Greetings! Trust all is well out there during this summer of 2016! This has been a fairly busy year travelwise so far with trips to visit Missouri cousins, New Mexico army buddy,
Kumamoto, Mt. Saint Helens, Arizona brother.
This post though is about recent Sierra backpack/hiking trip.
Arrived in Visalia via Amtrak from AZ on July 22. Well actually the train arrived in Hanford and plan was to tap Uber for ride over to Visalia. After spending the night and morning in the view car thanks to being crunched by seat mate was pretty wore out time hit Hanford at 2 pm. To my dismay however upon detraining discoved no uber available so grabbed a cab. Of course the driver had no change so bought him a meal at McDonalds prior to traveling on down the road to Visalia. Had a room booked at Americas best value inn. Cabbie told me he spent an anniversary there. He also informed that was now divorced. After spending a night at the inn was able to understand why.
Hiking friend Judd
took the train down from Portland and like me he also got squeezed and also like me spent a sleepless night in the lounge car. We met at the hotel and then walked around town. I lost my hotel key and Judd his cell phone. Recovred the key at subway that night and Judd got his cell phone from the libarian the next morning. Then it was on to the tranisit center to take the Sequoia shuttle up to lodgepole campground. The first shuttle that came by would not let us on because we looked like bums but the one that came an hour later did, thanks to Judd getting a shave, plus the sob story he told the driver how our trip woule be ruined if we didn't get to the park that day and how we were too old and ugly to be successful hitchhiking. On the shuttle yakked with Larry and Karen whom were looking forward to losing 10 lbs on their planned 10 day backpacking adventure. Larry also gave some sage advice as to paring down our planned 100 mile route to something that would be more enjoyable for seniors.
Upon our arrival at reserved campground site #61 in lodgepole there were a group of campers from Bangladesh drinking beer on a Costco table. They welcomed us to join in and shared food and suds. Aerospace engineer John and wife Rachel plus another couple and youth were in their party and we had an enjoyable time with them that afternoon and evening. Thanks to their park tales we decided to hike to the watchtower and heather lake the next day.
The route involved over a 2200 foot climb and we did a little off trail on the way back. Felt fine during the hike but that evening had some signs of heat exahaustion. Judd thought about calling in a chopper to get me out of there but I insisted that symptons on display were due to usual state of fogginess and not heat stroke.
It was an unusually warm weather week for the high Sierra. A couple of fly fisherman our second night at Lodgepole informed Judd of an alternative route which would still be challenging yet not as diffcult as originally planned. So given that neither of us wanted to be taken out by S and R on a stretcher the next morning we got our wilderness permit changed to spend 8 days around the Mt Silliman backcountry instead of Colby Pass. The first day we gained over 2000 feet before stopping for the night at Methern meadow.
We were the only ones there, or so we thought at the time. Wildflowers galore. Later that afternoon we heard what sounded like chopping or possibly rock falls. Then that night around the campfrire Judd heard a baby's cry with an errie "wa wa" sound. I did not hear such but that means nothing as there is not much that do hear these days. Then around midnight Judd shined his torch at my tent which was about 50 meters away from his bedroll because Betty says I snore and shouted "did you hear that"? He had heard baby again, and again I missed it. Dang! got to get hearing aids at some point.
Next day gained anogher 1000 feet or more up to Twin Lakes. There met a group of 4 from LA which solved the chopping sound as tunrs out they were camped the night before not far from us and did indeed have an axe with them.
'Baby" though remains a mystery. Perhaps some pioneer family that got left behind a 150 years ago roam the area? That plus being we were there in late July which is known as an opportune time for ghostly visitations in mountainous regions per Chinese psychics (Betty?). Who or what was heard guess will just have to go back to find out.
Explored the lake region and surrounding rocks. Able to swim easily as despite being at 9400 feet the water was warm. Never before was able last more than a few seconds in high Sierra lakes but this year was so different. That night after chatting with the LA hikers until well after dark had some trouble finding my tent. This time was set up abut 200 meters from Judd and 100 or so from the bear box near our new friends. My tent was well off the trail and is quite small and flashlight lost power.
Took over a half hour to locate.
Day three we hiked up and over 10,479 foot Silliman Pass and down toward Beville and Ranger lakes.
Then up the backside of the pass and took a cross country route from there back to Twin Lakes. Judd led he way on the off trail route.
Was not too hard but was tedious and we had to be careful. Just a few spots required 3 and/or four point navigation. Judd is sort of like Bear Grylis. He is extremely knowledgeable as to navigation and wilderness skills plus if there is a harder way to get from point A to pont B he is all for doing it. Got in around 7 pm. More yuks with the LA guys. Judd was first to spot the comet that night of July 27. Here is a link taken by a group of people a couple hundred miles north of where we were.youtube.com/watch?v=CSVAc5R55so As our spot was close to 10.000 feet we saw more color and flash then the link shows. If I was a quicker person would have been able to shoot our own video, and today could be working for you tube. The comet stayed for what seemed like an eternity as we watched its brightly colored tails streak across the entire horizon of our artificial light free campsite. After the show could not find my tent again. This time it was around 11 pm and was concerned that might have to share Judd's bedroll to avoid hypothermia. Needless to say was on the verge of panic but after 45 mintues stumbled over my tent stakes. Relief- nothing better!
Fourth day out backpacked up the pass. Fisherman from lodgepole Howard, was with us as he came up join for a while.
Went down the other side. After exploring Beville trekked over to Ranger Lake which walked around twice before finding the cutoff to the campsites. Bellyflopped off a rock and had a great campfire. Us three were the only ones at the lake that night. Next morning Howard had to start makng his way back to civilization. We stayed put. Went cross country on an attempt to find Lost Lake. Scrambled down a bunch of talus into a forest.
Saw some fresh bear scat. Then found a trail. Took a wrong turn and ended back at Ranger instad of Lost. Rather than retrace our steps headed on over to Beville and swam to an island not too off shore. Current was strong though so got a little out of breath. On return backstroked way off course but such pretty much is how it goes.
Three young dudes from Wisconsin walked nearby our campsite late aftermoon and Donald retrned for the campfire. So that night there were 5 of us on the lake. Baby would have made 6 but no did hear so she no count.
Day 6 loafed around the campsite all moring then mid afternoon headed back up the pass. It was our last big climb. Camped on top. Silliman is not a high pass but it is nonetheless very striking.
We were the only ones on the pass of course. Explored around and enjoyed the night sky. Tons of meteors. No tent set up this night just blew up the air mattress and slept on a rock.
Seventh morning got some 360 sunrise views and pics. Climbed up a hillside near the wall. Trekked on down back to Twin Lakes. This time put the tent rght near the trail so no problem to find at night.
Took a swim and relaxed. There were probably a dozen or so people around the lake this night. It was the weekend afer all. We did not chat anyone up too much as were sort of tired out.
Day 8 we moved on down the trail 3000 feet descent to lodgepole- about 7 miles in a little over 3 hours. Was anxious to get back by noon to increase the odds of getting a campsite. As it was we got the last site available #1. The beer and go to day bags we had left at the extra bear box at site #61 were thankfully still there. So got to change clothes and jump in the stream as well as shower. Tried to call home from the pay phones near the campground store. This turned out to be a mistake as got no response but in the meantime Betty back home knew I was calling but got no response. So I unfortunately made her worry. She called Brother John who contacted the Park service. Luckily before they posted our pics as lost hikers someone figured out we were back at Lodgepole.
Spent a second day day at lodgeple and did the usual visitor attactions such as General Sherman Tree and Moro Rock.
Plus a day hike that went through a meadow and more trees. The eleventh and final night at the park had a bonfire and no tent again as by this time was tired of looking for it so had stopped setting such up. Judd got a bunch of premium hot dogs plus condiments - what a feast!
Following afternoon got the Shuttle back to Visalia. Driver again did not want to let us on but Judd yet again thankfully forcefully repeated what we were told when got off in that would not be abandoned after our hike was done. So we got on and down toVisalia. Had one hour to figure what to do the next three days and how to get back to Oakland for flight home. Used booking.com app for hotel in Merced for two nights, and called Amtrak for train ticket. Judd took the coastal starlight on up to Portland so we parted ways. Want to thank Judd for agreeing to do this trip. We had a great time. He really is sort of a walking encyclopedia. Think Einstein, Johnny Appleseed, and Sasquatch rolled into one person. Has had more true wilderness adventures then he can remember and lived all over the world.
He also reminds me of my old hiking friend Wes - both were adept at traversing off trail between ridges and valleys, experienced at staring down grizz and montain lions, and all around good guys.
After a night in Merced went running and took a bad fall which resuled in more scrapes and bruises then had received the whole time backpacking. Took Yarts that morning into Yosemite and hiked up around Nevada Falls.
Then hit the Curry village cafeteria for two gigantic scoops of the best ice crème anywhere prior to ride back to Merced. On the bus talked to an environmental climate change sustainability geologist from Holland working for his city's local government. Full disclosure that is brother John in the half dome picture but have stood on that same spot four times - his is the best profile though.
August 5th made way to Oakland hotel near the Colliseum. Had a great run at Oakland's east bay park with its' cool air and fresth breezes. Best of all did not fall down. Home on the sixth.
What's next?
No wilderness trips planned on the horizon. Concentrating on running and going on walks with Betty.
I love roadless areas but the truth is that via running can often get the same sensations as do when in the wild. To borrow/paraphrase Edmund's poetic musings from Eugene 's semi autobiographical play Long Day Journey into Night -the main reason I hike and run is to rise and roll with the natural world, to experience the awesome sensation of becoming one with what was here before and will remain long after.
so going to Carry on, gonna keep on truckin, gonna relish the moments
As beautiful as the Sierra is must add that it is good to be home.
ps - can read about 2014 section hike during which walked with brother Paul (he did the whole thing)of the AT by going to www.windwarddave.blogspot.com
Bonus update
Adding some pictures of previous Sierra hikes. Most are between 2005 to 2012 but there are a few a little older. Several of these trips were done with son Joshua and Becca, friend Virgil and some with the Yosemite Conservancy. Plus four day hikes with brother Paul on the cables.
here is the final (at least for now!) video from top of Koip Peak (12991 feet)
