Tahoe Rim Trail, Sheep Meadows to Diamond Peak and Beyond

On the 2nd weekend in June, DW and I went with our friend Joe (from the previous Lakes Basin hike) to hike a short, 5½ mile or so (each way) section of the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). Joe wanted us to see this section of the TRT, because he was part of a group that built a mile of that section.

We accessed the TRT by hiking a short distance on the Ophir Creek trail. We parked at the top of the rise just (highway-) south of Tahoe Meadows, aka Sheep Meadows, and trekked through the well-worn bush to the trail. This spot is very popular year-round, for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and mountain biking. We got there early enough to get a nice spot that would be shaded most of the time we were on the trail.

When we got to the intersection of the Ophir Creek trail with the TRT, Joe insisted we take the left fork. We went maybe ¼ mile down that trail, and he realized we were still on the Ophir Creek trail! He remarked, “I always take the wrong turn there!” and we set out bushwhacking west toward the TRT. Well, there aren’t many bushes; mainly ground cover and pines. Anyway, in what seemed like an even shorter distance than we had gone the wrong way, there was the trail we wanted. And we were on our way!

The first place we took a photo break, and a little water, was a view of Washoe Valley on the east side of the Sierras.

Fearless Leader Joe

Washoe Lake (R) and Little Washoe Lake

The TRT isn’t called a “rim” trail for nothing, and we spent a lot of time meandering back and forth between views of Washoe Valley and Lake Tahoe. The next place we stopped was on the Tahoe side.

Crystal Bay, Agate & Carnelian Bays, Dollar Point beyond

We continued on south, and pretty soon we saw the top of the Diamond Peak ski resort.

Poles mark the ski boundary

From then on, we were on the Tahoe side, with lovely views of the lake, Incline Village, and the Ponderosa Ranch. About another ¼ to ½ mile down the trail, Joe pointed out a clearing where his trail-building group’s supplies were stored, and said that was the beginning of the mile they built. That mile was mostly uphill, but not terribly steep, and ended where the trail turned back to the east side of the crest, at a big pile of boulders.

That isn’t Joe.

The views of the southwest side of the lake were wonderful, with snow-capped mountains above Rubicon Point.

I believe Tunnel Creek goes down that slope.

Just for fun, I experimented with the panoramic mode on my iDevice.

After lunch, and before we left there, I noticed there was a very good view of Incline Village, the golf course and condos, and the bottom of Diamond Peak resort.

Joe checked the elevation using his phone (about 8,350'), and we checked again as we approached the parking area (about 8,650'). We were a little surprised that the turn was actually lower than where we started, but of course being a rim trail, the TRT does go up and down quite a bit.

We were back home within about 6 hours of when we left the house that morning, and all tuckered out! Well, DW and I were, but Joe is a powerhouse. He even went to our local Total Wine store and tasted a few of the wines they were offering that afternoon.

First Hike of the 2013 Season

Well, since I sort of promised (no one in particular, except maybe myself) that I would share photos when we went for a hike, I’m posting what I have.

Earlier this week, DW and I met up with a friend from the Reno Ski & Recreation Club to go with him on an exploratory hike in Lakes Basin Recreation Area, in the Plumas National Forest in northern California. He will be leading a hike in June, and wanted to see how much snow was left, and where. We met at his house, near the University, and he drove. Before we left, he stopped to refuel his vehicle.

Good thing his car uses Regular.

He told us the weather report called for increasing cloudiness with some possible rain around 2pm. We were leaving at 8:30 am, and expected to be there by 10:00, so we figured to be done by then, but we took some light rain gear just in case.

As we got closer to Lakes Basin, though, the clouds got heavier and heavier, and around Portola it started to drizzle. By the time we reached the road off the Gold Lake Highway to the trailhead, it was a nice steady rain.

Undaunted, we put our boots and hats on, grabbed our day packs, and set off down (or should I say up) the trail. This was the trail between the Bear Lakes and Gold Lake, a former mining road. Our destination for the best vantage was near Round Lake, which has a historical marker explaining some mining ruins. It starts out pretty easy, and there’s only one section that is anywhere near steep, which switches back but once. After that section, as we rounded the face of the mountain that holds Round Lake in on the south side, I snapped this photo of, I believe, Little Bear Lake.

 On around the mountain, and up to the mining mill ruins we went. Since the main focus of the exploration was how much snow was left, we were all looking up toward the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), rather than down at the ruins and the lake.

Not enough snow to build a fort.

After we got back to the trailhead, our friend happened to mention the weather forecast again, and this time he said it was for Reno. No wonder it turned out so differently!

So, I guess if you want to see what’s left of the mill and shaft, and read all about the gold mining around Round Lake, you’ll just have to come visit Plumas County! Even if that isn’t your thing, the Lakes Basin is filled with many lakes, large and small, and criss-crossed with hiking trails, including access to the PCT. It’s certainly worth a visit. When you do, be sure to stop in and see me.

Post Script: On the way back to Hwy 70, Hwy 89 passes just west of the little settlement of Blairsden, CA. A short side trip will take you to the Village Baker, where they have the flakiest pastries and best espresso–not to mention the cutest kids–in Plumas County. Don’t miss this gem!

Some Recent Photos to Share

I’ve shared most of these on TwitPic, but I wanted to put them in a post. I’ve decided to do this occasionally, as I take the odd photo here and there while not strictly on an outing.

On the evening of 13 August, smoke from a forest fire began pouring in to the Truckee Meadows. As DW pulled out of the driveway the next morning, she called me and said, “Look at this sun!” So I grabbed the camera and walked out on the patio in my boxers–hey, it was not even 6:30 am, and nobody was out jogging in that smoke! Anyway, this is the resulting photo.

On Friday, 14 September, the Reno Ski & Recreation Club had our weekly TGIF gathering at Idlewild Park in Reno, where the food trucks were selling all kinds of goodies. I got there a bit early and, not seeing any other members yet, I decided to walk around the park. I came to a nice quiet spot by the river and snapped this shot.

Early in October I was driving home, and we happened to have some clouds in the sky–very rare through the summer. Suddenly the sky lit up with the orange glow of the setting sun, and I had to pull over to take a photo or two, the second one a panoramic experiment.

Finally, also in early October, I had occasion to visit the Grand Sierra Resort here in Reno. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the hotel tower was lit up, not brightly in white as usual, but in a nice rosy shade of pink.

I expect this will be one of many posts like this, unless you, gentle viewers, tell me to stick to the narratives. There will be more of those as well, to be sure. Please leave a comment with your opinion either way.

Dry Pond, Mt. Rose Wilderness

On the 27th of August, I took the day off and met a few friends for a local hike. We gathered at the trailhead for the Thomas Creek trail that is on Timberline Road, at the foot of Mount Rose. We started briskly up the trail; I had to shed my long-sleeved Henley pretty quickly. We were hiking the Thomas Creek-Whites Creek loop, using the connecting trail through the Dry Pond area.

I didn’t take any photos until we were nearly to the flat area that is Dry Pond. We paused at the first spot you can see the Truckee Meadows (as the valley that Reno lies in is called).

We stopped at Dry Pond for a snack before we headed down the other side to Whites Creek.

Coming down the south side of the Dry Pond trail there’s a nice view of Washoe Valley. If you look carefully, you may even see part of the new I-580 freeway that goes to Carson City. (I think it’s hidden behind that green ridge, though.)

This is a moderately strenuous 6.5 to 7 mile hike, easy to do in a half-day. Come see me in Reno and we’ll go!