Snow Nymph's Solo Sierra Backpack to Bra inerd Lake

“.....because Mammoth Mountain opens next weekend!!!!


Photos: South Fork Big Pine to Brainerd Lake and Middle Pal Glacier

Solo Backpack – November 2-3, 2002
South Fork Big Pine Creek to Brainerd Lake
(dayhiked to unnamed pass overlooking Middle Palisade Glacier)

SnowDude went to the CART race this weekend (won by a So Cal native!). Everyone else had plans for the weekend. This was my last weekend to backpack before snowboarding starts for the season. I wanted to do a trip that I had not done before. SnowDude did this one last year when I did Mt Whitney (he’d already done Mt Whitney enough times for him), and said the views were awesome. He was right!

The trail starts at 7900’. I left my pack at the trailhead, and drove back .5 mi to the overnight parking lot (7700’). It was a 15 minute walk back to the trailhead. I followed the South Fork trail to a creek crossing (8700’), 2.5 miles from the trailhead. The log crossing had icicles hanging, and the boulders were icy. My short legs stretched to reached for the dry boulders to get across. The trail cuts through a small meadow, then climbs steep switchbacks to the top of the ridgeline, another 1000’ el gain and another mile from the creek crossing. The trail rolls for another 5 minutes, then the view appears. Ahead to the south is Middle Palisade Glacier, with Balcony Peak, Disappointment Peak, Middle Palisade (14,040’), and Norman Clyde Peak above. To the west is the Palisade Crest, Mt Jepson, Mt Gayley, Temple Crag and Mt Sill (14,153’). The trail descends 200’, before climbing steeply to a small pothole lake (10,124’) and Brainerd Lake (10,297’), another 1.5 miles. It was peaceful out there, sitting in my chair, no noise except the creek nearby and birds chirping. By 4:15, temps were down to 30 deg. I boiled hot water for my nalgene and put it under my jacket for warmth. Gotta remember to take the chocolate out of my pocket before doing that. I also boiled water for my camelback so it wouldn’t freeze. It was a dark moonless night and by 7pm, it was too cold to stay out. I continued reading and doing crossword puzzles in my tent til 9:15pm. I got over 9 hrs sleep (rare for me!), and I was toasty in my 0 deg sleeping bag!

It was chilly in the morning. My extra filtered water was frozen. I ate a quick breakfast, and started my hike to an unnamed pass overlooking Middle Palisade Glacier. The hike started up a chute filled with boulders. At the top, the view opened up to a meadow, with ice flows, and a large unnamed peak. I passed by 2 unnamed lakes, then climbed another chute, with less bouldering. Once over the chute, a large moraine came into view. I thought the other boulders were big! There was no being graceful on these rocks. Several times the boulders moved, and the Mike Turner story came to mind. After several stumbles, thoughts of being lodged between big rocks made me have second thoughts about continuing. Being alone, and this late in the season, what was the chance of someone finding me in a boulder field with no trail? But, SnowDude said the view was worth it, and I could almost see the pass. South Fork Pass was straight ahead. We had talked about going over it to get to Palisade Basin. Too much snow, and the South Fork Pass Glacier didn’t look like too much fun to go over. It was a short scramble to the unnamed pass. And what a view!

I took a few pics, mixed my Cytomax, ate a snack, and left the pass at 1:05pm (1 hr behind my turnaround time). I thought I could make up time coming back, but the boulders were still moving under my feet. I got to camp at 3:50, packed up, and left at 4:30pm. Trying to beat the sun, I made it to the ridgeline by dark. I got back to the trailhead at 6:35pm, and back to the truck at 6:50pm. I took the wet capilene off (it was 28 deg out), and didn’t bother setting the camera up for an “end” picture. I didn’t see anyone on the trail the whole weekend!”

“A great trip report and fascinating pictures. Thanks, Snow Nymph.”

“sweet pix.Thats a gnarly rock field.Have u gone digital?”

“Snow Nymph, in Quebec we've got 2 mountains that opened 2 runs each, last week. They say they'll be opening on average 1 run more per week.

That's one thing I hate about winter camping (plus the cold)...gets dark too early...5pm, and you practically can't see anything if there's no moonlight.

Btw, another great trip report.”

“SnowDude got me a Sony P51 digital camera for my birthday. In 2 weekends, I saved $50 in film and developing costs.

Mammoth opens Thursday, and they're expecting a storm! Hoping to get at least 20 days in before the year is up!”

“SN
comp usa had 128 mb memory sticks on sale 30 bux last weekend!!The detail of the rock in yer pics is excellent.I missed it:( Anyway,it was Lexar so I dont know if its sony compatible...”

“So when are you planning to mountainclimb donning a snowboard on your pack, and snowboard back down the slopes?”

“How was there a hike out there that Snowdude has done - that you have not done? Once again, I enjoyed the report.

Question - how much does that chair weigh? It looks comfy! Did you make it or buy it?”

“Wow!

I want to know about the chair too!

Its nice to see that literacy and adventure are alive and well.”

“Awesome pics Snowy. Glad you didn't get hurt climbing the boulders.”

“Great trip! You're a lot braver than me!”

“Great report and pix, SN. I'm jealous!”

“Moving boulders........its as though the mountain is alive!

Yikes!

It is!”

“great report and pics”

“As usual, awesome pics and trip report.

Her chair is comfy and very expensive. I haven't seen them for sale around here in a while. She may know.”

“Sling Lite

I don't use the headrest, its extra weight. I have one from the early 80s that ripped. When this one ripped (after a few years of weekly use) I sent both chairs in for repair. It cost me $25 each to repair, and the old one is like new! The warranty says 2 years, but this one was ~19 yrs old.

Buddur, last new years we went to Lassen (mtnsteve's tipi trip) and we carried our snowboards in. This year, we're going to try more backcountry stuff. Maybe even get those snowboards that split down the middle???? (heheheh....new gear?)”

“Great photos and report as usual Snowy!”

“Yah. Those xc skiing boards look interesting, SN. They also make crampons for clickers.

Nice trip report!”

“Thanks for the link”

“When is your book coming out? Thanks for sharing SN.”

“Good stuff, Snowy..... I'm gonna miss your weekly adventure, until next season !!”

“"LONG WAVE RIDGING TO HOLD OVER WEST COAST THROUGH TUESDAY....THEN MAJOR CHANGE IN
PATTERN SETS UP FIRST SIGNIFICANT SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON THURSDAY THE 7TH"”

“Super trip report and pics. It looks like you're handling the transition to digital quite well.

It's a darn shame that Webshots will be shutting down next month.










Ok, you can get off the floor. I was just kidding.”

“The clouds are rolling in here, today. We're way overdue, for some typical B.C. weather. Only 3/4 of an inch of rain, in October, instead of the usual 5 or 6 inches!!”

“You sure have a neat playground.”

“Hey Snow Nymph if I must say those are some of the best pictures that I have ever seen I would love to backpack there someday and that place looks so pimp!

8)”

“good to hear you erred on the side of caution in regards to the boulders...

Did you see any sign of giants or ogres?”

“PENNSY!!!!

You got me on that one! My heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach when I read that!!! Whew!!

No giants or ogres.....I was hoping for bears or lions or something big. Even they didn't come out!”

“My bad..... hey, I was at work, filling out yet another time sheet, and wishing the clock to hit 3:30. I was jealous. ;o)

long live Webshots!”

“Thanks for sharing your photos. I'm really enjoying your digital shots. You must be pretty happy with your new camera too. No more back and forth with Costco.

If you want to do prints, have a look at HP's premium plus photo paper. There are lots of other brands available. We build our photo albums with this paper and our pics come out great.”

“Snow Nymph - You ought to submit some pictures to the Sling-Lite customer photo page!”

“Thanks for the link. I think Phil's right - they only have one measly picture from customers.”

“I wonder if the chair would be comfy for me at 6'6"? Have you seen taller folks try it out?”

“Really awesome pictures, Snow Nymph! That is a beautiful area. Nice yellow fall foliage in the lower elevations, too.”

“Cool trip report and very nice pictures Snow Nymph. I agree you are quite a woman........ And backpacker!”

“Thanks for the great photos and trip report, snow nymph! The photos and description of the rocky areas gave me the willies! This has to be the last trail in the Eastern Sierra that you hadn't hiked.”