Lake Tahoe / Holly's Place

6/21

Every once in a while you find a gem of a place that you will come back to again and again both literally and in the form of fond memories.

 

 

Today I found a place like that tucked into Lake Tahoe just past the Y. It is Holly's place: a property about an acre or two large with many different little cabins that are all very tastefully decorated with both stunning original and reproduced pieces of art and decor. 

 

There is a long history to the property with many ups and downs, but the true heart of the story is when Holly first bought the property in 1992 to provide a safe haven for lesbian couples in an era that was far less excepting of their lifestyle than our own.

The business isn't oriented to capital gain but instead to providing a comfortable and healing stay. I spent a few hours touring the property with Holly and her helping hand Cory. 

 

Holly's partner is a terrific photographer and her work is poignantly displayed in a common room that has a tremendous array of activities at hand along with a fully stocked fridge.

The room rate was lowered because I was a hiker, and it was even a possibility that I could have done some work on the property to go towards my fee.

A great group of humans here. Located just off the lake, and only a few minutes walk from the library, lake, and Safeway. There is a discount for paying cash as well. 

http://hollysplace.com/

I really can't say enough good about this place.

If you are a hiker coming into Tahoe, or just need a place to stay a night or six... Check it out!!

 

1000 Miles for Father's Day

Tuolumne Meadows

Some gear failures here... Hip belt pocket zippers both blew out by mile 800 but ULA was very quick to replace the belt without so much as asking for a picture to prove the break.

My Merrell shoes lasted 633 miles and very badly needed replacement. I am now wearing Brooks Cascadia 7's and am absolutely in love with them. The toe box is a tiny bit tighter, but the addition of a rock plate is protecting my feet very well.

Tuolumne was good to me. Time to move on.

 

 

 
 

The Easy Pass

6/10

Today is hike-a-whiles 2 month anniversary on trail. We've had a trend the past week of saying that each day yet is the best day ever, and it's been said in earnest. This is Big Country.

Today we were set to hike an easy Sierra pass early in the morning after a quick 2 mile downhill from our riverside camping spot. 

Every day, somewhat large cumulus clouds form in the mid afternoon here in the Sierras. I should have paid more attention when they started forming in the morning today. For a few hours all but one ridge of the horizon was clear. The ridge had a pretty wide Cumulus cloud that was stacking vertically. The cloud was very similar to the cumulus clouds in Manila that build so high that you have to crane your neck to see properly. 

All of a sudden clouds surrounded us. It happened quickly, but directly over head there was still blue sky. This gap closed steadily over the course of two hours until it was gone and we had already decided to head for the top. We had pulled off to the side at a lake just below Selden pass to give the storm 5 minutes to either break apart or pour down. Neither happened. 

We decided to push for the saddle and about a quarter mile into our climb we started getting hailed on. It was refreshing and exciting and then lightning flashed and thunder stroke in nearly the same instant and it startled me. Hike-a-while was pretty relaxed about it in the meantime but we both decided to take the last of the tree cover when Miracle Zen came south bound from the ridge to tell us lightning was striking on the ridge and he had come back down to take cover.

We were sitting for 45 minutes before the lightning stopped and the hail let off a bit. We climbed to the top of the saddle and unceremoniously began descending into the new valley below. 

Lite-bright and Steadasauras were just behind us and passed us while we stopped to ensure our gear would stay dry.

The hail turned to snow and soon, we hoped, it would turn to rain. We came upon a hiker laying in a bivy on the side of the trail. He looked wet and very cold. When I asked, he said he was actually quite dry and just waiting out the storm. He seemed pretty together. I didn't give him the old EMT test of asking his name, location, date and current event though a part of me wishes I had at least gone up and made sure he really was dry.

Let me tell you, it feels really comforting to be laying in my sleeping bag right now. Dry and warm. 

I don't mean to skip parts of the tale; like the water crossings that felt warm to lite-bright because she was just that cold, or how miracle zen waited across the deep, fast creek for a hiker we hadn't met to make sure he got across alright. I don't know exactly how to fit it in but in ten years when I look back on this blog I want to remember that Wabash was hiking an hour ahead of us and didn't have a rain jacket with him. 

I definitely don't mean to glance over the fact that on his two month on-trail anniversary Hike-a-While saved the day by getting a great fire going. He even had enough dexterity left in his hands to help Steadasauras and lite-Brite to tie knots for their tarp when everyone else was cold and trying to help themselves.

I wish I could have been to my sister's graduation. I wish her the best moving on to college though!

Best day ever.

Muir Pass

6/9

 

Today we hit Muir pass, got to hang out in the muir hut, and caught the most snow of the trip while getting to see some amazing wilderness.

Yesterday however we fished. Hike a while and I both managed to catch golden trout on a hook bent out of a sewing needle tied to a line of dental floss. 

 

We used string cheese as bait until the first fish was caught, then we used its eye to catch a female and we used her eggs as bait after that.

10 fish in all on the day. They were just little guys but it made for a pretty good meal with some fresh garlic chopped up and cooked with the fish.

 

 

 

 

Pinchot pass, Mather pass

6/7

With over 5500 feet of elevation gain today was very difficult for only doing 21 miles. It was very fun sledding down the North face of Mather pass though and the day ended well with magnificent camping.

It's 9:30 pm. I am very tired.

 

 

 

Glen Pass

6/6 

Another mind blowing day on the trail. Hospitality was at its best today when we got a ride out of Independence from a hiker who rented a car. Thank you Dinner-Time!

Another instance of hospitality occurred when Whistler came walking Southbound. I thought he was 2 days ahead and seeing him walking backwards was a little unsettling. He had gotten lost for a full day off trail, was sick, and no longer had enough food to make it to his resupply. 

The hikers around the campsite were all so willing to help him. We offered food to help get him forward, tobacco, maps so he wouldn't get lost again. I think he was really touched by it all and I realize how little people are willing to go out of their way to help someone in need in our society. Not trying to get philosophical here but the contrast of culture between home and the trail is startling. 

Besides that the views have been epic as usual for the Sierras, and the hiking has been pretty exhausting. We post-holed a lot coming down the North side of Glen pass.

 

Forester pass

6/4

We passed the highest point on the PCT today at some 13 thousand feet and came down the north face that was still covered in snow: it was a blast.

I have a good video of the descent I will put up when I get the chance 

Whitney

6/3

Today we got up at 2:45 am in order to hike the 7.6 miles from upper Crabtree meadows to the summit of Mt. Whitney. Summiting Whitney is an optional side trip for pct hikers. This was my second summit however I came up the opposite side this time. If I could have remembered one thing from my first summit it would be that coming down is harder than going up. Despite some unexpected blister issues there wasn't much besides sleep deprivation to bother me. Truly a beautiful and humbling experience.

After coming off the mountain there was a big storm front forming in the distance  but we didn't end up seeing any rain.

 

Sierra time!

6/1/13

 

 The sierras are an amazing place. I am camped at 10,000 feet and am a day out from Mt. Whitney. I am hiking with a really good group of people and the generosity of them cannot be overstated. If you need food, or fuel, or water, or whatever someone is going to help you if they can. I'm with Casey and Colin who I've been with since around mile 280 and some new friends hike-a-while and texas poo. Deer hunter is ahead of us and sexy legs is behind so no matter where I go there will be friends around.

Our first day in the Sierras led us to the South Fork of the Kern river where we went fishing with our bare hands and caught golden trout and some considerably less tasty sucker fish. After a ridiculously long lunch break we hiked on and camped with a great fire. We've had a lot of fires since leaving Kennedy Meadows and they have been very rejuvenating. I'm sitting next to one right now actually and I'm going to keep on enjoying it.

Peace,

Luke