Pacific Crest Trail: Tuolome- Tahoe

Day 23
942-963 (21 kinda)

We slept in and had a slow morning. The girls drove us to an alternate trailhead that would meet up with the PCT but had better views of some waterfalls. We walked along the river amazed by the falls but eventually lost the trail and had to cross a meadow and a river to get back to the PCT. Once on the trail we took our time with our heavy heavy packs. Lots of breaks, lots of mosquitos, beautiful views and delicious food. We decided to turn in for the night 2 miles early because the mosquitos were simply too bad and our feet were wet from all of the river fords (and river showers).

Day 24
963-983 (20)

Day 25
983-1006 (23)

The day of 1000! (350 for me) another beautiful day. Tons of mosquitos blehhhh I could go on and on but a lovely evening around a fire with some new people

Day 26
1006-1026 (20)

Today we left our crowded camp early in the morning and made our way up towards Sonora pass. After wishing for a windstorm yesterday to get rid of the mosquitos we were pleasantly surprised by our treeless and windy climb. A bit cold but so thankful we weren't being swarmed. After summitting and eating a snack, we began our decent to an unexpected danger zone. The trail was once again snow covered but this time, icy and steep. A group of people had piled up as they contemplated ways to get down the pass. Marissa and I considered our options and chose the route that seemed the safest. The two girls and two boys behind us followed hesitantly. As we were about 15 feet out onto an icy snow field we were startled by a scream behind us. One of the girls had slipped and was sliding down the icy cliff panicking. She slid towards a rock ledge to stop but went up and over the top of it and continued down the pass screaming. Both startled and a little extra fearful of what was to come, Marissa and I SLOWLY and VERY carefully made our way across only to hear more screams behind us. The two girls had fallen off the cliff side and were scraped up at the bottom as the boys attempted to help them. Being the only two girls to make it across, we were quite relieved and made our way down the mountain side. We heard later that quite a few other people had fallen or had to self arrest. A few people had to quit the trail at this point. We took many breaks throughout the day, got in touch with family when service became available and attempted to eat less food although we were getting very hungry by the end of the day. We decided to call it at mile 20 with no reason to rush up a 3 mile hill. A friend from the trail was taking a break at the site we had chosen and we chatted about all of the new brain food we have been getting on the trail ( fun facts for 50 states...I repeat them all in my head as I walk to pass time). Camp was relaxing and we prepared for an elevation filled day

Day 27

1026-1049 (23)

My day began with a quick 7 miles before 8 o'clock but then slowed down pretty significantly as the day wore on. The scenery was much less striking than the thick of the sierras and we were told that many people quit after that section. We felt a bit of the post-Sierra blues and it didn't help that we were pushing to get to Tahoe while rationing all of the food that we could fit in our bear canisters. Once at a good place for lunch, we relaxed, ate and then reviewed some maps. We discovered that we could get to Tahoe by Saturday night if we hit 22 miles and then a 21 tomorrow and the next day. With this, we ate more and marched on. Our spirits grew as we came over a beautiful ridge for yet another break. We finished our our 22 miles by 6 o'clock and set up a camp that was only a half mile from a road. We were a bit uncomfortable with the location but our feet and bodies are really starting to feel the miles we have been putting on them.

Day 28
1049-1072 (23ish)
What a bum bum of a morning. I felt like crap and got way inside my own head. The blister on the left side of my foot was fostering another blister on it and the slant of the trail was irritating it...Every. Single. Step. I couldn't change the trail, I couldn't change which direction I was walking, I just had to walk it and I was getting so frustrated. After a long break my attitude turned around and the day actually went quite smoothly. The trail evened out and with a few more miles to camp we decided that we ought to push to the next campsite where there was water.

Day 29
1072-Tahoe! (17)

Early in the morning in our squished campsite I could tell that the wind was also keeping Marissa awake but I remained lying in my sleeping bag. At about 4:30, I heard her say my name. I gave my drowsy "what?" And she asked if I wanted to just start walking since we were both awake from the loud wind. We decided we mind as well. The sunrise over the valley was beautiful and the walking was nice and easy all day. We had a little extra pep in our step with the anticipation of pizza and ice cream. With about 2 miles left, I heard my brother call my name and I made my way quickly down the hill to meet him and his girlfriend. They had brought us subway sandwiches and chips that filled us right up and we made our way down the rest of the mountain only to find some more trail magic. We were offered watermelon, candy and cold drinks from a couple of trail Angels. We made our way in to town with an extra hiker tagging along. We showered (amazing), got in touch with family and friends (amazing), for pizza (amazing), and got ice cream (amazing).

Where we were dropped off in Yosemite

The two second "shower and laundry"

when you inhale mosquitos they sometimes bite your lip

I remember running around trying to catch these little purple butterflies as a kid, now they enjoy my stinky smelly socks

Caught taking a lake bath

I couldn't stop scratching

Lunch break!

Funny (gross) story...I told myself I needed to wear pants so I didnt get more bites and then scratch them off. Unfortunately, I sweat A LOT and I got stuck to my pants. When I took them off the dirt on my body was dripping down...it was a lovely sweat shower

When I flipped up my mosquito net I turned into princess leia

Some Llamas in training

Crunched up crackers, cut up spam and semi-hydrated rice

Such a helpful sign

The mosquito playboy bunnies...coming soon to magazines near you

instant potatoes and lentils

You might also fall asleep with your head in your dinner bag if you've averaged 22 miles the last few days

Dirty but stoked to be walking into town

I can't remember the last time I have been so excited to see two people. AMAZING afternoon

Post-getting pizza, drinking a blood orange margarita. Grocery stores have glorious amounts of food!!! You might as well have dropped us off at Disneyland