Well, 2017 is going to be the year of yet another thru hike for NoKey and me! It was great being able to get out and go hiking in 2015 and, due to the fact that money is pretty much required to have a decent living where we are, we had to jump right back in and get to work after our hike. I was fortunate enough to fall right into life as a backpacking guide almost immediately and now NoKey is joining the fun for 2017! However, even though backpacking for a living is a pretty great way to stay connected to the trail, it can be difficult to feel like you're getting the experience YOU want while out there. On guided backpacking trips I'm often teaching beginners the basics of backpacking, meaning we start out doing beginner miles. While I love teaching others the ways to safely begin backpacking and avoiding injuries, I often crave hiking long and hard days. This is why getting away to take a thru hike is so important for me every few years.
With both NoKey and myself working as guides now, we needed to set up a trip we could take during the not so busy weeks between July 4th and Labor Day weekend. This year, we have decided to tackle the Tahoe Rim Trail! This 167-mile loop can be done in approximately 10 days, which means we could take two weeks off to travel, thru hike, take a zero or two, and fly back home. For us, it was a no-brainer!
The Tahoe Rim Trail is fairly new as far as trail systems are concerned - only officially designated in 2001. This multiuse trail can be used year-round for biking, snowshoeing, and hiking. Part of the trail also shares the Pacific Crest Trail, so we'll get a taste of the PCT while we're out hiking in California and Nevada. We are super excited to hit this trail, especially since neither of us have done any hiking at elevations like this before. In the next few months, I'll be posting updates about recipe planning and thru hike planning/gear trade-offs we'll be doing in order to get ready for our adventure. I can't wait to share these things with you guys!
Have you ever been to the Tahoe Region for hiking or recreation? Are there any "must stop" places you'd recommend?