Sierra Rendezvous 2005

“If anyone is flying in to (southern cal) Ontario International Airport, CA. I can pick you up, and take you to the Trailhead. You do not need to worry about anything in that regards.”

“If you don't reserve a permit early, you might not get it.”

“wingding, like I said I thought Phil was doing that for everyone?? am I wrong”

“Mount Tyndall is a fun climb. It's class 2/3 with some loose rocks - I had some really big ones come crashing down toward me when we did the climb this past summer. The north rib is the best route in my opinion.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/176449356/176461863jpQOFl”

“you can reserve a permit for a group of people or just one person - they charge $5 per person to reserve the permit”

“Going over Kearsarge Pass isn't bad - only about 2,000 feet gain, and that area is just beautiful.”

“Ewker, Steve, things now are in limbo (as they usually are at this point in trip planning).
Start by looking at your calendar. Can you fly into Calif. on Fri. or Sat.?
Which airport has the best price? LAX, Ontario, Orange Co., Sac.?
Then who in that area will be carpooling? I bet you'll be able to hook up with someone in the L.A. area. Sac. might be a little harder, but they've brought lots of people on other trips.
As to the trip itself, it looks like the people that start on Sat. will be bagging a peak or 2. If Mt. Whitney isn't enough you might want to go with them.
Sun. starters will be a bit more leisurely but still a good hump the 1st day.
Those going in over Kearsarge Pass will have to cover more ground, but they'll see more territory.
Whichever start you pick you'll have locals with you. WLD wants to bag a peak, Phil wants the leave on Sun., I'm leaning toward Kearsarge.
So check your calendar, air fare, & maps (trip), and start dreaming. It's ALL good.”

“Who's Steve? ;-)”

“nav, I want to be able to do as much as I can in the time I have. I would probably fly in southwest to what ever their airport is near LA.
oneday of altitude adjustment is probably all I will need, at least it was that way in Colorado. The elevation gain shouldn't be a problem at all. Elevation is elevation no matter where you are.”

“Busted by the STOVE!!! Drat!

Ewker, you're half way there already.
Seeing as you brough up elevation, you're right it shouldn't be a problem, you might want to lean toward the Sunday starters.”

“Hope to have the PNW Carpool rolling into Sac on the Friday night as usual, which gets us to a trailhead sometime on Saturday
:-))”

“I think it's acturally $15 per person since the trip ends up in the "Whitney Zone"”

“I stand corrected - the fee is $15 per person. Here's the official info on fees:

Fees: Fees are for reservations only. Permits are free. Reservation fees are not refundable once your reservation is processed. There is a $5.00 per person reservation fee, except for trips that enter the Mt. Whitney Zone, where the fee is $15.00 per person. If you are requesting to enter the Mt. Whitney Zone at any point during your trip you must apply the $15.00 fee.

That adds up fast.
last edited: 11/10/04 3:25:43 PM”

“..so everone should get their own permit?”

“SS, once all the details get worked out I will probably send money to whom ever is getting the permits/reservations for everyone.”

“navi navi navi....this is the last time i will splain it to you ( i know u are teasin me!!)....i don't judge for or against one thing or another... , they have ALL been peak experiences.

regarding thinking about cowboys......
when i do, i seem to THINK a lot MORE about the cowboy peak experience i had in the winds this past summer~~ because it was a more recent and sustained experience~~~jai~~~

i do have to say that planning a hike in the sierras is much more complicated than hiking in the east most places. That is a fact.

ewker and stovers...i think Phil addressed the "how will this change travel plans" with me....we go with the dates posted for the trip and he will do the rest of the math...
heh....right Phil?????”

“om, teasing for sure. Ain't life grand?

Cowboys? Wasn't the one on the way to Crabtree Mdw. your first? HeeeheeeeheeeeSnickerSnicker








Why should I grow up?”

“Hodge, is the PNW group doing Kearsarge? I think Jerry and I will throw our lot in with the PNWer's since that's where we're from.”

“OK. Here is what I see is forming up...since everyone is so eager for this awesome trip! I will probably add this to the trip page as well:

Three or four groups starting on the first weekend at two trailheads. We will probably join up for the last four days, but not in a way that will get us in trouble with the Rangers.

Kearsarge Pass TH, Sat, July 16 Group 1
Shepherd Pass TH, Sun, July 17 Group 2
Shepherd Pass TH, Mon, July 18 Group 3

Group 1 would be people who can make it to the Kearsarge Pass TH on Saturday. The overall trip is about 8 miles longer, but starts at a higher elevation. Would not have to hit the trail early on Saturday to have a good day. Group 1 could consist of a larger number of people on various permits because the trailhead quota is large. If you are an out-of-stater and want this group, you have to fly in on Friday at the latest. This trailhead idea was added to the original plan and is pretty cool.

Group 2 Would be people who want to hit the trail on Sunday and who may want a layover day in Wright Lakes Basin or time to climb Mt. Tyndal on Monday. Probably would spend the night in a motel in Independence or Lone Pine and hit the trail early on Sunday. Group size is somewhat limited. Only 9 permits will be available in advance and perhaps a few the day of. People flying in on Friday or early Saturday could do this.

Group 3 would be people who need more travel time and/or are happy with 6 days on the trail. Would hit the Shepherd Pass Trail on Sunday. Only 9 permits will be available in advance and perhaps a few the day of. Could fly into the area any time on Saturday and have time to drive to the area on Sunday. Hit the trail early on Monday.

A fourth group could also be formed of people who leave Kearsarge on July 15 or Shepherd Pass on July 16.

All these groups could make it to Wright Lakes Basin on July 19th.

Regarding permits. I suggest wait and see what groups form and pick people to apply for permits for small groups (of 3 or 4). We can plan that out. There are some strategies to use that are helpful. I don't think it makes sense for everyone to apply for their own permit. It is easiest when those that apply for permits just front the money and then get reimbursed after we see what permits we get.

Whew!!

Ewker - Does that help? I suggest you fly into Ontario or Sacramento. FYI. Southwest flies into Ontario. Arriving on Friday or Saturday would give the most options. Fly home on Sunday, July 24.”

“CORK!!!

OMG! It would be great to see you again. Hope you can make the trip.


Phil.... If you have an info email of the trip particulars... Could you send it to me? If not, maybe I will put one together from all the threads. Being a "planner" at heart, just trying to figure who's all going, who will share permits, daily destinations and mileage, etc....

We are so looking forward to this hike!”

“Thanks Phil.
That's more typing than I want to do. 8^)

If it will help to start getting things in order, put me in the Kearsarge group. I think T-Girl would like to be in that group too.”

“I added the group info to the trip page and did some editing.

Freedom - I also heard from Creekjumper today...She is thinking about it!!!”

“Phil, that help a lot. Now I have to figure out which one I want to do. It will either be Group 1 or 2.
last edited: 11/11/04 7:38:30 AM”

“Landscaper and I would like to be in the Kearsarge group. We can swing by Sacramento and collect 2, maybe 3, out-of-towners who want to fly in to Sacto.”

“I am leaning towards group 1 but will be flying into Ontario”

“That makes 5+ for the Kearsarge group so far.

Ewker, I know it's too early to make airline reservations yet, but as part of the Kearsarge group keep LAX in mind.
Trekkngirl found LAX to be the best price last year, and more convenient for me.”

“Sorry I meant LAX, just checked with Southwest..wish i could book now 94.00 one way from Nash”

“Mount Tyndall is a fun climb. It's class 2/3 with some loose rocks - I had some really big ones come crashing down toward me when we did the climb this past summer.

wingding0
12:17:21 PM
11/10/04

what does class 2/3 mean?”

“Here are pictures from the Junction of the JMT and Charlotte Lake to Vidette meadows, Forrester Pass, Wallace Creek, Guitar Lake, Mt Whitney.... Just a little tease for those who are going over Kersarge Pass.....

http://community.webshots.com/album/93422627GJvghc”

“Ewker...
Class 3 requires the use of your hands as well as your feet, more of a scramble but not technical climbing...it's a lot of fun!

I think the Kersarge route sounds great!
Josh and I could complete another large section of the JMT.”

“thanks Wind Walker, that reminds me of a trail I did in NC a few weeks ago. Trekking poles were kind of useless on certain parts.”

“I am leaning towards Kesarge as well, I will make up my mind by the end of the weekend.”

“WLD, your album definitely whets the appetite.”

“wannabp - I'm not even sure who all is in the PNW Carpool.

Does leaving Sac on Saturday morning give us time to hike in that day, or would we be making a Sunday start?”

“Wind, are you section hiking the JMT too?


Hodge, what's the drive time from Sac to Bishop?
Kearsarge Pass is like 5 miles and 2500' gain. The way you hike I bet you could catch us if you hit the trail noonish.
(noonish? That's why I'm the NaviGUESSER)”

“OMG! WLD, that's JJ the guy I loaned a pack to in Joshua Tree. From borrowing equipment to the JMT in, what, two years? Good for him!”

“It is the same JJ as Joshua Tree.

http://community.webshots.com/album/64717672Msyadp

He hiked the final 35 or so miles with me. He did progress quickly!”

“Who is this good looking man of the wilderness..

http://community.webshots.com/photo/64717672/64722352BVEZxF”

“Yahoo maps says it takes 7 hours 40 minutes from Sacto to Independence, the take-off point for the Kearsarge Pass group.

Shuttling cars around involves about 20 miles between Independence and Lone Pine, 12 miles between Lone Pine and Whitney Portal and 15 miles between Independence and Onion Valley campground. Could add as much as 2 hours for the shuttle.”

“Hodge, leaving Sacto Sat morning would make it pretty hard to start Sat day, depending on traffic and shuttle arrangements and how far in before the first night. It could probably be done with an early start and no glitches, but Kearsarge may not be your best option if you're locked into leaving Sacto on Sat. I like Kearsarge for its large quota. I don't want to be wondering if I got a permit. And it looks like it will be beautiful.”

“Who else is in the carpool? Strider, are you still planning on joining in? It seems to me that it took 4 hours (?) from Sac to Bishop? If we left early, we could still catch up with the group on Sat? Remember, Hodge will have his entire pack full of food, so I might be able to keep up with him!!”

“Independence is beyond Bishop.
Getting two cars up to Whitney Portal -- one to leave there and the other to drive back to the TH--is time-consuming. If we could add ourselves to the other groups for the shuttle out of Whitney Portal and then get a ride to our entry TH, that would be great.”

“Thanks Sir Naviguesser..I would love to be in the Kearsarge group with ya..sounds like an awesome trip in the making..Thanks Phil

8 more months..WooHoo!!! ha”

“trekkngirl, call me tonight when you get off work”

“Sure, Ewker”

“I'm so ready for this trip I have my hiking boots on now.”

“OK, I'm making plans to head West! Phil, I signed up for the trip and my daughter (puddlejumper) is thinking about going also.

I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones! For those of you I haven't meet, I hiked on the 1st. Llama-Rama and had a great time! This time I will try not to catch the "sacred Golden Trout" ;)”

“Wannabp, Lady Hiker et al - I'll do the drivin.... and you guys do the figurin'
:-)

The earliest I'll get out of Vancouver is Thursday, and it's 865 miles and about 14 hours key-on to Sac from here. With the PNW pool stops, I'd expect to be in Sac by dinner on Friday at the latest.

Beyond that, I'm not particular about the rest of the plan, and will hapilly go along with whatever the Sac Pack have in mind for trail and trailhead etc
:-)

It would be nice to get back to Sac by Saturday night, to start the run home on Sunday, but I wouldn't want to miss out on the apres festivities”

“Hello Phil

Thank you for organizing what looks like a really fun trip! I have been watching and reading about this trip since you posted it.
I have been considering joining this trip, but wanted to check 1st with you if I could since I have not been on a TT trip before?
Myself and two girlfriends did Shepherds Pass in July of 2001..our last two days were right before the July 15th closing of the Bighorn preserve..we dayhiked into the Williamson bowl on July 14th. What Snow Nymph & Wingding say about getting an early start because it is so hot is very true..we left at 7:00 am, we should have left earlier but it did work out okay..it was indeed blazing hot, at least 90 degrees on some places on that trail...we took our time, stopped a lot to rest and drink water, it did take us 8 hours to get to Anvil camp..and we were all pretty pooped..being that hot did not help at all. The next day we continued on up to the pass..there was right below the pass a small snow crossing, not very long at all and we did not have any problem with it at all.

I like the idea of the two groups since it is so large now, I was thinking of joining the Kersarge pass group...I have done Kearsage pass, but went north over Glen pass into sixty lakes basin...I have not hiked the section south from Kersarge to forester pass..it would be neat to also see center lakes basin..I do not know if that is possible. I have been to forester pass but from the South side..we did a day hike to it on that trip, and loved it up there.
I do have pictures of my trip there on my webshots...but they are really bad quality pictures not at all like Snow Nymph's & Wingding's..so it is a little embarrassing, my pictures were taken with a regular camera on that trip..I did not own a digital at that time...so when I added them to the webshots I took a picture of the print picture with my digital camera I have now HA!! if that makes sense. Okay I don't know how to add a link to my webshots..but I will try
http://community.webshots.com/album/188732583ktDtiw

Thanks so much for organizing this trip!
Anita”

“Hodge, we'll drive, too.

Do you guys want to go in at Kearsarge or Shepherd Pass? It may seem early to decide, but permits need to be reserved in January!!!”