High Sierra Topix

Our meetup will be in one of the most isolated parts of Sierra Nevada this year. Changing things up this year, it won't be in the summer but in the fall, more precisely, on Oct 8-9 (Wednesday/Thursday). Rock walls, trout, bears, petroglyphs, poison oak, and some say rattlers, though the three times down there I have seen three, abound in this beautiful valley. It's a long way from the east and a steep drop from the west.
Yes, you guessed right, our meetup will be in Tehipite Valley.

http://www.highsierratopix.com/high-sie ... &cat=&mt=3

My understanding is that Wednesday is when most people arrive, and Thursday is a full day.

I am considering a 9-day loop, from Saturday to Sunday, from Wishon Reservoir through Tunemah Pass. However, it may not be possible for me to arrive in time that way, especially with the short daylight.

My understanding is that Wednesday is when most people arrive, and Thursday is a full day.

Yes, that is correct, Tomba.
Most folks from this previous meetup, especially the ones saying they were coming in from the east, have to keep the shorter days and weather in mind.
If a major weather event is in the forecast during that week the meetup will be canceled. October can be unpredictable, especially a week out, and if a unexpected system comes in, people will need to have contingency plans, since getting back over the Sierra Crest may not be possible or may take longer than planned.
Hopefully the beginning of October will be similar to this years and the weather will be stable, somewhat.

Sounds great! We'll try to make it. Harlens.

Ya! It's on my calendar.

I have never been to a meetup. This sounded like a new adventure. Something to add to my bucket list. After reading a couple of recent trail reports It seems like it would be prudent to carry a very sharp machete and/or pruning/loping shears to cut away brush blocking the trail in places. And being an old fart I don't know if I could even climb 3000' of elevation in under 2 miles to get out of that canyon. Going to have to up my fitness training a couple of notches. Guess I'll have to wait and see how my other trips planned for next summer go. And rattlesnakes. Yikes!!!!

bald tires wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 10:49 am I have never been to a meetup. This sounded like a new adventure. Something to add to my bucket list. After reading a couple of recent trail reports It seems like it would be prudent to carry a very sharp machete and/or pruning/loping shears to cut away brush blocking the trail in places. And being an old fart I don't know if I could even climb 3000' of elevation in under 2 miles to get out of that canyon. Going to have to up my fitness training a couple of notches. Guess I'll have to wait and see how my other trips planned for next summer go. And rattlesnakes. Yikes!!!!

Hello bald tires, I'd encourage you to consider it! From the Wishon area is a relatively easy mostly flat to rolling hike until you get to the last 2 miles or so. The drop into the valley is steep with switch backs but the trail is mostly well defined, and the bushwacking was pretty minor last time I did it -- just a few short bits. Both up and down you want to take your time, and you can always break the hike into 2. I've hiked out to a camp near water before and finished the hike to the car the next morning. The view from near the top, where the trail begins its descent is breathtaking. The valley itself is really unspoiled wilderness. The meet ups are fun and the people great! Rattlesnakes usually let you know where they are, that's how Harlen gets all those photos of them

If I do this I plan to split the hike from the trailhead into 2 legs. My typical hiking speed is 1 mph. So 5 to 6 miles Monday and Tuesday. Camp close to the top of the rim on Tuesday. Wednesday will be the hike to the bottom. Thursday at the meetup. Friday hike to the top of the rim and camp somewhere close to the top of the rim. I will be dragging big time by the time I get to the top. Won't get far down the trail on Friday. Saturday back to my truck at the trailhead. Depending on what time I get there and how tired I am, I may spend Saturday night close to the trailhead and do the 5 hour drive home on Sunday. This is almost a year away. A lot could happen in the interim.

Hi Mav, thanks again for organizing the 2025 meetup. It's on my calendar!

bald tires wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 12:43 pm If I do this I plan to split the hike from the trailhead into 2 legs. My typical hiking speed is 1 mph. So 5 to 6 miles Monday and Tuesday. Camp close to the top of the rim on Tuesday. Wednesday will be the hike to the bottom. Thursday at the meetup. Friday hike to the top of the rim and camp somewhere close to the top of the rim. I will be dragging big time by the time I get to the top. Won't get far down the trail on Friday. Saturday back to my truck at the trailhead. Depending on what time I get there and how tired I am, I may spend Saturday night close to the trailhead and do the 5 hour drive home on Sunday. This is almost a year away. A lot could happen in the interim.

Sounds good. Hope you can make it.