South Lake to North Lake via Lamarck Col

“Yeee Haaaa! My Birthday present came today....a Sandisk 1 gig compact flash card and a high speed USB 2.0 card reader!

Now I need to exercise my shutter finger a bit and I'll be ready! :)”

“WW, I bet that set the lady back a little bit.
Now we'll expect major photos from you to memorialize our trip.”

“I hiked up McGee Ck. last weekend.
The day started off REAL warm. I was searching for shade. And there wasn't much of that.
About 1:00 the clouds came in.
Lightening, thunder, snow, rain and wind.
The trail turned into a creek and the air was crackeling.

Are you folks going to be prepared for the Sierra?

BTW, I walked out.”

“"BTW, I walked out" . . . Navi

We did too. After hiking a little ways we realized we wouldn't be doing any peakbagging with the sound of the thunder. Temps were dropping, so we changed the agenda . . .

photos are almost done for Saturday.”

“Any more talk of snow and creek trails, and I'll be packing as if I were staying home
;-)”

“Hodge, it's warm rain in the Sierra! 8^D”

“Summer storms make trips memorable (e.g., hailstorm on the first llama trip)
”

“I'm almost ready to see a little weather. I can practically count on one hand the number of rainy days we've had since April 1rst. It warmer and drier than last fire season already. We've been breaking records one after another”

“11 more days.”

“I heard it wasn't bad out of Bishop.

From White Mountain, it looked like the worst of it was over Mammoth and McGee Creek”

“9 more days.”

“OK. Two questions I am going to ask again:

1. Stream crossings - according to Secor, we will have a number of stream crossings. Any idea how bad they will be?

2. Fishing - Some Sierra Lakes have trout and some don't. Anyone know about the quality of fishing we can expect on our trip?

Less than 9 days and still buying gear. Gotta get my food packed!!”

“Our TarpTent arrived yesterday :) That'll knock off a few pounds.”

“The fish are always in the other lake! *snicker*”

“All the lakes up the Bishop Pass drainage have trout, most of the Dusy Basin lakes have golden trout, the M.F. Kings River in Le Conte Canyon has goldens (last year when I was there they were trying to rid the upper stretches of trout due to the yellow bellied frog, so I'm not sure how good the fishing is now). The lakes in Evolution Basin have trout, mostly goldens. Evolution Lake itself is just filled with goldens, nothing too big, but casting a fly in the evenings you'll have no problems. I'm not sure about the Darwin Canyon Lakes or Lamarck Lakes, never fished those yet. If you take a quick jaunt down into Evolution Valley and fish Evolution Creek down there, it's great for goldens, and the scenery looking back up towards Evolution Peaks is mind boggling, especially from McClure Meadows.

small golden caught near Big Pete Meadow in Le Conte Canyon”

“Correction... that should be yellow LEGGED frog, not yellow bellied. I am so so sorry for any grief my mistake may have caused. If you have any further concerns, please contact my lawyers.”

“Phil, when I did part of this trip too many years ago to count there were no stream crossings that stood out. I'd say not to worry about that. It for sure won't be any harder than Sierrapalooza.
I do remember a guy with quite a string of fish at Saphire Lk.
I hope that helps in your planning.”

“This is an EXTREMELY popular route. The stream crossings are minimal. Probably the biggest crossing you'll make is hopping on rocks on Evolution Creek just as it enters Evolution Lake.”

“In Dusy the lower lake that the group will be staying at has trout, but they are at best pan size. For large trout go up to the Upper Lakes of Dusy. That is the rep of those lakes! I did not fish on the JMT and so cannot say.

When I did the JMT, the only dangerous stream crossing pointed out in the JMT guide book by Kathy Moraritte (?) was the stram crossing coming down the switchbacks to Vermillion valley. Near the Vermillion Cliffs. And that only at spring time run off. When you all leave the trail, I do not know what the stream crossing will be like. Other than the water will be COLD! But that is part of the fun of going cross country.”

“I've been from South Lake to Muir Pass before - the streams were not a problem. You shouldn't have much trouble getting to or even past the Pete Meadows on the second day. Watch out for the horses.”

“To bring or not to bring the stream crossing shoes?

Seems like the consensus is leave those ounces at home!”

“Unless of course the little bridge located on the descent to La Conte from Dusy is washed out. But if that is the case, bring your swimming gear!”

“I went over my Topo! software looking at how many times the trail crosses a creek or glacier runoff, etc. As often as six times a day and never fewer than two times a day.

This weekend, I am packing my pack with everything but the cheese. I refuse to carry more than 30 lbs, so that's going to be what makes up my mind about creek crossing/camp shoes and everything else. And no, I won't just slip those extras into Jerry's pack. LOL! We're shooting for no more than 30 lbs each.”

“I bet I could get under 30, if I tossed out all of my food, because then I wouldn't need the stove, pot or fuel either. I wonder how long could last.
;-)”

“Wind Walker..WOW!!! I have been looking at your photos from your webshots on Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin..OMG..I am getting so pumped for this trip..can't wait.

6 more days..Sir Naviguesser..are you ready for me? : )”

“Looks like some good fishing potential! I guess my son and I will bring some fishing gear.

I was debating whether to bring my creek crossing shoes (which can be camp shoes), trail runners (lightweight and comfortable), or neither...still haven't decided. I think a lot will depend on my packweight with food.

wannabp - How do you get under 30 lbs with food?”

“Most of us will be gathering at Table Mountain Campground for the night. We are planning to hit Bishop for lunch and some last minute shopping before going to the campground.

So, what is the plan for dinner? Bring stuff to cook in camp, or drive down to Bishop for a last supper? I like the last supper idea myself, but just need to know what to plan for.”

“I haven't thought that far ahead! 8^)

OK, who's up for a last supper before we hit the trail?

Phil - yes
Son 'o Phil - yes
Naviguesser - yes”

“T-girl, yap, I'm ready. I'll be picking you up on the way out of town.”

“We had been thinking of bringing something to camp like last year, to go with that Navi Ale. I guess I'll go with whatever the Stockton carpool wants to do
:-))”

“Gotta love a man with a plan..see ya at LAX.”

“OK, Navi's a "maybe" for the last supper then.


AA 1:30”

“I forgot about the potluck at Mineral King last year. That was very cool. I'm a "maybe" now also.

Table Mountain Campground is bordered by a creek...may be some trout on the menu!”

“Where is this campground located?
I know it's probably covered in this thread somewhere....but we only have 6 more days and there is 783 posts! LOL!”

“It's on South Fork, off of South Lake Rd

Info”

“Oooops

Link”

“Yes. As you are following the signs driving to South Lake, it is on the left about 3 miles before you get to the lake.

There is a small parking lot on the road and a sign.”

“Ok.. How many people am I gonna owe money when I get there?

JVZ.. I owe you for the permit.

Who bought the campsite?”

“That would be me!”

“I think pot luck would be fun, but I am always up for eating out. Put us on the maybe list.”

“Phil, I bought a digital oz scale and got heavy-handed with everything to get the weight down.

Big changes are a new pack, the Vapor Trail - 2 lbs even, and a TarpTent - just under 3 lbs. I love the pack and have reservations about the TarpTent. It needs to be staked real tight and I just can't get that to happen in the bedroom using rocks. Surely it will be better outside with more room to maneuver.

Little changes are a lighter water filter, a lighter hydration bag, replacing my Thermarest with a Z-rest, bringing only the 30 oz titanium pot and lid and a 21 oz titanium cup that can be used with the same lid, getting rid of moleskin and guaze and bandaids that have been on every trip and never used, making silnylon stuff sacks, probably bringing only one fleece instead of the light and midweight I usually cary and using my Precip or wrapping up in my sleeping bag if I'm cold. And Jerry got a new sleeping bag. It weighs a lb less than the dinosaur he was carrying.

I am planning 1-1/4 lbs per person per day of food--oatmeal, bar for snack, crackers and cheese, bar for snack, dried this and that with more cheese and crackers for dinner, tea.

I'm holding off on counting the camera. I got a waist pack for it so it's not techniquely in my pack, right? I've endured a lot of grief hearing how I'm weighing fractions of ozs and then I got this big camera. All I ask is that I can creep alongside Wind Walker and learn a thing or two.

Today's the day. Jerry is packing as I type, and then we're off to Point Reyes for a nice long hike with our fully loaded packs. Ha! When we get back, who knows what I'll decide I can do without.”

“You two have fun !

I'm up for the last supper thing too.”

“FYI, last year's SierraPalooza 7-Day group decided to have a potluck at our overnight camp in Mineral King the night before we hit the trail. Everyone brought something to contribute to the feast...including some liquid refreshments. It turned out to be a lot of fun and a great chance to get to know each other.

So the question is whether we want to do that again or have a "last supper" at a restaurant in Bishop. I had forgotten about the potluck when I mentioned the last supper in town.

So, whatever seems to be the most favored by the whole group is OK with me. The Potluck thing was quite fun and this time, because of the great foresite of Sir Naviguesser, we have a great campsite ALL TO OURSELVES complete with unbeatable sceneray, tables and toilet facilities.

As a side note, I plan to eat lunch in Bishop on the way in...probably LasCasitas. However, I could be convinced to eat lunch somewhere else if others are having lunch in town as well.

This whole thing is going to rock!!!”

“Hey Phil..you said "Sir Naviguesser"..ha!”

“I guess the up side to doing dinner in camp is that we can all just straggle in as we arrive, rather than aiming for a set dinner time”

“I have "Navi Ale" for the pot luck.
Phil, are you going to do pie again this year?

Who wants to do pizza? Chicken (KFC)?
Who wants to bring paper plates?”

“Nav - I won't have room for my Dutch ovens. So I will have to bring something else...Schatt's bakery is in town, don't forget.

Hodgeman makes a good point. The potluck simplifies the timing. People will be straggling in.

So, is it a Potluck at Table Mountain Campground?”

“Can't wait to see everyone again! And looking forward to meeting new friends! Was just looking through last year's Seirrapalooza pics and remembering what a great group this was. As Phil said... "This trip is going to ROCK!"”

“Phil, I was thinking about the way you did it last year. KFC.”

“We're on for pot luck and straggling in.

I would love to bring paper plates, napkins, and plasticware for all of us. Somehow, I got oversupplied with this kind of stuff. I can also bring two tablecloths. I've got everything setting by the door en route to the car.”