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First Big Test!

  • Samuel Emigrant
  • May 19, 2017
  • 1 min read

We have permits for Desolation Wilderness above Lake Tahoe for July!! With long time hiking partners, Mark, Wayne, Jim and Mike we will spend the first two nights at Lake Aloha and Susie Lake, heading north on the Pacific Crest Trail out of Echo Lake (mile 1092) on Hwy 50. After two nights the guys will kiss my "dumbass" goodbye as I continue north along the PCT on my own. I will spend night 3 at Lake Fontanillis (mile 1109) near Dick's Pass. I will exit the northern border of Desolation Wilderness and spend night 4 at Richardson Lake (mile 1119). I will exit Eldorado County and enter Granite Chief Wilderness in Placer County and spend night 5 along the trail at North Fork Blackwood Creek (mile 1127). Night six will be spent at 5 Lakes Creek (mile 1136) or I will push on to Squaw Creek campsite (mile 1141) behind the of Squaw Valley ski resort. On the final day I will exit the wilderness on to a paved Hwy 40 (mile 1153) near Donner Ski Ranch. Total distance approximately 61 miles. "Halfmiles" PCT maps taped to our wall unit for inspiration along with a side view of all the up and down elevation.

 
 
 

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About Me.

I'm a double hip recipient approaching 60 but I'm not ready to stop exploring the wilderness.  I'm documenting my goal to be the first of my kind to hike the state of Oregon on the PCT, July 2018.  Subscribe below to follow my progress.  Thanks! 

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Keith means "Lover of Nature and the Outdoors"

I was introduced to Backpacking in 8th grade by Mr. Landfear, who taught Horticulture-Ecology.  He would take a group of kids a couple times a year backpacking in Yosemite or Desolation Wilderness. He knew Yosemite like the back of his hand.

 

His first lesson was always leave your campsite in better condition than you found it.  That man could spy an aspirin size piece of foil in the dirt from 25 yds. I never forgot the lesson. I've packed a sizable amount of garbage out over the years that wasn't mine to begin with.  

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I have been backpacking with the same group of guys in one combination or another now for 43 years. We all experienced the same 7th and 8th grade Science department at Mendenhall Junior High School in Livermore, CA. (Mr. Carlson also lead trips to Yosemite.) Quite remarkable when you think about it. There were a couple years when injuries or ailments shut someone down and we picked another adventure together (Salmon Fishing at Deception Pass followed by Car Camping in the Northern Cascades or there was the year we fished King Salmon on the Kenai and Halibut on the Cook Inslet in Alaska.  

 

There was a period of backpacking with friends I met while attending CAL, including a few trips combined with guys from both groups.  For the last 30 years it's been just the original Moles from Mendenhall.  We have been all over the Central Sierras, including Yosemite, Emigrant Wilderness, Desolation Wilderness and the Stanislaus National Forest. During the years living in WA State there were Cascade trips into Alpine Wilderness and North Cascades National Park. Recently, while living in CT I have explored a bit of the Appalachian Trail packing the MA and CT sections.

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A great new pair of Vasque boots has given me a new lease on my packing life. I plan to keep going. Next year at age 58 (after my second Hip resurfacing) I have a few trips in mind for CA, WA and NH on both the PCT and AT.  And then the biggee at age 59, 380 miles of the Oregon PCT.  The guys are skeptical but, of one thing there is no doubt, I know they will have a hard time not showing up for at least part of the ride.

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Remember, be nice to Mother Nature!

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