South Lake Tahoe to Sierra City
DAY 90 (July 30) | Aloha hey!
To Fontanillis Lake
17.6 miles
Karen and John do a little morning hike and accompany me to Echo Lake which is really cool.
Meet a group of girls from the Bay Area close to Aloha Lake with whom I have lunch. Christine is very interested in hiking the PCT and we talk for quite a while.
They all go back to Echo Lake while I continue ahead to Fontanilis Lake where I set up my tent.
DAY 91 (july 31) | The Rattlers are back
To mile 1130
21.4 miles
Saw two rattlesnakes today: one crossing the trail and another one rolled up by a trunk, apparently sunbathing. There are still some beautiful lakes around but it's going to get dryer again soon, so this seems to be their habitat again.
More PCT hikers again! Caveman had just camped a mile further ahead, Ninja Turtle came from the opposite direction slack packing between Truckee and Echo Chalet and Jazzman showed up during lunch at Robinson Lake.
After taking a short break at a trailhead in the afternoon I felt quite confident to be able to do close to 20 miles today. However, at one point, I felt pain in that same tendon on my right foot again. I continued uphill and it was hardly hurting but I was still a bit worried it would become worse again.
DAY 91 (august 1) | Magic
To Donner Pass
24 miles
I did not sleep really well last night as a deer was walking around where I camped, passing by tent real close a few times. Not sure what it was looking for, I definitely did not camp on some yummy fresh leaves or grass.
There are a few climbs today passing by two ski resorts. There is coverage on top of these mountains and I take the chance to call back home to check how Ramon - my cat who is in the hospital - is doing. They have found out in the meantime that it is pancreatitis what makes him vomit and not eat.
I meet quite a few hikers on trail today including a small group of day hikers with whom I chat for a while. I ask them about the Donner Ski Ranch which is supposed to be very close to Donner Pass and where I plan to go to for breakfast the next day.
I push on all the way to Donner Pass in the afternoon and get there by 8 pm. As I hit a side road a motorbike passes me, turns and comes back. It is Ron whom I met in the afternoon telling me that the ranch was in the other direccion and asking where I was heading. Once I mention that I am looking for a place to camp, he offers me to come to his house. Hot shower, good food? It takes 2 seconds to convince me, I jump into the car of his daughter Kaithlin and we head down toTruckee. Once we get to their house we see a bear crossing the street. Kaithlin tells me that it's trash day the next day so he might be checking (although most trash containers are bear proof).
After a quick shower I have a delicious dinner with the whole family and some friends of theirs. I am very tired after a long day (and some glasses of wine :) but extremely happy once I fall into bed.
DAY 92 (August 2) | Hard to leave Truckee
To Lacey Creek
18.3 miles
After a yummy breakfast, Ron drives me back to Donner Summit. We make a little detour via the center of Truckee which really looks like an interesting town with nice restaurants and bars.
I join two girls doing a section hike by Lacey Creek around 7.30 pm and I am happy to have company.
It is a colder night and I do not sleep really well. I wake up twice although it is quiet, lay awake and do not feel tired at all really