July 30, 2015
to Star Lake
19.7 miles
49.7 total for Mike (52.7 for Greg)

Long, hot slog today.  It was miserable until we arrived at the Tramway Market.  This is a little store among the condos, homes and motels aurrounding the Heavenly Ski Resort.  The trail crossed a couple of their runs.  (We heard there are 21 ski resorts in the Tahoe Basin!)

The high point was looking east into the Carson Valley about 3500 ft below.  (The surface of Lake Tahoe is 6225 ft.  Carson City just a few miles east is 4600 ft.)  We were headed up to Monument Pass (9000).  So this would be the last time we could look east.  What a gorgeous view!  Minden, Nevada is down there.

After the pass, we reached Star Lake (9080 ft).  It was perfectly calm (the wind just has not blown here) and you could hear fish plopping all over as they snagged bugs. Beautiful spot to camp.