Story behind wilderness taco stop in the Sierra
By Benjamin Spillman, Reno Gazette-Journal
Alison Blair stopped in her tracks.
The 54-year-old backpacker needed a moment to process the scene.
A group of people with backpacking stoves, dishes and condiments carefully arranged on a tree stump asked Blair if she would like a made-to-order taco and cold beer.
The strange part was that it was happening at Purple Lake on the John Muir Trail, more than 10 miles over rugged terrain from the nearest trailhead.
It’s a temporary taco and beer oasis that’s materialized on the John Muir Trail six times since 2014 only
to disappear within a few hours of each appearance.