Snow Nymph's Llamarama Trip Report, Sier ras, CA

“Llamarama 2002 Weekend Photos

Go to Internet Friends #2 (TTers) for individual pics of the TTers on this trip. Couldn't get it all in one album. Still waiting for SnowDude's pics, so this might become 2 albums
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The plan was to meet some new TTers. Since a lot of us couldn’t take 12 days off to do the Llamarama 2002, we decided to join the trip for the weekend only. Everyone got their own permits and we planned to meet at the trailhead. Out of the 9 that had planned to do this, 5 of us made it.

Sheebz and Dave-O met us at the Duck Pass Trailhead (9140’) at 8:30am. We waited for Naviguesser, but by 9:15am, decided he would probably be hiking with SierraMel and the Llamarama group. We started up the trail through a forest of pines, with a few patches of snow as we got closer to Skeleton Lake (9950’). After passing a meadow, we passed Red Lake, crossed a creek and arrived at Barney Lake (10,200’) by 10:45am. We found some good campsites, but figured the Llamarama group would camp there, so we went a little further to a little island and set up camp.

At 12:30pm we left camp and headed up the rocky switchbacks, with snowfields towards the top, arriving at Duck Pass (10,780’) 40 minutes later. From here we had views to the north of Mammoth Mountain, Banner Peak, Mt Ritter and the Minarettes, and the colorful area we had just backpacked up. Just over the pass we could see Duck Lake, Pika Lake across the way, and the Silver Divide to the south. We stopped here for a ½ hr lunch before descending ½ mile to the outlet of Duck Lake (10,450’). The trail descends through the trees, past a waterfall, and reaches the junction to the John Muir Trail. From the junction the trail switchbacks up steeply for a short distance, then rounds an unnamed mountain. It was from here we realized the meadow we had seen below from this trail was part of our JMT trek last fall. (We were looking at our route from where we were all the way up to Silver Pass). As we descended and rounded the last part of the mountain, we were greeted with a large tree blocking the trail. (We hiked around it, but after the trip, Dave-O mentioned it……..yikes! we forgot about the llamas! I hope they made it!). From the trail we saw the top of Bloody Mountain peeking above the jagged granite ridge separating Purple Lake from the area we were at last weekend (Convict Canyon). We arrived at Purple Lake (9,925’) at 3:30pm, and took a snack break, with the obligatory group photos at the lake. Skeeters were bad here!

A PCT thru-hiker, Keith stopped and chatted with us for a little bit. He was friendly and pleasant to talk to. Sheebz asked him if a bear tore his shirt (the back was shredded). He said a marmot got it at Whitney, when he laid it on his pack to dry. The bear would have made a better story. His pack was 13 lbs w/o food & water, he was covering 25 miles per day, and he looked a lot cleaner than other thru hikers we saw whiz by. His grandmother was meeting him in Tuolumne Meadows on Monday to resupply him, and his girlfriend was doing part of the trip with him up north. Pretty cool!

We decided it was too late to go for Lake Virginia, so we left Purple Lake at 4:30pm . . . . up and down and up and down. While descending Duck Pass, we could see the Idiots grazing in the grass. We arrived at Barney Lake by 7pm, and hung out with the llamas, taking pictures and talking to them.

I put some layers on, and a couple of guys showed up to move the llamas. I started walking towards them and heard “HEY!”. Didjfan recognized me. Sheebz, Dave-O, SnowDude and I took our cooking stuff to their camp and hung out with everyone…..Navi-guesser (finally), jvz, Didjfan, Old Timer and Turkman, Roseymonster and Mrs Roseymonster, Mel and John (Happy Anniversary!), cousin Shelley and her friends Doris and Anne, and hung out til about 9pm. We went back to camp and hung out under a full moon, til 11:30pm. Such a beautiful and peaceful evening!

We woke up to a little breeze and another awesome day! SnowDude and I had our breakfast with the Llamarama gang and got to watch how the group works with the llamas. Pretty amazing, and a LOT of work!

Navi-guesser headed back a little before us. I was still taking pics for my TT photo album. We left them about 11:30am, and caught up with Navi about half way down. We had lunch at Schatz Bakkery and Navi headed for home. Four of us went to Lake Mary to rent canoes at Pokonoke’s. While canoeing around the lake we could see Duck Pass and the area we had just come from. What a great way to end a weekend!”

“Great report Snow Nymph...seems like everybody had a grand ole time. Feels good to meet fellow TT'ers on the trail.”

“Great trip report Snow Nymph, and great pics as usual! What's that white, powdery stuff in the pictures? Some kind of strange dirt I guess. We don't have that kind of dirt in south Texas. ;)”

“SN, were the llama folks a good group? I know Oldtimer and Mel are but how about the others? I'll be heading over Duck Pass on Thursday and rendezvousing with them on Friday at Purple Lk before heading deeper into the wilderness. I'll spend Saturday through the following Saturday exploring the Silver Divide and possibly cross over to the Mono Recesses.”

“Dunk, If I had thought this out, we could have gone next weekend instead. Purple Lake would have been a better destination for us, especially after doing Olancha and Convict Canyon the two weeks before. When I got the permit, I thought the first night was going to be Purple Lake. Mileage-wise, that would have been better for us. We want to explore the area to the east of Purple Lake sometime. Adding the dayhike made it a good workout.

Flowbee, that white stuff is awesome! I'm really missing it! Going over Duck Pass gave me a good feeling. I LOVE snow! Come to CA sometime!

Stanlee & Dunk,
Its fun meeting TTers. Then you gotta remember the real names and the trail names. Everyone was great! One thing I noticed about meeting people, they're personality is just like their posts! I can't wait for Montanapalooza!

We'll be changing the pics so check back again.

We met Sheebz and Dave-O on the slopes of Mammoth. What a great couple! We'll be joining them on a few trips this summer. They've been lurking a few weeks and love this site!”

“Oh, and did Mel mention whether or not she had my 12pack?”

“They had lotsa beers. I saw them drinking beers, and Navi carried the empties out. There was lotsa snow to keep them ice cold!”

“I'm intending to do a loop up through the lakes east of Purple then down to Virginia and back to Purple either Friday or Saturday. Fishing gear will be with me during that excursion.”

“i envy you snow nymph! we have been thinking hard about moving!”

“good report, i'd like to get out there”

“looks like another grand llamarama gathering! ya gotta love that high sierra experience and those wild california tters.....great to see mel and the idiots, old timer and turk and jvz and navi...(the last 4 names not included in idiots..heh)
thanks for sharing.......brings back memories of one of my favorite trips”

“Looked like another great trip and pictures! Now I know there are at least two Barney Lakes in the Sierra.”

“Thanks for sharing the great pictures!”

“That was fun--I am amazed how big the llamas are in that photo of Mel and John.”

“As usual Snow, sounds like a great trip. I just loved that picture of the reflection in the tarn. What a great jigsaw puzzle that would make! I am going to have to research that area it is beautiful. Pictures are GREAT!!”

“Come to CA and I'll take y'all for a hike in the Sierras! Or we could just meet at Mel's!

Mary, Larry is the smallest llama, but he's the boss! They're pretty cool animals!

Glad you're all enjoying the pics.”

“Dunk - You mean that was YOUR 12pack that Mel was passing out?”

“Sounds like a great trip...I envy you all.

Great pictures, as usual........”

“snowdude is for real! I hope it wasn't my 12 pack but who knows. I'll be doing like y'all did in heading only to Barney on Thursday so I'll pack a few brews that far. As for beer Mel may or may not be carrying for me no big deal, if it's there then it's a bonus. Did you see any sign of bear along the way, I'm not in the mood to carry two bear cannisters as that would be what it would take to fit 10 days worth of food.”

“No sign of bear on the island where we stayed. Mel's group stayed in the trees. They said a bear was in the area. Navi was going to show me where the bear scat was, but so much was going on so I didn't get to see it.

If you can, rent a Bearikade Expedition and you'll get 10 days of food in a 2.2 lbs canister. http://www.wild-ideas.net
Don't know if they can mail one to you by Thursday.”

“Great pictures! It looks like it was a fun trip!

Btw.. since I'm not used to snow around here, especially this time of the year, what was the temperature like on the trip?”

“Hi Miss Opie,
Temps were in the 80s during the day, and maybe 40s at night. The cool breeze by the lakes and passes felt good. I kept the light shirt on because of the mosquitos, plus I don't want to burn this early in the season. But it got hot with it on. Once the sun goes down it gets pretty cool. I really enjoy hiking in snow.”

“Those Silver Divide photos? Wow. To stand in that spot and see what happened there must have been some experience. An event. A scene that makes your heart swell.

That sort of thing stays with you for a while.

Thank you for sharing the photos. Great write up and care.

LOL!! at Costco! What's up with that?”

“Davo and I had a great time this weekend and we really enjoyed your company. Backpacking with you guys is so fun and easy. Love that dayhiking style-just go,go,go!”

“Love the duck+pika lake pic,silver didivide/meadow pic.
The larry llama pic is perfectly composed and what beautiful background.Where's the th for this hike again?”

“Great pics and report. Thanks! Sorry I missed you. Wished I could have been on the trail and not just at Mel's.

Stopped at Shatz Bakery also for "sheepherder's bread" to go with the Dutch Oven Extravaganza....great stuff.”

“Great trip report and pictures. I just want you to know that every time I get "homesick" for the High Sierras I go over to your site and look at your photographs. Best regards,

Sol”

“Hope to trip to Oregon was a good one. Sure missed riding up to Mel's with you last week. And the Dutch Oven event. I don't even want to know about the culinary treats I missed....Chicken Stew?Peach Cobbler?... Blackberry?”

“Finally got the chance to see your pics...very nice indeed. Do those llamas spit if they're irritated?”

“Llamas are versatile enough to use for firewood at the end of the trip!

”

“Stanlee - The llamas mostly spit at each other.”

“Tek: I'm on my way to Costco to have them re-do the CDs. The photos are perfect, but the CDs suck!

Davex: The trailhead is in Mammoth, from Lake Mary (Coldwater Campground).

Sheebz/Davo: When the film is developed, I'll use the canoeing pics and add you to the TT Internet Friends album. No longer lurkers! Glad you could join us!

Phil: sorry we missed you....Isn't Schatz the best????

Sol: We missed the dutch oven event too! Next time. You know, even I go to the website during the week to get my fix. Its fun trying to decide which way to go each weekend.

Stanlee/Phil: Mel said Larry spit on her once. Someone on the trip said it smells really baaaad!”

“Another awsome trip report snow nymph! You should consider writing for a living, your descriptions "take you there". Makes me want to head west and meet some of you folks, as well as hike all the great places you describe.”

“I read somewhere that after a llama spits on you...they feel really embarassed...because of the very baad smell...don't know if this is true.”

“Thanks for the pictures.
It was GREAT to finally meet you and SD. And Sheebz and Davo, Roseymonster and Ms. Rosey, and dijifan too.
And to see again Mel, JVZ, Oldtimer and Turk, and you too Phil.
Good people one and all!

Montana here I come!”

“Heard a report that is Hwy 395 is now CLOSED at Crowley lake going south and at the top of the grade headed north. The fire has burned 2000 Acres at this time and is headed SOUTH. Rock creek has been evacuated and upper Swall Meadows is being cleared at this time.

This area is just south of Mel's place. They should be coming out any day now.”

“I hope you heard wrong! I doubt it, but I hope it.”

“As usual - wonderful pics (despite the CD burn screw-up) and a great trip report as well. I really liked your vertical compositions, especially the one with the reflections. I gotta get out west some day.”

“Great pics...as usual. REALLY sorry I missed you.

This link may be useful for tracking the fire. It is a just few miles south of Mel's. She is about 6 miles from Tom's Place and just a stone's throw from Hwy 395.”

“Hey all;

Back safe and sound. No singed spots on any of us.
Now for a report:

After the split at Barney we headed up Duck Pass. Half way up while crossing a snowdrift, Mel, Larry,and Roy had a wreck. Quite the site. Larry and Roy started to jump and went a$$ over tea kettle with Mel holding on. Packs went flying and the boys were planted firmly in the snowbank.

Getting the packs off was and the boys unstuck took some doing, but all worked out with some group effort. Walking the rest of the Llamas across after seeing that wreck took some time.
Made the trip over the pass and around Duck Lake to the meadow below. Lots of grass for grazing the boys. After a peaceful night we had a after breakfast visitor. Larry sounded off, and there at the creek edge was mister Bear. Just sniffed us over and posed for pics. (Sorry, have to wait) Then he strolled up the hill.

Off to Virginia Lake. The views from our site of Silver Divide with the Lake in the forground were spectacular.

Days hikes were the activity of the day, going over to Tulley Hole, and up Fish Creek toward Magee Pass. Turk spent most a day catching big trout,(BY HAND!) The youngster has taken to leaving the pole out of his fishing equation. Just chased em up a narrow creek and sneaks up from benhind, and picks em up!!

After four perfect days at Virginia, we headed back to Purple. Roseymonster and Ms.RoseyM.and I climbed out of the bowl to a pass that gave us great views of Duck Lake from the other side of the Valley. We surfed our way across a talus field on huge rocks. RM brought a parasail type kite, and with some pre-flight detangling by Ms. RM, the kite did fly high on the ridge over our camp.

Dunk and Steve and Storm the dog joined us for two nights. Had a daytime visit from another bear during the day. Dunk grabbed his camera and he and I followed after him for a chance at a shot. No luck.
Lots of wild onion here that made for great dinners.

Headed back to Duck Lake Creek for a onenighter on the way out. Turk and I spent a hour rolling rocks over one of the most impressive cascades I've ever seen.Easily 250ft. from top to bottom turning into a huge falls.

Well sorry about no pics. Will do what I can to share with the group.

Back to planning the next adventure.

Happy Trails”

“Great report Didjfan...I'm you guys/gals had alot of fun.”