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DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE

Today I arrived back home and it was beautiful. I missed the profound beauty of the desert landscape but I noticed how many similarities my home has to the Lake Tahoe area.

Temperature

Most days in Lake Tahoe during our visit the high temperature was about 75º. Most days this time of year the low temperature in the desert is about 75º.

Mountains

Both areas are surrounded by incredible mountains.

The Coachella Valley is surrounded by several ranges including the Santa Rosas, the San Jacintos, the San Bernardinos and the Little San Bernardinos.

Lake Tahoe has the Sierras. I guess if you're only going to have one mountain range it's a pretty good one.

Trails

Both area have wonderful networks of trails. The Coachella Valley has over 1000 miles of hiking trails within an hour and thousands of square miles of open terrain for hiking.

Lake Tahoe doesn't have quite as much but its hiking isn't bad. At least in summer.

Lakes

We have plenty of lakes in the Coachella Valley. In fact, there's even a community in Palm Desert called THE Lakes. Additionally, we have the largest lake in California just south of here, the Salton Sea. It's not as deep as Lake Tahoe but it's bigger.

The lakes in Tahoe are lovely but I wonder what these lakes look like in February.

There are loads of positive things about both the Coachella Valley and the Lake Tahoe area but there's only one place that I could ever undertake an endeavor like hiking every day and that's here. Lake Tahoe is a great place to visit but....

On The Road Again

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165 mile trail that encircles Lake Tahoe. Along with the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier in Washington and the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood in Oregon it is one of the great loop trails in the United States. Since we had to leave to head back to Southern California today I didn't have time to do the whole thing today but I wanted to get a little taste of it before I left. Fortunately, a little section of it is about four miles from our hotel.

Now the directions I get are not real good but while I'm driving up the road I spot this sign for a park and figure I'll try going there and see what I come up with.

It's a pretty good guess because I find the trailhead no problem. One thing I've discovered here is the area has very good signage, at least AT the trailheads. At home in the desert the signage is terrible, everywhere.

The Tahoe Rim Trail is a multi-use trail for a large portion of its 165 miles and that is evident here with mountain bike tracks on the trail.

It is not too long on the trail before I get a view of the lake in the distance.

I also get a view of Castle Rock. I don't think there is anywhere I hike that does not have a place called Castle Rock. I think when people place a permanent name on something they should at least use a little imagination.

The view of the lake really opens up and if you look real close you can see a hot air balloon over the lake. I think that is the one outing the wife didn't plan on this trip.

Looking to the west there is a nice view of Mount Tallac.

I've had nice views along the trail so I really look forward to the view from the Vista this sign points to.

It is somewhat disappointing unless you came up here for a vista of trees. I don't know who put this sign here but this must be the wrong place or someone is playing a joke on everyone.

I head back to the trail and come to a fork and take it, heading to the right.

I soon discover that this is NOT the way I want to go. It leads downhill and away from the direction I want to go. The trail is fairly new and not on the topo in a lot of areas. I'll just go exploring.

I follow the trail around keeping Castle Rock in view as a good way to determine my location. I come to another fork and head left this time. This should take me back.

This route brings me back toward the parking area and to a gate that blocks an old road. THAT is on the map but not most of the other trails I hiked on.

I get to the road just down from where I parked and now have to head back and get ready for the long drive to Orange County. The wife has to go to a conference there tomorrow so our Tahoe adventure is over for this year but we'll definitely be back. I've got a lot more trails to explore here and the wife still has parasailing, jet skiing and hot air ballooning to do.

Crossing The Rubicon, Part Two

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO, CONTINUED

After we left the Taylor Creek Visitor Area we went to the D. L. Bliss State Park to drop me off at the trailhead for the Rubicon Trail. Unlike the Forest Service area, parking at the State Park cost money, $8.00. Instead of paying the eight bucks the family dropped me off at the entrance and I walked down to the trailhead. There is a trailhead a bit further down but I'll forgo starting there and walk 3.6 miles instead of 5. Of course, three of the miles will be three rare undeveloped miles along the lake. While I am hiking along the shore my family will walk down to Vikingsholm where I'll meet them.

I get to the trailhead and start hiking. I'm sorry I missed the beginning section of the trail but that'll give me something to do next time I come up to Tahoe.

This first section of the trail is beautiful and I wish I'd brought my running clothing. We don't have too many running trails like this at home and it'd be fun to take advantage of it.

Of course it would be tough to keep my eyes on the trail and I'd probably biff it.

The trail drops down closer to the lake and I get to walk along this beautiful untouched section of the lake.

The water is clear and tempting but I didn't wear a swimsuit so I'll content myself with hiking.

I get to a place where the topo map I have shows the trail following around the peninsula near the water but I don't see it anywhere.

So I do a little cross country excursion to see if it still exists.

It looks like the trail is in need of a little maintenance.

Of course, I don't really need a trail anyway. If I just keep the water to my left I'll be heading the right direction.

After a little hiking on the non-existent trail I get to a little beach where somebody is having a little picnic. I don't want to interrupt to ask where the trail is so I just continue hiking.

It wouldn't matter anyway since they kayaked into this little sandy beach.

I finally get back on the trail and hike until I get to a campground area. It's odd because I don't remember seeing a road down to this campground.

And there's a good reason why. This is a boat-in only campground. It's got a nice pier and moorings for boats but no road. I'd love to stay here sometime, just as soon as I get a boat.

When I get to the Vikingsholm area I see Nikolas enjoying the water and some of the toys available for kids to use. He didn't let the fact that he wasn't wearing a swimsuit keep him from enjoying the water. When I was ten I'd be doing the same thing, too.

The Rubicon Trail is easy and offers a great opportunity to see an unspoiled part of Lake Tahoe that is only available to those who take the time to hike it. Just remember to wear a swimsuit.

Crossing the Rubicon, Part 1

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO

After yesterday's family hike I was ready for something different and, to be honest, so were they. I came up with an idea that would give them something to do and I'd be able to take a bit longer hike. I had them drop me off at the D. L. Bliss State Park so I could hike the Rubicon Hiking Trail --not to be confused with the Rubicon Jeep Trail--along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe back to Emerald Bay. They'd hike down the Vikingsholm and meet me there.

But first we made a little stop along the way. We stopped at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. The Visitor Center has a number of nature hikes that are well suited for families and we took the Rainbow Trail. Why they called it that I don't know but we didn't see any rainbows when we were there.

The trail starts with this nifty sign and the first part of it is paved. Oh, joy. You may be able to gather from my glee that this was not my idea.

The trail wanders by several interpretive signs and gets to a point where it overlooks the Taylor Creek Marsh. This area is different than any other I've seen in Tahoe. The diversity of landscapes here is amazing.

You follow a little boardwalk for part of the walk so as not to damage the fragile ecosystem of the marsh. Taylor Creek becomes more visible as you progress on the hike.

Harrison and Papa look out over the creek and wonder why we don't have any fishing gear. There are certainly fish to be had here but I don't now if that's what the Forest Service has in mind for this interpretive area.

As part of the hike there is a thing they call a "Stream Profile". Basically, it's an underground area with a big aquarium so you can see the fish through glass. There are also several educational exhibits in the underground chamber.

This is what a stream looks like from under the water. It reminds my of going to Bass Pro Shop only not as nice.

They do have nicer fish, though. Being a mountain guy I am partial to trout. I think it's a far more beautiful fish than bass. Bass are kind of bland looking, like the lakes they are generally caught in. Trout are beautiful, especially sauteed in olive oil with some almonds.

Next up we head over to the Rubicon Trail and leave me by the side of the road.

Family Hiking and Rafting at Lake Tahoe

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY ONE

Today the wife booked us on a rafting trip on the Truckee River and so the family had to go hiking with me on the way to our adventure. After yesterday's run up Mount Tallac I am happy for an easy family type hike.

We go back to the Eagle Falls and Lake trailhead and this time I'm actually going to hike to Eagle Lake. The family will be coming along to the falls but probably not beyond that.

The trail is well maintained and very popular. Since the falls are only a 1 mile round trip a lot of people hike this trail. It is very popular with families.

We get to this heavy duty bridge where the falls are and ALL the family members decide to stay here. That's OK; I'm glad they made the effort.

I think they looked ahead and saw the steps going uphill. This was the toughest part, though. Once you're past this it's pretty much a breeze.

I enter the wilderness and notice there are lots of dogs on the all the trails in the Tahoe area. Kahlua would love it here.

I love the cool temperatures, the lush vegetation and the shade.

Of course, there are enough rocks around the remind me of some of the hikes at home.

But the abundance of water brings me back. There's NOTHING like this back home in the desert. While Eagle Lake is just a little lake it is a worthy hike and I wish the family would have come all the way up to see it. I'll make sure they do on our next visit.

I get to the bridge and find them still there. They'd explored around a little and decided to wait for me. How sweet of them! We head down the rest of the trail and are off to our rafting adventure.

There are some pictures of our rafting trip posted at: Truckee River Photos.

You have to enter the company we went with: Tributary Whitewater Tours

Then enter the date we went 19 August 2009. We were group 7.

Group ten wiped out going down this rapid and there pictures are pretty good.