Day 8: echo lake to Suzie lake

10 miles/ 65 total
I spent the night with two trail angels (Aletha and Pete) in S. Lake Tahoe, and it was fantastic. They couldn't pick me up until 6, so I spent the day getting in some miles, and enjoying the city for one more day.  They fed me wild salmon w fresh asparagus. I should have taken them up on the wine, but felt I better hydrate, instead. We stayed up late talking about politics (they're like minded :) and watching the Giants game.
The post office at Echo Lake is only open from 11am-2pm, so Pete drove me down this morning, after a relaxing breakfast. I resuplied, mailed some gear home, and read a letter (Thanks, Jackie!), and hit the trail around 12:30. Since I had such a late start, I decided to only do about 10 miles. I had met an older woman (Bernadette) at the store, who was even more afraid of any upcoming snow than I am, and has no sort of gps, of which I have relied on a number of times to find the trail in snowy sections. For this very reason, I was doubly glad to give the snow a couple of extra days to melt, while I enjoyed some zero days.
The hike today was mostly over large rocks and granite gravel, as we entered into the foreboding-sounding Desolation Wilderness. It wasn't at all desolate, as I encountered a fair number of day hikers, and no surprise, because the views were great and the lakes lovely. I got to my 10 mi mark around 5pm, and discovered not only Betnadette (who is hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail), but also a PCT hiker I had met in S. Lake named "Beacon". I set up camp w them, grateful to be camping with other hikers and friendly faces. During our respective dinners we decided we would all do the hike tomorrow across Dick's Peak (the highest section of the trail going forward, and the most likely place for more snow). We know there will definitely be snow, but we are all hoping for a minimal amount, and that this will be the last of it.
I've retired to my tent. Tomorrow we leave at 6:30 to try and avoid soft snow and postholes. Adios.

Day whichever

Hola!

I have spent the last couple of nights in South Lake Tahoe, after deciding to hitchhike over here from the trail and take a couple days off. It has been pretty great to let my feet heal up a bit, and see the swelling go down in my legs. Not to mention getting to eat pizza and salad, drink a honey-basil beer, and sleep in a bed after taking a hot shower. :)
I'm hoping that by the time I get back on the trail tomorrow, some more of the snow will be gone, and the going will be a little easier (and faster). I couldn't get a lot of my pictures to upload for some reason, so it's hard to give an accurate idea of what I'm making such a big deal about, I assume. Perhaps I need to take more/better pictures. Trial and error.

Kacie is meeting me on the trail in 12 days, and I'm expecting it will take me at least a solid 8 days of hiking to get to our meeting spot--so this gives me a little flexibility if I have to cut down my miles or take another zero or two. I'm getting new shoes sent to me in about 64 miles, so I'm just hoping all goes well until then. No black toenails for me--hopefully!
I've also swapped out some of my gear--sending things home that I don't actually need, and getting some new stuff (like a canister stove) at this nice backpacking store that caters to PCT hikers (of which I am currently using their "backpacker computer" to post). I've learned a lot from other hikers I've encountered about items that I thought were essential, but have since sent home--including my bear spray and camelbak, among other things). Apparently, all the ultralight hikers use gatorade bottles for their water, because you can see exactly how much you have left, instead of sipping away until you unexpectedly have none. I keep wishing I could get rid of more gear--I anticipate pairing down at every stop until I figure out what I can get away with not having. It will be nice to be able to share the gear weight with other person for a little while, at least!

Oh, and I got a haircut! After months of growing my hair out so that I didn't have to worry about it on the trail, I realized that it wasn't any easier. So, yesterday I walked into a salon and told them to chop it! At some point I'll post a picture, once it's all gross again :)

Well, I'm going to rest a bit more, and wait for my Trail Angel to come and pick me up. Getting back on the trail tomorrow, and hoping for no more snow--send good vibes!

-Seattle

Day 4

Miles: 14
Total: 50

Today I have a number of blisters that are plaguing me, and slowing me down even more. I'm beginning to think that I made the common rookie mistake of not getting big enough shoes--though I did get slightly bigger shoes, it is just not enough for my swelling feet. I might have to order a pair at my next resuplly, as my feet will only swell bigger.
I had spotty service for about 5 ft on the side of a mountain, so I was able to call my mom for the first time since starting. It's so easy to become lonely and homesick at times, so hearing her voice gave me a pep in my step.

There was more snow, and my scariest snowy mountain pass crossing yet. I had to climb down some crumbling rock (with my trekking poles in one hand) and traverse a 100 ft section of slippy, slushy snow, that extended down the mountain for at least a few hundred feet. I almost freaked out. But I made it across, legs shaking, heart racing, and felt like nothing else could ever be as scary in my life. But we'll see what tomorrow brings. :)

I finally made it to the lower lands, and when I decided to take my shoes off and soak them in a cold stream, THAT was precisely when the Mosquitos decided to show up. I looked ridiculous, hobbling across the trail, carrying my shoes and socks. When I sat down to quickly put them on, I was swarmed by more Mosquitos than I have ever seen. And I live in Minnesota. So I didn't even really bother getting my feet super cleaned off, and just got everything good enough so that I could tear out of there without too many bites. I think I only got 10 or 12 in the 30 seconds I was down. Blegh.

I have been looking forward to Stampede's cabin all day, and hoping I will be able to find it. About a half mile away from the road that I know leads to the cabin (but no idea which direction), I see a woman sitting under a tree. She looks up and says "are you Bree?" She introduces herself as "mrs. Stampede", and asks if I want to come to the cabin. Yay!
At this point I just hit 13 miles for the day, and my feet and legs are killing me. She says once we get to the road it's only another mile to the cabin. I am excited and pained thinking about it. We talk a bit, but she's walking much faster than I am, so we soon lapse into silence. When we finally get there, I am introduced to two of their friends who are up for the weekend, and am instantly aware of how badly I smell and how disheveled I look. They offer me a shower, and it is amazing. I scrape the dirt and grime and sunscreen from my skin, and when I get out, I smell slightly better. I washed some of my clothes in the bathroom sink, and try to find something that doesn't smell too bad to wear around the cabin.
They are all friendly, and they insist that I eat as much as I want! There is cake and chips and pie and a delicious dinner and more dessert and fruit and tea...it was like heaven. They are all from the Bay Area--one person works at Yahoo! Another at Intell...they talk about hanging out at the Google campus...and I'm like "errr...I'm basically a country bumpkin". We stayed up late talking and eating, and it was wonderful. My calves and thighs have become swollen and really tender and tight. I can feel lumps under the skin and I try to rub them out, but I'm still hobbling like I'm 80. I might try to hitch a ride to Echo Lake tomorrow--to give my legs more rest and to avoid anymore treacherous snow passes.
Tonight I sleep in a bed. Like a queen!