Day 84 – From Lacey Creek to Sierra City, 1195

July 13.

Got an early start at 6.20am – good. Rested enough for another long day. We will be aiming for 10 before 10am, 15 by 1pm and as early as possible 23 miles to hit Sierra City before the store and restaurants close.

We made 9.8 at 10am – not bad. The morning took us over some hills with amazing views again – this wide open landscape doesn’t stop to amaze.

Fitting soundtrack for today:

Holocene – Bon Iver

We completed 15 miles by 12.45pm – check. 👍🏻😁

Came into town/general store 5.35pm, the general store was still open but their burgers were not available anymore – they had closed the kitchen at 5.30pm – what a disappointment.

Sierra City – General store and post office

Bought snacks and realized that the little town was completely booked out. No room, no shower, no laundry?

We camped next to the church with twenty other hikers – a very crowded spot that night. There was a public bathroom with a cold shower available – I skipped. 😂

Ok – with all that frustration we spend quite some money on a decent dinner with wine.

Probably the best dinner since months…

Day 83 – From Donner Pass to Lacey Creek, mile 1172

July 12.

Slow start… With the late evening yesterday, we just left the hostel after breakfast around 8.30am.

Went over Castle pass at 10.45am.

Lunch break turned out longer than planned… at 1pm to 2.30pm.

Afternoon break at 5pm.

Tired from yesterday’s long hike and the longer last night, decided to just do about 23 miles today. So we pitched the tents early at 6.45pm at Lacey Creek together with Colin/Flower.

Day 82 – From Tentsite to Donner Pass, mile 1153.

July 11.

After yesterdays 25 miles/40km, we wanted to keep doing 25 miles today and tomorrow as well. That will leave 20 to come into Sierra City on Friday evening.
Started 6.30am – after watching a beautiful sunrise during breakfast.

Short break at 9am with 7 miles done.

The beauty of the landscape kept motivating us…

The afternoon got longer and longer. While we had again done the first 15 miles before 1pm, we realized that there was no tentsite in the maps around mile 1150, so we pushed on to Donner Pass around 1153. At Donner pass is a small Ski Ranch that offers free 1 liter beer for hikers. 😜

As it got later and later, I offered to run ahead the last miles to make it to the restaurant before the kitchen closes. I made it at 7.56pm, just before 8pm. Cactass and Tinkle came in about 20min later. We enjoyed burgers, wingsand the free beer. No big surprise – at 9.30pm we were wasted and had no more energy to push on. Coincidentally the Ski ranch also has hostel beds available – paid 30USD for a bed and a shower.

28 miles – long day.

Day 81 – From Heather Lake to tentsite, mile 1126

July 10.

Started 6.20am, full of motivation to do a long mile day. The beautiful views made every mile worthwhile.

Just before coming up to Dicks Pass, a very brave marmot came close and started eating some grass just a meter away.

Made it up to Dicks Pass at 8.15am.

Lunch break 12.30pm with 14.6 miles done. Good base for 25 miles today.

Left Desolation Wilderness – a very beautiful part of the trail.

Arrived at tentsite mile 1126 around 6.30pm. fetching water .2 miles away. Washed feet and legs.

Dinner. Amazing view. 25 miles. Happy and satisfied.

Day 80 – From South Lake Tahoe/Hwy15 crossing to Heather Lake, mile 1101

July 9.

We took Lime scooters to ride to the South end of South Lake Tahoe for a better chance to get a hitchhike back to trail. We were waiting for packages for Tinkle and Cactass.

Had a late breakfast at IHOP.