Snowshoeing Among the Giants

“Who wants to snowshoe and see 4 of the 5 largest trees on Earth? See the trip page for a snowshoe day trip in Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park :)”

“Sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to spend a few days in Sequoia in the winter. But this time won't work.”

“I would like to go, it will depend on my team's basketball schedule, not sure whether it starts in January or February...will keep you posted. I would be needing shoes so if you could verify that they will be available for rent, that would be awesome. Thanks!”

“Snowshoes are available from Wuksachi Lodge near Giant Forest for $18/day”

“I'm a firm "maybe"! Sounds like great trip, I'm still waiting to see how my business schedule works out, won't know some details until after the first of the year. I'm there in spirit, just want to be there in body also!!”

“I'm looking at early February for a Sequoia trip - I can't make it in January I don't think.”

“This is the week after the Loon Lake trip, so maybe people are still deciding which to do. I'd like to do both, and I might be a lot more interested if this was a multi-day trip since that's a LOONNNG way to drive from Sacramento area for a day-trip.

Anyone else from Northern CA interested? Maybe we can car-pool, make this into a weekend trip?”

“We could definitely do that! How about President's Day Weekend?”

“Dates, please?????”

“Feb 19-21”

“If the Loon Lake trip falls apart then I might be interested in this one. I would want to spend the night at the campground though. Like Wanderer said, It's a long way to go from Sac for a day hike.
The Feb dates (Feb19-21) would also work for me.
The carpool from Sac. sounds great.”

“Let's shoot for February then!”

“I wanted to go but I see I've got tickets to see Cosby in Oakland on Sat. Can't miss that now!!!”

“Hello, I signed up as maybe but it's 1% maybe since I will go alone with no 7 year old boy plus work holiday off :-) Carpool anyone? Songbyrd? Sacramento area...”

“Alone with no 7-year-old boy? Alone with one 7-year-old boy?

The Loon Lake trip is not falling apart.”

“Wanna, I found the thread for Loon lake trip. I'm still on if I get well.

Ladymaritel, Do you have Francis that weekend or not. Wasn't clear. And yes, we should ride together.

jvz, we will miss you on this one. I guess Cosby is important enough. Plus, Mrs.jvz would probably kick your *$% if you don't go with her.
last edited: 1/04/05 10:00:39 AM”

“I guess I did not make myself clear. Songbyrd, for the Loon Lake, I cannot make it. I have francis (my 7 year old lovie) with me. But for this weekend trip, I have no school and don't have my son with me.

Carpooling sounds great!
last edited: 1/04/05 5:28:33 PM”

“It's a date then. We will plan to ride together. What tent will you bring? I guess I will bring the REI clipper. Hope the weather is good for us. Bad weather and I will wuss out.;')
last edited: 1/04/05 5:48:39 PM”

“Ladymaritel, it's great to see you posting over here on TT!!! This is quite a "unique" place, LOL, you'll grow to love this place!”

“Hi, T! You will not wuss out in bad weather. Bad weather is the most beautiful of weather and you won't want to miss it.”

“I'm just not to confident about my tent. My REI clipper is the best design as well as free standing for snow but I'm not sure if it will stand up to heavy snow or blizzard type weather.”

“Look at my Winterfest pictures. We put the sled on the Talus to keep the snow off the flat part. It worked just fine. Isn't this trip a campground, as in you can always bail to the car if you must?”

“I think it's a campground. OK then. Whatever happens, happens. I will use it as a learning experience. I have to worry about the same for the Loon Lk trip. What's the best ground cloth to use in the snow?”

“Hello Wannabp, wanderer and songbyrd :-) and everyone else in this post. Songbyrd referred me to TT and I like it. Quite a few familiar screen names too.

Songbyrd, I have not used my tent since I bought it and will definitely bring my Bibler I tent. I think your clipper will be fine, like paige, she did good with hers. Worse come to worse, mine's a two person and we can always share. I have no experience (yet) with tent set up in snow but with some advises and reading, ditty bags, dead man snow stake would work wouldn't it? Also, doesn't Tyvek work well in snow for ground cloth? You can always put the tent down and put your gears on top before leaving for a day hike.

And, don't wuss out with bad weather! Just like wannabp said, it would be nice to experience a bad weather trip and don't forget the big trees! I will be there for you, just like you are always there when I freak out on heights.
last edited: 1/05/05 5:41:45 PM”

“Ok OK ,& Bring plenty of handwarmers. LOL! I have a Tyvek sheet. It might work better than the ground cloth that goes with the tent. I'll use both + I will add an elcheapo emergency blanket sheet between the ground sheet and the tent. It will help insulate.(maybe) I sleep cold!”

“We tried an emergency blanket as a ground sheet at Winterfest. Couldn't see any difference. Mtnsteve says emergency blankets work because they are vapor barriers. I don't know how vapor barriers work.

Is this a car-camping-in-the-snow, snowshoeing-in-the-day trip?”

“I think so. Sounds like we are looking at Lodgepole Campground. Anyone know if we need to call for reservations or anything? Hey Bearcrossing, what do you think?”

“I don't think so but I'll check to make sure.”

“No, we don't need reservations at Lodgepole. Basically they plow out the main big parking lot at Lodgepole Campground and it's a free for all beyond that. We may be able to dig out a table, fire pit, bear box, etc. but right now there's 4' of snow up there!”

“If anyone wants a map of the trails... http://www.sequoiahistory.org/books/bookmaps.htm Sequoia Ski Trails Map $3.50”

“To "STAKE" out a tent, fill a plastic grocery bag with snow, tie the handles to the guy line and bury the bag.
This will hold a zeppelin in the wind, but boy o boy is it hard to get out of the snow for the pack up.”

“Thanks for that info Pops. I will bring bags.”

“NOT Pops!

Gramps, maybe.”

“I wouldn't trust plastic grocery bag handles. Sometimes they even fail with the grocercies. Stuff sacks should work. REI has some smallish snow stakes for cheap. Also, take a look at their major, expensive, steel plate snow stakes. Then adapt one with 1/4 inch plywood. (Idea credit goes to Wanderer.)”

“Wanna, I used the grocery bags in some REALLY stong winds. Worked great.”

“I think its going to be a great photo op of great living bodies on earth.”

“Yes, good photos - giant sequoias with their rich red bark are especially pretty when contrasted against white snow :)”

“I have another person who's unofficially signed up to go so it looks like we'll have a good group :) If we do this loop on Saturday perhaps we can head up to Tokopah Falls on Sunday...”

“David and I decided this would be a fun one - we've never been down there in the snow! Plus I haven't seen songbyrd or Ladymaritel in a while. :) Looking forward to meeting the rest of you too.”

“I'm still a "tentative" on the trips page, but so far I'm 90% there - no work conflicts have arisen!! YEAAA!

SOOO, is it too soon to talk car-pool from Sac area?”

“Carpool is fine, right Songbyrd? Look forward to this trip!!!”

“God, I wish I could make this trip.”

“Jerry and I are interested in this trip. A strong maybe, but still waiting to sign up, too lazy to do maybe, then sure or not.

A waterfall would be great, BearCrossing. I'll think Wind Walker as I look through my camera lens and see what happens.

Car pooling would be nice.”

“Yeah, Calipidder and drunkenmarmet coming. Then Wannabp and landscaper, Navi. Rockman, are you in?

Carpooling from Sac. is great. I know we have Myself, Ladymaritel, Wanderer all from sac. What do you drive Wanderer?”

“Hi Songbyrd. I have a 7 passenger Toyota Landcruiser. Plenty of room!!”

“We're in. I'd like to drive down on Friday.”

“We may actually drive down to the Bug Hostel on Thursday night and try to ski to Glacier Point and back on Friday, then head for Sequoia in time to meet up with everyone on Saturday, the official trip beginning date. Is Jerry nuts thinking we can ski that far and back in a day?”

“Wanderer, Could Lady Maritel and I hitch a ride with you? Where will you be coming from? I am in Orangevale and she is off 99/ Florin. We could both be in one place for pickup. Will help with gas. Email me @ songbyrd601@comcast.net if you want. I believe we are leaving on a Sat. and returning on a Mon?”

“No prob. I can swing by & pick you up (I'm right off Hazel), then we head down Rte 50 & stop to pick up Lady Maritel. I picked her up once before when we went to Feather Falls, we can decide best place as we get closer. Leave Sat return Mon works for me.”

“Wanderer, Sounds good. Is that working for you Maria? I can be ready as early as needed. I've never driven to this location but I figure it will take at least 6 hours. Am I close?”