Follow-Up Report - Wedding Ring Found!

Just a quick follow-up note to "The Long Walk II".

Nana took advantage of a beautiful day today and drove up to the Ebbetts Pass area with the intention of hiking to Asa Lake to look for her missing wedding ring.

We found that she could drive on Forest Service roads to Highland Lake which is only a couple of miles from Asa Lake on the PCT. She headed up there shortly after lunch and was on the trail by 2pm.

She arrived at Asa Lake and started looking where she last saw her ring. After a half an hour of looking, raking up the dirt and poking around, she was having no luck. Out of frustration, she kicked the dirt and cursed. As she looked down, there was her ring, standing on edge, right where she had kicked up the dirt.

Needless to say, the hike back to the car was a pleasant one...

Bill

PS: Our thanks to Bruce, another hiker they had met on the trail, for looking also. Bruce was nice enough to call a few weeks later (after finishing his trek south to Mt. Whitney) and let us know that he had been unable to find the ring either.

Day 20 - The End of the Trail...

Today, Nana and Janice awoke to a beautiful but cold morning. Their gear was covered with frost. The morning light on the lake was beautiful although there was a lot of smoke visible from fires burning in the region.


Reflections in the morning light...

After breakfast, they bushwhacked uphill to Fontanillis Lake and explored around before heading over to Dick's Lake where they went swimming and had a bite to eat.


Fontanillis Lake...


Nana enjoys her last day on the trail...

After lunch, they headed back to the Bayview Trail where they went east until they intersected the Eagle Lake Trail. From there, they headed downhill to Emerald Bay where I was waiting with cold beer!


Janice, Nana and Kona at the end of the journey...

Thus brings an end to "The Long Walk II" for 2007. Thanks for following along on the adventures of The Mud Tribe.

See ya next year where we are planning an extended trip into the high country of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks...

Bill

Day 19 - Gilmore Lake to Middle Velma Lake...

Today marks some changes for the ladies of The Mud Tribe. Janet has decided to head back home to prepare for a 100 mile bike ride this coming weekend in the Mt. Shasta area. She will be exiting The Long Walk II at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe this afternoon. But, Nana will not have to finish alone as a friend of hers, Janice will be hiking into Desolation to join her for the final night before exiting at Eagle Falls on Wednesday. Janice is also bringing along her dog, Kona.

After leaving Gilmore Lake, the ladies climbed Dick's Pass before dropping down to Dick's Lake and then left the PCT to head east on the Bayview Trail.


Dick's Lake, (foreground) Fontanillis Lake (back left) and Upper Velma Lake(back right)

I took the opportunity of having the day off and hiked in with Janice & Kona from the Bayview Trailhead at Emerald Bay to surprise Nana and Janet for lunch. They had already planned to meet Janice at 12:30pm near the Fontanillis Lake trail junction, some 5 miles uphill.


Janice gets ready to hoist her pack...

Although the trail climbs steeply for the first couple of miles, the views are well worth it. You can see Emerald Bay below as well as most of Lake Tahoe, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake and Granite Lake.


Janice and Kona at the entrance to Desolation Wilderness...


Beautiful views of Emerald Bay...

Shortly after 12:30pm, we met up with the ladies west of the Velma Lakes trail junction. Unfortunately, Mother Nature once again was messing with things with winds gusting over 30mph and temps some 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. It was downright chilly up there with only a short sleeved T-Shirt to my name.


Janet, Janice, Nana and Kona on the trail...

Nana and Janice mulled over the maps and their plans during lunch. They decided that their original destination, Fontanillis Lake was too exposed and would be miserable with the winds (which are predicted to continue all night) and cooler temps. So, they modified their itinerary and headed for the Velma Lakes which are more sheltered and sit below the ridgeline. This would put them in a position to finish the trip tomorrow, one day early, at Emerald Bay in lieu of at Meeks Bay on Thursday.

With that decision made, we all headed down the trail to the Velma Lakes junction where Nana and Janice headed north while Janet and I headed east, back to the Bayview trailhead.


Janet bids Nana and Janice farewell...

A few miles and a couple of hours later, Janet and I were at the parking lot saying goodbye. It was the end of the journey for Janet after 19 days and some 170 miles of trail. Another "Long Walk" under her belt.

After leaving us, Nana and Janice hiked in to Upper Velma Lake and found a nice spot to camp in the rocks which gave them some shelter from the wind.


Janice enjoys a glass of wine with dinner...

The wind did finally die down and they settled in for the evening.

Bill

Day 18 - Echo Summit to Gilmore Lake...

This morning the ladies hit the trail again and headed into Desolation Wilderness from the Echo Summit area. Their destination was Gilmore Lake, 10 miles up the trail. Sophie headed back home, content with her segment between Sonora and Carson Passes.


Echo Lakes Ferry...

Along the way, they passed Lake Aloha which sits in a large granite bowl. They noticed that the water levels were way down this year due to the dry conditions.


Lake Aloha...

They got to Gilmore and got camp set up in the early afternoon. Since there were several hours of daylight left, they decided to take a side trip and climbed Mt. Tallac, a popular Tahoe landmark. Nana called me from the summit shortly after 6pm to tell me of their adventure and to check in.


On top of Mt. Tallac...

Bill

Day 17 - Layover Day - Hope Valley...

Still in Hope Valley. The ladies are enjoying some fly fishing, some good food and good company! Oh, and they have clean clothes and full packs too...


Nana fly fishing on the East Fork of the Carson River...


Linda and Kris try their luck...

Bill

Day 16 - Layover Day - Hope Valley...

Today the ladies are enjoying a layover day at Sorensen's Resort in Hope Valley!


A Hope Valley Landmark...


Just outside our cabin...


Beautiful Grounds...


Our sunset this evening...

Bill

Day 15 - Lost Lakes to Carson Pass...

Today the ladies headed back to civilization for Labor Day Weekend. They left the Lost Lakes area and headed 7 miles north to Carson Pass along Hwy 88. Unfortunately, Mother Nature unloaded on them and it started pouring down rain which continued most of the day...


The clouds started to build early...


Here comes the rain...


Janet models the latest in ponchos...


The trailhead at Carson Pass...


Great Weather at Carson Pass...

After arriving at the trailhead, we all headed down to Sorensen's Resort in nearby Hope Valley for a weekend of rest and relaxation.

Bill

Day 14 - Pleasant Valley Creek to Lost Lakes...

Today, the gals left Pleasant Valley Creek and headed for the Lost Lakes area, some 9.1 miles north. Today provided some pretty scenery and touches of civilization as they crossed popular Blue Lakes Road.


Anyone got a beer?


Great clouds...


Interesting scenery...


Janet takes a quick nap, lakeside...


Sophie sacks out in camp...


Again, they are treated to a beautiful sunset...

Bill

Day 13 - Upper Kinney Lake to Pleasant Valley Creek...

This morning the gals left Upper Kinney Lake and headed towards Pleasant Valley Creek, some 10.7 miles distant. The day's terrain was again, quite dry and as the ladies said, "un-inspiring". Their general impression of the route from Sonora Pass to Ebbetts Pass was that it was generally boring.


PCT Northbound...


The clouds are building again...


The long dusty trail winds downhill...

Although the region was getting hit hard by thunderstorms, the ladies stayed dry on this afternoon. They hit camp early and turned in for the day.

Bill

Day 12 - Asa Lake to Kinney Lakes...

Today the ladies left Asa Lake and and headed towards Kinney Lakes near Ebbetts Pass, along Highway 4. Today was a shorter day than expected due to the extra miles packed on yesterday.


Major UFH!


Entering the Carson Iceberg Wilderness area...


This country was still pretty dry..


Close Encounters of the Cow Kind...


An American Flag on a peak in the middle of nowhere...

As you can see in the photo above, the clouds moved in and Mother Nature gave the ladies some rain. This ended up going on for several days...

Finally, they reached their destination for the evening - Upper Kinney Lake, north of Ebbetts Pass.


Interesting formations along the lake shore...


The ladies were treated to a beautiful light show and rainbow display!

Bill

Day 11 - East Carson River to Asa Lake...

Today the ladies awoke early and after a quick breakfast, headed north towards their intended destination for the day, Wolf Creek.


Janet and Sophie wait for the coffee to get warm...


Beautiful views this morning...


They found a few friendly cows along the way...

As the day wore on, the ladies came to their destination, Wolf Creek. Unfortunately, there was no water so they trudged on hoping to find more suitable accommodations for the evening. The minutes turned into hours and the miles continued to rack up. Also, the clouds moved in and they thought they might get wet but Mother Nature saved the rain for another day.


Lot's of afternoon buildups but luckily, no rain!

Finally, as the afternoon turned into evening, the ladies finally found a nice campsite next to Asa Lake, some 16.5 miles from their start this morning...


Their campsite for the night...

Bill

PS: For anyone camping near Asa Lake, please keep an eye out for Nana's wedding ring. She lost it here the next morning after washing her hands :-( - Uppdate 9/26 FOUND!

Day 10 - Sonora Pass to East Carson River Trail...

Today the ladies ventured back to the high country, heading north from Sonora Pass. Their destination was the East Carson River Trail, some 9.3 miles distant. This morning's route is dry and volcanic in nature for the first several miles until they get north of Wolf Creek Lake. They are being joined by another well traveled lady - Sophie the Golden Retriever.



Sophie is a veteran of many hikes and is also an expert back-country skier-chaser!


She even carries her own food!


They even found some wildflowers to enjoy...


Janet and Sophie enjoy the moonscape north of Sonora Pass...


Janet models the latest in dog bowl hats!

After a long day, the ladies found a nice, peaceful spot in the trees and settled in for the night.

Bill

Day 9 - Layover Day - Bridgeport...

Today the ladies are relaxing in Bridgeport enjoying some down time...


Burgers, Burritos, Ice Cream and Massage? That's what I call full service!


Nice Hats Ladies!


Potato Chip Party...

We headed up to the Ghost town of Bodie to do some exploring.


The Mud Tribe, 2007!

and now it's on to the Laundromat!

Bill