections as we had time when it became clear that I would be out of a job by end of August and would finally have a longer stretch of time available before looking for a new job. This was awesome. Unfortunately it was also the beginning of the school year, and Susi had just signed on as a Speech Pathologist at a local school. Not so good, we always hiked together. Would I even like being alone for so long?

Early in the year we had already planned a Labor Day weekend trip to the Desolation Wilderness near Tahoe. The trail touches on the PCT, so this would be the start of my hike. It would be around the time when the people hiking the PCT southbound were passing through that area. I would have a chance to get over the high Sierras and Forester Pass before it gets too cold and the risk of snow is too high.

So that's my plan, starting at Meek's Bay on the Labor Day weekend and arriving at Campo sometime in November.

I'll see how it goes...