(video) Showers Lake, Eldorado Nat'l Forest

[E.A.Y.]

My backpack from Showers Lake via Meiss trailhead, Eldorado Nat'l Forest kicked my behind.
Epsom salts are my new BFF (best friend forever).

10 miles round trip (an out and back), 2 days (excluding driving time, 23 hours, 45 minutes)
About 3.5 hours each way including stops for gasping and food.

1440 total elevation change
Starting elevation about 8560, low point 8320, high point 8760, camping elevation 8647.
My USGS topo map interpretation.

1 holed sock
1 blister

Stepped on my own foot once, tripped on a rock once, skidded out on pea gravel once.
This is why I have sticks.
No harm done.

1 mosquito

Low was 50.2 degrees. High temp is not reliable on the dangler, but probably no more than mid 70s.
Wind was gusty except between dusk and 3am.

2 Nalgenes of water drunk inbound, 1.5 drunk in camp, 0.5 drunk in the night, 1.5 drunk on the way out. Still not enough.
Two electrolyte replacements (nuun) drunk at home. All good now.

1 can of kippered herring left over at end of trip, too messy to deal with so I skipped it. I was a little hungry in the wee hours of the night. Tried to find salmon jerky, could not find locally.

1/2 of the avocado went to the PCT trail maintenance crew camped at Showers. Yay! Trailwork!

I slept really badly due to a bazillion hot-flashes + the accomp. need to pee (sorry, TMI) every 30 minutes until about 2am. They've never been that bad - maybe the elevation?
Also, my nose stuffed up again.
Also, massive headache from carrying a pack. Sucks to be me.
I sipped water every time I got up, and what finally got me to sleep was curling up on my side. Yes, someone 5' 10" can sleep on her side in a Traveler with sufficient determination.
At one point, I'm pretty sure my head was at the foot end of the hammock: torso on the pad and feet on the underquilt. Much fine thrashing and grunting.

Warbonnet Traveler
OES MacCat Deluxe
Jacks R Better Shenandoah
Hammock Gear Crowsnest
Molly Mac Pack

Everything else you need to know is here:

[Shug]

I had to go put on sunscreen just to watch your hike. So bright out there))))
Bet you were so glad for the tarp shade.
Good to see your world.
Shug

[TallPaul]

Enjoyed the beautiful scenery.. just something about those meadows and alpine lakes out west.
Thanks for taking us along

[E.A.Y.]

I had to go put on sunscreen just to watch your hike.

I live in sunscreen.
I'm pink this evening - probably windburn. The white stripe on my chin in the chewing/not gasping section is not food, it was sunscreen.
I use a stick of zinc and titanium and just slather it on.

Enjoyed the beautiful scenery.. just something about those meadows and alpine lakes out west.

Even with all the trouble I had sleeping, I'd do it again. Once the blister subsides.

[mbiraman]

Nice video. Thanks

[ssdivot]

Awesome video thanks! I've been thinking of going to that area soon and you've convinced me!

[E.A.Y.]

Nice video. Thanks

You're welcome!

Awesome video thanks! I've been thinking of going to that area soon and you've convinced me!

It is fairly dry right now: there's water available behind Meiss cabin, and at some of the Truckee crossings if you are clever/industrious, and at the pond on the saddle, although heaven only knows what's in the pond water [shudder].
Lots of day hikers, the only other folks at Showers were some tent way far back from the lake (only saw the tenter getting water once) and the group of trail maintainers. Lots of room there to spread out.

[Bruciehi5]

A very nice, fresh and clean looking place to go hiking. Not a cloud in sight. 1:30 is a good time to get to camp. Avocados, yummmm!

I had a go at straightening my hat, but failed. The stuff I used wasn’t stiff enough.

[E.A.Y.]

A very nice, fresh and clean looking place to go hiking.

I love hiking in the high clean places. I spent my youth hiking in midwestern forests, I don't think I'd like that any more.

I had a go at straightening my hat, but failed. The stuff I used wasn’t stiff enough.

Darn. Maybe two circuits of stuff? A new hat?
That Tilley I wear has held up pretty well. It has some kind of stiffener in the brim edge. It is so stiff, however, there is no stuffing it in a pack. It rides outside.