South Lake to North Lake via Lamarck Col

“Sorry I missed you guys! I really tried to leave LA earlier, but didn't pack til Fri night.

We missed meeting up with Trailtrekker by a few hours. Buck, didn't know you were going either! Are you going to Tuolumne Meadows this weekend? We met a few people at the trailhead that recognized the Nymph mobile from Mammoth, have seen my signature in peak registers, and are friends of Ranger Jeff, who we've skiid with a few times. Small world!

I'll have to look at the pix later. Still working on day 2 of our 9 day trip from July 4 week.”

“SN - Sorry we missed you. Check out my last pic when you get a chance.

trail angel - No problemo! Only took a minute to change the names.”

“Great pics everyone. Sounds like everyone had a wonderful time.
Hi Phil, good to see you are still fishing the high sierra.”

“flip - Good to hear from you! Yes, the fishing was great at the Darwin Lakes. We saw fish along the way, but not everywhere we camped.

Hope you are doing well! It was nice having my son (David) along this time. He had a great time also.”

“Well FLIP! Shoot. Dadgummet. Dagnabbit. For pete's sake. I was in Pioneer Basin last weekend (16th-18th). I went in from Mosquito Flat over Mono Pass. I started hiking in late Friday so it was late evening before I made it to Trail Lakes, where I camped (set up my tarp in the rain, woo hoo!). Then I spent some time at Fourth Recess Lake before camping at the first (lowest lake) in Pioneer Basin, which is my favorite for photography. What an awesome place! It was smoky from the Yosemite fires on the first day, but unbelievably clear on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, whew! I can't believe that trailtrekker and Snow Nymph were in the same freakin' area and I didn't even know it! Darn it all anywho. I'll share some photos soon. I hope they came out... I accidently left my undeveloped rolls of exposed film in the cab of my truck a couple days ago on a 100 degree day... mighta fried 'em. We'll see.”

“Wind Walker®, those are AWESOME shots, man! What a place!”

“ha ha! What timing! I didn't even see "theflip" guy here and I said "Well FLIP!" in my post! "Flip" is a Christian cuss word... it gives you that hard "f" sound without saying it. Sorry to theflip®, it was in no reference to you!”

“I really enjoyed our visit to the Mountain Light Gallery after dinner last Friday. I found this link and pic:
http://vernclevenger.com/

I want that pic (or perhaps Wind Walker's version) in my den some day!!”

“Enjoy!!!

POTLUCK DAY (Saturday, 7/10/04)

**SUMMARY: Acclimation for the "high" life began. It was a warm reunion with friendly folks, too much good food, the first fire, cozy camping quarters, and uplifting laughter.**

What more could we wish for, clear skies, high spirits and cheese cake. The group began to trickle in Saturday afternoon. Two new Trail Talkers, Cubfan and Trail Angel had a lot of names to remember. The potluck party included Gonzo, Phils Son, hickerchik5, Hodgeman, Phil, landscaper, wannabp, treking girl, naviguesser, Matt the webmaster, geologyguy, rockman, wind walker, and ladyhiker03. All were present to grub on a generous amount of yummy food and drinks (Navi Ale included). Geologyguy brought plenty of wood to stoke the flames that evening. Tall tails of past TT adventures were flickering about the veterans almost as fast as the flames on the timber. Campsites were cozy. A few TTers even mentioned the next day that a snoring contest was evident that night, the winners of which we all knew needed to be mentally added to the National Park Service 100 feet distance rule. Soon enough the stars came out, tummies were full, and the anticipation of the first days hike out was heightened by the fact that it was only a nights sleep (or turning and tossing) away.



DAY 1 (Sunday, 7/11/04)

**SUMMARY: South Lake TH to Dusy Basin with heavy first day packs and many 'firsts' for the trip, including, first snow, first pass, and first Marmot sighting.**

Ahh, the familiar glow of a tent at sunrise. When you ask yourself three questions, "should I get up and pee?", "should I roll over one more time and see if I can get a few good minutes of sleep in?", or "(wait... listen... is anyone else up yet, I don't want to be the last to get ready! I think I'll rub my face, tie up my boots, and start thinking about what's for breakfast. YESSS! potluck leftovers!". Regardless of the answer, tent zippers unzipped, and bright eyed and bushy tailed TTers drank their tea and coffee, ate their breakfast, greeted one another with 'good mornings' and 'how did you sleep?', then packed bags. The group was also joined by the last (but definitly not least) link in the chain, jvz. Wannabp and landscaper, by far the potlucks largest suppliers (BBQ chicken, watermelon, etc.), needed a little help packing things up in the morning. But as soon as goodies and extras were loaded back in our vehicles and backpacks were thrown into geologyguy's truck we all departed. Some to North Lake where 6 days later we would stumble back to our cars and the rest directly to South Lake. But eventually those at North Lake were shuttled back to the South Lake TH to begin our adventure.

After the group photo we grabbed our heavy packs (Matt the webmaster won that contest - Congrats Matt!), added out first (or second...or third) layers of sunscreen and Deet, and began to lift our boots up the trail head toward our first elevated goal, Bishop Pass. As the hike up started we all became a little more aware of our lung capacity (or lack thereof) and heavy legs. Rockman was already sick from what seemed to be an unwanted flu bug and wannabp, along with a few others, were already feeling the joys of minor altitude sickness. We all spread out through the early portion of the day , but soon stopped for lunch at the outlet to Long Lake, where we were happily greeted by what seemed to be a medium sized black lab/retriever mix and her master sitting on a rock contemplating where the rest of his group might have gone. After a few blessed nibbles of snacks that we would all be talking about the rest of the trip (Ahh, the coveted OREO!), and a well deserved rest, we gathered our packs and strapped in. Bishop Pass here we come.

Part of the ascent to Bishop Pass looked like a stone castle and was gawked at as we all got closer. With fresh first day legs, but unrelentingly heavy packs we all trudged up the pass. I think Rockman threw the first snowball of the trip and Navi proved, yet again, that slow and steady was his favorite pace. Before we knew it, the firt Pass had been reached. Trail Angel and Hogdemanbc were the first of a handful that scampered up the ridge we had all previously stared at from below. All that climbed to the ridge-top took scenic accomplishment photos and snapped a few shots of the "beloved" Marmots along the way.

Again we gathered our packs and headed down Dusy Basin to the our first camp. Camp was set as everyone staked out their spot and a quasi kitchen was set up on the granite facing out toward the mountains. Gonzo, Matt the webmaster, Laderhiker03, and jvz had their own dinner party by their little tent villa, ending in a slight rearrangement of bear canister contents. Hikerchik5 wasn't able to join in the group follies, nor enjoy her food due to an altitude headache and lack of appetite, as well as Trail Angel, but they did their best.

When the Alpine glow had disappeared off the mountain-sides and the stars appeared again, it was time for many to turn in for the evening. We snuggled into our sleeping bags, some on post-Day 1 pain killers and uplifters (liquid and solid form), and finally slept (some all night, some, not at all).”

“Great start T.A.”

“Yes, Great start! Looking forward to the next installment!”

“You're the bestest, T.A.!”

“I made a new thread for the trip report...
The West Coast Clan in the High Sierra!
”

“Hey everyone! I had a great time! I just got a chance to look at the pics. Fantastic shots everyone! I still haven't gone into Hodge's Sierrapalooza II website yet. I'll have mine posted when trailbum gives me back my pc. I'm at work now.

My hard drive crashed after we came back from dinner on the 17th. What'd you do to it Hodge and Rockman? :)

lol @ Phil! Love all those shots of Eugene. I didn't realize he was so active on our trip. He's a sneaky little guy isn't he?

Trail Angel I printed the trip report but haven't read it yet. I'll read it at lunch today.

Thanks again for the great time everyone!”

“Sheila, I just left you a voice mail on your cell phone. Call me. I do have your boots!!!!! I thought they were Jerry's.”

“Please see the "West Coast Clan in the High Sierra" thread for Day 2!

:)”

“Finally finnished the DVD of the trip!!!!

Had many problems with a program that is NOT intuitive, lack of space on the hard drive (Still having that problem), etc.

Trying to make copies now. Anybody want a copy to view on their TV?”

“I should say it's mostly a slide show and my video are rather amateurish, but overall I'm pleased with the production.

If you want a copy I'll need your mailing address. naviguesser@backpacker.com”

“Great news!!
I would love one Sir Naviguesser..may I call you with my address? I still don't have e-mail. :)”

“Yours is in the mail girl.”

“Cool!! I knew you loved me..ha”

“That, and I had your address already. 8^)”

“That sounds cool, Navi. Looking forward to seeing it
last edited: 10/25/04 6:24:29 PM”

“Hodge, send me your address, I seem to have misplaced it.”

“nav - Thanks. Addy on the way.”

“Phil, I have your address. It's is in the mail.”

“Phil, can you make sure that Trail Angel sees this?”

“Is this a video you have made Mr Navi?”

“Yes, it is.
I took my viedo camera on the trip.
For the production I included select photos from everyone else and added background music.”

“Well how do I obtain a copy for myself?”

“WEEELLLLL...seeing as you didn't go on the trip....maybe you and JD will have to buy Cor and me dinner.”

“I can do FOOD, sounds good, I will send you an email......”

“Sounds good.
One more time to the burner.”

“navi....this sounds great....i sent you my address....”

“We got our DVD today! Loved it! Worked great on our large TV screen with stereo sound. The video clips mixed in with the still shots was cool. Lots of nice touches I won't give away. Enjoyed the background music.

Thanks for all the hard work!!!!”

“gonzo i got your address.
I'm buying some more discs tomorrow.”

“We don't have a DVD player set up, but there's one tucked away in the closet. Now there's a reason to hook it up. Thanks.”

“I want one! :)”

“wanna, I got your address.
Wind, yours will be in the mail today.”

“I'm sending you my addy. Thanks Nav.”

“Wanna, Gonzo, JVZ, yours are in the mail today.”

“thanks navi....i can't wait to see this!!”

“ME TOO
ME TOO
ME TOO

Navi... you have mail again!

Thanks for the note!”

“Matt, Trail Angel, Tango, Ladyhiker yours are going in the mail today.

WLD yours is in the burner now.”

“Got the CD Sir Naviguesser..all I can say is that I wish I was there again..Totally awesome job..it was great reliving the trip in such a way..THANK YOU for your hard work.Can't wait till next year..WooHoo!!! :)”

“That's a cool DVD Navi!!!
Thanks so much!”

“That does it!!! All orders have been filled!!

Thank you T-girl, Wind Walker and Phil too. You're to kind.

Thank all of you who offered payment to help offset the costs of this production.
Let's see....The cost of the camera? No, I won that in a sales contest.
The cost of the program? No, that wouldn't be fair.
My time? No, no one here can afford that.
The DVD's & postage? A mere pittance.
I know! All of you owe me a beer the next time we meet! Yeah! A beer from each and every one of you! I gonna get sooo DRUNK!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!”

“PS. The deal I made with Tango was I'd make a copy for her if she promised to come out west and hike with us.

How many of you are going to help me hold her to her promise?”

“Navi, she knows she can count on us. We were all set to meet in Fresno before the Sierrapalooza.

Come on, Tango, we'd like to meet you.”