July 25, 2011 Shepherd Pass to the car

A shout out to Jeff's favorite band, A7X, at Anval on way down. The meadow at timberline on way down off Shepherd Pass. Warren making his way down off Shepherd, trying to take aim at me with as big a rock as he can find. Warren at Shepherd Pass. Campground just outside of Independence where we had burgers after getting down and I spent Monday and Tuesday nights mending. Warren with Tyndall and the North Rib. Once again, Jeff's favorite music group. Beautiful sunrise on clouds over Williamson. Sunrise on Tyndall. Yours truly at Shepherd signpost. The smoke from the fire burning was having its effects on air quality in the late afternoons and evenings of the last few days. By the time we got to the Shepherd Pass area on Sunday afternoon/evening, it was pretty bad for being up in the Sierras. Warren had been noticeably effected by it yesterday, and had asked my feelings on passing on doing the climb of Williamson in the morning. I told him I was fine with whatever we did, being up there and the trip in general had been more than worth it so far, the peak was only icing on the cake. To be honest, by this time in the trip my foot was killing me and hurt like a bitch, so not doing the climb did not break my heart, The peak will always be there for another day. Warren had a bad time of it during Sunday night, coughing and hacking all night long. Monday morning dawned with some clouds over Williamson, which made for some really nice pics. We decided to pass on the climb, and I figured we didn't want to be heading down below Anval during the heat of the afternoon, so we came up with a timetable of leaving camp by about ten AM or so, to sort of stretch out the day. We got over to the pass and thankfully there wasn't that much snow to be dealt with. A relatively small but steep patch near the top and then maybe the bottom third of the slope above the moraine. All in all, more steep rocky stuff than snow to worry about. Once down off the pass proper, I think we sort of got a mental boost, as it was all trail from that point on, no hunting or searching for the easiest way off the hill. One foot in front of the other, and enjoy the view. Once down to Anval, we stopped for an extended break to pass some time for weather (heat down lower) considerations. Warren got out his stove and made up a huge amount of some of the tastiest quesadillas I have ever eaten. And as he was making them to help get rid of the food he had left, he made more and more of them. Damn they were good. After stuffing ourselves on those, we just hung out and rested up for a while, knowing what lay ahead for us with the steep ass downhill coming up. After leaving Anval, Mahogoney Flats took like what seemed forever before we reached it. Maybe it was just giving us a taste of what was to come , but it seemed like an hour at least from Anval down to the flats. The rest of the way down went as anyone that has been on that trail would imagine, long, steep, tiring, and mind numbing once you got on the switchbacks leading down to the stream. Sometime around 8 PM or so we finally got to the car, which meant burgers and beer were now only a matter of minutes away. We managed to find a nice place in town still open and serving what turned out to be one of the best bacon cheddar cheese burgers going. We took them and beer out to the campground out of town and consumed. And boy do I mean consumed. Warren ended up taking off for home sometime after ten and I managed to get me cot out and set up before passing out. Great time in the mountains along with great company. I was sorry Tim was unable to make it, but there will be other trips. And Williamson is still up there waiting.

July 24, 2011 Lake 12,400 to just under Mt. Tyndall

Sunday nights camp right under Tyndall with Williamson all red in background. Stream along trail side between John Muir Trail and Shepherd Pass. View below Forester Pass looking South before we headed off trail to Shepherd Pass area. This is listed on the map as a "swamp area" but due to this years snow amount, is now a lake. View looking West from Sunday nights camp showing all the smoke from the fire that got Warren not feeling too good. Very steep South Side of Forester Pass. Yours truly on top of Forester Pass. Last stretch heading up the North side of Forester Pass. Warren about a third of the way between Lake 12,400 and Forester Pass. Fantastic cascade a few miles below South side of Forester. Picture does not do justice. After spending Saturday night at a fantastic camp site at Lake 12,440 , where we enjoyed the best star gazing of the entire trip, we headed up over Forester Pass early Sunday morning. We were in MUCH better shape than the night before, and figured it shouldn't take all that long to hit the top. After gaining the ridge and hitting the slope that was entirely snow covered that lead over to the pass, we just kept pitting one foot in front of the other and made it in under 2 hours. Maybe even closer to an hour and a half, don't remember for sure. The view from the summit was as beautiful as expected, and we were lucky that smoke from the fire was not effecting the view that early in the day. Cool thing about the stretch from Lake 12,400 to the top of the pass were these really pretty purple flowers that grew in little gardens at different areas right along side of the trail. There would be none and then you would come upon groups of them all over the hill side for a short distance, and then they would be gone again, only to appear higher up the trail. Very cool. Once over the pass the trail dropped down the very steep wall, getting cut out of sheer up and down granite. We lost the trail when it reentered the snow, and had to do some dicey steps getting down some step, hard pack. We passed close to 2 guys we had seen go over the pass just before darkness the night before. Their tent was set up in an area that was hard to see how they got it to stay. Once we got a little lower and back on the trail, they passed us by, stopping to talk for a little while, telling us they had been out almost 3 weeks already, and headed over to Lake South America to do some fishing. Trippy guys, one stoner Brad Pitt wannabe and one nice guy. Actually they were both nice, just suffering from being out for too long with out seeing lots of people. We also got passed by a group of 3 Muir Trail hikers. They were a mix of unusual if there ever was one. Anyway, a couple miles down the trail we came upon this really cool cascade coming down the hillside that was one of the highlights of the trip. It was maybe a couple hundred feet high and Warren said it it had been located in Orange County, there would have been a park built around it. Took some pics, but of course they did not do it justice. Do not know why, but didn't think of videoing it. We spent a good hour or so taking a break nest to it before heading on. Not much later we decided to save some miles and elevation loss and gain by heading cross country East towards Shepherd Pass. Was a good thing we did. Saved lots of time and energy, plus we saw lots to country we would have missed by staying to the trail. After regaining the trail coming down from Shepherd, we headed up to just under Tyndall looking for a camp site. By this time the smoke was very heavy and Warren was not feeling well at all. The view to the West reminded me of smoggy Los Angeles back when I was in elementry school. Guess it was effecting his breathing just like an old fashion smog attack. After searching around for a site to spend the night that was both flat enough and close to water, we finally agreed on one and got setup for the evening. Warren was really feeling bad by this time and I don't think he even had anything to eat for dinner. Watched some stars as it got dark, but mainly went to sleep earlier than last night. Long day, very tiring .

July 23, 2011 Vidette Meadows to just under Forester Pass

Warren taking a snooze while I have lunch. Bear box located just up canyon from our Vidette Meadows camp. Looking back down towards Vidette from just below 11,000 feet or so. Close to same spot except looking up canyon. First nights camp spot next to Bubb's Creek. Way over 11,000 feet under Forester Pass. Looking back down towards Vidette. Warren just below Lake 12,400 with 3 guys coming off of Forester Pass. Forester Peak, right above Saturday's bivy spot at Lake 12,400 View of the pass from Lake 12,400 Nice cascade across from lunch stop. Saturday morning started out with a visit from the back country rangerette. When she pulled up my first thought was she was going to bust us for A)camping too close to the trail, and B) camping too close to the water. Lucky us, she never mentioned either one of those. She chatted for a while, asking if we had seen the "blonde" bear she had been hearing reports about. Told her that we had seen it the night before. After checking our permit, she was on her way and not long after, so were we. The trail wound its way up Bubbs Creek, heading for the junction with Center Basin. As we were hiking by, we kept an eye out for the supposed trail heading into it, but neither I nor Warren ever saw one. Looked like Center Basin would be a great place to go into, with some nice looking peaks for climbing. After the trail got into the upper reaches of the canyon which Forester Pass sits at the head of, it was harder to follow because of the snow. The hiking, while off trail, wasn't too bad. Not a consistent pace like on a trail, but easier than most cross country boulder hopping can be at times. Seeing how we were not positive of the exact location the trail should be taking, we guessed at times and more often than not, Warren would soon find a melted out section of it. After debating which lake we were looking at matched up with which lake on the map, we finally found the one at 12, 400 feet. Not that it was hard to judge, but the ones below it left us guessing. After scouting around, we ended up at two platforms next to the trail and the outlet of the lake. Seeing how we had gotten there with me as much of a whipped puppy as I could be, stopping for the evening was not much of a discussion. Warren had wanted to push over the pass, but I just didn't have it in me. After dinner we were treated to some whiskey, brandy, and one of the best nights for star gazing I have ever had the pleasure to witness. The Milky Way was fantastic. Almost seemed unreal it was so bright. Made going to sleep something I almost didn't want to do. Great day all around.

July 22, 2011 Onion Valley to Vidette Meadows

Shepherd Pass trail head, where we left Warren's truck for the ride back to Onion Valley Right at the beginning of the trail up Kearsarge Pass. One of the lower lakes on the East side of Kearsarge Pass. Tim thinking about things a couple miles up the trail towards the pass. View looking West from the top of Kearsarge Pass with Bullfrog Lake the furthest one out.

Yours truly on top of Kearsarge.

Warren as usual was first one on top, Kearsarge

Pass.

This sloping meadow with the stream running

through it was just to damn nice to pass up.

Bullfrog Lake with fantastic ridge in background

Junction of Kearsarge Pass trail with the

John Muir trail.

Below Bullfrog Lake heading down into Vidette

Meadow. That is East Vidette Peak. What a wall.

This was the one view I remembered the most

from having done this hike almost 35 years ago.

Center Peak, with Center basin on the left and

the one we were headed for on the right.

Five minutes after putting our packs down we

discovered we had invaded someone elses house.

Well, the 21st finally got here and I headed up to Independence late Thursday to meet up with Tim and Warren. Was able to call ahead and have the permit put outside for pick up after hours at the ranger station in Lone Pine. After running up to Whitney Portal to buy a bivy and have a burger, I met up With T & W in Independence. We got some beers and headed up to Onion Valley to spend the night as high in elevation as possible. What a night for stars and the Milky Way. Campground was fairly full, but we found a site right where we needed it to be and crashed sort of early. Friday morning found me being the last one ready as always, but being in no hurry, I enjoyed being where I was. Followed Warren over to the Shepherd Pass trail head and left his truck. Met a guy and girl that were heading up to do Williamson. They were from Quebec, Canada. Nice people and hope the made it. After getting back to Tim up at O.V., we took off. The hike wasn't too bad, but could feel being so way out of shape. Figured I was in the first hours of a 5 day trip, so just took it easy. We had agreed to a rest stop after hiking every hour, only Warren was going a lot farther in that hour than Tim and I were. LOL Oh well, we managed to meet up for our breaks, and were enjoying it so far, at least I thought so anyway. Turns out Tim's knee, which he had hurt riding his bike weeks earlier, was giving him problems enough that he was worried about going on. We were just getting into snow covered trail when he decides that the smart thing to do is go back down and take it easy on the knee. As it turns out later in the hike, it was the right call. So Tim heads back down, Warren and I keep heading up to the pass. We were running into patches of snow, but nothing to worry about. Once up high enough, we could see the trail was snow free to the top. Reaching the top, we are 2 of about 10 people milling around. Some are there just on day hikes preparing for Whitney hikes over the weekend, and some are heading up the Muir Trail to Charlotte Lake. We head down and take the lower trail towards Bullfrog Lake. We hike through an area that had obviously been hit hard the past winter with avalanches, with uprooted trees everywhere. Wow. We make Bullfrog, and the skeeters are starting to come out. Stop for bug stuff and keep on heading down towards Vidette. We were starting to eye any and every flat spot that had water near by, as both Warren and I were very tired for the first day out, but we kept going as we could easily see the bottom of the meadow was not far from us. We hit canyon bottom and head South for just a little while until we find the perfect spot next to a very nice flowing Bubbs Creek. More like a river really. We get shelter set up and have a meeting with BooBoo, but all else goes well for the evening. Slept well as was nice warm night out and tired enough not to care.

July 16-17, 2011 Trains and Overnight at Cajon Pass

Sunday morning up by freeway crossing Same place Sunday morning

Back at Sullivan's Curve where we spent the night

Southbound, Sullivan's Curve

Northbound at S. C.

South headed consist, S. C.

Shooting the gap, Sullivan's Curve.

Jim jumped in front of this to get the shot shown here. (Only kidding. Engine

was on rear of North bound train.)

Colors flying Saturday night, Sullivan's Curve.

Chuck's shot Saturday afternoon at Sullivan's

Jason was in need of some new video, so I arraigned with Jim to spend a Saturday night up at Sullivan's Curve in Cajon Pass watching trains. Chuck was not interested in spending the night , but did come up for that afternoon and some evening picture taking. The four of us sat around watching, taking pictures of, and talking trains all afternoon and evening. Was rather pleasant out weather wise, and actually got cool once the sun went down. chuck took off about 10:30 PM for home, and we all hit the sack not much after that. Sunday morning we got up and shot more pics and videos, and then headed up the pass to a place that I can't remember the name of, but it was near the freeway and we got rousted by the Forest Service. They were actually quite nice after explaining why and what they were on the look out for. All in all, a good night spent out and Jason, Jim, and I all got plenty of good train pics.