Llama hikes - updated- 2-11

“When the thread gets too long, we move on.

We currently have 17 people who are FOR SURE going on the August Llama Rama High Sierra/ Mt.Whitney trip.

I say FOR SURE, because all of these people have either sent me $ to confirm their permits, or have promised me their first-born, male child.

10 Day Trippers

Mel
10 Bears
Explorer
SARboy
Mrs. SARboy
Obi Wan
Oldtimer
Turk
OM
Pepperdog

Seven Day Trippers:

Phil
JVZ
Kent
Naviguesser
Mozark
Mozark Jr.
Freedom

If there is anyone else who want to participate in this trip, you need to get on the stick and let me know.
I need to have cash ($5) no later than Feb. 19 to cover wilderness permits.

T-shirts for this trip are now a happening thing.
I am taking orders for them, Maurie is doing the artwork, and we also have a couple of volunteers who are looking into having them printed.
If you want one, e-mail me with your size and if you want short or long sleeves.
We are taking votes about the sleeves.
The version with the most votes wins.

FALL LLAMA HIKE

In the meantime, I still have a September hot springs llama hike.
The dates are Sept. 5 to Sept. 12.

I will be taking reservations for this hike all the way up until the end of this summer, so you have lots of time to think about going.”

“Mel - the trips sound great! 17 people to start!!! We will have to organize another Dutch oven extravaganza!

Re: Bears (this may be an old topic, but....)

Last October the Forest Service started requiring bear cannisters for hikers using the Whitney Portal trailhead. It was a response to bear activity that accelerated near the end of summer. More and more bear problems seem to be occurring in the Eastern Sierra. I think it is going to be a requirement eventually to have bear cannisters (if it isn't already). I bought the "Backpacker's Cache Model 812" last year. With my Forest Service Volunteer discount it was $55 at the Mill Creek Ranger Station. I don't know if the price will stay that low, but I checked and can get more. I used the cannister for most of last summer and got to where I actually like it. The extra weight is a bummer, but tolerable.

I think that all the 7-day trippers should consider bear cannisters since we won't have the llamas to scare off the bears the last few days. The Sierra bears are getting smarter and smarter at getting to hanging food.

Mel, What do you think the bear situation is in our hiking area? Maybe Tehepite, Explorer and others have some knowledge here also.

(I apologize if this has already been discussed and resolved)”

“No, this is a good point to raise.
There has been a significant amount of bear activity from Trail Camp all the way down to the Portal.
You guys doing the Whitney should definitely consider either a bear can or the Ursak.
I'm not too sure about the reputation of the Ursack. I think anyone interested in the bag should write to the company, or post questions about it on the Mt. Whitney hiking site on www.395.com.
I don't know too much about how bad bears will be down in the Cottonwood area, but I would expect there will be a chance. I'll have to get myself a bear bag this year.”

“mel, can anyone get in on the tee-shirts?”

“Pamster, unless we don't want "poseurs" wearing our shirts, I assume the answer is yes. The more we make, the lower the cost will be.

Mel, I don't think we have to agree on the type of shirt. We're not making enough shirts to really get any economy of scale on the purchase of the blank shirts, so if we buy some short sleeve tees, some long sleeve tees, and some polo shirts even, that should not pose any problem.”

“Poseurs! LOL! That's a jewel! You can have mine say, "I Supported Llama Ramma Ding Dong 2001." That way no one will think I actually went.”

“As far as bears are concerned, I agree with Phil. The convenience, peace of mind and certainty of the bear cannister far outweighs (no pun intended) the extra weight.

Last time I was in this area (New Army Pass to Whitney Portal in '98) we were six guys with six bear cannisters, so we had no problems. We did have an overflow bag and a garbage bag to hang the first several nights, and this hang went undisturbed, though it was often difficult to find a suitable hanging tree (remember the elevation here; no stately oaks, just pole-like pines). However, we did encounter other parties that had bear problems, and in some places heard other parties chasing off bears in the night -- particularly in Cottonwood Basin, where we heard shouting and clapping and pot clanging from one of the other lakes about every half hour for the entire night. We also saw bear signs like scratched bark and scat (particularly in lower Rock Creek). So I think it's safe to say this is active bear territory.

As for the Ursack, even if we take it's impregnability as a given (and I think the jury is still out on that), the bear can still crush, smoosh and generally obliterate your food *through* the sack without even getting it open. I've even heard of bears treating the sack like a giant squeeze tube, crushing the contents and squeezing them out through the opening.

Does the presence of the llamas really scare off the bears?”

“Mel can expand on my comments, but she triangulates the llamas around the food cache and it seems to ward off bears. Bears like to raid quiet camps with little or no apparent activity. The llamas smell the bears and get nervous.

Anyway, it has worked for Mel up to now. However, the 7 day group will be sans-llama for 3 or 4 days.”

“I'll put my money on "Larry's" alarm!! That's one scary sound!! Damn near needed a change of underwear the first night I heard it.

He aint much on social skills, but man can that guy hollar!!”

“Why, Pamster....
Of course you can get a t-shirt!
Send us a pair of your underwear, and one of us will carry them for the trip.
If you want, one of us (or all of us!) could actually wear them.
You could go on the trip by way of "osmosis"!
Let me know what size. And long sleeves or short.

EX...

I didn't think we could get a deal on the shirts, but I didn't know we could grab a handful of whatever and have them printed.

Maurie....
Can you answer Ex's questions on how many colors, blah, blah, blah? I think I included that somewhere in one of the last e-mails to the group.

The llamas are quite successful at scaring off bears.
Bears, who operate on the sneak attack mode, are not able to sneak up on the llamas. One of them stays awake all night to guard his "herd". The herd being US!
Roy, my latest llama, sounds the alarm at deer, and even ducks.
If he doesn't know what it is, he alarms at it.
As far as the smooshability of stuff in the URsack, I'd only keep things in it that crushing couldn't hurt.
And I would NEVER put my BEER in an Ursack.

I will keep most crushable food in my five gallon plastic buckets. By the time I start to head back via the PCT, I should be able to carry more "things" on the llamas.
The seven day group will have gone on it's way, and there will be more room.”

“PS..
I have now received payment (in one form or another from all of the above listed hikers.
I have two more potential hikers who want to go on the 10 day hike.
I will add them to my group and permit.
This will take our numbers up to 19.
Not to sweat.
We are hiking in four "different" groups, and not in a huge line.
To our other group leaders...

I will be sending you your wilderness permit applications about February 20th, along with a check to cover the permit fee for each person in your group.”

“Hi Mel! Glad to hear you're having a great response for your Llama-Rama trips. I don't visit this site much anymore but one thing I happened to notice while lurking around today is in the first message of this thread there is mention of "Mrs. SARboy". I guess this is news to me as I do not remember SARboy being married when we went on last year's llama trip. Congrats SARboy! Another thing you may notice is that I changed my login from Walking Stick to TheFlip. Been aiming to do that for years. Glad to see Phil is still posting. Always good to hear from you Phil. Have fun on this year's Llama-Rama trip. I will not be going. My big trip this year is to Missouri/Arkansas to visit family/friends. I'll be hiking and flyfishing the Buffalo River. Everybody take it easy.”

“Hello TheFlip/Walking Stick. Good to hear you're still lurking around. Best of luck on the flyfishing trip.”

“Hi, Flip!

Good to know you're still around.
Yes, it seems that there is a "Mrs" SARboy".
Their announcement and pictures are up on Phil's picture page, and the "Wedding" thread.
It sounds like your summer trip will be just fine.
I'll put another Whitney-type trip together for next year in case you get the high mountain itchies.
No, not crabs!”

“Hi Solitary! I'm going to get ALL my money outta the new fly pole I bought last year. Mel, I WILL go with ya next year if you organize another dream fishing trip. Especially now that I know you estimate trip milage per the forest service documentation. LOL!”

“Here's the '02 scoop:

We go in on the Cottonwood Pass trail (just like this year), and we spend seven to 10 days wandering around in the Miter Basin area. There's tons of lakes in that neighborhood. We could easily waste more than a week back there!
People who want to/ have to, can hike out over Crabtree Pass, and then exit over Mt. Whitney. The rest of us will go out the way we came in.
This is the rough draft plan.”

“Right on with the right on! Already sounds like my kind of trip....hike in....fish...get out. Even if the fishing part lasts an entire week. I'll be going with you for sure. Cottonwood Pass can't have near the ground suck that Shepard's Pass has. Got plenty of time till 02...till then have fun on your trips this year.”

“August is out for me, but tell me more about this September hot springs trip.

I love Yosemite but have yet to experience the rest of the Sierra. Hot springs, fishing, packer support -- this sounds very cool.

8-)”

“NV..
The trip will be to Iva Bell hot springs (Fish Creek).
It is from Sept. 15-21.
We hike in via the JMT from Reds Meadow (Devils Postpile).
We hike half way in the first day (about 7 miles).
We spend 3 days at the hot springs base camp.
From the springs you'll have access to Cascade Valley for fishing and day hiking, or you can also explore the lakes above the springs: Beetlebug, Lost Keys, Lake of the Lone Indian, Peter Pand, etc. etc.
We hike back on the 20th, spending the night in Fish Valley, and then hike back out to Reds on the 21st.
There's a $50 trip fee to help pay for my llama habit.”

“melsy; I'd like an xl, short or long, whatever the group decides. Tell me how much and where to send the dough. I'll be sure to include a pair of undies as well. You can all sign them, wear them and send them back after the trip. eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww!”

“Be careful how they sign them, Pamster. They may just leave their mark instead.

Auntie M, I wish I could join you this year. Last year when I "knew" I'd have the time off, my sister had to go and have her thing. This year, I don't have a clue what my time will look like. But maybe if I find myself free I'll bump into you on the trail for a day or two. Hey, I'll bring a beer cache!!!”

“If I have to wear pamster's panties I insist on being the first. Maybe we could just wear them on our heads.”

“I'll make sure to send a pair without holes or "marks". ROFLMAO!

Seriously though, mel, email me your snail mail address and how much I owe ya.”

“hey pamster, you can give me your underwear at the wilson creek ect, they can fly in a plane over the grand canyon and maybe we can let the llamas wear them on their head or something....we could wash them in the hot springs and then i could wrap one of those golden trouts in them and and fly them back to you. Yikes!!!
too much tequila in that last cranberry juice......”

“Send us a pair.
We will take them there.
We will wear them at night in bed.
We will wear them during the day on our heads.
We will put them on a fish.
We will serve them on a dish.
We will wave them in the air.
We will tie them to Larry's hair.
Oh, the underwear will be so fine.
And this time, the underwear won't be mine.

You are on the list for a T.
Soon's I find out the particulars, I'll let you know.

My address is:

HCR 79 box 188
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546”

“There are at least two pictures various places on the photo page with Mel wearing underwear on her head. I guess it is becoming an "Eastern Sierra" tradition.

I am sure we can inscribe some appropriate comments. The question is, who will get to read them!”

“Yes, but we are missing the group MOON!”

“Got an addition here:

I have had a request to give a date for the "Fourth Annual Llama Rama".
I never thought I would be planning trips 18 months before the fact, but here goes:

2002 Llama Rama

Monday, July 29, to Sun./Tues. Aug.4-7.

I plan to have the 7 to 10 day option, as we are doing this year.
The trip will begin at the Cottonwood Pass trail (as is the case for this coming summer), and we will wander about in the Miter Basin area until we are sick and tired of fishing, hiking and playing outside at 10,500 feet, and above.
The 10 day hikers, as previously stated, exit out the Cottonwood Pass trail, and everyone else who wants to can leave via Mt. Whitney...
Sooner or later.”

“Hmm... theoretically, the only time the 10 day party will be away from the llamas is in Miter Basin. I don't imagine there's much bear activity up there, but on the other hand there sure won't be any hanging trees up there either.

Hey, maybe for sanitary purposes Pamster could provide EACH of us with a pair of panties?”

“did everyone get my e-mail in response to the t-shirts?”

“Ah, yes, but the Miter Basin part lasts about three days.
If Miter Basin is a popular destination, you could see bears there.
A few years ago, there was a bear making regular visits to Lake South America, and it was also cruising over Forester Pass every night.
No trees, and damn few rocks. Bear cans had yet to be invented.

Si...
Got your E.”

“Phil, oddly enough, I have a framed copy of one of those pictures on my fireplace mantle.”

“Pamster....

Do you still have a set of underwear that has the days of the week written on them?
Let's see...
we'll need 10 days worth.

Dunk....
I also have a framed example of "drape shot" on Piute Pass.”

“That's the one.”

“trailartist
i have not received an email from you regarding tshirts.”

“me neither”

“Come on Maurie, don't cha like us? I didn't get one either.”

“In case I don't get back here for a few...
I have to go down to LA for at least the weekend.
Keep the home fires burning.

Auntie M”

“Ah, yes. I have that picture up in my office. It is a good conversation starter.”

“trailartist....
now enough is enough with the honeymooning....i mean, emailing tshirt info should take top priority!
jest kidding”

“well, sheeszh..I AM in trouble now...aren't I?
I just responded to everyone on the list that Mel was sending out...or I thought I did...I will have to start copying addresses...sorry...deal with it tomorrow...tonight is Valentine's and I am BUSY HONEYMOONING!!!”

“Honeymooning?
Now just what exactly does THAT translate into?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?”

“think back mel....think way back.....

it's ok trailartist.....whenever you come up for air will be fine.........”

“As happy as those two look they won't be comin up for air until the Llama hike and then you may have to take along a solar shower to hose em down.;-)

Just kidding with you Trailartist. Gotta pick on the newlyweds.”

“OM - LOL!

Looking forward to seeing everyone.”

“I don't have to think wayyy back...
I still know how to do all that stuff.
I just don't do it as often.
But I'm thinking.
I'm thinking.........”

“uh-oh... what happened to mel? she was thinking and thn she just disapeared...
hmmmmmmmmm?!
Ok peoples...if you want an e-mail from me I need all your addresses...so send me an e-mail...k?”

“Ok, I'll e-mail you if you let me know your address. the-naviguesser@thebackpacker.com”

“Drat! 50 bucks is more than reasonable, but those dates just aren't going to work. I was hoping it would be more around Labor Day. Oh, well. I'll keep LlamaRama 2002 in mind. Now I have to figure out where to go this summer.

Have fun you lucky devils!

8-)”

“Hey Maurie.... I sent Mr. SARBoy an email several days ago, and haven't heard back... Nor do I have your email address. I'mathinkng I don't have a good email anymore!”