Sept. 5, Mon.–9.5 miles–Sierras J Echo Lake Resort

Monday, September 5th, 2005

Mon. Sept. 5       Miles today: 9.5       Total so far: 2,008.5         End Sierras Section J     Echo Lake

We were very quick to load up our packs and get on the trail this morning!  Early on, we made quick progress along a relatively easy trail through thriving forests and bright green meadows, silver with frost in the low spots.  Views of Lake Tahoe got better and better.  Then bummer, the trail went from “nice downhill dirt” to rotten rocks.  Instead of zipping along to Echo Lake, I was slowly picking my way down the rocks. GRRR!  We did come to a section where a volunteer trail crew had been hard at work.  Much better!  The crew were lined up for breakfast when we went by their “base camp”.  Oh man, bacon, eggs…did it ever smell good! 

Finally we reached busy Highway 50 and scurried across, only to face a stiff climb up to the top of the hill and down to the Echo Lake Resort. The post office was still open, our resupply box was waiting for us, and we ate an early lunch (10 am) of big roast beef sandwiches, ice cream, etc.  A call to trail angel “Ziggy” of the South Shore Inn in South Lake Tahoe assured us that he had room for us, but couldn’t pick us up till 5:00 pm.  We said we’d hitch a ride down, and he promised us a ride back to the trail.  So we grabbed our packs, strolled up the resort exit road to what looked like a good hitch-hike spot, and tried flagging down a ride.  But the problem was, everybody was headed HOME for points to the west–nobody was going to Lake Tahoe!

I was starting to be a bit concerned, when whom should we see but the three older backpackers we’d been leapfrogging with!  They offered us a ride, and we were thrilled!  I got a picture of one of their very unique backpacks.  It turned out that one of them really wanted to meet the famous Ziggy of South Shore Inn.  So not only did we get a ride down the mountain, but were taken right to the Inn door.  There was Ziggy himself, very warm and welcoming.  The Inn turned out to be very comfortable, and close to everything.  We washed ourselves and our clothes, sorted through our packs, took out everything we felt we didn’t need anymore, and put those things in the now-empty bear cans to mail home.

Then it was time to EAT.  We went to a buffet and totally pigged out, before going back to rest and make phone calls.  Oh yes, we also did check out the nearby shopping center to see the resources there, and try to find trek poles for Bill at the sports store.  No luck–they only had ski poles.  We decided to try some other places tomorrow, since we are taking a BADLY need “zero day.”  It was wonderful to return to the Inn and collapse on a nice, soft, comfortable bed.  We both slept like logs.

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