I grew up snowboarding and skiing in Lake Tahoe. My dad used to toss me in the car in the early hours of the morning. I’d wake up practically on the slopes. Despite growing up so close by, I’d never been to Tahoe without snow on the ground.
I’d been hearing all these things about how gorgeous Tahoe is in the summer. Middle Velma Lake in Desolation Wilderness was my first pick.
I’m 5’ tall and a bit over 100 pounds. When I’m backpacking, weight is everything to me. The Tarptent Scarp 2 is my go-to tent when I’m out in the backcountry.
I’ve had the Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie since February of this year. Basically the minute I left the Hayes Valley store with it was the minute it became glued to my body (only to be alternated with the boyfriend’s Flux hoodie which he accidentally shrunk so it is now mine, and yes, review to come).
I’m generally not a huge fan of shorts made by outdoor brands. They’re always kind of frumpy, all the wrong length, borderline capris. I mean, come on. I’m 5′ tall. Anything cut between mid-thigh and my feet will make me look at a stump. But Paulina! You are doing things outdoors and getting dirty and not showering, why does it matter if you look like a stump or not? It just does.
Cue the Outdoor Research Contour Shorts, now replaced by the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Shorts, aka the best outdoor shorts known to mankind.
Hike: Rattlesnake Ledge to East Peak and back
Where: Rattlesnake Lake
Level: Strenuous
Duration: 3 hours and 58 minutes roundtrip
Length: 1.9 miles up to Rattlesnake Ledge, 2.4 miles from Rattlesnake Ledge to East Peak, one way.
Fitbit Steps: Approximately 27,000
Gear:
CamelBak Aventura Hydration Pack,
REI Sahara Convertible Pants,
Ahnu Women’s Montara Waterproof Boot,
ExOfficio BugsAway Adventure Hat, UNIQLO Airism men’s v-neck (check out my review of this here)
Cost of Parking: Free!
Rattlesnake Ledge is a fun, short little hike with an elevation gain of 1,175 feet in a short 1.9 miles. The huffing and puffing all the way to the top is worth it though. The views of Rattlesnake Lake, Mt. Si, and the surrounding greenery is unbeatable.
The trail consists of steep switchbacks under the shady cover of tall evergreens. Even on hot days, the hike is not unbearable.