Sierrapaloosa 2003

“I'm starting this thread to split the planning for 2003 from the upcoming TT trip to the sierras in october.

Who's up for this one besides me?”

“Count me in, with this much time I am sure I can secure the dates I will need. How about the southern Sierra's, or part of the JMT?”

“Yeah, it seems like, since we have so much time to plan, we could really pick out a gem of a trail and try a long one.

Oh, and by the way, everyone can forget their bear cannisters. I seem to repulse bears for miles and miles. :)”

“How many days are we talking about?
5 days,7 days,10 days ???
How many miles do we want to travel per day???”

“Count me in!”

“Me too! I would like to a 5-7 dayer!”

“Count me in. 5 - 7 days, 20 - 30 miles, maybe more but I don't like much more than 8 miles a day and not even that every day.”

“5-7 days for me too. I don't enjoy long days either.

Has anyone heard from mel?”

“The loop The Naviguesser mentioned sounded good - over Piute Pass from North Lake then down Evolution Valley, back over Bishop Pass and out South Lake. I can't really tell from my map how far it is but it looks like an easy shuttle.”

“Page 146 in 'Sierra South'
#48 South Lake to North Lake
60.5 miles (moderate: 7 hiking/1 layover day)”

“Does the trip have to be a loop?

Lots of out and backs to do, with no shuttle issues.

Loop from South to North is a nice long trip though. I usually like to do more lay over days myself.”

“I think we are wide open to suggestions at this point :)
So much Sierra ...so little time!”

“60 miles is more than I really want. How about a loop that starts and ends in Humphrey's basin somehow...if possible. Mel or Snow Nymph would know.”

“My suggestion would be...Start at Bear Diversion Damn and finish at Florence lake(just hiked this) It's a beautiful part of the Sierras..It would be easy to shuttle vehicles..perfect Ca Sierra hike....”

“I'm in for a 5-7 days. Six mile days but I can go with the flow.”

“That hike wsdavies suggested is on page 50 of Sierra South. Looks like a possibility.

I like a loop trip so I can see new scenery but it is also true that you see different things when you go the other direction.”

“I'm in. I think some nice trips would be:

1. Go at Onion Valley and go over Kearsarge Pass to Kearsarge Lakes, then continue south over Forester Pass and come out at Symmes Creek (Sheperd Pass Trail). That one is 41 miles/7407 feet gain and you get some great lakes and views.

2. Mosquito Flat to Second Recess (32 Miles out and Back).

3. Mineral King to Little Five Lakes (40.5 miles Loop)

4. Cedar Grove to Rae Lakes 41.5 miles Loop)

and there are lots more great trips. There's always Yosemite's High Country.”

“I forgot to add that I'm in on this one. I think 5 or 6 days would be good because that would allow for travel time.”

“I think 35 or 40 miles would be lots, for 6 to 7 days, if you want to keep the trip open to everyone. A loop, or shuttle, would be my first choice.

Count me in!!”

“Narrowing the list could become tough, so many great spots.
The Kearsarge Pass hike is one tough approach!! The Rae lakes area is soooooooooo crowded!!
Humphreys Basin is wide open scenery with French Canyon close by for a change with it's meadows and lots of places for large groups to stay. Could be a loop or out'n'back. Did this with Mel one year and the Snowduo have been all over this area.
Sounds like sooner or later it needs to come down to vote (The part I hate) but has to happen.
Glad I'm not in charge!!”

“If we keep it to 7 miles a day then it's 42 miles for 6 days. I think that would keep the trip at a moderate level depending on the elevation gain. It's difficult to pick a route that will please everyone. So far from my exploring in the Sierras I find that I really like it near treeline and above. I love the alpine lakes and vast views way up there, so that's what I lean toward in a trip. I think going over the passes and the views from them are very rewarding. Other people like the lower elevations where it's greener. We're all different.

I guess we need a trip that either gives us a little bit of what everyone wants or one that the majority votes for. We have plenty of time to narrow it down.”

“COUNT ME IN!!!!

Considering people will be coming from back east, and will want a real adventure...
Day 1, Mineral King over Timber Gap (Gasp). Day 2, Over Black Rock Pass (Black Heart Pass) to Little 5 Lakes (great views). Day 3, Big Arroyo (glacial valley). Day 4, over Kaweah Gap, past Precipice Lake (Ancel Adams took a picture here) (view the precipice with the Angel Wings) walk through the tunnel to Hamilton Lake. Day 5, to Redwood Meadow (sleep under Sequoia trees) Day 6, Out over Timber Gasp.

This is a great trip, some tuff days some easy, GREAT scenery, Great experience, and will leave travel time to get to and from the airports (both LAX and S.F.)”

“Hi Navi - You've talked about this trip before - is it the one you did a nice trip report on? Can you find that trip report?

Don't forget Sacramento when you think of flying in, several of the people showing interest in the trip live in and around Sacto and the airport is tons easier to deal with than SF or Oakland. And even big planes land here!!”

“Hi Pepper. Yes, it's a veriation of that trip.

When I said S.F. I ment the area, S.F., Oakland, Sac., San Jose.”

“Here's a link...
”

“2nd try...
The trip to the Precipice”

“It worked!!!
Dang, I'm good!”

“60 miles sounds good too me.I am down for this trip.

As this gets to be more involved please lets get everything right.

I am all for this trip so round 2 of Crazy Mike out West!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8D”

“Navi; Up up and more up according to your trip report. Does the variation you mentioned, take this out of the plan?
Sounds like a awesome place to hike though.”

“Actually, it increases to ups. But shortens it by 1 1/2 days.

If I can do it, anyone can. Just ask the Montanapaloozers.”

“MUST GO!!!!!!

8D”

“Navi ...that would be an awesome trip! My only concern is those darn parking lot marmots!!!”

“Marmots are cool!

I like the noises that they make!

8)”

“These marmots have a bad reputation ...they chew hoses , wiring and stuff....sometimes the damage costs hundreds of $$ to repair. I personally have never had a problem ...but if you leave your car for a week????????”

“I've left my car there 3 times (a week each time), no problems yet.
Now you wanna talk about my thongs that got chewed up at Pinto Lake? Right beside my sleeping head!”

“I knew that porcupines were into rubber hoses etc. I thought marmots just took off with your boots and stuff.”

“Where do you sign up? I'm interested too. 8)

Here are some more suggestions...

a. A loop trip. For simplicity with logistics. If this turns out to be a big group, that might make shuttling easier.

b. Mix in a little crosscountry travel. Maybe have an optional peak climb available along the route.

c. Something with variety (lakes, meadows, peaks, vistas, falls/cascades, color). Not hard to do.

d. Sometime outside the peak of skeeter season.

e. Set it up where some of the group can share weight (filters, stoves, fuel, first aid kit, etc). This makes goodies for the festivities easier to get in and out.

f. If the group gets large enough, it might be necessary to split it in two, or head to an entry location where the trail quota is bigger.

It'll be fun to see where this thread goes.”

“Navi, you wear a thong?????

;-)”

“I did the Bear Creek Dam Diversion to Florence Lake Part 1 and
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=17067988"> Part 2 trip that wsdavies mentioned July 2001. You get a little of everything on that one. Trees, alpine lakes, a pass, and a hot spring. Marie Lakes is one of my favorite areas. We did it in 4 days, but there are lots of places to dayhike to.”

“"Mosquito Flat to Second Recess (32 Miles out and Back). "

This one can be more challenging and more scenic if you continue from Second Recess to Gabbot Pass, down to Toe Lake and Lake Italy, up to Italy Pass, and out Pine Creek roadend.”

“Forester Pass (13K+) might be hard on the out of state people.

Rae Lakes is packed, unless you go in September.

I haven't done the Mineral King loop yet. I've done Timber Gap, not impressed.”

“How about McGee Creek, McGee Pass (pics from this weekend will be up tomorrow), Tully Hole, Lake Virginia, Purple Lake, Iva Bell Hot Springs, Reds Meadow. Requires a shuttle, but you get a little of everything. (alpine lakes, passes, meadows, hot springs, trees). I've got photos of most of these places scattered thru the website. let me know if you're interested and I'll try to post links. Too tired now. It was a long day.”

“Last post for tonight. (sorry for all the individual ones)

Don't know if we'll make S2K3. Might be able to do part of it. We're planning to take 30 days off in the fall.

Looking back at the Mosquito Flat suggestion, might be tough on out of state people, 3 passes ~12K.”

“Ok, I'm still awake....

had a chance to read Navi's trip report! Great writeup! That sounds like a winner. I might take off to do that one. I've only been to Hamilton Lake so the rest of the trip would be new. I've always wanted to go to Nine Lakes Basin. I love alpine lakes.”

“Ok I can see how that would be a problem.

8)”

“Count me in too...”

“Forester Pass was hard on this in state person but it was one of the most amazing engineering works I have ever seen!!

Keep the ideas flowing. If Navi's trip would get the Snowduo involved we should consider that a plus!!”

“I'm still interested, but I'll have to talk to my wife first. I usually have one more week of vacation than she does, and I can't think of a better way to spend it.

I would also be interested in the shorter days around 8 miles would be great, but I'm open to anything. I'll leave the planning to those who know the area.

Hey CMB if we both end up going we could travel together from Indiana.”

“Mineral King area sounds good to me. I'll just buy my chicken wire.”

“Hey Indiana John ya that would be cool dude!

8D”