Week 9: Barker Pass to Ward Canyon
The first sign we come to indicates that Ward Canyon is 11 miles. Only 11 miles?… Phew! After last week, no problem!
So many things had changed for this run compared to the last 5. For one thing, it was 8:30am and we were already starting our run. The shuttle ride was only an hour! Thanks to our ride from Katie C.'s mom, Ann Linnett, we got a good start at 7:30am and a ride all the way up to Barker Pass where we so thankfully ended our run last week.
This week we had guest runner and 100 mile TRT race finisher, Jeff Brown with us to keep the pace. We were happy to have him along but a little weary about whether we could keep up or not.
We wave goodbye to our driver, Ann, and head up the trail. The fist sign we see indicates that our destination, Ward Canyon is 11 miles away. Wow, another big change… only 11 miles? Thanks for the break TRT!
As Jeff starts out the pace with a power hike, Katie C. says that we could start running till we stop to stretch at mile 1. Well, from there Jeff, our pacer was leaps and bounds ahead… maybe we shouldn't have pushed him off the start. He's been resting for 2 1/2 weeks, he's full of it.
Up and up we go through a beautiful, dark, wet morning forest as it had been raining constantly for the past two days. With the help of the 7.5 mile drive up Blackwood Canyon to the trailhead, we were quickly looking down into deep canyons and across to all the surrounding mountaintops, back into Desolation Wilderness and ahead towards Granite Chef Wilderness.
The trail went back and forth from perfectly soft, moist dirt to shaley rock, ankle breakers. In and out of the thick trees and then out to open views out across the valleys. I am sure there were great views of Lake Tahoe but the cloud and fog was still thick so we couldn't see quite that far.
After a short downhill it was back up again through some killer switch backs that twisted through trees that were covered in electric lichen. Jeff decided to turn on the jets here with his well rested legs…we "enjoyed" trying to keep up.
Sitting up just below Twin Peaks with amazing 360 degree views we stop for a snack and waive to the boy scout troop that passes by with their backpacking gear. This section has been the most populated with hikers and backpackers.
Shortly after we get moving again we make the split from the Pacific Crest Trail and start to curve right on the Tahoe Rim Trail and the PCT keeps heading North. Good bye for now PCT.
From here it's all downhill towards Ward Canyon. Through crispy mules ear and past meadows, we are now looking back up at the clouds resting behind Twin Peaks and enjoying the rain packed dirt trail until the we have to put on the breaks as we are walking down very large granite stairs.
Perfect time to slow down because there is still water flowing out of McCloud Falls. Waterfalls have a way of giving peace. We stop for a moment and give thanks to nature and for putting us in such a beautiful place.
Below the falls we parallel the river for a short distance and get a lush trail of trees and flowers. Then, we pop out onto a double track trail that was nice and flat. This took us all the way to Ward Creek Boulevard where the trail popped out right where our car was waiting for us.
With just over 11 miles for the day we were done with a whole half of a day left in front of us! Let's celebrate!
We will proudly be sending a donation to the Truckee Donner Land Trust as we have completed section #9 of our adventure. Thank you TDLT for all the work that you do!
Next week we will be running for all the victims of violence in the North Tahoe Area and donating to the Tahoe Safe Alliance. Tahoe Safe Alliance works to empower victims in reclaiming those rights by providing safety, advocacy, support and education.
Katie Tyler
Realtor®
BRE 01442453
c 530 277 1012
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