June 27, 2024
This morning I am hiking with a group of seven. We’re going to be Hiking from Carson pass to Showers Lake via the PCT. I’m looking forward to today. Part of today’s trail was one of my longer stretches I did last year. This in in the middle of a 29.8 mile stretch hiked to finish up my last section of California. I’m loaded up with a six pack of soda, six pack of beer, large bag of cutie oranges, and two sleeves of Pringles chips. I’m hoping to find some PCT HIKERS along the way and give them a little trail magic.
I actually met my first hiker in the parking lot before we started. “Lizard” was walking through the parking lot and enjoyed a handful of chips although I did not get a picture of her. Our group stopped just after we got on trail for this nice group picture in front of these beautiful Sierra Juniper
The silvery lupine is one of the pretty flowers I see often on the trail. The giant Indian paintbrush is another common flower. I often see while hiking.
There is a beautiful view of Caples Lake down below us in the distance.
I’ve arrived at my first small stream crossing for today. It has a very light flow.
Today’s trail started with about a mile and a half of a good uphill climb. The trail will be somewhat level for our next couple miles starting at the top of this pass which has this beautiful snow melt pond.
I had two more through hikers come up, DJ and another German, who does not yet have a Trail name. I gave out some cutie oranges and some more Pringles.
The Western Blue Flag is another beautiful purple flower that I have not seen before.
This bunch of flowers are known as Forget Me Nots. Just ahead, as we crest this saddle, far off in the distance we see Lake Tahoe, although it is a bit hazy.
Across this small valley is a cliff affected by erosion with a small waterfall just to its side.
There’s a beautiful patch with multicolored wildflowers right at this curve. We have Scarlet Gilia, Woolly Mules Ears and more Lupine.
As we drop back down into the valley, it is astonishingly beautiful with the high Mountain Meadows, small remaining snowfields, and green forest
We’ve taken a short off Trail detour to come look at the historic Meiss cattle ranch cabin .
I met up with a hiker named Hollywood. He is now enjoying a beer, some oranges, and some Pringles. When I was on the trail last year I loved receiving Trail magic, but I got to tell you, I actually get more of a thrill passing it out and blessing others.
As we continue through the Meadow I have to just stop and take more pictures. It is so incredibly beautiful.
I’ve come to another Meadow Creek Crossing. I’ll see if I can stay dry on this one looks like the rock about 2/3 of the way across is slippery and somewhat submerged….made it and stayed dry.
Met up with Ghost Rider who took a beer and Orange.
Last year on this section of trail, I encountered a severe summer thunderstorm. I had pushed through some rain and hail until eventually the hail became pea sized. It was coming down and hitting me hard, and it hurt! I scampered up this little hillside and took shelter under these trees. I waited for about 10 minutes until it eased up and I continued on in the rain and lighter hail.
As we climb uphill towards Showers Lake we come upon another beautiful patch of colorful flowers.
We departed the main trail and took a little side, bushwhack route up to the shore of Showers Lake, which is absolutely beautiful. Looking across the lake, the section of PCT that we were on, is on the other side of the tree clump. We dropped down into a valley that houses the lakes outlet stream and then climbed back up the other side to this far shore of the lake.
We are sitting on the Lakeside surrounded by large granite boulders. There’s a beautiful clump of fuchsia pink Mountain Pride growing in the clefts of one of the rocks. A beautiful place for lunch.
We returned to the trail, headed back to the cars. I met another hiker and supplied her a beer and an orange. It appeared to make her day as she heads into Tahoe for tonight.
The advantage of an up and back hike like we are doing today is there’s often scenery that you miss because you just don’t turn around and look on your way up. This next set of pictures are views I received heading back south towards the cars.
Two more hikers,Snooker and Snocket, we blessed with an orange soda and an orange. They said it made their day (Snockets trail name is short for snot rocket.😂)
Kung fu has traveled from Hungry Budapest to hike. He too was thrilled to receive a beer and an orange. I’ve got to say I thought I was gonna give out more soda than beer today….nope.
Cheetah and Turkey Vulture came up over the rise, and a couple minutes later I bumped into Anchorman as well. All three received a few more treats
I Met Dennis (no Trail name yet) who enjoyed some Pringles
Cheese Grease is from Denmark. She got her name because she had put a block of cheese in a Ziploc bag in her backpack brain. It was a hot day and the cheese melted and leaked getting grease all over Her backpack brain. (The top pocket)
In my last quarter mile, I met Sherpa. He is from Israel and was thrilled to have my last orange soda
I ran into Lucky from Slovakia and Bubbles from the Czech Republic. They both received an orange and were very happy with the gift.
We have made it back. My day of trail angle hiking was extremely successful. I gave away all of my drinks all of my oranges and most of the Pringles. We hiked 11.1 miles and I found something new to enjoy on Trail by blessing others.
