INTO SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
PCT DAY 65: Mile 1085 – Mile 1091.5 (Highway 50)
Friday June 17, 2016: 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
We only had 6.5 miles to reach Highway 50 and hitch a ride into South Lake Tahoe where a hamburger and chocolate milk shake awaited. For the last few nights I have been waking up in the middle of the night, dreaming of a bacon hamburger while Hammer for some reason was thinking of lasagne.
We were up and packed just after 6 am and Hammer confidently predicted we’ll be hitting the highway just after 9. Well the trail had other ideas, it has no easy miles. We were still in the forest and in deep snow which was icy early in the morning. Combined with a steep descent which wound its way down to the valley floor, made for slow progress.
It was around 10 when we emerged near the car park off the highway. There was a large group gathered there so we walked around so as not to disturb them. They were high school and college students with their educators. One came over to us and asked if we were thru-hikers. On our reply she asked if we would mind speaking to the group as they were doing some trail work. It was an honour to do so.
Half an hour later we were on the highway hitching a ride for the 9 miles into town. We did not wait long before a young guy picked us up. He was a parachute instructor on his way to Carson City to take some students flying.
He dropped us off just outside the Lake of the Sky Outfitters. What providence, inside we met up with Thor a young hiker we last saw in Yosemite. We had coffee in the store while catching up on our respective experiences over the past 8 days.
South Lake Tahoe is a huge spread out city. We booked a hotel and on the way to our accommodation finally stopped for a burger and shake. It tasted unreal after waiting for so long. Hammer did not have enough and ordered a chocolate brownie with enormous scoops of ice cream. Sorry there are no pictures of the food, too busy eating.
We checked into the hotel, had a shower, did our laundry and shopped for our food resupply before retiring for the day.
