I write Jan, who is moving permanently to Arizona and also attending a Buddhist class in Lake Tahoe before she moves to let me know if she wants help packing. She misunderstands and thinks I ask if she wants to go hiking with me in Lake Tahoe. She lets me know I have a place to stay if I come to Lake Tahoe so I decide to hike with her and her friend Aaron on Friday and then explore the Tahoe Rim Trail Saturday and Sunday.
Unfortunately, I oversleep on Friday and miss my plane, so I don't get to hike with Jan and Aaron and settle on two shorter hikes up to, and along, the Tahoe Rim trail. I also end up getting a free Airline ticket anywhere Alaska Airlines flies from the new $129.00 ticket I purchased Friday morning, so missing my flight isn't a total disaster.
I arrive late Friday night. Jan and Aaron touch base with me Saturday morning and tell me that open teachings will be from 3-5 and from 7-9 Saturday. I plan to attend so I hike behind their rental cabin from 9am-2pm on Saturday going up the Saxon Creek Trail to the Tahoe Rim Trail.
The trail is a multi-use trail that starts out shared with jeeps, then only ATV's, and finally only bicycles and hikers. I pass by several bicycle riders but no motorized vehicles and no other hikers. This picture is where the Saxon Creek Trail joins the Tahoe Rim Trail.
This is part of Freel Meadows on the Rim trail where I turned around. It is about 5 1/2 miles from the Cabin to the Rim Trail, and then I hike on the rim trail for another mile or so to make for a 13 mile day.
Typical Scenery on the rim trail.
Some of the trees are huge.
After attending an excellent teaching on the Buddhist topic of emptiness, I walk to Lake Tahoe during dinner. A conservation organization is reclaiming a large stretch of land that borders the lake and they have created excellent trails through the land.
Beyond the recovering wetlands is the lake and beyond that are the large casino's on the Nevada side of the lake. We stayed in the more mellow California side, basing ourselves in South Lake Tahoe city.
At the end of the wetlands is a sandy beach and the huge Lake Tahoe.
I then return to the teaching for an open discussion on how Buddhism fits in with other religions, similarities between other religions and Buddhism, some gains from more communication between religions, and possible communication avenues with people from other religions. The house the teachings are in is on a canal that borders the lake and most houses have boat docks and boats so they can access the lake from the canal.
On Sunday, I drive up to Echo Summit and hike 32 miles. I start by hiking to Echo lake (pictured) along the shared Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. I follow both trails for most of the day, reaching the Bayview trail and then hiking down to Lake Tahoe and back to the house where the teachings are. From there, Jan, Aaron, and I go out to dinner together and then return to their cabin. Jan is flying to Arizona in the morning and I'm flying home so we will drive to the Airport together the next morning.
There is water taxi service between Echo Lake Resort and the end of Echo Lake. The trail is only 2.5 miles but riding is an option :).
The view back to upper Echo Lake and then lower Echo Lake.
Typical scenery past Echo Lakes.
Lake Aloha was amazing to me with large granite rocks poking up out of the lake.
There are many people around Lake Aloha and in the entire Desolation Wilderness area.
Another picture of Lake Aloha.
Looking down toward Heather Lake from Lake Aloha.
Islands in Heather Lake. I continue down the draw to Suzie Lake.
I get lost for about 10 minutes and start heading for Grass Lake before realizing my mistake.
One of the falls I pass.
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Looking back from Dicks pass where the trail went up very steep for a long time. Three lakes are in photo including Half Moon Lake in the foreground.
Lakes also on the other side of Dicks pass, Dicks Lake and Fontanillis Lake. Dicks pass was the high point at 9380 feet. Echo Lake is 7525 feet and Lake Tahoe is 6235 feet.
On the Bayview trail, Granite Lake and Emerald Bay of Lake Tahoe are in sight.
I end with a road walk back to South Lake Tahoe with the lake often in sight. Some of this walk is on a bike path.