In The News – 9-year-old takes 170-mile Tahoe Rim Trail by storm
August 17, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/17/2026, Written by Victoria Mastrocola
While many 9-year-olds can be seen building LEGO sets, playing Minecraft or participating in games like soccer or softball, Matilda Nibouar, who often goes by the nickname Tilly, is out hiking the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most recently, her 13-day, 170-mile trek on the Tahoe Rim Trail helped raise over $1700 and counting for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA).
In 2017 at just one year old, Matilda and her parents, Katherine and Ryan, traversed for 17 days on the entire Tahoe Rim Trail, making Matilda one of the youngest to complete the single-track scenic hike that loops around Lake Tahoe.
This time around, Matilda was no longer being carried – she was dancing, singing and taking the trail by storm, all while carrying 11 pounds of gear.