Tahoe with Lindsay!

The last sixty miles - largely around Lake Tahoe - were incredibly special ones: Lindsay was with me!! Lindsay just graduated from Wharton too and was really excited to join me for some of the trail. She took a week off her new job, just to come out here and keep me company for this leg. Lindsay: you're the best!!

We had some awesome highlights in this section, including learning how to bear bag (since I sent back the bear canister, but there are definitely still bears), swimming in amazing lakes in Desolation Wilderness, and handling some very ballsy chipmunks (we slowly escalated our defenses - turns out they aren't even afraid of Lindsay's trekking pole). Lindsay, despite having summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, is pretty much a newbie to backpacking, but she took to it like a fish to water. Or like a chipmunk to a trekking pole. For example, she noted that I don't wear deodorant out here and clean my cooking pot with my fingers. Without any judgment, she inquired as to whether we'd be brushing our teeth this week or not. She was fully prepared for the answer to be no. (For the record - oral hygiene is one frontcountry habit I maintain. I even floss sometimes!). Linds also developed a quick comfort with the water filter and actually mused outloud if it would be effective at purifying the water from the Schuylkill. The answer is no, Lindsay. Nothing can purify that water.

I didn't want to do huge miles in this section, as the first few days are tough on everyone. I figured we'd start with a 10 mile day and then build up to 12 miles per day for the remainder of the week. Lindsay, however, had other plans. We did the first ten mile day as anticipated ... and then immediately followed it with a SEVENTEEN mile day!! As it turns out, Lindsay just needs to suck down a gu packet and then she's ready for anything. I was clambering behind her all week!!

Lindsay and I developed some solid routines this week: hot breakfast, lunch somewhere with a view (today it was sitting under the chair lifts at Squaw - one of two ski resorts the trail took us through today), a bunch of afternoon miles, and then in the tent before 8. Only once did we stay out of our tent long enough to see the sunset (and it was epic). I think our favorite time of day is getting cozy in our sleeping bags. Lindsay is borrowing my formerly-first-string bag, which got demoted this trip because it was about 10 oz too heavy (I got kind of obsessed with counting ounces there for a while). I love getting in the tent though, seeing the sleeping bag is like seeing an old friend. I hope I haven't hurt its feelings. Speaking of old friends, Lindsay also saw an old friend tonight. In late spring, as everyone was packing up their Philly apartments, I put out a call for any frozen foods that I could dehydrate and bring on the trail (as they otherwise would have been thrown away). Imagine Lindsay's surprise today to discover her old Trader Joe's frozen Asian vegetable blend, dehydrated and perking up our ramen tonight!

This section ends at Donner Pass, made famous by the Donner Party of 1846. They were a covered wagon train that got stuck in the Sierra by early season snow, ran out of food, and ultimately resorted to cannibalism. I told my Dad, who is nicely picking Lindsay and me up at Donner Pass tomorrow, that if he's late and we're hungry, there's no telling what might happen. I just read a book about the Donner Party (trying to get into the mood), and it was grisly. Next up: The Goldfinch. Hopefully a bit more upbeat (most anything is more upbeat than cannibalism).

On that note.... Until the next stop!

Captions:
1. New insoles in Tahoe! I think it was time.
2. Two gals on the trail.
3. Our first bear hang. Success!
4. Desolation Wilderness was awesome!
5. Awesome Sunset - and only one we saw.
6. Twin Peaks - Tahoe National Forest style.
7. Going under the lifts at Squaw!
8. Linds is reunited with her Asian vegetable blend.
9. View from the tent on the last day!