Day 82, July 8: Mile 1147 to 1161 + Truckee
Start: Mile 1146.7
End: Peter Grubb Hut - Mile 1160.8
Miles: 14.1
Ascent: 2006 | Descent: 2661
I woke up a little earlier than usual so that I could get to Donner Pass by 8am, as one of my sister’s best friends, Eliza, was going to pick me up then. Her mom lives in Truckee and Eliza and her fiancé Sleiman had just put in an offer on a house in the area, so they were around.
I hiked out along a sun-kissed ridgeline just as the horizon was starting to lighten. I admired the pretty yellow flowers that dotted the landscape, and giggled along to my favorite podcast. Before I knew it, I had hiked the 6.5 miles and Donner Ski Area came into view.
Eliza came to meet me with her truck and one of her dogs, Moose! It was so great to see her. I think the last time I did might have been my birthday camping trip the weekend right before the world shut down in 2020.
She drove us to a cute old timey diner called Jax Diner that was situated in an old train car. Her fiancé, Sleiman, came to meet us with their other dog (and one of my favorites in the whole world), Murphy. I ordered chicken and waffles, and they so very generously and sweetly treated me to the meal. I was so grateful! Thank you E & S ☺️
Sleiman had taken the truck to get back home for a meeting, so Eliza and I walked with the two dogs back after we were done. I did a super quick town chore rundown- mainly washing socks, and charging my power banks. Meanwhile, I was trying to coordinate with my friends, who had stayed the previous night in Truckee and were somewhere nearby.
I ended up deciding to meet the group at a gear store in town because I wanted to buy a new sleeping pad since mine had popped, as well as a few other things. Eliza dropped me off at the store, and I ended up buying new shoes (which I needed), gaiters, sunglasses, and a new inflatable pillow. I was also able to exchange a pair of Darn Tough socks that I had bought in Mammoth that already had holes in them. Darn Tough has a lifetime guarantee on their socks, and I was surprised that these were already ripping!
My friends and I bopped around town a bit- to get lunch at Panda Express, back to the gear shop, and to the post office to mail a few extra items home. Finally, we started to head out of Truckee back to Donner Pass.
When we got to Donner Pass, I got my free 40 oz. beer that is given to every PCT permit holder by the Donner Ski Ranch. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a 40, but it brought back some (hazy) nostalgia.
The others hung out and drank some beer as well, before we finally got ourselves packed up and back on trail in the afternoon. We hiked out with a group of myself, Cathole, Gus, Sensei, Squirrel and Stem. Liz and Tikka were stuck in Truckee, sick with Covid, Boop was taking a little time off trail to mentally recuperate, and Squirrel Daddy was visiting with his parents in Reno.
The group of us hiked out and soon we reconvened where the trail crosses under the 80 freeway. There were two tunnels- the first of which was only slightly muddy, and the second which had knee-deep water pooled underneath it. I didn’t want to get my new shoes wet and gross, so I decided to strap on my camp shoes and wade through with my sneakers in hand. We all made it through okay, and quickly put our shoes back on after, dodging mosquitos.
After another mile or so, we came to a spur in the trail that led to a rest area off the highway, complete with flush toilets and drinking fountains. We all hung out there for a minute, and the kind maintenance man who worked there even brought us out some folding chairs so we could sit and be proper hiker trash.
We only had a few more miles to go until where we wanted to camp, so we pressed on. We made it to the Peter Grubbs Hut, a hut primarily used by backcountry skiers in the winter. It was an unusual and welcome sight to see. We ventured inside and I felt a little like we had gone back in time. There were picnic tables inside, a basic kitchen, a small room for storing wood, and a lofted sleeping area. There were three other hikers in there- QWERTY and Trash Balloon, and a German guy named Trousers.
The whole lot of us had dinner on the bottom floor, and from our group, everyone but Gus and Cathole set up their sleeping area in the loft. I think I prefer the privacy and comfort of sleeping in my tent but I’m excited for this unique experience of sleeping in a hut on the trail. Goodnight!