Coming Out of the Closet: Gem and Ruby

“I know!!! I read the TR. LOL Just messign with her!!

I am so excited!!! I wanna go today!!!!!”

“you gals have fun! Crazy women! ;-) lol”

“Okay, I'm back!!! Sheeshola...what a weekend.

But it's already time to focus on Thursday's departure for sunny California and Gemini!!!

Gem, I've got a lot to do tonight, so I'll touch base with you tomorrow.

YEE HAW!!!!”

“she's alive!!!!! i'll talk to you tomorrow then.”

“Ruby...before I forget...[and TT is sort of my reminder...heeheehee]

what are you taking?
snowshoes?
crampons?
heels? [really now]
what are we wearing on our last day out? I mean are we like going fancy?? [heeheehee...i said "like" just like the Cali people in the movies]....

i may need to go and buy me something...

oh bikini? should we take?
I really don't wanna take more then I'll need. especially my gear.

soooo..if we hit snow...should be just decide on another route? or rough it out and go anyways??

okay...this is only a reminder...no need to reply right away...just odn't let me forget...I have to start packing stuff. I may need to wash my downbag too. (ugghhh...gonna hate that part)

hey ruby...we are going to cali!!!”

“Like, totally........




and stuff ;-)
last edited: 6/06/05 9:39:11 AM”

“Take bikinis and a lot of pics. Thanks.”

“Actually, your talking CA...you only need the bottoms.




Lots of pics.”

“More pics if you don't take (or use) the tops. Thanks again.”

“heeheehee!!!
we'll take plenty of pics of various mtns. I am sure...

we are going to cali...
i better check my flight schedule now huh?”

“"various mtns"


ALRIGHT!”

“Hey Gem!

I need to call Heather to find out if she is still up to meeting us.

I am going to call the rangers today to check on conditions. I have snowshoes, but no crampons. If I have to, I guess I'll buy some. Prefer to borrow some if needed.

Heels and assorted outfits...I'll check back with you on that. I'm all for a night on the town. Let's figure out our town first to determine the most appropriate outfit.

As far as shared gear...

Tent - yours
Jetboil - yours
water filter - mine

Anything else that we're sharing? Our sleeping bags are mateable, right? LMAO - JUST KIDDING!”

“we'll need to stop and an outfitter anyways...can't fly with the fuel.

you carry the bearicade??
or do you wanna carry the tent and the jetboil?

hmm...woman! do we need your friend to go and have a good time on the last day? anything is fine with me...we'll party no matter what on the last day.

okay...i'll bring jeans, heels, not jeans pants...[leather??] grins... sexy top...
swimwear, makeup. anything else?

sleeping bags...don't start any rumors...heeheehee...they have already way too much of a imagination
last edited: 6/06/05 10:22:03 AM”

“Current trail conditions according to the recording:

Horseshoe Meadows campground is open

Trail has patches of snow, streams are high

No fires permitted



I am calling the ranger right now for more specifics.”

“when you coming out for a tour of the Art Museum”

“Just got off the phone with a woman.

She said that rangers went to Cottonwood Pass this weekend. They were able to do the trail in boots, but they did not cross the pass. The pass itself was still not passable. But we aren't going over Cottonwood or New Army pass, so we are fine. She did suggest that we might still want to bring snowshoes. Crampons aren't necessary.

Temps up there over 10,000 feet are ranging in the mid 30s at night to 60s and 70s during the day. (Perfect weather IMHO)

I think I will call them again on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning for a last minute check. I would prefer to not have to fly with my snowshoes. She said that by then, some rangers may have gone to the Cottonwood Lakes area or they will have gotten reports back from other backpackers to be able to give us more specific information about that particular area.”

“whoohoooo...that IS perfect weather.

yeah, i would prefer not to bring my snowshoes for this trip...so we'll see. they are not actually needed real bad or are they? doubt it.

yeah...no crampons then...good...cause I am packing right now and woah...sooo much crap... we have to rethink the food situation...right now I am overpacked in foods...but we'll change that once we are there...

there is enough room in the bearikade for both of our food, I am sure...first day we don't need to put in the canister anyway...

damn...my bag is in teh dryer right now..don't let me forget to pack that. that would def. suck
last edited: 6/06/05 1:18:19 PM”

“flight from dalles to ontario:
flight # 1481 6:23PM arrive in Ontario 7:24PM!

yeah...are we still on the same plan?
seat: 18E

hey...did they change my seat?”

“I thought you were going to California.

WTF is up with Ontario???

Is the party in T'ronto?”

“ontario California
lol i was worried too...that damn ontario and then CA for california was confusing the heck out of me...”

“Ha ha.......heeheehee !!

(I knew that)

>8^}”

“you did..i wasn't sure. I am still worried that I end up in Canada...by mistake. LOL”

“Hope yall have a fun and safe trip!”

“How well does the jetboil work in the snow? Need to borrow a white gas stove?”

“i don't have a whitegas stove. :(
never tried the jetboil in the snow. I had problems previously...hope it works now.”

“I just checked my flight change. Same thing as yours. My seat assignment didn't change. I'm in 25F just like before, due to arrive in Ontario at 7:24. I will be getting to Dallas at 2:39, so I'll have almost a 4 hour layover there in Dallas. What time are you arriving in Dallas? We can have supper together.

FYI, I have printed our driving directions already from the airport to the ranger station. Damn...I just realized what I need to do is get our directions from the airport to the trail head. Okay...I'll work on that and have it before I leave. We aren't going to get to the TH before midnight. It's going to be a late night.”

“heehee, i got to check the other computer...i don't have my pw to logon down here and all my paperwork is already in the car.

I think i have a long layover too though. lunch would be nice huh...dallas, tx lunch. yeah...never ate in TX. damn...never been in TX.”

“Same here. Too bad the layover isn't long enough to leave the airport. I never really feel like I'm visiting a state until I leave the airport.”

“ruby...i checked I won't be in Dallas until 05:09 PM damn...i won't have no time. that sucks.”

“yall have fun, ya hear?!”

“heeheheehee...roam play hoooky and come down there.... pleazzzzz....
grins...yeah... i know, i know.. :(”

“oh man, would i ever love to!”

“Dang, I wish the ranger had told me about this site earlier. It seems like a valuable resource.

www.whitneyportalstore.com

I have perused the message board. Has lots of good info. I posted a question about conditions. I did notice that people who have been to Mt. Whitney in the near past are saying no snowshoes are necessary.

The Whitney Portal Store sells last-minute stuff. It is located next to the Mt. Whitney TH. Wonder how far that is for us? Maybe we can get our fuel canisters and solid waste kits from them on Friday morning. Or perhaps it is located too far away from Horseshoe Meadows.”

“One reply so far to my question on the Whitney board regarding conditions at Horseshoe Meadows to Cottonwood Lakes.

"I was up there Memorial weekend. There was patchy snow up till about 11,000' and then it was solid snow coverage. The snow was compacted and firm enough that my snowshoes were no use. I would say there was around 1'-5' of snow above 11,000'. The temps were cold mainly because there was alot of wind."”

“FYI, for embear. There are 32 spaces available, so plenty of room. But if we are going to add a person, it has to be done by tomorrow. Otherwise, she could be a walk-up. They reserve 40% of the quota for walk-ins. Again, at this season, not going to be a problem.”

“God I wanna go so bad, but I really would feel bad about making a promise and not keeping it. Plus, I have a dr.s appointment on Thursday. :(

It was fun to think about coming for a couple of hours though! Yall have fun!”

“What were they doing ion the closet? Trying on shoes? :)”

“Here is a link to the webshot album of a guy who was there over Memorial Day.

http://community.webshots.com/album/358109506UIBqkF”

“sooo...i guess that's a no then huh embear? damn...it would've been nice to hike one last time with your sorry ass [j/k] heeheeheee


who knows...maybe you'll decide to go anyways....”

“you never know....I may show up at the airport to pick yall up at 7!

:)”

“heeheehee...that would be way too awesome!”

“oh Ruby...the pics do look nice.
so no snowshoes...i guess we hike as far as we can...

or do you want to change the route completely and do desert hiking?

i don't care.... really!
we would've lost the $$ on the permits though :(

we can do like a one nighter in the higher elevation then continue to drive to the desert.

up to you....
i would like to get a feel of the altitude for sure thou...thus the one nighter...”

“It's only a 5 or 6 mile hike to Cottonwood Lakes. I'm all for hiking in and hanging out. If we decide we want to come back on the 11th or the 12th and then head somewhere else instead, I'm totally fine with that. I am open to anything. Being spontaneous is what will make this trip fun.


Then instead of desert camping, we could just drive to Tijuana instead. ;)”

“whoohooooo...”

“so unfair :*(”

“how come you all know those damn symbols?
I must not IM enough...

I need a IM dictionary...

all i know is:
:)
:(
:p
;)
brb
wtf
lmao
roflmao
lol
last edited: 6/07/05 2:16:42 PM”

“just a reminder...
WE ARE GOING TO CALI TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!”

“hey ruby...email or IM me if you get a chance...i got some desert info and other stuff...”

“Yall are gonna have so much fun.....me jealous!!!!!!!”

“:( me sad!!! you should be there.”