Walter & I welcomed the first day of Winter by ascending Mt. Jenkins. We left the car (@~5400ft) around 9:30am and got to the summit (nearly 8,000ft) around noon. Not bad for a leisurely pace including a couple stops for snacks and shedding layers. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Mountaineering’ Category
Mt. Jenkins – Trip Report
Thursday, December 21st, 2006Mt. Whitney via Main Trail-Trip Report
Friday, September 22nd, 2006Earlier this week, Walter informs me that they have permits available to hike the main trail of Mt. Whitney. It is another China Lake Mountain Rescue Group trip, but with vacancies, I get an invite! Happy to be included, I think for a nanosecond before responding, “YES, I’ll go!!!”.
I’ve heard from several people how demanding this hike is, but it just never registered. I’m excited, because I’ve only ever summited by 5th class climbs, so this will be a challenge. Since I’m not much of a hiker, the 11 mile one way trip up with 6k feet of gain is sure to push my limits! To see Bob Rockwell’s pictures, click on photo album. (more…)
Tuolumne Meadows-Mt. Dana
Saturday, July 29th, 2006
Two years ago, my friends Evan & Rebecca recommended this hike as one of their favorites up in the Tuolumne Meadows area. On Saturday, Dennis & I finally committed to hiking Mt. Dana. We did it with Tom R.’s daughter Megan (a former Ridgecrestee) and her boyfriend Nick. We left the campsite sometime around 9:15am, driving 20+ miles back to Tioga Pass where the trailhead is located.
The Mt. Dana hike is a great half day activity. It took us approximately 2 hours 40 minutes to reach the summit and just under 2 hours to come down. From the top, you see Mono Lake on one side and the domes of Tuolumne Meadows on the other side. It is spectacular, and totally worth the effort! (more…)
Tuolumne Meadows-Cathedral Peak
Friday, July 28th, 2006
Picture Above Left: Alisha & Mike, Justine & Rachel, Me in front.
Picture Right: Me, Rachel, Alisha, & Justine! Who let the babes out!?!
And here it goes!!!!!!!!!!
The cell phone was croaking, a signal that I was supposed to hop out of bed. At 4:45am, not much is happening by way of brain movement, but my body was going through the motions. Get dressed, grab sunblock, brush teeth, take some pills, put sandals on, bug spray, …
It was so quiet all around my campsite-FINALLY a moment of peace and solitude rare for such a popular campground. And yet there I was banging around in the back of my truck! Where’s my Nalgene water bottle? do I have everything? double and tripple checking my actions-last year I forgot my sunglasses-do I have them?
Clutching the Nalgene, throwing the 20+ pound backpack on my back, I walked over to the groupsite. Stoked I was ON TIME and READY to climb Cathedral Peak. It was 5am. (more…)
Magic Dragon: A Needles Trip Report
Monday, July 17th, 2006
Clare Hiking to Magic Dragon
Walter excited to climb
Wizard Formation from Magic Dragon
I worked my day off last Friday in order to climb on Monday. I wanted to have a little Eastern Sierra adventure. The plan was to drive up to the Needles on Sunday night, in order to get an early start Monday morning.
Most Needles climbs start off with a refreshing hike. In the case of Magic Dragon, the hike is 2.5 miles and then an extra 30 minutes of light bushwacking from the main trail! (more…)