A Solo Hike Along the Silver Divide

Looking south-east towards some un-named peaks on the Silver Divide in morning light, the highest being 11,391.

A Long Day Ends

Silver Divide Trip from Edison Lake Trailhead, August 2001

Beyond camp was a wide grassy area suitable for picnics with gaps in the trees and bushes along the shore with access to small sandy beaches. The lake had a sandy bottom that started out shallow and gradually deepened the further you waded out.There was a use trail that followed the somewhat steep shoreline, but did not reveal any good camps along its way; few as there were of those.

After setting up camp I grabbed my chair, towel and clean clothes and headed for some grassy beachfront property. Peeling off sweaty clothes worn for two day was a real pleasure. After a short swim in the cool but bearable waters of the lake, I rinsed out my dirty clothing and decorated the nearby trees with them. After drying off and donning my evening clothes I settled down in my chair for some reading and study of the beautiful surroundings.

Morning reflections on Wilber May Lake from a spot near camp.

The lake was Sierra treasure among lakes of its size and type. It is fairly large, and typical of most Sierra lakes, it has a steep headwall at one end, which aided the glacier in its excavation of the lake. The lake is also partially surrounded by the headwall of the Silver Divide, and topping the divide is an attractive unnamed pointed peak. The afternoon sun, at least for this time of year, seems to bring out the best features of the lake, particularly backlighting the trees.

I had got in around 3PM, so between setting up, washing, bathing and even a little napping, I did not have a lot of time to enjoy the scenery, though I did make time to shoot a few pictures. Soon it was 6PM, and due to the time of the year it meant I had to get dinner started and the chores done and the food hung before it got too dark. After I did get everything squared away I had time to watch what there was of the alpenglow and read until full dark. A fire extended my evening to about 9:30 PM and as the fire died I was gratefully in bed concluding one hard day of hiking.