Maverick's 2017 Annual HST Meet-up

[AlmostThere]

I'm probably not making it -- my sweetie just had a triple bypass, so no backpacking for him for a long while. I'm about to have a biopsy of a lump on my thyroid.
However, I am totally down for doing a Gimp Out -- I'm thinking a four day weekend up in Mountain Home, doing short hikes in the sequoias, and anyone wanting to camp with can come along for it. And their little dog too.

[Hobbes]

I'm not worried about snow on Arrow Pass -- I'm prepared to bring 12-point crampons and ice axe.

Victor, I'm sure you'd have no problem since you've got the proper equipment & experience. However, IMO there's a time, place & situation for alpine conditions. The time is now through June, the place(s) are the traditional **established** locations like Shasta, Conness, Ritter, Palisades, Whitney, et al, and the situation is with a partner/belay.

All three previous meet-up locations have involved challenging class 2 x-c travel requiring two day approaches; just like last year. (Did you go out over Blue lake pass that we briefly discussed?) This year was supposed to be no different, yet the record snowfall/precipitation has now introduced a different level of difficulty and possible danger.

I for one would not welcome being potentially the first person of the season to tackle a remote pass in possible alpine conditions. As comparison, consider the challenge of doing the SHR during the same week just across the S Fork. Would you want to be the first person of the season to take on Frozen Lake pass - solo? And that's considering there's a lot of information on the pass and a fairly well established route.

I'm going up to either Whitney, Kearsarge and/or Big Pine next week with all the gear and fixins'. However, I'm not going to push any situation if I don't need to - I'll simply retreat and head back. The guy who died on the MR two weeks ago was an experienced climber - going solo sans belay meant the one mistake he made (slipping & failing to self-arrest in time) proved fatal.

Again, not trying to be a downer here, nor am I presenting myself as some kind of mountaineering expert. My concern could be overblown. OTOH, I've been out enough times in (very) steep alpine conditions to know when & where to say "no mas".

[Flamingo]

@Hobbes, Yeah I agree. You're not being a downer, just a realist. I think knowing when to say "nope" to a route is the most important mountaineering skill. We'll see how it goes with snowmelt. . . I am totally okay with turning around early before reaching the summit or pass, and I've certainly turned around early on many previous trips. I've learned it's important to establish the criteria for turning around before getting on the mountain, because once I start climbing it's tempting to push it too far. Is it too icy to get traction?...nope. A cornice on the pass?...nope. Storm clouds?...nope.

[Hobbes]

Not trying to interfere with Mav's deal, but I'm going to throw this out there: how about trying to meet @ Bench? I know this is one of Peter's favorite areas, so maybe he wants to keep everyone away.

Since people have already indicated they are in coming in from various THs (Flamingo & myself from Taboose, Jim, Oleander & Ghost from Sawmill) that would essentially get to/go by Bench anyway, it seems like it might be a good compromise. For the more daring (ahem, Kristine), it would also provide the perfect base to tackle Arrow, Split and/or other peaks in the general vicinity.

[Gazelle]

That would work for me especially if I/we get to meet more people! I too will be bringing ice ax and crampons and by the time i get to the meetup will have a very good idea of conditions. and will probably have used them more than once. I have many different plans all based on the conditions I encounter .

[Flamingo]

@Hobbes Bench works for me, but I'll defer to the group. I'm looking forward to a zero-day at Bench, regardless of the meetup. Given this is Mav's event (although he may not attend), I'll leave it to him to announce location changes. Also, is anyone planning to join via Window Creek (besides Mav, maybe)?

PS, regarding camping at Bench. . . do you have any tips for where to camp at the lake, to maximize views and minimize impact?

[maverick]

Change the location to Bench Lake, if it allows for more members to attend this time around because of the snow, which is the main object of the Meet-up, then cool.

[zacjust32]

Also, is anyone planning to join via Window Creek (besides Mav, maybe)?

If I happen to make it Wednesday I would be coming up that way, but don't make any changes because of me.

[Shhsgirl]

Bench Lake would be fine with me, but the surf has interfered with the whole thing. The family has decided to do our annual vacation to San O on Aug. 1, and it's a 12 to 1 (me) vote, so I'm out.

[Jimr]

Bench works for us as well (obviously, since we have it in our itinerary already). I'll chat with Mav in the next few days to pick his brain on prime locale.