A Solo Hike Along the Silver Divide

Looking over a rough section of trail towards the Sierra Crest.

Over Hill and Dale

Silver Divide Trip from Edison Lake Trailhead, August-September 2001

At this point my journal was lost, so all of the next comes from memory. I have a good memory of such stuff.

Gradually a more unified trail began to appear, which I followed. At first it was just a forest walk in scattered trees, but it began to gain altitude and switchback in a very cozy garden-like area with rills and flowers in a small cathedral like grove. Eventually it headed up canyon and the forest abated a bit. Just when you could really get a good look up the canyon, the trail abruptly took a right over the small stream. I noted some faint use trails going up the canyon, perhaps heading for the unnamed lake at 10,287 feet.

Just fixn' to break out to the views the Silver Divide.

The trail then became fairly steep switchbacking upward. Fairly quickly I came to the crest at a seeming doorway to a fair open level forest that would be nice to camp in if not for the lack of water. The pleasant forest walk continued for a while, snaking about in an enjoyable way, keeping me guessing. Eventually the trail climbed out of the forest for the last time, and the rest of the way the trees seemed to keep to themselves in small groves. One interesting section of trail skirted trees where the trees crowded up to the edge of a large granite pavement area. In other places the trail cut through meadowed ground around glacier polished low granite monuments, or through small charming stands of hardy Sierra trees. At one point the trail became rough and rocky in a climbing open book granite joint. Here I met a pair of people who did not seem interested in talking, but hey, they were leaving, so fine by me.

At last, my main goal of the trip, Peter Panda Lake.

Another stretch of meadow and flanking granite (and a few trees) on obvious horse-trail delivered me to a somewhat lofty breakout point with wide views all around. To my right was Peter Panda Lake, and ahead was open meadow and a view of the Silver Divide.