Pioneer Basin/Mono Divide

“Pass and crossing update:
I was up at Edison Lake(VVR) last weekend dropping off supplies and gathered some trail talk. Sounds like conditions are a lot like last year. Snow on the passes and deeper crossings. It's melting fast and a week can make a lot of difference. Didn't need crampons last year, poles and being careful worked. Bear Creek crossing was over rated, I just crossed at a better place downstream. Mono Creek crossing at the falls can be dangourous be very careful there, one slip and your pink foam. Good News is its not very wide. Everyone was #&%!$ing about the mosquitoes but that can change too. Just mix deet w/ your coffee.”

“6 days and counting. The 10 day forecast looks good with the High Sierra having mild temps, and likely no afternoon thunderstorms.”

“Geologyguy will you be coming through Tahoe on your way? I thought if you were I would stop in again to say hello like I did last time. But im leaving tomorrow on a 5 day backpack trip too so I wont be in Tahoe.

You all have a great time out there! The Pioneer Basin is very beautiful. Say hello to Karen & Jerry for me :)”

“MadeinTahoe, I'm picking up Aussie and Matt from the airport, and likley passing through Tahoe about 3pm, so depending on your trip plan we may miss you.

Have a great time on your trip. Where are you going?”

“Hope you guys have an awesome trip !!”

“Thanks Hodge!”

“What time do we want to meet at the trailhead to start hiking?”

“I would say about 10 am; but do you want us to pick you up at the Pine Creek TH (exit Point) and take you to the entry point?”

“That would have been nice again to see you in Tahoe again with muffins! We are leaving today...going into the Miter Basin, just a tad south of the Whitney area, starting out of the cottonwood TH. My hopes are to get to a few of the peaks in that area & Langley on the way out. We will be back home late Friday the 4th, maybe Saturday the day you all start.
It's beautiful this morning here! Have an awesome and fun safe trip everyone!”

“I have a question and a dilemma :

Gg - what elevation are you looking at with respect to the weatehr forecast and max/min temps ?

I have a BA aircore sleeping pad whcih for the most part I love. However, it has recently sprung a slow leak. I slept on it for about 11 nights a month ago and apart from the night I was on snow it was OK. I tested it in the bath but couldn't detect the leak. This past weekend I spent two nights on a ridgerest with a sit pad under my hips for (theoretically) additional padding and it was horribly uncomfortable. So - I can bring my BA and hope the leak doesn't get any faster and I can try to detect the leak again. I really need something better than a ridgerest. The final option I suppose it to buy something else (Thermarest or Insulmat )but of course that's a bit pricey. What to do ?

Anyone got experience trying to find a leak in an inflatable sleeping pad ?”

“Did a search on leaks - I'm going to e-mail BA directly to see what they suggest. But that's probably not going to help me in time...”

“Aussie - My Big Agnes Insulated Air Core has not leaked yet, but I carry a 3/4 length Prolite 3 in my Thermarest chair kit as a back up in case it does. (The total weight of my chair kit is 1.5 lbs. I consider it worth the weight and the back-up pad is comforting).

Having said that, my BA does not insulate as advertised. Near freezing I sleep cold in my 15 degree bag because of lack of insulation. When that happens I sometimes put my Prolite on top of the BA and I am back in business.

I consider the BA too fragile to use in my thermarest chair kit, although some people do.

You may have to bite the bullet and buy a new pad before the trip.

...oh yes! And have a great trip everyone!!! You should have great weather and conditions!
last edited: 8/01/06 11:16:06 AM”

“Aussie, I have 2 extra Thermarests I can loan you. I'm comfortable on my Z-rest and quit carrying the extra weight. One is for snow camping, and the other is an old 3/4 length from when they only had one type. You can decide which you want when we're there. I've got them both with my backpack so I'll remember.

Madeintahoe, too bad we can't have another early morning get-together. I still haven't posted photos from that trip, but I got good muffin shots.

BillT, thanks for the conditions update. I don't know the Mono Creek falls and see only one Mono Creek crossing along our route. The crossing is between Laurel Creek and Mills Creek. Is that the crossing you meant?”

“Karen - thanks for the offer - I may take you up on it.

I heard back from BA within an hour - they asked me to send them my pad and they'll replace it. Pretty darn good service.”

“I reserved a room in the Dorm at Tom's place. Hopefully I will see some of you Friday night, but if not at breakfest Saturday morning. I will arive there between 10:00 and 12:00. All depends when I leave home and any traffic out of here.”

“Well cubfan, it looks like you will be sleeping with me ... I mean we are going to share a room ... I mean I also booked the dorm room ... You know what I mean ... get your mind out of the gutter”

“Darn it, now I feel so slighted.”

“LOL@webmaster”

“So - I just checked the NWS forecast for a spot 18 miles west of Bishop at an elevation of 10,500 and it indicated daytime highs over the next few days in the mid-50s......I had been hoping for something a bit warmer than that. Might need to reconsider my daytime/hiking outfit.”

“Hmmmm, what was forecast for the nighttime lows?”

“Low/mid-40s, so not a big temperature range.”

“That high temp is strange, because the Talking Heads on the TV said that Central Valleya area will be warming up again (to the 90s).”

“I checked the forecast for Mammoth Lakes on Weather Underground, and they are showing highs in the low 70s for the next week.”

“How high is ML ?”

“Looking at Phil's links confirms Aussies forecast. Crabtree Meadow Ranger station had a high of 60 yesterday, Bishop Pass 59, South Lake 69,.”

“If I remember right, Crab Tree was about 12,000', Bishop pass is 13,000', but I think the weather sensor is actually 1,000' or so below the pass, and South Lake is around 9-10,000'. Mammoth Lakes is around 7,000'”

“Hope y'all have a fantastic time. I'll be headed that way a few days after your return.”

“Stole this off another website.

Owens Valley & High Country Forecast
Fort Independence Met Station
EPA Site No: 06-027-1028
0822 PDT 02 Aug 2006

All:

A shallow low pressure trough will remain over the western U.S. through at least Friday. A cutoff low will develop within that trough by early Friday off the coast of northern California. This low will remain stationary through the weekend. This pattern will help keep the Owens Valley under a dry southwest flow aloft and produce temps in the normal range. The Owens Valley can expect clear to mostly clear skies with occasional mountain cumulus over the Sierra Crest. Afternoon temps will be in the low to mid 90s through Thursday. For the high country (8,000 feet) afternoon temps will be in the low 70s and nighttime temps in the upper 30s. The upper elevations (above 10,000 feet) will see nighttime temps in the low to mid 20s.

Current conditions @ MET1 / Fort Independence”

“Karen - I have borrowed a t-rest from a friend so I won't be needing yours. Thankyou for offering to help me out.

Looks like its going to be chillier than I had expecting.”

“We're headed out now. We'll probably be late for dinner, so don't wait.”

“I'm off the the airport in an hour (although the AA website indicates that Matt's plane landed. Aussies comes in a noon. It's a 5 hour drive, and we pick the permit up at the Mono Lake RS. Looks like great conditions!”