Lit up with anticipation, we arrive at the launching site...
Welcome to the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), a 170-mile long-distance hiking trail that forms a loop around the Lake Tahoe Basin — and we’re here to count down the miles by collecting cache finds all along the way. What better way to celebrate circumnavigating the lake than by remembering those who have orbited the Earth? This series combines three of my passions into one massive project: hiking, geocaching, and space.
As the miles count down, the missions count up — tracking the full history of crewed human spaceflight from its beginnings to the present day. Astronauts, cosmonauts, and taikonauts: that’s a lot of history and a lot of hiking, two of my favorite things.
The series spans the full 170-mile loop, with a few caches per mile all the way around the Tahoe Rim. We use the official TRT mile marker system, which lists Mile 0/170 at Tahoe City counting clockwise — but our series is anchored near Echo Lakes, closer to my home on the South Shore, and counts up in missions as the miles count down headed counterclockwise. First launch is at the southern edge of Desolation Wilderness (we’ll cover the Wilderness a different way) — but there’s no need to go in order. Jump on at any trailhead, in any direction, at any time. All containers should look the same. Spoiler photos are included. Welcome to the mission.
About the Mile:
Mile 122-121 climbs uphill from Echo Lakes Chalet over the hill towards Johnson Pass Road, as you make your way to Echo Summit. Above Echo Lakes you'll pass through the Caldor Fire burn zone and catch glimpses of Berkeley Camp before heading back into the trees on your way to the Highway 50 crossing.
Tahoe Rim Trail Segment:
Big Meadow to Echo Lakes · 18.3 Miles · “Enter the Lakes Region”
Between Big Meadow and Echo Summit, the trail wanders from meadows to lakes to creeks, and through dense stands of pine, fir and aspen. The trail heads south from Big Meadow trailhead across a gently rolling landscape of grassy meadows and fragrant conifer stands. The shaded shores of Round Lake is nestled beneath high cliffs. Further on, the TRT merges with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) and swings north through flower filled Meiss Meadows and alongside the cool head waters of the Upper Truckee River. The trail then climbs past granite lined shores of Showers Lake and through a rocky bowl where seasonal creeks tumble down steep ridges into lush meadows. Further north the landscape becomes more rugged and much drier, and opens into occasional views of Lake Tahoe. The trail drops over a granite ridge in a long steep downhill traverse before leveling off. A small stream outlined with ferns and flowers provides a refreshing respite before the short ascent to the Echo Summit Trailhead.
About the Mission:
Flight 90 of the North American X-15 was a research flight conducted by NASA and the US Air Force on July 19, 1963. It was the first of two X-15 missions that passed the 100-km high Kármán line, the FAI definition of space, along with Flight 91 the next month. The X-15 was flown by Joseph A. Walker, who flew both X-15 spaceflights over the Kármán line.
This made Walker the first US civilian in space. This was also the first spaceflight of a spaceplane in aviation history. First flight launched over Smith Dry Lake, NV. Experiments: Towed balloon, horizon scanner, photometer, infrared and ultraviolet. Balloon instrumentation failed. The X-15 engine burned about 85 seconds. Near the end of the burn, acceleration built up to about 4g (39 m/s⊃2;). Weightlessness lasted for 3 to 5 minutes. Re-entry heating warmed the exterior of the X-15 to 650 °C in places. During pull up after re-entry, the acceleration built up to 5g (49 m/s⊃2;) for 20 seconds. The entire flight lasted about 12 minutes from launch to landing.
About the Insignia:
The X-15 rocket planes have been described as the most successful research aircraft ever built, allowing NASA, Air Force, and Navy research pilots to explore the problems of space and atmospheric flight at supersonic and hypersonic speeds. They also served as flying laboratories, carrying numerous scientific experiments. Data derived from the X-15 research program made numerous contributions to aeronautical science and technology, many of which have influenced modern aircraft and spacecraft design including the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo craft, and the space shuttle. Over a nearly 10-year period from 1959 to 1968, a total of 12 pilots flew three X-15 research vehicles 199 times, achieving speeds in excess of Mach 6 and altitudes above 60 miles. A small number of these patches were produced in the early 1960s. One example was worn by Maj. Ralph N. Richardson, commander of the 16th Physiological Training Flight, who was responsible for X-15 life support activities.
See you on the next pass. — Mission Control