High Sierra Topix

Got around this lazy weekend to html code the trip made to Pioneer Basin a few weeks back. Numbers of pics. Rather unproductive trip for my view camera mostly as a result of the boring sunny breezy weather but interesting nonetheless with a taste of the chill that will be increasing as we move into fall.

http://www.davidsenesac.com/_a-z_evad/B ... 22-13.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks Dave for the TR. Enjoyed the frozen vegetation and water foam shots the most.

Thanks for the report. I'm surprised at how cold it was.

I also loved the frozen vegetation and water foam photos. As someone who's still a film user, I appreciate the soulfulness of the photos. Thanks for sharing.

Even without clouds and snow (except that dirty old stuff), very pretty.

KathyW wrote:Even without clouds and snow (except that dirty old stuff), very pretty.

Kathy, wasn't it you that posted a September trip report here for that area several years ago?

Great trip report. Love the identification of the flora. Also, I really loved the 4x5s. Great job.

You do such a great job finding creative and aesthetic shots even when conditions are not ideal. I thoroughly enjoyed your photography. That is another region I have not been to that needs to be high on the list.

SSSdave wrote:

KathyW wrote:Even without clouds and snow (except that dirty old stuff), very pretty.

Kathy, wasn't it you that posted a September trip report here for that area several years ago?

I know I'm getting old because I have to look at my photo albums to figure out when I did a trip in the past. Anyway, it looks like I did do a September trip to Pioneer Basin one year but it was back in 2003; so I probably didn't post it here. I'm glad you brought that up because I need to sort out the photos in the album - they aren't in order like I like them to be. Here's what it was like back in September 2003:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... /i-jsMNDNq" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I guess it's time to go back into that area.

I guess another symptom of getting old is wearing the same clothes for years and years. I happen to be wearing the same shirt today that I was wearing in a photo in the September 2003 album. I know I don't spend much money on clothes anymore and tend to wear my hiking clothes to work, but I didn't realize it was that bad until I saw that photo.

You may have just posted a link to a photo posting site. Back then snownymph and a few others here posted on the old webshots.com.

So you climbed Crocker. Nice self portrait. Image 1 looking down from the north ridge onto Golden Lake which we visited in 2011 while camping at the little bench below. A delightful pristine place far from trails to basecamp at. On this latest trip was going to climb up to the ridge view for an image toward Red Slate but figured it will be better when I return while snow still decorates the landscape.

This evening just completed a spreadsheet for a leisurely 9-day base camping trip back to that area I'll paste a bit from below. Given an average winter, probably the same time as the board's Kern trip but way easier. Wildflowers ought to be peaking with turf greenest, and patches of snow still on the peaks. Then a couple weeks later may do Shepherd or Taboose when they are more likely to be peaking. But I have quite a queue of trip choices to consider. Found the perfect campspot to spend the layover days at. Actually day 7 is mostly in the basin too and will leave about 6pm after shade hits lake 2. Some impressive potential frames in that basin and a lot of interesting places to explore.

Day Destination Elev
TH Edison Reservoir ferry 7,640
1 Mono Creek 8,400
2 Lower Hopkins Lake 10,360
3 Fourth Recess Lake 10,160
4 Pioneer B Lake #4 10,870
5 layover 10,870
6 layover 10,870
7 Mono Creek 9,200
8 Mono Creek 8,180
9 Edison Reservoir ferry 7,640


Day up down dis
1 1,215 455 5.7
2 2,010 50 5.2
3 710 910 4.1
4 860 150 2.9
5 0 0 0.0
6 0 0 0.0
7 0 1,670 3.5
8 70 1,110 4.7
9 455 975 3.9
total 5,320 5,320 30.0