prepping 2019 summer backpacking
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 9:08 am
Now that our summer 2019 backpacking season is now upon us with the summer solstice in a couple days, and given the huge snowpack dwindling back daily, what are you doing to prepare yourself for backpacking? Of course a few of you have already gotten out so would have prepped weeks ago.
The last few weeks have mentioned my first backpack this summer was likely to be into the SF San Joaquin River. Like everyone else have been monitoring weather and conditions websites. Was tentatively expecting to leave on that backpack after this weekend.
Updated my Excel gear checklist and on a printout scribbled out a to do and to buy list on the back. So earlier this week pulled all my summer gear out of a closet, moved all my snow skiing and winter stuff into the closet, worked on checking and fixing various items. Pulled the cable out of the Whisperlite and wiggled it thoroughly, filled a fuel bottle, pushed wire through the jet opening, then verified it worked without sputtering. Washed a bunch of clothes, then sorted out stuff to wear on the first trip. I have a ridiculous amount of rechargeable battery stuff in this era so last 3 days have been recharging it all. For instance have 21 batteries for my Sony A6000. Made trips to supermarkets for food especially snacks. Cleaned my A6000 camera sensor filter, lenses, and cleaning cloths. Reformatted several 16gb and 8gb SDcards. Dumped out gear, dust, and pine needles from several bags and packs. Gee need to get one of those way way too expensive fishing licenses!
I have an old pack loaded with about 55 pounds of weight that I began walking up and down stairs with as I have a 2-story residence unit as well as some knee pushups. During winter was regularly skiing lots of moguls and then in March and April were 3 week long Southern California desert wildflower trips with lots of hiking. And urban hike a lot. Today expect to drive up to hilly downtown San Francisco for more of that.
Last night in the wee hours woke up and suddenly decided I would not be starting that backpack next week and instead will patiently wait till the Florence Lake Store ferry service begins that saves about 4 miles of hiking around the reservoir. Since Kaiser Pass opened last week and the up river Muir Trail Ranch shows accommodations starting the July 4 holiday weekend, they have to start up their ferry in the next couple weeks.
Main issue for me is with the medical issues that have been rising up during the last year for this now senior, I am leery given the huge weight I carry about too strongly overtaxing my body, that could then affect my whole summer. The SF SJR trip would require hiking up 16.5 miles that I'd expected to do to the 12.5 mile point in a couple days but that is more stressful than I would prefer to start out with and will not add another 2 days to make that easier as that means even more food and 2 useless days photography wise. Thus patience just waiting for the ferry to start. Had wanted to visit near the peak snowmelt for most impressive whitewater to take 1080p videos like I did on Cherry Creek during June 2017. (none publicly posted yet though have Youtube account) River levels are now decreasing from the melt peak after the hot spell last week, but that is really not too important as it will still be rather high. Expect to camp near the Piute Creek confluence and then Aspen Valley. Highlight will be the big whitewater from Evolution Creek drop out of Evolution Valley, that I'll climb up steep canyon walls for a prime late afternoon perspective of.
The last few weeks have mentioned my first backpack this summer was likely to be into the SF San Joaquin River. Like everyone else have been monitoring weather and conditions websites. Was tentatively expecting to leave on that backpack after this weekend.
Updated my Excel gear checklist and on a printout scribbled out a to do and to buy list on the back. So earlier this week pulled all my summer gear out of a closet, moved all my snow skiing and winter stuff into the closet, worked on checking and fixing various items. Pulled the cable out of the Whisperlite and wiggled it thoroughly, filled a fuel bottle, pushed wire through the jet opening, then verified it worked without sputtering. Washed a bunch of clothes, then sorted out stuff to wear on the first trip. I have a ridiculous amount of rechargeable battery stuff in this era so last 3 days have been recharging it all. For instance have 21 batteries for my Sony A6000. Made trips to supermarkets for food especially snacks. Cleaned my A6000 camera sensor filter, lenses, and cleaning cloths. Reformatted several 16gb and 8gb SDcards. Dumped out gear, dust, and pine needles from several bags and packs. Gee need to get one of those way way too expensive fishing licenses!
I have an old pack loaded with about 55 pounds of weight that I began walking up and down stairs with as I have a 2-story residence unit as well as some knee pushups. During winter was regularly skiing lots of moguls and then in March and April were 3 week long Southern California desert wildflower trips with lots of hiking. And urban hike a lot. Today expect to drive up to hilly downtown San Francisco for more of that.
Last night in the wee hours woke up and suddenly decided I would not be starting that backpack next week and instead will patiently wait till the Florence Lake Store ferry service begins that saves about 4 miles of hiking around the reservoir. Since Kaiser Pass opened last week and the up river Muir Trail Ranch shows accommodations starting the July 4 holiday weekend, they have to start up their ferry in the next couple weeks.
Main issue for me is with the medical issues that have been rising up during the last year for this now senior, I am leery given the huge weight I carry about too strongly overtaxing my body, that could then affect my whole summer. The SF SJR trip would require hiking up 16.5 miles that I'd expected to do to the 12.5 mile point in a couple days but that is more stressful than I would prefer to start out with and will not add another 2 days to make that easier as that means even more food and 2 useless days photography wise. Thus patience just waiting for the ferry to start. Had wanted to visit near the peak snowmelt for most impressive whitewater to take 1080p videos like I did on Cherry Creek during June 2017. (none publicly posted yet though have Youtube account) River levels are now decreasing from the melt peak after the hot spell last week, but that is really not too important as it will still be rather high. Expect to camp near the Piute Creek confluence and then Aspen Valley. Highlight will be the big whitewater from Evolution Creek drop out of Evolution Valley, that I'll climb up steep canyon walls for a prime late afternoon perspective of.