Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“Nav, you do that. You know her,I don't plus I don't want to turn up missing this summer..lol”

“You're right, I know her. So I'm NOT going to do it.
8^)”

“Be extra nice to songbyrd! My daughter is her new neighbor! Looking forward to meeting her!”

“Hey! I was nice! I stomped out a place for her pitch her tent in the dark and I shared my tequila with her. AND I didn't post her photo on the "Atonement" thread.
So, is that nice or extra nice?

8^)”

“very nice, nav!”

“Ewker, you've been warned!
Navi, thank you!
And bty... I checked out that Atonement (mens thread) you were speaking of.
Sooo Ewker, I now know of it. I will be checking it frequently. But thanks for thinking I might belong there.”

“Well YEEAHHH...I saw the bikini. Your photo WOULD look good there.”

“songbryd, your more than welcome =)”

“Opened up a McBeer last night.
It's a Strong / Scottish Ale. Very sweet with a pronounced alcohol bite.

If you like sweet beer or you want to get a buzz, McBeer is for you!”

“I liked them all! You make good beer, Navi!

Hope you didn't get in trouble for the fire! LOL!”

“Thank you, my lady


What trouble? The house is still standing.”

“We should put SN on that Atonement thread. I remember seeing that picture of her in a black thong, sitting by Snow Nymph Falls up in the Miter Basin. I was impressed. I knew I wanted to go up there after that.
last edited: 4/20/05 5:32:38 PM”

“Wow! Nice pics nav! That is a ways up there isn't it?

That beer sounds good nav. Can't wait to taste it in July!

And you won't see me wearing a bikini anytime soon! I think I was 18 the last time I wore one. We won't say how many years ago that was but it was pre-kids that's for sure.

See, nav! There was a 7 on top of that there mountain!”

“The road goes UP quite a ways before you get to the Kearsarge Trailhead. Shepherd on the other hand looks like it goes all the way to the valley floor.

I never doubted you, my Lady. And there the 7 is for all the naysayers.

One thing I forgot to tell you about on climbing Mt. Whitney is Sky Pilots. OMG! How could I forget such UNforgettable flowers?
A puff ball of pale blue flowers, 2 to 3 inches around, that are so odoriferous you'll smell them before you see them. They're worth the climb all by themselves.”

“ok...i bet trekkngirl and ewker are off on some trip this weekend, and I need to lock in to a really great flight deal tonite or tomorrow,before i spend my sierra flying money ...again...heh... so i cannot wait for any email correspondence,
Part 1
Navi...still have room in your navimobile for one more?
and if so, what time do trekkngirl and ewker have to be back at the airport? and...are they flying into/out of LAX?
ok...going to squeeze some more fresh pink grapefruit juice, add a splash of wodka, have a little spa experience and come back later, maybe you are not out for a wild night or backpacking somewhere...
Part 2
just in case navi is unavailable...can anyone tell me how long it will take to get from that cowboy hotel we are all staying in back to LAX?
thanks and have a beauty of a saturday night..its good here, really good...darn good..
love you all to pieces~~~~~~~~~~~~~~really~~~

jai~”

“om - it's all good!
The Navimobile has 4 people now. T-girl, Ewker, Stan & me.
The 3 of them are flying Southwest into LAX arriving about 10:30 am Fri. departing 4:30 pm on Sun.
5 in an Explorer will be tight for a 4 1/2 hour trip, so let me know if you REALLY need a ride. We'll be there for you my Lady.”

“om - I may have room for one more, but was planning on driving up on Saturday morning. Were you entering on Sat or Sun?”

“hmm...i wouldnt want to overcrowd that explorer situation you got there navi, I could ride waaaay up front as the hood ornament...but i as much as i love the wind in my hair, i do hate those bugs in my teeth for sure.
Phil, what does "may" have room mean..heh.....i am not good in trunks either....lol
.I was placed in the group who enters on Saturday. Not a problem, if you think I could catch up to the group before darkness falls...or go in with the sunday group if there are no permit issues involved.
Now, i can get the same low $202 rate into San Fran, on thurs night...if wannabp still has a spot? i can get there thurs so as not to interfere with the drive on Friday.

all that said...i am savin some $ with the flight, so , i can also rent a car, would not want to inconvenience anyone.

so...ok....hoping to book before the rates change, maybe tonite? i can never figure that out.”

“Hi, Om, we can drive you from SF or Oakland. SWA only goes to Oakland. You can fly in Thurs and shuttle to our house -- about $26 and 2 hours from Oakland or SF -- or we can pick you up on the way out on Friday. Coming back, figure a minimum of 8 hours driving. We can drop you at the airport or bring you home and get you to the shuttle the next morning. I'm on my way out, but my cell is 707 529 0605, if you need some last minute whatever before you buy your ticket. Easy on the fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice :-)”

“Om - I'll be arriving at the TH with JVZ on Friday night, so if you choose to ride up with Phil on Saturday, I can give you my spot to start the trail with them on Sunday and I can go in with Navi and company on the Saturday”

“Yeah, it's all good.
8^D”

“I'm with you, Navi. It's all good.”

“om - I have room. Right now it is David and I in my Grand Prix, so room for one more. We drove Gonzo up last year.

Ontario International Airport would be the most convenient one to consider, but LAX has more flights.”

“...so I've heard the weather is pretty messed up in CA too huh?

What about our trip in July? Any mature changes because of the weather? Is there any gear we should bring we haven't thought of before? Like crampons...

What about the sleeping bag? I have a 10 degree bag... Is that still gonna be okay?

Well, that's all I wanna know right now. I still think a heatwave is gonna hit the USA within the next 4 weeks and all the cold weather and snow will disapear until mmm...November.”

“Gem, pack like you do for the Smokies..you'be fine.
In other words be ready for anything...ha!
I carry my 15* just cause it's light.
Freakin I'll asleep the top of it if I have to..
Never had to use crampons..they promised..it has been so..
TOO COOL those WESTERN FOLKS!!!!”

“there will be people out in the area before your trip that will be able to report on conditions before you head out, so you'll have a good idea if you'll need crampons”

“yeah...I guess it's still too early to know the conditions. Duhhh!!

All I have is a 10 degree bag (because I am a cold sleeper, so it's going with me no matter what) well...unless another ice age is coming and I have to bring my minus 20 degree. I am certain that won't happen. yeah, I'm pretty certain, I won't need it.

right? lol... j/k

Either way it wouldn't really matter, but it all this extra crap would bring my pack weight up a lot...meaning I would need another pack...so that's really why I asked.”

“Gemini, FYI, I'm bringing my 20* bag.

But if you don't mind your pack weight going up a BIT, I like beer. Hint, hint.”

“Hey Nav or anyone else out there. What do you think your pack weight will be for the Sierra's in July?”

“I shooting to keep mine under 50 pounds.
OK, 40.
Seriously, I should be around 35 total (food, water, everything).”

“well, navi, I don't have a 20 degree bag, so my light 10 degree will have to do.

There is no way in hell I can keep my pack weight around 35lbs unless I go easy on the water...so...

How many times are you all going to stop for water? how much water do you normally take? (maybe already answered on this thread somewhere)
last edited: 4/27/05 9:54:49 PM”

“cool, that is what I am aiming for. Maybe a little higher since I have to carry that damn bear canister”

“oh what the heck...you don't have to answer that...it's not gonna change anything anyway.”

“Really? 35 lbs? What kind of tent? And a general question for everyone. If you're using a canister stove, Primus, SnowPeak, Gaz, etc. what size canister and how many are you going to take on SR'05? On past 7-9 day trips I've always taken two of the smaller Primus canisters but always wound up have fuel left over. Assuming cooking dinner each night and heating water for coffee or tea in the mornings what would you carry? I know this question doesn't account for all the types of meals one could cook but it would give a general idea.”

“My goal is to dehydrate all my meals and heat them up in ziplock freezer bags. (no cleaning):) Also it weights less that way. There are usually water sources along the trail, so don't overload with water unless you see that you may not have a source for a while. I also bring one change of clothes besides the ones I'm wearing at the time except for my thermals, jacket and rain gearand river crossing shoes. I wash my hiking attire each time I get a chance and wear them them next day. A bathing suit comes in handy while your cleaning and drying your clothes. (Also comes in handy for those bathes in that ice cold water. Burrr)
I plan to bring 2 fuel cannisters and I use a Pocket Rocket stove during the summer. I would rather have fuel left over than to eat raw food at the end of my trip. What,..no coffee??? Not me! :P

Can we just go now???? I'm ready!! All this talk and no play>>> like teasing me. UUUMMM
Can't wait!”

“songbyrd, you bringing the bikini ;)”

“Water - I have a small Platypus that I fill 1/2 way and I carry a squeeze bottle. Someday I'm going to have to measure how much that is. 8^)
I haven't looked at the map regarding water stops, but usually if you have enough for 1/2 a day you have enough to be safe until the next source.

Tent - I carry a Bivy. I love the stars.

Stove - I have a bruton. It's the lightest stove I've seen and folds up to fit in the bottom of a fuel canister. I don't know how much fuel this stove takes, it's new, so I'm bringing 1 large canister. I'll be scratching off some paint every time I boil water so I'll know how much fuel to bring next time.

Clothes - Like Songbyrd I carry 2 sets. A dry set in case it rains or I fall in, and to wear as the other set is being cleaned. Pair of shorts. Plus a down jacket, Gortex jacket, Watch Cap, Ball Cap w/ draperies. Sandals for around camp and hiking.

Food - I have no appetite when I hike. Breakfast = Instant Breakfast (1/2 cup powewr milk, 1 pack of Carnation Instant Breakfast, 1 big spoon of malt.
Lunch = munchies. Nuts, Salami, Jerkey.
Dinner = Package of Tuna, or a cup of instant Mashed Potatos, or Couscous.
AND Tequila.”

“Navi - bivy dwellers are really cool. A bivy sack is really easy to set up and it keeps you warmer than a tent. I just bought a new one - the Integral Designs Event Unishelter, so now I have a bivy with a hoop.”

“wingding and Nav, the biggest problem I see with bivys is if it rains forever. Being stuck in that would drive me crazy, also changing clothes can it be done in that?”

“Wing, I love turning over in the middle of the night and seeing all the stars.

Ewker, You can't stay in a bivy all day, you've got miles to do. Pack up and start walking!
I have changed clothes inside my bivy, but why not stand up and change outside? Or are you too modest?
Dang kids!”

“Nav, I just don't feel there is any protection in a bivy like there is a tent. You can bring all your gear in your tent, can't do that in a bivy. Now if you want to bring a tarp and have it over the bivy for those rainy days why not just bring a tent to start with.

I still don't know which shelter I will bring. It is down to the Hex 2 teepee style, tarptent or the Eureka Gossamer.

What is the areas like where we wil be camping. Will it be a boulder field, a grassy meadow or both”

“My bivy has protected me just fine in rain, wind, hail, and snow. But each to their own.

We'll be going through a lot of different zones. Kearsarge Lakes will have some trees but is still rocky. Vidette Mdw. is in forest and the ground is duff. This is also the only place where we can have a fire. From there on it will be rocky. But there always seems to be a place to set up a tent.”

“I am not sure if I am a biffy person, I may give it a try on day, who knows.

If you are considering a biffy for the first time, I would try it out on a short overnighter.

my 2 cents”

“Be prepared for hard ground, duff, or snow. I prefer a tent myself for lots of reasons.”

“I usually change and clean up behind a rock or tree but I can change in my bivy if I have to - it just takes a lot of wiggling. I can read in there too and I can fit all my gear in it with me if I want to - even in the old bivy without the hoop I had enough room to read and bring gear in.

I like opening my eyes in the night and seeing the stars too.”

“The only downside to a bivy, IMO, is laying there like a big blue bear burrito.

8^D”

“nav - I love to see the stars, but my eyes only stay open for about a minute!

My starting pack weight was 43 lbs last year with food, water, and gatorade. I am hoping to be at that or less when we start in July.”

“okay, that does it, I am sticking to my tent, I don't think I wanna feel like a big blue bear burrito. I got the Diamond Lighthouse, and it's light and big, oh and yellow...scares the bears away for sure!”

“Cool. We'll need that yellow tent in Vedette Mdw.”

“Gemini - Based on my previous TT Sierra trips, I would size up the shelters used as:

Tent - > 80%
Tarp (with netting)- < 10%
Bivy - < 10%”