Day 145 plantar fasciitis?

August 8 

I packed up as the sunrise was coming through the trees over Lake Tahoe. I walked out of camp at 5:45 this morning. I will be going to Donner summit this evening. I hope to get there while it is still relatively early for some dinner. 

The day starts with another long, uphill climb, switching back towards Lake Tahoe and  then away. I get glimpses of the sun coming up, but no full views. The way the sun lights up in the trees is astonishing. The last picture looks like the trees are ablaze with fire

As I climb and reach open spaces, the sun casts cool hiker shadows.  At the top of the climb, I enter the Granite Chief Wilderness.

The Mountain Coyote Mint is a new flower observation for me. 

As I come up onto another ridge line, I again have incredible views on both sides. 

I love the jagged peaks here in the Tahoe region. 

August 8 snow is still holding on 

l love the shadow pictures. It is so cool to see what the sun produces in its detail.

I am now hiking along the upper edge of the Alpine Meadows ski area. 

Once again, across another Creek this one with easy steppingstones.

 

I stopped along another beautiful creek with this small waterfall for my second breakfast before continuing uphill.

I have arrived at the top of Palisades ski resort probably better known by its former name of Squaw Valley. If only the chair lift was running, that would save me a lot of time, but I wouldn’t do it that would be cheating.

Granite Chief Mountain is where this wilderness get its name from

Beautiful, beautiful views of the valley

I again pass through another hillside full of Mules Ears, and go up to the saddle of Tinker Knob then around its right side.

Made it over the saddle. Tinker Knob is now behind me. there are expansive views of the valleys on both sides

There are a lot of really cool geologic rock formations in this area.

My last uphill climb leads me to the sugar bowl ski resort, which is the third ski resort i have hiked through today.

I probably pushed a little too far and a little too fast I have developed what I believe is plantar fasciitis on my left heel. It’s extremely painful. The last 3 miles were excruciating. Please pray for a quick healing. Hopefully, I will be able to hike in the morning.

I arrived at the Donner Ski Ranch and ski lodge. This is where I will stay tonight. They are PCT friendly and have hiker rooms with showers and laundry available and every hiker gets a free 40 ounce beer. Of course I had to add dinner.

Today’s PCT miles hiked 25.7

Total PCT Miles hiked to date 1912.8

PCT mile marker 1154.5

(Returned to complete 542.8 miles flipped over)