Soda Springs Lodge

We hiked above Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake last Wednesday and came across a very old lodge/camp that had been there since the 1870's. Many of the buildings still exist, kept standing with the help of donors and the Forest Service. It appears that they still use the main building for fundraisers, on occasion. They posted the clothes worn to hike to the lodge from then until now. Women hiked in long skirts. I imagined them walking with their umbrellas, laughing, talking with friends or family. Or straining. It was uphill for a mile:

The clothes worn now are shorts:

What struck me was the fact that high in these mountains there once was a thriving vacation spot for those lucky people wealthy enough to get there from San Francisco, Virginia City, etc. This was one of the outbuildings:

They accessed the area by boat from Tahoe (which couldn't have been easy in itself!) Then by road, then by boat again, walking the last mile to the lodge. There was a hot springs, which Lucy tried out, but there wasn't much left of it:

I'm always amazed at the spots people used to vacation back in the olden days. They really were hearty spirits. You would think life was hard enough without going to such extremes for a little R&R.

Fall is creeping into the mountains:

And the sky is so blue, you could swim in it. On second thought, maybe we humans are drawn by the same things generation after generation. The same desire to experience nature at its finest:

Last Big Weekend

I'm feeling the end of summer, the beginning of fall, here in the mountains. With it comes a pensive feeling for the start of winter. I always seem to feel this way at this time of the year. It's not that I don't like winter, I actually love it. No, it has more to do with the isolation that winter will bring. Snow, icy roads, a 25 mile drive on winding roads to Reno, and a mountain pass to get to Sacramento, where my brother lives. So, we will not head out as often. My husband will buy a season pass to his favorite ski resort, but I will need to find my own release from cabin fever. I quit skiing several years ago, after a particularly bad fall. I realized I was never a good skier, and I had actually become downright dangerous.

There is a new Pilate's studio nearby, so between that and the big indoor pool for swimming, I will keep going with my goal of losing weight, and getting fit.

We are enjoying this last big weekend. Dinner with friends from Arizona last night, a lunch-party with my cousin this afternoon, followed by a friend's birthday party in another part of Reno this evening. He is from New York and is having cold cuts flown in for his party. Evidently Reno lacks in the cold-cut department.

We feel blessed to have friends and family this weekend. We feel blessed to have a home, and enough of everything. We'll pass on thinking about our problems for the day. Instead we will live in the moment, and be thankful for all that we have that is so wonderful in our lives.

A marathon and rubber bats...

I feel like I have run a marathon, and everyone hit me with rubber bats, instead of offering me nice cold water, and encouragement.

My husband and I, and Lucy of course, hit the trail yesterday for what was supposed to be an "easy" rated four-mile hike. At least that's what the book said. In reality, it was a 5-mile hike, rated "moderate", at about 7,500 - 7,800 ft. But the only reason it was rated "moderate" was because it did have some parts of the trail that was level, otherwise it was "difficult" in my book. Of course my book would be for women who spend entirely too much time blogging.

We were absolutely amazed at the hikers carrying their dogs up that trail! The last one, a little Scottie, was so cute, but come on! If you're going to hike at these altitudes the dog needs to do its own walking:

My husband and I had to laugh at a young, cute couple in the parking lot who were preparing to hike in and spend the night - she had a big pack and a little dog with a pink jacket. If they were married it would be okay, but if this was a date - my husband was thinking it might be the last. She was asking how far, and was relieved when we said only 2.5 miles to the lake, but we were thinking it was going to be hard hanging on to rocks and your dog, too, in some places.

We had attempted this hike a couple of months ago and had to turn back. I had tennis shoes, and the rocks are just not negotiable with soft soles. So we didn't make it to the little alpine lake named Lake Margaret, high in the Sierras. This was the second attempt, and this time I had great boots - Keene - which I love.

But the hike was really hard - big boulders, lots of treacherous terrain. Hard climbing, for sure, especially for me. Lucy ran circles around us the entire time. Took many swims, complaining only when we refused to throw her ball anymore. Munching on bear poop, she had some issues going home!

But back to the hike. I can honestly say I would have gladly hired a helicopter to scoop me up and out, that last mile - which was mostly up, of course. I really don't care how much it would have cost - sell something! How can such a beautiful hike feel so wonderful going in? I was daydreaming about maybe backpacking again, certainly hiking again on Wednesday...

Not!

Well, at least that's how I feel right now. Who knows how I will feel tomorrow. I do know that I won't push that hard again, just yet. Maybe turn around when you've had enough, you know you have to hike back out, and the GPS says at least another mile to the lake. Just turn around for heavens sake -

We did see some amazing country, however. Here's what I was so determined to see:

We decided to go back in the Spring, when the creeks are full. Next time, however, Lucy will have her own pack! I think she will come in handy...

Cerulean Sky

I took this picture on a hike the other day. Can you see the sliver of moon? But what struck me was the color of the sky. We were at about 8,500 feet, so I don't know if that had anything to do with the color, but I can't remember ever seeing the sky that color of blue during the day.

Mountain Day

click to enlarge

We have started hiking again, now that we've had so much free time. Today we started at about 7,300 ft and hiked about 3.5 miles. This area is about 30 miles from Lake Tahoe in the Carson Pass area, not far from Kirkwood Ski Resort. I now need a few tylenol, but can't wait to go again.

Lucy loved being off the leash and ran the entire time. She went about three times further than we did.

On the way home I snapped a picture of our beautiful Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!