Day 83 - campsite near PCT mile 1133 to Truckee

What a great day!
We started off by hiking up on the ridge for several miles, enjoying the nice views around. After a while, the trail went down to Five Lakes Creek campsite, where we filled up some water and met Raspberry. He was going to meet his wife and head off trail for a few days, when he gets down to Donner Pass. Lucky him.

Walking below the ridge, under Ward Peak

From there, we started our climb up to near some ski lift, and then down again to the next water sources. From the last water source we had about 13 miles until the road, so we filled up again, and left for the final section of the day.
We had another bit of a climb, up towards Tinker Knob, and from there we had some more great views, and a very nice ridge walk. Another little climb later, and we were near Mt. Judah, and started to see some day hikers coming up from the highway parking area.

View from Tinker Knob

The hike down to the road was steep and rocky, but we could smell town, so we just went down without pausing.
Down at the partying area we were immediately approached by a guy asking us of we were thru hikers. After responding that we were, we got a soda and a beer. We were wondering how hard it would be to hitch from there down to Truckee, but Reno Dave said he'd be leaving in half an hour, and we would be welcomed to ride with him to Truckee.
After a very nice chat with Reno Dave, both at the Donner Pass parking area and in his car, we got dropped off at the Truckee Safeway. We bought some supplies for the next, 2 day, section, in between a TON of people. Maybe they were getting ready for their 4th of July celebrations tomorrow. By the time I got out, Idan was already sitting with Greg, Half of our local trail angels, who came to pick us up over to their house.
At their house I got my new pair of hiking shoes. Janet really helped me a lot with getting the package, as we couldn't get here before the post office closes, and tomorrow it'll be closed all day. So she picked up the package for me. The shoes themselves are the same model as the old pair, only a bit wider. I hope I won't get any blisters.

The old pair of shoes vs the new one

After getting here, I got settled in one of Greg and Janet's boys' room, and Idan got a futon at the ground floor. We got showered and did our laundry, and then headed out to the Village Pizza, to meet Janet and Ann, the third half of our trail angels, who met us yesterday up at Barker Pass and had set us up with Greg and Janet.
Janet and Ann just came back from a 10 mile hike near Echo Lake. They go out hiking almost every day. It must be so fun to live so chose to such great hiking trails.
The dinner was very nice. We all had a great conversation about trail topics and some other stuff as well. I had very good stuffed shells with spinach and artichoke, and we all had a great time.

Greg, Janet, Ann, Idan and I

Coming back to the house, Janet told me about all the stuff she had learned in order to be a Search & Rescue volunteer. It's all very impressive. I wish I could learn half of that stuff, and put it to good use.

Day 82 - Dick's Lake to campsite near PCT mile 1133

It was a longer day than we first thought.

Passing by Middle Velma Lake

The trail was the usual rolling self. Some ups and downs. We kept leap frogging a couple we've seen many times now, and I still don't remember their trail names.
There was a section of about 10 miles with no water, but we were ready for it, and carried enough. After that there were plenty of water sources.
We first planned to hike to a campsite 19 miles away from last night, but we saw we'd get there too early, and we might as well push a bit further, and dry camp up on the ridge.
There was also the matter of my shoes. At the current pace we'd get to Truckee tomorrow evening, or on the next morning. And that will be the 4th of July - the US independence day. The post office will be closed, and I'd be forced to wait a day to get them, or continue hiking for two more days with my disintegrating shoes, before trying to get back to Truckee from Sierra City, or something like that.
When we got to Baker Pass I tried calling the post office, to get them to forward my package for me to Sierra City, and save me the trouble. The clerk on the phone said he couldn't do that, but I can have someone else pick up the package for me. Idan was trying to get in touch with Free Loader, a local PCT trail Angel that recently published he can help hikers around Truckee. We were looking for a place to shower and do laundry in Truckee, since we didn't want to stay the night at an expensive hotel over the 4th of July. I was also hoping he would be able to help me with my package.
Sadly, he only had reception for SMS, and he replied saying he'd call is in 30 minutes. So we waited there on Baker Pass...
A very nice lady came hiking down to the parking area, and started talking with Idan. She was from Truckee, and a minute after she left, she came back holding her cell phone. She was talking to a friend of hers, also from Truckee, who's sons were just in Israel, in Birthright. They both offered to help us.
Janet, the friend on the phone, agreed to go pick up my package from the post office. So that took a huge load of my chest. But she then also offered to have us sleep at her place overnight tomorrow. So that really solved all of our problems at once. We got her phone number, and gave her ours. We are going into Truckee tomorrow evening.

We still had some miles to cover, now with the added goal of making tomorrow's hike into Truckee a bit shorter. After passing our intended campsite, and filling up water for dry camping, we walked about 4 more miles, and found a spot for our tents. Is not the most level tent site I've had, but it will work for tonight.

Lake Tahoe at the distant horizon