3rd August 2016 - Tahoe Vista CA - Kms to date: 9010

Kms today: 61

We had a choice of going to the “Hot August Nights” expo in Reno of old 1950s american cars or going on a ‘short’ hike with Rafe. We made the mistake of choosing Rafe’s hike. We all piled into the ‘stang with Rafe stacked in the dickie seat. It was only a short drive to the start of the hike.

The happy hikers.

The track led up a fairly steep hill, over a creek and by a rope swing hanging from a big Douglas fir.

The rope swing.

We all had the mandatory swing and moved on up the ‘track’.

Colin having a swing???

After a while the track disappeared and we were faced with a scree of chopped up granite. To quote Rafe “it is only a few hundred metres to the top and the view is well worth it”. The trick to climbing a scree is not to cause an avalanche as you are liable to end up with third degree gravel rash.

This is what we climbed!!!

Rafe went ahead to show us the non-existent route. Weighing about 150lbs he couldn’t have disturbed a pebble but Colin and I weighing in around 220lbs just needed to look at a rock and the whole lot started shifting under our feet. We made gradual progress up this scree and it was getting more and more difficult trying to get any kind of secure hold. It was then Rafe told us that we had to get to the top because if we tried to go back the whole mountain would have followed us!!!!! Nice one Rafey baby. We made it after a lot of scrambling and gripping rocks with our nails.

We are the champions.

The view was as promised quite spectacular. Mucho photos were taken. Then along came a party of kids on a camp outing trundling along the ridge we had just climbed. It seems that there was an easier more leisurely way to get to these spectacular views.

The view.

There we were with gravel rash and broken nails preparing to launch Rafe on a fast route to Lake Tahoe. We resisted as he promised us beer, wine and a BBQ at his place if we spared his life. When we got back to hacienda Rafe and Dianne we “chilled out” with a swim in the lake with their grandson Dexter. All was forgiven. Rafe and Dianne cooked a delicious BBQ which we ate on the end of their pier. It’s tough but someone has to do it!! After dinner Rafe took us out for a sunset view of Lake Tahoe.

Rafe and Alan checking out details of the discovery of Lake Tahoe.

There were great views over the lake and surrounding mountains.

Sunset over Lake Tahoe.