This was one of those days when plans become extinct...
I was planning to hike Mount Tallac Trail with a my former colleague, but that plan did not work on so many levels. The day before he fell ill, but my intention was still to go hiking. I arrived at the trailhead only to find this sign.
A couple of other people were also debating whether to hike the trail or not. I decided to respect the rules and hike another trail.
I started with Eagle Lake Trail, a shorter trail of about 2.5 miles round trip with some elevation gain. It turned out to be very nice and not overly crowded. The lake was a great reward at the end, although it was in low 60s, so it felt even cooler than that by the water.
I knew I wanted to hike more, so I used AllTrails to find another local trail to hike. D.L. Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay State Park via Rubicon Trail came up as a suggestion, and I was on my way to the trailhead.
The trail started in the woods and then transitioned to a paved road where the campgrounds were scattered throughout the forest. Very quickly the paved roads ended, and I was back in the woods on a dirt trail on the side of another hill. The weather was perfect, the air relatively clear.
The trail continued right by the lake. What an incredible hike! I was so glad that things worked out this way as I was now able to get close to the lake. It is so deeply blue, and with the wind that day the waves were gently crashing on the shore (video to follow).
I remember visiting Lake Tahoe in 2012 when I just graduated dental hygiene school. I took the boards and came here waiting for the results. I stayed at Harvey's, the hotel I also booked this time. I remember Lake Tahoe area being rather cold in the middle of May. I liked how it looked but really didn't appreciate the views as much as I did this time. Someone told me, "How could you not like Lake Tahoe?" Now I realized it was impossible. The beauty surrounding me consumed me. There was no fear anymore, no anxiety or worries. Just peace...
There was no concrete destination of this trail, so I turned around as soon as I felt like I wanted to. I was getting tired of hiking, even in this pristine beauty. I guess everything is good in moderation. I was ready to check in my hotel, have lunch and relax.
I finished the trail around 1.30 PM and drove to Harvey's Lake Tahoe. I parked and dragged my scattered belongings to the hotel room. Unfortunately, the first room I got smelled like smoke. I called the front desk, and the kind lady offered me an upgrade in a newly renovated suite. I was lucky, so lucky, because the room was incredible.
I grabbed lunch at California Burger, a delicious black bean burger with some french fries. This was the first time I actually went out on this trip. It's interesting how people react to someone dining alone, they get nervous and somewhat cautious. I remember the days when I myself felt uncomfortable eating by myself and I'm happy to report that I'm glad those days are over.
I spent the rest of the evening lounging in a comfy bed watching a movie. The trip was coming to an end, and tomorrow would be another drive day.
I was glad I could hike all those trails, however smoky they were. Quite a bit sad seeing all this smoke knowing that so many animals died in the fires, people lost their homes and realizing that this is not the end. The fire season continues, and more forests are going to be burned. The nature will recover, and animals will repopulate those areas, but it would take time and patience. In the meantime, I was grateful for the trip and my planning abilities to enjoy lows and highs, adjust and make the best of it.
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