Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board January 23, 2010 Group Hike Thru The Alabama Hills

PMs sent re: carpool

I have a huge sweet tooth, so I'll bring a dessert! Might be Costco cheesecake (gotta love Costco!), might be homemade chocolate cake (if work doesn't get in the way),

Hubby won't be joining us on the hike... May show up at the potluck afterwards to meet everyone!

I've lost track... so I'll just say there will be a LOT of us.

Glad this is turning into a major event!

Has a meeting time/place been established?

Hi Lets meet at the Hostel, center of town at 9 AM and carpool up to the Lone Pine Campground area . I think we can leave a car about the halfway point in the hike with drinks snacks and drop off extra gear.

I have talked with Miles, a local climber and he will track down Tim Standing to see if he could be in the Hills Sunday, Tim has put up the major portion of the better climbing routes in the area and is a very easy going guy. Thanks Doug




I forget to say this is a mountain bike trail as well , I printed some maps so if anyone wants a long ride this trail ties to the vast road/trail system in the hills , say from Lone Pine to Oregon North and back to LA south

Most of you don't know me, cause I just lurk around here most of the time, but it looks as though I will be able to make it too. Will be looking forward to putting some faces with names.

Is this trail pet friendly?

Dave

Hi Dave , Earlene would walk our dogs more in the Alabams than the Portal less people and pine sap. The trail is fine with dogs Thanks Doug

Dogs...how cool is that, if we have some doggies along ...

Hi Doug
I sent you a PM regarding my boyfriend Curt and I joining the hike if there's room. We would fall into the category of
"out of shape rookies to winter hiking".

Is there anything specific that you need for the potluck?
Just let me know.
Thanks again,
Stacy

whispers
"come to the hike Stacy"
"come to the hiiiiiiike"

Hi Stacy and Kurt The hike should be fun and is down hill with the option of one short uphill . Potluck just bring what you like See you on the 23 Thanks Doug

Hey Richard, Jeff Scofield here.
I assume you and Mike will be climbing on Sunday? If I commit I have a shoes and harness but that's it. Can I use any gear like rope, etc if you guys do climb on Sunday? Thanks Richard hopefully it works out that I can go. Take care.

Jeff S

Thanks Doug-
I'm sure it will be a blast. Can't wait to meet everyone.
Have the gear requirements changed with the current weather?
Are snowshoes, ice axe, micro spikes or crampons still going to be needed? (We bought everything except crampons)

Hey Carole - hope you have fun in Yosemite...<jealous! ;)>

Hi If we do not get another storm we could drive to the Portal Campground and start the hike and drop the extra gear at Lone Pine Campground as we pass by this would add a short section of snow. Mike, Richard and I did it last week Mike posted some pictures and I think Richard has some also . We would start at the Meysan parking area and join the trail , so the stream crossing would not be a problem .Thanks Doug

After my "treatment" of Mike on Saturday, I don't know that he'll ever rock climb with me again.

It sounds like the plan is to hike on Saturday and rock climb on Sunday, so I'll have what little gear I have with me. If we can get Doug to let the cook (Nick) come out, and if Tim Standing joins us, it will be a really fun time.

Both Mike and I have plenty of photos of what the road / Portal / NRT looks like over the past few weeks. The snow has been melting fast, but I'm hearing there may be storms this week?

Good morning Doug -
Looks like the conditions might be changing a little bit up there. We might need the new snowshoes afterall
Please keep us posted...
Thanks,
Stacy

ps would anyone object to spinach dip, crackers, chips, & salsa for the potluck?

YES I object. Mainly since I am in Colorado and can't be with
the group. That is my favorite dip & I hate to miss out on the
fun.

CMC - Well, I could mail you some...?!?!?

This will be my first group hike & winter hike and I'm excited about finally meeting some of the regulars!!! Sorry you won't be there, maybe next time. (I will make spinach dip just for you!)
Take Care,
Stacy

Which allows me to remind people that I suggested that we have our usually late-season hike/climb earlier in the season at a time when people have summer vacation. Lone Pine Peak and Candlelight come to mind .....

See: http://www.whitneyportalstore.com/forum/...=true#Post69613

Hi Richard,

I thought the reason that the group hikes were scheduled later had to do with the large number of permits needed & the difficulty obstaining them during the high season? (I STILL don't have the system down as to whether the daily quota for Whitney includes all of the other peaks, too, so that if you want to do Thor, Candlelight, etc., in the high season, do you have to wait around for openings freed up by the Whitney hikers that do not show up, or do permit issuers leave a certain amount set aside on a daily basis for the other peaks?..sorry...so lame...it's been discussed so much..still don't have it straight!)