R03/R04 TR: North Lake to Mammoth, 7/9/24 - 7/15/24

[Harlen]

Hey Bishop_Bob, what a great trip and trip report, which I luckily came across by checking "unread posts." We were gone so much last summer through fall that I'm afraid we missed a lot of these great trip reports. Your photos are really fine all the way through. My only quibble is that you cut the feet off of that underwear model guy who brazenly walked through your camp. I love the shot of you (?) and the artifacts-- I reckon it is all old miner's gear, with the wooden bits being part of a burro's harness or pack-saddle. The giant corscrew baffles me. At first, I wondered if it mightn't be used to create an anchor point to lower things from, but it would usually be easier to just wrap chain or rope around a boulder.

You guys made some great long days in your trip-- all the way to Merriam Lake from east of Piute Pass in particular. A few questions if you don't mind:

1. What kind of tarptent is that, and does it require 2 trekking poles?
--Did it keep the heavy rain off of you?
--What does it weigh?

2. Sounds like your microspikes worked well for you both-- what brand are they?
--Did the snow ball up on them, ill-affecting their function?

3. Was it really a 3-legged Coyote, or might he or she have been limping along? Did you guys see any other cool wildlife on your long trip?

Thanks a lot Bob; we're so glad to have found your post. Cheers, Ian and Lizzie.

[Bishop_Bob]

1. What kind of tarptent is that, and does it require 2 trekking poles?
--Did it keep the heavy rain off of you?
--What does it weigh?

2. Sounds like your microspikes worked well for you both-- what brand are they?
--Did the snow ball up on them, ill-affecting their function?

3. Was it really a 3-legged Coyote, or might he or she have been limping along? Did you guys see any other cool wildlife on your long trip?

1. Cricket tarp by Mountain Laurel Designs. Yes, 2 trekking poles. Yes, it protects well in rain. The tarp is 12 oz; during mosquito season, I also use an inner (net + floor) that is made for the tarp and weighs 11 oz.

2. Kahtoola microspikes. I didn't experience snowballing, and we were on those snow slopes in the afternoon heat, but I could imagine they aren't immune to that happening.

3. Yes, a 3-legged coyote. It came pretty close to us, and there was no doubt. Alas, I didn't have my phone handy to take a pic.