Fall Colors at Rock Creek Lake

“I will bring several loaves of french bread and some brie cheese. And some beer. And maybe some wine (ask Sooz about my very old bottles of wine)”

“We'll bring a few Coffee Cakes for dessert! :-)
last edited: 9/22/05 9:26:00 PM”

“You passed up a Marmot Arroyo!?!
Oh, you poor man! That is one GREAT bag.


Of course that's just my opinion.”

“Guilty as charged, but non-repentent. It was one of those compromises ... it allowed me to buy the head light, plus I have a kid in private school, plus I am a CD music junkie (blues, sf-era psychedelic tunes), plus I am pretty much done changing out all my 70s-era heavy backpacking stuff”

“The Sub Kilo has had some issues ... down migration, etc.

Well, since the Sub Kilo uses goose down, of course it's gonna migrate. I find mine migrates down in the winter and back up in the summer. If you are tired of the down migrating, shoot the darn thing with your shotgun and restuff. It should be fine.”

“Seriously, the Arroyo is a fine bag indeed (I have a Marmot Pinnacle with DryLoft for a summer bag when it gets too chilly for my Sub Kilo), but the Sub Kilo, for the features, is priced very well. It has 700 fill goose down with a ripstop down-proof Pertex shell coated with DWR for water resistance and you can practically stuff the thing into your pocket. I think it should be rated at 25 instead of 20 though. It's a liberal 20, while the Arroyo uses a conservative 20. It shouldn't have down migration issues with the baffles that it uses so it's possible you may have a failed baffle lining or something. Remember, always return stuff at REI if you aren't 100% satisfied because that means the employees can buy it for pennies on the dollar. Yeah, baby.”

“I'll bring a few extra bottles of wine, cheese and crackers and potato salad if I can find some tasty stuff in Bishop.”

“Any reports back on how the leaves are doing?


I'm going to bring something to put on the bbq - not sure what yet.”

“I made reservations @ Rock Creek Lodge (Dinner) for Maria, Dale and myself yesterday. I let the guy know there would be a group of us. If you cancel before 3:00 that day there's no charge.”

“Thank you, Songbyrd. I'll see you on friday morning at Tiocampo's.

Maria”

“Set up my CAR Camping tent and Big air mattress today. All looks good and Hubby will be comfortable. Got the gas grill all ready and will box up some firewood. Boy the things we bring when car camping. ;) It's gonna be great! Can't wait.
Hey, Arn't there looks of Hot Springs in the area? Should we try one out?”

“Mrs Hikin' Mike and our two daughters tried out the tent (again) Thursday night. Kids are almost as excited as I am!

Still haven't found my headlamp... :(”

“Hikin Mike,

I have an extra Petzl incandescent headlamp, which I will give to you if you'd like. It takes two AA batteries. Lemme know if you want it, and I'll bring it to the camp.”

“I returned my Sub Kilo last year when the down shifted to the sides in the middle of a 16 day trip, after a snowstorm, and temps dropped to single digits. REI gave me the full refund. I had my Marmot Pinnacle w/dryloft restuffed (free from Marmot) and I'm using it now. The down on the Marmot shifted after I got it back from the cleaners (after the JMT in '01). SnowDude is still using his Sub Kilo.

After our 10 day trip I picked up my truck from North Lake, and the colors were just starting to turn (9/22). Not as colorful as last year this time, but its starting.

I drove to Virginia Lakes and the colors are starting there. The winds were blowing me all over, so I gave up on the hike I was doing and drove to Lundy Canyon. Not much going on there either. Photos of both places are at: http://community.webshots.com/album/459285808QAZkhJ”

“SN, I wonder if all that wind had something to do with the hurricanes in the Pacific way down in Mexico. Or if it's just normal fall weather in the eastern Sierra. Nice pictures, makes me hopeful there'll still be some color when we're there Oct 7th.”

“Here are some color reports from CalPhoto.

http://www.calphoto.com/fall.htm#yo0929”

“thanks for the reports.

I might not be able to take next Friday off - I have a report that has to get out by the end of the week, so Friday may be a work day. If I don't take Friday off, I'll take Monday (October 3rd) off instead. I want to check out the colors in the South Lake/Lake Sabrina area as well as at Rock Creek.

So, I might not make dinner on Friday night. If I work I'll be pulling in really late and might even pull over and sleep before Rock Creek.

Please make sure you write down the combination for the lock at the campground if you are planning on getting there earlier on Friday.”

“Who's still going?
last edited: 9/26/05 11:02:11 AM”

“Thanks tiocampo, I have an "old fashion" incandescant headlamp too...just really love the LED one. It will show up, or I'll use it as an excuse to buy another one!

Kathy, I'm still planning on going. I'll be bringing my wife and our two daughters (7 & 4). I may have to sleep on on a picnic bench cause getting on the ground is a bit trying...but I'll be there!”

“David (drunken_marmot) and I will be there!”

“I have a spare tikka headlamp.”

“I just bought a new tikka XP - more light for dark nights than the regular tikka

http://www.petzl.com/petzl/LampesProduits?MotRecherche=Quick+Search&Langue=en&Gamme=&Critere=32&News=”

“I'm leaving for Bishop on Wednesday, Rock Creek Friday afternoon and sticking around a few days into next week. I think our timing is good for color, now it's all about the wind. Here's some pic's I found of Bishop this weekend.

http://magicalglow.com/Fall_2005/20D_262021.jpg

http://magicalglow.com/Fall_2005/20D_2533.jpg”

“Since it sounds like there will be plenty of 'main course' food, we'll probably be bringing the makin's for some fresh guacamole and chips, along with some of my homemade blonde brownies for dessert.”

“Hi Kathy,

Songbyrd (Theresa), her husband and myself are riding with Tiocampo (Frank).

maria”

“Me and my work buddy will be there on Friday, sometime in the afternoon.”

“I picked up some chicken breasts at Costco, so I'll be bbqing chicken.”

“Lady Maritel, Songbyrd & hubby, Tiocampo will be arriving in Sienna, some time mid-afternoon on Friday.”

“Sounds like it's snowing at Rock Creek Lake tonight, but by Friday it's supposed to be in the high 60's and sunny in the day and down to 30 degrees at night.”

“Elida and I will be there on Saturday (up in Tahoe on Friday, driving down Saturday mid-day). We'll bring some goodies to share, too!

- Steve”

“My hiking plans - Mount Starr on Saturday and Hurd Peak (near South Lake) on either Friday or Sunday depending when I get up there.”

“They got 1/4 inch of snow at Rock Creek Lake but it's melting off because it should be in the 70's today - that's what I was told when I called the White Mountain Ranger Station. The campground is open.”

“Wow, snow! Looks like good weather up to Sunday, then a system might move in.”

“It looks like around between 18 to 20 people will be showing up over the weekend.”

“It looks like I'm going to have Friday off. I'm going to check out the area around South Lake/Sabrina Lake on Friday and then head up to Rock Creek for dinner on Friday night. I better make dinner reservations.”

“okay - I made my reservation for dinner friday night

I'll see everyone that's having dinner at 6 at the lodge. I'll see everyone else at the campsite.

Anyone interested in hiking up Mount Starr, we're looking at hitting the trail around 8:30 am on Saturday.”

“Don't know yet what trail we're taking. Never been there..so... I'm open for now. I'll wait to hear the options at dinner on friday night. I'll bring my maps. Looking forward to it.”

“Hey everyone, trailbum told me about this trip and said he might be interested. If he is, I'll be there. I don't have any of my gear down here, so I'll share his stuff and will be coming in with him. We'd be going in on Friday sometime. I'll let you know tomorrow night if we're coming or you'll just see us there.”

“Frank (Tiocampo)is planning on taking the Little Lakes Valley southbound from camp and check out either Mt Dade or Bear Creek Spire. I am planning on joining and it will depend on how I feel if I can make it up there. Otherwise, I am making a U-turn :-)

maria”

“Yup, Maria's right ... I plan to dayhike as far as I can, toward Cox Col, near Bear Creek Spire. We'll follow the trail almost all the way to Morgan Pass, then head up to Treasure Lakes. We'll see how far we go, depending on how we feel, local conditions, etc. Anyone is welcome to go along, improvise their own route, etc.

Frank”

“Printable 8.5x11 maps are here:
http://www.frankandtepo.com/frank/mapndx/images/rockcreeklake05/

I've added some waypoints for Etrex GPS. A comma-delimited waypoints file is available above, as are versions of the maps with waypoints depicted. These maps have "wp" in the file names.”

“We'll be there late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Plan on making it on time for the climb up Starr. Sounds like a fun weekend!”

“So...it looks like I'll have the campground all to myself on Saturday. :(”

“I'm off work and nearly packed!! Man, I can't wait. This will be my first camp out since I got back from Iraq, and I have missed hanging out in the woods.
Does anyone know if the water in the campground is still turned on? I am bringing some along anyway, but was just wondering.
Can't wait to meet everyone!!”

“It is with heavy heart that say, I won't be able to make it this weekend.


OK, not such a heavy heart.
I have a chance of meeting with a prospective employer to make a career change. Her schedule is up in the air, but the jackpot makes the odds worth it.
That and Mrs. Navi has a client to show around. WooHoo!!!

It's a bummer, but so cool at the same time.”

“Bummer Navi. I was lookig forward to meeting Mrs. Navi and all and you meeting my hubby Dale and hiking and camping with you. I know Dale would of loved tasting your home brew. He is a man of fine beer too. But, good luck on the prosphere for sure. We'll catch you on the next trip.”

“Darn, I don't get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Navi. I was looking forward to that :-( Good luck!

and Hikin Mike, you get the campground all by yourself and enjoy the peace and quiet :-)

maria”

“We're packed and leaving! See you all soon.

Frank, Maria, Theresa, Dale”

“We should be heading out by noon! See you all then!”

“We will stop by Saturday night if we finish our hike at a decent time. Coming from Mammoth area.”