Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“this may be of some use.
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:r8OcTIIv2JcJ:www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/health/canistercare.doc”

“I am more worried about what food to pack then how I get to the trail. Sounds like I have to pack food that takes forever to cook. I may need to read over this again huh? LOL”

“Sounds like I have to pack food that takes forever to cook.

Huh?

Pack what you always pack.”

“lots of good ideas in songbyrd's link, but for 6 days you don't have to adopt all the tricks. I still use ziplocks because I prefer them, althought I know that the baggies with twist ties can become more compact. Repackaging from the bulk packages is the big space-saver, IMHO.

I try to avoid things that take a long time to cook such as uncooked rice. Fuel takes up weight!

I have an outback oven and used it on the llama trips. I love it, but don't take it backpacking any more because you need a stove with a detached canister. Sure is nice to have baked goods in the middle of a trip, however.”

“I'm loaning you mine. I go in on Saturday, but I'll give it to Geologyguy after the High Sierra trip. He lives in Sacto. Or we can work out something else, if that doesn't work.”

“Oh ya... now I remember that's how we were going to do that. Thanks wannabp. I'm planning to stop at Geologyguy's place on the Friday. Unfortunately that may change if I have to fly and end up in Reno instead of Sac. Lots of time to sort that out yet”

“I don't see why all the complaining about bear canisters. As the food goes down you start putting all those keen sierra rocks you've been picking up in it. If you get more rocks than you have room for you can carry my cannister on the way out. I already have all the rocks I need. But marbles now...I can always use some more marbles. Darn those holes in my pockets.”

“J is losing his marbles!”

“I have another question. Have somewhere read that toothbrush, lotion, etc... suppose to go in the bear canister also. True?

What about the pot and spoon? Will cleaning them get rid of any food smells?
I have no clue!

Bought a bunch of backpacking food items. Will play with receipes, packing, etc...this week, so by the time it's time to go...ha! I will be an expert. I HOPE!
last edited: 2/23/05 2:18:59 PM”

“"THEY" say you should put anything that has an odor into the cannister.
Don't worry, after the 3rd day your toothbrush should fit in.”

“Gemini - Don't put your cookware in your canister until you have the room for it.

Ideally all your smellables go into the canister. A small toothbrush and ziplock of baking soda for toothpaste don't take up much room in my canister.”

“JVZ, I actually do that with my bear cannister.”

“Oh, yes. About a dozen Garcia bear canisters set next to each other make a nice level surface we can use for the initiation ceremony.”

“My Bearicade came today. That sucker is huge!! (the smaller weekender version) I am sure I can fit all my food in it. I don't think that will be a problem. Guess I'll be playing today!!

It's so light I thought the box is empty.”

“Gem, those bearicade's are light. Trekkngirl has one. I couldn't justify the price since I go so few places that you need one”

“I thought if it makes my trip somehow more comfortable...well...it does justify the price.
But you're right...they do cost a lot.”

“But Ewker, you'll need it next year, and the year after that, and....


I mean, how many times has T-girl been back?”

“I had rather carry the extra 1 lb than buy a new one. Now if I lived out there (heaven forbid...no offense intended) I would have a light one”

“Ewker - Go over Sawtooth Pass and you will decide to order a lighter bear canister (and tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, backpack, stove, and clothing).”

““I thought WLD would pick up Solitaire Hiker and myself from the airport. Did anything change? Not sure because I haven't checked this thread for a while.”
Gemini
3:25:37 PM
“WLD is still going to pick us up at the airport. We may actually leave for Lone Pine that very night! We could be in Onion Valley at the TH with fishing licenses in hand by 9:00AM Friday. If we want we can be camped at one of the lakes near the pass by nightfall. No need to aclimate at base camp, we can do it on the way up! :)”
solitary hiker
9:42:48 PM

Yes I will be picking you both up from the airport. As long as your coming into Ontario International Airport. Then Off we go to the Beautiful Adventure of the Sierra.
last edited: 2/24/05 1:03:59 PM”

“only problem I am having is now...how to pack all my stuff in my pack. I guess I'll play with it on the plane on my way to CA. Hmm..I may need to get a new pack.”

“Phil, I have upgraded some of my gear. I will probably use by heavy 6 lb pack on this trip cause it will hold the bear canister. Still undecided on the shelter I will bring. It will either be a tarptent or a Hex 2 Golite teepee style shelter”

“Ewker, Phil is right about going over Sawtooth Pass and replacing all your gear with lighter gear. We went to REI after the Sierrapalooza 2003 and replaced our stove, then our water filter, then I ordered a Bearikade, then we got our Tarptent. Well, maybe, I'm a little lazy, but it's a whole lot nicer.”

“I just got me a new bear canister and it is an approved bear canister. It is the small container in the picture. 12 lbs, 14" tall x 14" diameter
”

“That should fit inside your pack, no prob.”

“Hey nav, it is cheaper than what I paid for my bear canister...lol”

“what the heck...12lbs are not so bad. You lost that in body weight by the end of the trip.

Could you carry my food for me in it??”

“You guys are fun to hike with and we haven't even got to the TH yet.”

“Yea. I'm ready to go now!”

“and I promise to be good. Grin!! Really though!

Anyway, I have trown in a bunch of meals in the bearicade. Haven't even tried to make room and I have plenty of room, so that problem is solved. I only need to figure out how to pack lighter foods. (not doing a great job in dehyrating foods...don't ask)

I ordered a bunch of enteria meals. I can remove the ziplocks and only take a couple with me. (to save weight)”

“This pack weight thing is worrying me. I can't afford to buy a new pack so my 7 lb. Arc'Terrx (sp?) will have to do. It fits nice and carries a good amount.
>
As far as tents go the Henry Shire's TarpTents were looking better and better all along. Especially since he decided to sew-in the bathtub floors. But the $250 to $275 entry fee was more than I wanted to pay this time around. Last summer I had my heart set on the one-man single wall MH Waypoint but was kinda waiting to see the Big Agnes one man tent that was coming out. Then back in December I found a MH one-man Wing on Sierra Trading Post closeout for $109.95. This tent doesn't seem to have a following but it's built in typical MH bombproof fashion. Other than weight it reminds me of the Hilleberg Atto. So 3 lb. Waypoint ($225) or 4.75 lb. Wing ($109.95)? Hey it's lighter than my MH Muir Trail! <~~(Great tent but about 6.5)
>
As far as a $225 bear canister ....ain't gonna happen. I can buy a really sweet flyrod for that kind of money. The Garcia will have to do.
>
My goal is to cut down on the weight of all the small stuff and hope they add up to a lb. or two.
>
Now what would really be nice would be to have a SR'05 trail wife. I need a woman to carry half the food and kitchen junk, the bear canister, most of the tent, and all the beer.
>
BTW I'm printing up some bumper stickers that say "I carried 50 lbs. over Forrester!" They weigh 2 oz. Anyone want one?
last edited: 2/24/05 6:48:01 PM”

“I want one Sol...can you give it to on Mt Whitney ;)”

“Sol - in order to qualify for that you will have to carry some of my stuff too. I would be glad to forgo the bumper sticker to let you earn one!”

“Solitary - One of my new tents last year was a MH Waypoint 1. 2.5 lbs including stakes. I would not particularly like to be caught in a long rainstorm with it, but so far it has been OK. My son and I share an REI Half Dome.
As an alternative for you may I suggest the REI Quarter Dome? Good price and lots of room for one person. Free standing and fairly light.

Gemini - Regarding your motel video on another thread. Was that part of an initiation ceremony by chance?”

“oh gawd...phil is scaring me again!!!!!
My lips are sealed.”

“Phil I think that must be the way Gemini "initiates" the group she's with. I think she needs a new name of Teeger(sp).Boing,boing,boing,boing.”

“Sorry WW. I won't be doing the Whitney route. I'm taking the lazy man's way out...back through Shepherds.

AnnieB, if Phil's pack weighed 43 lbs. last year when he started out (and he really worked hard to cut the weight) my pack will have to be somewhere in the 50 lb range already. My trail wife will be married. I didn't say I would be!

Phil, I have four tents now. If I bought another one my home wife would use it for my burial shroud! I'm not taking that chance. The MH Wing will have to do.:)
last edited: 2/25/05 10:04:11 AM”

“okay....

trail wife
home wife

please explain!!”

“Gem, "I'm not married. My wife is, but I'm not."”

“okay...i just counted gear weight:

Pack 3.09
Therm-a-rest: 1.06
Bearicade: 1.94
Tent: 3.3
Sleeping bag: 2.0

Would bring me to a total base weight of 11.39

I guess that's not bad. I wanna know where the other 27lb come from then dammit!!!

How do you guys handle the water situation? I always fill up my 2liter bladder to the max, plus a nalgene. Probably why my pack weighs so damn much.
last edited: 2/25/05 10:17:45 AM”

“Home wife is defined as the woman that is married to me and lives with me at our legal residence in South Carolina.

Trail wife or marriage is a agreement between two consenting adults (generally man and woman) that is legally totally binding on the woman. In this type of marriage most pre-nups require that the woman cook, clean and carry all of the food, adult beverages, and cooking utensils. She must also filter water and wash all underwear.
>
The man on the other hand must carry the fishing gear and make sympathetic comments like "Ohhh poor baby...Let me rub your shoulders, that load of firewood must be killing you!" or "Gosh you look beautiful this morning!" as she combs her matted hair. You know, sweet nothings like that.
>
Sooooo Gem ...what say we get hitched?
last edited: 2/25/05 11:22:23 AM”

“sorry sol hiker, Gem and I are already married per Bison..lol”

“Gem, you left cooking and water filtering and rain gear out of your base weight. Also a jacket, which you will carry during most of the day and wear every evening.

All the unfamiliar-with-the-Sierras folk do need to realize that evenings and mornings can be quite cold. Probably won't be, but might be frost in the morning.”

“wannabp, I think that will be one of my biggest problems. Trying to figure out what clothes/jacket wise to bring.”

“Ewker, I bring long underwear to sleep in and for around camp at night while I rinse out my day clothes. I bring Marmot Precip rain pants for windbreakers over my long underwear and in case of a lot of rain. I bring a midweight fleece and my Precip jacket for a windbreaker/rain jacket and use both every night. I hike in shorts and a tank top and put on my long-sleeved long underwear if it's chilly. Last year, I got one of those quick-drying long-sleeved button shirts for sun and mosquito protection, so now I carry that along and use it daily. I bring glove liners and rarely use them, but they're worth it when it gets really cold. I carry one extra pair of socks and a pair of lightweight 'water-sock' type creek-crossing shoes.

Jeez, up, up, up goes the base weight, but I do not want to be cold. I'm hot while I hike, but come evening at altitude and being still, I could easily get chilled.”

“Gem - If you figure 2 lbs/day for food, a 2L H20 bladder and 1L Nalgene (Gatorade?), that is 20 lbs. right there:

2 lbs/day x 7 days = 14 lbs
2 lbs/L x 3L = 6 lbs
total = 20 lbs

If you have much less than 2 lbs./day for food you may not be packing enough calories. A lot depends on the individual.

Many people also carry an extra pair of lightweight sandals, shoes, or water shoes for around camp and/or stream crossing, etc. I bring some lightweight trail runners and it is well worth it.”

“wannabp, what kind of temps could we expect at night. I know you said frost is possible but are we talking lows in the 30's...also what about during the day temp wise.

can't remember if this was discussed or not. Are campfires allowed?
last edited: 2/25/05 12:47:57 PM”

“Ewker - You need to be "prepared" for temperatures in the 30's. In the Sierras you could see that even in the Summer.

I don't see anywhere where we will be allowed to have campfires. Besides, it is hard to have a campfire if there is no wood around!

I am not stopping at Kearsarge Lakes, so I am not sure about the situation there.”

“I think fires are allowed in Vedette Mdw.

Ewker, just bring shorts and a down jacket.”

“ok two different thoughts there...which one of you is messing with me. It doesn't take much on a Friday either..lol”