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.

Same ol' same ol'

The second half of day 3 and the first half of day four have been fairly pleasant. We camped at a nice lake we had to ourselves, and will have plenty of water the rest of the week. I knew coming into it that the Carson (Eastern) side of the lake how almost no water, since (thanks rainshadow effect) all the water is dumped on the Sierra (Western) side. I've turned the corner and am headed roughly west as I move along the southern side of the lake. Although it's a distant site now. This stretch of the trail is furthest from the actual lake, but it's cool to have these great views of uninhabited ranges and places like Gardnerville.

Moving Along

Day two started as my best start ever: 9 miles before 11am. It got more and more tricky, however, as I had nowhere to refill my water jugs all day. I actually went over 30 hours without a water resupply. And while I started with a gallon jug, that's actually very little for all the hours and miles and sunlight to do. And anyone who knows /ROFL knows how much he loves water.

We met a few cool people, like 3 Germans who had come for Burning Man and were now cruising around in a van. We talked about Burning Man some, since I too just got back from it (they liked Ain Hammer: "Great place to meet other Germans"). A nice lady said she'd give me a ride anywhere (this was before we ran out of water), or call her in an emergency, say if something happened to the dog. I told her I'm from Reno and not to worry but it was good to hear there are "Trail Angels" here watching over.

Although there's not enough trail! Supposedly soon they will finish a section that goes around, but we had to go over 3 miles on roads, at the peak of our thist (roads, among other things, are almost never shaded). It was here in "civilization" that we (il)legally finally got some water from a tied-off spout by a hotel. We now finally get back on the trail underneath a Heavenly ski ramp (it's about noon on day three). Get me back in the woods!

Day One

So we're off. Andrew was kind enough to give us a ride up and hiked over half of what I did and then turned back (which actually means his 16 or more than my 14 miles. But he's carrying basically nothing). We hiked a section that's popular with mountain bikers, so we were passed by dozens of them. It feels good to be back on a trail, and I made it to the campground I was hoping to reach tonight with time to spare.

Starting Out

So Andrew Wulf has been so kind as to give /ROFL and I a ride up to Tahoe and hike the first day (he says he "doesn't have an overnight in him"), which is great and I'm really appreciative. All of you Renoites really don't have to be a stranger. By car it's not much of a difference getting to where I am on whatever day, and even if you just hike for an hour or two with me I'd love it. So send me a message (text/email/voicemail) regarding when and I'll tell you where I am.

That said, I have a hunch it's just going to be /ROFL and I this whole time (after Andrew leaves) and I'm excited to make the whole 165-mile loop, even without company (although it's preferred).

Day One Here We Come!

First Blog

This is a blog set up for the 11-13 days I, Cameron Bynum, will be hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail with my dog, /ROFL.

Roughly once a day (depending on service and such) I'll post where I'm at and confirm that everything is fine. All of my family and friends are welcome to join us for an afternoon or even a night or two, especially if you bring extra food and water.

We'll be going clockwise around the lake, starting at Tahoe Meadows. I'm starting Friday, Sep 10, so the following is roughly where we'll sleep each night:

FriSep10 Marlette Campground
SatSep11 Genoa Peak
SunSep12 Star Lake
MonSep13 Grass Lake
TueSep14 Benwood Meadow
WedSep15 Gilmore Lake
ThuSep16 Richardson Lake
FriSep17 Courchevet Ward Creek
SatSep18 Watson Lake
SunSep19 Martis Peak
MonSep20 Back to the Meadows and back home!

Just google them and send me a message and we can find a place to rally, depending on the day you'd come. /ROFL and I would love as much company as possible.

More to come once I get this more up and running.