Sierrapaloosa 2003

“Eddie the energy boy is my nephew.”

“My pack last weekend (self sufficient) was ~28 lbs. It should be the same for Sierrapalooza with 5 days food since SnowDude is taking the tent, groundcloth and water filter (~ 4 lbs)

If you haven't used your equipment since last year, check everything. Last weekend 5 of us did our first backpack of the season. Skier and Asandygal had a moldy water filter. Luckily they found springs to drink from the day before they caught up with us. We'll see how they're doing in a week or so. I didn't have my micro leatherman to open my canister, and if I had been solo I would have been out of luck! The water filter, bug net, head lamp, and other small items were all in the canister. I also didn't pack the foil pouch for my freeze dried dinner so my dinner didn't cook right. I used my first aid kit for our trips to Mammoth, and didn't replace a lot of items. Love these first trips!

Note to self: do not walk behind Windy.

Its been cool in the Sierra. Mammoth got 1/4" snow dusting last night.

Last weekend everyone was in their tents because of the cold. I was fine with my layers, except for my toes (teva's) and fingers (glove liners).

I drank lots of liquids last weekend on the way up, but I'm just prone to altitude sickness. I've been tracking this for a few years now, and its always one of 3 things that gets me (and I don't know why):
1. Gotta take the birth control, or I get sick
2. Gotta sleep at the trailhead or higher, even 100' will guarantee me being sick
3. If I miss a weekend in altitude, I lose all acclimatization and I'll get sick.

#3 got me this weekend.”

“"1. Gotta take the birth control, or I get sick"

That's a new one! :)”

“WW, you allow someone like that to date your daughter? What kind of a father are you? 8^)”

“Yeah...he's one of those shady mountain loving types... just spent 3 days with him in Kings Canyon...had a blast!”

“wingding - What did you do with the backpack you had at Dingleberry Lake?”

“Phil: I still have it. Want to use it? My quest for the perfect pack didn't end with the Golite Trek.”

“Heading down to Sequoia on Thursday, it'll the furthest trip south on the west side. I'll be car camping and day hiking mostly. Maybe some fishing. Thinking about a day hike to Pear Lk on Friday and doin' the tourista thing Saturday and Sunday.”

“wingding - I am looking for something lighter than my external frame pack for Sierrapalooza. I have been thinking about ordering a P2, but they take months to get.

I would be interested in borrowing the Trek.

How long did it take you to get your new pack?”

“Phil: It only took a few days to get my new pack - I ordered it from REI online. Let me know if you decide to try out my Trek.

Dunk: if you want to get high - the hike out to Alta Peak is really nice too.”

“Hey everyone, This is Ian Fritz's 18 year old son who he is bringing along on the trip. I can't wait for this trip. We have both been looking forward to it since the beginning of the year. Can't wait to meet you guys!”

“oh yeah....my name is Ian....i for got to add that in”

“Howdy Ian! It's not too late....

Seriously, I think you'll have a good time! See you in a week.”

“Got a phone call from Tango last night. We were to pick her up in Fresno. Her back did okay on Yosemite day hikes with a day pack, but became way too painful with her full backpack when she started up the switchbacks ascending out of Lyell Canyon. She spent the night and tried the following morning, but no go. She'll post more when she gets to a computer.

We'll miss you, Tango, and carry you along in our thoughts.”

“We have been talking about this trip for so long, I can not believe it is next week.

I think I am squared away with everything. The only thing that bother me is my lunches. Besides something Tuna or seafood related, what is everyone taking for lunch? I am relying on PB and Honey, bagesl and varous snacks. I think by the third or fourth day, I am going to be board with that. I will problaby bust open the stove once or twice, but I want to stay away from cooking.

So give a a list of what you are taking for lunch that is quick and good minus seafood. (Tuna etc does not appeal to me)”

“Oh, right...guess we ought to plan some meals, too... :)”

“I'm not cooking except for dinner and those are going to be the "Mountain House" or equivalent dinners. For lunch probably pepperoni, crackers, peanut butter, chips. Stuff like that. I've done the foil pack tuna thing, but I'm not a big fan. Now if the foil pack chicken ever hits my area...”

“Probably throw in a few Power Bars for good measure.”

“Navi a couple weeks ago you said something like "and the exodus begins". Well I hate like heyall to fulfill your prophecy, but it's gonna happen. Snow I've removed my name from the list unfortuneately, so they's an opening on the 5-day trip. This and next week we are having to visit fambly in WNC (while we can), and on the 9th we, 3 kids, and a cat and dawg are off to Italy for several weeks of house-hunting. Sorry to anyone wandering where I've killed off to, but packing and moving has taken a good amount of time. We are having to relocate much sooner than we had anticipated, so the trip ain't a "go" for naked ape.

I'll keep up with y'all here over the next 2 weeks while I have family computers (and now that the move is completed).

But I'm hoping that y'all sorry sax of dung have a wonderful, fabulous trip! And have a wee sip on ole ape.

hugz”

“naked - maybe you can come to the Sierrapalooza kick-off party in Sac-to. See **Sacramento party thread.”

“Dang, Tango and the Apester are out. That sucks!”

“Howdy Ian! It's going to be GREAT!!!

Bummer Tango and Nekid :(”

“Hey whats up every one?! Wind Walker i think school gets out like on july 25.”

“I am hoping to go on a trip soon 8P it seems really cool. You guys are really nice and dont care about my age and i really do think that is cool because throught my whole life people always put me down because of my age when i really do want to do some thing that is kinda for the old age groups you know...???? well thank you guys for being coola bout it.”

“This seems to happen before any major holiday...I'm getting sick!

Had a 102 temp Sunday/Monday feeling better yesterday, but now I'm starting to feel kind of lousy. Got a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning to hopefully kill watever is ailing me! :(”

“Hey backpac teen,
As long as you can carry my stuff too... :)”

“Sorry to hear that i hope that u get better.”

“OK I WILL DO IT JUST FOR YOU. LOL...oops sorry about caps.. but yeah i am a trooper i would carry your stuff if i had to.:P”

“hey i am coming over tonight right???? and what did u mean about me being one of those shady mountian people:P???”

“This is pretty cool, all the teenagers are joining the site. Good luck on this trip, it sounds like a really terrific one.”

“There arnt any chickens up their where you go hiking are there??!!!:P LOL... (inside joke everyone)”

“I am sorry to say that i wont be going on this trip or any thing because i feel like i would be out of place and infringing plus i got summer school. But it would be really cool if i could.”

“BP Teen - Don't let those 'old age groups' put ya down..... we're just jealous of youth.

Hikin Mike - Hope yer feeling better..... keep poundin' back the water, eh”

“Oh, sorry backpac teen, I didn't read all the posts through. I've met Shiprunner08 and he is a teen on his way to college soon. If you don't do this trip, there will be lots of other trips.”

“So u are from Canada???? thats cool... ok i wont let these old age groupies get me down even though they are being very nice about every thing.”

“But one big problem is that i am only 16. But yeah there will be lots of trips. And i will have to go. how long have u been packing???”

“tobacco is whacko.....if youre a teen”

“Me? Almost two years. I'm more than twice your age, so I think that it is good that you are backpacking now, before you get caught up in the rat race. You will know what to appreciate and what is unimportant. I wish I had done it before I had kids and all. I actually went to college in NC and never went to the mountains to hike. Now I am trying to drag my husband and kids into the activity.”

“thats pretty cool that you are getting your family into it and all. What made you want to start hiking???”

“i am sorry but what is a troll??? i am kinda new lo:P”

“oh ok then i know what a troll is now...”

“Hikin Mike: I hope you feel better real soon.

Bigpoppa: I have trouble with lunches to. I have all my dinners packed, which are all dehydrated foods. I have most of my oatmeal breakfasts packed, but I want to get some of the precooked bacon to add.

I like cheese and tortillas or bagels for lunch. I also like pbj, but I need more than that. I think I'll go to Trader Joes to see what they have that looks good. I got so sick of cliff and other bars that I can't eat them anymore.”

“from the SeKi site...
"Sawtooth Pass/Monarch Lakes - 6/20/03: Snow free on the south side of the pass. Unknown on the north side. "”

“Am I going to need crampons for this trip????”

“I'm not planning on bringing my crampons.”

“Stopped by Home Depot today. What size of chicken wire is everyone getting? I figure a 3' x 50' roll with a few wooden stakes to hold it up ought to be good.

Of course, don't forget the "No Marmots" sign! :D

Despite my current predicament...I am getting pretty "amped" about this trip! Which compared to the way I've been feeling these last few months is a major plus!”

“Tango, Ape, sorry to about you guys. I was looking forward to meeting you both.

Lunch? I'll be eating homemade jerky and rice krispy treates. Plus some nuts and dried fruit.

No crampons for this trip.

backpac teen, you ain't worth your salt if you don't get it together to go on this trip. Windwalker did vouch didn't he? Dang kids!

Mike, you best take care. After Tango and Ape you're not allowed to back out too.”

“Thanks, Sir Naviguesser :~ )”

“Hummus and crackers!

Put the hummus in a squeeze tube. Keeps for many days. (Plus if there's enough garlic in it helps to scare off skeeters and other nasty things.)

(Sorry I can't join you no job, no money, no rich relative, can't travel.)”

“I guess you and I are the only teenagers on this site that I know of. Where are you from by the way? I still haven't figured out whether you are a guy or girl. Either way its cool. I started backpacking when I was about 14 but I didn't start appricating it until I was about 16. Its a great thing to get into and has a lot of rewards. Hopefully we will get to meet sometime!”