Winterfest 2004

“With my job change I'm hesitant to commit, but looks like I'll make it up on Jan. 1, probably return Jan 2 or 3. Anyone who wants a ride from Sac area, send me an e. I'm also still somewhat flexible on dates.

Phaeddy - I show you headed up on 1st also, you have a car yet, bud?

Hikerchic, forget that renting a 4WD stuff, you can hitch up w me for free.”

“It's supposed to snow down to 2500 feet on Christmas day. We have hills around here that are > 2700 feet. I plan to go hiking the day after Christmas, in the snow. Probably can't break in my snow shoes. Ha!”

“Rockman are you trying to make me feel worse than I already feel about this trip?




8^)”

“Manzanita Lake has 16" of new right now. I figure at least 3'/4' of fresh snow by Friday morning at 6500'


Wanderer... too cool.”

“Navi, I'm sorry you won't be able to come. I'm looking forward to an in-person visit. He/she (the grandkid) could still be born and get to know you before this trip starts and for sure before it finishes. Or, for that matter, he/she could wait until the trip is over.”

“She (the grandkid). She(The daughter)is going to be induced on the 6th if she doesn't deliver before.
I still have my fingers crossed, although there's nothing that looks like snowshoes under the tree.”

“Buddha, Yeah it's in this thread, just go back a few days.

Wanderer, It looks like I WILL have a car by Friday. I should say a second car, since we still have the one. At any rate, are you interested in carpooling up, or caravaning, if you hav to leave early?

I'll need to pick up some chains, I think.”

“Navi, bummer on you not being able to come. Congrats on the grandkid though! If you need snowshoes, I could lend you a pair.”

“Phaeddy I have 4WD so you won't need to buy chains if you want to car-pool. How long were you planning on staying?”

“Thanks.
I got a gift cert. to REI for snowshoes. Yee Haww”

“I hope you all had a great Christmas...I hope to see some of your new toys on New Years. I know I'm going to be sporting a couple.

Navi...my best to the mom and rest of the waiting family.”

“I got an annual pass on the Sandia Peak Tram, not a plane ticket. Maybe Winterfest 2005! Have a blast.”

“Wanderer, I had hoped to stay until the 7th. You?”

“Steve, you are one of the reasons I'm bummed about missing this trip.


Winterfest 2005?”

“I have a set for 14 or 15 in. wheels that I don't need. Anyone interested let me know the other specs on tire size and we'll see if they mate. If so they're yours.”

“Hello all you wild and crazy winter trekkers! It's only 12 months away, so be sure to plan now for WINTERFEST 2005!

You'll have fun in the snow, and enjoy a few special guest appearances:

New Kids on the Block......
The creative stylings of Matrha Stewart.....
Sing Christmas carols with the Osmond Family.......
Punk your buddy with Ashton Kucher.......
and a very special appearance by.............




Mrs. Reese Witherspoon-Buddha Bear

So come on down, and bring your favorite cocktail!”

“jvz, I might be able to put them to good use. I've been lookin' around for rental chains but can't find any. I'll get back to ya with my tire size probably tomorrow when I'm not durnk.”

“LMAO Rockman!

Dude, every man should know thier size, especially when drunk!”

“Phaeddy, I can only stay a couple days, have to be back at work Monday. Wanna caravan up on the 1st?”

“Parking for the New Years trip is at Loomis Museum, North entrance. The park keeps this parking lot cleared all winter. They have begun to plow the first few hundred feet of the main road that we need to take to get to the trail head. The road is at the end of the parking lot and during the summer months takes you to the main camp grounds for Manzanita lake as well as the little store (all closed during the winter)

We have permission from the Rangers to drive past the barricade and drop off our sleds where the snow begins again on the road. We must still park in the main lot, but at least we wont have to carry the sleds in to the snow.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I'll post this on the trips page as soon as I get back from getting my skis tuned up.

I'm soooooo pumped, totally dude, ya know what I'm saying......and stuff.”

“Dearest Jene,

My tire size is P235/75R15 105S.

So it would appear I have 15" tires,right?

Would your chains and my tires make a good mate?

Let me know ASAP. I'm heading to Winterfest Tuesday morning. If you're around I can come out your way tomorrow or Sunday. Thanks!”

“Sounds good, Wanderer, I'll call you this week!”

“The time is rapidly coming when all of you who are going early will have already left and those of us who are comimg later better have our act together.

Can anyone save me going through the thread to find the coordinates to put in my GPS? I'll share something gourmet with you when I get there.”

“This will have the new camp coords
map

This is a larger map of the area
Map 2”

“WGS84 Datum

I'm going to start a "last minute stuff" thread tonight for all the little things...it will be on the trips page .”

“The coordinates for Manzanita Creek trail head are APPROXIMATE.....it will be signed. Its where the road curves back into the camp grounds, the trail head is to the left.”

“Thanks, Steve. I guess I just didn't remember that the coordinates were on the maps I looked at.

We got our permits Christmas Eve. Today, we shop for a cheap sled since Santa couldn't leave his at our house. Then when we know what we're towing, we can decide on how much room we have for packing goodies.”

“WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA-WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY/LASSEN PARK- 400 AM PST SAT DEC 27 2003

SNOW IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP ON SUNDAY... POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 FEET ON SUNDAY. SNOW LEVELS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 ON MONDAY... WITH 5000 TO 6000 FOOT SNOW LEVELS FURTHER SOUTH. SOUTHWEST WINDS... GUSTING OVER 50 MPH AT TIMES... WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THE SNOW CREATING NEAR WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW ABOVE 4000 FEET... WITH LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS OF 3 FEET POSSIBLE ON THE HIGHEST PEAKS....”

“The low temp at Manzanita Lake last night was 3°. Rodney hauled another load of wood in yesterday and said the snow was the best he's seen up there in years.

I'm not going to be able to haul all my food in at once :-) I'll head back to the truck for more on the 2nd or 3rd.”

“I might do that very same thing, depending on how things fit after everything's on the sled.”

“Contingency Plan

In case something goes haywire on the flight, I plan on arriving in Reno on Monday, and meeting up with Rockman at the trailhead around 1:00 on Tuesday. Rockman, if I'm not there by 1:30, head out without me. If I get there later than the 30th, it's because of a flight problem.... no need to worry. I have Steve's phone, and will leave a message.

I can't wait!”

“Dearest Rockman, It doesnt work. The closest fit is for a P205/75 R15. I'm told thats not good enough unless its written on the box. Sorry.”

“JVZ, that's cool. I'll probably sneak up to the trailhead during clear skies on Tues. Thanks anyway.

BB, I'll try to be at the trailhead at 1:00 and meet you. The weather should hold for Tuesday but if there is snow on the road and I'm not at the trailhead when you arrive that means I'm waiting for you in Viola and need a ride up. You know where Viola is? I'll be driving a blue Chevy Silverado 1500 extended cab. Has a Pacific Crest Trail sticker on the back window.

Steve, I'm in the same boat. I'm gonna leave half my food/drink in the vehicle and make an additional trip.”

“SNOW IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP LATE ON SUNDAY... POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT BELOW 3000 FEET ON SUNDAY. SNOW LEVELS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO 4000 TO 5000 FEET NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 ON MONDAY... WITH 5000 TO 6000 FOOT SNOW LEVELS FURTHER SOUTH. SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 70 MPH AT TIMES WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY THE SNOW. THE COMBINATION OF WIND AND HEAVY SNOW COULD CREATE WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS. THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW BETWEEN 3000 AND 5000 FEET... WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 FEET POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET... INCLUDING ALL OF THE MAJOR MOUNTAIN PASSES.”

“I HATE hauling sleds through 3' of snow....you folks are lucky that there will be 4 of us heading in early Tuesday morning to make a trail.

Just may have to charge a toll fee ;-)”

“A troll fee?!

Hey, at least we'll all be headed out to get more food at the same time.”

“3 feet of snow? I was expecting a minimum of 6 feet! Just how much snow is up there?”

“That would be the three to four feet ON TOP of a 4'/5' base. Breaking trail in thigh deep snow kinda sucks, pulling a sled through it is even suckier.

Anyone out there try one of those ThermaCare patches...they are heat patches for muscle pain...I am thinking they would be better then hand and foot warmers for those that may have sleeping bags that are pushing their comfort range.”

“They do look interesting. I see they are sold at Costco so I may pick up a package tomorrow. Oh, I'm bringing a 0 degree and a 20 degree bag along with a full body tyvek hazmat suit. I better sleep warm!”

“You should be fine Rock!

I just got done packing. Quite simply, I have too much crap! I'm bringing my sleeping bag as my carry on, lol!”

“I've had to break trail in 9' of snow. Had to leave the pack and sled, advance 100 yds, then return for equipment, repeat. There were 2 of us and it took 4 hours to do 1-1/2 miles. Glad you guys are grooming the trail for us. Probably won't even need snowshoes, right? ;v))”

“Snow, nobody told me there'd be snow! WTF, I'm out.”

“where


I dont see no snow.”

“Steve, Weather.com is showing snow & ice in your neighborhood. Are you seeing it?

Looks like a doozy of a storm coming onshore right now. Add four more feet of snow that will have to be broken through! :)”

“I just got a phone call from Rodney, he's in town and said it was snowing...not happening at my house ......yet.Yahooooo”

“Now it's snowing!





This is soooooo cool.”

“I can't friggin' wait!”

“Right on BB. See you Tues!!”

“It's snowing like a bad dog....they say we could have a foot of snow by morning, in Redding.


I just may have to go for a ski in my back yard :-)”

“You guys suck!!!



Still no Granddaughter.


Rockman, drink a tequlia for me.”