Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“if you actually cook in the pot then there is the food smell that could still be there if you don't get it clean. So he chews the pot up trying to get the food..lol
If you just boil water and cook in freezer bags then all the pot has is a water smell. That is why I wouldn't think you would need to put pots in the bear canister.

I don't use a bear canister here so someone tell me if my thought process is right or wrong”

“I would say you're right Ewker. The bears have never bothered my pot.





OK. Now who's going to say something witty about that? 8^)”

“so if I only boil water in my pot I should be fine...what if I cooked food in it a couple month ago [i can't really remember if i did or not]

coffee...i was planning on using my tinny pot as a coffee mug. bears like coffee?

sheesh...i dunn know. I may get my pot [heeheehee] in the bearicade. I could fill up the pot/cup with food, so it shouldn't take that much space. we'll see.

DO bears like coffee?
some ranger told us once the do love beer.”

“Gem, don't worry about the pot. I cook in my pot each night and I have no probs. Just clean it and leave it in the kitchen area. Don't bring the pot back to your sleeping area or you might get a visitor. Heck, you'll probably get a visitor anyway.

Last summer when Bison was out here, a bear stuck it's head under my tarp and just stared at me. I yelled at it and then a few minutes later heard it knock over my pot and coffee cup 100 feet away in the designated kitchen area. If anything, it licked my pot my even cleaner than I could of. :)”

“you guys are bringing pot? When is this trip again?”

“Bears don't like coffee or tequila, but they do like beer.

Moral: Only carry tequila.”

“Most of the time I'll hang my pot bag or toss it in the bear box with my food. Or, I just hang it on something near the kitchen so it won't get nibbled on by the rodents etc. The food and kitchen stuff are at no time anywhere near the tents anyways, especially in Griz territory.

The whole canister thing is foreign to me”

“Nav,
Bears love peppermint schnapps. Geologyguy had a platypus full of the stuff but left it outside his tent. During the night he heard something just out of his tent door and then crashing through the bush. Next morning he found his platypus punctured with its contents drained.”

“They didn't bother my tequila, real manly drink that it is.
I guess bears only like those sweet yuppie beverages.”

“LOL! The reason you would want to put your stove and pot in the canister is to store it easily and save space in your pack!!! Nothing to do with bears really.

For weekend hikes, I put all my food, cookware, stove, etc. inside the canister...very convenient.”

“I can still pick you up on the way to Reno Songbyrd. Now I need a flight itinerary from Hodge and I'll know what time to head out of here.
Landscaper: Jerry-rigged, how appropriate. LOL.”

“I was gonna say that to. Putting all the cooking gear in the cannister is mainly to save space in your pack and have it all together when your ready to eat. I leave my pots out and never have had a problem.

Add me to the Starbucks club. I'm a coffee nut. Gotta have at least 2 cups every morning and it's gotta be real not instant.

Wanna, Are you returning home in between all those trips? Girl, you are really gettin in the hiking this summer.”

“oh okay!! I have plenty of room than.
gonna go and buy starbucks today I guess. LOL no starbucks booth without the real thing.

2 cups for me in the morning, but I already reduced it for this trip. I counted 2 cups a day, one in the morning, one in the evening.”

“I forget! (they say the mind is the first to go) Who all are you halling to the trailhead on Friday? You, me and Hodge? Others?”

“Gem, One in the evening? You drink decaf?”

“decaf?? please!! NOOOOO!!! don't insult me. *grins* I drink one big cup with my dinner. I still can sleep.”

“Caffine and I don't get along to well in the pm hours. I'll stick to my tea before bed.”

“songbyrd, you must be drinking decaf tea then. Ice tea I hope..yeah I know there won't be any ice but it is still Ice tea =)”

“Yeah, Decaf tea. But usually I like (drink) it hot in the evening.;) It gets kind of cold at night in the Sierra.

Off to the gym.
last edited: 6/29/05 9:43:35 AM”

“I think on this trip it will be one cup in the morning, and the usual Monte Cristo at diner time. Hmmm ... if there's a lay-over day or crappy weather, then I add the 3rd cup for the day

JVZ - I'm on Alaska 604 arriving Reno at 11:37 PDT on Friday 15th”

“I drink coffee at work, home and while goofing off but I hardly drink it on the trail. I always take enough for 2 cups but I never drink a full cup. I end up bringing it back home. Think I will bring the crystal light single packs this time.”

“BTW Ewker, there will be ice (snow).
So if you want Ice Tea....or a tequila slushie...”

“as long as it isn't yellow snow”

“So far Songbyrd its just you,me and Hodge but I could fit one or two more. Is Peppergod still comming on the hike?”

“Ok copy on the flight. I'll try the drive by thing and park if that doesn't work. I'll have to see how the terminals are laid out so I'll get there early enough and see if I can pick you up outside. I'll e-mail my cell if you need it.”

“Hi everyone! I have been monitoring several websites daily and just listened to the Mt. Whitney Ranger Station Trail Report.

The question needs to be asked of the entire group: Do you feel comfortable (and safe) about the trip as planned considering trail conditions? So, here are what seem to be the current conditions:

Kearsarge Pass - Trail clear to Gilbert Lake.

JMT relatively clear North of the Forester Pass area. North Slope of Forester Pass appears to be hikable (report did not indicate whether crampons were used...waiting for reply).

JMT South of Forester Pass has more snow, but melting fast.

Shepherds Pass Trail - Clear to Anvil Camp. Whitney Ranger Station Trail Report says trail is "passable" with caution.

Mt. Whitney - West side and top are clear. Upper switchbacks are clear. Cable area is snow covered and expected to be out of commission because of snowpack for a while. No tracks in snow covered switchbacks yet because people are still sliding down the shute. Several reports predict that the switchbacks will be in use within a week or two and visible. Trail below Trail Camp is clearing, but hard to follow in spots.

Unknowns: Current condition of Shepherds Pass, Rockwell Pass, Wright Lakes Basin, and Southern slope of Forester. Will probably still be snow fields between Forester Pass and Wright Lakes Basin (and hard to follow the trail). Possibly icy in the morning, and softer with postholing in the afternoon. Hopefully we will get some good intelligence from wingding next week and from wannabp after the HST trip.

Lots of snow melt, but no reports of water crossings that are problematic along our route.

Recommendation: A lot of snowmelt will still occur, but there are several passes and stretches of trail where full crampons would be helpful. Even by the time of our hike we can expect several snow covered miles of trail throughout the trek. Lightweight crampons are a definite possibility. Trekking poles helpful. I am considering purchasing a pair of these: Stubai Lightweight Crampons

I have instep crampons, but they seem to be best for level hiking. May want the toe and heel coverage for those passes.

Please let me know if you are uncomfortable with the conditions. I think we will have a slightly different hike than we originally imagined, but doable with caution and the right equipment.

If you have found anything to add to this (or correct it) please post! I will send this via email also.
last edited: 6/29/05 12:51:00 PM”

“Those Stubai's are on my short list as well Phil. Looks like REI has them too, for $100. I haven't been able to locate any up here for a look though”

“Hodge - Yes. I was going to order them from REI. Haven't been able to look at them either. Maybe a run over to REI is in order!”

“Let me know what you find Phil. I was also looking at the Black Diamond Contact. Tough to compare when you can't see both.”

“The temps in the valley this week are in the upper 90's. I was in Tahoe last weekend and did some hiking at the 6k level. No snow at all. Hopefully things will heat up and our trails will be do-able without cramptons. I have faith that all be work out. It always does. PRAY!!
If I have to get cramptons it will have to be the instep ones for the 30 something dollars. (I've already priced them just in case) The others are out of my budget for now. ( I wonder if they rent them?)
Better bring good water crossing shoes though. I feel that there will be many. Ooh, exciting stuff.

JVZ, yes Peppergod is still going. Last I heard she had a full car going in.”

“Here are the Crampons you are looking at for a little better price.
http://store.everestgear.com/421100.html”

“I just bought the Black Diamond Contacts (cheapest and lightest available on short notice) for Jerry(rigged) and I, also ice axes and leashes. If you need crampons so you don't slide while upright, I think you must need to be able to stop if you're sliding supine. Who said backpacking is cheap? Mostly, I'm looking at the HST, but at least now we have them.

Songbyrd, I come home for Sun - Thurs, then leave for the Sierra Rendezvous, then come home for just over a week, then leave for the JMT. I am going to be so swamped at work the days I am here, but it will all drift away on the trail.”

“I have both the Stubai Ultralights and the Black Diamond Contact Strap crampons. The Stubai's are great but they dull faster than the steel BD's because they're aluminum, so if I think I'll be wearing crampons a lot while I'm out there I'll carry the BD's. Also if I'm day hiking and don't mind the extra weight I'll carry the BD's.

This weekend I'm going to carry the Stubai's because I think I'll only have them on for a couple of short snow sections (if at all). They're all sharpened and packed.”

“I guess I'll bring my crampons on the flight, and we'll see what's gonna happen.
I don't mind. only thing that bugs me is the damn extra weight for the crampons.”

“So Wingding, if you had to have just one or the other, which crampon would it be? Do the Stubais have anti-ball add ons? The BDs are about 30% lighter.

Did I mention that the $1300 repair bill on my Jeep today really sucked?”

“I have some insteps but I will wait to the very end before I even think about packing them.

Just curious, anyone ever used yak trax or would they work out there. I know they are very cheap compared to crampons

http://cozywinters.com/shopping/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=cw&Product_Code=YK-PRO
last edited: 6/30/05 12:02:43 AM”

“this goes a little ways back on the thread but......do bears like pot? Just curious!

hodge, that does suck. sorry to hear that.

really? we need crampons? Is there a lot more snow than last year's trip?

wow, wannabp. that's one busy schedule you got there! You're going to be flying by everyone on this trip!

gemini, I'm glad you got your pot in the canister. :)”

“hikerchic - There will be a lot more snow this year. I figure that several miles of this trip will be in snow. Morning snow will be icy. Afternoon snow may be slushy or posthole.

wingding - Thanks for the info. Do you know the weights of the Black Diamonds?”

“pepperGod checking in...........I peek at this thread every day but can't post from work and when I get home I rarely turn on my computer. I was hiking at about 8000' near Tahoe on Sunday and we only had a couple of patches of snow. But I know that a couple thousand more feet and out of sun will make a big difference. I am not real hot on spending too much time tromping through snow. It will be interesting to hear what wingdingo has to say.

On Saturday I was hiking at about 2000' - talk about contrast! Hot, dry, end of wildflowers vs brisk, lots of water and just the beginings of wildflowers. I am so lucky to live where I can be in 2 such different environments depending on which direction I drive for 2 hours.”

“Bummer, Hodge. What was wrong?

Wingding, do you carry an ice axe?

Hikerchic, it's doubtful I'll be flying by.......... Maybe after the JMT. I'm warming up for retirement in a few years.”

“Hodge, what did you do, get All 4 brakes done at the same time?”

“BobR just did Cirque Peak and said "time to get the mosquito repellent out. Also, the snow cups have become terrible--I'm tempted to limit my climbing for the next few weeks to lower elevations and south-facing slopes."

I hope its not too bad out of North Lake. We're taking crampons and ice axes.”

“Can you rent crampons near the trailhead? If I decide to purchase should I wait till I get to California before buying so that I can see if they fit my hiking boots? I wear a size 12 boot. How do you keep them from punching holes in your other stuff if you fly with them?

signed,
never hiked in snow before and used to marvel at frozen puddles on side of road as a kid in Florida”

“How about golf shoes? I have some black and white wingtips with cleats. Remember them on the links? I bet they would work. With those and some of those misquito net pants like Snow Nymph wears and I could be styling big-time!!!!!
last edited: 6/30/05 7:06:02 AM”

“Creekjumpers suggested crampons look pretty good. They weigh 590 grams (20.81 oz). Is that heavy or light for good crampons?

Check out this site for sunglasses. I found it in my Backpacker mag. You only pay p.p&h charge and there supposed to be expensive (like $120.00) glasses. I ordered some polarized ones for the snow. Theres a button on the right hand top of the page that says "magizine sucribers order free glasses here".
www.soniceyewear.com
last edited: 6/30/05 8:21:23 AM”

“Bears love titanium pot.”

“Wannabp:

Anymore, if I'm carrying crampons then I'm also carrying an ice axe.

Sierra Mountain Center in Bishop offers a really good one-day class on snow travel skills. I took that and it helped, but I still need more training and practice.”

“Did I already tell Phil thanks for planning this trip? {and all the other West Coaster who helped}

I am so excited, to hike this area and can't wait to meet you all.”

“Wing, that's how it looks to me, too, so I spent the extra $$$ and bought ice axes and leashes. Yeah, a class would be good -- but not possible before the HST. If conditions are really bad, we can turn back.”

“Sol, you are not a nice person!!!
A vision of you in net pants and golf shoes is a terrible way to start off the day!!!




Ban solitary hiker!!!!”