Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Wildflower hike and ?

Doug -

For the early bird types - should we meet at the Hostel, say 5:15ish - to arrange carpooling so we'll have transportation back to the Road Closed sign later that afternoon to pick up vehicles?

Hi That sounds like a better ideal Thanks Doug

Doug -

See you at the Hostel at 5:15AM.

Kevin

A preview...























The rest of the photos.

Not sure if this is too soon to start a pot-luck food list, but since I am a terrible cook with a huge sweet tooth, I'll bring a dessert,

Right now I'm thinking a tres leches cake,

I'm coming up Thursday evening to go to Death Valley on Friday. That will make it hard for me to bring something home made for the potluck. I'm assuming I can get something in L.P. to contribute to the table - a BBQ chicken or a 6-pack or two. OK?

If anyone else wants to go to D.V. with me that would be fine. I'll leave early Friday morning from the hostel.

Burt

Doug -

Is this hike still on? If so, will be driving up in the wee hours, and have a friend driving over from Tehachapi.

Thanks.

Kevin

Hi Burt is here and I drove to the slide area tonight and checked if the flowers are out thge belly flowers are out and several others . Will see you at the Hostel 5:15 am, and then anyone wanting to do the section from the road closed sign into town we will meet at 10:am by the Road Closed sign. Thanks Doug

Thanks, Doug. See you Saturday morning.

Well, I may just walk up with you guys. I was planning my typical 5am at McD's, but I can just grab it to go and then meet you up at the slide.

Hi Richard we may still be at the Hostel so check first. Thanks Doug

Roger that.

With high winds expected, the photography won't be very good, so I may do the whole hike with you guys. I don't think I want to deal with the cold and wind up high on Whitney tomorrow. Sunday looks like a better day.

Hi Quick update the first wave of the Flower folks are staging, we need the head start to meet the rest of the group at 10 AM,At the Road Closd sign . Another note someone said a loader was heading up the Portal Road so the County may start clearing next week ???? Thanks Doug

Flower folks?

If you're going
to San Francisco...

Let's see if I can get this straight...

Doug Sr.
Me
KevinR
Dave
Katy(i) (Dave's daughter)
(I'm drawing a blank on the Golden's name. Not Malcomb.)
Burt
John

Kristine stoped by while we were having pizza at the hostel and delivered a delicious Peach Pie.


I wish I had carried the big camera. The wind was blowing, but it wasn't stiff enough to blow all the shots. We saw lots of interesting flowers.

As I said when we did this a couple of months ago, don't underestimate the difficulty of this hike. It's seems like it should be easy because it's downhill, but there are enough rollers to make it hard.











Photos.

Am quite sure her name is Casey. Sweet-tempered dog, too.

Hi To copy Mike , we did 15 miles , thousands of vertical feet (6000' or more down hill),had several lunch breaks, forged many dry rivers, encountered sheer drops (was lost), Katie had to carry Casey down into the snake filled void and when she could see light at the end passed Casey down and out a small opening of broken rock.


John the person that thought up the senior hike had a chance to meet several that plan to join the hike in June .

It was a contest when we found the first flower .What is it? Its yellow next flower was kinda lite blue, We learned all the flowers yesterday. Burt said he had many flower walks with the love of his life but he was always looking for birds . I think of the group Burt was the flower expert but out of respect with held using words we would not know.

Did I mention all the small towns in Vermont, John and Kevin were from back east and shared with the group all the climbs done back east , first person we meet in the Parking lot yup another hiker from Vermont heading for the mountaineer's route.

Richards photo of the car parked near the Meysan trail head might of been a photo trick ,we could not find tracks in the snow and anyway how could it get over that massive avalancher,later we talked with a small group from Texas and they had carried the SUV up so they could watch the USC game.

Dave and I kept thinking the snow hike was easier, but this trip we took many roads not traveled and I thought that is the treat of the Hills with the expanse and view of the Inyo Mountains in the forground as a reference you can drift down into the canyons and climb onto the ridges and always see the way home.

Oh I forgot Mike we did it in 9 hours 27 minutes, Would of started at 6 : but you know your buddy HE had to eat his MC D DELI DELIGHT. I don't know how but on the second lunch stop out comes another one How does he get them or where?

Well we did talk over guns and water filters and other lite chats to pass the time , this worked very well at those rare times when we were lost looking for a way to bypass the lower end of the trail near town , also everyone was tired and the threat of violence was reduced.

On the way down from the Portal we had a chance to meet Brent heading up and many board members doing the Mountaineer's route and one group heading for the Main Trail I hope that group posts a trip report.

I like these hikes!!!! Last night I thought each person has a hike near home please post a trip I am sure many of us would join you. Thanks Doug

Great report Doug! Can't wait for the photos. There are many hikes down this way. Most great in spring time as summer they can get hot (unless you go early morning). In the Santa Monicas is Boney Mountain (and a vast assortment of trails), Mishe Mokwa Trail (one of my favorites, which includes Sandstone Peak, highest point in the Santa Monicas, Inspriration Point with breathtaking ocean views, and an assortment of Balancing Rocks, Tri-Peaks, walk-through rocks, etc.). And the local Wildwood canyon, Chumash and Hummingbird trails. Lots of stuff to explore.

Of all of these listed, the Mishe Mokwa is probably the most adventurous (about 7 mile loop) and you have the option of ending the trip with a short drive down to Neptune's Net at the beach (right at the Ventura County line). Great fish and clam chowder place.

Thanks Doug Sr., Had a great time Saturday on the Wildflower Hike. Introduced my daughter Katie to the Whitney World, and the Thompson Trail, and she did really well, and hope she is still looking forward to a summit attempt later this summer. Also introduced my other golden doggie, Casey, to the Thompson Trail, and she definitely earned her double cheeseburgerS! Looking forward to more hikes like this.


Here are my pics.

Will add Katie's pics once she returns from Riverside.

LOL.