High Sierra Topix

Well I should be arriving at the trailhead about now, but instead I'm stuck at home due to some unforeseen red tape . By the time I get untangled, my permit will have expired.

Anyway, sure hope all of the guys and gals have a blast at the get together this year, sorry I couldn't be there to meet-up with everyone. Guess I'll switch to "plan B" and find an alternate hike in the days to come.

same with me, just when I thought I might be able to go, the rug gets pulled out from under me!

Hi All - I had a little family emergency (everything is now OK), but I'm defintely behind schedule. There is a low probability I'll have enough time to catch you at Wallace/Wales. . . but I'm heading out anyways, to do my original proposed route (Cottonwood to R-C Col). Sorry for the last minute snafu. Hopefully I'll run into some of you out there, but if not, have fun without me!

Ah! The first picture... Chunks of god's candy in the pans.

Cold but I can only imagine good times!

For anyone interested in visiting the area, here is the basic mileage breakdown from the Symmes trailhead:

TH->Shepherd pass 9.5 miles
Shepherd->Wales 9.5 miles via Rockwell pass & WLB

Rockwell pass is another 2.0 miles from Shepherd, and the first lakes in WLB are one more mile, so it's around 12.5 miles to WLB. I did it in one day after hiking 8:20 hours, or approx 1.5 mph.

If you stop @ WLB, then it's only 6.5 miles from there to Wales. While there is an old, partially maintained trail up Wallace creek, it's easy to traverse x-c up the watershed by simply staying between Wallace & Wales creeks, which are less than .5 mile apart. That's the way I proceeded, taking 4.1 hours or 1.6 mph.

To return, simply retrace your steps. I decided to hike the entire way back without stopping @ WLB, or 19 miles. It took me exactly 10 hrs (from 7am-5pm), for an avg of 1.9 mph.

To recap, 1/2 of the hike is via trail from the TH to Shepherd pass. Thereafter, it's all x-c to Rockwell, WLB & Wales. The x-c is very pleasant, with both the Wales/Wallace & WLB watersheds providing easy navigation by simply following the respective creeks up/down the meadows:

Wales creek - just follow the water (note Wallace creek right of shoulder):


Wright creek - just follow the water:


The entire area is really spectacular - thanx again to Mav for putting the trip together.

* Note - My base pack weight was 10lbs + 5lbs of food/water. So going in, my pack weighed 15 lbs, while leaving it was only 10lbs. As a result, trail times are essentially day hiking speeds.

Would like to thank Oleander, Schmalz, Hobbes, Cgunderson & Joy (wife),
will_jrob, and Jimr for attending the first HST Meet-up, it was a joy meeting
all of you!
It was especially satisfying to see folks of different ages and personalities all
come together with an intense passion and love for the Sierra.

Jimr and Schmalz,

Came out Sunday, Sat evening there was just to many clouds to produce any
colors which was disappointing, and it was cloudy and humid at 5 am, again
sunrise produced no colors, but at least the cloud and light play produced
some great b&w shots (and surprise).
Got to the Shepherd Pass trailhead in about 4.5 hrs, there was an occasional
drizzle from build up of thunderheads along the Sierra crest, light rain at Mono
Lake area.

Hobbes,

Met Tom K. on the way down, and he confirmed the lake in question, which will
be most likely next years, 2015 Meet-up, location. 18"-20" trout , should
even have Rlown foaming at the mouth, and any other fishing person on this
board.


Contacted Oleanders friend,when I got to town, about the changes she was
planning to make in case of bad weather, which was to stay in Wrights Lakes
Basin near Rockwell Pass, instead of going over Tyndall Col into Williamson
Bowl, staying at Advil Camp on Monday night, and out Tuesday.


Everyone who attended, if you care to write up a TR and post photo's of your
experience please do here, this trip was about you, the most important
component of HST, without you there is no HST!
So please share your experience with our fellow members, so next years
2015 Meet-up can be as, or maybe even more successful as this years was.

Look forward to seeing you at next years Meet-up, and hopefully have the
opportunity to share the trail with either of you again, anytime, it was fun.

Sparky & Shawn, sorry you guys could not make it, but hopefully you will have a
chance to attend next years Meet-up! I understand about work, I did not get
business at work finally cleared till Friday.

Vhsvhs, maybe you caught Oleander before she headed to Wrights on Friday
from Wales.