Hiking 170 Miles in 5 Days on the Tahoe Rim Trail

The largest alpine lake in the United States, more than 2 million years old, sitting more than a mile above see level... And I'm walking around it! My goal is the 170 mile Tahoe Rim Trail in just 5 days, which averages out to more than 30 miles per day. I wasn't putting a label on it, but I guess I'm fastpacking this trail. Though really you could say I fast pack every trail! I like to think that I'm going for a speed record or fastest known time, and that I'm just really bad at it. Either way this is how I like to hike and do long distance trails. Fast and light.

For this thru hike, excluding my camera gear my baseweight is super ultralight, under 5lbs total for my gear. I feel I have everything I need to stay comfortable and safe too! Check out my gear list down below if you're interested. My shelter is a zpacks dyneema composite fabric tarp, I am carrying a kuiu fleece jacket, enlightened equipment 30 degree enigma quilt, palante packs 24L joey backpack, and a bunch of other stuff worth looking into!

I think given the relative short distance of this trail, I am able to go even lighter than I normally would. In advance to starting I can nearly predict what the weather will be like for the 5 days, so I can choose my gear more wisely, and carry a more minimal kit.

The Tahoe Rim Trail I think would be the perfect shakedown hike for anyone looking to get into thru hiking, or especially those who are interested in doing the Pacific Crest Trail. It will teach you a lot about your gear, your body, what you like, and how you deal with problems when they arise. And the trail is short enough that you could travel to do it in a vacation away from work. It isn't the hardest trail in the world, but there is a lot to learn out here and I highly recommend it.

Since completing the Arizona Trail this spring I have been itching to get out and do another long hike again, so here I am! Later this fall I plan on doing the Long Trail in Vermont. So here's to another thru hike, I hope you enjoy!

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[KimberlyGreen]

11:15 ... I grimaced when you took that slide. But kudos for you leaving it in & showing that even a seasoned veteran isn't perfect. It makes you even more relatable.

[JDPPDX]

You strike me as probably the most chill and relatable hiker influencers out there. Thanks for this great video.

[davidfranson]

Great stuff, Jupiter! Love your quote near the end, "being out here is always better than not being out here". Ain't that the truth, my friend!!

[davidcamp]

Great video, Jupiter. I was going to do that hike in 2020 but COVID destroyed my trip from here in Florida that year. I met you first at Lands End in Canada where you were beginning your hike to Key West, and again at the base of Old Blue Mountain in Maine when you arrived there. You have been an inspiration to this 77-year-old man who also loves the outdoors. Thank you for your videos. Keep smiling!

[richardabazley]

It is a great point that it's an awesome warm up, or training hike, for the PCT. I did it back in 2011, after the PCT and had exactly the same thought. I'm not sure why some hikers talk disparagingly about it, could have something to do with the fact that much of it's open to bikes, especially on the Eastern side, but I never had much of an issue with

[TheBonswah]

Jezus. With content like this how can you have 'only' 46k subscribers. You're one of my favourite YT channels to follow and my heart skips a beat every time something new pops up. Great work and keep it coming! greets from The Netherlands

[WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

I really look forward to all of your videos. Your style of hiking and humble attitude towards it is very inspiring to me. Thanks for sharing Jupiter.

[suntan]

Thank you for taking us along. Definitely going to add it to my trails I need to do.

[verenama]

thx for this video, you're a great role model, I love your attitude towards constant learning through reflection; it seems to come naturally to you, that's beautiful

[technowvids]

Just finished my 9 days on the TRT. You made the 5 days look so easy!

[cottontalesfromthetrail]

The beauty of the trail, the insight you provided, your creativity, the constant reflection on what you can improve on while hiking those kind of miles is an incredible job well done. Happy Hiking!!

[Beertownbill]

Oh, to be young again. Took me two weeks back in 2021. I went CCW as well. I know a lot of folks go CW, but as a former thru hiker, I wanted to cross paths with that year's crop of hikers in the Desolation Wilderness. Maybe it was because my thru hike was in 1977, or the fact I was going the opposite direction, but I had very little recollection of the PCT portion of the TRT.

[alexmarchica]

I love your appreciation for nature and the lessons still learned on each trail. Means a lot coming from someone who hiked so much and so far.

[martinalblas]

Nice one again Jupiter. Great to see you out there again and enjoying yourself.

[Reskamo]

Beautiful as always. Thanks for taking us along your journey!

[hyklyfmatto]

This is my neck of the woods. I finished section hiking it last year. Glad you got to experience the beauty of the TRT.

[amyarcher]

You just seem like the nicest person. I love watching the videos. Thank you!

[happyheretamora]

I love how you put your videos together to both tell a story and showcase the beauty of the area! I hadn’t heard of the Tahoe rim trail either, but now I’m thinking I’ll have to make it out there sometime. Thanks for sharing! 😊

[Muhtadin]

Never a dull video, Jupiter! I enjoy every single one.

[robertpearson]

Thank you for filming that. Beautiful!!