Final Day

So the last day was great. It was overcast today, which let us hike all day. Normally I really slow down from around 10:30 am - 3 pm on account of the heat, but today we just cruised. The only stop we really made was at Mud Lake to have a drink, where we saw a bear. It wasn't much bigger than /ROFL, but it was exciting seeing a bear. I'll probably post a picture/video on facebook soon.

I hitchhiked down after making it back to the place I started. Ate two (TWO! plus fries and a drink) Double Downs from KFC, took a shower, and now will not walk anywhere.

Thanks for following. I was really just confirming I was alright, and will probably take this down after a couple days.

Final Days

I kicked it into high gear, and am now determined to finish a day early. My new goal is before sunset Sunday night, rather than the original Monday afternoon. I picked up a couple miles way back on day 4 and have perpetually stayed slightly ahead of schedule. Now the home stretch!

Homestretch

We broke away from the PCT today, after about 50 miles of it. I also crossed the Truckee River, which somehow seemed of special significance. Just 40 miles left!

Thoughts

So I decided days ago that this is the last thing ai will thru-hike. I find myself too focused on the goal or the miles, and less on the scenery and beauty. I knew this would be a good place to do it. As beautiful as Tahoe is, I've seen it a thousand times. I've still stopped at the vistas, of course, but have done almost no sidetrips to other lakes or peaks. Those are to be saved for smaller trips around the lake I suppose.

This is also the longest trip I intend to take /ROFL on. He loves hiking, but not for more than a couple days. He's just not in shape. The way he limps in the morning but is fine later tells me he's sore not injured. He was, after all, just lying around watching tv when I took him on this 2-week trip. He could get in shape for a longer hike but I don't want a dog in that good of shape, I want lazy lounging /ROFL. And he still loves dayhikes.

Solo

From 6:30 this morning until noon, I saw 0 people. Over the course of the whole day, it was 5. Now I've nothing to do but keep going.

Past halfway!

I'm finishing day 6 in the middle of desolation wilderness, which is a bit of a misnomer since it's lush and green and full of lakes and normally extremely popular. I am now doing all of my outdoor activities before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Everybody seems to stop coming to these beautiful places after Labor Day, but it's still warm and we get the lakes and good camping spots all to ourselves.

Almost Halfway

It's the end of day 5 and I'm almost halfway through this 170+ mile trip. /ROFL showed his first signs of fatigue. He seemed so weak this morning I carried his bag and thought about canceling the rest of the hike. But moments later he was bounding over logs and chasing after chipmunks, and I realized it was just a ploy to make me carry his bag.

Andrew is my new hero. After sending us off a few days ago, he came and delivered my one and only resupply. I was going to have to stop in Tahoe City, but it's so much more satisfying to get help from a friend than go offtrail for a grocery store. So now we can make it all the way to the end without getting anything new. Awesome.