Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“flip - Looking forward to seeing you again!!! and to meeting the kids.”

“I'm in (I know, you all have heard that before!) I may want to go in a day or 2 earlier, maybe some other tt'ers will be wandering the hills and I can hook up with them. jvz won me over by calling me peppergod. I love that!
last edited: 11/05/04 12:26:33 AM”

“pepperdog - jvz must be dyslexic. Glad you're in! I suspect there will be several groups going in.”

“If you have 20 people - you will end up with 3 different start dates if everyone reserves permits - only 9 reservable spots per day. Remember to order the permits 6 months in advance.”

“Dante's Inferno = Shepherd Pass Trail

It can be in the 90's at the trailhead. I hate to keep bringing up the heat, but I just want everyone to be aware of how hot that steep trail can be. (6,500 gain feet to the pass)”

“6500' elevation in how many miles, also in that is a single days hike or divided over 2 days.

to me the elevation isn't any worse out there than it is here. The altitude will be what gets you.”

“How hot was it? http://community.webshots.com/photo/163701841/163711497jVOddB

We got a late (10:30am)start. We forgot a few items and had to go to Onion Valley before starting. We got to the first creek crossing just before Mahogany Flats, cooled off in the water, drank a lot and took a rest break.

Like WD said, get an early start.

Ewker, there's a place to camp at the first water stop. I didn't know about it til the last trip. We were cooling off in the water/shade, and saw a tent below the trail. Didn't see how they got down there (~50' below the trail), but its a flat area and makes the first day a lot shorter.”

“Will very likely have several groups...to be determined.

We don't make it to the pass the first day. We save the last 2000 ft. for first thing the second day.

If we start early we should be OK. I didn't see the campsites at Mahogany Flat either, but I was truckin' by on my way to Anvil Camp.”

“So cool... bringing my fishing gear, and looking forward to seeing some old friends -AND new...

Sol, you gonna bring that Confederate Flag again!”

“Obi!! It will be good to see you again Michael. How's the knees?”

“but, unfortunately, it is right smack in the middle of my annual budget reviews. But, I'll watch the dates and see what transpires. Is this a "permit only" sort of place, or can a solo person just "wander into the group"?”

“Do you want me to bring the battle flag (St Andrews Cross), the first national flag (that would be the Stars and Bars), the second national flag (the Stainless Banner) or the third national flag (the variation of the Stainless Banner with the red stripe)? I myself like the Seccession Flag. It was the one that flew over the CSA Customs House in Charleston on December 21st, 1860. It's the preferred flag of the 21st Century Un-Reconstructed Confederate.
last edited: 11/06/04 6:32:17 PM”

“obi - I think you just opened a can of worms!!! LOL”

“Wow! 21 people so far and I think WindWalker is including his sons. We will definitely have several groups going out!”

“man! groups even!...the place will be crawling with TT'ers...:) how will that work out Phil...will dates stay the same?

also, i recall the last nights camp at trail camp when i came out there, that just about all of my tent stakes were bent due to my trying to pound them into rock...:)....should I expect to encounter any of that along the way on this trip? i do not have a freestanding tent.”

“om, just tie your tent to the big rocks. That way you save the weight of the stakes and there's always rocks in the Sierra.”

“om - My idea is that dates stay the same for people who are flying in. For example, fly in on July 15 or 16. Fly home on July 24.

Too early to start organizing the groups, though. I'm waiting for nav to figure it out for me.”

“Phil,

I would really like to join this trip if possible. I have family in Los Angeles, and will be in California during this time frame. Visit family for a few days then hike for a week. What more could a person ask for? Thanks”

“debbieb - Good carpool opportunities if you are already going to be in the Los Angeles area! However, there may be too many people coming from TN already, gotta check the quota....JUST KIDDING!”

“Phil,
Lets make a deal! All us TN folk's can come hike with you in the Sierra's then all you CA folk's can come and hike with us in the smokies! How's that for a deal!”

“Not fair debbie. After all IT IS the Sierra.

Everyone from TN who has seen the Sierra says it's the best.

So, what do you have to offer besides the Smokies?”

“Phil, I've started looking at Kersarge Pass as a way to help with the permit situation.
Yeah, it's longer, and there's TWO passes, but we've got a lot of time to work out the details.

Looking, thinking, dreaming...Oh yeah, life is good.”

“Sure is a bunch of TTers committing so far. With this many people, permit/group coordination will be paramount. I'm flexible and would prefer to go up a couple of days earlier to get more flyfishing time.”

“Kersarge/Forester is an option I was looking at as well Nav. Start higher, an extra 8 Mel miles or so, higher quota.”

“the-naviguesser, lets see. To me, the Smoky's are the best thing in TN. Since I haven't ever hiked the Sierra's I'll have to take your word on that.....I have hiked the Teton's....Absolutely loved it.....Altitude about killed me, though.....How many days will it take to get accumalated to the altitude?”

“You will never get accumalated to the Sierra!
Oh wait!! You were asking about altitude!
A night in Lone Pine or higher will help, take a Tagamet before you hit the trail, and drink LOTS of water. Follow these instructions and you shouldn't have much of a problem, certainly not after the first day.

PS. Do you understand when I say LOTS of water?”

“No, really, I mean LOTS!!!”

“Nav - see my email. We obviously will have to break up into groups. A group (or two) from Kearsarge would be great. I was hoping to start working out these details after New Years, but people are bring it up now.”

“Yeah, Freedom, my knees are just fine... never had a problem with those... My R.A. affects my hands and wrists, but I'm on some extremely efficacious med's... in english, that's good stuff.

Might have to bring that can of worms, Phil... almost out of Slammin' Blackberry Jam... could be a while before I work up another batch...

Keeping posted, as always, and lurking in the dark...”

“hey O Be One , i see u lurking in the dark!
are you going to stop at that bra bar on the way to the trailhead this time? LOL

Navi guesser....what do you mean "not a fair trade"?....one must not knock what one has not experienced!!LOL granted "back east" is not the sierras or a wind river range.....but it has its own unique breathtaking magnificence ....
sprout those wings and come outta that box one of these years!..(hurry up tho...years are growing thinner for us grown ups)..we can show u some good appalachian magic....no permits necessary!”

“om, I'm not to sure about walking through a green tunnel. But, a campfire every night sounds nice.
Now what can you do about the humidity?”

“"Now what can you do about the humidity?”"
the naviguesser


hike in autumn~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~jai~

green tunnels?
get high on the balds~~~~
http://client.webshots.com/photo/210262922/210904019kCToJN


http://client.webshots.com/photo/210262922/210268363bLxzZu

just sayin :)”

“Those photos look like the San Gabriel Mt. right behind L.A.

Now, om, just stop and think, "Woluld you rather be on a peak or on a BALD?"
I think the mere words say it all. 8^D”

“Phil, since we will be going in on different days on ths trip. Put me down for the first day in. And if anyone else is planning on summiting Mt Tyndall, they might consider going in on the first day. That way group one can meet up with group two, who will be going in on the second day. And not attempting Tyndall”

“WLD, are you going on the High Sierra trip, too?”

“I guess I just imagined your name on that trip.”

“Phil, I may change my mind and go on this trip. Would that be a problem? actually most likely I will change to this trip...”

“Hmmm, maybe I can help Strider carry the beer if he shares. Me thinks elevation won't bother him so much then. Of course, I've moved a couple thousand feet down to sea level now, so climbs are a bit more challenging...
Will check out schedules this week and see if there's a possibility of getting off work for a full week (+drive time), then see if there's even room for one more on the permit list. I can help Phil with a D.O. Dinner one night (BEFORE hittng the trail) :-)”

“Gemini - I think we will have several starting groups, so jump in!! You can fly into the Los Angeles area or the Sacramento area to meet up with carpools.

cork!!! - Great to hear from you. Didn't know you were lurking about! Could be a number of us from the first llama trip...solitary, Freedom...who knows! Are you not in Pullman?

WLD - I think there will be some others who want to go in early enough to grab a peak or take a layover day. Getting conflicting info on when we can apply for permits...I thought it was March 1. Need to confirm.”

“Thanks Phil.that's it then. I'll switch over.”

“"Woluld you rather be on a peak or on a BALD?" naviguesser

you, of all know that i have a "peak" experience no matter where i be on this planet~~~~~~~~~~~``

woweee, this is going to be some exodus of a trip that you are leading Phil! as the 3rd zen patriarch said..'the way is not difficult for those with no preference"... still, i would be so happy to fall into the geezer group.”

“Hey wannabp, How are you? I am going on the Shepard Pass to Mt Whitney Trip. I want to do Tyndal and a few other peaks along the way. Also when I thru hiked the JMT. It rained on us all thru this section, So I want to see it with out RAIN and Lighting. Plus I want to say hi to the BAckcountry Rangers there. The husband and wife team. They are cool!
last edited: 11/10/04 10:13:34 AM”

“With this trip growing how is going to affect us. There has been some talk of splitting into groups. Will this cause problems as in flight plans, how will the group be divided. Inquiring minds want to know. Yeah its early but I tend to plan things esp how I am taking my vacation nxt yr.”

“Ewker, the real question is, "What do you want to do?"
Because of the permit situation some people are going in on Sat. some on Sun. others will be going over Kearsarge Pass.
Some will be flying into L.A. and carpooling from there, others will meet in Sac. and carpool from there.
So, what do you want to do?”

“i have a "peak" experience no matter where i be on this planet~~~~~~~~~~~`` om

So you like the Sierra best?
Before you answer think about the cowboys.
8^D”

“60% of the trailhead quota is available through advanced reservations and 40% is available on a walk-in basis. To apply for an advanced reservation, please follow the instructions on the Inyo National Forest Wilderness Permit Application. Applications for all other trails except the Main Mt. Whitney Trail will be accepted by mail, fax, and phone on a rolling six-month basis beginning on November 1st (i.e., for trips starting July 1st we begin accepting applications January 1st).”

“link for permit info:

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

“nav, I was going by how the trip was planned to start with. No other plans have been made at this time other than saying it will be split. I have never been to Calif so I don't know a thing about the area.”

“Same here.
I need to go with some people that know.”

“wingding, it is good they have you make reservations 6 months in advance but I thought Phil or someone else was doing that once a date and the number of people had been set. I am sure there will be openings as some people drop out.”