Gary-Summer: January 9, 2022

Sunday, January 9, 2022

January 9, 2022 - Shaver Lake

Title: January 9, 2022 - Shaver Lake
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's

Hike Info:

Type: Snowshoeing

Trail head: Dinkey Creek Road and Nevins Road

Trail: Nevins Road

Destination: Shaver Lake

Distance: 2.85 miles ¹

Start Time: 2ish

End Time: 5ish

Elevation Rise: 422 '

Descent: 424‘

Maximum Elevation: 5,636'

GPS Tracks

¹The distance and elevation is plotted out on Google Earth. Steven said his Strava gave him 3.6 miles and 395’. We went a little short of his place, so he estimated we were at 3.4 miles.

Description:

Rachel and Sherri at start

Rachel is back in Fresno to pick up her dog Friday. She will be staying with us for the rest of the week. So today we will go up to the snow, but where? Kings Canyon requires chains-something which I am adverse to putting onto the car. I figure if the road is in that condition, then I should try to avoid it. Yosemite is a possibility. There are places in Yosemite where we can be away from crowds and legally take Korra, Steven’s dog.

We do not get out of here until late, a little before noon. We stopped at Costco to get gas. Steven suggests going up to Shaver where he ski’d last year. Seems like a good idea. We take Friant Road out to Auberry and then up to Shaver Lake. The place which Steven is talking about looks full, so we continue on. Most of the turn outs are either full or uninviting looking. So we turn around and go back to where Steven indicated we should go. There is a little place to park on the north side of the road.

By the time we got our snowshoes on the ground with our boots in them, it was 2pm-Steven had his Nordic skis on and Korra only had her paws, not that she minded. We start down a Southern California Edison Road called Nevins Road. There is a nice, hard packed track which Steven follows. We follow in the track until we come to a place where our snowshoes would do damage. Then switch off to making our own tracks.

Gary digging out of a hole

Apparently there is a trail around Shaver Lake called the Perimeter Trail. After a half of a mile, it joins our track and then veres off shortly afterwards. Steven finds a nice log to have lunch on and we partake of our peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches.

There is a stretch of the path which seems to gently rise. But I am getting winded and I do not think it is exactly hard either. Why, I wonder? Rachel notices and offers to take my pack. I do not think it is the culprit. Still it is nice, and maybe just a little bit aggravating, to be watched out for.

Evidently our route can be an in-and-out or a loop. But at this spot, there is a trail leading to the point jutting out into Shaver Lake. We go that way. It is downhill, with a few obstacles. We observe that a skier side-stepped down a small part of the slope where the trail’s difficulty had been enhanced due to a fallen tree. We, who are on snowshoes, went over it with ease. But as Proverbs says, pride goes before a fall. I am feeling good until my left foot had this sinking feeling. The feeling of going down into a snow hole.

Gary and Rachel

The hole was not so much brush but some small trees. which the snow had covered creating a pocket, just ready for me to step on. I struggled for about ten minutes until the snowshoe and foot come out. By this time I was a bit wet, cold, and really tired. I accepted Rachel’s offer of carrying my pack. That is the nice part-having your offspring there to care for you.

We traveled only a little bit further until we could get an acceptable view of the lake. Steven had gone around the point and was not in view, so I phoned him to tell him we were going back. A little while later, we see Korra bounding towards us. Then returning back the way she came.

Shaver Lake

I am not sure if it is because of the concerns of struggling in a snow pit or the allure of going across unbroken snow and seeing things from a different perspective. Rather than going back up the ravine we just came down, I go up a ridge beside this ravine. The allure of the ridge bore the fruit of a little bit better view of the lake. The view was still restricted by trees, but it was good. The route up the ridge also had the advantage of once on top, it was pretty gentle.

Korra. Steven in back

By this time Steven had caught up with Sherri. When we get back to the trail, he catches up with Rachel and myself. From here, we follow the path we came in on. While Steven offers to complete the loop, this would mean breaking new snow. I do not think I have the energy level to do this.

My breathing is still rather labored. So I am stopping more often. I do not know if this is because we are with Rachel and Steven and traveling faster than the older people or if something is happening to my body again. Something to observe and adjust for in my activities.

We turned around a little before 4pm. By the time we get back to the car it is 5:20. I brought up the rear-not that there was any other possibility. The trip back was uneventful. I am content to let others pack up. It is getting dark. Of course, the question is: where do we want to eat? I suggest the place where Steven and Sherri eat when they are bike riding. So we stopped in Friant at the Beach Club. Good eats outside in a big tent. (I have a french dip sandwich-good.) We get home by 7pm. I am tired and happy to veg on the couch for awhile. Then taking a long, hot shower.