R03/R01 TR: 8/23-8/28 2024 Part 2 Loops from Onion Valley

[Wandering Daisy]

In summer, storms usually are short, even when severe. I have bailed out based on In-Reach weather forecasts when I really did not need to do it. But the farther it gets into shoulder season and late Fall, the more chance there is for something very severe. I will continue to check the forecasts, but in summer be a bit more skeptical. I think late season is an entirely different situation and I would rather error on the side of safety.

[wsp_scott]

Nice report, I love the sunrise at Heart Lake photos

For weather reports on my Inreach, I use this service https://wx2inreach.weebly.com/ I have it set as my third free message so asking for a report doesn't count against my message allocation but receiving the report does. It is NWS point forecasts which are reasonably accurate/good.

[LonePine]

Nice report - it's always a pleasure to read yours. About your sciatica, I had the same problem until I learned about the need for copper so I take a zinc copper supplement and my sciatica disappeared.

[tomba]

I was worried about getting busted since my permit was not valid.

I think technically the permit was valid. What's important is the entry date and the entry trailhead. As far as I know, once in the wilderness one doesn't have stick to the planned itinerary. And you had a good reason: bad weather forecast.

As much as I prefer solitude, over the years I have found that if you are on crowded trails and camped near others you may as well engage in the social experience. On the whole, you will meet very interesting people.

I too prefer solitude. But when I meet people I also like to talk to them. Even when just passing someone on the trail. I typically ask them about where they went and where they are going to.

[Wandering Daisy]

I was cleaning out photo files of old trips and found a 2011 trip where I did the Rae Lakes Loop from Roads End, with side trips to Gardiner Basin and Window Peak Lake. I remember the side trips but totally forgot that they were part of the Rae Lakes Loop. Sorry I mis-spoke when I said I had not done the entire Rae Lakes Loop before, just sections. 2010-11 was an unusually high snowpack year. I was amazed when looking at the photos that although it was almost a month later (9/11-10) nearly the August trip this year, 2011 looked just like early July- lush grasses, wildflowers but no mosquitoes!

Tomba- you are correct that my permit was legal as long as I did not camp between Paradise Valley and Sphinx Creek junction at Bubbs Creek.