I'm considering the Tahoe Rim this September so I'm eager to hear how your hike proceeds.
It was nice to meet you at the Madison Hut in July. I hope the remainder of your hike went well.
I just completed the TRT ... Sep 2-15. My pace was obviously more leisurely than Mag's. I'd be glad to answer any questions you have.
- Airport shuttle from Reno to Crown Motel, Kings Beach ($75 round-trip).
- One night at Crown Motel ($79 inc tax). They held my pack duffel and clean street clothes while I hiked. Farther from the trail-head than Incline Village, but better value.
- Tahoe Mountain Sports, across street from Crown Motel had MSR gas canisters.
- Independent Taxi to trail-head, 530-546-8686, 866-506-8687, (
[email protected]), $40 flat rate.
- Hiked clockwise, starting and ending at Tahoe Meadows.
- Resupplied in South Tahoe and Tahoe City.
- Longest day, 18 miles, next to last day, Watson Lake to Gray Lake.
- Most seasonal creeks were dry. Relied mostly on lakes. Some creeks that were to have had reliable water were dry, e.g., Miller Creek. A few seasonal creeks on the west side unexpectedly had water.
- Two dry camps - South Camp Peak (in the trees behind "The Bench" and Twin Peaks (in the trees 100 yds south of the PCT/TRT junction).
- Forget trying to hitch from Echo Summit to South Tahoe. Most of the traffic is tourist ... couldn't get a pickup ... maybe it's my looks!
- Taxi from Echo Summit. Stay away from Lake Tahoe Taxi. Use Yellow Cab — (South Lake Tahoe) 530-542-1234. They take credit cards, too. Taxis are metered. About $40 each way to and from Days Inn in South Tahoe.
- Desolation Permit - If you need an after-hours lock-box pickup, it is only available at the Taylor Creek Visitors Center. It is not available at the Forest Service office near the Days Inn in South Tahoe. Suggest getting the permit by mail in advance. Make excuses if you don't make the entry date.
- Gas canisters are hard to find in South Tahoe. I got mine from the third place I tried ... a large sporting good store in South Tahoe, east of the Days Inn a mile or so. I suggest contacting stores by phone in advance. The first two places I tried were several miles away. I drop box to the PO or to Echo Lakes would have been a better solution.
- Days Inn - I got there after Labor Day, so I did not make reservations. No problem getting a room.
- Tahoe City - The PO is closed on Saturday. Keep that in mind if you are using a drop box.
- Got motel room in Tahoe City at half price (after Labor Day) from Americas Best Value. The Chamber of Commerce recommended Lake Tahoe Inn as the cheapest, but that place would not negotiate price, so Best Value was cheaper ($69).
- Maps - I used the Tom Harrison map, purchased in advance. Also consider the Tahoe Rim Trail Association profile map. The TRTA map was not available at any store in Kings Beach or South Tahoe, so if you want it, order it online in advance. It was available in Tahoe City at AlpenGlow Sports.
- Taxi from Tahoe Meadows back to Kings Beach. My cell phone could not get a signal. There is no pay phone. I asked someone in the parking lot to use their phone and got a signal. I called the taxi that dropped me off two weeks earlier.