tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25900224532953307552024-03-04T21:51:56.301-08:00The Downhill SideHiking the Beach, The Channel Islands, The Los Padres, and The High SierraAxelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-13278748365027998012018-10-10T08:15:00.001-07:002018-10-10T08:15:32.412-07:00Gear Not Intended for BackpackingOften I notice or work with an item that also captures my attention that it might also be used for backpacking even though thats not it's intended use. One such example is the <a href="https://www.finisswim.com/Skin-Socks" target="_blank">Finis Skin Sock</a>. I purchased these to use with my new bodysurfing fins that were slightly too large and I needed to wear something to give my foot more volume and protection. For the beach they also proved handy walking around in the sand to protect my feet from beach tar and at the public shower because, well...it's a public shower.<br />
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I decided to bring them on my last backpacking trip to also wear around camp but they have no sole so protection was minimal. What I discovered was the fine nylon and lycra weave were excellent in repelling campground duff from sticking to the material and what did stick was easily and cleanly brushed away. Because of that and the comfortable loose fit, I decided to also sleep in them instead of socks so when I got up in the middle of the night for some "star gazing" I could quickly and cleanly slip back into the sleeping bag without bringing in a bunch of dirt.<br />
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Backpacking is a dirty business so sometimes its the little things that aid in cleanliness that can make a big difference in comfort and wellbeing. Since they are lighter than a pair of socks, I think these are going to stay in my kit and become a part of my sleep gear.<br />
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-49680239362217788492018-10-08T07:40:00.000-07:002018-10-08T07:40:39.993-07:00On and Off the Trail from Taboose to the Upper Basin<div class="post bg2" id="preview" style="background-color: #e6e6e6; background-position: 100% 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-left-radius: 7px; border-bottom-right-radius: 7px; border-top-left-radius: 7px; border-top-right-radius: 7px; caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 4px; padding: 5px 10px; position: relative;">
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.<br /><br />Going over Taboose pass is well documented so I will skip the blow by blow punches it throws at the traveller but it deserves all the respect and publicity it receives regarding difficulty on the east side of the crest then all the beauty on the west side. The area seems to be a vortex for the winds to funnel through and my trip certainly experienced plenty of that too.<br /><br />Getting over Taboose is less about conditioning and more of enduring what it throws your way and that includes but certainly not limited to wind, steepness, talus and a combination of all those elements at the same time. Endure step by step until your are over the crest then take a sigh of relief and enjoy the endless views.<br /><br /><span class="text-italics" style="font-style: italic;">I would like to also mention here that the road to the trailhead is no longer suitable for sedans and low clearance vehicles. I rented a high clearance truck and was glad that I did. </span><br /><br />Okay, enough of that, here are some of the highlights....<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">An easy stroll in the Park to Taboose Lake?</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1948/44988856141_932a4be91c_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Taboose Lake nicely nestled amid the talus acreage</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1935/44956114551_f7d6aaed6c_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />My first objective was Stripped Mountain Basin but before I arrived to that destination, I made a brief side trip to check out Taboose Lake. The wind was of course howling so I hunkered down on the one and only small patch of grass that exists there and had my lunch. When I got to Stripped Mountain Basin that evening I realized I left my pocket cup back at Taboose lake, damn! ...wind storms and lost gear, I hoped these would not become the defining moments of this trip!<br /><br />I had a pretty good camp at Lake 1, it was decently sheltered from the wind so I decided to stay an extra day in this location to day hike the basin. I also wanted to get up to the 3rd lake to fish and try out my Luna Sandals that I brought along as camp shoes to see if I could actually hike in them.<br /><br />All the basin lakes were "Victory at Sea" but the upper most lake had one cove that was sheltered so I was able to get a dry fly onto the water and had good success for medium sized Rainbows. The bite in the first two lakes were totally shut down because of the wind.<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">3rd lake, Stripped Mountain basin</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1977/44039062645_9f8828f00d_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />On my way down from the basin and heading back toward the Taboose trail, I could plainly see this small spur trail that's also shown on Caltopo so I decided to follow it and see if connects to the old trail or simply ends as the map shows.<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Caltopo view</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1954/44252909764_64eb4207af_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />It does indeed simply end without connecting to any other trail. No big deal, the old north side trail was easy to find so I decided to follow it down to the JMT. The trail is no longer maintained so the occasion blowdown remains as does the young samplings that happen to sprout in the middle of the trail. The path becomes faint then terminates at the River/JMT area in what could be landmarked as a popular JMT camping area on the west side of the creek.<br /><br />On my approach up to Cardinal Lake, I started my accent a little too soon, going up a timbered ridge that was full of game trails and cliffs, what a maze of false hopes that turned out to be, but I finally got on the right track and soon came upon a tarn that does not show on Caltopo. After the timbered ridge affair I started to wonder again if I was in the Cardinal basin proper or the Twilight Zone. Either way, it was deep enough to hold some nice Rainbows so I indulged for awhile before heading up stream on faith that I was indeed heading toward Cardinal.<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">CalTopo View. Cross country travel on timbered ridges is a PITA! </strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1948/31150318848_ef1cdb8014.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">FatMap View</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1906/31099821088_535d4b841d_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />Do you like to be serenaded by distant rock slides? Cardinal will be to your liking. All night long slides were occurring on the mountainside above the lake with some of the larger boulders actually rolling into the lake so I decided not to fish that side of the lake the next morning, those rocks were spooking me and the fish. It also kicked up quite a bit of dust that would eventually settle on the lake and create a dust slick of sorts.<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Cardinal Lake rockslide dust at dawn.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1927/44039054485_57af4e3ae4_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Split Mountain area overview.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/30086787667_787e87b540_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />My northern most destination was the Split Mountain area within the Upper Basin and camped at the large unnamed lake at the base on the mountain. I was endlessly entertained by the Split view and the seemingly easy looking ramp to it's 14K+ summit. I decided to pass on the attempt and simply enjoy the view of the mountain instead of the view from the mountain. Besides, fishing is more my style so I concentrated on that instead, wind be damed!<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Split Mountain overview.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1949/44902488172_57903f57b9_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br /><br />As you know, the JMT weaves through the Upper Basin on its way over Mather Pass but I never saw a soul beyond the trail. I needed to book some quick easy mile back to the Taboose trail, so that trail is perfect for covering alot of miles and territory quickly. Within a couple of hours I was back in the vicinity of the northern Taboose trail, found it, and I was soon on my way back up to the pass. But there was one last agenda item. Go back to Taboose Lake and retrieve my pocket cup. Little details like that eat me up so I had to at least give it a try, and besides, the wind had settled down and who knows. maybe casting a fly might be possible?<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">I left the trail again close to the Pass and stayed well above these 3 tarns.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1966/44039060815_84970e97e2_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />Taboose lake is only a mile or so off the trail, but the area is filled with acres and acres of sharp edged cuboids of talus. Every step needs to be planned so that landing wrong and getting injured does not become a reality. I did finally get onto a grassy ramp that made the final approach to the lake easier.<br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">Closing in on the lake.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1916/31078333378_b99996cc76_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br /><strong class="text-strong">The view looking east toward Owens Valley.</strong><br /><img alt="Image" class="postimage" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1961/31078335668_514a2ee970_b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br /><br />After reaching the lake, there were no signs of my cup, no surprise there! The wind was now blowing at a subdued howl, but would predictably slacken every couple of minutes and I saw one area of the lake that benefited from the break, enough so that I even saw some small fish clear the water in pursuit of something (or being pursued by something larger??)<br /><br />Even though it was now late in the day and I wanted to get on the east side of the pass before dark, I strung up my rod knowing that I had precious little time to decently explore the lake for possibilities. Just as I made my first attempted back cast a gust of wind crumbled it and the fly literally blew into the water before I could even begin my forward cast, several feet from its intended destination. But despite the terrible cast...Bam! Fish on. All of a sudden, time reality no longer existed, fishing mode was turned on and nothing else mattered now.<br /><br />I did eventually get over the pass before dark but I was so bushed that I ate a stoveless meal of jerky burritoettes in my tent as the wind relentlessly howled away. At least the air was little bit warmer at 10,500 than it was at 12,500 and still a nice finish to a trip to some wild places.<br /><br />Final thought on the last night of my trip? I need to lose then try to find my pocket cup more often if that what it takes to catch fish in the alpine Sierra!<br /><br />As for the Luna Sandals and the zero drop concept? I was surprised at how well they performed in off trail conditions. I was concerned that debris getting caught between the foot and sandal would be an issue but it was not that way at all. Since I started wearing them, my foot strength has increased substantially and I think this is easing the pressure on my spine, knees and hips but spending a week in the Sierra with only sandals is not on my radar anytime soon but a zero drop trail runner certainly is.</div>
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I can gather all the news I need on the weather report<br />Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.<br /><br />Paul Simon</div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-29196184524664078302018-04-20T08:23:00.000-07:002018-04-20T08:23:52.079-07:00Pocket Cups<br />
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Within many Wilderness areas of the west, it's still unofficially safe to drink water directly from the stream, spring, or lake and one way to save on pack weight is to not carry water and sip as you go. These are cups that I have used in the past and continue to use on many of my trips. The "Unkown" is certainly recognizable by all and is also available in stainless steel. I lost the cap which could also be used to sip water from. I only included cups that could fit into the pocket, but I should also mention the Sierra Cup since it to can be used to sip water from the source and will hook onto a belt for easy access. They come in 1 cup and 2 cup sizes and traditionally made of stainless steel. Mine is from Japan, 2 cup capacity and made of titanium and will also fit on my stove to cook with.<br />
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On long dry stretches when water has to be rationed, the pocket cup is the perfect tool to measure out water so that your supply will last the entire dry stretch. Without pouring and measuring, it's too easy to gulp water and drink it all early on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Large Titanium Sierra cup, 1.9 ounces.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wildco, Unknown, Guyot designs, Sea to Summit<br />Cups are opened.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Wildco, Unknown, Guyot designs, Sea to Summit<br />Cups are closed.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUX42cD1vQjugLWzmKKrhU6PFYkFTjlaKljN-qvvdzbABgK88UXGg5hMMWq4s8wvwI7_i-2AXoR_4GYy9BNV7HEG5YLumKLLLPn0Imjkts3V4xZjonoObKS7ydQDkj1xZB1a3DOXSt6-U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-20+at+7.24.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="559" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUX42cD1vQjugLWzmKKrhU6PFYkFTjlaKljN-qvvdzbABgK88UXGg5hMMWq4s8wvwI7_i-2AXoR_4GYy9BNV7HEG5YLumKLLLPn0Imjkts3V4xZjonoObKS7ydQDkj1xZB1a3DOXSt6-U/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-04-20+at+7.24.56+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">How they compare.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I can also use this Sierra Cup was a pot.</span></b></td></tr>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-33326559945676276722018-03-11T10:01:00.000-07:002018-03-11T10:01:00.901-07:00AXL and a SNOZZLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am not fond of inflating air pads by blowing directly into them, so improvised a PVC fitting to mate an Exped Snozzle with a Big Agnes Axl air pad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The male fitting on the snozzle is 1/2 inch and the female valve is 3/4 so I am using a 1/2 x 3/4 PVC bushing to make the reduction. The only modification was to wrap the bushing with electrical tape to get a better seal into the Axl pad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By using this system, I will reduce the amount of moisture from my lungs into the pad and save myself from the dizzy feeling of hyperventilating at altitude.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PVC bushing 1/2 x 3/4</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENgbeF6vAJpSII8103aOL6O9L7MOoMyt81FpWtOeih6StzMs_N1eo2vMjG3ZXu3zNai6aHYJTateFzd33IrVf93-ihUXpjMej_MiT5TDM6uGHfMNdD0hl_X8FTJtWJMfQATDNQnIQF2TQ/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENgbeF6vAJpSII8103aOL6O9L7MOoMyt81FpWtOeih6StzMs_N1eo2vMjG3ZXu3zNai6aHYJTateFzd33IrVf93-ihUXpjMej_MiT5TDM6uGHfMNdD0hl_X8FTJtWJMfQATDNQnIQF2TQ/s640/IMG_4452.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wrapped with electrical tape for a better seal into the air pad.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7R3s5x2c-Mu6tv3fFnCDPERDm4NIlDYbUXLiVSxMPuXRxwdl6YvgvoApHNRdldHXS5421sgZc670Syc344TxHElnKeQrpit-t_egUCIi3kpWPBHpDCAdWy1SnPysh1QTZNCYNa6wkgDP/s1600/IMG_4453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7R3s5x2c-Mu6tv3fFnCDPERDm4NIlDYbUXLiVSxMPuXRxwdl6YvgvoApHNRdldHXS5421sgZc670Syc344TxHElnKeQrpit-t_egUCIi3kpWPBHpDCAdWy1SnPysh1QTZNCYNa6wkgDP/s640/IMG_4453.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The 1/2 " Snozzle fitting fits perfectly into the bushing.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp3aDr5V7DeRcApvekmnbvAHCjKFOLGJZwDsvZIrIW9YzsgK1TAqY8p8-VXPcugS0rJxlMABRmVqQauwBR83tGi-yQsq7gUavjE9Bfe_Hs5ImqKWRvm0azhvZXvVjhgNqwp3teOkQJOTJ/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp3aDr5V7DeRcApvekmnbvAHCjKFOLGJZwDsvZIrIW9YzsgK1TAqY8p8-VXPcugS0rJxlMABRmVqQauwBR83tGi-yQsq7gUavjE9Bfe_Hs5ImqKWRvm0azhvZXvVjhgNqwp3teOkQJOTJ/s640/IMG_4454.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp9IIfIybP4pPJsfIiDLWwH29JojLBtF6YuAMH6IhNPRClUZwYQVzIhbvOxDcq1CMCmcWnt7vTDChWmQunamOnQ86ihDtzxRC39kN7WeTBshSrQ6TLFtus60O358-rb6IRdmc6uUupsZf/s1600/IMG_4455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp9IIfIybP4pPJsfIiDLWwH29JojLBtF6YuAMH6IhNPRClUZwYQVzIhbvOxDcq1CMCmcWnt7vTDChWmQunamOnQ86ihDtzxRC39kN7WeTBshSrQ6TLFtus60O358-rb6IRdmc6uUupsZf/s640/IMG_4455.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With help from the electrical tape to give the PVC fitting a slightly larger diameter, an air tight seal is accomplished so the Snozzle can transfer air into the air pad.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-76420949969747478332018-02-24T19:59:00.000-08:002018-02-25T07:18:59.764-08:00Big Agnes Axl Air Pad<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOJO1kicsQa7sjkAGb_2l0Lc8A6r8CEldP8kIccnU-WocIPlMs9SedKpFAG7pmtAFtZ1REeUXCOxLuyjbPttXHejkdv5TZ0Zs4-MqCm3gaDdLd0heI0KQo2UtehYfoMiKbZ7Ce4quI2m9/s1600/IMG_4434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfOJO1kicsQa7sjkAGb_2l0Lc8A6r8CEldP8kIccnU-WocIPlMs9SedKpFAG7pmtAFtZ1REeUXCOxLuyjbPttXHejkdv5TZ0Zs4-MqCm3gaDdLd0heI0KQo2UtehYfoMiKbZ7Ce4quI2m9/s640/IMG_4434.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just received the Big Agnes Axl Air Pad from REI today. I had it shipped to the store, which turned out to be a bargain because they sent me a $20 dollar off coupon a couple of weeks ago when I ordered the pad, then another 10% off coupon, both active at the same time for a couple of weeks only. Obviously they want you to purchase more items while you are at the store so I obliged them and also purchased a pair Prana Brion pants and a new Z pad to augment the Axl. More on that later.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kodqe9ImlxSfD8-8AGQ8BvEnBUprfILlO3Zgt5gbFtOu0p1kA0mH1XZylX0ffuIzL1Pd9xvva8N2pbb214zMSOlys6JVOXy5kOLIZnWAxTczAqgZzEzFXudOIyn88UaMpSsfM1481fAQ/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kodqe9ImlxSfD8-8AGQ8BvEnBUprfILlO3Zgt5gbFtOu0p1kA0mH1XZylX0ffuIzL1Pd9xvva8N2pbb214zMSOlys6JVOXy5kOLIZnWAxTczAqgZzEzFXudOIyn88UaMpSsfM1481fAQ/s640/IMG_4435.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The pad, out of the box, in a stuff sack compared in size with a Nalgene bottle (full of fresh squeezed OJ!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag_lYNQjDRkv3MMy8hcMXUjCBG7lMRnp4QQ1P0FEJTq0yzCXAkDrZvWj_NsrwyOC1bAAMRmRJOjucEdTMnFwY066oDdEZybPeSO2T5kaqLXppJMSkz7GQ1clu4dHOo0igp6EZA12Oq1JQ/s1600/IMG_4436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag_lYNQjDRkv3MMy8hcMXUjCBG7lMRnp4QQ1P0FEJTq0yzCXAkDrZvWj_NsrwyOC1bAAMRmRJOjucEdTMnFwY066oDdEZybPeSO2T5kaqLXppJMSkz7GQ1clu4dHOo0igp6EZA12Oq1JQ/s640/IMG_4436.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My pad came with 2 patch kits that included a spare valve flap. The patches already have adhesive so no need for a tube of glue that always seems to go hard after only one use.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5J9WRnJf2eF7HXW4dYRt4NAcX3IBQscCM8z6WiYS71V5C6opUhhclNapxR5TKcDAr6wFFqHjQs2y4aXFMFG5x7Chava1DyxwDdkx8_t7tqmPd2I2bZSisfl8FdpstU1zGQBNjVJfOPhN/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5J9WRnJf2eF7HXW4dYRt4NAcX3IBQscCM8z6WiYS71V5C6opUhhclNapxR5TKcDAr6wFFqHjQs2y4aXFMFG5x7Chava1DyxwDdkx8_t7tqmPd2I2bZSisfl8FdpstU1zGQBNjVJfOPhN/s640/IMG_4439.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Axl fully inflated. I didn't count the breaths, but I did feel mildly high form hyperventilating. Twenty breaths maybe? BA hypes the antimicrobiotic properties but I wonder about the constantly adding water into the pad.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE44BrIcG8jFyfpUw0yw59n9aNhficz7sWMzZLWH5fmV-DFsDreIZ8WaspFiSZ4V9mvCzXz5Ai4jGP7yeUmweIfxUqFL1IQNrTjbcckg0xUCXahRv9ufqgC4-MSRK2xITOqjy4UANUsn4/s1600/IMG_4442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE44BrIcG8jFyfpUw0yw59n9aNhficz7sWMzZLWH5fmV-DFsDreIZ8WaspFiSZ4V9mvCzXz5Ai4jGP7yeUmweIfxUqFL1IQNrTjbcckg0xUCXahRv9ufqgC4-MSRK2xITOqjy4UANUsn4/s640/IMG_4442.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A close up of the head end of the pad with the valve.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuSsVixTNritXw055B_30_mL3n3xqV5lUsL9pedjRWixRA1-r0BQnhClC15uhuJUUR5wol3KMJbBteqB0x8ad_HrDTvrQGKZXA1_0L0FiLjDFDhMn-Ct4tZ52BxPo_h8yhnFSPOG-vi_V/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuSsVixTNritXw055B_30_mL3n3xqV5lUsL9pedjRWixRA1-r0BQnhClC15uhuJUUR5wol3KMJbBteqB0x8ad_HrDTvrQGKZXA1_0L0FiLjDFDhMn-Ct4tZ52BxPo_h8yhnFSPOG-vi_V/s320/IMG_4444.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another close up of the valve. To let the air out, press on the inner flap and squeeze the pad at the same time. It's somewhat awkward, but the air does evacuate quickly</span></span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBimVq68SoDPG4wTGmHUnopnB334tY_x1-mltY42R4v7Mx3DhKaIZcrY-IFCpnfohRkQWORjFSHsXMpeJgMqqQGFz8XIrTrRZEqhmSycKC4JYVvYPLsyRHnpyI1jupcJO1M5HNDwzTfdX/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBimVq68SoDPG4wTGmHUnopnB334tY_x1-mltY42R4v7Mx3DhKaIZcrY-IFCpnfohRkQWORjFSHsXMpeJgMqqQGFz8XIrTrRZEqhmSycKC4JYVvYPLsyRHnpyI1jupcJO1M5HNDwzTfdX/s640/IMG_4443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was able to deflate the pad then simply stuff it back into the stuff sack without folding or rolling.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Axl has no insulation so the official use designation is for warm weather use. My plan is to pair it with a small Z Pad so that I have some redundancy with sleep insulation. If the air pad has a major failure, I will still have ground insulation with the Z pad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Axl weighs in at 10 ounces with the stuff sack and the Z pad, 11 ounce</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">s</span>.<br />
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-32166310950221105072018-01-15T09:11:00.001-08:002018-01-15T09:11:35.720-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WILDO COLLASPABLE CUPS</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04oWh2C4W60Yz5nRgg_ZqlSDyvJgPAh8rpLoWKyQWTVEYQ_WAeTRKx8CGFVSKd5Wd3k7lMr5gcAMqhopN740jyCSlS_MD7TilK5AUaRWkXSJLtEOZysFyMmJUhN6L6nt5MsrBZ_XZoNbj/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04oWh2C4W60Yz5nRgg_ZqlSDyvJgPAh8rpLoWKyQWTVEYQ_WAeTRKx8CGFVSKd5Wd3k7lMr5gcAMqhopN740jyCSlS_MD7TilK5AUaRWkXSJLtEOZysFyMmJUhN6L6nt5MsrBZ_XZoNbj/s320/IMG_4390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been watching the tastefully done wilderness travels of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/fagelguiden" target="_blank">Erik Normark</a> and kept noticing the cup he drinks his coffee from. That's because he drinks a lot of coffee in the wilderness and he does it cowboy style direct from the Trangia teapot. </div>
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Cups and bowls are one of those items that can be purchased at a reasonable price and experience the thrill of getting new gear without breaking the bank so I decided to do some research and find the cup he uses and thanks to the web, it was not hard to find. It's readily available in small and large, so I purchased both sizes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6A6TuOIVYZN0qAr_K0VqkRZJbU4VIMAC8pkpjLzPA7vQQv2Ty9cqtGaqcONBhp-HiB25gMfiNujmol_i5GhI3reRobKjGMV6QSOEFJ3XtjRk7_bv5aQntuqDZxebOAL9iVQCe1pBwrtN/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6A6TuOIVYZN0qAr_K0VqkRZJbU4VIMAC8pkpjLzPA7vQQv2Ty9cqtGaqcONBhp-HiB25gMfiNujmol_i5GhI3reRobKjGMV6QSOEFJ3XtjRk7_bv5aQntuqDZxebOAL9iVQCe1pBwrtN/s320/IMG_4395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The manufacturer is a Swedish company named <a href="http://www.wildo.se/products/the-orignal-fold-a-cup/" target="_blank">Wildo</a> and the formal name is the Fold-A Cup. The design has even won some awards and as the name implies, it does indeed collapse and the small one will comfortably fit in your front pocket. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The small will also nest securely inside the large if I decide to bring both.</span></div>
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On my trips I use the round silicone bowls, but the Fold-A Cup is lighter and probably takes less room in the pack so I look forward to switching those out and enjoy my next wilderness cup of java in a Fold-A Cup.</div>
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The large holds 20 ounces so will easily double as an eat out of bowl.</div>
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The small is more expresso size but great for sips of water from the creek because it does easily fit inside a pocket.</div>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-25052109831505630902017-06-29T17:36:00.000-07:002017-06-29T17:36:59.454-07:00New Camp Shoe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My new camp shoe, the Birkenstock EVA Arizona. Size 45 metric or 12.5 in US Sizing. Even thought I wear trail runners, I like changing shoes at he end of the day, a luxury I cannot do without. If my trail shoes get wet from a creek crossing or fishing, they will not be dry until the next day and I value complete dryness in camp, even my feet. These slip on and off easily in the middle of the night and give good protection to the bottom of my very sensitive feet from sticks and stones, I could even hike in them if I had to. They are bulkier than I would like but lighter by a few ounces than my current Patagonia Advocates that I have had for several years now and refuse to wear out.</div>
Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-80118422388025201952017-06-24T16:17:00.000-07:002017-06-24T16:17:17.998-07:00Mission Pine Basin<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Pine backcountry in the San Rafael Wilderness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hell's Half Acre on the Cachuma Saddle Road</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hell's Half Acre</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walking the ridge road.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Left the Road and started on the trail to Mission Pine Spring Camp,the destination for my 1st night.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The BeFree water filter. It's so easy to use, why not filter now?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting dinner ready, using the Bush Buddy store this trip since fire restrictions have not been turned on yet.</span></td></tr>
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The trail junction and camp in Mission Pine Basin. The point where I joined the Santa Cruz trail and decended the ridge into the Santa Cruz creed drainage.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The camp at Mission Pine Spring is very nice indeed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good water from the spring.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The real Mission Pine basin camp located on the northwestern corner of the meadow.</span></td></tr>
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The Santa Cruz creek trail down to Coche creek was in good shape. I could not find Coche camp so I stayed at Kellogg. No one has been there in awhile judging from grassy weeds growing in the fire pit, but still a serene spot with good water flow in Coche creek.</div>
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The trail past Kellogg to Flores Flat was not passable, lots of downfall. Obvious Bear activity at this camp that included what looked like a place to sleep, leave some scat, and tear up the table.</div>
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The next night was at Mission Pine Spring again, then back to the trailhead with panoramic views of the Santa Barbara backcountry.</div>
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A great trip into an area I have not been to and water was not an issue because all the springs are in great shape.</div>
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-71132182552020228362017-04-30T10:10:00.000-07:002017-04-30T10:10:30.109-07:00.....Because I Dislike Headlamps!<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or should I say " I dislike running into people wearing headlamps. I recently purchased an</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.rei.com/product/875480/e-case-eseries-9-case-with-jack" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">E-Case</span> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">eSeries 9 Case with Jack</span></a> with the help of a meager REI dividend to assist me in using my iPhone for a flashlight. The case has lash points for me to attach a </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">lanyard around my neck, from the roof of the tent or on my bike, the headlamp does not adapt well to anything other than just the head.</span></span></h1>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;">So you think that this is not such a good idea because it will be a big drain on the battery life? That does not seem to be true. On a recent test, I charged my iPhone to 100% then turned on the </span><span style="color: #222222;">flashlight accessory. </span><span style="color: #222222;">After 6 hours, the light was still on, bright and the battery was registering 80%. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">The E-Case is water tight and has a jack plug-in so I can also listen to my music.</span></div>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-44257752360084277212016-06-12T20:13:00.000-07:002016-06-12T20:13:26.923-07:00The Trangia Tundra Lid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ql0mIDv1pk81DFId7oOnN-pcKvNzSegBWnnRkjWKtHzz1fIwKcFxsU-A2NtrufSda7NG453irvKCnrksjAXSyuqErwiuJM8ml0go1-DvTf6v-w5ZjdmeyVx9D15L_ha9iEEJvlZIGs3N/s1600/IMG_3443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ql0mIDv1pk81DFId7oOnN-pcKvNzSegBWnnRkjWKtHzz1fIwKcFxsU-A2NtrufSda7NG453irvKCnrksjAXSyuqErwiuJM8ml0go1-DvTf6v-w5ZjdmeyVx9D15L_ha9iEEJvlZIGs3N/s640/IMG_3443.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Trqngia introduced this product as a canister stove setup, but I was only interested in the lid to fit my 25 Series pots. Unfortunately, USA dealers do not sell just the lid, but the Canadian dealers do so I bought from them instead. The shipping was more than the cost of lid but still cheaper than buying the entire kit from an American Trangia dealer.<br />
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Underside of lid.</div>
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The lid fits the 1.5 and 1.75 liter pots that come in the 25 series kit. It will not fit the smaller pots that come with the 27 Series kit or the Mini.</div>
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I purchased the lid to pair with a 1.75 titanium liter Trangia pot and use as a 2 man kit for an upcoming trip to visit Mount Langley in the High Sierra. Trangia no longer makes titanium pots.</div>
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I will use the Vargo windscreen, Decagon alcohol stove, Trangia pot grip, fuel bottle and smaller primer fuel bottle that holds the perfect amount of fuel to load the burner with. When done correctly this stove really puts out the heat, then you simply blow it out and pour the unused fuel back into the bottle.<br />
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If I am not a total gram weeny, i would bring the Trangia Windscreen, but it's too big and heavy. Without fuel, this set up comes in around 12 ounces.<br />
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-43826156789808556392016-06-05T08:09:00.000-07:002016-06-05T08:09:30.770-07:00San Nicholas Island with Channel Islands Restoration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_oxImjlRGWC4VySHS_KM9rcWQkHoPSqn1EhCZXySkDl5TG_aIXz9QovPooKz2KwXA2j3_Fyn0boa1OOgaL9yLx2-m9OP1tr396W0zAqAs7Lkiy9nK-Z6KDnVaoi4DsFs31ZC9fLdDBbQ/s1600/2366874150+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_oxImjlRGWC4VySHS_KM9rcWQkHoPSqn1EhCZXySkDl5TG_aIXz9QovPooKz2KwXA2j3_Fyn0boa1OOgaL9yLx2-m9OP1tr396W0zAqAs7Lkiy9nK-Z6KDnVaoi4DsFs31ZC9fLdDBbQ/s1600/2366874150+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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In late April I spent 4 days on San Nicholas Island, one of two Channel Islands that are Military bases, the other being San Clemente Island. I was able to do this trip as a volunteer with<a href="http://www.channelislandsrestoration.com/" target="_blank"> Channel Islands Restoration</a> (CIR) whom the Navy has contracted with to assist with the restoration of the island. Above, is an old Naval image of what the island was like- a windblown mess as a result of overgrazing before it became a base, and constant disruption from Military needs. Today, it is much improved, especially on the northeastern end where we spent most of our time combing surveyed terrain in search of the very invasive Sahara Mustard. The techique was simple- find it then <i>carefully pull it</i> without the seed pods erupting their contents back onto the earth. It wasn't all work, Our CIR leaders made sure we saw the entire island, visiting such places as "Rock Crusher", on the western most point on the island and a pristine canyon on the southeast side, containing many native species.</div>
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A word about the Island for what it is today- a Naval Military base with many missions, one being the maintenance of the "Outlying" airstrip located on the eastern end. The runway is huge, capable of landing a B-52 or a C-180 cargo plane. After we landed, we had a brief orientation with the Military Police, and the message was loud and clear- do not take pictures or wander away from the group or explore on your own. Even in "Nick Town" we were told not to walk anywhere but to and from the dining area and commissary. The only people allowed to take pictures were CIR staff.</div>
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Everyone stays in Nick Town. We were in the "Motel" that was actually very nice with single occupancy rooms that were modern and clean. As with all Military bases, we saluted the flag raising at 8AM and flag lowering at sunset.</div>
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<b> The CIR crew at work bagging mustard.</b></div>
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<b> The Enemy!</b></div>
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<b> One of two predominate animals on the island- Island fox.</b></div>
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<b> and the California Sea Lion.</b></div>
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<b> It was windy!</b></div>
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<b>Every beach was a rookery.</b></div>
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<b>Every door welcomed the resident fox.</b></div>
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-31819889951210696812016-04-10T15:59:00.000-07:002016-04-10T15:59:58.433-07:00Santa Cruz Station and Creek 2016<span style="font-size: large;">After a long pause from camping and hiking, I finally got a trip together to Santa Cruz creek. The Los Padres NF website said the 1st crossing was closed and I was prepared to hike the extra 2 miles via Alisos canyon, but as it was, the gate was open to Little Oso, glad I checked. Always nice to hike only what is needed to get to a destination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Water from the spring below Happy Hollow on the front side of the mountain. I propped the pipe up with my one of my sticks to get a clean catch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Year or the Poppy! Distant hills were dabbed in gold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Little Pine Spring Camp was in good shape and getting some use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bush Poppy on the 40 Mile Wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many of the sites at Santa Cruz have suffered from the fire and drought. There is only one good one now, nearest to the cabin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The oaks and hanging in there with fire and drought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The flies and gnats were at there worst from mid morning to dusk. I had to cover up for that and the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All and all, a very nice trip, but the fishing was tough. I did see fish, but they are not plentiful and very easily spooked.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Post trip update... poison oak on my arms!</span>Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-87350489588243166872015-11-29T09:56:00.000-08:002015-11-29T09:56:55.302-08:00Strange Pairings- Vargo and Trangia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have always found it difficult to out perform the original design of backpacking equipment. The conceptual ideas and engineering of a product seems to always vet out inefficiency before it is introduced to the market. Still I tinker on, pairing pots and stoves that are not designed to be together, but it is always worth a try anyway, especially on some rainy afternoon.</div>
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This time the pairing experiment is the Vargo Decagon, the Vargo windscreen and the Trangia 28 Mini. This idea was first put forth in a Backpacking Light <a href="https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/75332/" target="_blank">thread</a> and was quickly put to rest as a bad idea. The weakness of the Mini is a stove holder that Trangia calls the windscreen. It's worthless for stopping wind, and wind is the enemy of alcohol stoves. As for the Vargo Decagon, a great concept to use the stove as a pot support, but the terrible reviews and stories of poor performance put this stove at the bottom of most lists. </div>
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Is this stove a misunderstood creature? As it turns out, yes it is. If one follows the instructions that include filling fuel to the weld line or beyond then prime the stove generously, this stove will burn like a rocket! With a good generous prime, the stove blooms at full blast and will boil 2 cups in about 6 minutes. As fuel is consumed and the level drops in the stove, the flame output is reduced then becomes more of a simmer until all the fuel is finally consumed in about 20 minutes. Perfect for those meals that may require long simmers after a boil, such as brown rice. Another nice feature is the stove can be blown out like a candle then the unused fuel is then easily poured back into the fuel bottle. The Vargo windscreen consists of 5 small flat panels that fold out to surround the pot and stove and easily stows inside the Mini along with the stove and pot holder.</div>
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The shape of the pot is a huge factor and the Trangia pot design is designed to be use with an alcohol stove, much better than the SnowPeak mug design.</div>
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I use the lid as a double cooker for tortillas.</div>
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A generous prime is the secret to a quick and full bloom. I use a small squeeze bottle that holds the perfect amount of fuel for the stove. Before I am ready to use the kit, I put the bottle and the stove in my pocket to warm up it all up and don't have to worry about crushing it because of the titanium construction.</div>
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Pairing this stove with a Sierra Cup worked really good also.</div>
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Using the Vargo equipment with the Sierra Cup was the lightest setup with the best boiling and fuel consumption times, but I prefer the Trangia Mini setup for added versatility and the lid snaps to the pot without the need of a strap or bag. This setup weighs in at 9.45 ounces and can also get a small squeeze cup in there that adds another 3 ounces.</div>
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Do I dare compare the Decagon burner with the Trangia burner? If one can master the Decagon, then some real comparisons can be made and only then can the Decagon can be in the same league and even be considered a UL substitute to replace the Trangia burner in it's kits.</div>
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-39745552585116146842015-09-27T09:28:00.000-07:002015-09-27T09:28:34.009-07:00A New DehydratorMy <a href="http://www.nesco.com/products/Dehydrators/" target="_blank">American Harvester </a>dehydrator finally quit, so I got another one just like it. The updated model has the fan and heating element in the lid now, instead of the base, so it is much easier to keep clean. I got some great ideas from their site, including making jerky with ground sirloin, seasoned with spices provided with the unit. After seasoning the ground beef, it goes into a press that results in a uniform ribbon of beef to dehydrate. I used a cookie press with a flat stencil with excellent results. Also had great results in dehydrating left over pasta dishes and turkey chili with beans and rice. Best of all was smoke salmon jerky from an online <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/salmon-jerky-recipe.html" target="_blank">Alton Brown recipe</a> then watching a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3qz4CQ7oAM" target="_blank">White Trash</a> cook do it on You-Tube It was very oily with the good omega-3 and packed well with no sign of rancidity on my last trip. It was also tasty when mixed with pintos or mashed potatoes.<br />
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-28301181195637093852015-08-09T08:27:00.002-07:002015-08-09T08:27:52.025-07:00A week with the Baxters. TR July 22-27 <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{b2a04841-827b-4b1d-84e3-972dee7de3b8}{171}" paraid="483917092" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><b><i>This year </i></b></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><b><i>it had to be Baxter Pass.</i></b> Not because it’s where I wanted to be, for jaw dropping beauty and big fish, but because… well, I’m not getting any younger and this was the last of the Four Beasts for me to do</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Lets face it, </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">for most Sierra trekkers </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">this trail is an on-off ramp to the JMT not</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> destination</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> S</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">o it was sea level to the Visitors Center in Lone Pine to pull the permit then on the trail be 11AM.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I was getting a late morning start on the trail and felt some relief to hear about the chance for rain</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in the afternoon. As it turned out, almost </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">to</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">o</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> perfect, by the evening and two solid downpours later, I was soaked from the knees down but otherwise settled in with the tarp pitched </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and dry clothes on,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ready for more rain</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> which never </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">happened</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> for rest of the trip</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{b2a04841-827b-4b1d-84e3-972dee7de3b8}{210}" paraid="135439651" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Trail conditions on the east side.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The trail does not really start on the valley floor as the other Beasts do, but still, the climb is constant on a tread that is no longer maintained</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> all the way to the JMT. To </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">complement</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the challenge, the lower half is through a recovering burn area that has become revegetated with chaparral</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> instead of pine forest</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and growing over</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the tread in many areas.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Further up, there are 2 washouts, and multiple areas where timber has fallen across the trail</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> so f</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ollowing duc</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">k</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s is what this trail is all about </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">as</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the trail will suddenly disappear into </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">obscurity </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">o</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">f green flora</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> or colla</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ps</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ed</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> talus</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The trail crosses the creek early on, </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">then</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">becomes</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> mostly out of reach except for the meadows area.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> As with many burn recovery areas, wild flowers </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">are e</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">verywhere as are large stands of burnt trees</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{b2a04841-827b-4b1d-84e3-972dee7de3b8}{237}" paraid="702040197" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">At the 9000 foot level the trail takes a northerly turn leaving the burn area and enters a zone of lush green forest and virgin meadows before finally entering </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">another</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> talus field and the final push to the top.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> A quick word about the upper meadow</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">....</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> t</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ake the time to get off the trail and enjoy it. Not often will you find a </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Sierra </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">plant community </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">with so much variety,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in such perfect harmony, more of a garden with the perfect gardener- nature doing all the work under the watchful eye of </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the massive </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Diamond Peak</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b><i><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Trail conditions on the west side.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i></b><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The path has light use and no maintenance by</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> SEKI so be prepared to </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">lose</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the trail and rely on duc</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">k</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s to find it</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> again</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, especia</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">lly in rocky areas, meadows and blow downs. After </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">descending</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the pass, the trail skirts around Baxter </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">lake</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> then veers north and away from the other lakes contained in the basin. </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">After descending a wall of talus and timber, the trail terminates at Dollar Lake on the JMT.</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Just before you enter the canyon down to Woods creek, there is a statement by previous hikers on duc</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">k</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s:</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFbrkLeriCZVuEjtM0UXkj0iiOYu-Jcy0rRUcrTGMd-XQ-cSFhPnpbyagymW7BkyhqIaCitMn5ZCmZfJXwlOSSHC8TjY8JZqCKRJUEhvWIDrpWLddDHMeKd7biEwicEUV0VJ8gfIG8lvh/s1600/P1000492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFbrkLeriCZVuEjtM0UXkj0iiOYu-Jcy0rRUcrTGMd-XQ-cSFhPnpbyagymW7BkyhqIaCitMn5ZCmZfJXwlOSSHC8TjY8JZqCKRJUEhvWIDrpWLddDHMeKd7biEwicEUV0VJ8gfIG8lvh/s400/P1000492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Trip summary</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span></i></b><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">My original plan was to explore two isolate groups of lakes, the first contained within the Baxter creek system</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> west of </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Acrodectes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Peak</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, the second</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, in </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">a hanging valley lake system on the west </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">side of Woods creek, 3 miles below Dollar Lake</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> (WL-3144 on Topo maps)</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{0371fa2b-ea67-4017-868c-3e853b99ad0d}{51}" paraid="860084240" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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<b><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Acrodectes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Peak</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, or "the Beetle"</span></b><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Plenty of room to pitch a tarp.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></b></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{0371fa2b-ea67-4017-868c-3e853b99ad0d}{83}" paraid="328734895" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I abandoned any hope of getting to WL-3144 when I got to the take off point from the JMT too late in the day to </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">negotiate</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> 1500 foot </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">timbered</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ridge wall</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> complete with blowdowns</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and ledges. This brief stint on the JMT was worth the trip just to experience the excellent tread and marvel at such a diversity of use, including </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">groups of </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">joggers, </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">dayhikers</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, through hikers, and section h</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ikers doing the Rae Lakes Loop. </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Quite the crowd, I must say!</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><b><i>Trip Highlights. </i></b></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">My </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ba</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ckcountry</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">interests are </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">exploratory</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">fishing, followed closely</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> by</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> lazy mornings around camp, and this area allowed me to do just that. After fishing most of the lakes, I discovered the lakes d</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">o</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">have</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">some diversity,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the lower chain of lakes contained small </span><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Goldens</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, and the upper chain, </span><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Brookies</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> to 12".</span></span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Best of all was the </span><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">dayhike</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> up to a group of lakes west of </span><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Acrodectes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Peak</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, seeing fish rise and splash the surface, then fishing these waters all day, surrounded by high mountain peaks and ridges in all directions. My original plan was to camp there, but glad that I did not. </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the entire landscape was</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> talus</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">with</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> nothing level to bed on.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<b><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Ready for a day hike to unnamed lakes.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"> The talus wall needed to be climbed.</b></div>
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<b>View from the first pond.</b></div>
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<b>The first pond.</b></div>
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<b>The upper lake was much larger.</b></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX39712585" paraeid="{0371fa2b-ea67-4017-868c-3e853b99ad0d}{165}" paraid="930421777" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><b><i>Wish I would have.... </i></b></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Visited the upper lake just south of Baxter Lake in a small basin of high steep cliffs and a snow field. I doubt that it had fish, but the whole time I was in the area, I could here rocks rolling down and echoing across the valley. To see the lake and hear the </span><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">echoes</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> such a canyon would revel any cathe</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">dral</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> in Europe.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><b><i>Final thoughts.</i></b></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Obviously this area is not on anyone's </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">list to sample</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> scenic beauty and </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">lunkers</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, but sometimes the best view is</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> from afar, and this area does not lack in classic eastern high sierra vistas </span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">beautiful</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> flora</span><span class="TextRun SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and a variety of fish that were always eager to check out my flies. The nights were chilly, down to 38 degrees and long pants are advisable because of all the overgrown trails and blowdowns.</span><span class="EOP SCX39712585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-7840903600234290492014-10-26T07:31:00.000-07:002014-10-26T07:31:39.680-07:00<div class="postbody" style="clear: both; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1.48em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 577.59375px;">
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<a href="http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11859#p89489" style="color: black; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Headwaters of Tyndall Creek and Beyond, Late September.</a></h3>
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I had been wanting to get over Shepherds Pass to fish the upper Kern region and trek under the divide for some years now, it's part of my personal effort to get all 4 of those east side brutes under my belt and fish the less obvious waters before I retire.<br />
The last visit was WAY back in the mid 1970s. On that trip, I went up and over Foresters Pass, back up through Center basin, over Junction Pass then out.<br />
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The initial game plan was to participate in the Mav's Meetup, but that did not happen, so I sketched this itinerary: Over the pass, visit the numerous lakes at the headwaters of Tyndall, over to Lake SA, then a loose interpretation of the classic loop around the headwaters of the Kern.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pre-trip</strong></span>. As with all my trips, it all starts some weeks earlier by dehydrating various foods, testing the menu, purchasing items I think is needed, but never are. Case in point:<br />
A nifty shower head that fits on any water or soda bottle and the 2 liter size Platy water bag. Did not use it once.<br />
A large Tyvek groundsheet, that I found too big, bright white and noisy, so left it in the gear closet.<br />
A Gossamer Gear cubin tarp with poles. There was no rain in the forecast, so this got into the pack. I was out the door at just under 27 pounds for 6 days.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Took it, but never bothered to use it. Better suited for a rinse off after a session in the surf.</strong><br />
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I<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> filed the R-Conn form and I was out the door at just under 27 pounds.</strong><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Day one. Lot's of folks coming out, not so many going in.</strong> Those coming out included many mountaineers doing Williamson in a day. I was at Anvil by 4 PM and they were still coming off the pass, heading back to the trailhead. Strange spidery beings in spandex, hydration-packs, and helmets on their way back to the City, home by midnight and ready for work or school Monday morning.<br />
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The first day is never easy is it? It's 0 to 10,500 in 6 plus hours and I was feeling it, but enthusiasm and anticipation always prevail.<br />
I was able to get across "The Washout" trusting some very marginal handholds without too much deviation from where the trail traditionally crosses that area but my heart was really racing after those moves and more than ready to find a site at Anvil. The situation at this washout is very ugly. When you pickup the Permit, the Ranger makes no mention of it and I didn't ask. It's in steep terrain, and both sides of the washout are vertical, consisting of large rocks resting loosely in decomposed granite. Both sides are about 10 to 15 feet deep. Many thanks to those Topix members who posted maps, descriptions and pictures but there is no established easy safe way.<br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/p9SWmo" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15196676070_06976c2383.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The trail crests the ridge in the talus field tongue to the right.</strong><br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The next day, over the pass.</strong></span> After gaining Anvil, the traveler feels like he must be "almost there" but that's not the case. There is much more to traverse, all of it above timberline. The trail is well constructed through difficult bolder and talus fields until the crest is reached in a very steep section of a talus field "tongue".<br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/p9SdMF" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15196536249_94a0a8bd7b.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Welcome to the Park.</strong><br />
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My first objective was to visit a group of insignificant unnamed lakes located in a basin between Diamond Mesa and the crest northwest of the pass. Often this type of area can be overlooked so close to the pass by those who seek more isolated and beautiful settings to the west. The first lake was no longer a viable lake, or even a tarn, the drought had done it's damage and tainted my mind that the following lakes in this basin would be in the same state of starvation. To my surprise, the next lake was small but still healthy, and even better, fish were rising. I wasted no time in setting up my rod to try my luck for what I guessed to be Goldens. There was no wind on the lake, the fish easily visible, and very aware of my presence, but before long I coaxed a strike and landed a 12" Rainbow! The session lasted for more than 2 hours before they all laid down and disappeared, making the lake appear completely fishless.<br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/prnghT" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/15383266855_911b0a0a5c.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lake #2. A 3rd much larger lake lay beyond the small ridge in the foreground. There are no signs pointing the way now.</strong><br />
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After getting sidetracked for a couple of hours, which happens to me with greater frequency these days, I finally reached the largest lake in the basin. This lake is split in two, with a shallow section to the east, and a much larger deeper section to the west. The eastern side was lit with fish rising, the west had only occasional rings, but I was so exhausted by the end of the day, making camp and dinner left no energy to setup my rod to cast on the deep end. I would have to save it for the next morning.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">No rain expected at Lake #3 and no evidence that this area is a popular overused camping destination.</strong><br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/prnkuv" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3884/15383280985_f04c6f0232.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The shallower eastern section, looking south into the Williamson Bowl some miles distant, as viewed from the campsite.</strong><br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/ppkvCJ" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3886/15360291886_42c8cfa713.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The much deeper west end.</strong><br />
<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/p9T6sh" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15196706688_30f2ef317b.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One final look into the Bowl.</strong><br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Day 3. Lesson of the trip: As a fly fisherman, when you see fish, don't wait, fish it!</span></strong> The next morning the lake was glassy, not a ripple, including... no fish rings. I cast and combed the lake, nothing, not even the shallow east end that had so many rises when I had arrived the evening before. It now looked completely fishless, for some reason, they were really hunkered in. Bad weather coming? Hmmmm. Considering the location to such a popular trailhead, there was no obvious evidence of any recent visits and I believe this lake holds larger than average Rainbows, maybe even Goldens, but that will have to be for someone else to discover, I needed to move on.<br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/p9SHX5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15196634350_c2f58f39fc.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The large east end of lake #3 as viewed from the ridge separating drainages.</strong><br />
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Instead of retracing my steps back down this drainage, I crossed a small ridge that drops into another set of lakes. From the ridge the highest lake looked deep, and promising for fish, but when I got there, nothing. the second lake was much shallower with many small fry scurrying for cover as I trekked the shoreline, but again, nothing bigger cruising or gulping bugs on the surface.<br />
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<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/pr6cjF" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/15380131711_be42dab44c.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The larger deep lake.</strong><br />
<a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/p9SJS1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #7587a5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Image" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15196637420_96b34d3bd5.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a><br />
<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Shallower of the two lakes with many small fry. Is that Rockwell pass in the foreground?</strong><br />
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Time to pack the rod and head on down the trail to my next destination, Lake SA to test the waters and hopefully hook into the fabled Goldens that inhabit this area.<br />
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I stayed on the north side of Tyndall creek and picked up an old trail with many healing ruts that eventually hit the JMT in an area closed for restoration. I decided to stay on the trail to LSA, there was no reason not to since I had not seen anyone since cresting. I passed up many small lakes before having lunch at the last lake before crossing "the hill" and dropping down to LSA. As I ate, I watched healthy sized fish taking insects in the wind chop, this really got me energized to get over that hill and get my rod reset for LSA. An hour later I was there, and nothing, LSA was, by all appearances, fishless. My only thrill for the entire session was retrieving my fly in frustration, when suddenly something very big and golden appeared out of the rocks, then disappeared just as fast. So,They are there, but not for me and what I had to offer. Again, I kicked myself for not fishing the gulping fish in the lake on the other side of the hill, feasting on flies in the wind chop as I ate lunch.<br />
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LSA is a very popular destination, and it shows, but I had it to myself this night and enjoyed the view of towering crests in all directions.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Day 4, Getting to the Kern. The terrain and their respective drainages, is somewhat convoluted, but not difficult to traverse.</strong> Today I wanted to check out the many lakes to the west, but not directly downstream to LSA, so I walked over to the head of the lake (Columbia?), crested a small ridge, then dropped into separate drainage that held many small lakes downstream. In these lakes I caught many small Goldens and Rainbows. In one of these lakes, I was catching both, but no hybrids, it was one or the other.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Goldens and Rainbows, either or.</strong><br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Another nameless lake, with a strange rock. Stupid thoughts wander into my mind when I see this stuff. An abandoned Flintstone monitor?</strong><br />
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After fishing from lake to lake in this region, it was time to refocus my efforts on another lake that lie tucked into one of the many basins that help form the Kings-Kern divide.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Time to check out another basin under the Kings Kern divide.</strong><br />
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This one involved some uphill route finding, but again, nothing too tricky and I was there by mid afternoon. As soon as I got to the lake outlet, I knew this nameless lake held fish. Big fish, rising to unseen bugs on the glassy windless surface. Beautiful brutes, and the water so clear, I could see the dark and colorful display of their skin. They were wary and wily, flapping their tail fin at my fly in snobbish refusal for what I had to offer. My casts laid them down quick, then they vanished. I took a break to let them settle down then casted another section of the lake and the action was on again, getting some incredible strikes and stokes this time, but landed none. Word had finally spread among them of my attempts, so now the lake was completely shutdown. And so it is with these lakes, I knew it could be this way for hours, so I broke my rod down and left.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">They went deep on me, time to go.</strong><br />
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By now I was again starting to feel tired from dividing my time between route finding and fishing, but I could still see even more lakes as left this one behind, so I aimed for another tucked into a timbered area. Big mistake. Somehow I missed it, then found myself in an area with many small ponds choked with grass lying in timber and steep canyons and became lost from traversing the area. All these ponds were stuffed with small ferocious Goldens, clearing the water to snag flies on the wing. I finally stumbled onto the large lake I was aiming for, but now nothing looked familiar like the morning, I was unsure of how to get back to the trail. Go back up the drainage, or down? I knew I was on the Kern now, so I headed down stream and eventually reunited with the trail at a small lake and made camp for the evening, completely exhausted, but relieved to be on track again.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Happy to be on the trail again. Daypack filled with lunch and fishing gear riding piggyback.</strong><br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Day 5, the storm. Today was the day I had to start the trek back</strong>. As I laid in my bag awake, waiting for the sunrise, I stared at the cloudless sky and peaks, then suddenly, there was a small cloud. By sunrise the southern horizon was covered with clouds streaming northward. Another monsoon, or worse, an old hurricane?<br />
The long-range forecast for this day was a transition in weather, so there it was, happening, but to what? For the region I was in, the weather quickly evolved into a gale out of the west. I was not panicked, but made haste with repacking my gear and headed east through a region of beautiful timber. After being in the alpine zone for so many days, it was a wonderful change to see these wonderful tree forms.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A change is coming. Time to head east.</strong><br />
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As the day progressed, so did the wind. By the time I was well on my to reaching the crest at Shepherds pass, the wind was blowing a steady 40 mph, with gusts to 50 mph. My trekking poles took on a new assignment- keep me vertical!<br />
After I crested, a new fear gripped me. The eastern face at the top of this pass is very steep, almost vertical, and the wind was now aimed perfectly to blow me off the trail. By the time I rolled into Anvil, I again was completely spent, but still had to get my tarp set up since i didn't know if this storm was going to be just a lot of wind, or evolve into a rain and snow. There is truth in the concept that tarps suck in the Sierra because of the soil and real estate needed to get a good pitch, but fortunately I had the camp to myself, and could pick and choose a good site. After I go it set up, I was pleasantly surprised at how well it blocked and shedded the wind.<br />
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The final day. It was all down hill, mostly.</span> </strong>But I still had to get by THE washout again. For some reason, I really messed this one up. I tried going downhill, following some ducks. Finally, but not easily, I was in the gully, then went downstream, and back up again before finding a very marginal way out. Once again I was on my way, heading back to the car, a Habenaro super sized burger meal at McDonald's, and home.<br />
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I did pass several hikers heading in. None of them knew about that washout, so I told them the best I could, but knew they would have to figure it out on their own just like all the rest of us. Much later I also learned that my windstorm translated to a full on snow maker further up the Range and lingered for a few days there after.</div>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-29694023775466722672014-03-09T10:46:00.000-07:002014-03-09T10:48:48.131-07:00 Backpacking In Joshua Tree National Park <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Day One </b></div>
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Erik, my son, and I took this trip during the President's Holiday in February. He lives in San Diego and me in Santa Barbara so Joshua Tree National Park seemed like a perfect middle of the road point to meet up for some some camp time. At first glance, I found tons of information about hiking and camping in the Park, but had trouble understanding the size, complexity, and layout of the topography to select a destination easily. There are lots of choices, and all the trailheads are well marked and equipped with parking and a Registration Board. Let me emphasize registering because its the desert, and we all know how unforgiving it can be. I eventually settled on Juniper Flats with our destination to be just outside of the Stub Springs area, with a day hike to Quail Mountain and the Stub Spring loop scheduled for day 2. We met up in the town of Joshua Tree, had lunch, then entered the Park. Our first surprise; no entrance fee in honor of our 1st President! We were on the trail by 2PM with 12 liters of water for 2 days. The second surprise was how well the Park is laid out, and the trails marked. The trail I selected is part of the California Hiking and Riding Trail that runs through the park, and is well marked with mileage markers and trail junction signs.<br />
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<b>Selecting a Camp</b></div>
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The rules for selecting a campsite are very straightforward. Get at least one mile away from the road, then off the trail and out of site. No fires, or camping in day use and sensitive habitat areas. There was no rain the forecast, so I left the tent flys in the car and went with mesh only, using the Akto for Erik, and the Big Agnes Platinum Series for me. Cowboy camping is discouraged because of Rattle Snakes and Scorpions, none of which I saw the entire trip. After about 5 miles, we wandered off the trail and found an inviting spot for our base camp. After setting up, we explored our immediate surroundings, cooked a steak dinner with flour tortillas then settled in for the evening, all the while, enjoying the wonderful desert evening colors tinted by the setting sun and rising moon. The evening was mild and I sleeted comfortable in my summer sleeping bag.</div>
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<b>Day two</b></div>
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This was our day to summit quail Mountain, the highest point in the park and easily seen from our camp. After a breakfast of oatmeal (packaged in wax bags I have been experimenting with) we set off cross country to the base of the mountain, traversing an area that burned extensively in the ninties, then picked a use trail that led up a canyon toward the top. An hour later, we were on the summit, inspecting wreckage from a plane crash, picture taking, and signing the summit register. We followed a different use trail down the mountain that seemed to be much easier than our route up. We were back in camp by early afternoon for lunch and a nap. After our quite time, we decided to check out the Stub Spring loop. This area was unaffected by the fire, and was a beautiful mix of pinion pine and Joshua Tree. The Spring was not much, just a wet area surrounded by some very thirsty bees, then another wet area surrounded by an impermeable stand of the highly invasive Spanish Broom, and lots of bones, including two Big Horn sheep skulls. We decided not to finish the loop since it was getting late in the afternoon and the winter days short. We had another wonderful dinner on chili and beans using cooked tri-tip that I dehydrated. This evening was much colder, and we both got cold in the summer bags.</div>
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<b>Day three</b></div>
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This was our last day, so we had a leisurely breakfast, then broke camp and readied ourselves for the hike back to the car. Even though it was the same trail, the view was completely different and noticed vistas and details not seen on our way in. When we got back to the car, we exited the park via Twentynine Palms and stopped and enjoyed the many road side views. We also toured one of the large public campgrounds that are in the park. Because it was a holiday, they were packed and made me glad that we decided to backpack rather than car camp.</div>
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We saw lots of hikers and backpackers, but never got a feeling of overuse or loss of privacy. Even though it's a riding trail, we never saw anyone on horse back. Bicycles are not allowed on the trails.<br />
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Erik on the Quail Mountain summit with wonderful view on the San Jaquintos.<br />
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-26302321927249113372013-12-29T19:31:00.000-08:002013-12-29T19:31:10.559-08:00Little Pine Spring<br />
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One of the many aspects I like about the Santa Cruz Trail its scenic 3000 foot elevation gain up to Alexander Saddle below Happy Hollow. Great training for Sierra passes. Also let me mention, the trail is in great shape, thanks to the many volunteers who have been chipping away at it since the Zaca fire. Even the bicyclists have helped, since this is a very popular downhill single track run, and their presence has kept the encroaching chaparral at bay.<br />
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At the beginning of my one week Christmas holiday vacation, I had a two day window of opportunity to get an overnighter in, and put some of my backpacking gear to use, especially the wood burning stove. I recently read that the side trail to Little Pine Spring had been cleaned up. I have never been able find it because the thick grass quickly overgrows the trail and the Zaca fire added to the chaotic appearance and weedy growth to the area. On my last attempt, I tried to cross the canyon bottom too soon, and an impermeable wall of oak sent me back to the main trail and on to Santa Cruz Station. </div>
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After purchasing the Adventure Pass for my parking at the little kiosk before the river crossing, I was at the trail head (along with dozens of cyclists and boy scouts) and on my way, my pack weighing in at about 18 pounds. Nice and comfy for an overnighter. The trail was shaded as a result of the low winter sun angle so it started out rather chilly, enough to don a windbreaker which was soon shedded after the sun finally found the trail. </div>
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As I reached the upper trail just below the saddle, the cyclists where on the trail after taking the road to Happy Hollow and on their downhill single track run back to the trial head at Upper Oso. After I crested the saddle, I had it all to myself. The trail on the backside was just reworked and in great shape, much better than it was on my last visit.<br />
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By mid afternoon, I found the Little Pine Spring campsite and settled in to its inviting fire ring, crickity table, and welcome seclusion.</div>
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I set up the tent (Big Agnes UL Fly Creek 2), first under the shade of a big Oak that survived the fire, then after a quick nap, moved it closer to the fire ring and table.<br />
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I quick exploration of the camp revealed the spring trough and remnants of an ice can style fire box that was the fire box of choice when these sites were first developed.</div>
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The weather was perfect, not a breath of wind, nor the incessant buzzing of gnats trying to fly into the facial orifaces. Perfect for simply hanging out in camp and relaxing. Eventually I got around to breaking out the Bushbuddy wood stove. The fire restrictions had been lifted so time for some old fashion fire time!</div>
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I collected wood for the stove and the fire ring, making sure there was oak bark in the mix for the stove, since steak was on the menu for the evening supper.</div>
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A meaty filet mignon, flour tortilla, and a cup of green tea. I dubbed it my "LosPadres taco".<br />
2nd course (not shown) was refried beans on another tortilla.<br />
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After I finished this wonderful meal I cleaned the fire soot from my pot using the nylon storage bag for the stove. As you rub the nylon over the bottom of the pot, the soot falls between the mesh and soon the bottom has a nice hardened black patina.<br />
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The evening fire helped with the cool chill of the evening, but it never got below freezing. In fact, I brought my Western Mountaineering Veralite bag and was almost too warm. I think I would have been just fine in the Valandre Mirage, my summer bag.</div>
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The next day was a carbon copy of the day before, the wonderful sun lit mountain air and a perfect stillness in the windless conditions. A perfect start to my Holiday and a nice way to end 2013.</div>
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-48942204589536660352013-10-06T07:26:00.000-07:002013-10-06T07:26:19.115-07:00<span class="corners-top"><span></span></span>
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<a href="http://www.highsierratopix.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10077#p76112">Another Taboose Tale of Nameless Lakes</a></h3>
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It's hard to go over Taboose Pass and not have
some sort of memorable experience. Of course, that can be said for
backpacking in general, the traveler can expect "the unexpected" and
play it according to ability and luck. This trip was no exception. Oh
sure, it had all the inspirational views that we come to expect, but
this year mother nature combined all her furies to make sure I would
remember this trip for all the weather and clouds, instead of the
endless sun-drenched days and 14 inch Rainbows that we can expect in
September.<br /><strong><br />Looking east from the unnamed lakes below Venacher Needle area.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876285196/"><img alt="Image" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/9876285196_96f0cf2380_c.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I
will start with the weather report for my week, beginning on Tuesday,
the first day of my planned 6 day trip to include visiting the unnamed
lakes below Venacher Col. The NWS chalk board report at the Visitors
Center called for monsoon conditions ending Wednesday. <br /><br />Thursday
dawned cloudy, windless and ominous. The clouds and sky roiled all day,
culminating in a late afternoon storm that went well into the evening.
Each day, the clouds played the same scenario.<br /><strong><br />Camped at the unnamed lakes.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876275456/"><img alt="Image" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/9876275456_116b06fbea_c.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />My
well being? I felt great the first two days, full of optimism to visit
nameless lakes in the Kings river drainage and catch trout. Those were
the best days of the whole trip. Thereafter I my body felt like the
boiling sky, unpleasant intestinal feelings washing in and out in
varying degrees of intensity, but always there to remind me that I was
not feeling at the top of my game, and a long way from home.<br /><br /><strong>Patiently waiting for a break in the weather and intestinal rumblings to fish.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876402813/"><img alt="Image" height="300" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9876402813_f4f57ff741_c.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><strong><br />Looking back on the lower lake</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876264305/"><img alt="Image" height="300" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/9876264305_d9bc899685_c.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The upper lake below Venacher Col. These lakes are fishless.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876290794/"><img alt="Image" height="480" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9876290794_c05e581966_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876391203/"><img alt="Image" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/9876391203_1316d8cbbc_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />My
wilderness skills? I survived all the rain in a new tent setup dry
enough, but made the mistake of leaving camp in an excited state to go
fishing for Goldens, and not covering my gear for the rain. Before I
knew it, I was in the Upper Basin, no windbreaker, sky boiling, and me
with thoughts of a downpour onto my sleeping bag and clothes airing on
the rocks at camp. Fortunately, I made it back just in time, gathered my
stuff back into the tent to wait out the shower.<br /><strong><br />The evening sky reloading for the finale.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876306715/"><img alt="Image" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/9876306715_4a03626988_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Stripped Mountain reflecting the red sky sunset.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876341394/"><img alt="Image" height="480" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9876341394_c1c96d9835_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Wandering the Upper Basin</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876376766/"><img alt="Image" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/9876376766_eedeacbba7_c.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876343525/"><img alt="Image" height="333" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9876343525_c1a20fb4ca_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876352905/"><img alt="Image" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9876352905_8daccf3311_c.jpg" width="478" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Best tree of the trip, every trip has it's standout. This one was in the Upper Basin on the JMT.</strong><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876329135/"><img alt="Image" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/9876329135_fb0c2663e8_c.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The
weather never really let up and the fishing was mostly 6" Goldens (not
complaining!), but the rain really settled the dust cleared up the air,
and I actually enjoyed the windless Monsoon conditions and stillness.
Not pictured is how the foliage really perked up from the rains. The
native grasses were at their best, with stalks of seed-heads shooting up
and shimmering in the breeze. For me, this area is one huge and
unending Zen Garden.<br /><br />A High Sierra Topix member siting! On my
last day, I met Tomba, lithely bounding up the eastern side of Taboose,
on his way to the Upper Crossing and points beyond. The weather had a
few surprise nuggets for him as well!<br /><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876314864/"><img alt="Image" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/9876314864_50b3a72c7d_c.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/97208488@N02/9876331134/"><img alt="Image" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/9876331134_71e16e91a1_c.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="signature" id="sig76112">
Bend your barbs!</div>
Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-80621945438944414612013-09-17T08:43:00.000-07:002013-09-17T08:43:58.200-07:00Discovery on San Miquel Island <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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San Miguel Island is a Channel Islands National Park destination that is a rare bird of sorts. It's considered one of the outer islands, along with Santa Rosa, and getting there involves a long boat ride that crosses some of the roughest seas on the west coast. This trip was no exception.<br />
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Even at check-in they were telling us that we might not get there, and to please consider alternatives. Even as we unloaded campers onto Santa Rosa, the skipper was hedging his bets. After consulting his charts and reports, the decision was to give it the 'ol college try. I was impressed with his skills to handle the large craft in 10 foot seas without too much sea sickness discomfort to the passengers. Even after all that, and we were safe in Cuyler harbor, he was now telling us that the skiff may not be able to safely land us onto the beach through the surf. The final landing turned out to be a piece of cake, since there was no ground swell that would cause dangerous shore break, only wind chop. So all us campers were safely on the island, and commenced that steep hike up to the camp ground after our Volunteer Ranger orientation. <br />
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Unlike Santa Rosa, travel on this island is regulated. Cuyler harbor is just about the only place a hiker can go unescorted or without permission. All other destinations require Ranger accompaniment. Luckily, the Rangers are very accommodating, and offered our group ample opportunities to hike everyday of the trip. There was no obligation to go, one can find plenty to do and see within the boundaries outlined by the Ranger. On one of the days I did just that, and made some wonderful discoveries, all within bounds. The first was at the Cabrillo Monument. During the obligitory picture shoot of the Monument, and trying to get a different view point, I noticed at the Monument base, a large Chumash grinding stone.<br />
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Just below that stone, was a small round stone, that looked like the grinder that complimented the larger stone, so I put them together, then contemplated the odds of the monument erectors actually knew what they had used.<br />
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The center piece of any visit to this island, is the hike out to Bennett Point to view the California Sea Lion breeding colony.This was our destination on day two.<br />
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Right next to our viewing location was a huge Chumash midden, loaded with perfect ancient abalone shells.<br />
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On another organized hike, we visited a large Elephant Seal breeding area and witnessed this interesting standoff between two bulls. Please note the disinterested females.<br />
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Later the same day, I took a solo hike to the tide pools on the southern reach of Cuyler Harbor. The day was cloudy, but the tide pool life remained colorful and abundant. <br />
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Our final day on the island had the best weather, in fact, it was the first windless day in months on San Miguel Island!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking toward Santa Rosa Island.</td></tr>
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Surf rolling onto one on the many point-bay setups on this island. No crowds except the body surfing pinnipeds.<br />
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This weather held for the rest of the trip, and the return voyage was smooth as silk. These conditions made for perfect and abundant viewing of marine wildlife to keep us on our toes until we were on the Ventura Flats. What started as a wild roller coaster boat ride, ended as a relaxed sundrenched afternoon filled with easy conversation and Micro brew beers to wash down the grit of the previous windy island days.<br />
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<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-59292191918164278162013-06-18T17:37:00.002-07:002013-06-18T17:37:44.758-07:00A Press Release From the Inyo County Sheriff Department<div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Remains recovered in Sequoia National Park - Might be hiker missing since October</span></span><br /><br />Published on Jun 18, 2013 - 7:01:59 AM<br /><br />By: Cpt. Terry Waterbury, Inyo County Sheriff Office, SAR Coordinator<br /><br />June
17, 2013 - Search efforts have continued for 53 year old, Lawrence Conn
from Pacific Palisades who went missing last October during one of
winter's first snow storms. Conn failed to return from his solo
hiking/camping trip into Sequoia National Park. After friends reported
him overdue, Conn's vehicle was located at Taboose Pass trailhead in
Inyo County. A joint search effort was conducted between Inyo County
Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue and Sequoia National Park.· Due to
the accumulation of snow and no signs of Conn, search efforts were
suspended.<br /><br />On 06-09-2013, Search teams from the National Park
Service, Inyo County SAR, and Sierra Madre Mountain Rescue Team
conducted joint efforts to locate Conn. A hiking shoe similar to what
Conn may have been wearing was located a short distance inside the Park
off the main trail near the pass. The discovery of the shoe redirected
the search teams from the approximate 100 square miles of search area to
the Taboose Pass area.<br /><br />On 06-15-2013, in the early afternoon
search teams located a windblown tent and several other items off the
Taboose Pass trail in Inyo County at about 11,500 foot level. The tent
matched what Conn was reported to have used. Concentrating efforts in
that area, search teams discovered a cell phone which was determined to
be Conn's and possible human remains.<br /><br />The remains have been turned over to the Inyo County Coroner's Office for positive identification. </div>
Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-70049186014321668982013-06-18T17:32:00.001-07:002013-06-18T17:32:49.142-07:00Larry Conn Has Been Found<br />
<br />Larry’s remains were found just east of Taboose on the weekend<br />of the 6/15-16. His tent was outside of his backpack, possibly set<br />up? His backpack was near by, both pieces of equipment were torn<br />open. His iphone was also found which contained photos of the <br />snowstorm. Some of his remains were also found that was sent<br />off for dna testing. <br />The iphone has not yet been release so we have not been able to<br />see photos, it will hopefully shed some light on what Larry <br />was experiencing on his last day. We have not been informed about <br />whether his sleeping bag was still in the backpack or not, which <br />would shed some light on possible scenarios that may have transpired.<br />So far it points towards Larry climbing up Taboose Pass during the<br />storm (this is where the photos would help), set up camp once over<br />and slightly down trail from the top of the pass to avoid the wind,<br />then set up his tent and suffered some fatal medical conditions.<br />Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-63229917681141230382013-06-16T08:05:00.000-07:002013-06-16T08:05:41.983-07:00Valandre Mirage Sleeping bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1xjshgmzGJdfbE73AdE9Di9KcJoQEblK7JT7TjbdB7HrMlHM1UzG_Ddwy6V0dd6BIps4M5VQ3GrG3qh64DyDNCsblZe9BqRO-jrLB_BuWUfu-Gohi2C4dUqgMiDhxTQVTTdJJEGHV3Mx/s1600/P4200021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1xjshgmzGJdfbE73AdE9Di9KcJoQEblK7JT7TjbdB7HrMlHM1UzG_Ddwy6V0dd6BIps4M5VQ3GrG3qh64DyDNCsblZe9BqRO-jrLB_BuWUfu-Gohi2C4dUqgMiDhxTQVTTdJJEGHV3Mx/s320/P4200021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I always had puzzling thoughts when reading about backpackers having multiple sleeping bags in their kit. For years I was a one bag for all seasons dude. That has all changed with the addition of the <a href="http://www.valandre.com/eng/Sleeping_Bags_and_Outerwear/sleeping_bags/mirage.html" target="_blank">Valandre Mirage</a> to the gear closet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyM9eYezQTuytrz4LSUUhOtNZvoGGYNN_-naIow4JSgDBZDvwzMtUb5W2gK8w7XkFFNoOI4ZwP2HGnmzfb8iPLH0nh4ZHJuf_Ewdjb7b-6i8G6ELdkFyjl5dOt6qEw7-gMpDm_T5B46un/s1600/P4200018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyM9eYezQTuytrz4LSUUhOtNZvoGGYNN_-naIow4JSgDBZDvwzMtUb5W2gK8w7XkFFNoOI4ZwP2HGnmzfb8iPLH0nh4ZHJuf_Ewdjb7b-6i8G6ELdkFyjl5dOt6qEw7-gMpDm_T5B46un/s320/P4200018.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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With this bag weighing in at 1.7 pounds (799gram), I will reduce my shelter gear by a pound over my <a href="http://www.westernmountaineering.com/index.cfm?section=products&page=Sleeping%20Bags&cat=ExtremeLite%20Series&ContentId=20" target="_blank">Western Mountaineering Versalite.</a> I never had a cold night in that bag, but I did become frustrated on more than one night with the draft collar and hood system.<br />
there is no draft collar on the Mirage, and a different design for the hood will hopefully take care of some of that. Hoods are inherently frustrating for anyone who is a side and prone sleeper like me, but I'm not ready for a quilt system because of the ever present possibility of drafts washing out the warm air. Instead, the challenge for me is to develop a sleeping technique to turn with the bag, instead of just inside the bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG6VPsMPwi-uy909uGK3UXbVZ_BcLARb8h30O6Lz3KI8PqjrIIaFEzOtJeg7suVxspftls0iwL-poHLdgKl3V0HumD57EFcCGuwUtE1534TE0yva6t7CfdVWwrF3djpLbuQxArH8TcNQ6/s1600/P4050023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG6VPsMPwi-uy909uGK3UXbVZ_BcLARb8h30O6Lz3KI8PqjrIIaFEzOtJeg7suVxspftls0iwL-poHLdgKl3V0HumD57EFcCGuwUtE1534TE0yva6t7CfdVWwrF3djpLbuQxArH8TcNQ6/s320/P4050023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The general shape of the bag is somewhat unique and is designed for comfort to 20 degrees using goose down as the insulator. More on that later. Instead of a gradual consistent tapering to the foot box, Valandre keeps the bag on the wide side to a point at the hips where the arm ends, then reshapes to conform to the legs. One last shape change is at the foot box where it opens up to the shape of an anatomic foot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm49HMiJzIQwXtjn4SJhSWlL7xl7oRNM6kTavbHOndDRGfegLSLrnEZQWmIp85LQBEermuRbYfUx3igbnYhiKIDGZiuukVkCLy-t1xoNFegI8YJTU13sO9gCHKAolp9AS7w3XAHanksPN/s1600/P4050021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm49HMiJzIQwXtjn4SJhSWlL7xl7oRNM6kTavbHOndDRGfegLSLrnEZQWmIp85LQBEermuRbYfUx3igbnYhiKIDGZiuukVkCLy-t1xoNFegI8YJTU13sO9gCHKAolp9AS7w3XAHanksPN/s320/P4050021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The 3/4 length zipper is protected by a draft baffle to discourage cold air seeping in.<br />
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Valandre uses goose down from geese specifically raised, and humanly slaughtered. Because geese fly at very high altitudes, the shape of the feather is unique for retaining warmth at the core.<br />
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The product comes with 2 stuff sacks and a storage bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfhDO-iSOoCaRsJBXEhyphenhyphenqJDjrvZRli0Ow2lhyphenhyphen9wY1J2UApLbBIh0pLDDKiPFx2yI_520QCbbjk5-Sqbv_uaghgVAxP9fyrrdXAf1I0RLTV0cNUPlThAxvR1AoutyF2Zy1y3s1C-K_yvMz/s1600/P4050030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfhDO-iSOoCaRsJBXEhyphenhyphenqJDjrvZRli0Ow2lhyphenhyphen9wY1J2UApLbBIh0pLDDKiPFx2yI_520QCbbjk5-Sqbv_uaghgVAxP9fyrrdXAf1I0RLTV0cNUPlThAxvR1AoutyF2Zy1y3s1C-K_yvMz/s320/P4050030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It all sounds logical to me, but the defining moment for me was getting into the bag, zipping her up, then immediately feeling the warmth gather around me. The first thought is always the truest and <i><b>"toasty"</b></i> was that thought. It's a keeper and the bag count is now up to three.<br />
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Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-54148568415434431232013-06-11T16:55:00.003-07:002013-06-11T16:59:19.120-07:00Larry Conn, Missing Hiker UpdateA shoe has been found. According the note sent to me from the Sheriff's department asking me to remember the color. It was found by a searcher on a ridge line north of Taboose pass. The image of the shoe was sent to me by the High Sierra Topix moderator, Maverick.<br />
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I failed to identify the color correctly. I also commented that it did not have a lot of loud colors and it does not, only the orange. What I did recognize from my brief encounter with Larry was the broad toe box and wide lace area unlike most trail runners with narrow sleek lines and sent a note to the Sheriff's department stating my observation..<br />
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I think they are hot on his trail and have eliminated hundreds of square miles of search location possibilities.Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590022453295330755.post-5782203206846519292013-06-02T10:34:00.000-07:002013-06-02T10:34:40.321-07:00The Aging SoloistThere seems to be three schools of thought regarding backcountry preparedness. Those who stay solo and carry a sat devise, buddy system, and those who do both. I love to go solo, but the family hates it, they are well aware of Larry's demise and I suspect the box with a panic button isn't going to sway them much either. Now that I am about to punch into my mid 60s, I have all the time in the world to go solo, as opposed to my younger days when family and career kept me close to home. Doesn't seem fair, but life seldom is. So time to "act my age" and modify some habits.<br /><br />My current mindset is to gear up with high quality basics that could see me through a unforeseen situation, develop a realistic detailed itinerary for the wilderness permit, and maintain a level of physical fitness that is up to challenges of a given route. <br />I will no longer show up for my permit, scribble down some obvious name on the map, then proceed to go wherever some mountain climber reported seeing lunkers in a nameless lake. No more of those shenanigans.<br /><br />I am now also seriously considering signing up on a local university or commercial group trip that has an itinerary that can offer an opportunity for advanced backcounty travel. The perfect commercial or club situation would be everyone leaves and returns to the selected trailhead on the same day, but can go and do wherever their interests lead them within the given time and area framework. The group would have a designated or paid leader with signed rules of conduct and a sat devise, acting more as a babysitter and less as a guide. Some one who says "here we are, now go play."<br /><br />If they are out there, let me know, I will be the first to sign up. I would much prefer to give my money to and individual offering services rather than a devise and subscription service. Axelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03323787147630334003noreply@blogger.com0