Lillian Lake Loop next month

[RobertD]

Nope, not that far, we are going to stick around Lillian and the smaller lakes around it. Nothing more than the loop this time, maybe Flat lake is the furthest.

[rlown]

Just a quick note on itinerary. If you choose to go over Post Peak Pass (or Isberg Pass) you'll need to use a bear canister, as we you will then have crossed into Yosemite National Park, where they are required.

Nope, not that far, we are going to stick around Lillian and the smaller lakes around it. Nothing more than the loop this time, maybe Flat lake is the furthest.

So, how are you planning to protect the bears from your food, if not taking a bear can? Bears love Mountain House Beef Stroganoff even more than we do!

[balzaccom]

Somewhere in these posts he said he was going to hang his food in a tree...

[RobertD]

Well, if I read the requirement right, its not a high bear area, and not required to can it. Also, after talking to the REI people (customers and staff) they recommended the odor bags, so i bought a bunch of those, and am going to double bag the food and hang it? Along with all the fun stuff like tolietries and meds and such.

[markskor]

... after talking to the REI people (customers and staff) they recommended the odor bags, so i bought a bunch of those...

Agree that hanging food (once the way things were done) still works, but, in the Sierra, using the spirit of today's "save the bear by using a bear can" mentality, most here would probably still opt to carry the can on your intended route. But, if skilled and lucky; so be it.

In regard to those odor bags, well, not really convinced that they do anything as odors, just from handling the bag, negate the intended purpose. It is the hang - not the smell.

And in regard to REI people and their opinions - Just got back from my local REI and overheard one "expert" telling a gentleman there that Leki poles (twist locks) are far preferred over Black Diamond (flick locks) because he was tall and heavy - told him Leki's are better for that type.

[rlown]

ditto what Mark said. If you hang it wrong, it doesn't matter if it doesn't smell. It then becomes a bear toy.

At least with a bear can, you're pretty sure you'll still have food if they walk through. It used to be fun watching the bears try and reach the food hanging on the old cables.

If I recall, Mark once tried to volunteer his services at REI. They said he was too old and they preferred younger, more energetic types. Idiots.

[balzaccom]

Yes--I recently heard a staff member at REI telling someone that it was "always warmer" to sleep nude in a down bag, as opposed to putting on clothes and then sleeping in the bag.

Makes you wonder.

[Cross Country]

I, personally found that to be absolute true. Not so for the other bags I had. The problem to sleeping in the nude is when you have to take a pee, WOW - how uncomfortable was that? - VERY.
Nude in down bags is how we slept on this long trip. We had (of course) sleeping bags that zipped together. Two people sleeping like that is very warm -- hallelujah!

[ManOfTooManySports]

I heard decades ago that the idea of nude sleeping was to avoid being in clothes that get damp and clammy in your bag. I tried it and it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Except that I developed a preference for sleeping in the buff. Go figure.

As for the midnight pee, you have to go fast before you get too cold.

[RobertD]

Well, all set, all equipment bought and staged. Food for 5 days is 13 lbs. Breakfast lunch and dinner, with snacks. We ran our packs on a test run 20lbs in each for five miles and they worked awesome.

Packs yet to be filled and weighed but going to keep wifes under 25 and hopefully mine under 35.

The weather forecast is now saying possible thunderstorms. Is that a concern for lightening? If so, best location to camp it out? Deep in a forest? Thoughts? I am bringing some really thin tarping so i can put a shelter up over the tent, no biggie, but the lightening is concerning....