Tahoe Rim Trail (9/4/2024)

  •   Category Price Weight
  • BIG! 5 $0.00
    7.62 lb
  • Eat/Drink $0.00
    0.31 lb
  • Clothing (packed) $0.00
    1.09 lb
  • Clothing (worn) $0.00
    2.22 lb
  • Electronics $0.00
    1.75 lb
  • Misc $0.00
    0.47 lb
  • Not bringing $0.00
    1.28 lb
  • $0.00
    0 lb
  • Total $ 14.74
    lb
    • oz
    • lb
    • g
    • kg
  • Worn 2.84 lb
  • Base Weight 11.9 lb

Reflections from the trail:

Overall Pace: I don't think I enjoyed being rushed by hitting the mileage each day. 30 miles a day is doable in the future despite the injury, but not super enjoyable. I do really like sitting and being at peace with nature, and having the freedom to hit an extra peak or vista without being super rushed, and I think that it would be easier to do that on 22-26 miles a day. That would mean about 7 days. 8 days may even be better. This would mean one food resupply, meaning I'd only need 4 days of food at a time, and I'd shove that in a smaller bear can, so my pack would be wayyy lighter. Also I'd have more time to hang out wherever I'm going, at places like lakes, vistas, or rocks to climb. that would mean roughly 21 miles a day, and I could definitely push that higher on the more boring days, and lower on the more fun days, and the days with important peaks like Tallac, Freel, Monument, Relay, Rose, Hughson. I'd also love to do a redo of this hike but I hit EVERY vista and peak feasible on the trail, which would mean a good amount more hiking, and a tier list after I'm done. I feel like I'd connect a lot more to the trail while I'm out there instead of resenting hiking.

Scenery: The Mount Rose area was pretty, and definitely not boring. Don't forget about the streams in the first mile of the trail to make your pack lighter. The first water carry wasn't bad at all, and I even skipped twin lakes, and ended up getting water at Marlette peak campground from a well, only ever using 1.5 liters. Because of only using 1.5 liters I was out once I got to Spooner, and the detour for Spooner is pretty annoying so I just walked off trail. Probably not an amazing idea if you're doing big miles, and the swimming and water at Spooner SUCKS. I took 2.5 liters from spooner and I needed every drop to get to Kingsbury overnight. Next time I'd say its better to use a water drop off, but otherwise getting water at Spooner is unavoidable unless I do Marlette Peak to Kingsbury in one day instead of overnight. The terrain east of the lake has some nice meadows and rock formations, with mostly granite with a little shale mixed in here and there. The forests can get a little boring though. From Heavenly on it gets more exciting.

Camp spots: Mount Rose Campground was nothing special, but it has a bathroom, water, and bear boxes. It's also deserted in September, which makes it very convenient since its so on trail. Marlette Peak campground has water and a bathroom, which makes it fairly convenient, but again nothing special. Camping on South Camp Peak was nice to see the sun set behind the Crystal Range, and watch the sun hit the Crystal Range in the morning. The camp spots were okay, and it was very windy and exposed, but on a more relaxed trip one could hit South Camp Peak, which looks like a nice view. Camping at Mott Canyon was bliss. Waking up to see the sunrise sky on the mountains was great, and water so close by in the seasonal creek is really nice. With only maybe three tent spots it'll never be super busy, its right on trail, and it's pretty sheltered from the wind, especially compared to Monument pass nearby.

What Went Badly: First a foremost my injury was likely caused by a lack of running in the months prior, old and beat up shoes, 7 days of food, and the biggest hike I'd ever done. That being said it didn't really feel very hard; the worst part was the stomach cramps in the last mile or so. It felt like a rush and unlike any other feeling I'd had on trail before: like a real through hiker. That being said it wasn't fun to not be able to stop for extended pictures, vistas, conversations, rock climbing, or at camp. Like I definitely sat for an hour at camp as I ate dinner and watched sunset, but it felt super rushed like I needed to get my tarp and sleeping bag out and then rush over to the sunset spot on tired legs just to be cold and forget stuff and rush back and foreth and then once I'm done fit everything in my bear box and then go poo all before dark. It was a lot. To prevent that I think I need to be into camp by around 5, which kinda seems unreasonable but that's just what it would take to be able to eat and pitch camp before dark and still be leisurely after long hiking miles. Additionally, my sleep system definitely wasn't great. The thin thin mat made it difficult to go to sleep at all, which is weird for me. Digging a pillow and holes for my knees and toes make sleeping on my chest nicer, but I usually switch between chest and side sleeping. I don't really have the solution yet, but designing a lightweight camp pillow that is actually big enough would make a world of difference. Additionally the couscous meal sucked a lot and I'm happy I didn't need to eat too much. Some better recipe is needed. Also my battery died super super quickly, and the last 20 percent just disappeared entirely. It only really had the chance of lasting me 3 or maybe 4 days if I had both my phone and battery fully charged. Charging my battery at local outlets wasn't working quickly at all, and to be effective would need a fast charger since I was using micro USB, or I would need to sleep at the charger, which probably would be possible at a few of the local outlets in Kingsbury or Tahoe City. The best option is probably an Apple cable and a USBC cable, both with USBC on the other end of the cable with a fast charging block. Then a micro USB adapter for my headlamp, and the charger for my watch. Alternatively I could use a solar charger, which is probably a good bet based off of how often the PCT hikers post their daily videos, as well as the fact they probably have newer phones. My watch was also never going to make it more than 9 hours on the trail which isn't enough at all, so a new watch is probably a must, especially one with a map on it to save my phone battery. Additionally, as I said in the "Overall Pace" section, I think 8 days with 1 food resupply has the benefit of a smaller bear can and less food needed at a time, which would make my pack smaller and lighter, and just overall make the trip easier and less painful. Along with a new sleeping bag and tent I'll be super duper light and feeling way better. On another note, my lips were ultra chapped on this trip, and the neosporin really didn't help much more than temporary relief. Probably need to research the best way to counter act this chapped lips at elevation thing at its source by talking with an expert. In addition, more sun protection would be nice on my face and neck. I think my face would do better with a sun blocker connected with my glasses, and my neck might do good with a gater type thing or just to tape my neck with luco tape. Hard to know without testing stuff out but its worth a try. Also I need a better way to store my spoon so I never loose it, as I had many close calls, and the day I loose my spoon I think I may go crazy. Also the luco tape didn't really stick quite as well once it was removed from the roll. My one pair of socks got a hole in it on the first day.

What Went Well: The first day hiking was nice and easy on fresh legs even with all the miles. Mapping Systems, while battery draining, were definitely very good even on airplane mode. The pack was definitely lighter, I just didn't feel the positive effects of that since I stopped hiking with 4 days of food still. I didn't use the aluminum stays and that didn't really affect me too much, however it could have helped considering how heavy my pack was with the food. The snacks I brought were really good, and it seemed like I would have enough food for the whole trip. My water filter was a beast, no problems at all I couldn't ask for anything better. My warmth system was really executing how I expected, as when I was moving I was plenty warm, and when I wasn't moving the down jacket and rain jacket with no pants did just fine. Maybe tights would make it that much better in the windy peaks or early mornings. The long sleeve shirt did well this trip, although I may have gotten a good amount of sun through the shirt its hard to tell.