Sierra Backpack - Lower Boy Scout Lake

“Meysan Lake Parking to North Fork Lone Pine to Lower Boy Scout Lake
February 14-15, 2004

PHOTOS: Meysan Lake TH to North Fork Lone Pine to Lower Boy Scout Lake


SnowDude and I decided Friday morning to skip the Mammoth Mountain Mob. Bob R sends a list of trips out, and I replied the day before, saying there was a 'slight chance' I might show up Sat just to snow camp (they were leaving Friday to climb Mt Russell). By the time we decided NOT to go to Mammoth, I figured it was too late to ask anyone to go. When I left, SnowDude was a little concerned about me going winter backpacking solo, and mentioned a few times to "be careful", "what about the ledges", etc. Then after driving awhile, I had time to think about the 7 experienced hikers that died in the local mountains last month. I was about to do the same thing, going solo in snowy conditions. When I have these thoughts, I listen. On the highway it happens, I slow down, and a cop goes flying by and pulls over the guy ahead of me. There’s a reason for everything, and I listen. So I called Calhiker. He had just replied to my post on the Whitney forum. His pack was still packed from Fall Canyon 2 weeks ago, so he just had to throw his clothes and food in. He showed up in the morning, and we checked the visitor center on conditions, etc. He didn't have snowshoes, ice axe or crampons, but I figured we'd go as far as we could, and a backup plan would be Lone Pine Lake, which is usually tracked out and on good trail. This was Calhiker’s first winter backpack so we would only go as far as was safe without snowshoes or crampons. We’ve dayhiked in snow before and he does ok without snowshoes. When I posthole to my knees, its just calf deep for him. I left my crampons in the truck, thinking if I needed them and he didn't have any, we would just turn back. They still would have been good for traction on the steeper stuff.

The Whitney Portal road was closed, but we were able to drive to the Meysan Lake parking area (7,900'). After repacking our packs, we started up the snow covered road at 11:15am, got to Whitney Portal trailhead (8,365') at noon, and took 1/2 hr break before heading up. We ran into a guy on the main trail who was pretty wiped out. He dayhiked to Mirror Lake and was heading back. We turned right on the North Fork trail, and shortly after saw a guy without snow gear. He said Lower Boy Scout Lake was doable without going up the ledges, and without crampons or snowshoes. We were relieved to hear that. Then we ran into a couple from the Czechoslovakian Republic with really heavy packs. She was struggling, and we passed them. I wanted to lighten my pack, so I put the snowshoes on, which made my packweight more bearable. Calhiker did fine without snowshoes, but near the top he started postholing. This is where snowshoes would have been useful for him. It was 34 deg at 3:45pm when we got to Lower Boy Scout Lake (10,440'). We put on the layers, then found a pre-existing campsite, but it wasn't big enough for 2 tents. Calhiker expanded the site, while I went to get water. Bob R’s group was not at LBSL, so I’m glad I listened to my instincts. It would have been a long night alone.

We stayed warm getting camp ready, and by 6pm I was ready to pump water. Air temp was 15 deg. I had the water bag buried in snow for insulation, but it started freezing. The PUR water filter didn't work with ice crystals in the water. Camelback hoses were freezing, so we spent time boiling water to defrost the hoses and to fill the camelbacks with hot water. My SnowPeak Gigapower (isobutane) worked just fine! Found out salads freeze. I filled my nalgene with boiling water, then put the baggie of frozen salad next to it, so I had soft salad. It was 15 deg out and the wind was picking up, so we went to bed around 9pm. I didn’t realize Calhiker had a 2 season tent (he borrowed it from his brother) and he woke up the next morning with snow by his head. We both wore heavier boots that normally hurt our feet on longer hikes, but they did well in these conditions since we didn't have to go too far. I normally go 5 miles in the Montrails and my heels start feeling hot spots. I was feeling it by the time we got to camp, but the next day they were fine. It was really windy at night, and the snow from the boulder above kept falling on my tent. At one point it was blowing so hard I called out to Calhiker, asking if he was ok. Sometime after midnight I looked out and didn’t see any stars out, just clouds. I was a little concerned about getting snowed on, with only one pair of snowshoes between two of us to get down. It took awhile, but I finally fell asleep.

Sunday at 8am it was 20 deg inside the tent and 15 deg outside. Blue skies and light breeze, by 9am it was 20 deg outside. We were heating water again and thawing Justin's hose (no room in his sleeping bag). I slept with my Camelback in the sleeping bag so it stayed warm. The sun hit our camp at 11:20 and the temperature changed from 22 deg to 45 deg in just a few minutes. We packed up and started down around noon. Part way down Walter Runkle passed us. He was on the Thor Peak trip in November. Then Bob Rockwell and Richard Piotrowski came by. We did the gnarly icy section together. Bob rolled at the bottom. I got a picture just before the roll, and the camera was in position when he stopped, but I worried about him at that moment and didn't take it. Bob's group left us in the dust, and I finally took the snowshoes off, which made it quicker to walk down the steep stuff. We got to the truck at 2:35pm, just as Bob was leaving us a note. We talked a little bit before they left.

I asked Calhiker if he would do another winter backpack and he said “YEAH!””

“Nice looking photo's. The area looks awesome, where is this place. I may be in the far northern area of Ca. around September.”

“Awesome pics.......thanks for sharing...

what is a pothole????”

“waterdog,
North Fork Lone Pine is the start of the Mt Whitney Mountaineer's Route. It forks off the main Mt Whitney Trail. The trailhead starts 13 miles west of Lone Pine, which is a ~200 mi from LAX, or 100 miles south of Mammoth Lakes.

divinity,
"postholing" is where the snow is deep enough where your foot goes thru the snow when stepped into. Without snowshoes, every step can be that way.”

“Great trip report. Thanks.”

“Great trip report and awesome pics. Thanks.”

“Awesome trip! I camped at Lower Boy Scout Lake on a Whitney summit trip in late November a couple years ago. Brrrrr! We experienced many of the same "problems" as you, such as a frozen PUR Hiker, etc. It looks like from the photos you were able to hike straight up the creek instead of going up the ledges. Those ledges are spooky when covered in ice, lemme tell ya! Thanks for the report and the pics, makes me wanna get back down there before the crowds hit.”

“Very nice report and very interesting about your VIBES! What pack are you using now? Did you give up on the Trek?

Nice pics (as always). Did you get you new s50 yet?”

“Looks like some of the hiking was a little sketchy.

Those thigh highs can hurt sometimes.”

“Absolutely gorgeous pictures!!
Thanks for sharing!”

“I WANNA GO! I am going there before the snow melts........”

“We were glad the gully was filled with snow. I wasn't looking forward to climbing the ledges. That was my main concern on this trip. There was one hairy place right under the ledges, covered with ice, had to hang on to the tree, and the creek was there if you fell.

Used the Canon Powershot S50 on this trip. Haven't had a chance to try the "white balance". I think that would have kept the snow white instead of blue in the shade.

Tango, yes, I gave up on the GoLite Trek. For me its only good for 25 lbs. Anything more causes numbness in the hips. I got another Kelty Flight. The one I have has small pinholes in the bottom, so I'll use the new pack for rain/snow camping. The Trek will be used for dayhikes.

And those Vibes . . . on the way up we stopped to take pictures and were talking, when we heard a crack from above. A football size chunk of ice came tumbling down about 50' from the ledges above. If we had kept moving it would have hit one of us.

Those thigh high postholes can wear a person out. . . this is the first time I've ever seen Calhiker worn out.

Can't wait for the next snowshoe/backpack!”

“WLD,
Mammoth got 30" of snow in the past 3 days. Lone Pine is about 100 miles south, so I don't know how much snow they got. Wait til after this storm. I might be able to go in mid March. It all depends on Mammoth conditions.”

“Did Amy talk about the vibes during New Years??

Let the force be with you.”