Tahoe Rim Trail Annual Thru-Hike
Group 1: TBD
Group 2: TBD
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is proud to offer its largest fundraising event - the Tahoe Rim Trail Annual Thru-Hike for like-minded outdoor enthusiasts looking for a physical and mental challenge, which will be remembered for the rest of your life. Our goal is that at the end of this hike, when you cross the 165-mile marker, you'll wish it didn't have to end. Registration will be available soon...
Participants
The program fee for 2011 will be determined soon. Monies raised from this program are used to fund the organization so that it may carry out its mission to maintain and enhance the trail and the trail experience. It's TRTA's goal over the course of the next few years to develop more access trails for day hikes, moving all road portions of the trail to single-track trail, establishing a permanent maintenance program, and improving and developing educational programs. Your trip fee will help the organization achieve these goals. You will experience first hand how effective the organizations training works while being led by top-notch guides sharing their knowledge of low impact hiking and Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
Participants are not required to have backpacking experience. However, you do need to be in good shape. The demands of hiking a full day with a backpack cannot be underestimated. It would be helpful if you have backpacking equipment, or access to backpacking equipment. Most of what you need can be rented from several places including REI.
All the guides are volunteers, CPR/First Aid certified, trained by the TRTA or other agencies, and donate their time to help the organization follow its charter. They love to hike and share their backcountry and trail knowledge with others.
Big Bonus
Thru-hikers are well supported by "Trail Angels" who will bring your personal supplies and water to each trailhead. In addition, Trail Angels will spoil you occasionally with hot pizza and cold beer! All this means less weight and more fun! Yes, it's more than just another hike. It will be one of the most memorable treks you will ever experience!
The Beginning
As with all adventures, big or small, we must begin somewhere. On this hike we have two groups starting on different days, traveling in the same direction (counter-clockwise) separated by one segment. Both groups will start at the Tahoe Meadows trailhead (SR 431), and finish at the Tahoe Meadow's Trailhead. First order of business, a gear-check, collection of your cache items, and distribution of team gear. Each team will then carpool to the start location.
The Hike Schedule
You will have 15 days to complete 165 miles of trail. Hiking distances will range between 7 miles and 14 miles per day, on average. The trail is not difficult, although profiling our elevation shows a total gain/loss of 27,484ft over the entire hike. Everyone should be stronger toward the end. Names will be randomly selected to decide on groups. If you have a "hike buddy" let the Program Director know and we will keep you in the same group.
Personal Gear
Below is a recommended gear list to help you determine what you might need for the trip.
Clothing: The goal is to have the ability to layer your clothing to handle most situations. Temperature can range from 30º to 95º. Remember to consider the mosquito problem. A micro-weave long-sleeved shirt, a micro-weave long pant, and a head net are almost necessary through the west side of the trail for mosquito protection. Definitely bring t-shirts and shorts that are made of lightweight polyester so you can wash them out in a stream or lake (no soap) every few days, ring them out and either put them back on or hand from your pack to dry. Many times the coolness of the damp cloth is welcomed. Cotton fabric is NOT RECOMMENDED and should be avoided.
o T-Shirt (wear)
o Shorts (wear)
o Boots (wear)
o Socks (2pair) - Wear one, carry one
o Hat (wear)
o Fleece Jacket
o Rain Pants
o Rain Jacket
o Wind Shirt
o Long-sleeved shirt (micro-weave)
o Long pant (micro-weave)
Pack: We recommend an internal pack as they are generally lighter, but you are welcome to use any type pack you like.
-
- Pack (3,500 cu. in. to 5,000 cu in.)
- Pack Cover - Recommend, or use a large heavy duty trash bag for emergency storms
Sleeping: A third of your trip is spent sleeping while the other two thirds is spent carrying your bedding.
-
- Sleeping Bag - rated 20º to 40º
- Sleeping pad/repair kit
- Pillow - Luxury item for some, a must for others. Downside- volume, takes up valuable space in your pack. Stuff extra cloths in a stuff sack or a pillow case for a nice lumpy pillow.
- There are fantastic new, super lightweight, summer sleeping bags that can reduce your sleeping bag weight by almost 4 lbs!
Eating: You will need to bring you own flat-ware. We recommend only bringing a spoon and a cup (again, trying to keep weight and volume down).
-
- Cup - there are many lightweight styles available
- Plastic Bowl - doubles as a plate, or opt out and use your cup
- Spoon - lightweight
- Fork - if you have to have!
- Water Bottles or Hydration system - (more on this in the food and water section)
Toilet Kit:
Below are recommended items we carry in our toilet kit. We're sure yours will vary. We highly recommend you don't forget toilet paper as it sells for about $1.00 per single-ply sheet on the trail.
o Toilet Paper
o Trowel
o Wash and Dry - There's a great product called "Nice'n Clean moist wipes" pocket-pak of 20 soft cloths.
o Dental floss
o Toothbrush/ paste
o Deodorant (sometimes)
Additional Items:
o Trekking Poles - optional
o Bandana - optional
o Headlamp or Flashlight
o Extra batteries/bulb
o Fishing gear - optional Remember, you will need a Nevada and California State fishing license.
o Valuables bag - please carry your ID, a credit card, and a little money in a small zip-lock bag.
o Whistle
o Knife/scissors - optional
o Book - optional
o Towel - optional - bandana's work great
o Writing journal/pen - optional
o Emergency blanket
o Camera/ Film - optional
o Sunscreen
o Mosquito repellent
o Personal First Aid Kit - Moleskin, bandages, aspirin
Team Gear
Part of the reason to hike in a group environment is to take advantage of the opportunity to share resources - not to duplicate items everyone will need, thus keeping pack weight down and fun levels high. The following items fall in this category. You will be required, to carry a portion of the team gear. Your guides will work diligently to divide up the gear equally amongst all participants. Plan to carry about 3-4 lbs of team gear. Your guides will already be carrying more with additional first aid kits, communication gear, and extra water.
Tents/Poles:
We expect that between the participants of the group we will have enough tents. Preferably, 3 or 4 man tents. Some of our campsites are rather small and we need to keep the number of footprints to a minimum. If we do not have enough tents, you will use TRTA tents. Please let us know your tent needs.
Stoves/Pots/Fuel:
We will need a stove and a 2-quart pot for each 4 members of the group.
Let us know if you can supply a stove for your cooking group.
Group First aid Kit: (supplied and carried by guides)
Water Filter:
Except for about 80 miles of the trip, you will have water sources along the
way. We are fortunate to have water at each of the trailheads so you won't need
to carry water unnecessarily. Let us know if you have a water filter to share with
your team of 4.
Rope/Bear Bags:
We will need a couple stuff sacks for each tem of 4. Let us know if you have
sacks to share with your team. Each team will need a 50 foot nylon cord. To
hang food. Let us know if you have nylon cord.
Food & Water
One of the largest perks on this hike is to have your own personal support group. You will carry no more than one or two days supply at any time. Trail Angels will meet you at each trailhead with the next section's supplies and water.
Anytime you hike a rim area, water will always be a consideration, but most rim trails don't really traverse the highest point all the time. The trail is more likely to follow the contours of the rim somewhere below the highest points as you dip through ravines and gullies. That means streamlets and underground springs. The guides will always give you an update of water needs for the day.
The TRTA will be supplying your Breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, hot chocolate, coffee, tea) and dinner (soups, Freeze-Dried dinners, coffee, tea, hot chocolate). You are responsible for your lunch and snacks. This gives you the freedom to choose what you like and what works for you. We have found, for planning purposes that the average hiker needs between 1 1/2 pounds to 2 pounds of food per day for this type of activity. Figure your supplied breakfast & dinner weight at about 3/4 pounds. That leaves you 3/4 pounds to 1 1/4 pounds for lunch/snacks.
Packing your cache packages
We'll have your cache items waiting for you at each trailhead. You will be told when you will cross a trailhead and on what day to help you plan you cache/lunch/snack needs. This should help keep the weight down considerably.
We ask that you have just one bag (duffle bag) of cache items. This bag will be transported to each of the trailheads where you can pull items or return items you no longer need. It will be kept locked and secured at all times.
Besides you lunch/snack items, here is a list of other items you may consider replenishing:
Toilet paper
Moist wipes
Batteries
Sunscreen
Mosquito repellent
Personal First aid supplies
Other Personal items
Miscellaneous
Cell Phone - Your guides will have a cell phone each for communicating with the TRT
office, volunteers, and for emergencies. They will not be available for your personal use.
You are welcome to bring your own if you like, but it must remain off at all times. Reception is good on much of the trail. The area where you will not have service is Desolation Wilderness.
Healh/First Aid
You will be in the backcountry, and preparedness is our best tool to avoid serious issues. Each of the guides will be carrying an extensive first aid kit, but each of you should take some precautions to avoid putting undue stress on it.
The following represents a list of common problems that can occur on a trip like this, and things that your guides need to know to insure the safety of the group.
Stress: It is your job to have a great time and take in all the beauty. You will be traveling at a moderate pace, as you will need to cover a lot of miles each day. No-one will hike faster than the leader, and the sweep will not allow anybody to fall behind him/her. You will be operating as a team and our goal is to make sure that everybody completes the circuit. This is a very important rule, and if not followed, can create major problems for the guides. There could be a situation where we need to change plans and if someone is outside the loop, they will not know of the change.
Feet: If you get blisters, bring lots of moleskin and all the new great products on the market to prevent them. Prevention is the best course of action. Treated feet are never as good as the original issue.
If you are prone to sweating, bring an antifungal and perhaps a medicated powder. It will be hot. If you deem it necessary, bring an extra pair of socks that you may trade out midday to keep your feet dryer. The used pair can be hung outside you pack for drying.
Don't forget to trim your toenails. Do not wait until the last minute, just in case you trim too much. Over-trimmed nails can be painful.
Insects: If you are allergic to bee stings, wasp stings, or anything else that can induce shock, please ask your doctor for a prescription for an epinephrine kit.
Bring insect repellent, a mosquito net for your head if you are bothered by the critters buzzing in you ears, and consider light-weight, long, loose fitting pants and shirts that you can hike in if necessary, and change into when establishing a camp.
Other allergies: If you are allergic, bring appropriate remedies. You are more likely to enjoy the trip if you can breathe, or aren't digging and scratching all day and night.
Joints: If you have weak ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, etc., bring an ace bandage. We can help you wrap a joint, but please carry your own supply of materials.
Pain: You will all experience some pain during the two weeks together. If you think you will require relief, please bring your favorite pain/anti-inflammatory remedies.
Hypoglycemia: If you tend to suffer from low blood sugar, bring protein snacks or free form amino acid tablets. Simple carbohydrates (sugars) are your enemy.
Eyes: If you wear glasses or contacts, think "what if." Contact wearers remember that your fingers will never really be clean.
Sun: There will be lots of it. It is hot. It burns. Bring sunscreen. Burned skin leads to more problems than just pain. Don't forget to bring sunglasses.
Personal Hygiene: You will all stink during this trip. Get over it! If you can't get over it, please bring only scent-free products. If you smell like a flower, you will attract insects, bears, among other things. The truth is that if you are foolish enough to make bug bait out yourself, we will put you on the camp periphery and sacrifice you to spare the rest of the team. This is actually quite effective.
Water: It almost always comes down to water. The majority of problems you will encounter will be water related. Staying hydrated in the backcountry is a hard thing to do. We recommend consuming a total of, not less than, one gallon of water per day, including what you cook with. That means drinking at least 3 Liters per day. When you cross water, including volunteer drop offs, tank up. Be prepared for the worse case scenario - that is, carrying a gallon. Hydration systems are an effective means to port water.
The TRT should be considered a harsh mountain environment and a threat to the healthy and fit. To approach the backcountry any other way is foolish. Preparedness is our key to success. We intend to stick together as a team, rely on good equipment, not exceed the abilities of our reasonably weakest link, and always exercise good judgment.
See you on the trail!
For more information, contact Jaime at (775) 298-0231 or jaimes@tahoerimtrail.org