Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“Solitary - Bummer about your ankle! Sorry to hear that! Hope you heal up fast enough to hire a personal trainer and get in shape! LOL! Maybe some people will chime in about your hike idea. Horseshoe Meadows is an easy option from getting into the Sierras. The mileages are probably a bit more than you are thinks. It is 15 miles alone from Soldier Lakes to Guitar Lake. It is about 7 miles from the Cottonwood Lakes to there, not counting going into Miter Basin.

The views on this hike will be great. I hate to say anything could be much prettier than the last two SierraPaloozas, but no one will be disappointed. Lots of great views of peaks, passes, divides, basins, and such from the beginning to the end.

om - The first day we hike up to Anvil Camp at 10,000 ft. which is 2000 ft. below Shepherd Pass. Anvil camp is very pretty. Wooded with LOTS of water.”

“I was checking my map and think I had a mileage wrong. Day 4 from Wallace Creek to (upper) Guitar Lake looks to be more like 7 miles, not 8.5. Cool!

The lowers the average miles/day to below 7.”

“That first day sounds like a butt kicker! Snow Nymph's photos aren't too encouraging - Snow Dude looks like he wants to die!

I offer to pick up anyone at the Sacramento airport and there will be people coming from close enough and passing through (welcome back to California, PNW'ers!) to arrange carpools.

I like the idea of a hike in at Horseshoe Meadow to Lost Llama Lake to Soldier Lake to spend a day exploring Miter Basin then out over New Army Pass and a day hanging out at the base of NAP then back out to the trailhead but that should probably be a it's own trip.

Sol - ya gotta get back out to California by hook or by crook!

LadyHiker - Isn't it great being an employee?”

“Phil,

Are you bringing the cookies? Thanks for the care package on my last trip. They were great.

I am going to sign up as a maybe. I need to see how much time I will have by July.”

“BP - Hope you can make it! It will be a great trip...only the best cookies this time!”

““For all of you worried about "altitude" -- Phil, Hodge, Ladyhiker, me and others all live at basiclly 0 elevation.
If we can, you can!”

the-naviguesser
8:50:55 AM
10/15/04

Hey, c'mon.... when I get on the roof I'm at 100 feet !
;-)”

“In as a maybe. I'll need to see about a few things first and then I will update my status. It looks good but I just have to see.

Petey
last edited: 10/16/04 1:25:31 PM”

“You gonna be wearing your britches?

hehe”

“what a freak!”

“Solitary Hiker gave me an honorable mention!! Can't believe it... and the title? Just for you, Sol "Well, I'll be... Them ARE Ducks"

Thanks to Pepperdog, I thought I'd check out your post here, Phil, and gotta tell ya, brings back some memories. This one sounds like another great hike, and a time to renew old friendships, and make some new ones. Most reading this probably don't even know who the hell I am anyway.

That aside, I'm going to make a tentative commitment to this one, and will be watching... shining up my compact lighter-than-air fishing rig... and this time, maybe write down all them radical things Sol was heard to mutter on the last Llama-Rama. Damn that Mr. Ranger, Sir... eh, Sol?

Remember, it's invenereal to me, as far as I'M circumcised!”

“put me down as a strong (at least semi-strong) maybe for this trip....i would love to meet up with all the leftcoasters again and this sounds like the definitive sierra trip for '05!!”

“Remember the reservable quota for the Shepherd Pass trail is 9 and only a total of 15 are allowed on the trail each day. If you go before July 15th, the demand might be strong due to the people who want to do Williamson before the area closes until December.”

“wingding - Thanks for the info. Do you you have the link to that quota? May have to limit the size of the group.

What I was thinking anyway was that part of the group may end up getting permits for July 3 and some for July 4.

Obi - Good to hear from you! It would be great to hike together again.

Gonzo - Hope you can make it! Are you still coming to CA in November?”

“If Obi is going,I'm going. Remember all that smoked salmon, blackberry jam, pines nuts, and other assorted gourmet food he brought along on the last trip? MMMmmmmmmm!

Now where is AnnieB? AnnieeeeeeBEEEEEEE!
You know who you are. Ya going?”

“Quota Information:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/permits_res/quotas.html

I'll be trying to go in at 6 am on July 2nd and If I don't get the 2nd I'll try for the 1st. Day 1 will be to Anvil camp. Day 2 will be into Williamson Bowl. I would like to do Williamson and Barnard while up there - not sure of my exact route yet.”

“Sol - AnnieeeeeeBEEEEEE here! I fondly remember my jar of blackberry jam! I'm afraid the hike might be a little early in the season to hope that Obi might have had a chance to bring the party favors!

The quota thing sounds like it might be problematic. How does it work? Once you are in can you hang out as long as you want? Do you have to push over Shepherd's Pass or could you stay 2 nights at Anvil?

As long as we are comparing elevations, I am at 57 feet.”

“pDog - You need to sign up for this trip. I'm sure Obi will not be deterred from bringing along some delicious goodies for us. Afterall, they do sell smoked salmon and pine nuts in July at Trader Vic's! :)

Phil - Now I am curious about the snow conditions in early July. Did you see those pictures of SN and SD crossing that section just before the pass. They weren't wearing crampons as the snow looked soft. But did you see that one picture looking back where they had crossed? It was steep. A fall there could have ruined someone's day.
last edited: 10/17/04 11:48:48 AM”

“Hey, c'mon.... when I get on the roof I'm at 100 feet !
;-)”
Hodgeman of BC
10:52:26 AM
10/16/04

Hodge, are you sure that's not 100 METERS? 8^)”

“lots of bugs at Anvil - you might not want to spend too much time there, and it's so much prettier once you get over the pass”

“Already I have to sign off the trip. Conflicting dates with it being over 4th of July and all. I'll really really miss not going tho.”

“That sucks already!!!
Is there a date that works for you, that we can live with too?”

“wingding - Your posts are full of good news!

Thanks for the link to the permit info!

jvz - bummer! Won't be the same without you. Any chance things could change?

Regarding the dates, I chose them to overlap with HST group after I noticed we had the same hike after the Wallace Creek Junction. The hike could be later in July or sometime in August. Seems to me that there are tradeoffs. The earlier dates will be slightly cooler with longer days. The later days will have less snow and fewer bugs. The July 2-3-4 weekend could be harder to get permits for than later dates.”

“Okay, I couldn't make this year's trip, but the one for 2005 is on my calendar. If you change the dates, just let me know so I can mark it in the vacation log at work. I get another week's vacation this year from work, so this is how I will spend it. Please add me to the super secret email list under emt_tx_02@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Tex”

“Tex!!! It would be cool as all get out to hike with you again!! Y'all gotta make it to California! You always have a place to stay with me!

As far as the dates - I understand wanting to hook up with the HST Clan but if I imagine that at this point we can be flexible. On the other hand it would be impossible to find a week that would work with everyone so at some point Phil will have to play the heavy and just say how it will be. We can always have someone else claim a week in August for Miter Basin or something like that...”

“I'm going to try to hook up with the group for a couple days whatever dates you end up with. Just post the dates when you figure it out and I'll pull a permit so I can spend time on the trail with a great bunch of TTer's.”

“I signed up as a "yes", but the only thing that would stop me is not recovering 100% from the Lyme Disease that I have right now.”

“Regarding the date, I am very reluctant to change it at this point without a strong mandate from those who have signed up and are already making arrangements. Seems like the permit questions and a few other details are minor compared to the cool aspects of the trip.

No reason why someone couldn't plan another trip for July, August or Early September for Miter Basin or Humphrey's Basin.

tx - welcome aboard!”

“I'm fexy on the dates, so if they shift, that's OK.”

“Like Pepper said... the only way to really do it, is to just set the dates and hope for the best.

July's it for me, but I could easily shove it a week or two later in the month. In fact it would be easier to get away the following week.”

“She won't let me go.”

“we see who wears the pants in that family..lol”

“But she wears the "panties" in the house. Therefore, I obide.”

“I'm on the trip for days 3, 4 and 5 - will go out all the way on Day 5.

If anyone is interested in going in on Saturday the 2nd and attempting Williamson and Barnard before hooking up the the rest of the group on their Day 3, let me know.

For those of you who are interested in adding a great peak climb to the trip and going in a day early - Mount Tyndall is well worth doing. That would give you 2 14,000+ peaks on the trip. Mount Tyndall is near Shepherd Pass and about 2000 feet higher than the pass. It's mostly class 2 with a bit of easy class 3.”

“The Dude speaketh...and he speaketh the truth.”

“Nods his head in abject affirmation at WD.

Tain't right, but tiz so!”

“Woman, how you been? Long time no hear! thanks for the invite to stay at your place, I just might take you up on that and impose upon you for a trip back and forth to the airport. I know I can find out later but I can't remember which airport was closest to you. Please refresh my memory!

This will be a trip off the "I really wish I could hike.." list of mine and it's been growing these days!

Looking forward to a great hike and seeing Ya'll again!

Tex”

“Jvz.......I did not read your last post, it is not so....pleeeez tell me it is not so!

Phil...for the record..list me on the "flexible on dates" column.....”

“Holy cow, Batman, I'll be there for sure!! Hallllloooooo to you OM!!

Tex”

“om - Thanks for the flexibility.

wingding - With our permit situation, a small group may start a day early and either grab Tyndall or have a layover day at Wright Lakes Basin. Just something to have in mind.

This is a great hike. Those who come from far away will not be disappointed with their adventure. Mt. Whitney at the end is a real reward for hiking in the high country.”

“I just announced my freedom from Scouting! (I'm FREE! Time to go backpacking! thead) so I FINALLY may be able to do an extended TT trip, my vacation time used to be one or two 50+ miler's with the scouts the past few years, now I'm REALLY looking forward to hiking w adults (well, some of you at least LOL!!!)

Count me a "tentative" in! I also still have my 7 passenger vehicle & can store LOT's of gear on the roof.. hopefully we can plan on my vehicle when organizing any driving down from Sacramento.”

“how odd......


I may have to go to Cali to see my sister who lives in Texas?????”

“sirpete and I talked about you during the Wind River trip this past summer. Were your ears burning? ;-)”

“I could do a week later but this is your trip Phil so don't worry about me,but thanks for the thought. I will follow this trip closely too and if change happens I'll see it. Thanks again. Maybe I can hike up to Whitney Portal with some Jack Danials on the day you plan to camp there. 8)”

“Did he say...JACK?”

“Phil, if this trip moves to a week later, I would be willing/delighted to do this and the HST. I know I can convince Jerry he needs to do both, too.

SirPete, I didn't see a post from you on the Wind River photos thread. Here's the link.
http://community.webshots.com/album/198958657RlaAZs”

“Going in a day early and having a lay-over day in Wrights Basin sounds fun to me (you peak baggers can do all the bagging you want - I'm sleeping in!).

Tx - Sacramento is the closest airport for me. If I go earlier than you want there will probably be someone else who can make you feel welcome. One of these days you will get a chatty email from me...

jvz - of course we want you on the whole trip but if you and your friend Jack come meet us at Whitney we will show you both a good time!”

“Phil: I've done Tyndall, but I could always try Williamson when the rest of the group is doing Tyndall.”

“We ordered our permits for Sherpherd pass early. Reservable permits were already taken. We got the last 2 walk-in permits for July 3rd. They only allow 9 reservable and 6 walk-ins a day for that pass.

Its popular around that time because of the Bighorn Sheep area restrictions. This year the last weekend to do Williamson was after we were there.”

“You could always come in over kearsarge and over Forester Pass. I think the quota is bigger for that trailhead.”

“SN - I assume you are talking about your experience last year?

I have been a little worried about the quota situation. Kearsarge has a much bigger quota and would add about 9 miles to the trip. Forester Pass is very high could very likely have snow that early. Still, it is a consideration.

SN & wingding - Do you think waiting a week and letting the July 4 crowd pass would make the permit situation better?

Another option is to have multiple groups apply for permits on July 3 for Kearsarge and Shepherd Pass along with the July 4 people and we all rendezvous at Wright Lakes Basin.”