August 2, 2026
My plan is to pickup the CDT at the highest mileage point I have achieved, Lima, Montana. My travels on this trail have been put together in many different ways through several section hikes. If all goes to plan this should be my completion section hike. To get to Lima I have 2 days of travel on several forms of transportation. As I leave for my adventure the morning air is already sweet with the scent of fir trees and the day is warming rapidly. I board the TART bus 0910 hrs at the Tahoma market. After a pleasant ride enjoying views deeper into the forest seldom seen by drivers, on a very uncrowded bus, I arrive in Truckee at 1010 hrs.
Truckee AmTrak station
Have about 4 hours before the AmTrak arrives, this allows me time for a leisurely breakfast. Jax is just across the tracks and they have a splendid hash. I arrive and get a table immediately in a tight 2 top, but it offers enough room for my pack and myself. Within 15 minutes the populace touring about the streets of Truckee decide in unison it seems they are all hungry. Now standing room only exists as the restaurant fills to capacity.
The hash at Jax, always a treat for me
Very easy first leg of my multi transit plan to get to Lima, Montana. The next leg involves AmTrak to Reno.
Truckee AmTrak
The train is 1/2 hour late, but I have a comfortable bench all to myself as the waiting area is empty. I prop my pack at a comfortable angle to use as a backrest and stretch out on my bench. I have my current book to occupy me for the wait. The sounds of the station are varied and constantly changing. In the background is a loop of my generation's music gently making its way to my ears. Mostly families appear seeking information from the visitors center and herd their children towards all the Truckee centric offerings.
In short order it seems the train has arrived. The good news is the coach car has an upper level with nice, plush seats and lots of leg room. The ride is pleasantly smooth with views I never get to see from the highway. My thoughts for a bit center on my great grandfather, Charles Poppe. He was employed as a conductor on the trains that traversed these very tracks.
My great grandfather is the taller man in the middle, Taken between Boca reservoir and Truckee.
A surprisingly large number of people are floating the river, many waving to us as the train glides by. I notice a small power plant never seen before along with homes I didn't know existed. Our arrival in Reno occurs a brief 45 minutes later. The tracks have been relocated below the city streets. We embark below street level and after a quick 3 level stair climb I'm on the street level with a short 1/2 block walk to my hotel, Whitney Peak.
N. Virginia St
A street fair is in full swing replete with a band playing tunes that appeal to a large cross section of the population, including me. After an early supper, satisfied with the trouble free first leg of my trip, I retire to my room preparing for a 0530 start to the airport.
Tags: cdt
