Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Don't Feed the... Rangers?

"You are going to laugh when you see what I pull out of this bear can..."

I glanced over at Betsy as we strolled above Chicken Springs Lake, headed across the sandy trail towards Rock Creek. After all, it was she and Jack who gave me the idea of hauling in a care package for my backcountry mountain family. Rob and Laura Pilewski have become dear friends, and I could think of no better way to spend my weekend than to pack into Rock Creek (where Laura is stationed now), which, for me, was uncharted territory.

Gee: a new area in the Sierra, accompanied by another great lady and friend (Betsy called me Friday night to see what trouble I was getting into this weekend and ask if she could tag along!), hauling all sorts of fresh goodies?

This was a no brainer.

The stars aligned, the weather was perfect, the views sublime, and we had the greatest luck in that both Laura and Rob were at Rock Creek for the night!! Betsy and Laura poured over botany books; Rob and I talked story and plans for the coming winter. We feasted on turkey tacos and guacamole, home-made brownie cookies for dessert. Huddling around their small table in the cabin, the only light from two small candles, we laughed into the night. As Betsy and I lay out our cloths and snuggled down in our bags, a huge flaming star ripped across the night sky.

In the morning, pancakes were paired with fresh berries, eggs cooked in the grease of crisping bacon. The creek gurgled by the cabin, and around 1100, Betsy and I finally trudged back up the trail. We looped all the way up and over New Army Pass, then out via the South Fork Lakes. As the last light faded, we rode the sand down from the stock yards to the waiting TOF, glad we didn't have to dig out my light from deep in one of the two bear cans in my pack.

Next time you see them, be sure to thank Rob, and all the other rangers, for the jobs they do.

And Jack, sorry about getting your wife home late last night...



















[img]http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/9496665125_0505872be5_z.jpg[/img]

Rest of the pics are here.

From the luckiest girl in the world:
Climb Hard. Be Safe.

-L

Oh yeah! Nice trail angel magic, Laura. Always enjoy your tales. Miss the antlers, though.

Isn't that a great view of the GW divide as you climb out from CS lake? I do believe the Kern plateau might provide the greatest vista (other than from a peak) of the entire range.

Also, very nice shot of Langley from Rock creek (pic #5). If you ever go that way again, you could angle towards Soldier, go up the back way to Langley, then come down the 'new' pass to lake #6.

Or, reversing the order, go up Langley, come down the back way, head through Miter, then hit Whitney via either Discovery or the JMT and exit for a burger.

It's sort of crazy to think some of the highest, most spectactular terrain is located so far south towards LA.

Thanks, guys! 50, the bigger antlers will always be around, I promise. Now, a little moose dangles from his harness on all my packs (bonus that he's orange!).

Snerf, the views that day were indeed spectacular, especially across into Mineral King and to the Kaweahs across the Chagoopa Plateau. Sadly, the one thing I couldn't really discern from there was the insane drop into the Kern Canyon, which is something I always love to see! I smiled to think that the Kern Hot Springs were just "right there" below us!

I've done the crossing from HM to WP: a few years ago, Sierragator, Hightinerary, and I day hiked over NAP, traversed to the switchers descending to Upper Solider Lake, then continued into Miter Basin in an effort to climb the Miter. We got turned around just a few hundred feet from the top by thunder, then decided to exit via Arc Pass. Ran into Ryan Bracci as he descended Irvine (he was camped with his dad at Consultation), then Gary (bulldog34) gave us a ride back to HM that night! It was a stunning day back there in some very pretty country.

It's hard to say that one area of the Sierra is "more" spectacular than the other, however, at least for me. To each his or her own, eh? I think the best part of it all is that no matter what we each consider to be the "most spectacular", every vista must be earned in some way.

-L

These guys were not rangers, but CCC workers - saw them recently on the JMT at Palisades Lakes - they are there from July 4 until Sept 20.

Feeding? Breaking rocks is a good way to burn Calories.

[img][IMG]http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6043/jrpc.jpg[/img] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

Interesting ROE in the backcountry for rangers and trail crew. Rangers do not get officially resupplied during the summer but the trail crews do - every couple weeks.

Three years ago planning to head out over Army Pass I ran into Rebecca - a member of the the trail crew working on the steep part of the trail below Soldier Lake. After interesting conversation about plans for a trail crew reality TV show (a long story with a big Hollywood Producer-supplied BS factor)I was informed that they had been resupplied the day before at their camp in Lower Rock Creek - and would I like to travel down for dinner and a beer? Hell, what's an additional 12 backcountry miles when beer is involved?

I did the miles - and was amazed at their camp and the provisions that were brought in the day before. Grilled pork chops (real - not freeze dried) booze, wine and beer!

Life was good, indeed.

Ha! Booger, sounds just like what we did for dinner on Saturday night, except that it was turkey tacos and guacamole. Rob even boiled up some beans and rice to go along and in the fresh tortillas.

I still maintain that the beer Ranger Cindy gave me at Roaring River in 2007 was the best I've ever had.

Laura,
I love to read your TR and love the great pictures. I will retire in 6 months , my bucket list is full of the hikes you have posted, they are beautiful !!! I will be in Tuolumne Meadows for 4 days this week, I do not think I will find anyone that will fix me that great breakfast you had. Eggs in Bacon grease, wow that sounds GOOD !!

THE SILENT HIKER

Wow, Laura! What lucky people to have you as a friend! If I succeed in making my 20th Whitney Summit for my 70th birthday next July 9, can you meet me at the top with a watermelon?? (Something I've always craved up there, except the few times it was blowin' & snowin').

We tried to get a pizza delivery on Whitney a few weeks ago, but didn't get our order in soon enough. I hear she's dying to deliver Chinese somewhere in the Sierra just for chuckles . . .

Memorable TR, as usual, Laura. You've been hauling a lot of food over the crest to other people lately - maybe it's time you were the recipient?

Silent Hiker: check out Tioga Pass Resort, just outside of the park over Tioga Pass. I know they have killer breakfasts (and dinners!!). That, and they finally made the switch from an all-cash outfit to accepting credit cards. YUM!!!

Randuf: hmmm... July 9 is a Wednesday next year. Wonder if I'll have a small enough BBQ by then... LOL

Gar-bear: yeah, I pretty much do this for the giggles. And the workout. And the sore back. And the sore ankle. And the knee if the weather is changing. And the views. And... And... And...

Why do you think I was considering a guided climb up north?? It would be nice indeed to have someone cook for me for once...

BBQ on the top of Whitney? I am SO THERE!!! Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll bring the potato salad!

Laura,

My wife and I stayed at the Tioga Pass Resort a few years ago, it is really beautiful. I plan my hikes around good food and free music. Good Medicine will be playing at the Mobil Station in Lee Vining on Sunday at 4. Fish tacos and a big beer is the plan.

THE SILENT HIKER

One of my favorite ways to while away a few hours in the later afternoon: a pitcher of mangoritas, my camp chair, and the live music at the Mobil. Have a great time!! I'll probably still be crawling around the back end of South Lake basin on Sunday with at least one Sierra Challenge buddie. Who knows: maybe I can convince him that a rest day is in order...

Nnnnaaaaahhhhhhh... ;-)

ummm, food for thought:

Most expeditions have some story about their food and attitudes to it vary from the haute cuisine
of some French expeditions to the blunt assertion of Tilman, the famous eccentric and explorer, that he did not mind as long as there was some.
Joe Tasker, Everest the Cruel Way page 158

A rich and varied diet is for people who have no work to do.
Roald Amundsen - First Man to the South Pole, first man to do the Northwest Passage AND the Northeast Passage, and much more.

Thanks, Harvey!! I love the second one, although I have to disagree. Good food is part of the work that HAS to be done!!

Laura,

I did the Mono Pass leg stretch last Sunday, the passes are really beautiful. The sign said I could get to Devils Postpile from there, is that true ? The best part of the hike is there is no one hiking back there. I had breakfast at Tioga Pass Resort the next day, you should of seen the look on the cooks face when I asked him if he would cook my eggs in the bacon grease.

THE SILENT HIKER