15     Tuolumne Meadow - South Lake Tahoe   151.6 miles

Tuolumne Meadow CG

Matterhorn Creek                     20.3m

Kerrick Canyon                        18.2 m

1000 MilesMark                        19.0 m

Sonora Pass                            18.1 m

Murray Canyon                        19.4 m

Raymond Canyon                      21.5 m

Truckee River                          22.0 m

South Lake Tahoe                    13.1 m

After the day in Yosemite Valley with far too many people and cars it became solitary again. Until lunch I still met a number of hikers on their way to Tuolumne Falls. At the nearby camp I met a group of pack stock. They are used for resupplying the camp. They were loaded with empties and refuse for the way back. Later the day we met a group of three riders coming back from their work assignment. They had been out clearing the PCT from blow downs. Due to the lack of snow the creeks carried very little water. Therefore I could cross most anywhere with my boots without getting wet feet. The Piute Creek seemed to be too deep. I tried to cross on a blow down. I should not have tried. I fell off the tree and broke one of my hiking poles. Otherwise I survived unhurt. Now I tried crossing the creek in my boots. It turned out not to be as deep as I had thought. During this section when leaving Yosemite NP I crossed the 1.000 miles mark. I arrived just before dark at this mosquito infested place. Therefore I set up my little bug net tent.

Now the trail staid above the tree line. Arriving at Sonora Pass I could get rid of my refuse. A driver volunteered to take it home. Every ounce counts. The descent towards the town to Lake Tahoe was extremely stony with many switch backs. Ariving at the road we were lucky to get a ride directly to the motel in South Lake Tahoe without much waiting. Here at the lake it was warm again. The second evening we went for an "all you can eat" dinner at a casino in nearby Nevada. On the way back we suffered under the food load. It must have been too much to eat. The Post Office was quite a bit away and we had to walk along the main road. Following a day of rest - well, not quite rest but just not hiking - the trail beckoned and we moved on.

Tuolumne Falls in Yosemite National Park

Three riders with pack stock returning from trail maintenance work

Lake near PCT in Yosemite National Park

Wading through a ford in Yosemite National Park

Descent to Pass

Above tree line through snow and scree

First glimpse of Lake Tahoe

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