Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“OK! If you need me to help at Ontario, let me know.

WLD - When are you heading for the trailhead?”

“Yes Ontario International is my destination.
>
And Gem, I get to sit in Atlanta for about the same amount of time. No biggie. Sierra Rendezvous '05 will be epic Trail Talk BPing worth every minute of the wait. We is gonna have fun! :)”

“As soon as I can, I will take them home for a few hours give them a chance to check their gear to see if there is anything they need. Maybe a few hours sleep, get up early in the morning and head north. Or we can head north without sleep. I will make sure they have all they need, if not we will stop by REI or Sports Chalet in the morning and leave for the trailhead from there. The more hours they hang out at elevation the easier Saturday will be for them. And Although Owens Valley is nice, Onion Valley is nicer.
As a matter of fact, if you email anything you need picked up, I can have it before you arrive. ie" fuel canisters, etc.”

“I see no problem at all leaving from the airport and going directly to elevation (assuming our gear arrives on the plane with us). All I'll need is fuel canisters. My canisters are the Primus 3-fuel blend type. I'll e-mail the exact size and type. I should be able to pick up a fishing license in Lone Pine Friday morning.
last edited: 2/16/05 11:57:43 AM”

“Something you said stuck a cord there Sol. Perish the thought I'll bring down my extra external frame pack, whisper lite stove and extra beer in case somebody does lose their luggage. Maybe if others have spare gear to bring and leave in the cars if not needed its a thought. No food left in cars tho that can be bought in emergency.
Hikerchik...Nav mentioned earlier about my route plans. I go over 108 to 395 in Bridgeport. We could hook up and leave your car at the restauraunt and you'd have company the rest of the way. Or just meet there for a break and caravan the next 2.5 hours. Maybe I'm thinking to much. Its not my strong suit.”

“WLD - OK. You guys are blasting up there!

I assume I will drive up Saturday morning...which means we will won't meet up until Vidette Meadows on Sunday night!!”

“Ok, drivers sound off.
I know it's too early to mess with this, but I'm going to do it anyway....
The way I figure it:
I've got 3 in my car (that includes me).
WLD has 3 (or 4 if JD joins us).
JVZ has 2 (maybe 3 with Hikerchic).
Pepperdog has 2.
Wannabp has 2.

If we leave every one at the trailhead except the drivers, who then drive to the Shepherd Pass exit. Then all the drivers hop into my car (or) and get back to the trailhead to start the hike.

Cool. We can make the shuttle work. Thanks for your help.”

“Om, how are you getting to Lone Pine?”

“Navi, i have always wanted to arrive by hot air balloon, but the reality is...i have no idea.....any suggestios?”

“If you can get to LAX Friday noonish, and say "Please" You could ride with me & t-girl & ewker.”

“Or if you prefer SF or Oakland, you can ride with Jerry and I.”

“ok then, it will depend on the best fare i can find into where...i am still shoppin round.....PLEASE ...AND Thanks y'all.”

“If you find the hot air balloon that'll bring you, post a link. That's how Jerry would want to arrive, too.”

“Om and anyone else flying in. I called Southwest to see when they were going to update their schedule past June 6th. The lady told me it should be anytime now. She agreed they have been stuck on June 6th for way to long...lol”

“nav - David and I will be going up together on Saturday and can take one more. Looks like everyone flying in is hitting the trail on Saturday.

Could also bring someone back on Sunday, July 24.”

“Phil, sounds good. I was also thinking it would be nice to have at least one car at the Portal with everyones "Get off the trail" stuff. You know, like a clean shirt to put on after the shower.
If time allows.”

“I almost always forget clean clothes for after the hike.........”

“nav - Having some clothes and shower paraphenalia at Whitney Portal is a good idea since people will stagger off the mountain at different times. I'm already looking forward to one of those burgers!

Those coming out of Shepherds Pass will probably head for the Dow Villa right away since there is nothing at the trailhead.”

“Shamus, Creekjumper, young Creekjumper and I will be leaving Sacto around 10ish on Friday. If someone else flys into Sacto on Thursday or early Friday we can provide shuttle service but would probably be pretty crowded going all the way to the trailhead. It sounds like songbyrd is going to Lodi to ride to the trailhead with jvz which means that maybe someone flying into Sacto could either crowd in with us as far as Lodi or ride down with her. I also don't know exactly when the Northern Invaders will be passing through the Sacto area (or how many Invaders we will have this year (ladyhiker - what's your eta? anyone else coming with you, if hodge ends up flying in a plane instead of his car?) but maybe a pick up could be arranged with them. It seems a little extreem for wannabp and landscaper to go all the way into SF but that isn't any of my business, if they want to offer.

Just my 2 cents worth....

I like jvz's idea of bringing random gear in case someone has a need. It sounds like a good chance to unload some excess.....”

“Peppergod, I can't help you with all that stuff, but I sure am looking forward to seeing you.

Phil, I'm thinking that of the 2 exit points Shepherd would be the easiest to leave cars at.
But if one of the cars (mine, it has a combo lock) was at the Portal with towels, clean shirts and underwear for the Whitney people. They could shower and hang in comfort until the Shepherd people exit, pick up the cars, and head to the Portal to pick everybody up.

Thinking about those burgers almost makes me want to do Whitney again.
Burger...beer...burger...beer...burger....”

“Yeah, someone could definately ride from Sac. to Lodi with me as long as JVZ would still have room in his truck for an extra person. I would love the company.”

“trekkngirl and myself just booked flights on Southwest. We will be arriving at LAX on Friday July 15th at 10:35 AM

Our return flights are on July 24th at 4:20 PM. That should give us plenty of time to get back to LAX from the motel.
last edited: 2/18/05 10:14:55 AM”

“YEA!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait..Thanks Sir Naviguesser :)”

“I have an extended cab pick up. Can seatbelt six and gear is no problem in the back. I'm thinking I'll be out of here nineish on Friday and going to WLD's campsite at Onion Valley. About a six hour trip or so.
Sac airport is easy for me too and if Peppergod needs help with incomming hikers gear we can work something out for that too.
Just planning this is fun. Kinda keeps the mind going like a crossword puzzle. One across TRIP two down ROCKS.”

“WLD, about the permits. Just post your checking account info on here and I will make a withdrawal deposit on your account.”

“wannabp...where exactly are you located?
is it indeed extreme for you to come into SF area? LAX and SFO are my best deals and I am leaning to SFO because i can work in a visit with my friend in San Rafael, would san rafael also be a stretch for you ?

i am still plugging in itinerarys...and hot air balloon deals online~~~~~~~

this trip is indeed going to ROCK AND
"kick all forms of ~~~~... (like the boot on the new TT bandana looks like it is kickin butt on the trail)”

“cool link http://www.virtualparks.org/scenes/Zaj6InLMSjtOvbx4uLguIJw.html a 360° view of Whitney”

“OMG! That's me on top!!”

“Ewker, did you look at the other photos?
There are a number of the photos that show are trip along with a bunch from last years Palooza.”

“Nav, I looked at a few of them. I am really excited about this trip after looking at the pics.”

“When I first started this sport and I saw photos of above tree line, they just looked baren.
Now that I've been up there, I don't like to walk in the woods.

For your first trip to the Sierra, to see the Kearsarge Pinnicles, you are so lucky. And then to top it off with Whitney.
You are going to be so HOOKED, you'll be back every year.








But, that's not a bad thing.”

“nav makes good points. I love wooded areas, but the vistas in the Eastern Sierra are addicting. We will see a variety of views. On a clear day on Mt. Whitney you can see hundreds of miles in all directions...really something.

I hiked to the top of Mt. LeConte a few years ago. It was lush wooded area and very pretty, but the vistas don't hold a candle to what you will see in the Sierras. Dang...I can't wait.

Snow fall this year is really big. Not sure yet what we will have to contend with at the passes and peaks!”

“I was reading my John Muir Trail guide this afternoon Phil and it says the snow can linger really late into the season on the north side of Forester...but since it's the JMT I am sure that many will go before us 8)

There may be a few serious water crossings though.”

“As in Bubbs Creek? I don't remember much in the way of serious stream crossing down around Diamond Mesa and below to Wallace Lake.”

“We will need to assess the snow and creek conditions a few weeks before the trip so we can make any last minute gear adjustments. I have been looking at crampons (and alternatives) and I bought some snow baskets for my Leki trekking poles. I will probably be using all that locally starting in April or May.”

“I am sure I will have quite a few gear questions as the trip gets closer.”

“I just took a look at the map.
We don't cross Bubbs Ck.
The only creek crossings that could possibly be any problem are Wright Ck. and Wallace Ck. but that only involves the Whitney people, so no problem.
Remember all the worry over the crossings for the Precipice trip? Remember how much of a problem the crossings actually were? And that was alot lower than we're going this trip.

Snow? I agree with Wind Walker, it won't be a problem. There will a "trail" going across the snow right up and over the passes.
There was snow on Sawtooth. There was snow on Bishop. There was no problem.

We're going to ROCK right over all obstacles.”

“Ewker, you've been backpacking before haven't you?

You're set then.
The Sierra are really no different that hiking anywhere else.
It could snow, yes, even in July. It's not likely, but it could.
It could rain. You bring rain gear with you in TN, right?
We'll be on GOOD trails, except when we go into Wright Basin and that just gives you more freedom. I wear sandals when I hike, but you can bring boots if you want.
DEET, tent, stove, food, and all the other stuff you bring when you go in TN.

The is one difference in the Sierra from anywhere else: Bring lots of film. Double what you think you might need.”

“Phil, where are we planning on camping in Wright Basin?
Do you have a Long. & Lat. by chance?”

“Nav, nope never have. I don't go when it rains. I don't want to melt..lol”

“A newbie? Don't worry, if it rains just hide uder a rock. You can catch up later.”

“One other thing, BEWARE THE MARMOTS!!!”

““nope never have.”
Ewker
11:32:13 AM
2/20/05

Ewker - Is that never taken rain gear.... or never backpacked ?”

“nav - check you email for coordinates!”

“Hodge, I am just messing with Nav. I have bped and I have rain gear.

I don't take a bear container though so that is extra weight that I am not use to carrying.

Probably my only question is what degree of bag to bring.”

“Phil, thanks.
I checked them out. If they're correct, it seems pretty marshy. Or you have to go through the marsh to get there. 8*)
Haveing been there how's N36 37.530 W118 21.466?
Or if we're going over what I see as Rock Pass how's N36 38.242 W118 22.087?

I'm starting to get excited now.

Ewker, I'm going to bring my 20o bag. Most of the time it too warm of a bag, but sometimes we do get frost.”

“navi, please wait for me at the creek crossings with logs...:) pretty please even...
crampons...yikes...ok then

ewker, i took a 20 bag and was fine , i think it may have frosted a couple of nights and i was plenty warm, .....it never rained once the entire trip, but i am guessing that was just luck. You are going to just love it, believe me...the bear canisters are a neccessary incovenience...on the other hand....it is kind of neat not having to hang that bag up every night and all your food and any trash is nice and neat in those things.”

“Wait for you at the crossings with logs?! Ain't no logs where you're going girl.
Seriously, picture Crabtree Mdw. and on. That's more like where we're going. You're not going to have any problems. Then again waiting for is not a bad thing either.
I won't be carring any crampons. You can if you want.
Rain, no you weren't lucky. It's July not August. I'll put BIG money down that says there won't be any rain.
Of course that's like guaranteeing that it will rain.

PS. What was in your e-mail?”

“I have a 15° down bag that I will bring then.
Looks like you have to pack for warm days and cool nights.”