tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post4278082282172621476..comments2023-10-24T03:46:41.971-07:00Comments on Contingencies: Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-35118129695707284902007-09-14T14:35:00.000-07:002007-09-14T14:35:00.000-07:00Backcountry skis are great in the right terrain (l...Backcountry skis are great in the right terrain (like Front Range). Most of the sierra backcountry peeps I have met, however, use downhill skis (even shorter-- 190's or so) with tele or randonee bindings and some decent boots (like yours); then just use wax, and skins for the climbs (and eastside stuff is so steep you usually have to resort to skins . That deadhead gal Flo (bless her memory) Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-47395970167886650252007-09-14T14:06:00.000-07:002007-09-14T14:06:00.000-07:00There can be some really nice snow at Carson, thou...There can be some really nice snow at Carson, though it's only a few rare days in recent winters. We timed it perfectly last winter- one of the worst- and had great snow under a full moon (which I blogged about you might recall). By and large, however, you're right. Sierra snow is nothing like what we used to get routinely in the rockies. How I miss that!<BR/><BR/>My equipment is much better now,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-91579502063542286862007-09-14T11:33:00.000-07:002007-09-14T11:33:00.000-07:00....I skiied up towards those bowls above Carson p.......<BR/><BR/>I skiied up towards those bowls above Carson pass--to the south-- once or twice--above Kirkwood on 88, right. Been some years. Windblown, and snow was sketchy until you got to the bowls. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Skinny skiing is not so feasible in CA, even with the best of snow years. It's not cold enough and snow is slushy, unless you are like at 10,000 ft+--then it can be nice (like aroundJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-17979757212857263312007-09-14T10:05:00.000-07:002007-09-14T10:05:00.000-07:00Before describing my limited Sierra experience I m...Before describing my limited Sierra experience I must preface it with the excuse that reaching any trailhead is a 4 hour minimum drive from my coastside abode and my recreation budget (both time and money) allows me only a couple of ventures per year. <BR/><BR/>My attention as been on two main locales; the Desolation Wilderness and Carson Pass, with an occasional trip up to Lassen and/or Shasta, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-24434035769315845762007-09-13T14:52:00.000-07:002007-09-13T14:52:00.000-07:00To be honest, I don't care for the Snyder...or Mui...To be honest, I don't care for the Snyder...or Muir or even Thoreau school of nature mysticism. I respect it to some degree, but feel there is a lot of BS there: inspiration and visions, but at the expense of a certain realism--whether scientific or economic. <BR/><BR/>Japhy has probably had a great life, but there is a certain romanticism to that entire zen-beat jive that is a bit escapist.....Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-10662786097258358852007-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:002007-09-13T13:34:00.000-07:00Goddard is the Evolution region. Easier to access ...Goddard is the Evolution region. Easier to access from Bishop really. Sounds like a nice slog though. <BR/><BR/>I'm more into going in from east-side, whether Kearsage, Whitney, or Cottonwood. or Bishop and Rock creek areas, Minarets. That eliminates the endless trek that one has to do on westside: you drive to the 10,000+ trailheads instead of having to hike for miles. Lots of touristas on Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-80332283719636943952007-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:002007-09-13T13:19:00.000-07:00Yeah that's the middle fork of the King's, I belie...Yeah that's the middle fork of the King's, I believe, above Frezneck. I have tramped around there a bit. Usually I go up to Lodgepole in Sequoia, and then east, and you get to base of Kaweahs: King's river a bit north of there. Some backcountry skiing possibilities as well.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Interesting message from KSR. Yeah Japhy's getting pretty old but he knows the Sierras, supposedly. AS Cactus Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-4797154687249992442007-09-13T12:58:00.000-07:002007-09-13T12:58:00.000-07:00The others do sound appealing- as does almost any ...The others do sound appealing- as does almost any high Sierra destination. I've heard the horror stories of the crowds at MW.<BR/><BR/>What draws me to the south Sierra is KSR's anecdotes I sometimes get via email. Here's a recent snip:<BR/><BR/>"...went on a real ramble with my most mountainous friend, my guru of sorts, to see Tehipite Dome, very remote and amazing, the tallest dome; then up theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-66956396058312165522007-09-13T12:34:00.000-07:002007-09-13T12:34:00.000-07:00Mtn bike descents on Mammoth: that is gonzo.Ascent...Mtn bike descents on Mammoth: that is gonzo.<BR/><BR/>Ascent on Shasta on my to-do list (next year perhaps ), the Palisades, maybe Ranier, as well as the Mex. Volcanoes outside the Ciudad. They are like 18-19,000 ft. But just walk ups, more or less. Maybe in next 3-4 years, if I had cash and a party, attempt that 20,000 + peak outside La Paz, or other Andes .<BR/><BR/><BR/>The Front Range: so Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-52153176676432841732007-09-13T11:52:00.000-07:002007-09-13T11:52:00.000-07:00The point on Whitney was simply that there are oth...The point on Whitney was simply that there are other 14'ers --even near by, like Langley--that are far less travelled, and as impressive, if not more. I'm not into any real technical mountaineering--though did a rope and belay class in late 90s--a few 5.9--5.10 climbs (at stony point in SFV), and hung with some of the Desert Peaks group of the SoCal Sierra Club, until the PCness (and dues) of Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-9804861865784953042007-09-13T11:26:00.000-07:002007-09-13T11:26:00.000-07:00"Yr the rightist, and indeed a racist one."I hope ..."Yr the rightist, and indeed a racist one."<BR/><BR/>I hope to never come close to deserving these designations. I am, occasionally a whiggah, though. I looked it up- cool term. Sometimes I'm a whispy (white wanna-be hispanic) but more often a sand whiggah. I'm generally attracted to other-ness, but more or less content to be a WASP as I was born, despite the heavy burden of shame.<BR/><BR/>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-7312216147879453832007-09-13T10:51:00.000-07:002007-09-13T10:51:00.000-07:00McKrippin: did you finish Dr. Garcia's analysis of...McKrippin: did you finish Dr. Garcia's analysis of 911 yet? Or are Garcia and Cockburn also conservatives? They are no conservatives--it is the conspiro-bots who are conservatives (and most of them muslims, or closet-case muslims)<BR/><BR/>Yr the rightist, and indeed a racist one.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-2299231163688322882007-09-13T00:48:00.000-07:002007-09-13T00:48:00.000-07:00And amusing how another brain-fart from your bad a...And amusing how another brain-fart from your bad actor crony BingRon appears, and no one mentions Clinton's heavy bombing of Kosovo which killed thousands, or his attack on various african targets, or iraq--none of that is mentioned. <BR/><BR/>The Clinton admin. set the stage for 911, and arguably for Iraq. But in New Narcissistic Worlds, that doesn't matter.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592514.post-33968313777011716242007-09-12T22:55:00.000-07:002007-09-12T22:55:00.000-07:00Alright McMuir: I respect your alpine-ism to some ...Alright McMuir: I respect your alpine-ism to some degree.<BR/><BR/>There is the main Whitney trail, which is a fairly long haul, 11 miles one way or so, from like 8500 to about 14500. Just a walk up, but some steep switchbacks above the base camp at 12,000 or so (where most people stay the night, and then do the ascent in the morning). Heavily used and you need permits way in advance for camping Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567400697675996283noreply@blogger.com