Travelogue: Part Five, McGee Pass and beyond.

From my notes:

"September 9 7:30 AM. 31 Degree Fahrenheit. Bubble Butt* is muttering away making my tea water hot. Fish are leaving expanding rings on the mirrored lake. Yes! I'm a happy camper. I slept warm through the night. Too warm to start - I had on everything. Everything! Both merino shirts, a cotton t-shirt, my down sweater and Tyvek coveralls! I wound up taking off the Tyvek and down sweater around midnight. I put the sweater back on around 3 PM. But long story short, I was warm at 31 degrees. I had debated about bringing my polar fleece. Glad I didn't. I'm feeling good. Not sore. No blisters. Not a cloud in this incredible blue sky."

(*Bubble Butt is my SEVA gas stove. More about Bubble Butt later.)

9:30 AM. Heading for McGee Pass, Big McGee Lake left behind.

Amazing! One step at a time works!

Many switchbacks, the broken shale tinkling like glass.

McGee Pass! 12,200 ft. 1:15 PM. 2.17 miles from Big McGee Lake. It took me three hours and forty five minutes to achieve 1,700 feet of UP!!!

But it is worth it. Fish Creek and the Silver Divide!

Down the west side of McGee Pass I decided to call it a day and find a campsite.

A cup of Orange Spice tea and a pot of lentil soup is just the ticket. I use my stocking cap as a pot cozy!

Tomorrow. Cotton Lake.

**************

This in yesterday's paper.

Here's a link and short account.

Travelogue: Part Four, Up I go.

Morning at the McGee Pass trailhead, my pack packed and ready to go. This time I am required by the park system to use a bear canister. That's it strapped to the top of my pack. Fortunately I borrowed one from my friend Pete before I left home, just in case. It contains seven days worth of food plus my toothpaste and matches. Empty it weighs two pounds and will be with me the whole trip. Bummer.

Heading out.

The trailhead is at 8,055 ft and Big McGee Lake, where I'm heading today, is at 10,479 ft. A distance of 7.4 miles of up!

Part way along the trail there is a beaver pond.

Ask me how I know!!

Progress.

Finally, Big McGee Lake. I give my tootsies a rest. Aren't feet amazing; carrying me up the hill!

Home Sweet Home. "The One" tent, down bag and NeoAir mattress. Perfect!

Now if I could only do something about the nut in the Tyvek suit!!

Note: I read a blog, before I left, that recommended a cheap Tyvek suit for use in rain and wind situations and that it also helped hold in heat. With the sun down and the temperature dropping I thought I would give it a try. I noticed the birds went quiet but it was warm!!

Tomorrow, McGee Pass and beyond.

Travelogue: Part Three, Hilton Lake Hike.

A sign at the trailhead had a quote by John Muir:

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."

Looking back at Rock Creek Lake, my starting point.

I had to stop and add another twist to this big ol' stump!

I arrived at Upper Hilton Lake. It turned out to be dry! I could see on my GPS that the bigger Hilton Lake was several switchbacks further down the hill but I had had enough. I kicked back to enjoy some trailmix and it started to rain!

Time to return to the Mothership.

Some really amazing old trees along the way.

And the Aspen starting to turn.

Rock Creek Lake coming back into view with mixed thunder, lightning, rain, hail and sunshine!

I'm not used to high country weather which, in this case, signified not much.

With the Labor day weekend almost over it is time to get my back country permit at the Mammoth Lakes Ranger Station and get ready for McGee Pass and the High Sierra!

Travelogue Part Two: June Lake

I had a Moleskin book with me for notes and sketching. This, a sketch of my camping spot beside a big tree south of Mono Lake.

Heading south from Mono Lake I saw the turn-off for June Lake. Having never been there I decided to take a look. What a beautiful little lake! I saw the state park beach access and decided to go for a paddle.

The High Sierra off in the distance!

The lake was so clear I photographed my shadow!

Overhead an Osprey. I wondered if it was one of the pair from Mono Lake.

But soon it was time to head on down the road. Still lots of smoke from the forest fires in the air.

Making for a spectacular sunset and...

moon rise.

Tomorrow, the Hilton Lake practice hike.

Travelogue: Part One, Mono Lake

Leaving Foggy Fort Bragg August 31, 2009. My "Cowack" on top of the "Mothership". Not only am I planning on backpacking in the High Sierra I am also prepared to do some kayaking.

After crossing the Central Valley, spending a night near Nevada City camping in the National Forest, driving past Lake Tahoe and down onto the eastern slope of the Sierra I arrive at Mono Lake; fires in the Sierra cause strange evening lighting.

The morning of September 2nd I paddle out onto Mono Lake.

I'm told there is a Osprey nest on one of the tufa.

And by golly, there is. I arrive just as the adult pair return, one carrying a fish!

A Ranger told me their young have already fledged and flown south. The adults will migrate soon.

Returning to the "Mothership".

Mono Lake is a "dead sea". There are no fish in the lake. The Osprey commute to June Lake and other fresh water lakes in the mountains for their food!

Hiking with my backpack to help get acclimatized to the altitude and prepare for my upcoming seven day backpacking trip into the High Sierra. This photo was taken part way up one of the volcanic cinder cones south of Mono Lake (barely visible in the distance haze).

Next up.... June Lake and then a training hike to Hilton Lake.

Woo Hoo!

I'm back walking the streets of Fort Bragg and look,

the Fort Bragg Bakery is open, the owners and staff getting ready for a new day.

Meanwhile.....

It's gonna take some time to put together a report about my recent trip. Stay tuned!

And how about that Roz and Rita.

Well done!!!

My hat says it all.

And I am.

I'm heading for the Vast Wilderness tomorrow morning, August 31st. I plan to spend almost a week doing day hikes and acclimatizing near Mammoth, CA. Then head over McGee Pass as the Labor Day folks retreat. I plan to spend seven days backpacking.

After that I'm thinking about doing a round trip hike from Mahogany Flats to Telescope Peak.

Then mozy north along 395 in my Vanagon with my Kayak. Maybe do some kayaking on Mono Lake, again.

I want to be in the Seattle area by the 26th of September for my Aunt's 80th birthday party. After that I would like to spend a couple of weeks in the San Juan's with my Lolli and her mom.

I expect to return to Fort Bragg around the second week of October with stories to tell and photos, lots of photos!

I hope you too can take the time to "Get Out". And if you can't, you might enjoy checking the"Links I like" over there on the left. Interesting bunch of folks.

Onward.