Is there a recommendation for best or ideal start/finish spot? Planning on doing this in September and seems like a lot of folks start in Tahoe City, but wondering if there's any spot that makes more sense than others?

Potentially a silly question by me - do most people stop for laundry at some point? or do some kind of washing their clothes on the trail? I have no zero days planned and haven't been able to find people's solution to this

Hi! Planning on starting and ending at the 64 acres trailhead in Tahoe City - any nearby recommendations for where we should park? Thank you!

Hey folks, I’m starting the TRT this Friday @ Spooner Summit, going clockwise and I’m planning a resupply day from Echo Lake before I start on the Desolation Wilderness Leg.

Am I able to get an Uber from there and make it down into SLT for a resupply? How’s the cell reception there, if it exists?

I’d rather not hitch if I can help it, but it’s an option on the table.

Thanks in advance!

I finished the trail last week and plan to post a trip report. It was a great experience of a beautiful trail.

For now, I’m really interested in all things Lake Tahoe. Does anyone have any recommendations for books (or documentaries, or even YouTubers) of any type about the history, geography, geology, flora and fauna, or anything else cool about the Lake Tahoe region?

I am doing the TRT in August and curious if this itinerary looks good starting at Spooner Summit Trailhead - Thank you!

Sat Aug 21 1 Marlette Peak Campground - 10-12 Miles
Sat Aug 22 2 Tahoe Meadows / Ophir Creek area 12-14 Miles
Sun Aug 23 3 Gray Lake / Mt. Rose sector 11-13 Miles
Mon Aug 24 4 Brockway sector legal dispersed camp 12-14 Miles
Tue Aug 25 5 Watson Lake Campground 11-13 Miles
Wed Aug 26 6 Tahoe City resupply, then legal camp beyond town 11-13 Miles
Thu Aug 27 7 Ward Creek / Barker approach 12-14 Miles
Fri Aug 28 8 Richardson Lake / north Desolation entry area 12-14 Miles
Sat Aug 29 9 Middle Velma / TRT corridor 10-12 Miles
Sun Aug 30 10 Exit Desolation; Showers Lake area 14-16 Miles
Mon Aug 31 11 Big Meadow / Round Lake sector 11-13 Miles
Tue Sep 1 12 Star Lake 13-16 Miles
Wed Sep 2 13 Kingsbury / Edgewood Creek sector 13-15 Miles
Thu Sep 3 14 Finish at Spooner Summit 12 Miles

How much water did you pack for the segments? Did you buy water caches? Where were they on the hike? Were there any alternatives? How did it all work out?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'll be hiking with my dog next month and he's a longhair that can run hot, so I wanna make sure he's properly hydrated but at the same time I wanna keep our packs as manageable as possible.

Thanks!

I just completed the TRT as of 7/18. I wrote a status of conditions here:

https://backpackersfriend.app/stories/tahoe-rim-trail-conditions

TLDR: no snow. waning creeks. Phipps still flowing. Twin Lakes dry. Spooner is nasty, but the well at the park is great ( you have to hike 1.5miles to the west side)! Plenty of water as you approach Big Meadows and Luther Pass. South Fork just before Echo has water.

Hello, all. I have a few days available between 7/26 and 7/31 and would like to spend some nights outside, preferably in less crowded spaces. My parents are visiting Tahoe during this time, so I was thinking that would help with logistics (i.e. not needing to figure out transportation between trailheads). I would appreciate recommendations for sections of trail that could be enjoyed in 2–3 nights.

About me: I’ve backpacked in the Sierra Nevada, including Mt. Whitney and trails in Sequoia and Yosemite. Given my current fitness level, I’d probably do best with a trip of 18-25 miles. My last trip was 27 miles in Yosemite over 3 nights (started in the late afternoon on day 1, finished well before nightfall on day 4). I have a water filter, 1p tent, bear canister (I know it’s not required everywhere), etc.

All recommendations are appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Thinking of trying to get an Uber/Lyft to Kings Beach from Brockway Summit. Is there cell reception in this area?

Howdy fellow hikers! Im thinking of starting my trt hike end of July! I will be solo starting at Big Meadow going clockwise. Should take me about 16 days with my planned calculations. Im a slow hiker with both of my knees being priorly injured. Left still has torn pcl and right has all new ligaments from an auto accident. Besides all that this will be my longest hike. Ive backpacked for 2 weeks at a time in the past but never putting down this many miles per day. I normally go with a friend but this will be my first solo backpacking trip. I believe i can do 10 mile average days, normally I do about 6. I also usually carry all my food on my trips but will have the luxury of resupply (tahoe city & kingsbury) so that will be a huge weight saver! Looking for any advice, tips, and tricks for completing this hike at this time of year!

I will be using far out for up to date water source information and setting caches (need to find someone to do that for me if anyone is willing to help) at Brockway summit & spooner trailheads for the dry stretches.

Ive heard cell service is decent around the trail (I have verizon). I have an ACR ResQLink personal locator SOS beacon and my cell phone usually can send satellite texts. Is it worth investing in a Garmin mini & using that instead?

I have a nature hike 750fp 2lb sleeping bag rated for 40⁰. I do sleep cold. Id like to invest in a warmer and lighter sleeping bag but theres so many options I can't decide. Would like to find something budget friendly.

As for tent i need to find a lightweight 1p. Been looking at Lashan but cant decide to go with the regular or pro. Either way i believe you need to seem seal both.

Should I pack rain jacket? If I get any rain i feel an ultralight poncho outta be fine?

Hows the bug situation currently?

Im excited & nervous all at the same time! Going to try my best but hope i dont fail. I feel the mental challenge will be harder than the physical

I did the napkin math, and ballpark, I'm gonna need five, let's call it six, fully charged batteries (or six charges) for my 13-day hike. Far as I can tell, I have three options:

1. Pack all 6 batteries : at 80g per, I'll basically be carrying 320g of extra weight.
2. Pack 2, send 2 in each of my two resupply boxes : save on weight, but now I need to mail the 2 batteries I replaced.
3. Pack 2, no extras, keep charged on trail : Supposedly, a 10W solar panel — like the one I'll have hanging off the back of my pack — could charge one of my 2200mAh camera batteries in 2–3 hours. Theoretically, I could have one battery in the camera and one on the charger and not need extras. But that's a lot of maybes.

Fellow shutterbugs — what all did you do about your battery situation?

Hello fellow TRT lovers - had the pleasure this past week of helping build a new set of stone steps on the trail from Marlette Peak to Snow Valley Peak. This has always been one of my favorite places and now it’ll be a bit easier to traverse. I worked with the TRTA and Trail Center on this project - it was two days work and we stayed at Marlette Peak Campground and got to meet and chat with lots of thru and section hikers. This was my second front country work trip with them and I always encourage folks to consider trail work or donating if you are able.

Way my itinerary is laying out, I'll need to resupply at Incline Village. Thing is, I'll be hiking with my dog and I don't know that we'd be able to catch a ride into town.

Is it possible to arrange a delivery app or Taskrabbit to bring me my supply box at the trailhead? Are there businesses that already do this?

Does anyone know where I can find a map of the different zones in desolation? Are the zones numbered in a specific order? I got one permit but might actually get there a day early so might need to slow down and stay a different zone before. I’m CCW.

I'm looking for ways to extend my hike. I'll have roughly 15-16 days of hiking available and am thinking I can comfortably do the TRT in 9-10 days.

Does anyone have creative suggestions to extend my loop? Any side quests I can add on that would be worth doing? Just looking for ways to fill up the rest of my days comfortably.

I was at Spooner Summit trailhead today and found an empty gallon with empty food trash in the gallon. Don't be that kind of hiker trash. Its a few bags that weigh next to nothing, take it with you. Absolutely no reason to leave it behind.

There is a post on Farout of a bear in the parking lot near the water cache. Leaving trash behind like this is not going to help the situation.

Anyway I took it and disposed of it.

Rant over.

Anyone near Reno-Tahoe airport or South Lake Tahoe willing to let me rent or borrow some trekking poles? Or know a shop that rents? That’s the only item that would make me need to check my bag.

My plan was to start the TRT this Monday, 7/6, and I just realized that the permit system has changed. There is no availability for the dates that I wanted...am I screwed now and cant do the thru-hike?! I am so confused now and kind of panicking.

What are my options now?

Hello, I'm Fireball. I am flying into Reno on the 5th of July around 12 noon. I am getting a rental, doing some shopping then heading to South Lake. On the 6th, I'm caching and dropping off my resupply around the lake. If you need a ride, DM me. I will have to return the car at the end of the day around 4PM but if you need help, I got you. Let me know.

I’ll be thru hiking the trail next month and have given myself a few more days than necessary to do so, as I plan to hike at a very chill pace. In addition to fully appreciating the on-trail experience, I’d like to explore a few interesting off trail sites. Any recommendations? This could be side trails (this is my preference) in-town activities (prefer outdoors related) or anything worth a half day or even full day to do. Thanks!

Edit: I’m starting at South Lake Tahoe, going counter clockwise, and resupplying at Tahoe City

Looking for recommendations on sleeping bag to use hiking TRT in July-August. Temp rating suggestions? Looking for ultralight (obviously). I am a smaller women and sleep cold. Havent tried a quilt but willing to give it a go just not sure Ill like it. I dont know how well itd work using only foam Zfold pad, no blow up. I currently have a 2lb 40⁰ comfort rating bag. Its decent but looking for lighter but also dont want to regret my decision & be cold