Three Peak Challenge in the Carson Range

[simonov]

As I mentioned last month, Mt Rose. At 10,785 feet, is the tallest and most prominent mountain at the north end of Lake Tahoe. It’s a walk-up, an 11 mile reverse lollipop that, because of the starting and ending elevation and the distance, is similar in many ways to Mt San Jacinto via the Tramway.

However, there are two nearby peaks; 10,490 foot Mount Houghton and 10,338 foot Relay Peak, which share a ridge to the south of Mt Rose (and hence are closer to Lake Tahoe). Each of these make pleasant, not too challenging hiking destinations with excellent views, and are frequently tagged in a single climb.

So I was looking at Caltopo and wondering about tagging all three mountains in a single day. This is the route (starting and ending is at lower right):

three_peaks_loop_640.jpg

three_peaks_loop_profile.jpg

Now 16½ miles might not seem like a lot to some people, but it’s about the most this 63-year-old has climbed in a single day in the last 40 years. And as you can see from the profile, I would be tackling most of the elevation gain twice. Still, as long as I can maintain a steady pace, I don’t see a problem.* Start early and work it all day. It reminds me a little of the Three Tees plus Baldy, which I never did.

I will plan a Saturday in the next month or two before the snows come in. I have to do it alone because I don’t know anyone else who can maintain the necessary pace. I will make a report when the deed is done.


* This is a new situation. Until about three years ago it would be impossible. For most of the last 20 years I suffered terrible foot pain during every climb or hike, it just came with the territory. Nothing I tried helped. Finally in 2022 I bought a pair of Zamberlan boots and now I can walk forever with no pain. It’s amazing. The only thing that slows me down now is I can just get tired of walking, which is also kind of new.

[David R]

When I did Rose I did Tamarack too, that was my two peak challenge.

[simonov]

Weirdly, I've never been to the top of Tamarack. That's something else I'd like to check off the list this year.

[Sean]

Good luck, I look forward to the report.

[AW~]

Im seeing its reasonable. I dont like 'challenge' of course NHPS.
Id be curious about ebikes. Bob Burd said that an offtrail was well used. But others note the bikes.....just its legal because its not in wilderness.https://tamba.org/trails/e-bikes/

[simonov]

Bikes of any kind are not allowed in the Wilderness Area. Also most of the trail outside the Wilderness Area is off-limits to bikes. The newest trail in the area, the Tamarack Lake Trail, was actually built by a local mountain bike club.

I don't know the rules about ebikes. I suspect they are prohibited most places as "motor vehicles," but about half the mountain bikes I see are ebikes these days. No one cares, as long as people don't ride like dipshits. Sadly, some teens on ebikes riding recklessly caused a collision down here in town a couple weeks ago so ebikes are suddenly getting unwanted scrutiny. Thanks, guys.

[simonov]

Well, I did it. Barely.

There is more than just distance going on here. As you can see from the profile above you basically have to climb the mountains twice, since you lose so much elevation coming down off Mt Houghton. That’s the killer.

Years ago my climbing buddy Fritz used to say how climbing is all in the mind; you have to will yourself to continue, as it is only very rarely you are reaching your physical limits. I continue to make this point to n00b hikers and climbers.

For example, Mt Rose is a challenging hike with an 1,885 elevation gain over five miles (actually almost all that gain in the second half of the hike, amounting to about 700 feet per mile for the last two and a half miles), and I maintain that anyone of average fitness can make it to the top and back. All they have to do is want to do it. So I’ve taken people up there who never dreamed they would stand on the top of a 10,785 mountain.

I guess I proved this again yesterday because this hike just about defeated me. I suspect my age was a contributing factor, but the only other time I’ve been this sick in the mountains was at the end of a ten mile backpacking hike a few years ago after I had gone about 24 hours without eating. Though I ate on Friday night and had some food during breaks on Relay Peak, Mt Houghton and Mt Rose, I’d skipped breakfast (as I usually do) and even the snacks were not very much: I lose my appetite in the mountains and while normally that isn’t a problem, yesterday it very much was.

I started getting tired as I was coming down Mt Houghton, about halfway through the hike. I was thinking about just catching the Mt Rose Trail back to the parking lot at the next junction instead of continuing up the mountain. But, no, there was no reason for that. I knew I could do the hike as long as I had the will. I might not enjoy it (and I certainly did not, once I got to the top of Mt Rose), but nothing is free. So I got to the top of the last peak. Then I had five miles to go to get back to the car; mostly downhill, but still five more miles when I thought I was beat.

I planned a stop and a rest at the Galena Creek Waterfall, 2½ miles from the parking lot and a popular day hiking destination. I was feeling very bad. I knew I needed more food (I had plenty with me), but I felt I wouldn’t be able to keep anything down. I tried to take a nap, and after a half hour I sat up and leaned over and threw up (maybe the first time in over a decade). Then my legs started cramping, which has never happened to me before except sometimes in bed. I had 2½ miles to go and I felt like I couldn’t move another ten feet. How was I going to get out of there?

I was not really equipped to stay the night, but I had warm clothing and half a Z-Lite pad and plenty of food, so I very seriously considered just doing that; I would feel better in the morning. But the morning was still a long way away and I really just wanted to get back to the car. So I drank some more water and got up and started walking again. It’s all in the mind.

The trail from the falls to the car is a nice mellow one, with little change in elevation and no more rocks and roots. It’s an easy walk out but 2½ miles is a long way to go when you think you are at your limit. I’ve never experienced that Zen state people talk about when walking or running; I wish I could. I simply committed to placing one foot in front of the other, again and again and again, 5,625 times, until I was back in the parking lot.

By that time all my symptoms from the waterfall were gone, except for the usual and expected muscle aches and sore feet. I stopped at a gas station on my way home to buy a liter of Gatorade.

So that’s my report. I can enthusiastically endorse this hike to anyone younger and stronger than I am; it’s beautiful high country with gorgeous views in all directions. As far as I’m concerned, though, I’ll never do I again. Mostly I wanted to prove to myself I could do it, and I did do it, but I didn’t enjoy it.

Some links:

The Gaia GPS track for this hike is available here.
The GPX file is here.
A KML file you can load into Google Earth is here.
The Flickr album.

[Sean]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a rough time, but you did it. And you're still alive to post here on the forum. Have you tried Ibuprofen to prevent mountain sickness?

[simonov]

Have you tried Ibuprofen to prevent mountain sickness?

No, because aside from appetite loss, I almost never have any symptoms.

Based on my previous experience I am pretty sure my illness on Saturday had more to do with not eating enough. In any case, it only rarely happens.