Day 94 – 24 Jun 19. Ridge Walking to A Burger

Today 32.7 km (20.3 mi), Total Distance 1861.4 km (1156.6 mi) 11 hours 5 minutes (0720-1925, less 1 hour off trail at Donner Ski Resort Restaurant)

Once again I struggled to get up. I think it was the smell when I opened my sleeping bag that was incentive to get moving. Something I have been eating is causing excess gas with a rather strong aroma, just as well I am by myself.

I was on my way along the track which dropped by switchback closer to the river. It was a rocky trail with shrubs each side but then it entered the forest and became a little swampy.

There was no significant snow for the first 20 minutes which was lovely. Then it was a sort period of mixed before transitioning to solid snow which I was in until 1100.

In the first 20 minutes after following the stream the trail turned into a new valley and was on the side of a hill which varied from forest, steep cliffs and open meadow. It then dropped down to Whiskey Creek and that is when the snow started.

Not long afterwards it left the creek and started heading up the hill. There was a brief patch with a little dirt showing as I headed up but then that disappeared and it was pure snow.

After climbing to a stream the track crossed over the small valley and started the. steep part of the climb. As the track was not visible I went straight up the hill. From the top I followed the side of the hill, still climbing slightly to get to a saddle.
Just short of the saddle I thought I was following someone’s footprints until I actually looked at them and realised they were bear footprints. They were pretty big!

From the saddle it was a big climb up to a ridge line. I headed to the wrong saddle but was glad I did as there was a really big patch of beautiful flowers with the red ones in the majority for the first time. It was beautiful.

I backtracked and got onto the right track up to an intersection then for some reason climbed up the hill to the ski lift before realising I shouldn’t have so back down to the intersection.

Now I continued straight and it was down a steep slope for 50 meters before beginning a very steep traverse. There were faint footprints there but I needed to make them bigger and more secure so it was a slow process and my legs were like jelly by the time I got to some rocks for a break.

I thought there was another traverse but thankfully it was downhill, across a small bowl and up a hill a little way.

Now it was along the side of the hill for a while, enjoying the views of Lake Tahoe, before dropping slightly and starting a traverse of a new hill, with some steep slopes. I followed the hill around and climbed up to the saddle.

Now it was a downhill of a nice gradient and nice snow so I could actually enjoy the descent without worrying about slipping. I dropped to near a small lake and then down a snow chute for a good stretch. The chute ended so I weaved down between the trees before crossing a creek over a snow bridge and reaching the intersection.

From the intersection I was back on largely snow free trail. It was a really rocky trail but I enjoyed the different terrain.

The trail climbed up, switch backing a little, then followed along the side of a hill. There were larger patches of snow in the reenterants but most of the trail was dirt. I was enjoying looking at the views to my left. There were snow free forests below, snowy mountains above and in the distance a bi mountain with a huge waterfall coming off it.

The trail turned right and started heading up a steep climb to a saddle and then continued up to just below Tinker Knob. I was now looking at green forest and Lake Tahoe to my right. Now it was my favourite part of the day walking on, or just below, the ridgeline. There were great views out to both sides, little flowers and no snow.

I walked down the ridge then dropped below some cliffs which had a couple of snow patches. Then back on the ridge before dropping below the ridge.

It was really windy on the ridgeline and I found some shelter beside a small tree to stop and have lunch.

There was one face of a big hill which was completely covered in snow and had very steep slopes I had to traverse. Once again I took my time and my legs were jelly when I finally reached dirt trail again.

After that was a little more ridge walking then a climb up to a snowfield that I was meant to traverse across to get to a new ridgeline. I was not happy with the condition of the snow. It was starting to break away from the cliffs and had big cracks. Above were some slopes which looked loaded with snow and more cracks above them. It was probably fine as it was well consolidated and had been high temperatures for over a week but I did not want to take the risk. It was also a very steep slope to traverse. Instead I climbed the big hill above the slope and dropped straight down from the chairlift. I had assumed being a ski area the snow would be in good condition and it was. I was pretty quick getting down.

After a very sort time on the ridge the trail dropped down and climbed back up out of the small bowl before heading over the side of the ridge and traversing more very steep slopes as it slowly dropped. I decided to drop straight down then walk along the base of the hill to get back to the track. It is much safer going straight down or straight up rather than traversing steep slopes.

Once back on the trail there was another drop, passing a ski field and then it was back to a mainly dirt trail for the final big zig zag down to a stream and out at the trail head. The trail then joined a sealed road for 50 m before reaching the main road at Donner Pass.

Here I went off trail and walked down the hill 400 meters to the Donner Ski Resort. I had rung them earlier in the day to confirm they would be open. I had a burger and a couple of glasses of coke and it was really good. They had a trail register and I saw Iron was 3 days ahead and Little Skittle 5 days ahead.

I walked back up the hill and was back on trail. It was 1800 hours and I intended to do one more hour.

The trail stayed above the road under some big cliffs. At one point I heard voices above me and it was a guy rock-climbing. I heard some yelling and on a big rock above the road was a guy who I think was spouting gospel with a lot of foul language and abuse thrown in. Below were several carparks full of people. It was a bit of a shock to the system and I was glad when the trail turned away from the road and climbed up a hill by many zig zags.

Once over the other side it was nice and quiet. There was a snow slope and then back to dirt.

The trail went around a pretty lake that was so still it was mirroring the trees around it.

Then the trail dropped by zig zag a little and then meandered closer to the interstate. I was enjoying the variety. It alternated between forest, big rocks and cliffs and open rock slabs.

I started looking for a campsite but was being fussy. I did not want to camp near a pond and wanted dry flat ground. There were several possible sites but I rejected them.

I came across a hiker cowboy camping. He was around 50ish and was going north and had came across some snow slopes that were beyond him. He said he couldn’t tell where the trail went, then slipped and bent a hiking pole and decided to go back and camp and try again in the morning with different conditions. He said on the worst slope he was not sure where the trail went.

I thanked him for the warming and continued on. I came to some snow patches and traversed them looking ahead for the scary slope. I was still looking when I got back to dirt. All the slopes were easy and I was concerned for the guy if he had struggled on those little slopes, all of which had footprints showing the way.

I continued on looking for a campsite and finally found a nice one. I was surprised to see I had done 20 miles again. I did not think I would today with all the snow and steep slow traverses.

Tonight instead of the soothing sound of a stream I have the constant noise of traffic on the interstate.

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