Tahoe in January

Five stars. (★★★★★)

This is where I want to be. I don't want to celebrate my milestone birthday on some extravagant, exhausting trip. I want to spend it hiking, reflecting, writing, relaxing, catching up with myself. I want to exercise my body in the snow and feel healthy.

Day 1, Jan 17: Travel

Getting here is never fun. Walking into my cabin immediately lowered my travel stress; this place is so cozy it's impossible to be angry here. After catching up on work I used my 4 p.m. sauna appointment to transition, and then settled in to research winter hiking options. Fell asleep watching Silo S2.

Day 2, Jan 18: Cattywampus

The morning was all discombobulated. I slept poorly and headache-y due to the otherwise charming holiday lights coming through the cracks in the blinds, and failing to pack my sleep mask. I got a slightly late start, and the first trail I drove to was closed for winter... Second trail also closed. I ended up back at the Lake Winnemucca trail, a repeat from my last trip. I forgot my watch in the room (if steps aren't tracked, did it even happen?) and after starting the hike I remembered my crampons in the car. Going back for the crampons was worth it - the snow was mostly packed but slippery. I'm grateful to Dad for gifting me the crampons last year; it never would have occurred to me, and they are so useful. The hike was strenuous but nice and I'm glad I persevered. I spent a few hours working (boo!) but got enough done that I should be able to unplug for the next two days!

Day 3, Jan 19: Lesson Learned

So... Pretty much all the trailheads are closed for the season, except the one to Lake Winnemucca. After another dead end I fell back on same place as yesterday, which is honestly fine. The conditions are good and I had a lovely hike. Then a big nap, a few hours of personal catch-up in the cabin, a short hike near the property (no crampons, fell on the ice!) and a sauna session. More laptop time, wine, dinner, Silo.

Day 4, Jan 20: Whoa

I went for the out-and-back Hope Valley Overlook trail, which connects to the property (yay, no driving) and would surely be well-traveled by all of the guests. Wrong! Roughly halfway up the trail, the well-packed tracks stopped and I was on my own. I followed the path of a solitary trekker in the wrong direction, eventually reconnected with the trail and was surprised to see pristine snow drifts, only animal tracks. The snow was deep and a reasonable person would have bailed, but I waded on for at least another mile. I could not have continued without my new trekking poles, and really should have had snow shoes. It was a serious workout. Once I reached the highest point - almost the end of the trail - I turned and hurried back (as much as possible in snow drifts) for Indian lentil stew, a few timely work tasks, and laptop time. I feel like I accomplished something today, but I would not do that again.

More sauna, delicious takeout from the restaurant, more wine, texting, blogging, TV.

(Also, inauguration? What inauguration?)

Day 5, Jan 21: Back to Reality

But first, one last hike! It was zero degrees outside when I walked out the door, but I have good layers and game-changing hand and insole warmers. Once I got moving I was fine. I did the "onsite" hike again - but only to the point where the trail vanishes and the snowdrift bush-whacking begins. No, thank you. It was a lovely 3.5 mile mini-hike that took about an hour and a half; it was a great way to tie up the trip. Back in the cabin, I am not making the mistake I did last time, which was scooting out as soon as I was packed. Check-out is at 11 a.m. and I intend to linger for the last minutes of peace, eating my last protein bars, before I hit the road for the exhausting drive home.

Can't wait for next time!