Cairns in Vee Lake

If you've been searching for the best source of information and stimulating discussion related to Spring/Summer/Fall backpacking, hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada...look no further!
User avatar
FeetFirst
Topix Regular
Posts: 304
Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:35 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: West Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by FeetFirst »

Probably a pack raft. There are now some decent options in the 1.5 pound grapefruit size range. For example, Supai Adventure Gear Canyon Flatwater Boat.
I'm still rather convinced that you can achieve more than you've ever dreamed of if you just lower your standards.
User avatar
druid
Topix Regular
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2011 12:50 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by druid »

We were eating lunch by Vee Lake in late July this year when a gust blew a salami wrapper into the lake. It bugged me enough that I decided to retrieve it. My daughter captured the moment for posterity (or perhaps for posteriority). It was chilly but I think a good swimmer with a little cold water experience wouldn't have had much trouble making it to the island. We didn't notice any cairns when we were there.
IMG_4728.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
balzaccom
Topix Addict
Posts: 2952
Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by balzaccom »

Good for you! And you are a braver man than I, both for the swim and the bad pun about posteriors!
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
Cross Country
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:16 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by Cross Country »

I will never cease to be amazed (actually only alerted) by the mountains made out of molehills. Come on people do you really think this is a big deal?
User avatar
sekihiker
Founding Member
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by sekihiker »

Maybe this belongs in a different thread, but I was very grateful for ducks/cairns I found on seldom used or poorly maintained trails where I hiked this summer.
User avatar
longri
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1082
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:13 am
Experience: N/A

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by longri »

Threads drift; it's not a big deal. This one started out about a cairn on an island.

Cairns to mark the way on an otherwise difficult to follow section of a trail is a good use of them. I build ducks/cairns for that reason on occasion.

Marking use trails, xc routes, peak climbing routes, campsites... more debatable. I'm not sure what the official line is but I've seen rangers knocking over cairns on well-traveled xc routes (e.g. en route to the Palisade Glacier).

It's funny though, the most egregious cairns in the Sierra were built by the NPS.


I won't touch the NPS cairns but all the others are fair game. It's fun to toss rocks to knock them over. I think of it as alpine bowling.
User avatar
Jimr
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 2175
Joined: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Torrance

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by Jimr »

I like side kicks, myself
If you don't know where you're going, then any path will get you there.
User avatar
sekihiker
Founding Member
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 2:47 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by sekihiker »

I've knocked over plenty of them, mostly on well traveled trails. There were so many ducks on the east side of 60 Lakes Col when I went over it in 1991 that I could have spent an entire day knocking them over. The strangest part was that I couldn't see a single one that was necessary.

There are two places where I have seen truly monumental ducks marking maintained trails. Ranger Bob Meadows had the ones built on the south side of Elizabeth Pass and the other set was on the east side of Sawtooth Pass descending into Columbine Lake. Both sets were helpful. The largest of the ducks were knee high to waist high.
Last edited by sekihiker on Tue Oct 04, 2016 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1029
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by sparky »

longri wrote:Winter snow will probably take care of the balanced ones.

They're definitely less obtrusive than painted graffiti but in some places the sheer number and continual replacement make them effectively permanent. There's a feature down the hill a bit from Muir Pass that people call the "rock monster" or something like that. I always take joy in tearing it down, knowing that it will be rebuilt again, probably very soon. I walked by it this past summer and there were about 25 people lined up with their phones, taking selfies.

So even though I'll continue to have fun tipping them over I figure it's a losing battle. A lot of people want these things. It's their vision of the wilderness.
ugggghhhh just everything about that visual makes me cringe.

I have taken a selfie or 3 in my day but enough is enough!
User avatar
cgundersen
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1338
Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:07 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: Cairns in Vee Lake

Post by cgundersen »

Ok, one vote for a raft and one vote for a swim. I like the raft idea, but I'd rather have the extra weight in chocolate. And, the idea of a 50 yard swim out to the island is not that bad. It's getting back to shore after warming up lifting rocks.....and, then doing it all over again on the second island. Still, if anyone who visits HST wants to solve the mystery, or document the process, well it'd be interesting!
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot] and 152 guests