Distance: 28.2mi
Elevation Gain: 10,563ft
Direction: Clockwise starting at Ralston Trailhead
Duration: 15hrs
GPX Track: Download here
Why Desolation 7 Summits? The Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe where this route is located is not too far from where I grew up in Placerville, CA and was a special spot we'd go to for hiking and fishing with friends and family. On those trips we would mostly stay down in the beautiful granite basins of the Wilderness filled with pristine lakes and streams, but I had always wondered what it was like up on the surrounding peaks. This route is the perfect way to access those vantage points and see the beautifully rugged Desolation terrain from above, including spectacular views of Lake Aloha and Lake Tahoe.
What is it that keeps bringing you back to big adventures outside? Big adventures are a great opportunity to disconnect from work and just spend a day or more outside either solo or with friends in a beautiful place seeing what I'm capable of. When life often seems overly complicated or daunting, having that simple objective and digging deep to reach the goal declutters the mind and is good for the soul. I find that state of being a great place to tap into inspiration and creativity that gets put to use when the adventure is over and you're back in the 'office' as well.
Any tips on preparation for the DSS loop? There didn't seem to be too many trip reports but those that are out there including Leor Pantilat's served as a great resource. Also just pouring over the route in GAIA after downloading the track brought more familiarity with the trek and landmarks to look out for. There's about 5 miles of off-trail boulder and scree travel between Pyramid Peak and Dick's Peak so definitely good to get comfortable traveling over that type of terrain including developing some orienteering know-how. Having a gpx track downloaded to a smartphone with GAIA or CalTopo or GPS watch is a huge help, especially for off-trail travel.
What did you pack by way of nutrition? On one day outings like this one, I'm not quite as concerned about weight and enjoy taking fresh foods and snacks prepared ahead of time, in addition to your typical energy snack and drink fare. It's especially nice to have that one treat you look forward to later in the day, maybe after a tough section, as a reward. My nutritional lineup out in Desolation included grapes, pickles, chicken casserole sandwich, homemade granola bars, water, Skratch chews and hydration powders, and Trail Butter.
Did you have any low points? high points? On the low point side, late in the day, all of a sudden going up was a challenge so those last two climbs up Tallac and Ralston, even though they were on trail most of the way definitely felt like lows. As far as high points go, I was pleasantly surprised how good I felt over the first 17mi, which included high granite ridges and breathtaking views atop 5 of the 7 peaks climbed that day. Tough to not have a high point in places like that!
Hardest earned summit in your opinion? There were somewhat technical sections to navigate on the backsides of Pyramid and Price that were nice to complete but I ended up having the hardest time climbing up to Tallac and Ralston, just because I was so dang tired at that point.
Summit with the best views? Hard to beat any of the views from atop the 7 summits, but it was special seeing Desolation Valley from Pyramid, Agassiz, and Price. Then to top out on Tallac and see the big blue of Tahoe was spectacular to say the least. My last summit of the day on Ralston as the sun set behind Pyramid Peak gave a last panoramic look at Tahoe, Echo Lakes and Desolation, all in one wide expanse, which was a great final impression before descending nearly 3,000ft to the car.
Do you have any mantras that help keep you going out there? On this day over the more technical sections, I found myself saying "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" and "Don't get cocky. Don't get complacent", both as reminders to stay focused, not rush and respect the challenging terrain.
Why travel solo? I definitely recognize that it's the smartest to travel with an adventure buddy, but there's just something powerful about going solo, where it all depends on you and your actions, which I find brings a rewarding higher degree of focus and clarity (maybe that's flow state?), and allows you to move freely without worrying about going faster or slower than your partner. Going solo definitely requires an extra level of preparation as well as communication with loved ones on your plan.
On your bucket list of adventures - what are 3-5 other routes you'd like to attempt in your lifetime? I'm really intrigued by the North Cascades, thanks to TB Pro Willie McBride showing them off a few times. Would also love to check out the Wind River Range. For a lifetime adventure, going back to the roots of Trail Butter, it all started with a bike & boat adventure going from Germany to California. Someday I'd love to complete the around-the-world circumnavigation going west from where I ended that trip at my folks place in CA all the way back to Germany.
Anything else you're looking forward to before the snow hits this year? The Desolation 7 Summits route got me thinking about applying the same concept to other ranges near our home in Sisters, like the Cascades or Wallowas. We'll see. Fall is so nice just to enjoy Central Oregon at a more mellow pace, with some after work fishing outings or cool early morning jogs followed by a nice hot coffee. Lucky to have options of all levels!