Normally, the vacation home goes for at least $6,000 a week in the peak of summer. I’ve seen similar homes go for at least $7,000. It’s not unreasonable because the house can sleep over twenty people, which makes a week at $7,000 cost only $350. That’s a mere $50 a day to live in a very nice house. Our rate will be closer to $200 a person for the week, which is less than $30 a day per person.

The shoulder season for the Outer Banks starts this week and it’s no surprise, it’s the start of hurricane season. As I write this, that general area will be hit by Hurricane Earl tomorrow. It’ll hit before we get there and, hopefully, the place won’t be too damaged or flooded when we get there. It’s the risk we take for getting such a great deal.

You can use this strategy to get big discounts on your travel. For example, booking a Disney trip is much cheaper when you book on the shoulder season. The “shoulder” will vary depending on what you’re planning but it’s a term taken from the timeshare business and you can usually find out when that is simply by asking. The shoulder will be a low-demand period and you will be rewarded for booking a trip then. Cruises typically have low demand right before Christmas and right after New Years.

The next time you plan a trip, consider booking during a shoulder off-peak season to save some cash… just avoid the hurricanes!

Airline tickets, like hotels, are perishable goods so airlines have a tough time deciding how to price them to earn the most for their dollar. Flying with an empty seat is like throwing out a moldy filet mignon steak – it hurts. So they play the game of trying to book a bunch in the long term, to fill up the plane, which is why the magic number seems to be eight weeks.

I’ve found that you have to book a ticket outside of two weeks or you will be gouged at the checkout page. I haven’t checked the 8 week window but after 2 weeks you will have to pay through the nose if you want a seat.

If I did, I’d probably take advantage of the Traveler Redress Inquiry Program to apply for a redress number.

The definition of the term “redress” is to “remedy or set right” and in this case it remedies or sets right you and your name apart from the person who shares your name who may be on a TSA no-fly or watch list.

If your name appears on a TSA list, you probably experience additional scrutiny and screening in security lines at airports, customs at the borders, and other points of entry and exit. If you aren’t a security risk, it’s really a pain to be “selected” each time for additional security screening and, honestly, a waste of their time. IF this happens to you, you may want to apply for redress here.

There are no major lakes or landmarks for the remainder of the hike, save the peak of the mountain, but it does offer some great rising views of several lakes along the way. You get to see plenty of Fallen Leaf Lake, Tahoe, and on the other side, once you crest the ridge of the most difficult part of the hike, there are Gilmore and Aloha Lakes. And, of course, there is Mr. Marmot (and his friends!) at the peak.

Cathedral to Mount Tallac

After our quick stop at Cathedral Lake, the hike begins it’s real ascension to the near 9,800′ above sea level that is Mount Tallac. The trailhead was at 6,480′ and Cathedral Lake is somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,600′. So you’ve gone up 1,200′ of elevation in the span of 2.5 miles, with another 2,200′ of elevation to go over 2.5 miles until the peak. That’s a hundred story building’s worth of difference.

The hike can be strenuous and quite a bit of it is in full sun, on the side of the mountain, but if you are well protected (plenty of sunscreen) you should be OK. The air gets thin up here so be sure to take it easy, the last thing you want to do is get light headed and stumble on the gravel.

As you leave Cathedral Lake, there’s a section of trail that snakes through the woods before you open up to a gravely area that marks, what I consider, the hardest part of the hike. The photo above gives you a general idea of what this section looks and feels like. The footing can get a little loose at times, since it is gravel, but you should be fine as long as you are hiking carefully.

Here’s the view of Fallen Leaf and Lake Tahoe from here, the woods below are where you emerge after hiking up from Cathedral Lake:

Once you get to the crest of this ridge, the hiking gets progressively easier (until you reach the last 100′ or so). So if you’re going to push yourself through the gravel area, use this next section to rest a bit, by taking it a little easier, as you continue on. Depending on the time of year, this area will still have a lot of snow. It was mid-July when we went and we walked through sections of snow.

Here’s the final trail marker for Mount Tallac (to the right, to the left is the trail to Gilmore Lake – this is a great place to drop your packs if you’re day hiking, hide them behind some trees and they should be fine:

The hike from here goes from dirt to scrambling over large boulders until the summit. The views are spectacular so be sure to take plenty of photos. Here are a few of our favorites shots from up on high:
Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake

Emerald Bay

Gilmore, Susie, and Aloha Lakes

And of course, Mr. Marmot!

The Descent

The descent is less interesting as we didn’t take quite as many pictures, mostly of the abundant wildflowers we’ve seen. Since we were staying near Stanford Sierra Camp we decided to hike towards Gilmore and Grass Lakes for our descent, stopping briefly at Gilmore for a break. It’s a pretty long hike back that, I believe, takes around 6 miles but doesn’t contain the steep elevation changes we enjoyed on our way up.

The hike essentially mirrors the return hike from Grass Lake, though we don’t pass it, we meet up with the hike at the split (for Grass Lake you turn left, Mt Tallac you turn right… we meet up with the trail there). From there it’s the familiar return past Glen Alpine Resort to the Lily Lake trailhead and then on to the cabin for a nice shower and beverages!

You can purchase the AYCJ-7 package, which lets you fly as often as you’d like, seven days a week, for $699. The AYCJ-5 package is like the AYCJ-7 except you can only fly during the week (hence 5). You’ll have to join their membership program, TrueBlue, and you’ll earn 4,500 points for buying the AYCJ-7 (3,000 points for the AYCJ-5). This year the dates for the promotion for travel Tuesday, September 7, 2010 through Wednesday, October 6, 2010 and passes will be sold until they run out or August 20th.

There are a few caveats in the fine print, but nothing that kills the deal:

• Must be booked and ticketed at least 3 days prior to departure.
• Changes or cancellations will incur a $50 fee, no shows will incur a $100 fee.
• “Travel is subject to availability and seats may not be available on all flights.”
• “Passenger Facility Charges up to $9.00 each way; September 11th Security Fees up to $2.50 per enplanement at a U.S. originating airport; Federal Segment Taxes of $3.70 per domestic segment are included in cost of your Pass.”

I knew someone who did this last year and I saw him everywhere.

How high is Mount Tallac? 9,739 feet above sea level though the trail starts at around 6489 feet, so you’re talking around 3,250 feet of elevation gain. It’s considered “difficult” by the US Forest Service but it’s totally worth it!

Mount Tallac Trailhead

To reach the trailhead for Mount Tallac, head north on CA-89 from the intersection of CA-89 and U.S. Highway 50. After about four miles, you will see a turnoff on the left for Camp Shelly and the mount Tallac trailhead. On that road, take the first left fork and then stay on the right on Forest Road 1306. You’ll run right into the parking area and the trailhead. Get yourself a wilderness permit for a day-hike.

Hiking to Floating Island Lake

The first bit of the hike will test you at altitude but it isn’t too difficult otherwise. You will get onto a ridge about half a mile in and it gives you a great view of south Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake (below is a shot of that view of Fallen Leaf Lake, Tahoe is to the left beyond that tall tree). We’ve always hiked this area in the early morning on our way to Mount Tallac (to reach it by noon, you’ll want to get going early) so our views are always with that morning sun and absolutely gorgeous. The trail follows the west side of Fallen Leaf Lake and you enter the Desolation Wilderness right before you reach Floating Island (there will be a large sign). Enjoy the views and remember the lake, because it’ll look small as you hike up to Mount Tallac!

Floating Island Lake is about a mile and a half away from the trailhead and you’ll almost happen on it without realizing it. The origins of the lake’s name come from a 20′ diameter “floating island” of grass and shrubs back in 1890. When we visited four years ago, there were a few “islands” floating about but we didn’t see any this time around.

Cathedral Lake

If you continue on the trail, Cathedral Lake is a little over half a mile away (over 2 miles away from the trailhead). There’s a bit of an ascent but it’s an otherwise manageable trail through partially shaded woods and plenty of wildflowers.

I’m a big fan of Cathedral Lake despite it’s somewhat smaller size. I think the far side of the lake, from where you come upon it, and it’s wall of rock is impressive to look at. The lake is named after Cathedral Peak, which is itself part of the Cathedral Range.

From here, we make our ascent towards Mount Tallac – which will be a post for another day!

Many of the trails in south Lake Tahoe are interconnected. The Glen Alpine Trail gives you access to Grass Lake as well as Susie Lake (4 mi.), Heather Lake (5 mi.), Aloha Lake (6 mi.), Half Moon Lake (4.5 mi.), Alta Morris Lake (5.2 mi.), and even Mount Tallac (6 mi.) if you are so inclined. In fact, since our cabin is so close to Lily Lake, we went along this trail on our return hike from Mount Tallac.

You start at Lily Lake, where you’ll be expected to “sign in” at the trailhead (just fill out a Wilderness Permit form and drop it into the box), towards Glen Alpine Falls. The hike starts at 6,560′ and gets as high as 7,240′, so if you haven’t acclimated yourself to the higher altitudes, you might want to wait a day and use this as your hiking appetizer. If you hike a lot through wilderness (not clearly marked trails), you will be fine; if you hike a lot on pavement, this is a little trickier than that.

Upper Glen Alpine Falls

The first milestone on the trail is Upper Glen Alpine Falls (you passed Lower Glen Alpine Falls along the road towards Lily Lake), also known as Modjeska Falls, named for 19th century Polish actress Madame Helena Modjeska who performed at the springs in 1885. It’s about half a mile from the trailhead and along dirt and gravel roads, though you won’t need to dodge any trucks as the area is for authorized park vehicles only, and no more than half a mile away from the trail head.

As you continue along the trail you’ll see structures associated with the Glen Alpine Springs, which was once a resort built around the mineral spring that still operates today. When we visited four years ago, we were able to drink from the springs (without digestive incident, though the water smells strongly of sulphur). This year, because of all the precipitation, the springs were flooded and thus undrinkable. It was once a renowned resort developed by Nathan Gilmore (of Gilmore Lake fame) with a 16-room hotel, though a fire destroyed most of the original buildings in 1921. (this bit of history courtesy of Rich Moreno and TAMC)

Onward and Upward!

If you continue on the trail, you’ll begin to follow the Glen Alpine Creek that connects Lily Lake to, among other lakes, Grass Lake, Lost Lake, and Triangle Lake. Be sure to look for the trail markers, carved 4″x4″ beams, as they direct you towards which leg of the trail to take. At about a mile and a half into the trail, you will reach an intersection. To the left is Grass Lake, to the right is the ascent to Mount Tallac. Go left.

Also, at several points along the trail you will be asked to cross two creeks, so bring waterproof boots, and traverse a pair of fallen trees across the creek, so bring your sense of balance. We’ve always hiked it in mid- to late-July so trail conditions may vary earlier and later in the season.

Here’s what the pair of trees cross looks like (it’s not particularly difficult and you can take it very slowly):

The hike also takes you through a long section of unshaded rocky areas that isn’t necessarily challenging, other than some uneven footing, but does mean you should wear plenty of sun protection.

Grass Lake

Grass Lake itself is a treat to see as it’s huge and freezing (it’s fed by glacial water from the mountains), but a great place to dip your feet in and have yourself a snack. We took plenty of photos of the various flora and fauna near the lake, for your visual enjoyment!

We also found this little guy floating along!

The Grass Lake hike along the Glen Alpine Trail is considered Moderate by the Forest Service but most consider it a pretty casual day hike since it doesn’t ascend very much, or very quickly, and affords some nice views along the way. If you’re an avid hiker, put this on the list for one of the first days you’re in the area as a little appetizer.

Along the way you’ll be treated to a view of some waterfalls:

But mostly it’ll be on a road, dodging a few cars, seeing a few sun-bleached trees:

Until you reach the lake:

If you’re looking for something nice and relaxing, this little paved hike is perfect.

This post summarizes our hiking in south Lake Tahoe, more in-depth posts of the hikes, along with pictures, will soon follow!

Lily Lake

Over the course of four days we enjoyed many of the local hikes visiting several of the lakes in the area. We took the first day to acclimate to the higher elevation and then set off to Lily Lake, a short hike away. When we last visited four years ago, we went to Lily Lake our first day!

Grass Lake

The first “real” hike we took would be a day later when we passed by Lily Lake and made our way an hour and a half away, past Glen Alpine Falls, to visit Grass Lake.

Emerald Bay

On our “day off,” we decided to take a scenic drive near at Emerald Bay, off Lake Tahoe, and hike a portion of the Rubicon Trail. This is the first time I’d seen Emerald Bay up close, usually my view of it is from the top of Mt. Tallac, so this was a delight. The Rubicon Trail was a little uneventful but was a nice appetizer to the hike we were preparing for the next day.

Mt. Tallac

The hiking climax came on Thursday when we set out early, around 8am (OK, it’s not that early), to hike the imposing Mt. Tallac. Peaking at 9,735′ above sea level, Mt. Tallac offers one of the most breathtaking views in the area. We hit the trailhead, located at 6,480′, early and were able to make it to the top, over 4.8 miles away, in less than four hours. We then trekked down through the wildflower fields towards Lily Lake (past Gilmore Lake) and home.

All in all it was a successful week of hiking, no major blisters and no injuries (minus a few twisted ankles). Full posts with more pictures will follow so keep an eye out if you’re interested in seeing the views of these hikes.

As someone who flies Southwest regularly, mostly on shorter flights under two hours, I can say that I’ve flown at least a dozen times without incident. There have been a few transfers in there but I’ve never lost my bag, I’ve never been delayed (yes, never been delayed… but remember these are often shorter flights), and I’ve always been happy. In fact, I think Southwest has spoiled me for the entire flying experience!

In a recently trip out to Reno, for a week-long hiking trip in South Lake Tahoe, I flew United, U.S. Airways, and Southwest and only the Southwest flight was without incident. In fact, even when we paid the $23 to check a bag, they were still able to lose it on my wife’s transfer! My flight out to San Diego on United went through Charlotte, where the connection was delayed two hours. My wife’s flight was outright cancelled, so she needed to cab it from Baltimore to Dulles to catch a flight half a day later (they paid for it but it was still a hassle). Finally on our way back, when we though we’d arrived half an hour early (finally a “good” result), it took over an hour to get our luggage.

Southwest doesn’t charge you for the opportunity to mishandle your bags, and lose them for a day, and that’s why they are winning.