Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    CA Central Valley
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB!
    Tarp
    MacCat Deluxe
    Insulation
    JRB HR (2)
    Posts
    1,329

    Kaiser Peak Wilderness

    I set out last weekend to get a night in the BB and to lug a backpack up a peak. Later this year, I will be heading up to Donahue Pass (over 10,000 feet) and on down the JMT. As prep for this journey I went to Kaiser Peak Wilderness to do most of the 15 mile loop.


    We camped at Nellie Lake. There were two experienced backpackers, one semi-experienced packer, and one first timer. Mr. Somewhat Experienced showed up with a kid's tent, a 4 lb 40 degree bag, no pad, a propane stove with a huge four-five pound can of propane, stainless steel pot... He made it five miles to the lake and went back out to the cars to wait for us the next day.

    The rest of us went the whole way round to the second trailhead, where Mr. SE met us with the truck to ferry us back to the cars, which saved us a lot of boring walking through trees.

    The temps dropped to the mid-low thirties. We woke to frost everywhere. There were snow banks all around, and the lakes were full. Three of the guys were not prepared with those 40 degree bags - one was testing a Lafuma and pronounced it a summer bag. He had previously borrowed my ray way quilt and liked it quite a lot - he may be willing to pay me to sew him one. I was blissfully warm in my JRB Hudson Rivers, despite skepticism from Mr. OldTimer Backpacker with his Nemo bivy.

    Mr. SE did not sleep well and snored like a bear when he did manage some z's. First Timer slept like a rock - to be 20-ish and indestructible once more!

    We got up early, made breakfast, and hit the trail for a couple miles, then trudged ever upward to views like this:


    Snowmelt lake:


    One of us carried a mouse to this point from our campsite - he dug for his water filter and liberated the mouse a few miles from home. Hope it wasn't a single mother....

    From the top of the peak:


    In awe at the view of the Sierra Nevada from 9000 feet:


    The guys called it a brain stain trip. It was a blast. I got sore legs out of the deal, but I know now that I can make it over 10,000 feet with my full backpack including bear can. JMT, here I come.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    wherever the wind blows
    Hammock
    DIY gathered end
    Tarp
    Hammock Gear Cuben
    Insulation
    100% Hammock Gear
    Suspension
    Whoopie Sling
    Posts
    1,549
    Images
    26
    awesome trip report Lori. I am excited for you and you upcoming jaunt on the JMT! I got to get out west and see the "real" mountains again...LOL

  3. #3
    Senior Member Joz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Sweden
    Hammock
    WB RR
    Tarp
    WB Cloudburst
    Insulation
    DownMat 9
    Suspension
    Cinch buckles
    Posts
    382
    Images
    26
    That's what I call a view.
    - Tanstaafl.
    - Whoever said "No smoke without fire" never went camping.
    - It's just badass to have a yak.

  4. #4
    Senior Member drewboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Gold Canyon, AZ
    Hammock
    Warbonnet Traveler/Blackbird
    Tarp
    HMG Cuben
    Insulation
    CrowsNest & IX
    Suspension
    Whoopie sling
    Posts
    600
    Images
    109
    Wow, great scenery. Thanks for sharing. I'm getting excited about my own upcoming high country adventure next month.

  5. #5
    Senior Member animalcontrol's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Albany, NY
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB XLC 1.7, Traveler S1.7
    Tarp
    Cuben DIY
    Insulation
    Hammockgear
    Suspension
    whoopie slings
    Posts
    2,504
    Images
    101
    Great pics and trip report...
    with views like that, I'm sure a walk through the woods would seem 'boring'...WOW!
    "Every day is a new day to a better future"
    "Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done is not among them." ~ Mike Dooley
    "What if I told you that you couldn't have anymore of anything... No more friends, no more money, no more anything, until you first got happy with what you have?"~ Mike Dooley
    "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." ~ Socrates

  6. #6
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    Amazing photos. I really enjoyed your report.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  7. #7
    Senior Member SmokeHouse's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arkansas
    Hammock
    my 11' ers
    Tarp
    many of my tarps
    Insulation
    yeti, Incubators
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie
    Posts
    1,211
    Images
    49
    awesome scenery and report,,, thanks.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    CA Central Valley
    Hammock
    Warbonnet BB!
    Tarp
    MacCat Deluxe
    Insulation
    JRB HR (2)
    Posts
    1,329
    Thanks guys.

    The walk through the woods would have been painful, actually, by the time you hit that last mile you're ready to put wheels on the pack. 15 miles is a long way when 5 of them are up a steep mountain and 5 of them are down. The three miles to the top from our camp took us three hours - we got a little turned around in the snow for a bit.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Perkolady's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    NE GA
    Hammock
    diy
    Tarp
    diy 9x11
    Insulation
    JRB No Sniveller
    Suspension
    CBs + DCs
    Posts
    1,093
    Images
    29
    Wow, Lori! Spectacular scenery!

    After being in a heatwave here in GA for a while now, those temps sure sound nice!

    I'm glad things worked out ok for you. Have a wonderful JMT trek!

    Thanks for the trip report!

    Perkolady

  10. #10
    Senior Member Cannibal's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO
    Hammock
    Warbonnet ON!
    Tarp
    SuperFly or MacCat
    Insulation
    Yetis & Mambas
    Suspension
    Webbing and rings
    Posts
    13,605
    Images
    136
    Very nice pictures!
    I can relate with the sore legs from climbing big mountains! But, the views from the top seem to make all that pain go away don't they?
    Trust nobody!

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. FS: SNOW PEAK 900 Pot, 4Dog Stove Snow Peak 600 AND 700 Lids
      By tjayblues in forum [SOLD/WITHDRAWN] Items no longer available
      Replies: 5
      Last Post: 10-08-2014, 08:47
    2. Replies: 0
      Last Post: 07-04-2013, 23:10
    3. Hanging in the Norse Peak Wilderness
      By Trails in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 09-25-2011, 14:26
    4. Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA
      By enoorange in forum Trip Reports
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 09-17-2011, 08:45
    5. Replies: 5
      Last Post: 08-01-2011, 12:11

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •