Maverick's 2017 Annual HST Meet-up

[Hobbes]

Rich, Taboose should be fine due to eastern exposure. Arrow from bench will be the wild card since it faces north. Ice axe for sure. I recall you wore boots so maybe bring crampons.

Edit: BTW, even if Mav decided to switch the location across the Kings to the southerly exposed Cartridge/Lake basin, people coming from the E side via Taboose or south would still have to contend with the SF Kings. (That is, W siders coming from Road's End could just follow the SHR along the Monarch divide & Cirque crest. Bishop via SHR would also avoid the SF Kings.) Andy's impression from last year on 6/3: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14472&start=12#p108633

I forgot to mention the river crossing earlier that day at the South Fork Kings River was dangerously high and it appeared to be at full spring melt levels. Hobbes found a spot downstream from the trail crossing where the river split into three "smaller" rivers and after we watched a small group of PCT'ers cross we carefully made the crossing. It was the strongest river crossing I've ever made.

And mine:

Andy already told the tale of crossing the S Fork - that was stressful in its own right. We extended our poles full length, released our hip belts & sternum straps, loosened our shoulder straps and were ready to jettison our packs in case of a slip/fall. We found an area where the river divided into 3 separate ribbons - the main channel was No Way Jose. Each of these 3 sections would be considered a very sketchy water crossing in its own right. But, we made it across, wet but safe.

Additional note: Andy & I are both 6'1" and around 190-200 lbs. So, anyone doing river crossings this year might want to take that into consideration as well.

[Hobbes]

I'm thinking of coming in via taboose & bench. I will assess arrow when I get there.

Andy & I have a few snow trips lined up for may & june. Curious what July will look like.

[Wandering Daisy]

Thanks for that river crossing information. Are they ever going to rebuild that bridge? The goal of that trip from South Lake was to go down the Middle Fork of Kings, since I have never been there. Detouring via the High Route is not something I want to do, since I have already done that twice. Arnot's old guidebook cites the Middle Fork at peak runoff as one of the classic Sierra waterfalls routes. When he did it, the bridge was there. Looks like a trip from Roads End, however rigorous this would be, is the only option at peak runoff.

Has anyone actually gone up (not just looked at maps and Google Earth) from the west end of Castle Domes Meadow to Arrow bench?

[Hobbes]

While this year might not equal the 669" inches recorded @ Mammoth during 2010-2011, it seems likely it will exceed 600" and end up being the 2nd heaviest snow year since MM began keeping records in 1969.

As such, it presents an interesting conundrum for mid-summer backpacking trips: the high country will still be covered in snow/ice, while the canyons will be dealing death to anyone caught in the run-off.

IMO, high water levels alone preclude extended hikes along the Kern, Kings & San Joaquin. It's possible/probable early season JMT/PCT hikers will be forced into detours around the SF Kings and SF SJ (Evo & Bear creeks).

Snow covered high country passes are challenging enough along major routes with existing boot tracks, but virgin x-c passes introduce another level. That's why I think Arrow might present an obstacle. It's one thing to turn around from Bench lake and retreat, but another for those who came up Window creek and expected to exit via Arrow pass.

The meet-up of course is Mav's deal, but I believe he chose this location before we had any inkling of what was in store as far as a record winter. Perhaps something more manageable like the Upper basin, or upper Woods creek (Pinchot basin) would be more appropriate given the special circumstances.

[maverick]

Has anyone actually gone up (not just looked at maps and Google Earth) from the west end of Castle Domes Meadow to Arrow bench?

Yes, I have gone up and over Pyramid Peak's western shoulder from the Woods Creek Trail, and have also accessed Arrow Creek Basin via Arrow Creek from Paradise Valley. Both routes are class 2, the AC route needs good navigational skills to keep it at class 2, which is all the route info I will divulge, so I do not take away from the adventure spirit of this outing.


Oh, there will be no changes to the Meet-up location, some extra snow is not going to deter us from our trip, it may make us have to work harder and use some skills that we have not used it a while, but that is what makes it an adventure.

[Wandering Daisy]

Thanks Mav. On Google Earth it did not look "hard" but a bit miserable, with the brush to avoid, steepness and talus. Could be hot too, facing the sun.

I think it is way to early to project what snow conditions will be like.

One sure thing is high water. Roads End to Castle Domes is know as a good early season trip. I did it years ago before the bridge and that old log crossing was interesting to say the least. Knowing we would have to cross on a slippery log, I actually took crampons! Now there is that sturdy bridge. Big difference. We also had nearly waist deep wading on the small stream that comes down from Arrow Basin. We crossed it early, then did some day-hiking and when we came back in the afternoon it was considerably deeper. I really think this location may be one of the least problematic with high snow (at least looking at it coming from Roads End). However, mosquitoes may be horrible.

Hobbs, why don't you put together a second "meet-up" later in the year, say September. I would be interested in attending more than one.

[maverick]

However, mosquitoes may be horrible.

Yes, unfortunately that they will be.

[maverick]

WD,

There is a search slated for Bob on 9/6-9/13 in Dusy/Barrett Lakes, there are over a dozen members attending, including Hobbes and Bluewater. You are welcome to come and participate.

http://www.easyreadernews.com/141190/bo ... -for-pops/

[Hobbes]

Hobbs, why don't you put together a second "meet-up" later in the year, say September. I would be interested in attending more than one.

Daisy, thanx for the suggestion, but I'm more like a cat than a dog. IOW, I'm terrible at either organizing or leading a group effort. I've also been known to bail at the last minute if *cough* the surf gets good. (I think Andy, Jim & Lisa have finally forgiven me. My wife thought it was part of my charm when she foolishly agreed to date me 25 years ago.) So, no, surfers are definitely not trustworthy.

However, if Eric & Mav didn't mind, I/you/someone could post up an open discussion thread for a possible meet-up later in the season. I'm more of a group consensus person, and really don't mind where I go as long as it's: (a) not in the trees below 10k; and (b) requires a long W side approach.

That being said, everyone would be free to add their 2 cents as to personal preferences. If more than two people agreed to meet at a certain place at a certain time, then perhaps it could be considered a success.

In order to keep this kind of open thread free of personalities or subjective influence, perhaps Eric should be the person to initiate the effort.

[Jimr]

Lisa and I have an acronym for our plan B's. ICKF! In Case Karl Flakes. You are forgiven, dude!