Two weeks of backpacking didn’t totally ruin my running fitness, but I do feel sluggish! My body holds up pretty well through the first 7 miles before my calves and hamstrings start to tighten up. Not too bad – seems like a few more runs will get me back to my pre-hike condition.

Our last day on the TRT is a doosie – 19 miles packed with ridges, peaks, and localized storms all around. We’ve noticed that bears seem to like chewing up the many plastic Tahoe Rim Trail signs, but this one takes the polymer cake. Bear-eaten trail sign After raucous lightning storms before dawn, the weather…

We have only two water sources today: Watson lake and the water Ann stashed at Brockway pass. Heavy water makes for weary feet, and Ann is already using ibuprofen to cope with foot pain. We take frequent breaks to gaze at the lake below. Lake gazing There really is not much water on this section.…

Anticipation of treats in town make the 7 miles go quickly. Once we’re there we almost feel overwhelmed by everything we need to do – resupply food, fuel, batteries as well some good eating, drinking, and swimming. Sid’s bagelry becomes our base of operations, from which we branch out to the grocery store where Melanie…

Clear skies return! Brewer's Angelica and Lake Tahoe We feel uncertain about water on this section, as many of the creeks on the map recently have been little more than swampy puddles. The variety of terrain proves us wrong again, though, and Bear creek as well as many small springs are flowing on this section.…

My birthday dawns grey and windy, yet still buggy. Ann improvises a windbreak to speed up coffee making. Ann with stove ring The clouds and a few brief mists of rain actually make for pleasant hiking with Rockbound Valley to our west as we leave Desolation Wilderness. Rockbound valley Leaving Desolation Wilderness We reach Richardson…

Today a new character enters our trail drama: the Mosquito. And a zillion or so of her friends. The head nets come out starting with the first coffee. Coffee sans mosquitos Our appetites are big enough now to hang with the PCT hikers in front of the Echo Chalet general store, making multiple trips inside.…

We could almost sell backpacking as a luxury vacation with today’s hike. Sean wakes up with us and ferries us to the trailhead. After Ann does a headstand on the picnic table of course. With Sean at Big Meadow campground Picnic table headstand A breakfast break at Round lake features acrobatic swallows for entertainment. Ann…

The day is packed with fine trail experiences. In the morning we meet Erica, the only other hiker we come across who is also going for a full circuit, but in the opposite direction. We hope she made it! Shortly after we’re greeted by the lovely Star lake, where we enjoy a bath and a…

We’re curious today to experience the Heavenly ski resort for the first time in the summer, on foot. What we don’t know is that our planning information leaves out at least four miles between trailheads there, making a much longer day for us than we were counting on. Any day that begins with hot coffee…