PCT Day 90 – PCT Mile 1128.2 to PCT Mile 1152.2

July 3, 2026

Total PCT miles: 24.0

Non PCT miles: 0.0

Total: 24.0 miles / 38.6 km

Total elevation gain: 4993 ft

Total elevation loss: 5138 ft

Steps: 57750

The thing I dislike about camping near other people I don’t know is that I feel bad when I wake up early and start making noise packing up to start the day. It seems I typically start my day earlier than most hikers and often hike past sleeping hikers for the first part of the day. But alas the person camped next to me set up after I arrived so such is life. I was up hiking at 0530hrs just as I heard my neighbor start restling in their tent.

First I was treated to an absolutely amazing sunrise over Lake Tahoe. Definitely one of not the best I’ve seen thus far in this hike. Then only minutes later I found myself lying on the ground. I tripped, over what I don’t know and had this semi slow motion collapse onto the rocky terrain that was the trail. The weight of my backpack pushing me down I panicked when I couldn’t move my right leg. But fortunately it turns out my trekking pole had gone through my pants and because of the weird position I was in had it pinned. That said for the remainder of the day I had some new pain (I think it’s new, hard to tell when most things hurt most of the time) in my left ankle… the good one.

The morning started with the first of three climbs that brought me into Granite Cheif Wilderness. One at the top it was the first ridge walk of the day That finished when I passed the first ski resort of the day. I finished the Tahoe Rim Trail portion of the PCT and assumed it would mean less hikers.

By the time I reached the second climb of the day the sun was out in full force and it was hot. I deployed my sun umbrella which thankfully kept me cool. On the way to the top of the climb there were several trail runners and a few weekend campers. I suppose it is July 4th weekend so the trail will probably be busy. On the way down I passed Olympic Village and at least two dozen day hikers. I chatted with several groups about the PCT

I took a long break before the third accent of the day. As I tried to figure out where I might camp. At the top is another ridge walk and may miles where Far Out had no indication of any camp spots. There is

limited water and I couldn’t camp where I was as it is private property for some University Ecogical Study area. I again deployed my sun umbrella and went on my way. I stopped at the last water source before HWY 80 and filled up three liters and finished the climb.

At the top was an 8 mile ridge walk that provided great vistas in all directions and tons of wild flowers. I hiked until I finally found a spot to camp about 2 ish miles to Donner Pass road which I’ll take tomorrow to Soda Springs General Store to get some real food!

I’m camped next to Sugar Bowl ski hill in what I’m sure is not an entirely legal campsite. But after 24 miles and 10000 ft of elevation change I could go no further. Unfortunately there is a concert somewhere near by that I can hear in my tent but I’m so exhausted I’m sure that won’t keep me up. They are currently playing Don’t Stop Believing….