Day 71-77: Kennedy Meadows North to Donner Pass
Mile 1016.9-1152.2
I didn’t get out of Kennedy Meadows until around 3, but the short 7 mile day was packed with some pretty awesome views.
This was the last good view I would have of the High Sierra, though the next section would still be beautiful. The next day was a pretty easy one packed with good views. The trail got significantly easier after Sonora Pass, which was a relief after the roller coaster of Yosemite. That night, a cold front came in and brought some snow with it. It was a chilly, water freezing kind of night.
The next day I wanted to take advantage of the easier trail and make some big miles. The views were amazing, but the day also came with the thrill of the scariest snowfield I’ve seen on trail. I no longer had my ice axe and micro spikes, so every step had to be inch perfect or I would be going for a slide. The rest of the day was filled with some of the best views of the section though, which made up for the scary moments earlier.
I ended up doing 26 miles to set up for a chiller day into South Lake Tahoe. The 17 miles the next day were pretty simple and I was in town by the afternoon. I stayed with the Crazy Uka Lady, a local trail angel, that night. She was super nice and regularly hosted hikers and let us tent in her backyard. Not to mention the heaps of food for dinner.
I only stayed for a night and was back out early afternoon. The next section through the Desolation Wilderness was incredible. The scenery was very alpine despite the low altitude.
The amazing views and relative accessibility unfortunately meant that the area was very crowded. The bugs were also pretty bad, though not quite on the level of Yosemite. The views continued through the next day as I made my way through a series of alpine lakes.
The views faded for the rest of the day as I entered a long forested stretch that lasted almost to the end of the day. The crowds dispersed through here though, and I had a great view of Lake Tahoe to myself at the end of the day.
The next day was a tour of Lake Tahoe ski resorts. In the morning I walked along a beautiful ridge above Alpine Meadows. The clouds made for a very interesting view towards the lake.
Next up was Squaw Valley resort. My best days of skiing were actually split between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. I went right under the lifts, and it certainly looked more intimidating in summer.
The next section I got battered by the wind as I got to Sugar Bowl, my third ski resort of the day. There was a real sketchy patch of snow around here, and I actually hiked up and over the top of the mountain to avoid it. I was not looking to have a repeat experience of what happened earlier in the week. It was a haul up and over but worth feeling safe. I finished the day at the lodge at Donner Ski Ranch, ski area number four. I met my old friend Alex there, who took me to Incline Village, NV, for a deserved zero day. I hadn’t seen him in years, so it was definitely good to reconnect.
The next section should be interesting, as I feel like I am ready to really push some bigger miles. That said, an incoming heat wave should make things spicy, with things feeling a bit more like the desert since well… the desert.
