South Lake to North Lake via Lamarck Col

“I'm switching to Plan B; leaving from North Lake over the Col and return to the same. I avoid the 20 miles of albeit beautiful trail hiking (without the climb up LeConte) and give myself more off-trail time in the Ionian Basin, Davis Lakes and McGee Lakes; planning on a rough figure-8 trip. North Lake over the Col to Darwin, up the PCT to Muir Pass, over Black Giant Pass (with climb to summit of same), then God willing straight across the Ionian to Martha Lake, back to PCT via Davis Lakes, then into McGee Canyon via McGee Pass down to Evolution Valley, back up on PCT to Darwin cutoff and re-trace back home. I'll post the obvious on the South Lake bulletin board on July 9th.

marmot”

“North Lake and South Lake both have parking lots with restrooms at their trailheads. I've spend the night in my truck before backpacking trips starting at those trailheads without any problems. I don't see that we'll have any problem leaving some vehicles at each trailhead. If anyone leaves early and comes out at the wrong trailhead, I'm sure they'll be able to hitch a ride to the other trailhead.”

“bump”

“I'm ready to put in my leave request and want to confirm the dates on the permit that Landscaper and I are on. GG, we're on your permit. Are the dates 7/11 - 7/16?”

“Wannabp, that's right. The permit is for entering on July 11th and exiting on July 16th. It is for six: me, you, landscaper, Rockman, Phil, and, I guess, Phil's son [although this is not confirmed].”

“Thanks, that's what I figured, but the trips page has us lingering 'til the 20th.

I just put in leave slips for this trip and the Wind-o-Rama. This summer is starting to look real good.”

“You're right on the calender dates (I've since changed them to avoid confusion)”

“I started plotting this trip out on my Topo! software.

Tekdude, how do you do it? You're maps (page 3 of this thread) are awesome. I cannot seem to keep a steady route line no matter how much I magnify the map.”

“Your maps.....”

“I opened up my "saved as" route this morning, and I obviously saved it wrong. The route I labored over yesterday just isn't there today.”

“geology guy - Yes. My son is planning to go so we would appreciate the spot on your permit. Thanks.”

“I took a look on the campsite reservation site.
Table Mountain Group site is available for 7/10/04.
25 people max.
6 cars max.
Shaded.
$50 for 1 night.

There's 20 of us by my count.


Are you ready to commit to $2.50 each?
Shall I make the reservation?

This will give us a known place to meet. Close to both trailheads.”

“Good job Navi. Sounds alright to me”

“Navi - My son and I are in. That is an awesome site and has decent toilet facilities. We have used it several times with our Scout Troop.”

“Nav - Further info: Table Mountain is totally secluded. We will have NO neighbors. We can discuss the car situation later when we know how many cars we will really have.

Parking in the long-term lot at South Lake in the summer is limited. We will want to start putting cars there for shuttle purposes ASAP. Parking at North Lake is not a problem...huge parking lot, just not as close to the trailhead as you would wish at the end of a long day.”

“Hi Wannabp-

Sorry 'bout not replying to you earlier. Took a break from the computer for a short while.

Thanks for the compliment on the maps. Still need to lay in the GPS coordinates over that route. That'll be more meticulous work.

Maybe your mouse sensitivity is too high? For just a little mouse movement, the cursor might move more than what's wanted.

...or maybe it's all that coffee! 80 j/k”

“Earlier in this thread, the NorCal folks were talking about converging at Pepper's place. I'm not sure on the details, but it makes sense to sleep near the TH and get an early start.”

“Where's Tablemountain CG?

Up from Aspendell, or from South Lake? Neither?”

“wannabp - The nor-cal convergence will occur on the Friday night / Saturday morning. We'll be caravaning to the TH CG on Saturday

I've got one foot out the door already
:-)”

“Ah.”

“sounds great....

can't wait....”

“tekdude - Table Mountain campground is after you turn toward South Lake on South Lake Road. It is another 5 miles, but still several miles before South Lake.”

“Navi, the camp site sounds great! Thanks. What goes around comes around, huh?”

“So.... how about a place for the Friday night after the hike? Are we looking at a hotel somewhere.... with a pool.... and a bar?
:-)”

“Just for info sake and shuttle purpose.. I'm driving in on Sunday morning(have to work Sat.)I'll go directly to North Lake trailhead but I have to stop in Bishop and pick up the permit at 8 am when they open so I hope this isn't running me too late to meet up. Whacha'all think?”

“I'll probably arrive late Saturday night and sleep at the trailhead, but I'll be ready for that beer when we come out.”

“jvz - I'm sorry.... I believe you will be unavailable to work that day
;-)”

“Hmmmm. Naw I couldn't do that. I took off a previous Sat. and then the Sat a week after we're back. Weddings and other trips. I better put in my time that day. But hmmmm.”

“I made the reservation for the group site at Table Mt. (see Phil's link above)
It is a 2 night minimum stay on weekends, so ya all owe $109.00 divided by how ever many show up.
Looks like I'll be there Friday night. See ya when you get there Saturday.”

“Wingding, the group site is on the way to the trailhead and you might want to help out with the shuttle. If any help is needed.

Plus we'd like to see ya.”

“Lodgeing for the Post hike festivities:
May I suggest The Creekside Inn? It is a little on the pricey side, IMHO, at $110 to $130 for a room.
It is a very nice hotel right on Bishop Creek. Has a pool and a whirlpool.

#2 choice is Bishop Holiday Spa Lodge. I've never stayed here, so I don't know for sure. AAA says $70 to $80 a room. Pool and whirlpool.

Maybe if we all agree on one of these soon we can get a discount above and beyond AAA.”

“Sounds good Navi - i'll head staight to the campsite instead of the trailhead on Saturday night.”

“So you've stayed at the Creekside Inn, Navi?

I say... 'go with what you know'.”

“Of course I don't relly need the bigest room in the place, but why break a trend.... hehehe.

I'll bring a cooler ;-))”

“As always, those are typos not spelling errors.... honest
:-(

really.... biggest”

“Nav - I will go along with your room recommendations as well. My son and I can share one.

Either places sounds like a good place to celebrate my birthday and "seniorhood"!”

“We're fine with Creekside. It'll seem cheap when all the nights on the trail are averaged in.

JVZ, could one of us pick up your permit? Seems like it could be put in the night box for someone to get on Sat night. Would that help? Also, why drive to North Lake TH?”

“Tekdude, I found my route on Topo! I hadn't saved it to all the levels. When I went back in to redo it, there it was! I am basically copying your route. Interestingly, my mileage is less........ Hope it really works out that way. Ha!”

“"It'll seem cheap when all the nights on the trail are averaged in."
wannabp
11:00:08 AM
06/02/04

Thanks wannabp - I'll use that when I convert from Canadian
;-)”

“Now I'm thinking that I might go in a day early and try to bag Mount Agassiz, which is right next to Bishop Pass and then meet the group in Dusy Basin on the 11th.

Here's info on Mount Agassiz:

Mount Agassiz

Anyone else interested?”

“i can't reserve a permit for the 10th. :(”

“Darn Kathy! I was ready to jump in on that one. Shoot.”

“I am also planning to camp somewhere near the TH on Saturday. I need to return promptly to civilization when we exit.”

“geologyguy - So stay at the campground. It will be fun...parking problems aside.”

“Also, why drive to North Lake TH?"
wannabp
11:00:08 AM
Saved again? I'm sure by hike time I would have caught that but wannabp you just prevented a personal catastropy. I'd a been kicking my butt so bad I'd be too sore to hike. Thank you thank you thank you. On the part about the permit I have Pepperdog down as an alternate so I'll try to see if she has time in her plans to get it.”

“JVZ, from what I can figure out from the probable travel time from Sacto, we may all be arriving after the ranger station closes. At least, Jerry and I will be, 'cause we (my fault) drive so slow. Don't they have a drop box? I expect we'll all be at that drop box the night before.”

“Ok about the drop box. You have my cell no. wp so if you pick it up just let me know (if you can cell phone from there). I'll monitor the pick up of that permit very closely trust me. Its important to me and four other hikers.”

“For those of you who haven't done this loop, take lots of extra socks. The scenery will continually blow them off. I'm cereal, it's that good. For those of you who haven't hiked the High Sierra at all and this is your first High Sierra adventure, oh my gosh, you're gonna wanna move to Bishop. The lakes before Bishop Pass, oh my... and Dusy Basin, oh my FREAKING gosh... hiking through LeConte Canyon, whew weee!... dropping into Evolution Basin, gulp, gasp, you'll hurl with excitment... hiking along McClure Meadow, you'll drop to your knees... and Darwin Bench, one peep and you're pooped. Be excited about this trip, be very very excited. Your photos-per-mile (ppm) will be the highest you've ever encountered. You'll be so excited to hit the trail in the morning just make sure you don't forget to get dressed, unless you look marvelous in skivvies.”

“Hey, Buck, thanks for the 'heads up.' I was going to go barefoot.
But what camera, what camera, what camera? The sick point-and-shoot or a new one?”

“How many people are still going on this trip? I can't imagine that it's 19 people.”