Ralston Peak Hike

Please change your RSVP to "not going" if you change your mind about coming.

We tend to keep moving and often spread out during the hike, so I prefer smaller groups so that I can keep track of how many are behind me. I will stop periodically to regroup if I haven't seen the people behind me for a while, especially at intersections and any place people might get lost. People who get ahead of me should do the same.

Go here for the Ten Essentials. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials) Not everyone brings all ten for every hike, but everyone should at least bring extra water, extra food, extra clothing, and a head lamp or flashlight on every hike.

Facilities on the hike: no facilities at the trailhead.

Click here for a map and elevation profile of the hike. (http://www.mapmyhike.com/us/south-lake-tahoe-ca/ralston-peak-route-74848316) This hike is in the Desolation Wilderness, where the group size is limited to twelve. It's a 7.5 mile hike with 2,835 feet elevation gain to the 9,235 feet summit. Compare to Cold Canyon with about a 1000 feet elevation gain on a five mile loop. Also keep in mind that most people feel the effects of high altitude by the time they reach 8000 feet, so this is not a good first time high Sierra hike if you've never tested yourself hiking at high altitude. I had got a slight headache the first time I hiked to 8700 feet and I am always considerably slower and tire more quickly at high altitudes. At the summit, you'll see an incredible panoramic view of the Desolation Wilderness, including Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Aloha, Lake Tamarack, Upper and Lower Echo Lake, Mount Tallac, and Pyramid Peak.

Click here for directions from Davis to the trailhead. (https://goo.gl/maps/fbJ1szsQHzE2) Driving directions are simple. From Davis, it's a one hour and 43 minute drive past the small town of Strawberry to the even smaller town of Twin Bridges (population 10) on Highway 50. Three minutes past Twin Bridges, look for a dirt parking area on your left for the Ralston Trailhead. If you pass Camp Sacramento on your right, you just missed it and you'll have to turn around. I will be stopping along the way at Smart and Final on Sunrise Blvd. to pick up a couple of friends.