A few miles of trekking under a clear, bright morning sky brought me to Carson Pass, a trailhead complete with an information center staffed by a group of friendly volunteers. Upon my arrival they took out the trail register for me to sign and offered me a plate of fresh cut watermelon, soda, and even a small fridge magnet emblazoned with “Carson Pass: PCT 2019”. These guys were prepared! I sat down with another group of hikers to enjoy the unexpected second breakfast, feeling grateful for the hospitality.
After crossing the pass I strolled blissfully along the Upper Truckee River in Meiss Meadow, a gorgeous alpine valley where a German immigrant family had built a summer cabin in the 1870s. Getting very tired of my standard lunch of tortillas I decided to hustle to the Echo Lake Chalet for a hot sandwich and ice cream. Getting there involved crossing the multi-lane Highway 50 at Echo Summit, the most dangerous road crossing I had encountered yet with cars and trucks zooming by at 60 miles an hour. Eventually there was a break in the traffic and I scuttled across, reaching the Chalet just before they closed for the afternoon. I cracked open a beer and sat down on a log to enjoy my sandwich and listen to hikers swap stories around me, awaiting a ride from my dad into town and home.
Russell on the Road 