Arrived at LakeTahoe for the Summer

The view that greeted us a short distance from our campsite on Monday, May 24, 2021

    On Monday, May 24, we headed from Colfax to Eagle Point Campground at Emerald Bay State Park to prepare for our summer as camp hosts here. Tuesday and Wednesday, May 25 and 26 were training days with other camp hosts and seasonal staff for all five of the Lake Tahoe California State Park Campground. The other campgrounds were all to open Memorial Day weekend, but ours always opens toward the middle of June because of often lingering melting snow. Of course this year with the terribly low precipitation this past winter, even our campground was high and dry by the end of May. Our campground was not scheduled to open until June 10 and we had the option of staying in our camp host site or leaving and returning. Who wouldn't want a free two weeks of camping at Lake Tahoe? We certainly did. We have had power and dumping capability for LesThora, but no running water. She has a 40 gallon tank which we filled before leaving Colfax and have supplemented with water we obtained from the open campgrounds and transported in 5 gallon jugs. Our campsite is a tight squeeze for our 26 foot motor home, but was an even tighter squeeze for the fifth wheel that occupied it last summer. We heard it took over three hours to maneuver that one into the site, but ours was relatively easy. We are quite close to highway 89 and we were a bit worried about how the highway noise would be here. It turns out it doesn't bother us at all. There is a small hill between us and the highway and this section of 89 is between two 10 mile per hour curves so cars are generally going pretty slow, and no trucks over 65 feet are allowed. We're calling it the "pent house" campsite because it is above the whole campground - we look down on the first campsites and the welcome kiosk. There are two sections to the campground, an upper and lower section, and it's about a mile and a half to the bottom campsites. We're not sure we'll have time to walk for campground checks, but we'll see, and maybe we can use our bicycles. So far the John Deere Gator we're supposed to get has not arrived and we've heard rumors it's in the shop for repairs.

Our campsite is a bit "funky," but we're getting used to it.

The little building that looks like an outhouse has a toilet and sink - used by the staff working in the nearby kiosk entry station.

The little tower that looks like a light house is where we connect to electricity and water.

This is the view from our campsite fire pit.

 The structure on the right is part of the sewer pumping station for our sewer connection and the toilet/sink building. The mountain in the distance is what I call "my" mountain, actually, Jake's Peak.

    The first morning we were in camp I had a campfire in our site as had been my custom at Samuel P Taylor and while camping in May, but the Overlook where I took the first picture in this blog is only a little over a half mile away and I have chosen to greet the day with my cup of tea carried in a thermal mug and journal at that Overlook each morning. I'm not sure how much solitude I'll have there once the campers arrive, but my experience is that very few campers get up real early. Rob and I also walk to the overlook every evening after the sun goes behind the mountains to the west.

My morning and our evening bench.

The bench faces east which I think is the least beautiful of the views from the bench.

The east view includes heavenly ski resort and Freel Peak, but also the casinos at south shore.

Early in the morning it also means I have to wear a baseball type cap to shield from the bright sun.

This view is south east, facing Heavenly Ski Resort, Freel Peak and south shore beaches.

Mt. Tallac in the south from the bench.

Beautiful group of trees to the south of the Overlook with Mt. Tallac behind.

Looking south west into Emerald Bay from the Overlook

The view looking north at sunset

A little later sunset view

I'll probably be posting lots of pictures of this view - constantly changing!

An early morning view of Emerald Bay from the Overlook trail

Another view looking east with the rising moon.

    After our training days were complete we occupied our days with exploring the trails in and around the campground and doing a variety of things to help get the campground ready for campers. We had a visit from grandson Alex on our second night in camp, a visit from my sister Theresa later in the week, Rob went to Colfax for one night for a dentist appointment to replace a crown in Auburn, I went to Auburn with our 2007 Subaru Outback to get its poor acceleration issues diagnosed, and we got an ElDorado County library card.

Alex, Rob and me after having hamburgers around the campfire on Tuesday, May 25.

Alex has been working in Carson City for FEMA, helping with distribution of COVID vaccines.

His deployment with FEMA ends in Carson City this week, so he will be heading back to the east coast to await the next FEMA job. We did get to hike with him last Saturday before he leaves.

One of the many Snow Plants we've seen in and around camp.

These parasitic plants derive their nutrients from fungi that attach to tree roots.

They are commonly called Snow Plants because their emergence in the spring often coincides with the melting snow, though not this year - the snow is long gone here at Tahoe. 

First time on the beach - this is a small beach below the lower campground here at Eagle Point.

Looking toward the back of Emerald Bay where Vikingsholm is.

I have managed to take no pictures up close so far of the unique Vikingsholm,  the Scandinavian influenced summer home of Laura Moore Knight, so I will share more about it in a future post.

    My sister Theresa camped for a couple of days at nearby Fallen Leaf Lake so the two of us and her dog Pippin went hiking in the Glen Alpine Springs area on Thursday, May 27 while Rob was at the dentist. Theresa and I used to hike together frequently in the Sierras when we were both teachers and had the summers free. It was good to be on the trail together again.

A water fall on the way to Glen Alpine Springs

Pippin, Theresa and me

First time entering Desolation Wilderness in a long time

Some of the beautiful mountain scenery of Desolation Wilderness

Some Snow Flowers along the trail

A beautiful little lake

    Most days have found Rob picking up trash, raking, sweeping or cleaning out fire pits in preparation for the coming campers. My excuse for "work" in preparation for the coming campers is to hike as much of the trails connecting to camp as possible so I will be able to answer campers questions. I've been a bit surprised by how many flowers are blooming - seems early for Tahoe - but have enjoyed being back in a place that has meant so much to me since childhood. I am delighted to get to spend the summer at Emerald Bay, close to the first place I took a long distance backpack trip with the Girl Scouts when I was 14. On that hike we started near Wentworth Springs off Highway 50, hiked through Desolation Wilderness and came out out at Emerald Bay where we were picked up by a "cattle truck" and transported back to base camp at Rucker Lake on the Bowman Lake Road off Highway 20 - many, many miles away. The "cattle truck" was a flat bed truck with stake sides and we all just sat on the flat bed of the truck singing songs as we traveled along. Can't imagine ever letting my children or grandchildren ride like that, but that's how it was done in the 60s. Other memories of Tahoe include day visits with my parents and one camping trip as a child, many camping trips with our children, and of course my 11 years as pastor of Kings Beach United Methodist Church on the north shore.

One type of Penstemon along the Overlook Trail

Some more of that Penstemon

    There is one main trail, the Rubicon Trail, that starts (or ends depending on your perspective) here at Eagle Point Campground and traverses down to Vikingsholm over 1 1/2 miles, continues around the bay past the boat in campground and then around Rubicon Point to end at DL Bliss State Park for a total distance of about 7 1/2 miles. So far I've hiked about 5 miles one way on the trail. I have previously started at DL Bliss and hiked towards Emerald Bay, but have never hiked the whole trail. One of my goals while here is to hike all the way to the end and back. But I have hiked it several times now down to the Vikingsholm area, including three times when I have helped out as a volunteer in the gift shop there. The Sierra State Parks Foundation really needs some more employees for the summer. Anyone in the Tahoe area interested in a summer job at beautiful Emerald Bay?

Early morning reflections on Emerald Bay along the Rubicon Trail

The M.S. Dixie, a paddle wheeler that frequents the bay

A duck on the trail

Looking down at the colorful Tahoe water in the bay from the trail

A group of Snow Flowers along the Rubicon Trail between here and Vikingsholm

A Snow Flower garden

Eagle Creek below Lower Eagle Falls, just behind Vikingsholm

Lower Eagle Falls

Redwood trees aren't the only trees you can go inside!

This old growth cedar is located near Vikingsholm.

Most of the forest around Lake Tahoe was clear cut in the 19th and early 20th centuries to supply the silver mines in Nevada, but there are a few places where old growth Cedar, Pine and Fir were preserved on the lake including here at Emerald Bay State Park, some at DL Bliss State Park and some at Sugar Pine Point State Park.

Some rock sculpture along the Rubicon Trail between Vikingsholm and the Boat Camp.

A gnarly old cedar

Looking up the gnarly old cedar

Some Lupine blooming along the trail

The trail goes between these rocks past the boat camp.

This pink version of Mountain Penstemon is my favorite mountain wildflower.

A view of the lake from the Rubicon Trail about 4 miles from our campsite.

Some rocks along the Rubicon Trail 

The Rubicon Trail

    Another goal I've had is to hike down to Vikingsholm, then the mile up to 89, across the highway and up about another mile to Eagle Lake, a location that holds a special place in my memory and heart. It was at Eagle Lake that we camped on that Girl Scout backpack trip so many years ago, sang songs around the campfire, and gazed on the beautiful mountains towering above before descending to Emerald Bay. I have camped and hiked by the lake many times since. The first time I hiked up to Eagle Lake without a backpack was only 10 or 12 years ago and I was surprised by how quickly I got there - what a difference it makes not to be carrying a heavy backpack! I completed the goal to hike from out campsite to Eagle Lake and back sooner than I'd anticipated last week. The round trip was a little over 10 miles, and didn't take as much building up to as I thought it would.

Some of the many stairs on the way to Eagle Lake

A beautiful dead tree as seen from the trail

"My" mountain as seen from the trail.

Some flowers along the trail

Eagle Creek

The view looking back at Lake Tahoe from the trail

Eagle Lake!

Another view of the reflecting pool of Eagle Lake

"My" Mountain as seen from the lake

"My" mountain as I remember seeing it from our campsite when I was 14.

    Our Subaru Outback that we bought new in March 2007 when I was a pastor at Lake Tahoe has been faithfully transporting us for over 14 years and over 308,000 miles, but lately we've noticed real problems with it accelerating, especially on the mountain roads. A couple of months ago when we took it in for an oil change we had a compression test done on the engine and it passed with flying colors, but after driving up to the lake and having trouble keeping it above 50 on the hills we decided further diagnosis was in order and so we made an appointment for June 2 in Auburn to get it checked out. I went down to Colfax on Tuesday, June 1, and stayed in Colfax before taking it in for the appointment on Wednesday morning. After they'd had the car for three hours and hadn't done much I got a little impatient with the service manager so he offered me a loaner so they could keep the car overnight. As he handed over the 2021 Subaru Cross Trek for my use I jokingly said, "I bet you sell a lot of new cars this way." The following day the service manager called with the diagnosis - two bad catalytic converters - parts alone would be $7,700!!! We made the decision that it was time to retire our old car and made an appointment to look at new ones on Monday. 

Avi and her dog Joy near the end of our two mile round trip walk on Wednesday morning.

Avi, "hiding" in the Manzanita near our Colfax property.

    

    Saturday morning, June 5, we met Alex at Echo Lake to take the boat taxi across lower and upper Echo Lakes to meet the Pacific Crest Trail/Tahoe Rim Trail so we could hike to Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness Area. The boat taxi cut out about 5 miles round trip of hiking. When Alex and I did the Tahoe Rim Trail 5 years ago we didn't "cheat" by taking the taxi, but for a day hike it was the best way to make it doable to reach the beautiful Lake Aloha. It was fun to remember our days together on the trail and to experience the unique and awesome beauty of Desolation Wilderness.

On the boat taxi - it was a fun ride.

Echo Lake as we crossed it.

The mountains above Echo Lake with the rocky trail on the right.

The three of us on the trail - note Rob does not look too happy!

Part of the trail, not showing how truly rocky it is for more than a mile.

The foot tread on this portion of the trail was the worst on the whole 170 miles of the TRT! 

Tamarack Lake

Alex and I camped here on the 7th night of our around the lake hike in 2016

We finally met snow along the trail, probably at about 8000 feet.

Trail going into a patch of snow.

A pool of clear melted snow next to the trail.

This was the diciest part of the trail navigating the rocks and snow.

Two hikers packing skis and a snow board passed us on their way to find a snow field to slide down, and they hadn't "cheated" by taking the boat taxi. 

There's was going to be a very long day hike for a short thrill.

First glimpse of Lake Aloha

Lake Aloha, an other worldly look with many rock islands and the Crystal Range behind.

Alex on a rock above the lake.

Me and Alex at the lake, with many memories to share.

    Sunday Rob and I headed over to Sparks, Nevada for a barbecue at his cousin's house celebrating the 100th birthday of Rob's Uncle Ray. I didn't manage to take any pictures since I didn't have a pocket to carry my phone. We had a wonderful time with family and seeing Ray, whose still up on all his favorite sports teams and recognized everyone there, even though some of us hadn't seen him since his 90th birthday 10 years ago. Stopping at Rob's Uncle Ray's and Aunt Nook's house in Vallejo when we traveled between San Bruno to visit Rob's parents and Grass Valley to visit mine in the 70s was a regular occurrence for us, but we rarely get to see that part of the family now. On the way back from Sparks we drove through Kings Beach, walked out on the pier and drove by the church before arriving back at camp in the loaner Cross Trek.

A family of geese as seen from the pier at Kings Beach.

The lake is still high enough that the pier is over water, but the Kings Beach pier often becomes high and dry when Lake Tahoe's level dips below its natural rim - something I think may happen this year.

    Monday morning, June 7, we headed to Auburn to test drive new cars and trade in our trusty green Subaru Outback. It was definitely a bittersweet day to say good bye to the car that had given us no real trouble over its 14 years. We were looking at Outbacks, Foresters, Cross Treks and Imprezas. We test drove an Impreza and the Forester we ended up buying - not at all impressed by the Impreza, even though it had a lower price tag. I think we were both trying to like it, but the final straw was getting out of it - too low to the ground. We're very happy with the new Forester Sport and all its wonderful new features - just a little nervous that we're now driving a computer and I'm a bit afraid it will self-destruct like our cell phones and computers do long before I think they're old enough.

I bought this personalized plate in 1995 for our Chevy Blazer.

Later it went on our Geo Prism and then in 2007 it went on the Outback.

The plates are a bit dilapidated looking, so I may need to buy replacements before putting them on the new car.

We got our money's worth on this one!

The new Forester Sport with black and orange trim.

I think it needs a name - any suggestions?

The black and orange are the Giants colors, so maybe Lou Seal?

    The campers arrive today, so life at the lake will change a bit, but we'll continue to explore and enjoy this wondrous place. Our "work" days may be a little more busy than at Samuel P Taylor, but it's a beautiful place to "work." Our schedule will be to be on duty 3 days and then off 3 days - sounds pretty doable.

A Swallowtail Butterly on the Beach here at Eagle Point Campground

Did get my feet in the lake - once - but no further yet! It's cold!

Our daughter Ruth's birthday was yesterday, June 9, and we got to celebrate with her on Monday after car shopping. Our other four children were born in the winter and it rained for each of their births. We kidded that the baby due in June would be the first with no rain - not so - it was raining when we left the hospital 39 years ago! And every year since it often rains or at least the temperatures dip, and it sure did this year - bitter cold wind yesterday and even a few sprinkles of rain here at Tahoe. Ruth said she had a freezing cold experience celebrating yesterday at Bowman Lake, as usual!

We saw this track on the Overlook Trail.

What do you think made it?

Straus posing for me!

Elsie and Straus at Tahoe