Backpacking

[SteelBlue]

Excellent pics bluegoose! That was a very fun trip.

Goose and I were up in Lassen again this past weekend helping to run a Youth Conference. We took 100 kids up that Brokeoff Mountain trail (though not to the summit) and had a great time. The last day, we hiked to a peak if about 8,000 feet that goose had discovered while cycling through the park the day before. It was called Diamond Peak and it made for an incredible sunrise hike with about 45 kids.

Here are a few pics of the past 2 weekends:

This is goose on the cliff opposite the one I was standing on in the pic he posted. The sheer drop is blocked by the ledge I'm on. I wasn't going any closer.
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Wild flowers along trail:
At first light
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At mid-day
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Goose's discovery: Diamond Peak
From halfway up
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[SteelBlue]

The Diamond at sunrise:
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Brokeoff Mountain from Diamond Peak
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[RC Vikings]

The wife and I are headed up into the Tetons tomorrow for a little backpacking trip. We will be going from Lupine Meadows and hiking up to the lower saddle of the Tetons. The trail head starts at 6700 feet and our campground is at 9200 feet. Our campground is called the meadows and is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever been. The Tetons rise up around this grassy little meadow and the views are spectacular. On Friday we will hike to 11,650 and then come back gather up our stuff and head back down. My wife has never done anything like this and is very exited and a little nervous about it. I've had her watching "Naked and Afraid" to get ready for it.

[ERCougar]

The wife and I are headed up into the Tetons tomorrow for a little backpacking trip. We will be going from Lupine Meadows and hiking up to the lower saddle of the Tetons. The trail head starts at 6700 feet and our campground is at 9200 feet. Our campground is called the meadows and is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever been. The Tetons rise up around this grassy little meadow and the views are spectacular. On Friday we will hike to 11,650 and then come back gather up our stuff and head back down. My wife has never done anything like this and is very exited and a little nervous about it. I've had her watching "Naked and Afraid" to get ready for it.

Awesome. My son just got back from a backpacking trip in the Tetons. Reports are just incredible. It's now on my list.

[ERCougar]

Goodness, SB and BG. I want to come join you guys some time. I love that rugged tundra look contrasted with the alpine wildflowers.

[bluegoose]

The wife and I are headed up into the Tetons tomorrow for a little backpacking trip. We will be going from Lupine Meadows and hiking up to the lower saddle of the Tetons. The trail head starts at 6700 feet and our campground is at 9200 feet. Our campground is called the meadows and is one of the most beautiful spots I've ever been. The Tetons rise up around this grassy little meadow and the views are spectacular. On Friday we will hike to 11,650 and then come back gather up our stuff and head back down. My wife has never done anything like this and is very exited and a little nervous about it. I've had her watching "Naked and Afraid" to get ready for it.

That sounds like a blast. And very cool that your wife is getting to join you. One of the guys that goes backpacking with us is from Sugar City and is always talking up the Tetons. Make sure and post some pics for us.

We are doing our second annual dudes backpacking trip in about two weeks. I can't wait. Hopefully Orangeute will join our group this year. We are heading to a different area of the Alps this time. Although the lake we are going to is only a few miles from our destination last year, this trail enters from the far north, instead of the far south we used to access the last spot.

I'm sure we will post some pics of our own, but here is a sneak peak at where we are headed.

Grizzly Lake in the Trinity Alps, from below:



And from the side:


There is no actual trail up to the lake. To access the lake itself you have to scramble up the rock face just to the left of the falls. Then you have to jump over the outlet of the falls.

[bluegoose]

Goodness, SB and BG. I want to come join you guys some time. I love that rugged tundra look contrasted with the alpine wildflowers.

August 16-18. You've got two weeks to make it happen.

[ERCougar]

August 16-18. You've got two weeks to make it happen.

Unfortunately, I just used my bachelor week for the year. Two weeks and a year and I can pull it off.

[PaloAltoCougar]

BG, RCV, et al... I'm a bit envious of you taking these hikes. I haven't gone backpacking for a few years, but had a great time when I did (we've done 50-milers heading south from Mt. Lassen, and then in the Yosemite back country). Perhaps because I skipped breakfast and am very hungry, I'm curious how you do your meals on these treks. For a week's hike, we'd have lots of freezer bag meals where we'd do individual meal-sized bags to which we'd simply add boiling water and a few minutes later it was bon appetit. For hikes that are shorter in duration, do take fresher, tastier eats since space and weight isn't quite as big a deal?

And RC, you have me thinking of taking the missus (mine, not yours, although hey, we're friends, right?) on a 2-3 night backpack trip to Yosemite. She's physically up to it, but I'm not sure she can part with the creature comforts of a nice hotel. I guess I'm not sure about me, either.

[RC Vikings]

And RC, you have me thinking of taking the missus (mine, not yours, although hey, we're friends, right?) on a 2-3 night backpack trip to Yosemite. She's physically up to it, but I'm not sure she can part with the creature comforts of a nice hotel. I guess I'm not sure about me, either.

She's pretty excited about it. I got her a nice pack, sleeping bag and pad so hopefully it all goes well. If all goes well I would love to do a three day trip up into the Wind River range or come down and hike in BG's area. I've always enjoyed my vacations in a Marriott but whenever I get out hiking I really enjoy it and wonder why I don't do more of it. I'll let you know how it goes.

[FN Phat]

Can we go ahead and plan a CUF/CS hike next year? You guys are making miss the West coast every.single.time I open this thread.

[cougjunkie]

Can we go ahead and plan a CUF/CS hike next year? You guys are making miss the West coast every.single.time I open this thread.

Ha! Like you would show up. I am sure your honey-do list wouldn't allow it.

[SteelBlue]

BG, RCV, et al... I'm a bit envious of you taking these hikes. I haven't gone backpacking for a few years, but had a great time when I did (we've done 50-milers heading south from Mt. Lassen, and then in the Yosemite back country). Perhaps because I skipped breakfast and am very hungry, I'm curious how you do your meals on these treks. For a week's hike, we'd have lots of freezer bag meals where we'd do individual meal-sized bags to which we'd simply add boiling water and a few minutes later it was bon appetit. For hikes that are shorter in duration, do take fresher, tastier eats since space and weight isn't quite as big a deal?

We do the freeze dried meals mainly. For lunches I pack a back of trail mix, a Snickers bar and a mini bagel in a ziploc bag. It's usually more than enough calories for the (fairly demanding) day hiking we do. I learned from a friend that bringing along a summer sausage and some cheese makes for a nice change of pace and isn't much to carry in. The same guy usually brings along one or two heavier treats that he feels is worth the extra work. After hiking in to our camp site last year (it was crazy hot, even in the evening that year) he pulled out a diet coke, and I think I'd have paid $20 for it if he'd have parted with it.

[RC Vikings]

Up in the Tetons. We got within an hour of our goal but we were getting really tired and I knew going back through the boulder field with hammered legs and full packs would have been dangerous. It really was a hard hike. The wife said next time she would just like to take a short hike into a lake and build a big fire and just chill.

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[FN Phat]

Ha! Like you would show up. I am sure your honey-do list wouldn't allow it.

you're probably right