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Rubicon
Trail
Thursday,
August 26, 2010
(A
new twist to a favorite fun hike. See
details below. New hikers / walkers welcome.)
DIFFICULTY: Easy to
Moderate - only the
length contributes to the “moderate” rating.
Otherwise it is quite
easy and the distance can be reduced.
ELEVATION
GAIN: Starts
at 6,635 foot elevation, drops
down to 6235, and climbs to 6580 before reaching Bliss
State Park.
This
results in a 350 feet gain.
HIKE
DISTANCE:
approximately 7 miles but can
be reduced to about 5 miles by eliminating the initial
part of the hike.
GENERAL
LOCATION: Lake Tahoe
West
Shore around Emerald
Bay
DESCRIPTION:
If lakeside views
across the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Tahoe are what you’re looking
for, look
no farther than the Rubicon Trail, which follows a stretch of shoreline
along Emerald
Bay
of Lake Tahoe.
This is a beautiful
trail, giving us great views into the blue water below. It is one of
the true
treasures of the Tahoe area. The trail is mostly flat or on gentle
grade,
although there are a few places with steps to climb.
This
year we are incorporating a couple significant changes in the
overall adventure to make the both the hike more interesting and a bit
shorter,
and the planned dinner on the way home a memorable experience.-
First
- the hike:
Instead of a 10 mile hike where we go out and back
on the same trail, this year the hike will measure about 7 miles and we
will
hike it in only one direction. The hike will start at Emerald
Bay
State Park.
We will
drop a car at Bliss State Park
to shuffle
drivers back to the trailhead. Also, while the cars are being
shuffled,
hikers will hike down to the Vikingsholm
Mansion
and can either tour the
mansion ($5 fee for tour) or begin the hike by heading further South
along the shore
of Emerald Bay.
We will hike
approximately a mile along the trail before reversing back to the
Vikingsholm
to meet up with the shuffled drivers and continue on the trail heading
north to
Bliss State Park.
We will eat our lunch
on the shoreline at a place we select in route.
Note:
You can reduce the hike distance to about 5 miles by not participating
in the
initial mile trek down and back heading to the south from the
Vikingsholm. So this hike has something for
everyone – especially
new hikers / walkers wanting to experience a short, fun hike.
You should
know that the Vikingsholm is one of the finest examples of Scandinavian
architecture in the western hemisphere. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight
purchased
the property encompassing the head of Emerald
Bay
and Fannette
Island
in 1928 for $250,000. A step into Vikingsholm is like a step
back into
medieval times and a chance to gain an appreciation of a unique style
of
architecture and the person who had it built.
Second
- the dinner plans:
We plan to have dinner in Truckee
at Jax at the Tracks. This is a local
favorite.
So
don't just take my word for it...
See
what Guy Fieri, host of Food Network's popular show "Diners, Drive-ins,
and Dives" has to say about JAX at the Tracks! This aired
just on
June 7th, 2010.
Food
Network segment: http://jaxtruckee.com/food-network.html
Main
Website:
http://jaxtruckee.com/
Dinner
Menu:
http://jaxtruckee.com/menus/jax_dinner.pdf
TRAVEL
TIME/DISTANCE: About
2 1/2 hours - 110 miles each
way ($18
donation to driver – also a
parking fee will be assessed at the State Park lots – this is to be
shared).
We plan to return home rather late, making this an all day
adventure with
a unique dinner.
HIKE
LEADER/SWEEP:
Dennis & Margaret Ratay
SPECIAL
NOTES:
FACILITIES
AVAILABLE: At
the trail head and at the Vikingsholm.
PREPARATION
FOR HIKE: Refer to
#8—Standard Hiking Equipment and
#9—Guidelines for Hiking on the “Hike Information and Guidelines”
handout (also
posted on web site). Bring water, as some of the trail is in the sun.
DINNER:
Jax at the Tracks in Truckee.
If that
doesn’t work for you, we’ll try
to
arrange a carpool for early return. This is not guaranteed.
QUESTIONS:
Call Dennis
Ratay at 543-9935.
MEETING
TIME: 7:00
AM
at Orchard Creek
(near
U.S.
Mail box)
– depart 7:15 AM
PICTURES FROM
A PREVIOUS HIKE
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