1. Did/does much of the snow pack from a heavy snow year linger into the next year? I have looked at some of the late season trip reports from last September and October and it looks as though things cleared up nicely. This obviously varies by location, but in general is it okay to assume things started at or near “zero” for this winter? I brought and used crampons and a whippet pole last summer, and I am wondering if there are holdover effects from last winter that might tilt the decision in favor of doing that again. I know this season is not finished by any stretch, especially given the recent (and I’d bet welcome) uptick in snow water content.
2. Does anyone have information to share on Russell Pass between the Maclure Creek and Hutchings Creek drainages? I have searched the forum and have not found anything, and the description on the HST map is somewhat sparse: “Class 2 pass. Easier than Lyell-Maclure Col. The ascent to the steep ridge from the north is tedious over talus and sun-cupped Maclure Glacier.” Normally, I’d take it at that and make my own discoveries, but I *really* want the hike to work out this time. Last summer I tried going over “Pothole Pass” north to south, which is nearby and connects the Lewis Creek and Hutchings Creek drainages, and ended up turning around because I could not find a way down that didn’t involve stretches of free fall… Anyway, from where I was standing a couple hundred feet above, Russell Pass looked like a much better place to be. Would it typically require crampons and an ice axe/whippet pole for the ascent from the east?
Thanks for your input — I really appreciate it.
Dennis
And now for something completely different…
Day 0 — July 25 — Oshkosh WI to Mammoth Lakes CA
Up crazy early for the drive to Milwaukee to catch the first leg to Phoenix AZ, followed by a heart-palpitating 25 minute layover wondering if my backpack would get transferred in time for the second leg to Reno NV. Turns out the backpack arrived at the same time I did, so I hurried up and waited for the EST bus which was an hour and a half late due to construction. In the mean time I got involved in a gear discussion with fellow hikers and tried to interest them in the Flextrek 37 Trillion Whipsnake Edition. They were not amused. Hmmph. Uneventful ride to Mammoth Lakes. Checked in at the Cinnamon Bear Inn, ate supper and quaffed an IPA 395 at Mammoth Brewing Company, repacked some gear, lights out.
Day 1 — July 26 — Tuolumne Meadows to Matthes Lake
Caught the 6 AM YARTS bus to Tuolumne Meadows. Not many people around since the campground and store had not yet opened for the season. Picked up my Budd Lake cross country permit from the office and away I go. Less than two minutes later I am flat on my face wondering what hit me. Turns out I had tripped on a sapling stump next to the bridle path the park staff was regrading, crashed down onto a rock with my knee and across a log with the rest of my body.
Put a big gash in my knee, skinned an arm up good from wrist to elbow, popped the cuff button off my shirt on that side (I heard the ricochet as it went winging off toward Cathedral Peak in the distance), and snapped the middle section of one of my hiking poles. Well. Bandages, field repairs to the pole (which was an annoying 3” too short even at max extension from that point on), and positive self-talk to shore up my wounded pride. In retrospect, this proved to be a Bad Omen, but I was too naive to recognize it as such. Onward.My plan was to cross the ridge south of Budd Lake between Cockscomb and the easternmost Echo Peaks, but there was a lingering cornice up there so I climbed up the steep slope further west and passed over what I believe is the saddle east of Wilts Col (i.e., just east of Echo Peaks 8 and 9). Plenty of others had obviously been up there. The terrain on the south side is pretty steep but passable with some loose gravel and soil. Coming down the eastern slopes of Matthes Crest I donned my crampons to negotiate some snow slopes. I met two gentlemen below the snow fields who had seen the same cornice at Budd Lake and elected to pass around to the south via Cathedral Pass. Camped at Matthes Lake. As a frequent visitor to the Boundary Waters/Quetico canoe country I am accustomed to great clouds of mosquitoes that obscure the noonday sun, so I had taken reports of “bad” mosquito conditions on this forum with a grain of salt and a dose of nonchalant superiority. Never again. Total respect.
Day 2 — July 27 — Matthes Lake to Vogelsang Pass
Breakfasted in the tent to avoid my host of camp followers (fame has its price). Went over the ridge directly east of Matthes Lake, which proved to have one tricky bit that required walking across a steep slab just outside of my comfort zone. Otherwise, it was a pleasant stroll past Nelson and Reymann Lakes as long as I kept moving. Pauses were met with hordes of mosquitoes zeroing in for a blood meal. Had to hike for periods with my bug net on, which is not my favorite thing to do in this world. Used my crampons again to make my way down the snow covered eastern slopes of Rafferty Peak. At Boothe Lake I got myself oriented toward Vogelsang High Sierra Camp and dealt with the first rumblings of the gastro issues that would eventually cause me to quit the hike. The camp was deserted, which was a nice change, but the toilets were locked up tight
. No people, no manure, no noise. I made camp right at the top of Vogelsang Pass where there was plenty of running meltwater and precious few mosquitoes.Day 3 — July 28 — Vogelsang Pass to Pothole Pass and a Retreat
In the morning I started down the trail on the south side of Vogelsang Pass and simply walked off one of the switchbacks and contoured around to Lewis Creek below Gallison Lake. It was not possible to stay as high as the pass because of steep slabs, but it was only a couple hundred vertical feet to make up. As I made my way along the creek and the unnamed lakes higher up in the basin, the snow coverage increased and the sun cups made for choppy progress even with crampons deployed. After some hours of slogging along in arhythmic fashion, I reached the climb up to the ridge east of the pothole below Peak 12499. The talus slope was stable and I clambered up to the ridge. After a relatively short distance along the top, the ridge broadened out and there was a kind of berm of snow to my left (east) that helped me feel relatively secure. I quickly discovered there was no hope of descending to Russell Pass without skills and gear that I did not have. I searched to the west for a safe route down and descended part way before getting into quite uncomfortable terrain. Eventually, I gave up and headed back down the basin and camped about a kilometer southeast of Bernice Lake. Near as I can tell, either a) I did not go far enough west on the ridge extending from Peak 12499 before descending, b) I could have kept heading down from where I was but the “convex” terrain kept me from seeing/choosing good lines of descent, or c) I completely messed up and should have ascended the *west* side of the pothole. Dunno.
On a few occasions throughout the day my gastro issues made for some unpleasant interludes. I have made a little progress on understanding why this happens when my diet changes to trail food, and I have eliminated some things (processed meats, freeze dried beans) with some limited success. Still have a ways to go apparently. If only I could bring the makings for a crisp garden salad and a freshly baked loaf of bread for lunch and supper I am sure everything would run smoothly. And I just want to do this for ten to twelve days at a stretch. Probably need a Flextrek 37 Trillion for that. Alas. Way open to dietary suggestions here from those similarly afflicted.
Day 4 — July 29 — Bernice Lake to Yosemite Valley
I gave up. I had a rough morning with my digestive issues (or as I like to call it, Phase Separation Anxiety) and I was feeling miserable when I came to the junction sign for the trail to Isberg Pass, so I flipped it off and didn’t stop walking until I had descended more than a vertical mile. I regret that decision mightily. But I own the “toxic masculinity” (to borrow a phrase from a recent thread
) that led to it and have learned a couple things about myself in the process. Enough said. Here’s to the *next* trip…Dennis
I have come to the same conclusions about the dried fruit and freeze dried meals.