Wanna try the JMT with me?

“hey biz i dont need no baby sitting.”

“I'm not that old? Biz?

Would my youth be an asset?

How young would I need to be?

(Stay tuned... this really IS a hiking thread)”

“Obi - I guess she doesn't know the truth about you - you are actually a 73 year old toothless survivalist living in Idaho”

“That's not true He's got 2 teeth left! But all those guns and knives are disturbing. ;)”

“Wanderer I been watching that snopak too!!! Looks like my little hike is gonna be done in snoeshoes eh? What can a feller do reasonably in a day of snoeshoing with a backpack? Can I reasonably assume that I can do a 2-week trek of the Rim Trail with heavy snow??? Inquirin' minds wanna know.......”

“Don't know if this will help, but it shows the snowfall for each year at Mammoth Mountain.

Snowfall History for Mammoth Mountain

We did the JMT in Aug/Sep 2001 and didn't cross any snow (except on the 14ers), and a quickie storm that hit us 1/2 way up Split Mtn on 9/11.”

“OK... I think it's time to get serious about this. I need input, and I need to know who's serious about making this a great TT group thing.

Since I'm considering the Montanappaloosa, I'd like to have a week or so between hikes to pull things tightly together, and cover the loose ends. From my perspective, that would put a departure date around August 1st (a thursday) or early the week of the 5th. Another week or two later would be OK, too, and as SnoNymph and others have suggested, there should be minimal snopack, save the 14-ers.

For the moment, post your comments here. Email will follow as details and logistics become clearer.

Probable departure venue: Florence Lake/Muir Ranch.”

“Count me out--unless something comes up later and I can't go to Montana, then I will reconsider.”

“Can anyone answer my question of snoeshoe hiking? Look back 5 days plz. Thanx in advance, it's seriously lookin like a Rim Trail snowshoe!”

“Naked ape, I must be dense, I can't find your snowshoe question. Could start a new thread.”

“Great idear Pathman, will do.”

“Anybody?

Hello?

Hellooooooooooooooo.....?”

“I can probably adjust to whatever the group decides...August is good for me !”

“poop-read between the lines:

HOT SPRINGS
PARTY
YOU ARE ONLY 19
YOU DON'T KNOW A DARN THING ABOUT BACKPACKING

you will need babysitting (I say that in the nicest possible way)”

“Oh, sorry Obi

Yes, I am still going. August 1st is GREAT”

“August 5th is GREAT too

My whole month of August is cleared”

“so biz your saying you dont want me going?

fine then i'll just do it solo then!”

“I can take a hint!”

“You guys figure out the itinerary and post it. I might not be able to do the whole thing but might be interested in meeting up for a long weekend or sumtin like dat.”

“I hear that September is the best time to hike the JMT due to cooler temeratures and mainly less people on the trail. Unfortunately my pathetic job was almost lost by asking for too much time off for hiking last summer. I'm gonna have to stick to 3 day trips this year.

I plan to do the JMT once I'm out of school and teaching with summers off. I also want to hike the entire PCT.”

“And i have even gone on overnighters to hone skills and learn others! I was training biz real hard too even went to a couple of classes at REI

I have gotten all my gear down to a couple of items.

I WAS EVEN GOING TO BRING YOU ALL BEER.”

“Me too, I might be able to do part of it.

Hey freshie,
If you want to backpack I'll take you with me. Just get your butt out here and we'll start you off with a overnighter. Baby steps ..... thru-hiking will come later.”

“September IS the best time.

Snow Nymph's JMT trip in Aug-Sep 2001”

“maybee i will take you up on that offer.

i got a desert hike comming up with some of my friends its going to be a 5 day trip so we can hone compass/map/rought finding/ water finding/ skills

i am acompanying them to warner springs on their PCT hike”

“Do post us a detailed trip report there freshpop!!”

“OK. by my reckoning, there are 7 possibles:

Me
Windwalker
Biz
wsdavies
Carabiner
Roseymonster (partial)
Tekapo (if his OTHER JMT hike falls thru)
SnoNymph (weekender)

By my read, that's 4 interested in the entire hike, and 4 more who may be interested in doing parts of it.

Seems like a nice, intimate group... anyone else?”

“Obi ...probably my son Joshua also.

Poppinfresh take her up on her offer,you won't meet a more serious backpacker she's in the Sierras dang near every weekend( like 50 or so). Catch as many group hikes as you can between now and August. That will help you sort through all of your gear issues, etc.”

“ok thx i'll probably go for 5 days with you all and i'll even bring beer for you guys”

“You're only 19 how you going to bring beer?

5 Days in = 5 days to get back out.
@ 11+ miles per day.
Do you really want us to leave you
(ALONE) 50+ miles into the backcountry of the Sierras????

Where do you live again? Near Sacto???”

“yea and i am an adult soon to be out in the world by myself.

and i have hiked 16 miles in one day, 10 miles in one day with a pack

i climbed elaphants back if any of you cali. people know where that is.”

“Did he say beer...how much beer... I need...say 10-12..could get heavy real quick....”

“Have you ever hiked the Middle fork of the Kaweah? I have been looking at the Middle fork trail for some snow free winter hiking.
The Ranger at the visitor's center claimed it was snow free for about 6 miles but it looks like you can go 9 miles without getting above 5,600'. Probably some drifts in the shade ...but sunny exposed areas probably have little or no snow at all.”

“I GOT MY JMT BOOKS IN THE MAIL!!!!!”

“You know what biz no cookies for you! i was going to bring them to share but I may not have enough to share...”

“It's a Monday, the weekend contingent will be ahead of us, and foot traffic should be light. It appears, too, that with 4-5 co-conspirators, gear sharing and duplication issues should reduce packweight, and I like that idea.

Went over the elevation profiles, reviewed the maps and waypoints I plotted... the trek from Florence Lake looks to be about 104 miles +/-. I also have bear box locations and - thanks to Mel - noted some great fishing spots along the way.

I don't think crampons will be necessary, nor snow shoes, but gaitors might be wise for higher elevations. Potential snowpack is difficult to accurately predict, but this time of year, should only see it at higher elevations, and hopefully not for long. Some sources portend deep and long-lasting snow, but this issue is better addressed as we get closer to departure.

Getting excited?”

“cool”

“what kind of cookies? I swore off beer”

“my super penut butter cookies”

“I gotta wonder about any person who swears off beer???

Obi wan I might come in with my group the 2nd and diddle around a bit and then hook up with you guys maybe in Evolution Valley. I can't honestly be 100% sure until we get a bit closer to the summer.

If anyone has questions about the JMT...ask quick while the memories of last summer are fresh in my mind”

“Where's Pine Creek? Wouldn't mind considering another point of entry, though Blayney IS a site, isn't it?

How about a re-cap of all those willing to commit to this trip? I'll do the legwork, but I need input. Gawd, Mel, do I know what you must go through!!!”

“Obi, I have been IN since the beginning

sheesh (j/k)

p.s. w- I only swore off beer cause wine is better for you Ü”

“i'm in”

“Hey Poppin, Elephants Back is less than 1 mile NE of Round Top in Mokelumne Wilderness near Carson Pass. Try Round Top next time, it's funner.”

“Obi, Pine Creek Roadend (7400') is the east entrance just north of Bishop. Honeymoon Lake is about 5.5 miles/3000' el gain. Then you go over Italy Pass (12,300'), and descend to Italy Lake (11,454'), 6 mi from Honeymoon Lake. Not sure of the distance from Italy Lake to the JMT.”

“Obi, Pine is actually a 2-3 day hike from the JMT and the first part is steep, dusty and less then ideal. If you're looking for other options I highly recommend Bear Ck, it's one of the most beautiful streams in the Sierras. You can reach the JMT in 1.5 leisurely days. The trail continues to upper Bear Creek and dozens of lakes not far off the main route. Climb over Selden Pass and you're within a day of Blayney so you can still enjoy the hot springs.”

“Dunk, thanks for the heads-up... Looks like I can catch the trail just out of Mono Hot Springs, it's 9 miles in from there to the JMT. From there, heading South, appears to be about 14 miles to the JMT, though a slight diversion to the Hot Springs wouldn't increase that by much.

On the other hand, if I go in from Florence, it's only about 5.75 miles.

Is your recollection of the Bear Creek/JMT option impressive enough to choose that instead? I recall Mel telling me once that it's a heavily forrested section, not much of a view. Still, I like trees. I do. They can't ALL be bad, now... can they?

wsdavies, don't have your email... why don't you send me one (check my profile)-

Biz, I have yours...
roseymonster, need yours ...

Time to get a head count for the permit request...”

“Obi, Yes I do remember the details of Bear Creek, the start is near Mono Hot Springs and it's about 9 gradual miles to the JMT, you then take a right and head south on the JMT through mostly gentle country. after a crossing of Bear Ck you go through Rosemary Meadows and the views really start opening up. From Marie Lks and Selden Pass you can view many lakes, peaks over 13K and numerous x-country options abound in the area. As for lower Bear Ck, it will blow you away with it's crystal clear pools seperated by waterfalls, it's a perfect stream for taking a swim or fishing. The route is mostly gradual to Marie Lks and then a short steep section to Selden before dropping to Sally Keyes Lks and it's Golden Trout.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd send you to my Photopoint Album of Bear Ck but it doesn't exist anymore.”

“Bear Creek is beautiful, but don't forget your squiter netting..the place is crawling with em bzzzzzzzzzzz. You could even go in at Vermillion Valley Resort(I love this place) and catch the ferry..and then hit some interesting switchbacks..did I say interesting..heheh”

“... to Vermillion & the ferry at Edison, I've been there. Those switchbacks must be on the trail continuing South on the JMT, a section I haven't seen or done yet. My maps indicate a steeper path than if the Bear Creek trail were taken from Mono H.S.

As for skeeters, well, I'm not sure it'll be late enough in the season for them to have dissipated - guess I'll have to take along the bug juice... No getting around the Sierra State Bird.”

“It's called the 55 switchbacks..or something...can you say burning quads........”