Lake Tahoe, Day 1

27 Jun 2013              Lake Tahoe

            Here we are.  It took 2 days to cross Nevada.  Over the last 2 days we survived a huge rainstorm in Lake Tahoe and it is finally pleasant enough to write a blog entry.  I recapped the Ragnar race in the middle of Nevada, and then we took another day to get to Carson City.  From there, we headed up the giant mountain to Lake Tahoe.  The weather was horrible.  Windy, rainy, dark, and nasty.  We knew that we wanted to camp in the national forest, but we didn’t know where.  The only campsite in the area said that they were closed for another few days.  We drove for a while on the north end of the lake and found out that the campsite was open, but in a rainstorm.  Oh well.  We went for it and camped anyway.  It was drizzling when we arrived, and as soon as we completed our camp set up, it started.  The wind was insane, coming up from the lake and in full force!  We hunkered in the tent and rode it out.

            Once morning came, we thought we would be in the clear.  Nope.  We forced ourselves to sleep, and this worked until 1:30 pm.  Sleeping for over 15 hours was something I never thought imaginable.  When the weather is bad, I guess I can sleep.  Once we got up, we had a bagel and went into the truck for a change of pace.  I tried a little ham radio with no success.  Luckily, there was a slight break in the weather, and we cooked dinner and went back to bed.

            Now today, as I write this, the weather has broken and the wait has paid off.  We got up, had a marvelous breakfast, dried everything out, and went for a run.  The clouds were still coming in, but the sun was out warming things up nicely. 

           

            Our run took us out of the campsite to the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail).  This trail encompasses the lake and is a gem of the West.  It was like nothing I have run before.  There were views of the lake and the mountains, some still with snow.  The smells were fresh and energizing and the altitude took its toll. The campsite is at 8,700 feet.  We only touched the surface of this trail, and I can’t wait to get on more of it.  Tomorrow we plan to run up Mt. Rose which will take us on more on the TRT.

            When the weather is bad just ride it out.  It would have been easier to go down to Reno , get a hotel room, and make it nice.  But, today’s blue skies would not be as valuable unless we held it out though this storm.  It wasn’t comfortable, but it made today worth that much more.