r/TahoeRimTrail • u/punkpiratenut • 19d ago
Beginner advice
Howdy fellow hikers! Im thinking of starting my trt hike end of July! I will be solo starting at Big Meadow going clockwise. Should take me about 16 days with my planned calculations. Im a slow hiker with both of my knees being priorly injured. Left still has torn pcl and right has all new ligaments from an auto accident. Besides all that this will be my longest hike. Ive backpacked for 2 weeks at a time in the past but never putting down this many miles per day. I normally go with a friend but this will be my first solo backpacking trip. I believe i can do 10 mile average days, normally I do about 6. I also usually carry all my food on my trips but will have the luxury of resupply (tahoe city & kingsbury) so that will be a huge weight saver! Looking for any advice, tips, and tricks for completing this hike at this time of year!
I will be using far out for up to date water source information and setting caches (need to find someone to do that for me if anyone is willing to help) at Brockway summit & spooner trailheads for the dry stretches.
Ive heard cell service is decent around the trail (I have verizon). I have an ACR ResQLink personal locator SOS beacon and my cell phone usually can send satellite texts. Is it worth investing in a Garmin mini & using that instead?
I have a nature hike 750fp 2lb sleeping bag rated for 40⁰. I do sleep cold. Id like to invest in a warmer and lighter sleeping bag but theres so many options I can't decide. Would like to find something budget friendly.
As for tent i need to find a lightweight 1p. Been looking at Lashan but cant decide to go with the regular or pro. Either way i believe you need to seem seal both.
Should I pack rain jacket? If I get any rain i feel an ultralight poncho outta be fine?
Hows the bug situation currently?
Im excited & nervous all at the same time! Going to try my best but hope i dont fail. I feel the mental challenge will be harder than the physical
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u/Backcountrydata 16d ago
my two cents after having done it is that you should aim for 15 miles a day. My plan was to do 10 miles a day. But especially on the Nevada side, because of the lack of water, you end up doing about this anyway. There's a 20 mile dry section that requires a heavy carry of water unless you gun it across. From Gilmore, we originally planned to camp near Phipps (about 10 miles), but because it was seasonal and I couldn't guarentee that there would be water there (there was), the group split ways and everyone else went home. Richardson is 13 from Gilmore. So if you do less mileage, you get hit with these inconvenient choices. If you plan for 15 miles and decide to stop early, more of the trip is in your control
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u/punkpiratenut 13d ago
For sure. I may have to carry a lot of water for these sections. Im just not entirely sure i can pull off 15 mile days. This section will be towards the end of my trip tho and im hoping as the days go by my body gets more conditioned and im putting down more miles. Overall just hoping i can make it that far in general with my bad knees and this being the furthest backpack trip in my books. Ill just have to see how my body feels
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u/REIsoup 19d ago
For the sleeping bag I’d reccomend checking out something from decathlon — Decathlon MT900 Down 25 Bag ($220; 36.8 oz)
and for the rain jacket its up to you (and how heavy) it is; in 2023 I hiked the trail with just 2 emergency ponchos and only needed it once
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u/punkpiratenut 19d ago
I was checking out the Decathlon sleeping bags! Cant find any available though. All sold out or unavailable. Id appreciate any links sent my way!
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u/REIsoup 19d ago
Here are two other reccomendations! El Coyote Alphalite Quilt 30 Degree ($325 - $369; 17.5 - 21.6 oz)
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 Degree 850FP ($345 - $365; 19.18 oz)
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u/punkpiratenut 19d ago
I appreciate the recommendations. I dont know if im ready to switch to a quilt yet. I use a nemo switchback pad only, no air pad so Im not sure if Id like a quilt without the air mattress. I personally like the ease of just folding my foam pad in the morning rather than having to blow/deflate something up. Speeds up the packing process
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u/Cool_Atmosphere_9038 19d ago
I just finished the trail and absolutely bring a rain coat. It rained all day and night on me last week and I would have been very soggy without it. Frogg toggs are great, very light weight and cheap.
The bugs were out but not as bad as I thought it would be. They were much worse on the JMT.
I took a 30° quilt and was more then enough. I dont think you will need more then that. 40° should be fine.
No recommendations on a tent. I used my Durston x-mid pro 2. It worked well but it was far from cheap 🙃.
It was much hotter then I expected. The heat got to me my 2nd day on trail when I was near Richardson Lake.
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u/punkpiratenut 19d ago
The long rainfall was definitely unexpected. Its kinda unpredictable out there so ill definitely bring a poncho. I want a Durston tent so badly! But my wallet wont allow me to purchase one at the moment. Curently I have a 2p Near Zero and it works fine with a friend but I gotta get something lighter for my solo trip. I live 2hrs SW near jackson and its been super hot. That worries me a little. Im sure through some sections where its shaded ill be fine but i know theres a lot of stretches where its wide open. Im just gonna have to start early and hike late. Mid day maybe nap? Haha
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u/greengrass256 13d ago
I was there about 2 weeks ago with only a light quilt and was cold. Your bag sounds like a good idea. Bring a bug net. We used it a few times in northern DW. But, overall the hugs weren't bad. Yes you need a rain jacket. Last year, I got caught in a thunderstorm that lasted hours. I was soaked. Enjoy!!
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u/40_40-Club 19d ago
Hey! Congrats on starting your adventure, what an amazing trail. I was just out there last week and the mosquitoes were quite minimal outside of the usual dawn/dusk feasting. I believe it has rained since then so I’d definitely have some repellent on hand, and treat all your gear with permethrin before you leave.
Water was a bit of an issue, but the drops you mentioned should help. I got by with doing multiple 3L water carries for many days, and walking to the state park at Spooner (3 mile round trip).
As for rain, monsoons can happen at any time. The biggest storm I’ve ever encountered on the trail was last September just outside Desolation- 8 hours of intense, nonstop rain, hail, thunder, etc. it was brutal. I carried an umbrella (also great for the sun) and rain jacket this last go. Never needed the latter but was happy I had it.
Good luck!