Just a quick day hike was the agenda and B-dub and I made it happen. The first five miles are a breeze paralleling Lyon Creek, passing the turn-off to Lyons Lake; we made short work of that section of trail. After a short break at Lake Sylvia, we started the most difficult part of the climb, a scramble over massive rocks up a steep slope followed by more loose shale and steep inclines. That continued for a good mile or mile and a half until we reached the shoulder of Pyramid Peak. Amazingly there was still snow in the shadow of Pyramid Peak even though we were in the latter half of the Summer. After a quick re-group with B-dub, we put the final section behind us and enjoyed lunch and vast views at the summit.
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| Pyramid Peak from the final approaches - Snow in August still! |
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| "This hike is a piece of cake, what could possibly go wrong?" Aloha Lakes in the background. |
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| "I am all that is Man!" |
Time to make a new plan. We had our phones but no service, not that there was anyone who we could call who could solve the issue of me not having the keys easily. Tow truck services were probably an hour away even if we could call and my spare key was just as far away; getting service would be a few miles walk down the road. We were out of water and food. We both just hiked 13 miles and covered about 4,000 vertical feet; we were just a bit tired! It was 4:30 PM on Sunday; we would have light until about 8 PM. We both worked on Monday morning; B-Dub started at 7 AM. I thought that certainly left the bag with the keys at Lake Sylvia, 5 miles back up the trail. A decision had to be made.
This situation called for one thing - a Feat of Strength! I decided I would run the 5 miles and 1200 vertical feet up the trail and retrieve the keys. B-dub insisted that he come too although I wanted him to stay. Off we went, leaving our packs hidden under some scrubby bushes near the useless vehicle. Fueled by fear and wanting to atone for my mistake, I made fairly quick work of the trail. As B-dub begain to lag behind I told him to take his time; there was no way he would be able to match my stamina with the motivation I had harnessed.
I passed a couple hikers smartly leaving the wilderness at this time of night. They certainly were confused at why I was running in my hiking boots and heading up the trail as we started to get into the late evening. I asked them if they had seen the bag I sought. Nobody saw anything. Miles 4 and 5 were a real slog as the trail steepened; I slowed my pace. Finally, I arrived up at Lyon's Lake; surely I would find the keys. I looked around hastily trying to remember exactly where B-dub and I had stopped 3 hours prior. Nothing. Nadda. Disaster. I talked to hiking group (older couple and I presume their 30's something daughter) we passed on the way down who were camping at Lake Sylvia. I will call these people The Onlookers. They saw nothing. They offered me water and I sucked directly out of their Camelbak because I was ridiculously thirsty. Party foul on my part but ... I was parched and not really thinking very clearly!
Ok, new plan. B-dub was probably a mile behind me and twilight was upon us. We had to get out of the woods (literally) and into cell service range to get a ride. I turned back around and started on the section of the trail for the 4th time that day; shortly I met B-dub who also couldn't believe that the keys weren't recovered. Mentally, we were fragile. Not quite yet broken but on edge. The helplessness of the situation continued to sink in. We were racing daylight now; we walked quickly and regained our mental composure. Soon we ran; we made good time going downhill.
Back to the car, we quickly retrieved our bags as we heard a car slowly approaching from up the road. B-dub flagged them down and explained our precarious situation. The couple in the white truck with camper were really nice and offered to give us a ride down to the main road so we would be able to make a phone call and get help. We pulled ourselves into the cramped extended cab, happy to be off our feet. I would have been happy on the dirt floor of a prison in Mexico; I was that exhausted. Terry, the driver, must have seen the hopelessness on our faces; we told him that we live in Folsom. Since they were heading right past Folsom on their way to Sacramento, he offered to drop us off. Wow, awesome guy. Gladly we accepted their offer and slugged out the long ride home crammed behind Terry, his wife, and young daughter or granddaughter. Terry was a chatter box and all I wanted to do was drink water and go comatose in the back. Luckily B-dub humored Terry with some light conversation as I tried to ignore my stomach which was tied in knots and my painful physical exhaustion. Finally, we reached Folsom and the valet service right to my door. I really hope good karma has found Terry and his family because he saved our day.
The next day, Monday, I made a bunch of calls to the ranger district and Tahoe Police to see if any identification or keys had been turned in. No luck; it was a longshot anyway. I kept having this lingering thought that maybe I forgot to put the bag with keys and wallet back into my pack at the first stop down from the Summit, higher than Sylvia Lake. Maybe it would be worth checking since there really isn't a trail up there as it was more of a scramble and there certainly wouldn't be many hikers on a Monday. I still had to retrieve my car anyway (I had the spare key now), but my body was exhausted. I prepared for the Pyramid Peak Feat of Strength Part II!
I was set on making another retrieval run. After work, B-dub dropped me off at my car at 5 PM. Equipped with running shoes, a hydration pack and sheer determination, I once again started the run up the hill, again fighting daylight. I made quick work of the trail and reached Lake Sylvia in just over an hour. I talked to The Onlookers. They searched around the lake but didn't find any trace of my missing bag. Onward I continued. Up the complicated scramble I went higher up towards Pyramid Peak. I looked back and noticed The Onlookers watching me eagerly. I disappeared over the shoulder of the ridge and continued upward, hiking briskly and sucking air as running was not possible on this incline and altitude. Then, a sight for sore eyes -- there is was sitting unassumingly near a scrub pine perfectly propped up. It was my green dry bag with keys, wallet, first aid, etc which I'd left 30 hours earlier when unnecessarily retrieving a radio out of my pack. It was a very happy reunion, we embraced and I think one of us cried. :)
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| With 2 of the 3 onlookers and their dog at Lake Sylvia; celebrating the unexpected recovery. |
Riding an emotional high, I zoomed down the hill in record speed to Sylvia where The Onlookers were amazed that I had retrieved the bag (and that I was still physically able to stand after the last 36 hours of activity). They snapped a photo and actually sent it to me on FB later (shown above). I zoomed down from Lake Sylvia to my beloved Acura TL and she fired right up. 35 miles and 7000 vertical feet after I started, the hike was finally over. Pyramid Peak was conquered, almost twice!
More pictures on my Google Photos account (Picasa). Be careful who you trust the car keys to!
I'm happy the way things turned out the way they did. I was tested physically and mentally perhaps more than I'd ever been before. What would you have done once you'd realized back at the car that your keys were somewhere on the trail?
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