A Hike to Tinker Knob

The Pacific Crest Trail connects Donner Pass with Tinker Knob. I've hiked portions of the trail twice, and the entire trail twice, and I like it so much that I plan on many more hikes.

Heraclitus said that you can't step twice into the same river. That also means that you can never hike the same trail twice. Both the trail and you have changed, and there's always something new to see.

The new thing I saw on my July 19, 2009 hike was a black bear.

First, some numbers. The starting point at Donner Pass is 7,053 feet above sea level. The ending point at Tinker Knob is 8,949 feet. The distance between the two points is 7.47 miles. The elevation gain is 1,896 feet, with many ups and downs between the two points.

I pulled into an empty parking lot. I was the first hiker on the trail that morning. I took off at 6:30 AM. The low rays of the sun were on the granodorite cliffs of Donner Pass. I had a 906 foot climb to the crest. The mosquitoes were a bother. Soon I was in the forest (Upper Montane Belt, specifically). Mount Judah blocked the sunlight. I was lost in my thoughts as I continued along.

Sunrise at Donner Pass.

I encountered the black bear at 7:15 AM. I walked by it without noticing it. The bear was about twenty yards from me. It kept still until I passed, and then it took off. I heard the sudden crashing sound and turned around. I saw the back end of the bear as it ran uphill. Its thick coat was a cinnamon color. I fumbled for my camera, but within seconds the bear was gone.

Where the black bear was.

Was I ever in danger of attack by that black bear on that lonely Sierra trail? I did some checking on the ever-trustworthy Internet and found that of the twelve recorded black bear attacks in California since 1980, not one occured in Placer County. I was in Placer County when I encountered the bear. As such, I was in absolutely no danger of a black bear attack.

I reached sunshine at Roller Pass, and soon I was at the crest. Here you can look miles south down the crest of the Sierra. The trail to Tinker Knob would now be fairly level.

I saw a bear paw print in the dirt of the trail. I don't know if it was from the bear I encountered.

Black bear paw print.

A large patch of snow covered the trail east of Mount Lincoln. This section is away from the sun and the snow is the last patch to melt. I walked around it and continued on. I now hiked along ancient volcanic ash flows and clusters of beautiful wildflowers.

The trail along the crest divides the flow of water. Water from rain falling on the west side goes down the Sierra and into the Pacific Ocean. Water from rain falling on the east side travels down the Truckee River and into the Great Basin, to collect in Pyramid Lake until it evaporates.

Snow blocking the trail.

A view down the crest.

Summer wildflowers.

Tinker Knob comes into view after rounding Anderson Peak.

Tinker Knob in sight.

I met a man from Los Angeles who said he was spending the summer hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexico border to the Canada border.

I took one final and steady climb up the crest, and reached the base of Tinker Knob. Getting to the top of this volcanic vent requires attention, for the path is narrow and steep, and the talus is very loose.

Final approach to Tinker Knob.

I reached the summit and had a good look around. To the southeast was Lake Tahoe, to the north was the crest of the Sierra, and far to the west was the deep canyon of Royal Gorge.

Military ammo can containing trail register.

View to Lake Tahoe.

View north along the crest.

View to Royal Gorge.

I took my lunch (a military Meal Ready to Eat) and some water. I didn't get too relaxed, because I didn't want my leg muscles to cramp.

Now followed a pleasant 7.47-mile walk to my truck. And waiting for me at home, two cold bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.