TRT: Watson Lake to Relay Peak
TRT thru-hike day 2. It was a long and hot climb from Watson Lake. Carrying 5 liters of water for the dry stretch made it even harder. But the views were worth it.
![TRT: Watson Lake to Relay Peak](/content/images/size/w2000/2021/11/img_1221-2-e1569091759417-scaled.jpg)
Day 2. I slept poorly like I usually do when up at altitude for the first night. I woke up at 5:45 and had a quick breakfast while watching the first golden rays of the sun illuminate the forest.
![Sunrise at Watson Lake on the TRT.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/watson-lake-sunrise.jpg)
The water in Watson Lake was murky, so I decided to fill up my water a half mile down the trail at a spring that was still going according to the Guthook app. I drank a liter at the spring and filled up my heaviest water carry of the trail, 5 liters. There wouldn’t be a reliable water source for the next 17 miles.
The first 3 miles of the day were a nice gradual descent through the forest. Unfortunately, that would be the last downhill for the day. The following 17 miles were a gradual 3,400ft climb to the top of Relay Peak, the highest point on the TRT.
![meadow with mules ears](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/meadow-with-mules-ears.jpg)
As I climbed, I walked through meadows of Mule’s Ears and started catching glimpses of Lake Tahoe. There turned out to be a water cache at Brockway summit, but since I was already carrying enough water for myself, I didn’t fill up there.
![Lunch overlooking Lake Tahoe.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/lunch-overlooking-lake-tahoe.jpg)
I stopped for lunch underneath a tree, overlooking the lake. I took the chance to air out my feet and enjoy some healthy snacks.
![A healthy hiker snack.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/healthy-hiker-snack.jpg)
The trail continued in and out of the forest with some shade until Mt. Baldy, just before entering the Mt. Rose Wilderness. For the rest of the day, I was baking in the afternoon sun, walking on loose rocks for added fun.
![Me overlooking Lake Tahoe.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/me-overlooking-lake-tahoe.jpg)
By the time I finally got to the next water source, a spring just after Mud Lake, I was really starting to get thirsty and cranky. After drinking and filling up my bottles, I decided to rinse off my clothes further downstream quickly. Putting on the wet clothes cooled me down nicely, and I continued with the last few miles of my climb.
![Butterfly at the spring after Mud Lake](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/butterfly-near-spring-on-trt.jpg)
My left knee started acting up for whatever reason after the break. I slowed down a bit and kept going. I had read from an earlier trip report that Relay Peak had a couple of excellent campsites and wanted to get up there.
When I finally reached Relay Peak, I was really done with climbing and wanted to set up camp so I could get some food. There were a few spots right on the trail, but I wanted to be a bit off the trail, and a bit shielded from the wind, so I ended up pitching my tent in an exactly Duplex-sized opening between the trees.
![Tent setup near Relay Peak.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/tent-set-up-on-relay-peak-trt.jpg)
![Nice views from inside the tent near Relay Peak.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/inside-the-tent-at-relay-peak-trt.jpg)
Smoke from the 2018 Ferguson fire was starting to roll in and made for an awesome sunset.
![The sunset on Relay Peak was colored by smoke from wildfires.](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/sunset-at-relay-peak-trt.jpg)
Stats
22 miles +4,800ft, -2300ft total elevation change.
![trt day2 profile](https://marcushellberg.com/content/images/2021/11/trt-day2-profile.png)
You can find the routes for all days on Caltopo.