Sierrapaloosa 2003

“ok I don't see how I can do that it looks like its for we registered ones so, Nav. if you can make a mental (lmao) note thanks.”

“jvz - It will be nice to see Kent again. Tell him hello for me!”

“I was unable to book at Best Western Three Rivers.No vacancy on the 4th or 5th.I was going to try and come in on the 3rd.Also no shuttle service from airport.I'll try Visalia then Fresno.Kinda wanted to tour the area before the hike.”

“JVZ, I got Kent on my list, and a question to Matt on how to update it. 14 going now.

trekkngirl, not much to see down there in the valley. 8^)”

“trekkngirl, Try the Econolodge in Visalia, it's $45.00 ask for the daylight savings discount. It is on expedia.com, I and wannabp just reserved on the 2nd. Good luck!”

“Thanks Tango I will.”

“Whatca talkin' about Navi there is a lot to see in this valley! LOL!
Orange trees, peach trees, olive trees, dairy farms, corn fields, grape vineyards and farm equipment...never a dull moment around here!”

“lol ww”

“You gotta remember too that I'm just a little'o Tennessee girl that ain't seen a lot.Yet, that is.I don't think I ever saw a peach tree.LOL Beauty is in the eye of beholder right Wind Walker.”

“Someone has to bring trekkingirl an artichoke so we can watch her try and eat it. I had some NJ relatives over and plopped a big artichoke on their plates. None of them knew what to do with it. They all waited till I started eating. It was riot. A riot, I tell ya!”

“Bring it on Rockman.I'm bad!LOL:)”

“Head east on Jensen its a CA Scenic Trail. Great in spring and early summer. There's a lot down there even a view of the Mountains you'll be in. As a side note a friend of a friend picked a prickley pear and just bit into it before he could stop him. Think instinct would tell a person stuff sticking out of a pin cussion is sharp. Ended up taking him to emergency to tweaser the (ok I'll say it)pricks out of his mouth. Artichokes might not be as bad.”

“Well, I sit corrected! 8^)”

“Actually fresh produce is about the only bonus we get for living in the dust bowl. That and our close proximity to the Sierra.

If you're visiting from out of State or the big city....drop by one of those cheesy looking mom and pop fruit stands along the road. The tree ripened fruit will knock your socks off!
If there are little labels on the fruit (packing house fruit same as your local grocer) go on down the road and find some of that tree ripened stuff! We always pick some up on our way to Sequoia in the summer months!”

“hey Naviguesser, i've studied my options & i just don't think i can do Sierrapalooza. i'll take myself off the trip page. BUT, i think the timing would be perfect for me to make my annual solo vacation overlap with your scheduled stay at Hamilton Lake. i was gonna come out of Crescent Meadow & head up over Elizabeth Pass to Roaring River, but maybe i'll add a day to the trip & detour up to Hamilton. it would be fun to have a little socialization in the middle of my very necessary alone time.”

“Bummer bout you being able to join us!
Look forward to seeing you at Hamilton.”

“Craxy Mike and now tarbubble... man, folks are dropping out like crazy.”

“since I'm flying to CA May 31 and leaving the June 24th..it would've been a fun to see some of you in real life..ah well..so it goes..I shall enjoy the pictures...”

“Sorry to see you guys have to miss this trip! Next ____palooza you better be there!”

“matahari - what area of california are you visiting?”

“If some one can give me a ride, sure..... :-)”

“More snow in the Sierra today . . . 3-5" on Mammoth Mountain”

“Time to bring this back to the top.”

“heyyyy, am i right in calculatin' that y'all will be at Hamilton on Wednesday night, July 9? if i'm a-gonna cross paths with ya i'll need to start gettin' mah arrangements made.”

“That's what my calendar says.

Should I plan my dinner that night to go with tortillas?”

“hmmmm, if there's fire & a frying pan (returned mine, the non-stick was flaking off), i'll bring tortilla mix. they'd just take so darn much fuel on a stove! that reminds me, i need to keep my eyes open for a cheap, light frying pan. is Hamilton OK for fires? i know Big Arroyo is, but can't remember about Hamilton.”

“I don't think fires are allowed at Hamilton. I could be wrong......”

“this could be serious. i may have to consider humping over to Big Arroyo to get my fresh tortilla fix? damn, that means i'd have to stop at Precipice Lake TWICE, stroll through Kahweah Gap TWICE, and maybe even camp with you guys TWICE. how terrible that would be, turning my 7-day trip into 10 days! it's awful just *thinking* about it.”

“Or you could just come with us. 8^)”

“noooo, i just can't do it that way. that weekend is completely NOT free. alas and alack. no, i really like the idea of overlapping you guys - i don't envision myself getting scared my first night out alone, but if i did it would be good to know that you guys would be there the next night. that week also might work out PERFECTLY for family to be able to watch Paul.

enough! my plans are on for the week of July 7th. i'll bring tortilla mix & extra fuel. oh, cruel July, why must you be so far away?

and hey, did you have fun in JT over the weekend?”

“No. I didn't have fun because you weren't there.

Oh, wait! Suz was there. Yeah we had fun.

Brought some new people (and new to backpacking) along with us. 4 mile hike, explored, sat around and talked, hiked 4 miles out. Good trip.”

“oi vay... what a flatterer you are. i love it! but i was there in spirit - Mr. Harm used my beloved Eureka Talon pack. couldn't you feel my tarbubbly vibes emanating from it?”

“Why would you do that to him? He seemed like a nice guy.
OK, OK, it was better than the OLD Jansport I loaned JJ. They both made it out alive.
Yes, I know you were there in spirit, your name came up several times. For some strange reason every time your name came up, we started talking about Paul!

Good vibes from those there, and those missing.”

“that's just my curse for having a baby who's even cuter than i am. ;)

*gasp* you dissed my Eureka! i'll have to go take a Valium and lie down.”

“Not as much as I dissed my Jansport.
If you're going to share something, share that Valium!


Dang kids!”

“LOL”

“Shake hands and say your sorry!”

“To get those permits!
March 1st is this Saturday get your faxes ready!!!”

“Are all we going to request our own permits?”

“I'll try for the permit for the 7 day group.
Snownymph said she'd get one for the 5 day group.”

“I won't be near a fax machine Saturday, but I'll do it first thing Monday.”

“Thanks Snow Nymph!!”

“G'luck to the perm gatherers!!

Yeah, Dang kids!!!”

“Hey tarbubble, do you reside here in the Sunny State? Or ya having to fly in?”

“I haven't heard from any of the places I applied to so yes, I will definatly join you all on the 5 day. :)

It's a shame crazy mike wont be along, I was so hopeing to meet him!!”

“i am a bona-fide CA resident. i live in the glorious people's republic of Orange County! long live homeowner's associations!

(sorry, just got my HOA bill & couldn't help myself)”

“"I'm sorry, you applied for a permit to paint yor house white. But this is 'eggshell'. You're going to have to repaint it. And make sure it's white this time!"


Are you laughing? This is no joke. It happened Laguna Beach.”

“Free23 - several of us have had the pleasure of hiking with Crazy Mike and we will be more than happy to do impressions for you. Not that we could come close to the real thing.....”

“This should be a fun trip!”

“Correction: this will be a fun trip!!”