Hi all. My name is Matt (username MRrogers). I just found this website and I have enjoyed reading the many posting filled with great info and enjoyed looked at all of the beautiful photography. So I guess you would classify me as a recent Lurker and now a trip report contributor. I am a level 3 backpacker. I graduated last year from the Yosemite High Sierra Camps to a heavier backpack now, which means bringing all of my own gear. I did the Thousand Island/Ediza loop last summer and later this summer will do Kearsarge to Rae Lakes and back. Also, in early June this year, did a day hike to Lower Young Lake and experienced many creek crossings and trail route finding in the snow. Also in June of this year, backpacked at Ostrander Lake and summited Horse Ridge.
I am posting the following trip report, in conjunction with my introduction to the group, not to inspire the experienced hiker, but to inspire the parents out there. I just took my eight year old son on his first overnight backpacking adventure. Of course, we went to Saddlebag Lake due to its level terrain and the ability to get a wilderness permit without a reservation. If you are unfamiliar with Saddlebag Lake, it is located in the Twenty Lakes Basin, which is within the Hoover Wilderness near Mt. Conness and North Peak.
Our day started at 6 am in the Bay Area. We made it to the Tuolumne Meadows wilderness center to get permits and then on to Saddlebag lake by 11 am. By noon, the boat had dropped us off on the other side of the lake and within minutes my son caught his first fish while fishing at Greenstone Lake.
After fishing, we hiked to our campsite at the edge of Cascade Lake, which is at the base of North Peak. On our way to Cascade Lake, we crossed some small snow fields that were covering the trail and did a creek crossing just before arriving at the campsite. We may be new that sort of thing, but I’ll let you know that it takes about 10 minutes after standing in near freezing water for the pain in your feet to go away!
Also along the hike to Cascade Lake, near Wasco Lake, another hiker was nice enough to point out some “Steer’s Skull” wildflowers. I do think they look like a steer’s skull, but my son thought they looked like scissors.
After it became dark enough, I took some long duration exposures of the night skies, which included some nice shots of the Milky Way. I found 25 seconds at 3200 ISO worked the best. Camera is Canon T5i and lens is 14 mm, f/2.8.
In addition, I was able to do my first time lapse video. It consists of ninety 25 second exposure photos compiled together at a rate of 20 frames per second. The only problem is that the video is actually showing them in the reverse order, so will have to figure out how to fix that later.
TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
- MRrogers
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016 12:28 pm
- Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11853
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
Hi Matt,
Welcome To HST! Thanks for the intro TR and pictures, you are absolutely correct, 20 Lakes Basin is a great place to introduce beginning backpackers young or old, it is minimal effort with maximum return (beautiful high alpine country).
Welcome To HST! Thanks for the intro TR and pictures, you are absolutely correct, 20 Lakes Basin is a great place to introduce beginning backpackers young or old, it is minimal effort with maximum return (beautiful high alpine country).
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
-
- Topix Regular
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:59 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
Hey MRrogers! Thanks for the early season trip report and photos. The best backpacking trips are with your kids. I was there in a group of four at the same time as you (July 1-3). Our campsite was up on the highest hill east-southeast of Cascade Lake just out of snoring distance from you.
July 4th weekend was the perfect time for that area this year, save the predictable crowds. Almost no mosquitoes (except up near McCabe Pass) and just enough snow for photography.
July 4th weekend was the perfect time for that area this year, save the predictable crowds. Almost no mosquitoes (except up near McCabe Pass) and just enough snow for photography.
- The Other Tom
- Founding Member
- Posts: 972
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:06 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Upstate South Carolina
Re: TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
Great trip report, thanks for posting. Especially loved the video !
- MRrogers
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2016 12:28 pm
- Experience: Level 3 Backpacker
Re: TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
Ska-T, was that you that borrowed our Jetboil? Hope my son's snoring didn't keep you all awake!Ska-T wrote:Hey MRrogers! Thanks for the early season trip report and photos. The best backpacking trips are with your kids. I was there in a group of four at the same time as you (July 1-3). Our campsite was up on the highest hill east-southeast of Cascade Lake just out of snoring distance from you.
July 4th weekend was the perfect time for that area this year, save the predictable crowds. Almost no mosquitoes (except up near McCabe Pass) and just enough snow for photography.
-
- Topix Regular
- Posts: 249
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:59 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: TR: Saddlebag Lake, new member, milky way 7/1/16
No, ha ha, couldn't hear a thing. We were at least 2 hundred yards from the outlet and both our stoves worked fine.MRrogers wrote:Ska-T, was that you that borrowed our Jetboil? Hope my son's snoring didn't keep you all awake!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: jefffish and 18 guests