July 16

End: Near the Nipple
Daily: 12.5
Total: 1068.5

We ended up doing fewer miles than we expected to do today, partly because we slept through our alarm and woke up at 7:15 instead of 6, and partly because a couple of day hikers/weekend campers, named Damen and Blakely, made us an offer we couldn't refuse.

We hiked on fairly flat, snow-free trail all morning and were moving fast but feeling tired when we passed B & D the first time. hey were headed to Wet Meadows for lunch and stopped to chat for a couple minutes before we were all on our way.

We stopped for lunch (and coffee since we were feeling tired), and B & D passed again heading back to Tamarack Lake, where they were camped. This time they stopped for longer - asked us questions, etc. After a while, they headed on and we packed up and followed them a few minutes later. After chatting with another day hiking couple (we love day hikers, they're so nice and curious) we ran into B & D again, who invited us down to their camp to camp, have dinner, and maybe get a ride into town. Since the whole resupply/ride back to Tamarack Lake thing probably wouldn't have worked out, we just said we'd come to hand out for a while and head on. We ended up staying for a few hours, sharing some wine and soup and padling around the lake in their inflatable kayak! It was so much fun!

Talking to B & D was tons of fun too, they were out for a get away weekend before their wives both have babies - one in September and one in December (congratulations!). Blakely had run the Tahoe Rim Trail in 65 hours (I think) a few years ago. They were so generous!

After we finally tore ourselves away from the tiny vortex they were creating, we walked another couple of miles (past the Lonely Turtle and Shepherd) and found a sheltered place to camp in the rocks past Blue Lakes Road. Now we'll fall asleep to the sound of frogs and a great horned owl.

Big day tomorrow to make up for our lazier day today. But it shouldn't be too bad, and even if we don't make it 20 miles like we hope, we'll still be in South Lake Tahoe in the morning on Monday like we planned. I'm happy we stopped. Today was fun.