NORTHEAST TRT

Round Lake to Big Meadow

SOUTH PCT-TYT

Meiss Meadow to Carson Pass

On the Pacific Crest, Tahoe Rim, and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails

This is a trail "T" junction out of the Northeast intersecting with the North-South line of the PCT and TYT. The Tahoe Rim Trail heads Northeast towards Big Meadow from here along with the trail down to our South Upper Truckee trailhead.

Hikers on the Pacific Crest or Tahoe to Yosemite Trails running North-South between Echo Summit and Carson Pass do not turn at this junction, while all Tahoe Rim Trail hikers turn North here.

The Tahoe Rim Trail

This trail junction marks the Southernmost corner of the Tahoe Rim Trail. You hike North from here independent of which direction you are hiking.

You will turn left here if you are hiking counter-clockwise to hike Northeast towards Big Meadow Trailhead on Highway 89. Clockwise hikers will take a right at this junction to head Northwest towards Echo Summit via Showers Lake.

Here at the Southern End of the Lake Tahoe Basin all Tahoe Rim Trail hikers turn North.

South out of the South Upper Truckee or Big Meadow

If you are hiking South up past Round Lake from the South Upper Truckee or the Big Meadow trailheads to this junction you have a decision.

If you are heading South to the Carson Gap where the TYT and PCT routes split apart, turn Left at this junction. If you are heading North towards Showers Lake and Echo Summit, take a right.

Forum Page........Comments and Questions?

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Backpacking Options

You can follow this Trail Guide in Three Directions from this trail junction at the Heart of the

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Option 1: Continue South Towards the Carson Gap, along the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes.

Option 2: Follow the Trail Northwest to Echo Summit via Showers Lake on the combined TYT, PCT, and TRT routes.

(The Guide depicts the Northbound trail as far as the starting point of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail at the Meeks Bay Trailhead.)

Option 3: Follow the Trail Northeast down to the Big Meadow trail head on highway 89 or the South Upper Truckee trailhead in Meyers.

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Location:

Meiss Cabin, Round Lake Trail Junction

Elevation: 8400 feet.

Mileages

Mileage: 1.88 miles between Showers Lake and this Meiss Cabin-Round Lake Trail junction.

9 miles North to Echo Summit. Though the sign says 10, I say nine.

(Note: The Sign at Echo Summit puts Carson Pass at 11 miles South of Echo Summit. I believe they are both wrong.

I put Carson Pass at 12 miles, Meiss Cabin at 9.09, and the N. Showers Lake sign post at 6.8 miles, all measured South from Echo Summit.)

Your comments and perspective on these numbers are welcome.

From This Junction we have:

2 miles South to the Carson Gap, and 3 miles total to the Carson Pass.

2 miles Northeast down to Round Lake, and 4 more miles down to the South Upper Truckee trailhead, making six miles total to the trail head.

9 miles Northwest to Echo Summit.

Check out the Map, and Click the Colored Dots for related trail guide page.

MILES AND ELEVATIONS

The Main Trails:

Echo Summit to Carson Gap: The Pacific Crest, Tahoe Rim, and Tahoe to Yosemite Trails North and South across the Meiss Roadless Area. This trail junction is the Southernmost position of the TRT.

and

South Upper Truckee & Big Meadow to Meiss Cabin: Fine local trailheads into the Meiss Roadless Area composing a small section of the Tahoe Rim Trail between Meiss Cabin and the Big Meadow trail junction.

Comments?

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Temperature References

Meiss Country Roadless Area around Meiss Cabin

June 7, 2009: Cool, storm breaking up

35° at 8am

43° before sunset

(Rain two days prior)

July 16, 2009: Hot

47° at 8am

82° daytime

57° at 8:30 pm

(Heatwave building)

September 20, 2009: Clearing from Cloudy period

44° at 8am

2010

March 2010: Low 20° post sunrise. High 50s, 1PM.

June 2010: Low: 44° High: 55°.

2011

January 2011: below 0° at night, to 35° during the day.

Check the Weather Map

Check the nearby stations and forecasts

To locate nearby weather Stations: Click the Colored Dots

Meiss Country Roadless Area

Meiss Cabin-Round Lake Trail Junction

Triple Trail Junction. Follow the Trail Guide:

South Towards Carson Pass

Northwest Towards Echo Summit

Northeast Towards Meyers

I was Approaching the Round Lake Trail Junction on the way up from the South Upper Truckee Trailhead on my way to Mount Whitney on July 16, 2009. My practice of carrying out the trash I find along the trail was broken by what I saw next.

In an open space just before the trail junction at Meiss Cabin I noticed the ratty looking duffel bag pictured above sitting on the ground.

Curious, I checked it out, and found it filled with about 40 lbs of various dried pastas, beans, soups and assorted backpacker resupplies.

The weathered condition of the bag, combined with the scratch and bite marks that varmints and coyotes had put on it, convinced me that I could not leave this on the ground in the meadow where I found it. It would be shortly torn apart, especially if a bear caught wind of it, rather than the varmints that were presently trying to work it open.

But it weighed at least 40 lbs, which meant that it was too heavy for me to carry out, and I did not have the spare rope to properly hang it.

So I carried it up to the Meiss Cabin trail junction, to figure out what to do with it during my break at the junction. I decided that it would be better off in a tree than on the ground, although the tree stash would not protect it from bear.

But it was all that I could do to get it wedged up into the tree. At least in the tree it had some chance of making it until the time the misguided horsepacker or backpacker who left it improperly stored came back to get it.

I generally pick up and carry out all the trash or other stuff I find along the trail, but this duffle bag was too heavy to carry out.

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Trail Culture

Rocket Man and Charlie Tobias

On my second day towards Whitney (of 45) I encountered Rocket Man and Charlie Tobias at the Round Lake trail junction in Meiss Meadow.

I watched Rocket Man coming South down the trail from my fine overlooking break spot at the junction. I could recognize the gait of a Pacific Crest Trailer. Rocket Man executed short, quick steps paced by a quick body rhythm. I could see his trail-focus from quite a ways out. But it was July 16, which put him late in the season for his position, and explained his focus on speed.

Charlie Tobias was walking around the Meiss Country Roadless Area on a day hike, really enjoying himself. He was well equipped for long day hikes with pack, insulation, snacks and water.

Showers Lake to Meiss Cabin, Meiss Country Roadless Area

Seasonal Changes in the High Sierras

The High Sierra Mosquito Cycle

Gauging the Seasonal Temperature Changes

I ran through this trail junction three times in 2009. I came through in early June, before the big bloom while snow still covered the higher mountains, in mid-July during the height of the Spring Bloom, and in mid-September, when the bloom was over, and the flowers had pulled in their blossoms, and were forming seeds. I was not able to make my annual mid-Winter trip through here in 2009, so I missed that aspect of these fine mountains this year.

Three important things about the changing seasons in the High Sierras

Three things strike me as being very important to backpackers about the seasonal changes between early Spring and late Fall in the High Sierras.

#1> The High Sierra Mosquito Cycle

The first is the mosquito cycle. The mosquitoes follow the melting snow. As soon as the snow melts, there are mosquitoes. As the snow melts higher up the mountain, the mosquitoes follow the melt up the mountain. As soon as enough ground is exposed, a critical mass is achieved, and from that time until the ground once again dries out the mosquitoes literally dominate the physical environment. Serious measures are required to tolerate the mosquitoes. I have seen people literally crying in frustration and pain while stumbling down trail from inadequate mosquito protection.

I stopped the unfortunate backpacker, calmed her down, DEETed her up, gave her proper directions, the exact mileage, and the estimated time to her trailhead.

Don't underestimate the mosquitoes.

Above: I'm in full mosquito protection in camp easily withstanding a full-on Spring mosquito attack in the Emigrant Basin, High Emigrant Wilderness

Travel Measures against mosquitoes

You must have the proper protection to hike through the mosquito high season in comfort. Walking into a light breeze is generally sufficient to out-run the mosquitoes. On calm days, or when walking with the wind, the mosquitoes can and will follow you, and bag on you for miles.

The basics

Long Sleeve shirt that is mosquito-proof. Loose fitting with a tight fabric weave is suggested.

Long Pants that are mosquito-proof, and long enough to be tucked into your socks. Zip to Shorts pants work really well.

Hat: Keep them off my head and bald spot.

Gloves: I do not recommend gloves while hiking. DEETing the backs of your hands is sufficient.

DEET: The only effective insecticide. A non-toxic highly effective insecticide is in the pipeline, but it is not yet on the market.(Isolongifolenone) Deet will protect all exposed skin not covered by your mosquito-proof clothing. As per the label warning, do not put clothes on over skin you have DEETed.

The measures above also protect against the golden biting flies in Northern Yosemite, which are little bastards all Summer long. You will never forget their bite. I don't preemptively kill anything, except Yosemite's golden biting flies. Everything else has to bite me first, except for golden biting flies.

I have tried everything. Most compounds work poorly. Only DEET is reliable. I bring no other insecticide except 100% DEET into the mountains with me.

INFORM YOURSELF:

Recent Scientific Research on DEET

A fascinating array of scientific papers and research.

Camp Measures against mosquitoes

When you make camp the mosquitoes will zero in on you. You must have the proper mosquito gear to be comfortable in camp during full mosquito inundation. I prefer proper clothing and physical protection in camp rather than DEET usage.

A full coverage tent is mandatory. Unless you want to be eaten alive all night long. Be my guest! There is no question about putting up my tent during mosquito season. Not only do I put up my tent, but I also have an entry system that scrapes most of the mosquitoes off my clothes when I enter the tent.

I only open the door zipper a crack, then sit down into the cracked zipper, pushing it open with my weight. My body falling through the unzipping door scrapes all the mosquitoes off my clothes. I then flip my legs into the tent, quickly zip the door, and then begin the hunt for all the skeeters that did get into the tent.

If your tent is not securely set up, or your zippers are weak, be careful about using my skeeter-scraper technique of sitting into a partially zipped door. You could damage your tent, or just bring it down.

Before entering the tent I try to brush all the mosquitoes off my clothes that I can. Remember, each time you enter the tent you must take the time to kill off all the mosquitoes that entered with you. Or they will eat you. And search well. Mosquitoes know when they are being hunted, and they will try to hide.

Mosquito Netting: I am talking about the hat-brim to shirt-collar nets that protect your head. Though these nets restrict vision, they are a welcome relief from the constant use of DEET.

Gloves: I use gloves against the mosquitoes in camp.

Properly set-up, your clothes should protect you in camp from mosquitoes. The only problem is during heat waves, when you really don't want to wear long pants and long sleeves.

From Trail to Camp

If I am rolling down the trail wearing shorts and a tank top while completely DEETed out, I will have to make the transition to long pants and long sleeves for camp. That's another reason I carry my lightweight plastic water jug. Remote baths.

I fill my jug up and walk a safe distance from the water source, and sit on a rock for my de-DEETing. I rinse off all DEETed skin with water. Then I am ready to put on my camp clothes.

Don't wash chemicals, be it DEET, suntan lotion, or moisturizer off anywhere near the water source. If you want to swim, wash the chemicals off first, then jump in! DEET is already contaminating American Streams.

Safe Application of DEET

I only apply DEET to the backs of my hands, and then rub the DEET from the backs of my hands onto my arms, face, legs, and neck. I never apply DEET to the fronts of my hands, as I want to prevent contamination of my food and water. By keeping my hands DEET-free, I am able to avoid eating and drinking it.

INFORM YOURSELF:

Recent Scientific Research on DEET

A fascinating array of scientific papers and research.

The Heat and the DEET

Hot mosquito-filled early Summer days demand light clothing and lots of DEET. In 2009 the high mosquito season in the Sierras spanned the mid July heat wave that brought temps up to the low 90s at 8000+ feet in the Northern Sierras. Thus I was hiking in shorts and a tank top, slathered with DEET.

But you must make your own hot weather decision. You can wear long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself against mosquitoes, and sweat like a pig. Or you can use DEET, and wear shorts and a tank top to keep cool in the heat. In that case you will still become a mosquito target as you sweat the DEET off. And when the DEET is on you are subject to becoming a victim of your own self-induced chemical warfare.

The Annual End of the Mosquitoes

The mosquito domination begins to seriously diminish at the beginning of August as the ground dries out. By August 15 the mosquitoes have generally receded into a minor irritation. This will be different for different parts of the Sierras, as the decline of the mosquitoes is dependent on local drainage and soil moisture levels.

Wet meadows will hold mosquitoes in any month. Especially bad are the High Sierra granite basins holding lakes and meadows. These granitic basins tend to hold wet soils late into the Summer. A good example is the Emigrant Basin in Emigrant Wilderness. This bowl tends to hold moisture and mosquitoes longer than well-drained areas.

Once things dry out and the mosquitoes decline, tents are no longer required for protection, shorts and the tank top can be worn without chemical protection, and your mosquito net can be stowed until next Spring.

#2>The Warming Weather

The Second Important thing about Seasonal Change in the Sierras are the basic seasonal temperature changes. The Temp changes from Winter to Spring, and then Spring to Summer are important because they determine proper gear selection. The most important changes concern when temperatures drop to Winter levels during Fall, and when they come back up in Spring.

It is important to observe these changes accurately, as you do not want to get caught in an early or late Winter storm in your mid-weight Fall and Spring gear when your heavy Winter gear is required.

Comments?

If you are adverse to mid-Winter conditions, you should temperature increase happens, it's time for Spring Snow shoeing. Some beautiful Snow backpacking happens when Spring temps establish themselves. The storms are generally less intense, not as cold, and not as frequent. The days are longer, and all of these changes mean less insulation is required, significantly lightening the backpack weight.

The second weather change is from Spring to Summer temps.

As Spring melts into Summer, your gear will have to cover the change too. In early Spring, you will not have to worry about mosquitoes. In late Spring, the mosquitoes will be everywhere there is not snow. So you will have to figure out how much snow gear, and how much mosquito protection you will have to bring. Look carefully at the snow line, when you will cross it, and how much time you will spend in the muck below the snow line.

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION: STAY TUNED FOR MUCH MORE!

COME ON BACK NOW, 'YA HEAR?

7.5 topo hiking Map: Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee to Carson Pass

30 min topo hiking Map: Echo Summit and South Upper Truckee to Carson Gap

Miles and Elevations

South: Meiss Meadow

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