Ebbetts Pass North on the PCT

Early September, my Supervisor and I did a tiny section of the PCT for "Wilderness Lake Monitoring".  We started at Ebbetts Pass/Route 4 and hiked North past Kinney Lakes and into the Mokelumne Wilderness.

 It was other-wordly.  The 'Northern California Pacific Crest Trail' book by Schaffer says, "...your trail bends noreast up to a broad ridge to begin an incredible route past one of the most bizarre, yet beautiful, landscapes to be seen along the PCT...your odyssey continues with a diagonal comb north to a windcropped sagebrush saddle...".

Land Before Time



Zoom-a-Flume.... Trail...

Errr... Otherwise know as the Flume Trail. 

Ski Touring and the Chronicles of my Left Knee

Hello Out There.

A week ago I was going to go ski with Jon from work. I had no one to ski tour with Saturday, and he was kind enough to be like, "You know what, let's go do McGee". Wee in the AM Saturday, Jon calls, and says something like, "Please forgive me, but I can't move my legs, I have to cancel".  Jon does insane things in tight spandex and when he's not doing the so-called "Rando Races", he is still doing crazy things. I'm just flattered he was willing to go with me.

I ended up just going out my front door to the Sherwins. Simple and when by yourself, sticking to trees is great, especially for someone like me with minimal avalanche training.  I still took my beacon, but there was not a soul in sight, until the parking lot at 12:30 when I finished.

The "Tele Bowls"- my line is there somewhere

All Stars

Thinking back to the Mammoth Biathlon Weekend and the Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra/Wounded Warrior Project that weekend puts a big smile on my face.

Having people with such big hearts around you, really makes life enjoyable. It was such a memorable weekend of cross country skiing and just playing in the snow.  Finishing the race with a smile on everyone's face is always the best part.

Devon and RickyD! Love these guys.

A Day at the Beach

Mary, Steven, and I decided to get out of Mammoth and head South to Bishop.  Bishop is the land of bouldering, rock climbing bums, and a working-class Westerny (sorta) town. They actually have sidewalks on Main Street and the side streets in Bishop! Wow!

After perusing 'Cobwebs' the antique store in an old jail, the Mammoth Mountaineering Supply Gear Exchange, the used book store, and so on... we decided it was time to head to the Happy's- a local and well-known bouldering spot. They actually have a Ren and Stimpy shirt that says, 'Happy Happy Joy Joy' in memory of this spot.

I'd never been there before, so we followed Rosa and Jimi and after the paved road turned to dirt washboards, we arrived.  The parking lot was pretty full, and mostly of cars from other states. A handfull from CA and NV, one from British Columbia (my dream place to go), and so on. I was the only New Englander.

And here's our day at the beach... errr I mean bouldering in 70 degree weather. We were wearing down jackets once back home in Mammoth. There were so many boulders, I didn't get shots of everyone, but all had a great time in the Happy's!

I'm a tree

Birthday Stove

So I had some of the greastest friends ever teach me how to make an alcohol beer can stove back in Montpelier (thanks T and Sarah- good times and good food).

We have a friend here in Mammoth who is a beer can stove expert! Greg! So Greg offered as a parting treat to Allison and maybe a birthday treat to me to do a clinic for all us seasonals in Mammoth. And it was fun. Surprise cake and all. I couldn't blow out the third candle though.

But most of our stoves turned out well.

Thanks all!

Hiking Mono Pass - 09/30/10

Steven, Paula and I hiked Mono Pass out of Little Lakes Valley a few weeks ago. It is also known as Rock Creek, Toms Place, etc. You start at the trailhead "Mosquito Flats", which is also the end of the road and the backpackers camp.

We had the goal of doing over 2000' total of elevation to get to 4th Recess Lake. This is what we wanted to see, but did not:

To Big Sur or Bust!

Sarah, Laura, and I went to Monterey in the beginning of August. One of my best friend's from college has a brother working at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He gave us a grand tour, behind the scenes and all. We saw the room where they raise seahorses, went behind the jellyfish display. Saw the kelp forest from the top. Saw a sea otter in rehabilitation that won't go into the wild (otherwise we would've had to wear strange clothing).

I still had quite the limp from my bike accident, but we walked to some of the beaches near Big Sur State Park. Don't ever let the campground attendants pick a site for you. What they give you is a site next to lights, not in the actually redwoods, and that is infested with squirrels which may or may not carry the plague. One ballsy squirrel so much as had the gumption to pull my tent stuff sack away from next to where I was setting up my tent. I didn't see it happen, but saw the orange back hanging half out from under a log at our tent site. So I stole it back.

Backpacking the High Trail

Here are some photos from my backpacking trip in July with Matt and Kyle. They are two SCA's (the lady who started the Student Conservation Association is from Shaftsbury, VT - or resides there) who are Interpretation interns. I love them.

We did the High Trail with aspirations of going over 5 passes in 2 nights and 3 days. Kyle ended up twisting his knee and we exited the Rush Creek trail out of June Lake instead. BUT it was still SO much fun.

And we hiked in farther than we thought the first night and were rewarded with amazing views when we rose. There were definitely people camping closer than 100' off the trail too. I give people the wilderness permits at work and do they listen? No. Who listens to LNT rules? Bigfoot does. That's who.

backpacking trip to Waterwheel Falls

Earlier this summer I went backpacking with my friend Jesse to Waterwheel Falls in Yosemite. It was my first backpack trip in the Sierras. I got some photos, but my laptop has been less than stellar, so most of the summer I haven't documented (aside from whomever tagged me on fb).

Our campspot was above Waterwheel Falls, and it was amazing. Jesse's friends were setting up a route on one of the rocks. They couldn't find when the last documented climb was. .. if it ever was. Rock climbing is something I'll try to do more of, but I really don't have money to pick up a new sport.

Either way, it was an amazing time, and I thank Jesse for the use of the sweet Bearicade bear canister and of his water filter. My steripen was down (it's hard to find camera batteries in Mammoth). Jesse is out of Yosemite and he and Emily road-tripped it to New Mexico and got to see Melissa on the way. I'll miss them. Met them in VT. Most people you meet in VT become pretty great friends.

Bear Sighting/Skiing with Jane/Hiking McGee

well I still don't have the patience to format this. So the photos are in reverse order.
McGee Creek Hike.
Skiing in Yosemite.
Then the photo with the skis in it is Rock Creek and the trailhead we tried to ski, but ended up turning back, and after the photos is a narrative.

Cold Toes and Lakes

June 8th
So I've been online for over an hour and finally got to put up a post. I am going to start using the library computer and throw mine in at the earthquake fault.

I went hiking to Sherwin Lakes with Barrett and his friend from Alaska today. It's the only trail in town really open. The snow is melting fast though. We biked to the trailhead, hiked, then biked back. Luckily I checked my mail today and my Dad (love you and thanks Dad!) sent me some Vermont cheese. So after the hike the sharp cheddar was sharper than any here. So delicious.



June 7, 2010
I went biking today and it was mostly uphill. The snow was melting and the river coming down from the Lakes Basin was roaring. I had to slowly bike through some big areas where water was crossing the road. As I got off my bike to get onto the bike path on the side of the road, two cars went by, without really slowing down and got my back pretty soaked. I then realized, that I used to work at a bike shop, and why didn’t I get such fancy things as toe covers (my feet got soaked). I also realized going down Tioga and the Lake Mary Road the importance of my next road bike needing to maybe be a women’s bike. I’ve always had trouble reaching the brake levers from the drop position. I also have a really mediocre brake set. The front brakes are so hard to adjust properly. The left pad is dangerously close to my tire, and I have to check and recheck it every ride. Frank confirmed it for me before I left. “You have a cheap brake set”. That’s that.
Last year I got a flat because I wore a hole in my tire. So now I pay attention. But this road bike will be many many years from now. If I ever have money for another bike again, it is going to be a cross bike or a hardtail. We all have our dreams. However, I think right now my priorities involve traveling, a bike or two, and then maybe my own place. Somewhat in that order too. I think. Oh and maybe getting married… that may be in there too. But that’s a bit more complicated than the aforementioned.

First Hike of the Year (in CA)

Tufas/Mono Lake in these 3 pics.

There's way to much snow in the backcountry, so I decided to explore the June Lake Loop trails, which still have snow cover, but not all. This involved me wanting to hike Walker Lake, but to hike

Walker Lake one needs to drive 2.5 miles up (and it turns to an up) a VT Class 3 road. So it was lots of big rocks/gravel, and I was so close but got annoyed and turned around. I miss my Subie.

So I forfeited and hiked Parker Lake, which is a much easier road. And this is what I saw.

Then I went to the South Tufas. They are interesting to see once I feel. Then it just makes you want a real ocean somewhere (Maine perhaps?). I do need to get to the coast here sometime. Maybe after busy season.

Biking at Elevation

So it's been a pain to get online. Anyone in my family wondering what I want for an early birthday present... money toward a laptop that isn't 6 years old, or money toward a crown for my tooth...exciting.

Last week on my day off I attempted biking Tioga Pass, which leads into Yosemite. The road was closed to traffic and the park is still closed from this entrance. I made it to just about 9000', and saw a pre-existing rock slide and being the wuss I am decided I'd gone far enough. I rounded out the mileage by biking toward the gas station at the beginning of the road.

So I was in biking mode

but I went xc skiing yesterday.

The road to Lake Mary is being cleared of snow, but not allowing traffic, so I parked near the Tamarack Lodge and skied up the road and tucked into their trails at the Pack Station.

Came across a guy from Hunter, NY whom I had take my photo.

I was able to breathe. The snow was pretty heavy and hard to really turn in with rental Rossi skis ($6 for USFS employee!). It was a pretty great day.

Miss you all!