montanapalooza 2002

“martyb....thanks...you are chock full o' good info to share!.....stargazing......ahhh~~~~~~~~”

“You're welcome, om. My philosophy: If there's anything you want to know, you should be able to find it within 5 minutes on the internet.”

“Martyb,

If you think 5 minutes is quick, try this

1-900-LUV-PORN”

“DON'T call it's not a real number!

Martyb,
Why is your phone busy?”

“Dang, geezr! You had me fooled on that one!”

“I saw a six (+ or -) inch disc somewhere that you orientate and it shows you where all the planets, stars, constellations, etc are for your time and date. I'll have to look for it.”

“I've got one that's about twice that size - glows in the dark, too. We have a simple telescope and often bring it out onto the driveway to check out Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings, or just our own moon. Some software came with the telescope, but it's hard to understand....”

“you can find them in the stores in Jellystone. I bought one at Mammoth last year.”

“I have one of those discs somewhere. I have a bandana that has constellations on it, showing what the constellation represents, and the stars glow in the dark.”

“We might start at Sweet Water, to Temple Pass, xctry to Black Joe Lake to Big Sandy.

If we start at Big Sandy, we'll go over Big Sandy Pass, Jackass Pass, Cirque of Towers, (Ice Lakes, Mountain Sheep Lake, Tayo Lake Wind River Peak side trip?), Lizard Head Trail, Valentine Lake, Grave Lake, Hailey Pass, Freemont, Pass above Raid Lake, Pipestone Lakes, Hat Pass Cook Lakes, Lester Pass, Freemont Crossing, Jean Lakes to Shannon Pass, Cube Pass, Green River.

These are the names mentioned from one report. I think the other two were similar. We'll compare the 3 trips and do the itinerary, including some side trips.”

“Hey snow nymph, you'll have to wear that bandana so we can find you at night!

BTW let me know if you need anything here or sent here. I'm still assuming you'll want to leave some stuff at the cabin and pick it up on your way down to Wyo. Also, you guys are welcome to swing through Billings for Saturday the 14th.”

“I'm taking Friday off, so we'll probably make it Saturday.

I still want to store food at the cabin. If we show up Sat night, will we have time to get it to the cabin? If not, I'll send it, but need your addy.”

“We'll be in Billings Saturday then meet everyone in Red Lodge Sunday a.m. and head over to the cabin at Cooke City for Sunday night, so you'll be there to stash stuff. We'll start the hike (almost) right from the cabin Monday a.m.”

“Well that looks like a pretty good trip, and aggressive. Lots of up's and down's.

I think you will especially like Cirque of the towers, and the hike across Lizard's Head Plateau. The scenery crossing any pass will be breathtaking also. When crossing Lizard's Head, make sure you can do it early in the day and that the weather is good. You will definitely be exposed to the elements (i.e. LIGHTNING).”

“We had a lot of ups and downs on the JMT, but were hitting 12K & 13K passes, ending on Mt Whitney. With Montanapalooza as a warmup, we should be able to do it. Last year we started training Memorial Weekend, and our trip was late Aug. This year we're starting to backpack 2 weeks later, and our big trip is earlier in the year, so I hope we'll be ready by then!”

“Thanks Martyb,
I accessed the Mammoth Cam and found out there was an Old Faithful Cam as well. Now I'm patiently waiting for it to spurt (Old Faithful that is). I figure if I can watch if from home it will save me a trip to the park.”

“I'm surprised at how few folks are there. It goes off at 4:07 MDT plus or minus 10 min, if anly one is interested.”

“Martyb,

A great view from the Mt. Washburn Fire Tower Cam as well.

Thanks mb, I owe you an Alaska Amber!”

“Actually, the Washburn Cam in out of order!”

“"AN" Alaskan Amber?? You promised me two last week. Must've heard something you didn't like from my dad....

Another favorite, down my way, is this:

Guess this location”

“I was hoping you'd forgotten. OK, three and that's my limit! There goes all my spendin' money.”

“Trying to figure out my wardrobe for this here trip. Are there many stream crossings of any magnitude? What would be the best guess for low temp in mid July?”

“Jgeils,

I believe there's just one stream crossing that is significant in size that doesn't have a pack bridge over it. When we were there in 2000 I recall my son boulder-hopping to cross it, while I switched into Tevas (sandals). My balance isn't what it used to be and didn't want to take a chance on wet feet for the rest of the day.

Wardrobe is subjective. It can get cold, but generally it will be mid 60s to mid mid 70s for daytime highs with the chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Night low should be mid 40s to mid 50s though I can remember waking to frozen water bottles.

I usually take one pair of shorts to hike in and a pair that are light and similar to swimming trunks. For long pants I have a pair of wind/rain pants that I can throw on once the sun goes down. also a pair of lightweight longjohn bottoms, a capilene turtleneck, a longsleeved pullover moisture-wicking top that I hike in when it's cold and a Gore-Tex jacket. It's a piece or two of x-tra clothing but I have a really lightweight sleeping bag so when it's cold I can layer on clothes for sleeping and have clothes to cover every situation. Also take sandlals for around camp and stream crossings. That's about it except for a change of underwear and a fresh t-shirt and a change of socks.

There might be something I'm leaving out but that's the majority of it. Hope it's some help.”

“Thanks, Geezr. That helps quite a bit.”

“geezr- that's about what I take too. It seems like on a typical day I'd wear all that stuff. When you get up high it goes from hot to cold and then back again, maybe with a rain shower thrown in.

I used to wear a baseball cap, but my ears really got fried up there. Lot's of UV at 10,000'. I take one with a brim now, and sunscreen.”

“I need the comprehensive girl guide on what to wear. Actually, I need a personal shopper. I'm pretty intimadated about buying all these fancy fabrics and crap.”

“sunscreen is SO overrated! Pop Tart boxes aallll the way, bay-bee.”

“Maybe I better bring a hat.”

“c'mon, newgirl...live on the edge!”

“Hmmm, newgirl, you're really the straight man on that question! I will resist!!

I went for years without much in the way of high tech fabrics. i had a decent rain jacket and polypro long johns. You'll want some underlayers that wick moisture, but t-shirts are OK. Maybe snow nymph can add to this..

lyra- I'm using an empty MGD 12 pack box, with eye holes cut in it, for full coverage now.”

“Same clothes as geezr, but add a long sleeve lightweight shirt to hike in during the day.

I hate wearing hats, but I'm out so much, the part in my hair gets burnt. Then it peels, and my hair is dark, so it gets flakey....ewwwww! Bring a hat!”

“SnowNymph mentioned hiking in bathing suit bottoms. What about using tops for a hiking shirt? They are made of fancy fabric, so . . . what about that?”

“...this trip is getting better all the time...”

“Newgirl, I use the bathing suit bottoms that are like shorts. The top would probably work, but make sure it doesn't tie in the back or have anything that will rub against the pack. You should still wear something over it to protect from the sun, especiallly if you are fair skinned (I know people who got burnt the first day of a trip and was miserable). I use a running top, sometimes with a capilene tank, most of the time the long sleeved shirt. Depends on how hot it is.”

“OK here are my basics:
shorts
underwear (long and short)
2 pr. socks
2 t-shirts
1 long sleeved shirt (poly)
pants (wind or rain)
jacket (fleece)
jacket (rain or goretex)
hat

I'll probably take a few more thing like sandals and river shorts, but I wouldn't be caught nekkid without the basics.”

“My bathing suit top is like a tanktop, except it's made of the fancy fabric. So, it isn't all that showy, Aero.”

“And there isn't any ties to rub.”

“Where do you guys buy the polypro (is that right?) long underoos?”

“Geezr, you mentioned having Tevas with you. Do you have some lightweight ones? Mine probably weigh about 4 pounds each (OK, slight exaggeration). I've abandoned the idea of bringing an extra pair of shoes along in the spirit of going light. I used to bring along my road racing flats (6 oz. each) until a marmot ate them in Colorado.

Re: rain gear, I prefer a poncho because it can easily be used to keep gear dry at camp without bringing it into the tent. My rain pants also double as mosquito guards (little suckers can't get through). Then again, my hiking partners generally just use me as mosquito protection, since the mosquitos seem to really really like me.”

“Sierra Trading Post.”

“So, I guess I definitely have to come to Cody this weekend now?”

“newgirl- you can get some reasonably priced stuff at Scheels and Big Bear. Base Camp has some really nice stuff too if you want to go top of the line. You need a base layer that's non-cotton that you can pull on if it gets wet out there. It's nice to have a long sleeved shirt you can put on when the wind kicks up too.”

“oh yeah, if you go to Cody you should stop in there. They've got a ton of stuff. You might find some good deals.”

“Oky-Doky Smoky! Thanks for the info.”

“I bought my wife some long johns for ~$10 in December at Sierra.

The only 'high tech' clothes I have are my long johns & socks.

I take:

2 t-shirts - both cotton
1 Long johns
2 underwear
1 light weight silk type socks under hiking socks
3-4 padded socks (I change often)
1 shorts
1 rain pants
1 rain jacket
1 baseball hat
1 down vest
1 fleece jacket
1 leather gloves
1 pair hiking boots
1 pair moccasins
LOTS of Bourbon”

“I really like the Bourbon part. Hey Chief, I talked to an artist friend last night. I was trying to talk him into going to the museum on Sun. He knows the guy who is doing that Buffalo Jump sculpture. He said that thing cost 4 mill. No wonder they went over budget.”

“Also, how exactly does Bourbon fit into your wardrobe?”

“a hip flask”

“He drinks the buorbon and then doesnt need clothes....

Newgirl... wally world sells coolmax mens socks for ~3.50 / 2 pair...”

“A hip flask . . .classy.”