Loon Lake Winter Fiasco

“As long as you're here whats your thoughts besides that 8).”

“OK with me.
Not quite so far away. (Good)
I'll have to buy some new tires tomorrow, maybe some chains too. (Bad)
I'll have to get up REAL early. (Bad)
It's an easy hike. (Good) With a good day hike to Dewey Point. (Good)
Looks like the (Goods) are starting to outnumber the (Bads).”

“Here's the number for the Cross Country Ski School/rental area(which is right at the T/H, I called and left a message about conditions, permits and map sales, hopefully they will call back tonight, they do close in 10 minutes though.....
1-209-372-8444
P.S. I was only kidding about the knowledge to use a map and compass, you all probably now better then me since I am the proud new owner of a GPS, can't wait to use it this weekend!”

“JVZ,
You've got mail/map.”

“You're still welcome here and we can take off from here and save you buying any new stuff.

Thanks Paige. Now lets see where wanna and songbyrd and Pepperdog stand and the timing on the convoy.”

“Paige, I'd like a map if it's not a hassle. I have the Tom Harrison map, but I take it this one is different........

We're okay with whatever, but I prefer safe.

What party?”

“Wannabp,

You too have mail/maps!

Party, what party? ;)”

“Thanks, Paige. It's at my home e-mail, maybe I should leave work early.........”

“Thanks J.
I'll have to do some thinking.
I mean it's farther AND a party.”

“Wanna, I can send them to your work if you'd like....”

“Did someone say party?”

“Party here or up there. If you want to come over on Thur. nite Rockman you can race Nav for the floor or bed.”

“Are we set on Yosemite?

Rockman, are you coming along? It'd be nice to follow in your tracks again ;)

IF we are set on Yosemite, would anyone want to party with Jerry and I at the Bug Hostel on Thursday night? http://www.yosemitebug.com/ They do have rooms, big and little, shared and private. A low of $18 for a bed in the dorm, a high of $115 for a 2-bedroom house that sleeps 7. For us, it makes sense rather than start driving at midnight.”

“Wannapb,
Thanks for the tip on the bug hostel, we might stay there fri night.”

“Call them. The rates go up on Friday for the holiday. We've stayed there before, great food, ambience, and interesting international guests.”

“I think Dewey Point it is. I can't make it in Thursday nite tho. Its a three hour drive in good conditions so maybe I'll be there by ten to give time for the roads to thaw some. That bug place looks cool though.”

“So, what has everyone decided. I can go to Dewey Point. Is there anyone coming from the Sac area that I can carpool with? Friday - Sunday?”

“Who all is planning to go to Dewey Point? I could do this.”

“Jerry and I are going to drive to the Bug Hostel Thursday afternoon/night and to Yosemite from there on Friday morning. It just doesn't make sense for us to drive so far on Friday morning.”

“We'll see you at the trailhead or beyond on Friday Wanna and LS. I have to get to bed so bye till tomorrow. I'm up after 2am and able to take any calls if we need to fill in some car pool blanks. g-nite kids.8)”

“Has this changed to a Yosemite trip? Where is this exactly?

I'm afraid this is too far for me to go for a day trip. Dangitallanyway!!! I guess I will have to find somewhere for me and a couple of friends on Saturday. Any ideas? Does anyone know if there is snowshoing around Sly Park Resevoir? That might be low enough that I could take the dogs.”

“I'm afraid this is too far for me to go for a day trip.
pepperDog

I guess you're just going to have to do your 1st snow camp.
WooHoo! See ya there.”

“Darn Pepperdog,
Come on with me on Friday A.M. I just spoke to JVZ on the phone and I plan to meet him at his house (in Lodi) and ride up with him and whoever else. I plan to leave around 6:00 A.M.
Dewey Point is in Yosemite close to the Glacier Point turn off. Sure you don't want to go for the weekend?”

“Wanderer checking in, I usually do email even if I'm traveling. 'm still hoping to get home Fri Nite & leave for (?) Sat A.M. I guess the question now is ... where am I leaving for??

If it's Yosemite, that's a LOONNG drive for a Sat-Sun trip only. Should we also consider a 2nd trip for Sac area folks... something easier to get to??

Just rambling....no firm ideas. We could always meet at one of the sno-parks for a day-trip, OR, meet at the TH for Loch Leven lakes which is right off I80 & hike back to Loch Leven Lakes!!! Follow this link for GORP write-up of Loch Leven

http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/wildernesspress/sno_ntahoe.htm”

“Hi, Wanderer. I looked at that link. The trail is "moderately steep" in places. I need some serious education about avalanches before I try something like that.”

“You people are always adding the word PARTY to you message just to get one started. So where's it at anyway. LOL!”

“Jerry is worse this morning...........”

“The party is going to be where I am. Right up until JVZ kicks me out.


My walkie talkie will be on channel 7, sideband 0.”

“Jerry is not coming, but I'm all packed, the car is loaded, and I'm off to work.
I have Bug Hostel reservations, but will call JVZ about possibly fighting Navi for the floor so I can caravan with you guys.
Packed up the walkie talkies, but I don't really know how to use them.”

“I can leave work as early as 1:30 or 2:00. I'll call and check in.”

“i wanna go, but i can't. I really want to do some snowshoeing in Yosemite this winter, but this weekend it's going to be Mojave National Preserve.”

“I've got the car loaded.
Will be on the road right after lunch.”

“Hope Jerry feels better soon.
See you guys up there on Saturday! Keep the site warm for our arrival :P”

“TTers going to Loon Lake???”

“Geobeet, the Loon Lake fiasco relocated to Yosemite 'cause of possibly icy roads, but I think you mean to imply we're loony.

Navi, I'll be on the road as soon as I print a map. See you at Jene's .. assuming that's where you're headed.

Paige, the weather gods will keep you warm. Looks like a warm front is coming through and the rain is now out of the forecast. I'm not sure where we'll pitch our tents, but we'll watch for you.”

“Somebody email me JVZ's home address. He's ignoring me and I have big plans with his house while he's away.”

“Does anyone know if Hikerchic knows about the change in location?

Hey, Hikerchic, get your arse to Yosemite or atleast JVZ's house by 7:00 am Friday morning!!!”

“Well have a great trip anyway. Loon Lake would be the appropriate place for a TT trip IMHO.”

“Aahh, thanks for thinking of me rock! I was going to email about this trip too! And man do I wish I could call in sick tomorrow! I do have to work but i'm off at 3pm.

I'm packing tonight right after I get off this thing. I'm leaving right after work tomorrow which is 3pm. I won't get there till around 9pm possibly earlier. Can't totally trust mapquest or yahoo.

Where will you guys be at that time? Dewey Point? Or is everyone staying somewhere Friday night then to the TH Sat. morning?

Is Paige's group still staying at The Yosemite Bug Hostel Friday night? I'm thinking of doing that myself & hiking out with them Saturday morning to Dewey Point to meet up with you guys. I don't have a radio so I'd rather hike in with a group. Paige are you still going? My cell phone for anyone is 209 483-3676. Call me if you need to and I'll try to go online at work tomorrow to check here too.

This is going to be really fun! =:)”

“You have a phone to answer. Wanna is here and Nav on the way. Parteeyyy. Get yer carcas over here.”

“Ok, I've decided to call in tomorrow! And I have to get off of here so I can pack! Jene if you read this, can you send me the map that Paige sent you? Or Paige can you send me a copy of the map?

If I decide to caravan with you guys from Jene's house in the morning,I'll have to leave here at 5am. Orrrr I can just drive myself down to the trailhead and hope that I meet up with you guys. Hummm....getting up about 1 1/2 hours earlier to drive west instead of straight down south.....but I could get lost.....and by myself....I think I'll opt for getting up early. Hey, you guys, wait for meeeee! Jene, I need directions to your house again! Can you email them to me? Thank you! Or just your address is fine!

Are you still planning on leaving at 7am? I thought that was the plan but maybe it's changed?”

“We'll wait for you. Off of 99 take Turner Rd West like you're going to Wine and Roses. Turn left at Lower Sacramento Rd. to the next lite go left on Elm. Right on Genie and Left on Burton. Fourth house on the left.”

“Ok, got it Jene! Thanks and I just got your phone msg too. Are you still leaving at 7am?

No time to chat on phone now....I'm packing!”

“I won't be home until late Friday so kinda tough to go to Yosemite area if I can't leave until Sat morning.

Looks like it's also kinda late to plan a new destination for an overnighter.

Sooooo... anybody up for a day-hike Sunday? If we pick something near one of the sno-parks off 50 or 80 we shouldn't have road problems. Echo, Donner / Boreal, I'm gonna head somewhere!”

“OK Hikerchic. 7am is the planned time but we'll wait. Everybody has their cell phones on so if you have trouble just call.”

“Looks like I'm just about packed. Just need to make lunch for tomorrow and i'm set. Hey, is anyone else bringing a pulk? Bring those shovels... I can use some help with the quinzee.

Right on HC5! Glad you're taking off tomorrow. See ya at Jene's in the morning along with everyone else.”

“I will be at the trailhead up there Sat with the group of people I am going with. It kills me to hear you all planning on going up there on Friday!

You guys have a safe an happy week-end up there at Dewey point.

Wannabp, I will look for you on the trail, if you are thinking of hiking out to Glacier Point at all I might see you.

'Snowdancer'”

“We'll be camped at McGurk Meadow if you happen to pass by. BYOB+”

“Woah now, JVZ, you got Satellite? Shouldn't you be on the road? ;)
Sorry Hikerchic, didn't read this till this morn, of course you could have hiked in with us and I would have sent you a map!
I think we are bringing our sled.”

“Navi made it home.”