South Lake to North Lake via Lamarck Col

“That laundry basket would be LadyHiker's of course.... not mine. Just wanna clarify that
;-)”

“Who's planning on making the trek into Ionian Basin? That's and crossing over Lamark Col are the two areas that I'm really looking forward to.”

“I'm planning to go through Ionian Basin.”

“Is anyone else interested in bagging a peak along the way? I'm looking at the different possiblities along the way. There are some great prospects.”

“I was thinking about the same thing wingding. I wonder what that 13000' peak rising west out of Wanda Pass is like. The off-trail distance looks reasonable at least”

“Wing, at this point, Jerry and I are planning to do the cross country treks. I have been working on the topos and plan to put waypoints into the GPS. I expect we'll be bringing up the rear, as usual. Also thinking about getting radios, depends on how many the group has and where they go.”

“Not to optimistic about extra peak bagging, depends on if we get to the base before dark.”

“too optimistic..........
and I mean the base of the mountain.”

“8)”

“I goofed and didn't check the dates. I'm going in the day AFTER you guys come out. So I'll probably bag Mt Lamarck, unless someone comes with me, then I'll try a new peak. Right now I'm solo.

But, if for any reason you guys come out a day later, I might see you. Which vehicles will be at the North Lake trailhead? I'll be arriving late Fri night, and will sleep in my truck. Plan to bag a peak on Sunday 18th.”

“Hey, Snow Nymph. Lots of people are staying at the Creekside Inn Friday night. It's Phil's birthday celebration. If you look back in the thread, there are some extra beds.... Matt, the webmaster, has joined this hike and may be staying over at the motel Friday. It's be great if you could join us.”

“It's Phil's b'day celebration on Friday night? We're not celebrating it on the trail?”

“or maybe it's a week long celebration culminating in a big party on Friday night? :)”

“Yep, that's probably closer to it.”

“I'm thinking Black Giant or Lamark might be good peaks, but there are others along the way too.”

“And if I can get out of this Oracle thing for a week from the office, I'm going through Ionian Basin.

The photos I've seen of Chasm Lake are stunning.”

“tekdude - when would you be going? could you carpool with cubfan? He lives in/near Corona.

wingding - I think the main celebrating will be on Friday at the Creekside. Can you stay Friday?”

“Ya Snowy.... take the Friday off work and meet us at the Creekside Inn. I would be great to see ya !!

:-))”

“That party on Friday sure does sound tempting Phil.”

“cubfan - if we can squeeze four people in my Grand Prix, you can carpool with us. My son suggested that he and I pack our stuff in the trunk flat and repack at the trailhead. Then we should be able to make it.”

“phil....
were you including me in your vehicle or would it be better if i try and catch a ride with wingding??

either way is fine with me as long as i have a ride back to ontario after the birthday partying is all done....”

“I think we may as well celebrate Phil's birthday as often as possible. And everyone else's un-birthday.

Tekdude, I sure hope you can come.”

“Ya gotta watch out for those birthdays that just won't end. I thought I was in the clear by spending my 40th on the trail. Last weekend some friends threw a party for me. When they asked if I was surprised, I said "Of course.... my birthday was a month ago!"”

“Would love to take Fri off, but I'm already taking July 2-11 off. That work thing always gets in the way. :-(

How late will you be up? Maybe if I leave right after work and traffic isn't bad I can stop by to say hi. Probably the earliest I can get there is around midnight.

Where is the Creekside Inn?”

“725 N Main St in Bishop. We'll keep a light on
;-)

How's this for a birthday dinner spot?
Whiskey Creek Restaurant & Saloon
Mmmmmm.... steak and beer”

“mmm BEER and Steak.”

“Okay, came clean with the project manager and told him I'm heading on this trip since it was planned since way back. This trip is during go-live for a full replacement of our business systems. So he says, "well your people are empowered well enough to see it through."

Hah! I can smell the Sierra trail dust already. Another week of immortality ahead.”

“Unsure about when I'm heading up. Haven't thought about it yet. When is the trip again? J/K! 8p

Probably ought to head up and get a place up there somewhere the night before. Or is there a get together on Friday? Uh, I need to read this thread again.

Carpool for Cubfan and Gonzo. Please post how things workout. I'll be in the 4x4 truck, but could fit one with coordinated travel arrangements. Fair warning, though. I play loud music, drive fast, and run over stuff. LOL”

“OK, I'll stop by if its not too late.”

“Whiskey Creek has fair and over priced food and pretty good beer.

T-dude, I'll be heading up on Fri. to secure the group site.

25 more days!”

“Tekdude, way to go. I am constantly torn between work and play. There has to be balance.

Snowy, I'm glad we get to say hello again.

Navi, anywhere with good, not overpriced food?”

“hey wingding, if you don't want to spend $150 on a room, you can stay with me and we can split it. Just let me know! I already got a room booked.

rockman, are you going to bring that thing? I'm telling you right now that I'm not carrying you anywhere!

hodge, did I hear you say steak and beer? mmmmmmmmmmm yum! Oh, and happy belated birthday to ya!”

“I don't think I'll stay overnight on Friday, but I will be staying for the dinner/birthday celebration. I'll head home later in the evening on Friday.

Thanks for the offer Hikerchic - I'd just rather go home to my own bed when it's only a few hours away than stay on Friday night.”

“Hey Phil, Do you think your car is big enough for me and my pack? 4 backpacks will take up quite a bit of space in the trunk. If you think there is room, I would definitely want to carpool. Where are you coming from? Would you be going by Corona and be able to pick me up?

Thanks, Mark”

“tekdude and cubfan - Hey. Now that tekdude is going, perhaps you two can carpool. tekdude is in Orange County and cubfan is in Corona. tekdude could swing by on the 91 and pick up cubfan on the way to Bishop!! You could go on Friday or Saturday and stay at Table Mountain campsite that Navi is reserving.

We are going on Saturday morning to avoid Friday night traffic. Hope to hit the campsite after lunch. My son and I can pick up gonzo in Ontario on our way.

I've lost track of when wingding is leaving and it sounds like she is driving back alone sometime on Friday night.

This is gonna rock!

Kelli--Are you out there?”

“I'm going up there on Saturday afternoon/evening and coming home on Friday evening after I have some birthday cake. It sounds like my drive times make me a solo traveler - but I'm used to that.”

“OK. So wingding is going solo.

If tekdude and cubfan can carpool, then we will take gonzo.

If tekdude can't carpool, then we will try to squeeze both gonzo and cubfan in with us. We can figure out the logistics later.”

“Hey Tekdude, Are you interested in carpooling up? I was thinking about heading up late Saturday morning to arrive at the campground by the middle to late afternoon. I have planned to stay over Friday night at the Creekside Inn. I reserved a room with 2 queen beds, if you need a place to crash in. If you want to carpool and stay over Friday let me know.

Regards to All”

“For those that aren't getting a motel room or staying Friday night, there are showers available at Bishop Creek Lodge on the Road to/from South Lake. $4.00 for 10 minutes.”

“24 more days!”

“hikerchic - kelli should post soon, but she says she would love to split the room with you. She is really excited about the trip.”

“Cubfan,

I've got a full day at the office on that Friday. I wouldn't be able to head out until later that evening or the following morning. Preferrably, avoiding traffic, and getting some last minute breakfast time with my family. It'll be a week before I see my kids again, Lord willing, and that'll be hard.

If you're up for coming down to Orange from Corona, we could meet up (if this works for you).

You don't have a have a profile on Phil's photo page? Do you have a webshots account?”

“Tekdude,

I was not planning to leave until saturday. No reason to head out friday and fight traffic.

Do you plan to head out the 15 freeway up to the 395? I am only a very short distance from the 15 freeway. It would probably be more advantageous for you to come out my way than for me to back track to Orange county.

Are you planning on staying over the following friday night?

Regards, Mark”

“Ok Phil, That would be great. Looking forward to meeting Kelli.

ok wingding,no problem.

Hey Navi! 23 more days now! Woo hooey!”

“Wingding, you're welcome to use our shower at the motel. And probably Hikerchic's, which might be more comfortable.”

“WindWalker, happy to see you back as confirmed.”

“Many thanks for the offers of help but I have decided to bow out of this trip. I am too out of shape to do a full 6 days of hiking. I am really jealous of everyone going on this trip and I know you all have a total blast!!

The good news is that I started an injectable drug this week and already seem to be responding well. The bad news about that is that it is a 2 times a week injection and the stuff has to be refrigerated so I have to figure out what to do for situations when I am away from refrigeration for longer than a few days.”

“Glad to hear the new drugs are showing promise for your comfort. Sad to hear you can't come on the hike. There's always the next one. Get better and we'll be in touch.”

“PepperDog, weird how good news always comes with some bad as well, huh? I'm glad the meds are working. That's what counts.

Remember my friend Theresa who hiked with us in Desolation? We're going back to Island Lake the last weekend in Sept for a Fri thru Sun or maybe longer, if we can get away longer. Wanta come? Should work out with the meds, plus we plan to set up camp in one place then day hike around there, maybe summit Price since we stopped short of the peak last year.”

“wanna - sounds like fun! that is a nice hike and close to home. I will pencil it into my busy social calendar.

I suspect that once I feed more comfortable with the meds I can work the shots around longer trips and even figure out how to keep a dose cold for a day or more backpacking. It is just still new for me so I don't want to mess with them.”