fall Llama trip??

“where is this fall
Llama trip i keep
hearing about,
i would love to go”

“The fall llama trip is September 15 to the 21st.

I am home for three days...heading back out again 8-27 to 9-8.

If you think you still want to go, e-mail me:

sierramel@qnet.com

...before 8-26 and I'll try to get back to you.

Have you read the September Llama hike thread?”

“Hey Auntie M!! Sounds like you guys had great trips.

and me? I'm just trying to see if I can post anonymously again. Teehee

And I didn't even try to before!!”

“Takin a map? LOL;)”

“Hmmmmmmm. I just tried to start a thread and ERROR! it said I couldn't. No cookies. I GOTS NO COOKIES! In my trail name. (And I just had cookies for lunch dessert)

Wow, getting the techie fix on downloading from the Nikon Coolpix this a.m. musta taken my soul. It IS A CAMERA YA KNOW!!

So I can download now. Works Great! Kudos to Nikon digital techie Jim. But I no longer have a Trailtalk nickname.

Just sign me the Bearded Amish Woman. Say-- Where is Plain Hiker??”

“Mel, sorry I missed you last week, how have the summer trips been?”

“Hectic.

Home three days, gone 11.
Home three days, gone 11.
Home three days, gone 10.
Home three days, gone 11.
Home five days, gone 7.

Bears up the butt in Viddette Meadow, and compliments of the bear down there, a new ventilation hole in my rainfly.

Severe sleep deprivation relegates maps and other trivial details to another plane.

Hallucinations and visual disruptions were not uncommon, with speech abberations and thought processes deteriorating exponentially.

Getting lost wasn't the problem, insomnia was.”

“Mel,

There was a lesson there for all of us. You were overwhelmed by lots of stuff...some of which we could have helped you with more (e.g., T-shirts, planning & organizing).

Glad you are back for a few days. Check your P.O. Box...I sent you something from here on Wednesday.”

“Mel--If you decide enough is enough I will understand should you decide to cancel the Sept hike.”

“Hey Mel.....been missing you........i have some really great shots of you and the boys and the llama trip.....if i can just settle down and get them sorted and some scanned , will be sending you the hard copies......
how is Larry?”

“WOW bears up the butt has gotta hurt!
Larry not doing his job or what? Getting pumped about the trip. No time to train, way to much work.
Are we still planning on base camping close to the Hot Springs and day hiking the lakes in the area??”

“Hey Mel. Glad things are going well. I think I camped in Vidette recently on the Rae Lakes Loop. Not one damn bear, to our dismay. I'd love to go on that llama trip but unfortunately, work calls. Next year, next year.”

“ME?!

Cancel a llama trip?

NEVER!!

Oh, Phil...

I think I could have done fine, but with my Dad as sick as he has been, me playing nursemaid-from-afar, and chronic insomnia kicking in at the same time as the trip, my timing sucked.

You all were fine, and "most" things (I think you caught my drift in the last e-missive)worked out to be truly wonderful.

I will never be reluctant to host a TT trip.

Fooking T-shirts be-damned.

And now that I also have my doctor hot-wired for sleeping potions, and my Dad's hospital stay is finally on track, I can relax, a little.

Bears are a SERIOUS problem on the JMT south of Glen Pass (Rae Lakes), just over the stretch between the Cedar Grove junction and a mile or so north of Forester Pass.

The bear there is, I am sure, the same one who ate the Ursak Ultra.

I had two run-in's with her and the cub in the same place as the guy who used his Ursack instead of one of the TWO bear boxes quite close by.

NEVER use something other than a canister if you are near a bear box!

I would NEVER trust anything else but a box or canister in proven bear areas.

I have pictures of the cub less than 10 feet away, and mom was off shopping for stuff sacks and Ursacks while the kid sat on a rock waiting for her to come back.

Roy and Larry scared the bears away from camp twice in four days, while I threw rocks and swore like the sailer I am.”

“BTW....

The cub was parked on a flat rock less than 10 feet from the trail, and we had to pass by in order to get on with the day.

Needless to say, Roy, Larry, Joppa and I discussed our passing strategy aloud in case mom was near and could consider us a threat.

Roy gave the cub his alarm call, scared it off the rock for about 30 seconds, and then we made a run for it.”

“I should of left you my slingshot and marbles.”

“OT!

How are you?

How is my favorite fisherman, Turk?

Got any fishing pictures to share?

Tell Turkman he trained Joppa to a fare-thee-well.
Joppa was third llama in line behind Roy, and he was a joy to behold!

Now where are those pictures of Turk with all the fish (Oh, I suppose Obi and I are in a few as well)?

I will be gone again, 11 days this time, starting on Monday.

Stop me if you've heard this.

Let me know how you both are.

Tonto”

“I can't stand to read all this about a hot springs trip I can't make. I don't think the gang could put up with me anyways.I yam what I yam. Hey I tried the Canoli jam and gotta say its the best. Thanks Obi.Enjoy the trip Mel. We're moving our baby girl to San Diego tomorrow for college. Heavy sadness abounds. Hi seven day group and ten day group.”

“Aw....

Sweetie Pie....

It'll be OK.

Your baby will be fine.

It'll be harder on you than on her!

I wish you could go along with us to Iva Bell, but we will keep a spot on the rocks in the springs warm for you.

Keep us in mind for next year.
I think we will do IB again.

And if not there, for SURE a tour of the hot springs down in the valley, and a car camp over in the Glass.

Tonto”

“heya jvz....hope the heavy sadness of the empty nest doesn't put down roots and register to vote, but hops a greyhound or something and moves on soon...

i'm with you......next year....hot springs!!
hey to kent from this 7 day grouper.
you guys were great trail scouts.....”

“Mel - have a good trip. Hot springs would be nice!

jvz - Good luck on the move. Wave or say hi as you go by!”

“Mel - thanks for the beta on the bears at Vidette.

Hope you get some peace and rest.”

“Mel;

Tell Larry hello for me.

Moz”

“Larrrrrrryyyyy.....

Alo......haaaaaaa!

Thanks Tek.

Have rested since then, and am now rustling up the gear and grub for the latest adventure:

Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass (Tahoe Yosemite Trail).

This'll be the first time I've been north of Highway 120.

The Sawtooths beckon, as does the highcountry around Hetch Hetchy.

Should be pretty neat.”

“Got my plane set up this morning. I'm flying standby for free again so pray for me. Last time I had to pay full lick to get home from Denver.”

“Dear Great Spirit of the Universe:

Please get MaryPhyl her standby tickets.

Love......

Tonto”

“Old Timer, JVZ, Phil, Obi, Mozark, Mel - This thread is old home week!!”

“back from S.D. and the she kid is set. Looks good for her and she has a good apt. with three other girls. I'm happy for her so's mom but she can't quit crying. All of a sudden on the car trip home the floodgates would just open. Time heals. OM we'll get thru just keep good thoughts and see ya in the hot springs next year. Now that sounds like forever.Hey Pepperdog. Hope to see you soon on some local hikes. We norterners can do the coast stuff this winter and stay in shape. See you on some day hikes hopefully. Keep those o2 plans ticking in the ol noggin Mel. Was that Tonto...Tonto Goldstein. LOL.Good one Obi.”

“Yup, Old home week for sure, ppdog... I really enjoyed m'sef, hope another is in my future. Maybe I'll get lucky again? I'm gonna hafta forget my bag and tent again!”

“Phil--obi wan or ?? How much weight and volume did Mel let you put on the llamas? This so cool--I get to pack like in the old days--a tent and multiple changes of undies and socks and more food than I need and, and and.......GRINNING”

“MP, I believe Mel allowed us about 10 pounds each going in. Of 5 Llama's, Mel's gear requires 1.5; Llama's also had to carry their own food (about a pound per day each), panniers and saddles cost a few pounds... and there were 14 of us.

After the group split off, though, about the 3rd day, llama's could carry progressively more gear. I could have put more gear on their backs, I suppose, but they worked pretty hard, there was no reason for me to NOT carry at least 30 pounds (it was probably closer to 35) since I can easily hadnle that, but yeah, it was nice to know I coulda dumped more than half my pack weight if I so chose.”

“Hi MP;

I also will be bring a bit more comforts for the "boys" to haul. I got a new shower, and I'm taking a two man tent for myself. I also am bringing my grandparents ashes/urns. I want to put them to rest in the mountains. My grandparents are the ones who started my love for the mountains when I was four or five.
I am taking a pack a bit bigger that a daypack, in case the llamas get too full.
Looking forward to a face to face with a few more TTers. I will be pulling in Friday nite around 11:00 pm.”

“LIke Obi said, it all depends on how many people there are. 10-20 lbs., but more if the group is small.

You need to carry enough stuff with you so that if you get caught in fowl weather you could stay dry an warm or if you get lost you could find your way back.”

“Fowl weather?

Pwak, pwak, pwak.

I'm home again, and looking forward to seeing all of you.

I just don't know for sure how many are going.

At least five of us I can think of.”

“didjfan
--what a lovely thing to do with your grandparents ashes. They would be pleased I am sure.



My stuff is so light I really had to put my mind to it to heavy it up. A thick pad will be luxury. I would normally carry about 25 pounds for a week's trip. If I can ditch 10 of that and add 5 luxury pounds I will be ever so happy.

I was thinking that too Phil and planning with that in mind.

thank you all--
Smiles, Mary”