Five Days in the High Sierra -- Day Two

[Hikin_Jim]

Days 3-5?
Come on, what's with the wait?

I know, I know. Got a lot of stuff going on with the baby coming and all. My wife does not like to see me at the computer right now "playing" as she calls it.

I actually posted Day 3, but when I pressed the SUBMIT button, it prompted me to login. Apparently that cookie rapid expiration problem that you and I have talked about before killed my session. I lost everything -- about an hour+ worth of work. I kind of got ticked off and blew it off for a while.

I love the bigger Hamilton Lake - there's something so special about camping next to that lake.

Agreed. That was one of my favorite two spots on the trip, the other being Big Five Lakes Basin. It was really neat to sit on the glacially carved spit of land that the outlet stream flows over eating supper and watching the stars above bounded by the dark granite walls of the bowl. The Milky Way was so bright it really almost did look like milk. You can't even see it in LA.

Finally the second chapter......how great are those pics...? Love them. I am glad you got a good trip in before the baby. A month to go right?

Glad you liked the pics. Doesn't take much to take great pics in the Sierra. God does all the composition.

Michiko is due on Sept. 20th, about six weeks away, but once September hits, the baby could come at any time.

Excellent TR Hikin' Jim! Really enjoy the day-to-day updates. Looks like a great time, I'm going to have to check it out. Your photos are awe inspiring! How are the skeeters?

This was a really good route because you acclimate relatively slowly to the elevation:
First night's camp: 6000' with max elevation of 9500'
Second night's camp: 8000' with max elevation of 8000'
Third night's camp: 10,500' with max elevation of 10,500'
Fourth night's camp: 11,000' with max elevation of 11,000'
Fifth day: 11,700' max elevation.

We didn't break 10,000' until day three and didn't break 11,000' until day four. Our first night was below 8000' (8000' is sort of the "break point" where people start having altitude problems on the first night out). In all, this route made for a very good trip. No one suffered any altitude sickness, nor for that matter pronounced shortness of breath. It really made for a nice trip.

The skeeters were really bad on day three. We tried a new repellant, a picardin based repellant. It worked pretty well and seemed a lot less toxic than DEET. DEET literally can melt your gear and clothing. Nasty stuff. I was quite thankful to have brought a tent even though it's heavier than a tarp or bivvy sack. Having a bug free zone was worth the extra couple of pounds.

HJ

[tinaballina]

Michiko is due on Sept. 20th, about six weeks away, but once September hits, the baby could come at any time.

If you have her Sept. 18th her and i can celebrate the same bday....

[Rumpled]

Michiko is due on Sept. 20th, about six weeks away, but once September hits, the baby could come at any time.

If you have her Sept. 18th her and i can celebrate the same bday....

That sounds better than the 24th, but first babies are always late - so it's possible the kid could share my bday.

good luck whenever the new one arrives.

[Hikin_Jim]

Michiko is due on Sept. 20th, about six weeks away, but once September hits, the baby could come at any time.

If you have her Sept. 18th her and i can celebrate the same bday....

That sounds better than the 24th, but first babies are always late - so it's possible the kid could share my bday.

I'll see what I can do.

good luck whenever the new one arrives.

Thanks for the good wishes... and here I go on the wildest ride of my life.