Passed out in the High Sierra

[cgundersen]

For SSSDave
Wow, Aug. 1980 was my first ever visit to Ionian basin, but unlike you, I guess I was really taken with the austere, primitive beauty of the place...........and that feeling was reprised on my latest trip (and, this is nothing against stunted pines, it's just the mix of landscapes one encounters that makes the Sierras particularly attractive and for me that includes the occasional lunarscape). However, the one thing I wanted to mention is that the very best wildflower display I've seen in the Sierras was on that immense expanse of hillside encircling lake 10,212 at the western edge of Ionian basin. Because of the late snowpack that year (1980), the myriad waterfalls into 10,212 were still incredible in August, and the flowers were beyond incredible. I'd guess that someone with your camera skills would have a field day in a setting like that (in the right year). Long way to schlep with gear, but potentially an amazing payoff.
CG

[dharter]

hikerduane,
I just read on another forum about a 1-mile long rockslide somewhere in Bishop Pass - did you encounter it and did it significantly slow your progress?

SSSDave,
I am heading in over Bishop Pass on the 28th of August - maybe the 27th, if I get into Bishop in time and I can get my permit changed. I've arranged to pay a local packer to give me a ride out to the South Lake trailhead. If your headed out that way either of those dates, I would be happy to pay for your gas instead.

Doug

[hikerduane]

dharter, my next to last night which was at Ruwah Lake, during the night for quite a few hours, I heard boulders and/or rocks hitting, rolling half the night if seems. I mentioned it to a couple small groups headed to the pass the next morning, never heard any results since being home. On my return over Bishop Pass before hitting Ruwah, I noticed a boulder 2/3 the size of a VW in the trail. Not sure if it was there the previous week when I entered on my first day.

[madeintahoe]

Hi Duane...That sounds like quite an adventure you took! Good for you..Is the vision thing maybe vertigo related? I am so sorry that happened to you, especialy out there...I do hope you check into that.

Yeah those high barren treeless lakes are quite different then lakes that have some greenery and trees around them. I do find the starkness they have beautiful ...I like the contrast of just the Sierra granite with the blue sky and color of the water..But I too prefer to be camped at lakes that have trees, greenery and flowers around them.

Thanks for sharing here..very enjoyable reading!
But where are your pictures

[hikerduane]

Dave, I was thinking of you the morning I hiked up to Dusy Basin again, seeing the one giant juniper along the trail. I don't write well, so I thought I was keeping my report as short as I could and still give some info, if anyone wanted to take me seriously that I actually went on a trip since I never post photos.

mit, I took some photos, I don't use Webshots anymore and I don't have a new photo hosting site yet. Coming to Carson City soon shopping?

I haven't had any vertigo for over a month now, last time was in Lassen in camp on a car camp trip with Maria, after I had bagged Lassen Peak. She brought steak, I brought the grill, firewood and then I had to lay down in the afternoon until the next morning, at which time I got sick to my stomach again so I went home. Finally able to keep something down later that night. Longest ever staying sick like that. That was more than likely what upset me mentally the day I was around the Ranger Station below Dusy Basin. Thank you for your concern.

[Cloudy]

hikerduane, sounds like a fun trip. I've been through the LeConte Canyon area a number of times but never climbed up to Dusy Basin. In regards to your auras, if you have found yourself to be prone to "normal" migraine headaches, they may possibly be related to what are known as "ocular migraines". I suspect that this is what I get since I have always been unfortunately migraine-prone and it seems to fit my symptoms and conditions of the time. Apparently age is a factor , decreasing air pressure, exertion, dehydration etc. and what-have-you.

I have always been prone to altitude sickness and usually get a headache that I have to sleep off. As I have aged, I notice that at altitude at times (usually early on a trip), light colored objects start getting brighter and brighter while hiking until I seem to get something like a "visual white-out" or brightness overload that fades out as I rest. This is most noticable if you don't wear sunglasses. As I acclimate, this effect goes away. This is not a diagnosis nor have I been diagnosed but is simply a possibility. YMMV

[hikerduane]

Thank you Cloudy for your experience. The last eight years or so, I have started having vertigo on occasion, spotty vision or auras as the optometrist called them have been going on rarely until the last year and a half after I helped a neighbor take some trees down on another neighbors property, where we had to look up quite a bit. Seems to coincide with the start of computer use at work over eight years ago. I had never gotten vertigo at work, then this last Feb., they had to drive me home. First lost day of work in over two years. The previous lost day of work had been for the same reason, but at least I was at home.

A couple years ago, while snow camping by myself, I had to lay down for 20-30 minutes as I was getting dizzy. Temps were in the 20's. A year and a half ago, while at Bodega Bay with a couple ladies, I had to lay down for 20 minutes or so and was somewhat ok after that. In Lassen over a month ago, I had my longest episode of not being able to hold anything down, some vertigo, so that bugged me pretty good as it ruined the whole weekend that had been planned for six months. LIfe goes on.

[HighSierraHights]

thats a cool trip...i've never been to any mountains but i have passed through Grand Canyon and i just love all the scenery...you know what i just realized LOL i actually have been through A LOT of mountains because my family and i drove to Colorado a few years ago and the most beautiful scenery i have ever seen we passed through so many green mountains...and on our way to Lake Tahoe as well ...i took pix of the Colorado trip but i have to find them they were on a regular camera so if i do fnd them i have to scan them in the comp...

[hardcharger]

Hello hikerduane,

I enjoyed your trip report.I have been getting migranes for over 20 years,the non painful kind.
I would describe the visual effect as a colorful prism with a blackspot.They definetly affect your vision.I usually close my eyes and it goes away in a few minutes.I find that bright sun or reflection fosters mine.When i am outdoors,i always wear sunglasses.I remember my first one,i thought something biblical was occuring.

[hikerduane]

My auras take 20 minutes or so to go away. I missed a day of work on the Monday before Labor Day, vertigo, sick to my stomach the afternoon before. I finally made an appointment with a doctor to see if I can get a referral.