Fwd: Re: [pct-l] TahoeAdvicePlease

[vhoyt at cisco.com (Vicki G. Hoyt)]

Firefly

Although not on Lake Tahoe, the following is in the general direction of 
Lake Tahoe:

Take 395 south to Mt. Rose Hwy (Hwy 431) and head west.  Turn right on 
Timberline Dr. (like its name, it is just before/at the edge of the forest) 
and follow to dirt. Continue on and cross small bridge. There's a small 
trailhead sign for Thomas Creek trail.  When facing the sign to your left 
is a dirt road which you can drive back on to some camping areas near the 
creek (go far enough back and there is even a port-a-potie.  The creek is 
running. No permit required and camping is allowed up to 5 days, no charge 
that I am aware of.  Desert, riparian, and sub-alpine transition 
zones.  Although bears are possible, they are unlikely in this area. Look 
for sightings of Western Tanagers (birds -beautiful yellow & black with red 
heads). Thomas Creek trail runs through here. 4 mi., 800+ gain. and 
connects (I think) to the Jones Creek/ White's Loop trail 
http://greatbasinbicycles.com/Maps/jones_creek.htm in Galena Creek Park 
(there may even be camping available at Galena Creek Park but I am not 
sure) 
http://www.nevadadventures.com/recsites/washoeco/galenastatepark.html). 
 From there just get back on the Mt.Rose/431 Hwy and it will take you to 
Lake Tahoe.

Or you can take Hwy 395 south past Carson and to Hwy 88 (easy to miss this 
junction - look for a Denny's on the right in a strip mall area) to Hwy 
89.  From the junction of 88/89, heading north toward Lake Tahoe, look for 
Forest Service road 051 on your right about 1.8 miles from the 
junction.  See the attached driving directions for the Freels Peak 
Trailhead, route A.  Be sure to set the odometer to zero as you pull onto 
FS-051; these directions are amazingly good (I didn't do them, so am not 
patting myself on the back here). You can camp out there off of FS-051-F 
(note the flat metal post with this sign is lying flat on the ground so can 
easily be overlooked) without a permit and no charge.  The creek is also 
running. Once again, bears are possible but I haven't seen any.  I camped 
there over the 4th of July weekend and actually left food in the vehicle 
without any problems.  Also camped by Star Lake with no evidence of bear 
activity. (But lots of interested squirrels & chipmunks). By following the 
directions on the attachment, you will reach Armstrong Pass on the Tahoe 
Rim Trail (TRT).  You can head in two directions, one is 9 miles back to 
TRT trailhead on Hwy 89 a few miles from Lake Tahoe or 5 miles to Star Lake 
(very beautiful, pristine and serene - good fishing too  if you have a 
licence).   The one downside is that about 300 foot off of FS-051, there 
are some MAJOR bumps in the road - very difficult for a low clearance 
vehicle.  I made it in my little two-wheel drive Nissan pick-up by backing 
up quite a bit, getting a running start and keeping so far to the left that 
I brushed the bushes on the driver's side. If you have rear-wheel drive, a 
little weight in the back helps also.  Also the hiking/backpacking from 
here is not a loop. You can continue backpacking past Star and come out to 
another road (sorry I forget which one) closer to Tahoe or take one of the 
bike trails down to Tahoe area.

Go to http://topowest.com/main.html  to view topos of the area - 
unfortunately the TRT doesn't seem to be on any of these topos.  But here's 
the URL for the TRT org  http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/  or 
http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/thru_hike.htm for more trail and water 
information.

There are no doubt other places, but I haven't lived here that long so am 
still trying to discover them.

Have fun!
vh



>Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 16:35:12 -0700
>To: "firefly" <firefly@eatel.net>
>From: "Vicki G. Hoyt" <vhoyt@cisco.com>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] TahoeAdvicePlease
>
>This website might help you.
>
>http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/
>http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/thru_hike.htm
>
>
>
>At 01:03 PM 7/7/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>>Hi, I was sent here from Backpacking Light because some folks there told me
>>you all could answer my questions better than anyone else.
>>
>>I am using the occasion of a business trip to Reno, NV
>>this week to take a badly needed but last minute vacation
>>afterwards. I am grabbing rental car in Reno next Friday, July 11,
>>in the afternoon and I am returning to Reno the following Thursday,
>>July 17, in the evening, to make sure I catch my flight home the
>>following day. I have lightweight gear, including a Hennessy (best
>>purchase ever!). I am going alone, which I have done many times
>>before, but always in areas I know very well, like the Grand Canyon,
>>or on occasions when I have taken a lot of time to research and
>>plan. I am very experienced, (3 Outward Bounds), not in the best
>>shape of my life, but still can handle an hour on the steepest
>>incline on the treadmill with no problem.
>>
>>I have scanned websites researching trails and the ones around and
>>near Lake Tahoe, including Desolation Wilderness, are the most
>>appealing. My thought was to stay in a campground or hotel the first
>>Friday/Saturday night (next weekend), but the CA state parks
>>campgrounds are all booked, and the hotels in Tahoe are OUTRAGEOUSLY
>>priced. Here are my questions:
>>1. Where do I have a shot of getting a place to car camp the first 2
>>nights in the Tahoe area? I need a place where I can hang my
>>hammock. I read something somewhere about Tom Hennessy getting very
>>aggravated with some CA authorities who would not let him hang his
>>hammocks for display. I would like to spend the weekend there and
>>rent a sea kayak for half a day and just generally get my bearings
>>before I head out backpacking.
>>2. After that, do any of you have a suggested itinerary for 5 days,
>>4 nights, or 4 days, 3 nights, on a trail that will take me back to
>>my car? Would the Tahoe Rim Trail do it? How about Desolation Wilderness or
>>a
>>section of the PCT?
>>3. Bears? Do I need to buy a bear-proof food holder?
>>4. Is there a better area within easy driving of Reno? I do not like
>>extreme heat, so look to avoid deserts in the summer.
>>
>>I normally plan far ahead, but both my elderly parents are very ill and I
>>have
>>been spending every spare second I am not working dealing with their care,
>>etc. My plane leaves tomorrow but I will have email access until Friday
>>Noon.
>>If any of you who know this area can take time to help me, I would
>>be very grateful! Thanks!
>>MARSANNE (in Louisiana)
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>pct-l mailing list
>>pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
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Vicki Hoyt
Cisco Systems Capital
Loan Administration
9850 Double R Blvd., 2nd Floor
Reno, NV 89521
tel (775) 789-5863
fax (775) 789-5866
email   vhoyt@cisco.com