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I don't like the heat down low, so an early start is preferred. MC, are you an early riser? Only for alpine starts...  I don't sleep much on climbs so I depend on a second wind. These days, a third wind would be nice.
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I am still aiming on being there. Put me in the slow group - as it's the first BIG hike of the year for me!
A few Q's: 1/ 4 or 3 season tent required? (I guess it depends on forecast though) 2/ Itinerary - start times etc. 3/ Anyone want to car pool - either long distance or from L.P. up to trail head. I am coming from Santa Barbara via 101/126/14/395 and have 4x4.
Regards, Nick.
"You gotta get up to get down"
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1. I don't own a 4-season tent and I've never had a problem with a properly guyed 3-season tent back in the days when I used to camp out in the Sierra in Winter.
2. Still haven't discussed this with M.C., but I'd like to eat at McDonald's as close to 5am as possible on Friday and start walking the road by 6:30am. (Side Note: My new favorite food for later in the day is the McSkillet Burrito. Took that crown from the McGriddle late last year.)
3. For the sake of our fellow climbers, I think we should at least carpool up Whitney Portal Road.
Side Note II: I'm thinking all of the really cool people are going to be climbing in the "slow" group.
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(Side Note: My new favorite food for later in the day is the McSkillet Burrito. Took that crown from the McGriddle late last year.). HA! That is our mandatory breakfast of champions for entrance day on our Yosemite backpack trips! B
The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
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McD's Um Um Can't say anything nice so will be silent. Just know that I am squirming 
Get up! Get moving! That is when life begins.
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Hi everyone, I am a friend of MC and have been following this thread. If it is OK, I would like to join the climb on the 16th. I live in Colorado. You can check me out at my site at www.alanarnette.comI am almost finished with the Colorado 14ers and would like to work on some California 14ers this summer. The idea of climbing the MR with such a team sounds like a blast. Thanks for your consideration. Alan
Climb On! Alan
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When MC mentioned that you'd be coming, I was thinking I know you from somewhere. (Don't know that it's not just because I've read some of your writing.)
Someone with your experience will be a great addition. Looking forward to it.
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This time of year the conditions usually don't include ice. It is snow of varying degrees of firmness. There are a couple parts of the route that can be prone to avalanches. It's definitely worth wearing transceivers plus bringing probes and shovels. Another plug for Kurt: http://www.sierramountaineering.com/rentals.htmlDon't know that you'd be able to find me (without training), but at least I'd be able to find you... (insert smiley here) If anybody feels the need to carry a bacon, I'll bring the extra weight along. BTW: If you're only going up to the camping at the Frog Pond, poles and some type of traction device for your boots will probably do.... (The boot track is deep.) Crampons would be safer. If you're going up to Iceberg Lake, an axe and crampons become necessary... If you're going up the the Notch, most would advise bringing a helmet... If you're going for the summmit, bring your courage (and common sense) along too... (Mike said it wasn't quite as tough as last April, but since last April was some of the toughest conditions I've ever seen up there, the pucker factor may be pretty high.)
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Thanks Richard, looking forward to climbing with you and the rest.
Climb On! Alan
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Just a quick question if you don't mind. After Whitney, I was thinking of another 14er in the area. Is the approach to Muir, Russell or Langley accessible in late April?
I know they are all rated as year-round climbs but without a lot of traffic, I would imagine it would be long slog with a lot of trail breaking. In any event, any suggestions for a second climb for me?
Thanks,
Alan
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Thor Peak.
We can do the Smiley Face Route up from where we're going to camp. It will be a bit of a challenge because of the nature of the terrain (a lot of boulder hopping in summer) being up, down the smile and up the other side of the smile. The view are fantastic!
Bob Pickering did an one-day triple of Whitney/Muir/Russell last spring. It is a long slog to Muir unless the wind has scoured the crest. He can chime in with details about how difficult it was.
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quick confirmation that I will be on the climb. Just booked my flights. Thanks for letting me join in. I am thinking of Mt. Russel on Sunday.
Climb On! Alan
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I am going to have to take myself off of my own climb! As some of you know, Dave and I started building a new house last fall. Permits were delayed several months so the project started much later than planned. We are doing a lot of the work ourselves (cost effective); next scope of work for Dave and me will be rough-in for electrical and spray foam insulation. This should have been done before the climb (even with the permit delay) but our framers put us behind schedule about 3 weeks. We can't delay our scope of work as we now have a small window before the sheet rock guys have to start. Weekends are pretty much dedicated to the house. My first post on this thread said the dates of April 16th - 18th were tentative but as soon as everyone jumped on board, I knew the dates were set in stone. You guys will have a blast; I'm so disappointed I won't be joining. Like I just told Richard in an e-mail... At least I replaced myself with a 'first round draft pick'.  Alan will be a perfect addition to the 'team'.
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That loud, sad, depressed moaning noise you hear is all the people going on this hike hearing that MC is not.... :-(
Ron harvest.org
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Absolutely right M C. The rest can check out Alan's impressive resume above by looking at his 25/03/10 post of 5:30pm & clicking on his site.
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Sorry you won't be able to make it MC.
I'll probably just end up doing day-climbs up and down that weekend. I just can't seem to find the motivation to put a heavy pack on my back. M.C. not being able to make it just gives me one more excuse to avoid it again.
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McD's Um Um Can't say anything nice so will be silent. Just know that I am squirming Walked by the Alabama Hills Cafe today. They open a 6:00am on weekdays. Would this be acceptable?
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I'm guessing that we'll probabaly be able to park at the Meysan Lakes Trailhead area (unless the Road Crews block the road for their work, which is a distinct possiblity), or higher. I'm going to stick by this quote... A Forerunner with chains on all four wheels made it over the avalache debris this morning and parked at the Meysan Lakes Trailhead.
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MC
That is too bad you are having to bail on this one. I am looking forward to meeting you when you do make down this way. Good luck on the house.
Jim
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=name&id=1477964166
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MC,
Ditto what Jim (sierragator) said. Home improvements are always time consuming but at the end it's so nice! Best of luck.
James
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