TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

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
JohnS
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 22
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:20 am
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by JohnS »

Oleander,
Thanks for the wonderful report. Your photos make Shepherd Pass look inviting. The flower you asked about at the start of day two is most likely Primrose Monkeyflower. It the leaves don’t match try looking at Tilings Monkeyflower.
John
Last edited by JohnS on Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
copeg
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Founding Member & Forums Administrator
Posts: 2118
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 9:25 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Contact:

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by copeg »

What a great report! Looks as though it was a trip of a lifetime. Quite surprised you saw a ratler that high up - never seen one above 8k. And your photos are fantastic. Absolutely love the Tulainyo shot with the flowers in the foreground.
User avatar
texan
Topix Expert
Posts: 602
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:47 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by texan »

That is one of the best trail reports I have ever read. The pics, the details. Thank you so much for sharing.

Texan
User avatar
BakoGal
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:31 am
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Location: Etna, CA

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by BakoGal »

"Oh my....." is what I said many times while admiring your photos. And your narrative was the icing on the cake. Thanks so much for taking us along via your trip report.
User avatar
sparky
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1036
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:01 am
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by sparky »

I really like that picture labeled "flowers". Awesome!
User avatar
oleander
Topix Expert
Posts: 485
Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:15 am
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by oleander »

sparky wrote:I really like that picture labeled "flowers". Awesome!
Sparky: Originally I tried to post that photo labeled with the actual name of the flower in question. Which is something like "cat paws," except the first word starts with the letter "p". Unfortunately, HST's child-safe screen decided my "p" word was a dirty word, and wouldn't let me indicate the name of the flower under the photo.

- Elizabeth
Last edited by oleander on Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Shawn
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1065
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:56 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by Shawn »

Beautiful report Elizabeth!
User avatar
jessegooddog
Topix Regular
Posts: 240
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:39 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by jessegooddog »

Rattlers vs gophers - coloring and patterns are similar with many variations, and when they are moving the pattern blends together. The head and tail may not be visible. The best way for me to distinguish between the 2 at a glance, even when they are some distance away, is the "heft" of the body - rattlers are thick and heavy bodied, and gophers are slim by comparison. If you can check them out at a nature center or zoo side by side the difference is easy to see; a good field guide will also help.

EXCELLENT report!!
User avatar
LMBSGV
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1032
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:42 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: San Geronimo, CA
Contact:

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by LMBSGV »

Great report and photos. I'm with Copeg on the Tulainyo photo. Thanks for sharing your insights.
I don’t need a goal destination. I need a destination that meets my goals.

http://laurencebrauer.com
User avatar
giantbrookie
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Founding Member & Forums Moderator
Posts: 3692
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:22 am
Experience: N/A
Location: Fresno
Contact:

Re: TR: HST Wales Lake Meet-Up, July 2014

Post by giantbrookie »

Wow, what a report! Great mix of photos mountain vistas, lakes, wildflowers, wildlife etc. and quite the narrative too. It both makes me wish I had been there and brings back memories of my one long trip into that area, which was a New Army-Shepherd shuttle with a lot of off trail detours (Sky Blue, Crabtrees, Wallace, Wrights, Upper Kern, Williamson Bowl) in early July 1996. It is interesting that your trip also corresponded to an incoming weather situation while going back over Shepherd. My crossing of Shepherd eastward was memorable for a fierce rain with pea-sized hail upon arrival at Shepherd Pass (from Lake 11440 in Upper Kern) followed by intermittent thunderstorms while doing a little side trip (daypacks only) into Williamson Bowl (all the way to lower lakes). Then, that evening, camped somewhere above the Pothole, another wicked thunderstorm came in with very short (< 1 sec) time delays between flashes and booms.

Anyhow your report really shows me what I missed in addition to those large orange-meated goldens described in the meet up thread.
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests