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Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 12:04 pm
by zacjust32
jeremiahkim wrote:Wonderful photos, but care to enlighten me about what a Sierra balloon is? Is that a thing?
Most people here have probably come across at least 1 balloon in their travels. The balloons are carried up to the Sierra when someone lets them go in the valley. I see finding one as a "rite of passage" of sorts, YMMV.

http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... on#p102020
http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... oon#p54165

My favorite is Rogue's find:


Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 4:25 pm
by sekihiker
jeremiahkim wrote:... enlighten me about what a Sierra balloon is? Is that a thing?
When people release balloons, most of the time in the San Joaquin Valley, prevailing wind carry them eastward into the mountains. Their remnants are a shocking reminder of civilization when they are found in pristine wilderness. The Mylar balloons are the most durable. Rubber balloons often rot away and only the string or strings are left behind.

Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 4:38 pm
by maverick

Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:16 pm
by jeremiahkim
Imagine that. Seen plenty of trash but have yet to come across a balloon. That singing balloon is a hoot.

Thanks for humoring me zac, sekihiker, and maverick. You learn something new every day.

Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:26 pm
by wildhiker
In addition to finding balloons in the high country (yes, I have found more than one), I once found a banged up remote control sailplane (about 5 foot wingspan) on the 9000 foot elevation ridge between Castle and Basin Peaks north of Interstate 80 in the Tahoe National Forest. Guess that one got out of range of the radio controller and who knows how far it flew before crashing on the ridge.

I carried it out, of course. On the way down, I assured other passing hikers that "there were no casualties". :-)

-Phil

Re: TR: Deadman-Cloud Canyon 8/14-19

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 9:38 am
by sekihiker
wildhiker wrote: I carried it out, of course. On the way down, I assured other passing hikers that "there were no casualties". :-)
-Phil
lol