I'm camped a few miles from the city of South Lake Tahoe. Took a zero there and ran errands. Also watched Purge 3. Junk food and film are way more enjoyable on the trail. Shared a hostel room with two Australian tourists who were honestly pretty annoying. Glad to be back on the trail. I'm officially done with the Sierra Nevada and now in NorCal. There's a lot of talk about how much hotter and flatter it'll be. Also, how much more boring the scenery. I passed by Lake Aloha though today, which was gorgeous. White capped waves.
Getting here from Kennedy Meadows North was pretty nice. The mountains gave way to columns of volcanic rock and meadows. It was a weird mix of desert and alpine.
Gear Report
I sent home my ice axe, waterproof socks, wool gloves, hiking pants, and microspikes. The waterproof socks were a last minute addition that I didn't see on any gear lists before the trail, but were mentioned in a PCT 2016 Facebook group as being helpful in the Sierra. They worked really well, and while they did wet out eventually, my feet generally stayed much warmer. I'd definitely recommend them for average and above snow years. Also received my Patagonia Alpine Houdini pants. These things are super light and trim fitting.
The big change is my shelter. I ordered a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 tent and groundsheet. This weighs about the same as my TarpTent Moment DW, but is freestanding and less finicky to pitch. It has a side entrance unlike the even lighter Fly Creek. What's the deal with pitching the Moment DW using its two stakes? Well, there are a lot of straps to tighten, but the main thing is that the silnylon loses tension when it gets cold. So a taut tent when you go to bed becomes a loose, flappy, and weak tent a few hours later. And then the winds pick up and one end collapses. I've got a lot more to say about Henry Shires's TarpTents. The geometries are really innovative and his tents are affordable. They just sacrifice a bit too much livability for me, with the sagging and condensation, which are well known drawbacks. His tents tend to review really well but get swapped out for something more conventional by normal backpackers. This is my third TarpTent, and probably my last.
Injury Report
Some pain and tingling in my right glute. I think it's a pinched nerve from my pack not being fitted right. Adjusted pack straps and hip belt to position my pack higher on my back. Weird soreness inside my left knee joint. Almost feels like a muscle tear, but I don't recall ever feeling the initial tear. Really, really hope it's not a tear, because that could knock me out for over a week
Getting here from Kennedy Meadows North was pretty nice. The mountains gave way to columns of volcanic rock and meadows. It was a weird mix of desert and alpine.
Gear Report
I sent home my ice axe, waterproof socks, wool gloves, hiking pants, and microspikes. The waterproof socks were a last minute addition that I didn't see on any gear lists before the trail, but were mentioned in a PCT 2016 Facebook group as being helpful in the Sierra. They worked really well, and while they did wet out eventually, my feet generally stayed much warmer. I'd definitely recommend them for average and above snow years. Also received my Patagonia Alpine Houdini pants. These things are super light and trim fitting.
The big change is my shelter. I ordered a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 tent and groundsheet. This weighs about the same as my TarpTent Moment DW, but is freestanding and less finicky to pitch. It has a side entrance unlike the even lighter Fly Creek. What's the deal with pitching the Moment DW using its two stakes? Well, there are a lot of straps to tighten, but the main thing is that the silnylon loses tension when it gets cold. So a taut tent when you go to bed becomes a loose, flappy, and weak tent a few hours later. And then the winds pick up and one end collapses. I've got a lot more to say about Henry Shires's TarpTents. The geometries are really innovative and his tents are affordable. They just sacrifice a bit too much livability for me, with the sagging and condensation, which are well known drawbacks. His tents tend to review really well but get swapped out for something more conventional by normal backpackers. This is my third TarpTent, and probably my last.
Injury Report
Some pain and tingling in my right glute. I think it's a pinched nerve from my pack not being fitted right. Adjusted pack straps and hip belt to position my pack higher on my back. Weird soreness inside my left knee joint. Almost feels like a muscle tear, but I don't recall ever feeling the initial tear. Really, really hope it's not a tear, because that could knock me out for over a week
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