Day 92 – 22 Jun 19. Aloha, other Lakes and Dick Pass

Today 29.0 km (18.0 mi), Total Distance 1795.7 km (1115.8 mi) 11 hours 05 minutes (0705-1810)

I woke to my alarm but didn’t feel like getting up so I lay there for a while. Finally I got up and retrieved my bear bag so I could have breakfast. It was a cool temperature so I needed my wind jacket and my hands were tingling slightly by the time I was packed up.

The snow was crisp but I did not put my crampons on as it had a little give in most places. I was heading down hill at an angle heading towards Lake Aloha. It was easy travel and I got down to the lake side without any troubles.

Last night I had heard yelling so I knew there was at least one group camping. I could see a tent up above the lake which had people talking loudly. I could hear noise from another site near the lake.

I walked over the suncups on the flats next to the lake. I was following the lake shore for a while but did have to climb a little to get around some of the bays. I was taking lots of photos as it was pretty. The lake was still frozen but there were some patches that were melting.

At one of the many photo stops the tw girls I saw last night came towards me. One of them has done the AT and has the trail name Stinky. The other was her sister. They were doing the Tahoe Rim Trail which is around 160 miles, so a good length trail. They were about half way done.

I continued on in front of them around the lake. There were very rare patches of rocky trail but most of it was snow. Just before the junction there was a slightly longer patch of rocky trail and then the signpost.

From Lake Aloha it was a drop down to Lake Heather across the snow slopes and for a little bit on a rocky trail just above the lake. Then it was another drop down to Lake Suzie and around the end of it.

I caught up to the two guys from yesterday just before the lake outlet. I had been enjoying having their footprints in front.

The lake outlet was covered in logs which were jammed in enough to cross over them. I had to be careful as they were not secured to anything and some of them were just floating and very unstable. Once across I had a chat to the guys. There were two other guys there, possible a father and teenage son. It looked like they had camped there. Just before leaving the two girls turned up.

I lead out on the trail, now with only old footprints. It was snow until it started dropping then there were some dirt patches and near the bottom it was mainly dirt.

At the bottom I crossed a small stream and a swampy area and then started the big climb of the day. Thankfully it was mainly dirt up the steep bit but then it went to pure snow along the flat leading to the final climb.

The trail sent along the side of a steep hill and for the steepest bit it was dirt/rock track but then as I got higher it was more snow slopes until it was pure snow leading up to the saddle. I thought the saddle was Dick Pass but I saw on the map I had to keep climbing a little more. The view over the other side was great with several lakes in view. There was no sign of anyone behind me.

I climbed the next hill and after only 50 meters of dirt trail zig zag it turned to snow for the rest of the climb up and over the pass.

Now it was a steep downhill. It started ok but then got really steep. The snow was still nearly frozen so I put my crampons for the descent. It took a while as I was being careful of my footing on the steep slopes.

At the bottom I realised I was too low and had to rock scramble to keep above the lake. I then found some animal tracks beside the lake which was clear of snow for a small section above the water. I made my way around to where a track went from the lake to the trail.

I did not see a trail but did see a hiker asleep in their hammock. Judging by the pack they are a current or former thru hiker. I did not disturb them but headed up the hill to where the track was and then down across the suncup snowfields to the trail in a neat rocky area.

I stopped for lunch beside the lake which actually had some water. I enjoyed the new lunch. No more peanut butter but the luxury of cheese, salami and humus on tortilla with some snacks as well.

After lunch I continued along the lake and just as I was about to leave the lake I could smell a fire. I thought it was strange so followed the smell and found a tiny campsite and a fire on the rocks with a piece of wood still burning. I grabbed all the wood from the fire and soaked them at the edge of the lake. I then grabbed multiple loads of snow to put on the ashes. The ashes were so hot the snow was sizzling. I would like to meet whoever did this to remind them that even though there is snow the vegetation is dry already and a fire could easily start.

My duty done I left the lake an headed up a small hill to get on a spur line and then followed the spur line all the way to Middle Velma Lake and then turned left to follow above the lake.

At the head of the lake I was meant to drop to a stream and cross it before starting a climb Just before the stream

I came across two hikers who made a comment about being lost. They were looking for the crossing point. They had not started the fire. I showed them where we were and lead the way to the crossing point. They were very slow in the snow and I realised how comfortable I am in it due to how long I have had to deal with it.

As I dropped down near the crossing point there were two more people and a dog, ate teens or early twenties. They were just hanging out by the lake for a while.

The crossing point was a small stream and once over it was a struggle to find the track and I ended up just going straight up the hill until I cut across the track.

The climb was gradual and on more dirt than track. Then it was mainly snow across the flat part and pure snow for the drop down to the next stream. This bit was hard to navigate as I kept veering off to the left.

Some tracks appeared and I was happy to follow them to keep myself on track. They looked fairly fresh.

Down by the river the crossing was easy and not even knee deep. Then back on trail which was mainly dirt for the flatter bit.

Not long afterwards I came across two PCT hikers. They had left the trail at Kearsarge Pass and flipped up to Tahoe. Their plan was once they got to Canada they would come back and finish the last section finishing on top of Mt Whitney. One of them had broken though a snow bridge and got heir waterproof boots wet so they decided to dry out and have a snack. I sat with them and had a quick break and then was on my way again.

I was hoping the climb would be mainly dirt and it was for a few minutes then it was even between snow and trail all the way up the hill and along the side of the hill.

I met another couple who lived in Tahoe City and were out for a weekend hike.
I continued on for a little bit more then went well off trail to find a campsite. After getting my tent up I set up the line for my bear bag, had dinner and hung the bag. I struggled to lift the bag and could not get the stick tied while holding the bag up so I did the old fashioned technique and just tied the string around a tree to keep the bag up.

There was a bit of a sunset but there were to many trees in the way to see it well.

Visits: 1589