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TRT through ride 2019 Members of the 2nd California Cavalry Company "F" completed a thru-ride/expedition of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Troopers present: 1st Sgt. William Baldwin (Brian Frontella) QMSgt. Thomas Carter (Rob Wangberg) Pvt. O.H. Cambridge (Shawn Mainville) Resupplies courtesy Pvt. and Mrs. Patrick Shannon (David and Shawn Brown) Equines: JD Cana Domingo Pack string: Buck (mule) Geri (mule) Zuni (horse) Date(s): 9/23/2019-10/08/2019. Album by 2nd cal cav member. 1 - 480 of 480 Total. 6678 Visits.
1 Day 1- Noon, September 23rd, 2019 Preparing to leave Tahoe City, destination- Watson Lake 2 Meeting of the minds "What do you think, guys? Just an out-and-back today, right"? 3 Pvt. O. H. Cambridge Fresh and ready for patrol. Mile 0 Elevation 6322 ft. 4 On the trail The initial climb from the trailhead is a good workout. 5 Lake Tahoe The first of many great views of the lake. 6 On the rim With 10 miles to go today. 7 Pvt. Cambridge riding "drag" For 98% of the trip. Mile 3.3 Elevation 7000 ft. 8 Thunder Cliff Views of the Truckee and Donner Lake areas to the north. 9 Pvt. Cambridge on mount Domingo Pack horse "Zuni" in foreground 10 11 The view forward doesn't change much, does it Pvt? 12 Taking a break to adjust equipment Production value: Note bald eagle soaring overhead. 13 1st Sgt William Baldwin On loyal steed JD 14 Different perspective Photo NOT from the back of a horse. 15 Lake Tahoe One never tires of Tahoe's beauty. 16 About 1600 hrs, 1st day Shadows getting longer. 17 Campsite selected Not perfect, but within regulations. 18 Watson Lake Mile 13.5 Elevation 7775 ft. 19 Watson Lake As the sun rises. 20 Day 2 begins Watering the beasts before continuing the journey. 21 Quarter Master Sgt Thomas Carter Leading the supply train on solid mount Cana. 22 17 miles to go Destination - Mud Lake 23 Day 2- 1040 hrs Some water and forage to be had early in the day. 24 Pvt. O. H. Cambridge In a rare occasion, not riding "drag". 25 1300 hrs Taking advantage of available forage to graze and rest. 26 27 28 2215 hrs. Heading to Mud Lake. 29 Described as "meadow". I think of "grass" when I hear the term "meadow". 30 Pvt. Cambridge Also believes meadows should have grass. 31 We haven't seen the lake in awhile.... 32 There it is! 33 Getting rocky No lack of granite here. 34 It IS a big lake On day 2, the prospect of riding all the way around is daunting. 35 We have entered Nevada 36 Mile 27 Elevation 9000 ft. 37 38 1st Sgt and QMSgt Topping one of many rises in the trail. 39 Switchback Some of the better opportunities to take photos come at switchbacks. 40 One of the best views Lake Tahoe from the northern end. 41 42 43 1630 hrs. Not only granite, but some shale too. Watch your step. 44 45 Unpacked Setting up camp after an "adventurous" decent to Mud Lake. 46 1730 hrs Mile 31 Elevation 9300 ft 47 Mud Lake Lake shore is sandy with small rocks. Water clear. Never located mud. 48 49 Steep climb Taxing side hill getting back to the trail from Mud Lake, but on our way again. 50 Day 3 - Mud Lake to Tahoe Meadows Left Mud Lake at 1030 hrs with a 10 mile leg ahead of us. 51 52 Following along Pvt. Cambridge with pack mule Geri close behind. 53 1st Sgt Baldwin on JD followed by Buck the mule and Pvt. Cambridge riding Domingo. 54 More switch backs 55 56 57 20190925 115536 58 Looking North Views of Slab Cliffs 59 "Sit up straight for a photo op" "I don't want my horse to back up". 60 Valid concern Wouldn't want to leave trail on that side. 61 62 63 1st Sgt Baldwin Pvt Cambridge and Mule Geri 64 Final ascent Approaching Relay Peak 65 66 Almost there 67 68 Made it! Relay Peak Mile 34.4 Elevation 10285 ft. 69 QMSgt T. Carter With pack horse Zuni atop Relay Peak. 70 71 Surveying the area 1st Sgt. Baldwin takes in the sites. 72 Our direction of travel Tahoe meadows on the right, Snow Pond and Third Creek center left. 73 1230 hours - Relay Peak 74 Panorama 75 Well deserved break 76 Nowhere to go but down Continuing on equestrian cutoff. 77 Snow Pond Mile 37 Plenty of water and grass. 78 1630 hrs - Tahoe Meadows After a small detour concerning equestrian approved trails, we continue to our planned destination. 79 Looking back Mt. Rose summit 80 Campsite selected Mile 42 Elevation 8525 ft. Per regulations, 100 ft from the trail, 500 feet from Ophir Creek. 81 Making a friend Pvt Cambridge or Dr. Doolittle? 82 Day 4 - Tahoe Meadows to Marlette Campground "Boots and saddles"! Prepared to depart at 1000 hrs. 83 Forest thinning out 13 miles to Marlette Peak Campground. 84 Expecting dry conditions There is reported to be little or no water for the next 30+ miles. 85 Laden All pack animals weighed down with extra water. 86 Cavalry on the march 87 Approaching east side of mountain range 88 View of Carson Valley 89 Washoe Lake Mile 46.8 Elevation 8400 ft. 90 91 Trail well maintained 92 Near the ridge Back to views of Lake Tahoe 93 1200 hrs 94 Still a pleasant day It is getting windy. 95 1330 hrs Mile 51 Elevation 7890 ft. A welcome stop for water at Twin Lakes. 96 97 98 99 100 1400 hrs On the ridge line again. 101 102 Definately windy 103 104 Hold on to your hats Marlette Lake with Lake Tahoe in distance. 105 106 Herlan Peak Mile 52 107 Marlette Peak Campground Elevation 8290 ft. 108 1800 hrs Camp established, but still windy. No fire tonight- The only place on the trail campfires are allowed. 109 Day 5 - 0700 hrs Uninvited guest wants to join us for breakfast. Video at end of photos 110 On the trail - Day 5 Heading for Spooner Summit 111 QMSgt. Thomas Carter 112 1200 hrs Nearing the open face of the mountain facing Lake Tahoe. 113 13 miles expected today. 114 Narrow trail alert 115 Pack animals are wide Had to circumnavigate one spot too narrow for packs. 116 117 Marlette and Tahoe 118 119 120 121 Hold on to your ha...... 122 Never mind. 123 Marlette Lake Mile 57.4 Elevation 8900 ft. 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 Mile 60.5 Elevation 8100 ft. 133 How far? Sign at Spooner Summit trailhead 134 Edible The trail appearing as a nutritional value chart. 135 Camp- End of day 5 Such as it is in a campsite sparse environment 136 Making the best of it Close to Hwy 50. The tent will blow down within 5 minutes anyway. 137 Some grass No water without traveling over a mile to Spooner Lake. 138 Day 6 - 0745 hrs Awaiting resupply wagon. 139 Equestrian Trailhead- Hwy 50 Mile 65.5 Elevation 7150 ft. 140 141 Spooner Lake 142 Fed and watered Freshly resupplied, off to Kingsbury Grade- 14 miles to go. 143 1230 hrs More views of Lake Tahoe. 144 Hauling water again Not expecting any available water until tomorrow. 145 146 Ominus clouds the ever-present wind might be blowing in a storm. 147 Mile 67 Elevation 8150 ft. 148 149 Weather's changing Windy and cold 150 Near Genoa Peak Mile 70 Elevation 8400 ft. 151 Storm approaches 152 Great coats When you need them, they really are great coats. 153 Mile 77 Elevation 7350 ft. 154 Decieving sunshine 155 1st Sgt Baldwin Better snow then rain I suppose. 156 1700 hrs. Hopefully, closing in on a campsite. 157 1800 hrs. We camp here. Break out the medicinal fluid. 158 Campsite Mile 78.5 Elevation 7000 ft. Just below Kingsbury Grade. 159 Day 7 - 0715 hrs More snow accumulation overnight. Video of private "hatching" at end. 160 Cold, but no wind 161 1100 hrs Beginning the ascent to Star Lake 162 Snowy trail Snow sticks to boots and horseshoes. 163 1200 hrs The trail is obvious in some places, other times we are following footprints from previous hikers. 164 9 miles to Star Lake 165 Heavenly. No stranger to snow Mile 81.4 Elevation 7825 ft. Passing one of several ski lifts. 166 Cooling off again Time to don great coats. 167 168 169 Impressive flora Mile 85.2 Elevation 8450 ft 170 Carson Valley On the eastern edge again. 171 1600 hrs. More snow accumulation at higher elevations. 172 173 Peak above Star Lake Mile 89.6 174 Star Lake Elevation = 9200 ft 175 Wind Note the wind traveling toward us across the lake. 176 A cold night awaits Men and beasts will be hunkering down. 177 Evening- Day 7 178 179 Private Cambridge Survived sub-zero temperatures. 180 QMSgt T. Carter Survived sub-zero temperatures. 181 1st Sgt. W. Baldwin Survived sub-zero temperatures, despite the wind blowing his shelter away. 182 0800 hrs- Equines huddle together for warmth The men march in circles waiting for the sun to rise and hopefully allow them to pick up everything frozen to the ground. 183 Day 8 - 1130 hrs We had planned on staying here for a day and fishing/relaxing. Rethinking that to find a lower elevation with better shelter. 184 Cana, ready to ride. 185 Off again Crossed the outlet of Star Lake. The equine crossing is 18-24" depth with rocky bottom. 186 Denied No Freel Peak for equines. 187 Mile 91 Elevation 9700 ft. 188 Following footprints Once again, previous hikers have given us some assistance. 189 Windy The canyons remain breezy. 190 Geology Don't take it for granite. 191 Southern end Seeing Lake Tahoe from the south, and soon turning away for a couple days. 192 Pvt. Cambridge Sporting recently acquired red kerchief. 193 194 195 Leading So this is what the front looks like! 196 Narrow but passable Trail in great shape here 197 1500 hrs Looking for the elusive "good" campsite. 198 Freel Meadows Mile 98 Elevation 9245 ft 199 Nope Avoiding a campsite that looks anything like this. 200 Pretty campsite No water, grass or shelter here. 201 1700 hrs Looks as if we have a winner. Grass, water and shelter at a somewhat lower elevation. 202 100 Mile barrier broken Mile 101 Elevation 8500 ft 203 Equines happy After nearly 3 days with only 1/2 rations of grain, this grass is a welcomed delight. 204 End of Day 8 205 Morning- Day 9 206 0800 hrs Not much wind. Still cold. 207 Picket line With grass on the other side of camp, and good water nearby, we decide to take a "zero" day for the moral of mounts and men. 208 0945 hrs - Day 10 209 Trail clear Most of the snow has melted and it seems a pleasant day awaits. 210 Mile 103 Elevation 7400 ft 211 Approaching Big Meadows 212 Bridge to trailhead 1245 hrs 213 214 Big Meadows Weather good, trail great. 215 Mile 105 Elevation 7550 ft. 216 Level here But that won't last. one of the steepest sections of the trail lies ahead. We found ourselves wishing for switchbacks. 217 Round Lake Closed for algae bloom Mile 107.2 Elevation 8070 ft. 218 Beware Signage and online notices warn against allowing animals to drink the water here. Move on if you're not sure. 219 There were some nice looking campsites here. 220 Meiss Meadows 221 Mile 109 Elevation 8400 ft 222 Joining the Pacific Crest Trail 223 Good grass and water Near the headwaters of the Upper Truckee River. 224 225 1300 hrs 226 Pvt. Cambridge and Domingo Smart looking trooper and mount. 227 1st Sgt Baldwin and JD Surveying his mount and equipment. You don't often see 1st Sgt Baldwin without JD ;) 228 Beautiful scenery Now, to find a campsite. 229 230 231 QMSgt. Carter With mount- Cana, and pack horse- Zuni 232 Still snow in the shade 233 234 Smart leader Look back now and again to be sure they are following. 235 236 Mile 110 Elevation 8325 ft. 237 Crossing the Upper Truckee 238 Campsite 239 240 241 Enjoy the view 242 1830 hrs. 243 Electronics Cell service is fickle in this meadow. Find an elevated spot or hill if you need more than 1 bar. 244 245 Day 11 Oct 3rd, 2019 246 Day to relax and.... 247 Ponds and Meiss Lake 248 Another "zero" day Time to relax, watch the wildlife and catch up on meals for man and beast. 249 250 251 Postcard shot Photo credit to Pvt. Cambridge (Shawn Mainville) 252 253 254 255 Campsite for 2 days 256 Upper Truckee River Actually a stream at this point. 257 258 259 Atop a nearby hillock 260 261 More grazing 262 263 264 Day 12, 1100 hrs. Time to move out again. Expecting a short, uneventful jaunt to Benwood Meadows. 265 266 267 Enjoying the scenery Slightly uphill, brush-enclosed trail for the the early section today. 268 269 270 Showers Lake Algae warning for this lake too. 271 272 Mile 112 Elevation 8700 ft. 273 274 275 276 277 278 Higher elevation More snow. 279 Icy portions Rocky areas in the shade may be treacherous. 280 281 282 283 Brush 284 Mile 114.5 Elevation 8650 ft. 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 Treacherous Finding hazardous conditions the hard way. A flight of icy, uneven stone steps. 294 Equipment check Re-adjusting gear and allowing our 1st Sgt to take inventory after an unplanned off-trail "excursion". 295 Benwood Meadow Plenty of grass and some available water. 296 Mile 118.3 Elevation 7600 ft. 297 If it ain't bent, it ain't cavalry The only lasting damage from the off-trail "excursion". 298 Somebody needs a hug 299 1645 hrs 300 Not a bad campsite But this is October. It may be a swamp earlier in the year. 301 Resting in the twilight 302 Day 13 1000 hrs. A short stint to our resupply, then continuing on to enter Desolation Wilderness. 303 304 Much thanks for resupplies by Pvt & Mrs Shannon Echo Sno Park 305 Fresh supplies and off again 306 Watering equines Upper Truckee River at Echo Lake inlet. 307 Equine cut-off The bridge on the TRT trail proper at Echo Lake is too narrow for stock animals. 308 Mile 122 7500 ft. 309 310 311 312 313 Alongside Echo Lake It's all rock. 314 315 316 Desolation Wilderness Somewhat ironic. There were more fellow trail enthusiasts in this section, then the rest of the trail combined. 317 318 Solid granite Combined with boulders and rock slides. 319 Your eyes have a mist From the smoke of a distant fire. 320 321 322 Thankful for no snow, ice 323 324 Trail improves Short section of nice trail. 325 326 327 Rocks. Again 328 Mile 126 Elevation 8300 ft. 329 1645 hrs. 330 331 1815 hrs Nearing our destination of Lake Aloha 332 1850 hrs Arrived, Lake Aloha. 333 Mile 128 Elevation 8150 ft. 334 Peaceful but crowded 335 336 337 Surrounded Natural beauty and abundant campers along the lake shore. 338 A look around 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 Evening Camp established to regulations. Little grass, water distant. 347 348 349 Bears head Do you see it? 350 Day 14 0630 hrs. 351 Picket line Small campsite, We took what was available. 352 1000 hrs. Heading to Dick's Lake or beyond. 353 Aloha Lake North end of the lake. 354 355 356 357 358 Difficult footing Slick and awkward, even without snow or ice. 359 360 361 362 Small meadow Short break to graze and tend to Zuni's cut leg. 363 364 Mile 129.7 Elevation 8100 ft. 365 Base of Jacks Peak 366 1200 hrs Seasonal ponds abound. 367 Heather Lake 368 369 370 371 Tread lightly More challenging footing for horses. 372 373 Shale ahead Traversing the point in the distance involved leading the horses. Better part of valor. 374 375 376 377 378 Susie Lake Mile 131.3 Elevation 7775 ft. 379 Tree roots on trail 380 View of Susie Lake Mile 133.5 Elevation 8400 ft. 381 Heading up. 382 Many steps today Cribwork steps aplenty 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 Near Dicks Peak Looking south. 390 Rim riding 391 392 Half Moon Lake 393 Half Moon Lake 394 395 Dicks Lake 396 397 398 399 400 Must be the top Not quite. 401 402 Mile 135 Elevation 9150 ft. 403 404 405 Dicks Pass Nope. Still going up. Elevation 9375 ft. 406 Finally. On the way down 407 1600 hrs  Dicks Lake Mile 136.5 Elevation 8650 ft. 408 409 Camping site Just past Fontanillis Lake. 410 Sunset Time to go fishing. 411 412 Day 15  0600 hrs What's for breakfast cookie? 413 Grazing and water again 414 Deer visiting Better then a bear visit. 415 1045 hrs How far today? We shall see. 416 Geri the mule 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 1245 hrs Break for lunch. 424 425 Exiting Desolation Wilderness Mile 147 Elevation 7500 ft 426 1530 hrs  Bear Lake No obvious campsites. Carry on. 427 428 1800 hrs Campsite. Grass and water abundant. 429 Barker Creek Mile 153 Elevation 7250 ft. 430 Day 16 1015 hrs. If we push on, we can finish today! 431 Blackwood Canyon Rd A promising mileage sign. 432 433 434 Trailhead 435 Approaching Barker Pass 436 There it is again Lake Tahoe from a new perspective. 437 Mile 155.5 Elevation 8050 ft. 438 439 This looks kind of familiar This was where the snow turned us around when we attempted a counter-clockwise trip in July. 440 Patchy snow Snow was 8 feet deep here in July. 441 442 Different Not sure if it is more imposing bare, or with a covering of deep snow. 443 444 445 Completed We have officially completed a through ride of the TRT at this point, but we won't stop now. 446 447 448 449 Mile 158 Elevation 7850 ft. 450 Long switchbacks 451 452 453 Somewhat easier The trail is much more pleasant when not covered in snowdrifts. 454 455 New section We had circumnavigated this portion in July. 456 457 Nearing the top here 458 Granite Chief Wilderness 459 Mile 159.5 Elevation 8350 ft. 460 1245 hrs 461 462 Leaving the Pacific Crest Trail 463 464 Ward Creek Canyon 465 466 467 468 Mile 161.8 Elevation 7600 ft. 469 Previous campsite From July, plenty of grass and water. 470 Page Meadow Mile 167.2 Elevation 6925 ft. 471 Getting close 472 "Somebody should check...I'..." View Comments... 473 Return to Tahoe City Crossing the Truckee River. 474 Mile 170.8 Elevation 6230 ft. 475 Victory! 16 days, 170+ miles complete. 476 477 Celebratory dinner Some improvement over our usual trail rations for the past 2+ weeks. Download MPEG4 478 Video: Bear in Marlette Campground Download MPEG4 479 Video: Pvt. hatches from bedroll 480 20191005 180640
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