Loon Lake Winter Fiasco

“Sorry to hear about your injury, trailbum!

It is so sweet to see my names thrown around here but winter camping still doesn't sound like a good time to me. Cold. Wet. Dark. What's to like?

Maybe I will come up on Saturday and check in with y'all. I would hate for Navi to come all this way and me not see him!”

“Pepper, why don't you stay in the chalet?”

“I thought I posted to this one. I guess not. I think I can make the weekend. I get off work at 3pm so I'll meet you guys there. And navi's coming? For sure I'll have to make it!

Yep, bummer that trailbum isn't going to make it for the whole trip.”

“Trailbum, I'm sorry you won't be building igloos and hiking around with us, but we'll see you Thursday night at the lodge. I hope you have a speedy treatment and speedier recovery.”

“They say we may get a couple of snow days next week. I'm still in even if its just camping and fishing and hiking up to some snow.”

“Thanks for the nice thoughts ladies.


Pepper, the 2 times I've done this I wasn't cold or wet. And with all of Trailbums candles, it wasn't dark.
Think Dingleberry Lk. but, being prepared for it.


Praying for snow!!!!”

“Heh, Navi said, Dingleberry! Heehee”

“We're in for whatever conditions, except maybe a blizzard or freezing rain.”

“I've been working these past nights in the 30F weather. Can't work up enough sweat to take my coat off. I think "this is only 30"and it chills me to think of the Fiasco. Can't wait!! Blizzards and freezing rain withstanding of course.”

“Can you say "Hot Water Bottle"?”

“I don't trust hot water bottles. I toss handwarmers to the bottom of my sleeping bag.”

“Did Landscaper change his TT name?”

“wanna, it's a scary thought, isn't it?

How about putting one in your sleeping bag, right side up, before you get in it. Just to warm it up for you. Or a hot water bottle tucked under your jacket while you're sitting around in the kitchen?

That sounds so good, I think I'll do it right now.”

“Does anybody know what the snow conditions are now?
Do you think it'll last for 2 weeks?”

“Phhhtttt.”

“Hikerchic just posted this on the Winterfest thread: "In Truckee we are getting dumped on! 3 feet of snow is my guess today and another 2 or 3 feet tonight"

We had some friends who couldn't make it over yesterday due to road closures, 80 for too much snow & 50 for avalanche control.

We will have plenty of snow to play in.”

“all my snow melted...:( and I am in shorts today :) WOHOO! now if I would stop having bouts of nausia for no reason I could be outsdie playing in it.”

“Hello Everyone

Navi you will have PLENTY!!!!!!!!! of SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! to play in!!

We live right below echo summit in meyers and have gotten almost 4 feet of fresh snow...it is so beautiful I wish you all could see it..the trees look like white frosting.

Wanderer..50 is closed right now & the town of meyers is a mess..cars stopped bumper to bumper, people in there cars taking a nap waiting for it to open and kids playing on the side of the road. The were blasting for avalanches a good part of the day yesterday & started at it again this morning at 5:30...it shakes our house when they do it & our dogs are a nervous wreck. There is a lot of snow here.
Hikerchic how are you doing up there? I know Truckee usually gets more snow.

You all will have plenty of snow thats for sure :)”

“Any of you guys (madeintahoe, hikerchic, anyone) up for a day-hike snowshoe trip on Sunday somewhere up there?”

“That was more of a *(bump)* than a real question. But, I do like the answers.
I'm so ready for this!!!”

“I'm probably going to have to bail on this trip, a business out-of-town conflict has arisen.

You guys have fun, I'll be there in spirit!”

“Dude! I was counting on you!






Bummer!”

“Yeah Navi, work really sucks for me right now, LOT'S of travel cutting into my BP time.

Oh, wait... I have a job, and it actuallly pays relatively well. Guess I should stop b!tchin!

Can you sneak up this coming weekend? I'm trying to get out to Carson Pass or somewhere around there.”

“Hello Wanderer
Im thinking you did not get up here today..probably a good idea..as both 50 & 80 im sure are going to be packed with people leaving..the traffic will be horrible.

No new snow to report at least at my house from last night.”

“Yeah, work sure gets in the way of living.
From my own selfish perspective, it's a bummer you have to work. I was looking forward to meeting you, and learning from you.

I can't make both weekends. Just way too far to drive from SoCal.”

“You'll be missed wanderer. Darn jobs anyway! I'm thinking about that Feb. trip to Sequoia if you want to think of car pooling. I'm not definate yet but it would be a beautiful place to snowshoe.”

“Hey jvz, how'z it goin? DId you make it up to Winterfest?

I probably can't make Bearcrossing's trip, another work conflict.

BUT, write down Feb. 25-26-27 weekend, Navi & I are emailing back & forth about maybe a trip down towards Yosemite or somewhere thereabouts.
last edited: 1/02/05 3:10:52 PM”

“Bummer, Wanderer. But, I see, you said probably can't make it.... so maybe you can? Who's gonna tell us which way to go if you don't come? Who's still on for this trip anyway?”

“It's possible I'll sneak up on Saturday, I have to wait & see how I feel. I'll be in Dallas all that week & flying home Friday, won't get home until something like 10:30 - 11:00 PM.”

“Dang! That means you can make it no problem!!!
8^D”

“Navi, what kind of tent do you have? Our Talus has a flattish roof, and it took on snow really fast at Winterfest.”

“I'm still planning on coming! I have to map this out to see how far it is from me so I can tell you when to expect me. Still need to buy a radio & will tune into you guys when I get there. What channel will you be on trailbum? Actually I trailbum won't be there when I arrive Friday evening. I get off work at 3pm that Friday and will drive straight after work.”

“The when and where to meet dilemma..........
When we went in early November, we parked at the campground entrance and snowshoed around to the far side of the lake and base camped there. It was perhaps a 2-mile hike. It seems to me that we might want to do the same thing this time. We had a beautiful, secluded spot. It is also not so far in that late arrivals could not join us. For early arrivals, why not just meet at the chalet. It's close to the campground parking and unmistakable. Besides, the people who stayed Thurs night would have a warm place to hang out.”

“wanna, I have a Kelty V-2. No flat spots, but the sides aren't as steep as I would like for a snow camping tent. It did work well at dingleberry when we got snowed on a little, and it was warm enough at Yosemite.

When you went to the "far" side of the lake, were you heading east or west?

Friday morning at the chalet. WooHoo!”

“We were on the side opposite the chalet and the road, about in the middle and up about 300 feet or so from the lake. Here's my photos. You can actually see the road on the far side of the lake from where we camped.
http://community.webshots.com/album/214151579IXcvoz”

“From what I can tell from your photos, nice shots BTW, you were on the east side of the lake, from the campground you went to the right.
That's the side I've been looking at.
Do you think you could get us back to the beaver pond? I'd love to see a beaver. Quit laughing you dang kids!!! Jeez.
Anyway, that sounds good to me.”

“I plan on getting Nav and I up to the chalet in time for breakfast Fri.morn wannabp. You don't have to clear out until noon right?”

“J, you got mail.”

“JVZ and Navi, I don't know about when we have to leave the chalet, but let's plan on having breakfast there together and take off from there. And anyone else who wants to come in time for breadkfast and to check out the chalet.
The particular campground we parked at and left from - there may be several - meant we walked along with the lake on our left side. Yes, I am sure I can get us back to the beaver pond. Trust me, heheheheh.”

“I fell asleep and just caught up with this thread. I'm hoping that I will be able to make this trip. Have a stupid ear problem that won't go away. Anyway, (If I am able to go)would you have room for me to ride with you? You are in the Sac area, right?
last edited: 1/04/05 8:59:12 AM”

“Wow, I'll be able to see my old friends navi,jvz, wannabp, & landscaper again! Woo hoo!

And songbyrd, I just posted on the sierra july trip. Thank you so much for sharing your room with me! I hope you can make this trip!

maidintahoe, are you going on this trip? it will be nice to meet you? if you are, maybe we can ride together?”

“Anyone hear from Trailbum? How's he doing?”

“When I talked with him a few days ago, he's doing ok. He's just laying low, taking it easy.”

“I am thinking of hiking in on Saturday morning for a visit - songbyrd, if you want to go up for the day you could ride with us. I can't stand the thought of navi being so close without seeing him! (and everyone else, too, but I see youse guys a little more than I see him!)”

“Real bummed about all the great snow and me unable to get out in it. I will be at the Chalet Weds. and Thursday nights, will probably hang around until checkout time on Fri. to help direct traffic. Wish I was going camping but it just doesn't seem prudent. Looking forward to seeing y'all anyway.”

“Ahhh, pepper, you're so nice.
You too Chic.

Song, I'll e-mail jvz & tell him to look at your post. I'll bet we'll have room for you, but it is his truck.”

“Thanks Pepper, but I think if I go I would like to experience freezing my tush off over night meaning I would like to go in on Friday and camp for 2 nights. It would be my first snow camping. I'm ascared but excited at the same time. ;') But I'm looking forward to seeing you again.”

“TrailBum, I'm sad for you, too, missing some of this winter. Have you got some timeframe for recovery?

We're still on for coming in Thursday evening unless there's too much snow or something. I'll be off work by 2 or so, and want to be packed and ready. Are there others sharing the cost of the chalet?
last edited: 1/05/05 9:13:08 AM”

“I'll have room for you Songbyrd. Navie has a thing about "kids..(ai)dang kids) but you can come on along anyway (its my truck). I'll keep an eye on the weather to see how long it might take us to get up there but I'd like to get out of Lodi by sevenish and to the Chalet by 9-10 on Friday. So thats the thoughts. Pepper if you can come in on Sat for the day that would be great.”

“get out of Lodi by sevenish
jvz


That's so cool! I get to sleep in!”