Duh Nymph's Shepherd Pass Solo Backpack, Sierras

“Photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/trailho

My destination was Shepherd’s Pass, 8 miles from the trailhead, 5,900’ el gain. There’s an unnamed lake at the pass below Mt Tyndall. I thought it would be a good place to camp, and stay acclimated for next weekend.

DUH” #1: I turned west on the Onion Valley Road and a big blue/gray bird with long beak and long dangly legs swooped in front of me. So I pulled over and backed the truck slowly to get a picture. It was sitting on a post and I didn’t want to scare it by getting out. I felt the truck drop on the right and the same time I heard/felt a “THUD. I tried pulling forward and nothing happened. I got out, and one tire was on the road, the other was on a slope going into the creek, and the bottom of the truck was sitting on a cement block on the road curb over the creek. I waited for AAA. Forty minutes later two cowboys came by and helped me out. They put a big rock under the tire and told me to put it in 4-Low. Duh! I felt like a girl . . . . . why didn’t I think of that!

DUH #2: I drove to the Shepherd Pass trailhead (5,699’), added 5 lbs more water to the pack since the ranger said water was sparse between Symmes Creek and Anvil Camp, and headed up the trail at 11:10am. About 50 minutes later I approached a parking area with a “Shepherd’s Pass” sign at the trailhead (6,330’). Duh! A extra 1.2 miles and 600’ elevation gain on a dusty aromatic horse trail. . . . . .

I continued thru a sandy, sage-lined trail in a canyon above Symmes Creek. This is Bighorn Sheep area but I saw only game trails. The trail drops down to the creek and crosses several times, before it starts ascending steeply. I took a break at 2:15, and Carl came around the corner. I followed him up the trail, and his partner Pete was a few switchbacks behind. At 3 miles (4.2 mi for me) we reached the 9037’ saddle. We photographed Mt Williamson (14,375’) and talked about how much of a slog this trail was. He asked my name (so he could identify the strange girl in his picture), so I told him, then added Snow Nymph as my trail name. I took off just as Pete got there. This was already 3300’ el gain for me so you can imagine how I felt when I saw the descent to the next saddle. From here the trail dropped 500’, over two saddles. Bummer! There’s another stream crossing just before the ascent to Mahogany Flats that had water flowing.

DUH #3: By the time I got to Mahogany Flat (6.2 mi for duh nymph) I wasn’t feeling well. I skipped lunch because of the late start. Carl and Pete passed me, and it was here that Pete said “nice website”. He found it the week before, and spent more time than he had planned on the site. I couldn’t keep up with them, and took a Gu break. My pack was starting to feel uncomfortable. I slogged up the next set of switchbacks, and soon Carl was in sight. So now Anvil Campground was my destination for the night. I arrived at 5:45 and found a site (10,304’), set up, and ate my lunch for dinner, along with some hot soup. I also had some cramping in my thighs. I forgot my gloves, so I put boiling water in my nalgene to thaw my frozen fingers. Temps got down to 40, with a cool breeze. There were a few tents in the area, and all lights were out by 8pm. I stayed up til 9, then went in my tent to read. That put me out.

Sunday morning I wasn’t very hungry so I only ate part of my breakfast. Carl and Pete were taking off the same time for the pass, so we walked together for about 10 minutes. It was then I realized DUH #4: I left my camera in the tent! I went back for it. Now my start time for the pass is 9:25. The trail ascends moderately, then goes around a big rockpile and down to “the Pothole”. Lots of streams going through it. Then it ascends again, and goes thru a rocky area with a view of Shepherd Pass. I saw Carl and Pete heading up the trail. The guys were taking their packs off when I reached the pass at 11:00. We took pics of each other, and identified a few peaks. I put some layers on, had a snack, then headed down. I was back at camp in under an hour, packed up, another snack, and headed out by 1:00. Going downhill on the sandy trail was easy on the feet. But the 500’ uphill on the way back on a sandy trail suks. Two years ago, a friend (Geezer) had to exit Shepherd Pass due to AMS in the middle of a 9 day trip. As I looked at that trail, I thought how tough he had to be to hike that trail in his condition! Once I got to the ridge, the long switchbacks never ended. I started counting steps. Some of the switchbacks were 300-400 steps! I just wanted to go straight down and beat the sun so I could wash off. I was back at the Stock Trailhead by 5:40pm. I looked back at the ridge where I came down . . . steeeeeep! This was my first time on this trail, and I was hiking, I said I’d never do it again. But now that I know where it goes, I’d probably do it again to get to some of the more remote places in the Sierras. This trail totally kicked MY @$$, but I still had a good time!

Stats:
Sat Backpack: 8 miles, 5,492’ el gain/loss (a lot of ups and downs)
Sun Dayhike/backpack: 12.4 mi (4.4 mi dh / 8 mi bp) add 1,683’ gain/loss for dh, and 5,492’ el loss/gain
Total: 20.4 miles / 7,175’ el gain / loss (got mileage from GPS tracks on TOPO!)”

“you want duh?
How about me parking the truck on a gravel turnout with the tires 6inches from the asphalt and then have the tires spin on the gravel and sink the truck 6inches down.
O yea because of the embarrasing potential of this,i spent the next 4 hrs trying to dig and shove old wood planks under the tires so they would catch a grip.
All to no avail and i had to call AAA.That is the lamest tow/winch/chain pull ive ever concocted.”

“Everybody "Duh's!" once in a while...
You just made up for all the times you didn't Duh!”

“We all just told her what a good guide she'd be. That did it!! Those little devils that dwell below our conscious kicked in to prove to her she didn't deserve such kudos. Happens all the time.

No worries, SN!!”

“Walk...trudge...huff huff...clambor...several miles later: "what's this...trailhead parking?!?! #$%@!"

oh man...don't you hate that!
I feel for you there, SN. Though being rescued by two cowboys, doesn't sound too bad...

yeeeehaw!

>:)”

“Cool report and pictures! I think Sierrapalooza 2003 will be a priority for me next year. Elevation = elation.”

“Shepards Pass is killer!!! It gets you to some really neat places (like Wrights Lakes Basin) but I don't know if it's worth it. I still havn't seen a bighorn sheep up there either. Coming down from the pass, through Anvil, through Mahogany Flats, and finally to the car, I cannot believe what I had climbed up nine days earlier. Also, loosing that elevation just to gain back really sucks.
I went with Mel over Shepards Pass a couple years ago on a TT trip. We stayed at Anvil the first night, Cloverleaf Lake the next night. Like you, I wasn't hungry the first night nor the first morning. It kicked my @ss!!!
How do you rate Shepards Pass with Taboose???......Sawmill??? It would be interesting to hear. I once thought Shepards Pass was the bar to measure all others....”

“she may have duh'd but she didn't bomb out...she still did her trails, hit her peaks, got her elevation in, was on the trail, prob had some points of fun..and got out on her own...my @$$ would have been 3 days late, miserable and i'd be hiding from the SAR so i wouldn't have to pay their bill and have pple start calling me ductape. Rawk on SN!!!..I'll still buy your imaginary book..lol”

“Nice trip report. Everyone has their bad days, don't worry about it. Yes, saw alot of sand on this trip. Looks like a nice area to backpack in though. Get'em next week.”

“Nice pics! I did Shepherd Pass with Flip...a real grind. IMHO you did more mileage than you think. According to the Harrison map, it is really 9 miles from the backpack trailhead to Anvil Camp. Beautiful hike in many places, however.

Our pics from there (Walkingstick is Flip)

When I hiked out from Wrights Lake Basin we did it in one day...15 miles total.

SN - don't feel bad about leaving stuff behind. I do it all the time. I left my GPS on a log a couple of weeks ago, but fortunately noticed it in less than a mile. My partner was a "trail runner" and volunteered to go back for it...he actually enjoyed the run.”

“It's good to know that I wasn't the only one who got his/her butt kicked going over this pass.

Two years ago on the Llama Rama I was so tired by Anvil Camp I could barely get my tent up. The next next day we went over the pass and it was cold and sputtering rain. By the time we got to "Cloverleaf Lake" I was so tired Phil had to help me set up my tent! (And I am forever grateful Phil. God bless you for that act of kindness.)
On September 2nd. snow chased Mel, the Boys, SARBoy, and me down off the pass. The wind was howling over the pass and it looked like you were descending into a bottomless abyss. Of course at the pass and all the way down I was going it alone as Mel and SARBoy had left me way behind. (Everyone gets to be a solitary hiker when you get old and slow!) There was about 3 inches on the ground when I got to Anvil Camp. Mel made me feel a whole lot better when she told me that if I hadn't shown up in another 30 minutes they would have come looking for me.

Never have I looked forward to the heat in Bishop as I did on that trip.”

“Phil, it sure felt like I did more miles than that. I'll check out those mileages again. Its hard to compare Taboose and Shepherds. Taboose is straight up (I mean straight up), but coming down is easy because its all down. Shepherds was tough because I was tired and had to go down, then back up (seems like that trail had a lot of ups and downs). Shepherds was hard going in because it was new to me, and I wasn't sure where the end was. It just kept going on and on and on. I think if I did it again, it might be easier. Also, I carried a daypack up Taboose (twice for our resupply) and both times we collapsed in the truck and slept. I carried 35 lbs up Shepherd and came back with 28 lb (added 5 lbs water going in, didn't eat most of my food), and still drove home feeling alive.

Phil, those senior moments are happening more frequently! That's skeery!”

“With Kersarge or Taboose? I think Mel says Taboose is killer.

TheFlip
Which pass did you and Mel use to go to Bench Lake?”

“Taboose WAS a killer. Taboose is the pass to go to Bench Lake. Once you get over the pass, it makes it all worth it. I thought about doing it again for the workout, but something inside keeps saying "NO! NO! NO!"”

“That is a tough trail. I'm glad you were able to get unstuck. As the road goes on past the Stock trailhead to the hiker's trailhead it does get worse, but it's still passable w/o 4-wheel drive and even with a car if you're careful.

I did the Shepherd Pass trail in July with Elulofs. The trail was much prettier than I expected. We didn't get started until around 11 am the first day, so we camped at Mahogany Flats. The second day we day hiked to Shepherd Pass and then did some wandering around xcountry looking for lakes. We found a really nice one before heading back down to Shepherd Pass. On the third day, I headed back out to the trailhead and Elulofs headed back up to Shepherd Pass and then on down to Cottonwood where he came out later on.

Now that I've gone in over Kearsarge Pass to Charlotte Lake and in to Shepherd Pass I want to fill in the middle and go in over Kearsarge Pass, continue south and go over Forester Pass, then come out over Shepherd Pass.

Solitary Hiker: I end up alone on the trail too because I take my time, but I don't mind. I'd rather move at my own slow speed on the trail and not try to keep up. If I'm with a group, I still get to enjoy everyone's company when I get to camp.”

“wrt the bird - it looks like a Heron of some type - possibly a Great Blue Heron - see link Great Blue Heron ”

“Wing, the area between Kearsarge & Shepherd is nice. You should go all the way to Whitney.

HOI, that looks like the right shape of bird. I'll have to see more pictures. It was pretty big!”

“Yes - The bird is definitely a Heron”

“I guess once the passes are that bad it's hard to compare. But for the record (from hardest to easiest):
Sawmill
Taboose
Shepards
This was derived by asking many opinions and, along with experience, averaging things out. I still think Shepards is one of the worst. Having no knee/leg/feet problems, I'd rather walk straight up and get the up over with ASAP. It's the long gradual switchbacks I can't stand.
Solitary- Mel was wanting to go to Bench Lake next summer...thought you would be interested as well...and you quessed it....Taboose Pass it is. But remember, the golden trout are so big and hungry they will jump out and bite your arm off.”

“I haven't done Sawmill's yet, but came up from the west side. It looked steep going down.

The last set of switchbacks was bad. I was counting steps (in the 100s) and it didn't seem like I was losing elevation.

I'd probably do it again. And even Taboose. Bench Lake is a beautiful area.

Keep me posted on Bench Lake.”

“wrt getting stuck on the way to the trail etc. - I have learned to keep a come-along in the car - I don't need it often but when I need it I really need it. Specifically I use a Maasdam Rope Puller. Also useful for trail work for moving blowdowns etc.”

“"We all just told her what a good guide she'd be. That did it!! Those little devils that dwell below our conscious kicked in to prove to her she didn't deserve such kudos. Happens all the time.

No worries, SN!!"
lizs
05:43:23 AM
09/10/02

Lizs, I haven't been here long, but long enough to know you can't measure up to this girl. Lighten up and get a life.”

“That's funny. I seem to remember Mel telling me that the fish over in Versteg were "big enough to bite your arm off" when she talked me into going over Shepards Pass!"
I'm not sure I'm falling for that fish tale again! Well maybe I might......but they better really be big. No joshing.”

“Great trip report as usual S.N. It's the "Duhs" that u r going to remember, when the rest of the trip starts to fade away, many years from now. U r going to smile thinking about those "oops".”

“And just where are the pictures of the two cowboys, Miss Nymph?? For shame! I think you need a time out.”

“If they were studly young things with tight jeans I would have been in the picture with them. These were older guys in a pickup truck.”

“OK, you are off the hook!! My fantasy is just shot in the a$$!!”

“tango said, uh, well, you saw what she said....

hehhehhehhehhehehhehhehheh”

“If they were studly young things with tight jeans I would have been in the picture with them. These were older guys in a pickup truck."
Snow Nymph
10:50:37 PM
09/11/02

I'm 54 and drive a Dodge pick-up . . . I guess I know where I rate in the scheme of things. ;-)

Nice photos and report.”

“We already knew where you rated, Geezr, even without the specific age and make/model info....












Gotcha!”

“How come everyone gets so excited about cowboys? Doesn't anyone fantasize about an a$$ shot of 2 engineers?”

“Here's why.

Not too exciting, huh.”

“Takes a belt and three handkerchiefs stuffed in the back pocket of those shorts to keep 'em up, eh?”

“However, in my defense, note that there is no visible pocket protector.”

“Why the infatuation with cowboys?

Also, is the cowboys women like, or is it really the horses?

Why NOT an infatuation with engineers?

Inquiring minds want to know.”

“Bit--not quite what I meant. (blush!)”

“Saw your post at the other site. You stuck it out rather well. Good job.

From what I've read, Mt Williamson kind of reminds me of Mt Gardiner. Both of them are pretty gnarly in terms of climbing difficulty.”

“Hey!!

We at least have tan lines at the ankles from the high rise plaid trousers we wear.”

“Williamson has been on the list too. I heard its a a tough one. Maybe next year.”

“LMAO. That is "exactly" what my tan line looks like...how did they know?

My wife collects engineer jokes so she can share them with the other engineer wives.”

“On Montanapalooza, I said I worked for #### BUT I'm not an engineer. Prowler said, "good, engineers are the dumbest people I've met" (or something like that). Doh!!!

We all laughed, coz SnowDude is! Sounds like we have a lot of engineers on TT! Phil, I have a file of engineer jokes too!”

“I think engineers are cool too, I love the way they steer a good train

Phil ,Snowdude and Maryb
maybe it's the chaps, or IS it the extra horse little nell could be rescued upon?

(hope the link thing works)

snownymph, wow....an eventful trip!! those solo adventures can be the best!”

“"I'm 54 and drive a Dodge pick-up . . . I guess I know where I rate in the scheme of things. ;-) ".....Geezr

But Geezr, your 54 y/o cowboy a$$ made the webpage! ;-)”

“Geezr's just jealous 'cuz he doesn't have a shot of himself like this: Surfer engineer

(a little more flattering than the fishing shot)”

“SnowNymph, you are my personal hero. I don't think you are a duh at all. I can't even imagine doing what you do. Great report.”