Tahoe Rim Trail: Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek Road

At the end of my final semester at UNR, one of my Literature & Environment professors informed us (fellow students and faculty) that she was planning to hike the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) in parts over the summer and we were invited to be trail mates. One of my colleagues had also planned on doing the same trail over the course of two years beginning Fall 2012. Ever since I had heard about it from him, I had been very intrigued. He, however, never asked me to join. So, I figured if it's meant to be, I'll get another chance. And this summer I got that chance. I don't think I'd be doing the entire trail - Overall, it is a 165 mile (or 167 mile) hiking trail which loops around Lake Tahoe and offers breathtaking views of the lake! Some day…

I missed the first TRT hike last week since I was wrapping up the long trip with my parents (about which I will post soon). And when I heard of the second TRT hike - from Tahoe Meadows to Tunnel Creek Road - I eagerly signed up for it. The actual trail is 9.2 miles and there isn't much of of an elevation gain - a fairly easy trail. 

The four of us - my L&E professor and a couple of L&E friends - started at around 8 a.m. from the Davidson Academy parking lot at UNR. We took 2 cars and parked one at the end of the trail near Hidden Beach. There wasn't any parking lot. We parked along Highway 28 and left our swimming gear in the trunk so that we might take a dip after the long hike. Then, we packed into the other car and drove to Tahoe Meadows which does have a designated parking lot. Kyle, one of my colleagues, had the good sense to call up the ranger to make sure the gates to the parking lot would be open when we got back later in the evening. I love the way the National Parks Service works in this country! (I am guessing the Tahoe region is maintained by NPS.)

In retrospect, I think I had come a bit over prepared for the hike - I had a rain shell and also an extremely lightweight down jacket. Don't ask me why - I am never sure about the weather in this country (or this region at least). Also, this was the first time that I would be using the 3 liter camelbak bladder that I had bought a while ago. I had used it earlier but it had not been trail tested as such. I am really happy with it - it does make you drink more since the water is so easily accessible. Coming from a tropical country, dehydration is something that I need to be careful about and the camelbak is extremely useful in this regard. I am glad to say that I consumed around 2 liters of water - more than I would have if I had been carrying bottles. Also I carried a wind breaker - which I put to good use. 

As we got out of the car at Tahoe Meadows, we were immediately accosted by the strong winds that were blowing. However, I didn't feel too cold - a long sleeved cotton T-shirt and a jacket for mild to cold weather conditions served me well for almost the entire hike. 

                                          Tahoe Meadows

The hike had an initial ascent of around 500 feet for the first mile and a half but after that it was mostly level ground. We walked along catching up with each other since we hadn't met in quite sometime. 

Our first rest stop around 2 miles into the hike, provided us a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe and we got some good pictures. 

The lack of wildlife during the hikes still annoys me. We saw some butterflies which took me by surprise. I was pretty good at IDing butterflies back home and have been missing butterfly watching :( So being able to ID the Stella Orangetip felt good. I hope I got the ID right, if not, then let me know :P Also, chanced upon a lonely snow plant which I had first seen in Yosemite last month. We also heard sounds of Nuthatch (as Cheryll pointed out). And saw some birds of prey hovering around - may be red tailed hawks. Add to that list, the few squirrels that scurried around and the occasional lizard.

Lunch was at a rocky outcrop just a mile or so before the end of the trail which was very very very windy. And the windbreaker was handy :) We also encountered some bikers on the trail although it was a non-biking day. The most breathtaking views I would say came as we turned into Tunnel Creek Road. The views of Lake Tahoe were … picture perfect. 

                       View from Tunnel Creek Road

And Tunnel Creek Road, named after a tunnel that existed there, was also beautiful. The riparian vegetation along the creek has motivated me to begin planting my aquarium soon :) The dip in Lake Tahoe wasn't to be. The beach didn't look too inviting. So we lounged around on the beach for quite some time and then headed back to pick up the car. 

                            Hidden Beach, North Lake Tahoe

On the way back we chanced upon a coyote digging into the belly of a deer along the road. The deer was probably hit by a car and the coyote was enjoying an easy meal. The lucky coyote … the not-so-lucky deer…

By 5, we were back in Reno. The hike hadn't seemed strenuous at all. Although I did feel the after effects… sore legs...