TRT- Everything I know about hiking the TRT

The following is a general listing of everything I know about hiking the TRT. ok, maybe it isn't really everything I know, but it is a bunch of Tips and Tricks that I've heard or used during my trip.

Ultralight vs Comfort - To paraphrase the guys from REI, it is a personal choice about whether to go more ultralight, or to go for more comfort, and end up carrying the associated increased weight. I'm a "comfort at night" kind of hiker, so my pack isn't light. I'm willing to sacrifice speed for better sleep and separation from bugs, so I do carry a tent, not a bivy or a tarp. The most important thing is to make sure everyone you are hiking with has the same goals, as far as mileage per day, and hours hiked per day. And that is directly related to the weight of everyone's pack.

Hiking Poles - Buy them and use them, really. I know, it takes a few hikes to get over the "I'm a European geeky old guy" feeling, but in the end, your body will thank you for it. On uphills, they help with balance, and when it's really steep, the little weight that your arms are now supporting starts adding up to an easier climb. On level ground, they don't help me at all, unless you happen to run across either aggressive dogs, or curious snakes. On downhill stretches, hiking poles are worth their weight in gold. They not only help with balance, but they really help with the beating the knees take. They help the most on very step slopes, especially on any step-like sections. I've learned that when hiking, about once every two hours, on average, I either have one of those "I just about rolled my ankle" or I have a "slip on sand that's on the buried smooth rock" or even just a " kick the exposed root" thing. Poles REALLY help in those situations, especially with a heavy pack.
I wrap several feet of duct tape around my poles; it works as an easy storage area, and duct tape can fix a lot of things out there. I also wrapped a few feet of bright orange flagging on one pole, so I can untape it and have a way to more easily be seen, or signal someone (my wife calls me Mr Safety).

Water/ Hydration - I don't like running out of water, so I tend to carry more than I think I'll need. I'd rather carry a bit more weight, and hike relaxed, than go too light, and worry about the next water source. I like using a 100 oz Camelback for water, plus one 16 oz water bottle with a mixed drink, like Tang, Gatorade, or anything else in powdered form. I carry an empty 2 liter Platypus, in case it will be a long time between water spots. Besides, if one gets a hole, I have the backup to use.
I use a Katadyn Hiker PRO water filter, which isn't the lightest model (about 14 oz), but I have confidence it it.

Shoes/ Foot Care - ok, I really suck at figuring out blister, and foot pain management. For me, I feel better by wearing basic breathable hiking shoes, and I try to change socks half way through the day. If during training hikes, I can get blisters, then let them heal, my feet feel better on the later hikes.


The Tahoe Rim Trail Association - These people are awesome! Not only did they spearhead the organization and construction of the trail, then weren't just organizers, they actually get out there, get dirty, and make the trails. Their website, http://www.tahoerimtrail.org/ , is a wealth of information, and includes everything from trail conditions and planning your trip, to a discussion Forum, plus information on how to donate your time actually helping upgrade parts of the trail. They also have a very informative Spring lecture series that'll fire you up for your trip! They are also the ones who keep track of the "165 Mile Club", eligible to all hikers who have finished the entire trail. Go ahead and bookmark their website; once you see it, you'll be going back pretty often.

Books and Maps  -  Without a doubt, the most important resource is a book called The Tahoe Rim Trail A Complete Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers, and Equestrians by Tim Hauserman. Endorsed by the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. Wilderness Press. If you get it on Amazon, be sure that you're getting the most current edition (but I'd reccommend to buy locally, go Sundance Books!). The TRTA website lists several maps for sale, but I used the "Tom Harrison Topographical Recreation Map" for the general map, and also the "Tahoe Rim Trail Elevation Profile Map", which is a great resource that lists not only the elevation profile, but also the possible water sources along the way. These three sources were great to have, and each night in my tent, I'd go over what to expect for the next day, and plan my water load accordingly. I never used a GPS or a compass, but the one time we did get a bit lost, we used the map to judge the terrain, and figured out that we needed to go downhill to get back to the trail, so the map really helped.

Food - I don't like the cleanup of real cooking while hiking, so I use Mountain House freeze-dried dinners. The Pro Pack is a single serving and vacuum sealed, so it is very compact, plus it is the right amount of food for me. These meals are over-salted,which you'll appreciate after a long hot day of hiking. The Pro Packs fit in the Bear canister easier than the other styles.
I use the BearVault BV500 for carrying and storing my food, plus anything that smells, such as toothpaste. It fits about 5 days worth of food, keeps bears out of your food, plus you don't worry about squirrels and other critters. It also makes a great camp stool, which I'd heard about, but unless you've used one, you don't believe how nice it is to have a flat seat each night during dinner. Ah, life's little luxuries...
Remember, on the first day, your lunch and dinner don't need to fit into to canister, so that buys you some extra room.
Everyone's taste is different, but I usually only break out the stove for dinner. I stay with cereal bars, granola bars, and Pop Tarts for breakfast. Sometimes I'll have oatmeal, but just for the change. I find that if I don't use the stove, I can get my camp packed up quicker, and get on the trail sooner. For lunch, if there is room, I like bagels, and it space is tight, then tortillas. Peanut butter and honey (I know, it's cliche) mixed in one of those toothpaste tube things, is good for some energy, just be sure to keep the tube in a Zip Lock bag, too. I pack a small stick of salami, and for variety, the foil packages of chicken or tuna, but be sure to also add a small packet of mayo. They are heavy, but a nice luxury item!
Energy bars a good for filling out lunch, or for snacks while walking. I use a variety of brands including Pro Bar, Powerbar, Balance, and others, since no matter how much you like a certain brand and flavor, they all don't taste as exciting after a few of them. The bars usually have a great "calories to ounce" ratio, so you get a lot of calories for their weight to carry. I also eat some dried fruit snacks, the kiddie-snacks from Welch's or Kellog's, that are great while hiking, and have a variety of flavors. Welch's also has real dried fruit, which always feels healthier.
Zip lock gags are my weakness; I use gallon and sandwich sizes for food, and for general organizing of other supplies.
I have learned that while hiking, at least for me, it is critical that I have snacks, in addition to the obvious water, in order to feel good throughout the day.

Clothes  -  I didn't carry "spare" of anything, except socks and underwear, which I had two pairs of each. I wore shorts that zipped into long pants, a Colombia Titanium white shirt (very breathable and quick drying), and a hat with a wide brim. If I'd worn a baseball hat, I would have regretted it on those sunny days. You just don't get the coverage on the sides of your face that you need. Other items included: a lightweight fleece jacket, a lightweight windbreaker/rain jacket and pants, a warm microfiber hat, a longsleeve lightweight breathable SPF white shirt (for sun and bug protection), a bandana (for neck-shade and as a washcloth), and a very lightweight pair of sandals for around camp, to let the feet breath and relax. Sunglasses are also essential.
Remember "cotton kills" when wet, so avoid it.
You are at high altitudes, so WEAR SUNSCREEN, and wear a big hat.

Stove - I didn't "cook" anything, I just boiled water. This saved me not only on cleanup, but also on how much I needed to carry. One very small pot to boil water, and there weren't any cleaning supplies needed, except a drop of soap to clean my spork. For a stove, I have an old version of the MRS Pocket Rocket, which weighs only 7 oz, plus a fuel canister. My hiking partners all used the Jetboil system, and although it weighs more than mine, it boils water quicker, so it can save you fuel weight. I didn't have any problems at all with wind, but I hear that the Jetboils generally work better in windy conditions.

Cell Phones - There is decent cell coverage from AT&T on almost of the trail. I had a pretty clear signal on the entire trail, except for Echo Lakes to near Ward Creek, which didn't have any signal for me, but I did get a weak signal near Barker Pass. There are other areas with weak signals, but even there, I was almost always able to send email and text. For voice, I just waited until I was in a clear spot with decent visibility towards civilization, and I would have strong signals. I had my Blackberry turned off the whole trip, except when I wanted to call home or post trip updates and photos to Facebook (technology can be fun, too, it's not always evil). I think that it was worth the weight, but it's a judgement decision on that one. I don't know about other cell carriers, but I'd assume that they are pretty blank through Desolation, too.

First Aid Kit - Take one! You or your hiking buddies will probably need something out of it, most likely for blisters, but you also might run across a hurt mountain bike rider, like I did.