Lake Tahoe with Nathaniel L.

Nathaniel and I rented a car to drive to Lake Tahoe over Thanksgiving long weekend. Instead of a small car, we were offered a large pickup truck. First time I drove a pickup truck! After a long scenic drive, we arrived at the lake around dusk. The sky turned dark soon after we started our first hike. That evening, we went on a short walk on the beach in total darkness, and then spent the night in the truck without heating, parked next to a small trail. First time I ever slept overnight in a car!

On the main day, we took a long hike with panoramic views of both the mountains in the east and the lake in the west. By midday, we paused next to a half-frozen pond halfway up the mountain for some nourishment. As we went further up, the snow appeared and gradually thickened. By the time the snow started falling into our shoes with every treacherous step, the strong wind was prohibiting. After a short rest in front of a stunning scene, we decided not to climb the steep hill in front of us and returned back down. Another long nighttime drive and many good conversations later, we arrived back in Berkeley.