High Sierra Topix

The bottom line is - you don't get 100% what you want every time. The mountains, the weather, the rocks, the animals, the bugs - they all do what they want and sometimes you just get what you get.

This is why you will talk to backpackers who carry first aid stuff til it expires, rain gear they hardly use, and have a plan of how they will get through a night low 30 degrees lower than the NOAA forecast led them to believe would happen. Sometimes they will use the gauze and tape. Sometimes they will use the rain gear - and it will be the best thing they ever packed, because it's miserable to be soaked to the bone and no way to get dry. Sometimes knowing that wearing all your clothes in your bag will get you to 10F helps you stay calm and comfortable. (This has happened to me before - forecast 44F, actual lows turned out to be 10-15F and with looming dark clouds all over the horizon. Due to a friend being unprepared it turned a six day trip into four days. I would have been fine.)

For your purposes - be prepared for bugs, have something for rain (a poncho works especially if there is none in the forecast), and be pleasantly surprised if you use neither. Check forecasts but expect that if it's colder than you think it will be, you'll put on your layers and wear your jacket to bed. That's normal.

Things being unpredictable is part of the fun. Certainty doesn't have any adventure. Just do enough prep and research that it is not too adventurous - that it's safe. Don't forget to leave a trip plan with someone - there is a handy form in Maverick's sig.

Yea thats what I figured and what I was willing to risk.
I figured if I set up camp in an open area, prob up on a ridge around the granite areas,
and away from the water then I'll prob just deal with them at dusk and dawn.

theres no *fingers crossed* icon so Ill just use this one to pray to the mosquito gods. haha

Check out last year's reports (viewtopic.php?f=34&t=9131&start=48" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) for some indications of conditions around that time of year. You will probably want to look at places that dry out early. Maybe Cottonwood Lakes as that's pretty convenient from LA?

Alternatively I've never had big problems at Pika Lake in July (although the trail up may be more buggy). Both are pretty easy trips.

I'll second Cottonwood Lakes. Just put in my two cents on another thread. Not to sound off-topic but you're from West Covina?!?! I haven't lived there in 12+ years but went to high school in South Hills. Graduated in '98. Here's a trip report from Cottonwood Lakes last year:

http://www.trailspace.com/forums/trip-r ... 47785.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Im guessing you guys are suggesting somewhere that dries up faster because of the mosquitoes?
I appreciate that, but I am not trying to pass up wet areas because of mosquitoes.

macchiolives: awesome, I just moved here almost 2 years ago and already want to leave haha.

By the looks of all the photos/reports online of LLV I don't think I can pass up that scenery, especially when I will be attempting some night sky photography.

ALSO, I have a called the ranger station for the LLV area and asked what time permits are available for same day stuff, and they keep answering with "walk in permits are available at 11am the day before starting the trail"...I want to know what time on FRI I can walk in there, and get the permit for the same day, IF theyre still available?

EDIT:
Found the answer to my question
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/pass ... rdb5356869" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Permit Issuing Times
8:00 am – The following permits can be issued anytime after 8:00 am.
Walk in permits for same day entry.
Reserved permits for same day entry, or up to 2 days before entry date.
Mt Whitney overnight for same day entry, or next day entry.
Day Use Mt Whitney for same day entry.
Non quota permits for same day, or up to 2 days before entry date.

They are telling you the earliest time permits are available. if there are permits left the following morning you can get them when the doors open. The Inyo NF is not going to tell you when wilderness offices in the parks open...


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AlmostThere wrote:They are telling you the earliest time permits are available. if there are permits left the following morning you can get them when the doors open.

That is want I wanted to clear up with them since I wasn't sure if I'd have to wait til 11am to get a same day permit.

So so far LLV is plan A,
now to find a somewhat local plan B,
and possibly a C.

Plan B: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... =1&t=11049" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

maverick wrote:Plan B: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... =1&t=11049" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maverick, thank you so much for all the input youve had on my thread. lol

This is an awesome plan B but it says 20 miles, but he also does a weird loop and visits
all the lakes in the area... im guessing it can be greatly shortened if we just set up camp
at one of the first lakes?

Yes, Second Lake makes a good basecamp. If your feeling strong than continuing
on to Fourth Lake above the cliffs, offers the best campsite and views of all the
lakes.

Maverick, thank you so much for all the input youve had on my thread. lol

Thanks, that's what I'm here for, to make your trip as good and safe as possible.
Don't forget to use the HST Reconn Form link at the bottom, in my sig, for your
own safety please.