After checking ice conditions for the last three weeks we were finally rewarded .  Since the search began I have hiked over forty miles, cross country skied, don’t tell my snowmobile friends, and driven well over a hundred miles.

We recently had snow just after a long warm spell so I knew the ice would be happening very soon.  After the storm it got really cold but also closed all the access roads that were stuffed with 12 to 18 inches of snow.  The snowshoes came out of the closet and I was walking if I had to.  With lows in the teens for three straight nights, I know there is ice out there somewhere.  The only problem was on that third night another small system came through dropping 2 to 4 inches of snow.  This would inevitably ruin whatever ice had formed.  None the less I was still going on the hunt.

For a few days I searced the local, lower lakes and had no luck.  As the temps rose a bit and I took a break from skiing, the resort opened last Thursday, I began to start gaining elevation to check out the high alpine lakes.  Anything that froze after the first storm was doomed by the second storm.  Fortunately the second system came in with lots of wind and broke up the lakes that had thin ice.  The temperature in town was in the mid fifities during the day but was dropping into the twenties at night.  Last Saturday I grabbed some cross country skis and headed into the high country.  This was my first time on the skis and let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. It is also pretty damn fun, great exercise, and an easy mode of travel across snow covered terrain. An hour of skiing eventually led me into the Lakes Basin to find all the big lakes still open water and the smaller lakes either too thin or affected by snow.

The search for ice was really getting me down.  Usually there is a lake frozen by the beginning of November but this early storm really limited access.  Then it happened.  Tuesday night at work I got a phone call form a friend who said two fiends were skating up in Rock Creek Canyon.  I organized a posse and we were off at 8am with sticks and skates hanging off the backpacks.  We made the nine mile drive up the windy canyon road and had to park way before the normal summer trailhead.  The USFS closed the road by the horse corrals just above Rock Creek Lake.  This added a little under a mile to the hike but we still made it in an hour and ten minutes.  Total hiking was 7 miles round trip and 975′ in elevation gain.  Long Lake is located just under 10,600 feet above sea level making it pretty tough playing three on three hockey.  There were a few other local heads out there skating and enjoying the scenery.  Here’s a few pictures.

Hiking up the trail

This lake was affected by this past weeks lame snow.

One we got to Long Lake the ice didn’t look too good.

as you walked around the corner the goods appear.

perfect ice

gearing up for a little shinny

did I mention the perfect black ice?

Playing some hockey.  This is our only option this year since the town isn’t putting up the rink.  It’s really fun but I am going to miss playing with boards.  To satisfy our urge six of us are entering the US pond Hockey Championships in Minneapolis, MN.  Check it out here:

http://www.uspondhockey.com

snacking in between periods.

We beat it up pretty good but there is so much ice you could never track it all up.

It was a great day and sadly will be that last high country skating of the year.  We are expecting 2-4 feet of snow this weekend locking the high country in full winter mode.  As bummed as I am, I am also happy that we’ll now be able to ski the hell out of it.  The lower lakes shouls be freezing real soon after this storm with the sun getting lower in the sky.  Love the chaging of the seasons.  There is always something fun to do no matter what time of year.

We recently had snow just after a long warm spell so I knew the ice would be happening very soon.  After the storm it got really cold but also closed all the access roads that were stuffed with 12 to 18 inches of snow.  The snowshoes came out of the closet and I was walking if I had to.  With lows in the teens for three straight nights, I know there is ice out there somewhere.  The only problem was on that third night another small system came through dropping 2 to 4 inches of snow.  This would inevitably ruin whatever ice had formed.  None the less I was still going on the hunt. 

For a few days I searced the local, lower lakes and had no luck.  As the temps rose a bit and I took a break from skiing, the resort opened last Thursday, I began to start gaining elevation to check out the high alpine lakes.  Anything that froze after the first storm was doomed by the second storm.  Fortunately the second system came in with lots of wind and broke up the lakes that had thin ice.  The temperature in town was in the mid fifities during the day but was dropping into the twenties at night.  Last Saturday I grabbed some cross country skis and headed into the high country.  This was my first time on the skis and let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. It is also pretty damn fun, great exercise, and an easy mode of travel across snow covered terrain. An hour of skiing eventually led me into the Lakes Basin to find all the big lakes still open water and the smaller lakes either too thin or affected by snow. 

The search for ice was really getting me down.  Usually there is a lake frozen by the beginning of November but this early storm really limited access.  Then it happened.  Tuesday night at work I got a phone call form a friend who said two fiends were skating up in Rock Creek Canyon.  I organized a posse and we were off at 8am with sticks and skates hanging off the backpacks.  We made the nine mile drive up the windy canyon road and had to park way before the normal summer trailhead.  The USFS closed the road by the horse corrals just above Rock Creek Lake.  This added a little under a mile to the hike but we still made it in an hour and ten minutes.  Total hiking was 7 miles round trip and 975′ in elevation gain.  Long Lake is located just under 10,600 feet above sea level making it pretty tough playing three on three hockey.  There were a few other local heads out there skating and enjoying the scenery.  Here’s a few pictures. 

Hiking up the trail

This lake was affected by this past weeks lame snow. 

One we got to Long Lake the ice didn’t look too good. 

as you walked around the corner the goods appear.

perfect ice

gearing up for a little shinny

did I mention the perfect black ice?

Playing some hockey.  This is our only option this year since the town isn’t putting up the rink.  It’s really fun but I am going to miss playing with boards.  To satisfy our urge six of us are entering the US pond Hockey Championships in Minneapolis, MN.  Check it out here.  [url]http://www.uspondhockey.com[/url]

snacking in between periods.

We beat it up pretty good but there is so much ice you could never track it all up. 

It was a great day and sadly will be that last high country skating of the year.  We are expecting 2-4 feet of snow this weekend locking the high country in full winter mode.  As bummed as I am, I am also happy that we’ll now be able to ski the hell out of it.  The lower lakes shouls be freezing real soon after this storm with the sun getting lower in the sky.  Love the chaging of the seasons.  There is always something fun to do no matter what time of year. 

bv MammothFlyer

It’s been a crazy, yet typical week in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We had a late start to summer because of all the snow in the high country and it all seemed to end quickly when we received our first dusting of snow the first week in September. Lucky for me I was down in Southern California watching the Phillies dismantle the Padres and lose one to the Dodgers. Once we got back to town it warmed up considerably and September was downright hot. Not hot like Eat coast or Florida but it got into the low 80′s which is hot out here. Before you get on my case about hot you have to realize that we are 8000 feet closer to the sun than you are. 80 is hot for here.

Everything changes last weekend when a low pressure system pushed through. It was damp and cold all weekend and began to snow Monday night. It continued to snow through Tuesday dropping a few inches in town and 4-6 inches in the upper elevations. Being stuck in the house for a few days I took off as soon as I saw some sunshine. That would be short lived and the day would remained partly cloudy with some snow showers for the majority of time. Seeing all the snow in the high country and having a rip planned for the weekend I wanted to go see how much snow fell at 10,800 feet. I started my walk around 10:30 am giving me enough time to get back to watch the Phillies game at 2pm.

Wednesday 10/06/10

There was a bit more snow than I expected at the trail-head.

Walking up the trail the snow got deeper and deeper which made for some really nice scenery.

Continuing up the trail you can see the snow was over my boot tops. I considered not bringing my gaitors on the trip but I am glad I did.

The trail to Duck Pass is a major jump off point for hikers, backpackers, and horseman heading into the back-country. A week ago this trail would have been hot, dusty, and covered in horse crap, not today.

A blanket of snow, some fall colors, a clouds covering the mountains. It really is nice this time of year.

A few hours later I hit the pass and was rewarded with and amazing view of the Lake decorated in winter attire. There was four to six inches of snow up here with eight inches in wind blown areas.

Here’s a shot looking down the valley where I started. The big mountain in the center is the local ski resort looking ready to go. It’s not but it sure does look nice.

While walking back to the car it began to get windy and started to snow.

After walking for three and a half hours I made it back to the car, cranked the heat, and went home to watch the Phillies. I’m glad I decided to record it because walking through all the snow added a half hour to the trip.

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, 10/10/10. I couldn’t go backpacking this weekend because one of my employees had a family emergency and had to leave town. I had no other choice but to work Friday and Saturday. Flux is a trooper and went with another friend back into the wilderness braving the snow but had really nice weather. I’m sure he’ll post a trip report soon. Back to Sunday. The Phillies and Eagles both play late games so My wife, youngest son, and I took the canoe up to the lakes basin for a paddle and some fishing. It was a beautiful day with calm winds and around 60 degrees.

I hooked a fish and let my six year old reel him in. Look at the bend in the rod.

He was pretty stoked. Note: He is not a Sox fan. That was his Little League team.

I caught another one a few minutes later and he was every bit as excited to net it rather than reel it in.

Someone forgot to pinch the barb. Oops.

It was quite the peaceful day on the lake.

After a few hours of fishing and canoeing he got board and just wanted to throw rocks in the water.

It really turned out to be a nice weekend after the snow during the week, which is pretty common for this time of year.

10/12/10 Six days after the snowfall.

Most of the snow has melted int eh lower elevations and the sun was shining bright. I had to stay home Monday because the youngest was home from school with a cold. I’m sure he could have gone but my wife decided to keep him so as not to spread it around. Sitting at home all the previous day I was anxious to get out on Tuesday. The original plan was too go mountain biking but my friend couldn’t go (same cold as my kid) and I didn’t want to go by myself. Plans change and I decided to go fishing instead. The question was where to go? Since it was just before noon I didn’t want to drive down the highway to the Hot Creek or the River so I stayed local and hit up Sherwin Creek.

This creek runs out of the mountains south of town and eventually meets up with the larger Mammoth Creek a few miles down the road. Sherwin Creek flows year round but slows as the snow melts but keeps a consistent flow throughout the fall. I’ve never fished here before because it is really tight and the only good holes are in and around the campground. The campground has been closed for over a month so I gave it a shot. Did I mention how tight it was?

I fished this small pool and caught an eight inch fish on the second cast and was pretty stoked. I released the fish and went back for more. I through my grasshopper into the current and something larger flashed and grabbed it. This one felt a little bigger and I was pretty excited to get it in for a look. It was a nice twelve inch rainbow.

Hoping I didn’t spook the fish I went back for a few more casts. Soon after releasing the last fish I nailed this beauty measuring 17 inches. What a fight this one put up. It kept going up stream then would downstream. All the time jumping out of the water trying to spit the hook. At one point it lodged itself in some rocks and I had to walk in the water to get it out. The fight may have only lasted a few minutes but it seemed a lot longer for some reason. This is one of the better fish I have caught this year and in one of the most unsuspected areas.

I did mention how tight the stream was, didn’t I?

The Aspens are beginning to change around town.

What a difference a week makes.

- MF

Backpacking Trip Report

9/21/10 – 9/23/10

Rock Creek Lake to Hilton Lakes.

My friend and I had a few days off so we decided to head into the backcountry for a little R&R and fishing.  The plan was to go to the Hilton Lakes area because it’s only five miles in, low in elevation (campfires permitted), and not much elevation gain, 800 feet.  This area is mainly accessed with pack trains as it is in between two really big pack stations.  All the horses and mules are gone for the season so we hoped to get into some big fish that are rumored to be in the area.

Tuesday we began our day around noon after shopping for food, packing, and getting a permit at the Ranger station.  The walk in was pretty boring as far as hikes go in the Sierra, we had to follow the horse trail and it was beat to hell.  I have never hiked a more sandy, dusty, hot trail in the sixteen years I have lived here.  The trail climbs as soon as you access it but then mellows out for a few miles as you slightly descend the canyon.  The leaves were changing up here so it added a few points to the not so lame factor.

Starting out.

The first quarter mile of the trail climb slightly and offers nice views of the road to Mosquito Flats and Bear Creek Spire, Mt. Dade, Mt Morgan South, and Pyramid Peak.

After the first quarter mile the trail contours down the canyon rising and falling over every small drainage.  There really isn’t much to look at as you are walking away from the Crest of the Sierra and down towards the valley.  Did I mention that the leaves were changing color.  That really was the only highlight of the walk in.

After a few hours of hiking we found our campsite right next to the lake  hidden in some trees.  The night was cool and very windy with gusts up  to 40mph.  Fortunately we chose a nice sheltered spot in the trees and  were able to have a fire.

After cooking dinner that night I realized that my water purifier pump  had taken a crap.  Just last trip I replaced the filter so I thought  something was wrong with it.  There was nothing wrong with the filter so  I figure it has to be an o-ring.  All the rings look to be in decent  shape but it’s not getting pressure so it must be that.  First night out  were are almost out of water and have no pump.  If we were camped far  in the backcountry away from any pack animals I wouldn’t have a problem  drinking out of a fast moving stream.  We were in a bad spot and I’m  sure the water contained microscopic organism (protozoa), Giardia  lamblia.  That is one thing you do not want to get.  You will be one  sick pup for a few weeks even with anti-biotics.  I have known a few  people who got it and they say it’s the like the worst stomach flu you  can ever have.

Fortunately for us I had brought an extra fuel cylinder  because I wanted to burn off an nearly empty one.  We had to boil all of  our water to sterilize it for drinking.  Once the water comes to a  rolling boil you let it keep going for five minutes and all should be  good. We spent most of the down time boiling water and storing it in the  three Nalgene bottles.  The problem with boiling water is I didn’t  trust putting it my hydration bladder for fear that it would melt it.     We’ll see if I develop symptoms in the next 7-14 days.  I hope I didn’t  screw this up.

The front passed through the previous leaving us with a beautiful, calm,  sunny, morning.  Once I boiled water and had breakfast I hit he lake for some fishing.  We had a really nice camp only steps away from this  nice little fishing hole.

The first of many Brook Trout of the trip.

After hitting the lake for about an hour I walked over to the outlet to  see if I could nab a few fish in the stream.  There were a ton of fish  in this small stream but they were very skittish and took off as soon as  your fly landed in the water.   Our camp is right in the center of the  picture in the trees.

Once my buddy woke up, ate, and we boiled more water we took off for  some upper lakes.  This lake is fourth in the chain, located at 10353′  in elevation, and is at the base of Mt. Huntington.  This lake was  boiling with fish and we caught so many that I lost count.  It was  pretty much every other cast for a few hours.  The best part was using  dry flies, a Parachute Adams sz 16, and a yellow and brown hopper also  sz 16.  You could cast on top of any fish you wanted and they would hit  it.

My buddy fishing off a rock.

My first fish at the upper lake was a Golden/Rainbow hybrid, I believe.  Small but they sure do fight better the higher you get.

I’m not sure what this plant was but it sure did stand out in the gray  surroundings that it lived in.  The clouds rolled in and it actually  began to snow a little but this plant seemed to be on fire.

Colorful Brookies were the catch of the day.  They are not big but they sure are pretty.

Double hook up.

I hope these are native blueberries because I ate about a dozen.  They  tasted like blueberries but were a little tart.  If I get sick in a few  days it would be from either these or the water?

More fish porn from the upper lake.

It started to get cold and began to lightly snow on us after a few hours  so we took off to lower elevation.  The Sierra can get awful gloomy in the fall and gets a sort of an Alaska look to it.

We left the upper lake and began to hike cross country back to our  campsite.  We took a wrong turn and ended up on a 200 foot cliff  overlooking the lake we stayed at.

We made it down pretty quickly once we found the right drainage and  fished our way back to camp.  The fish are much bigger in this lake but  are a little harder to catch.

My best fish of the trip.  A very nice looking Brown Trout.  I caught him, I know it was a him because he was full of fish sperm, in a pool at the inlet to the lake.  When it took the fly it did not want to be caught and darted into the weeds.  I pulled him out but he then buried himself in the weeds a few feet from me.  I couldn’t get him free so I had to walk in the water to try and save him.  He may not look to good in this picture but he did swim away as soon as he got back in the stream.

That night we, believe it or not, went fishing again after dinner and  boiling more water.  The view from the banks of the lake were not so  bad.

The next morning we woke up boiled more water, ran out of gas, and  fished.  We only had a liter each for the five miles back to the car  which should be sufficient.  I like to drink a ton water while hiking  and haven’t had to ration in a long time.  We left early to beat the  heat of the day on the long, hot, dusty trail.

We made pretty good time and even stopped to take in the views and  swig  sips of water.  I didn’t want to drink and walk for fear of losing  a  drop.

The Fall colors were in full force the entire way back to the trail head.  I may take a walk through this area on Sunday.

The hike back was so much nicer because you had a good view for most of the way.

Back to Rock Creek Lake and a nice cold bottle of Gatorade.

Peace and quiet is exactly what I needed after dealing with loud drunks  for a week straight.  The trip went off without a hitch except I forgot  my tooth brush and the water thing.  Fortunately for us we were close  enough to get out even being low on water.  One lesson learned is I will  need to replace my water pump rebuild kit.  Replacing the filter is one  thing but if you blow a seal out there you are screwed.  Iodine tablets  would also be a good thing to keep in your pack just in case of an  emergency.  I can go without food for a while but not having fresh  drinking water sucks.  I sure I could take a risk and drink from the  stream or squeeze moisture out of elephant poo like Bear Grylls but I  would rather not.

It’s supposed to stay nice and warm here for a few more weeks and I hope  to get out as much as possible before we are snowbound.  This is the  best time of the year in the mountains because there are no people, the  fishing is great, and the temperatures are perfect.  Hope you all have a  great fall.  Try to get out in the woods and post up some pictures of  the leaves changing.  I really miss the Fall colors of the East.

- MF

The main thing that keeps me going is access to some of the most amazing places on the planet.  Within a few hours walk or drive I can be in the middle of nowhere gazing upon and immersing myself into God’s country.  This is not meant to be a religious statement as much as it is meant as being in a place so beautiful that you forget about all the problems and distractions flying around in your head.  Life has become very complicated in the last century and by getting out you go back to a time when it was simple.  All you have to do is make sure you eat enough to continue on your way, have shelter to protect you from the elements, and be close to water so you can drink.  When it comes down to it that’s all that is really required of getting out in nature.

Be it a long walk in the woods, the mountains, or the beach, one of the things I like most about being outside is the quiet.  Nothing is better than hearing the wind rush towards you through the forest, the hypnotic sound of your feet while hiking on the trail, the roar of a waterfall, and waves crashing on the shore.  To me this is perfection.

Now not everything about being outside is peaceful.  The danger aspect of getting out is also very addicting.  Adrenaline is very powerful and I find myself craving it.  Flying downhill on skis, a snowboard, and mountain bike all provide an incredible thrill and split second decision making or things can go real bad, real quick.  Being scared also releases adrenaline and there are plenty of spots where you can achieve this by climbing a mountain with a, you fall your die, cliff or looking down a steep couloir with rocks in the choke.  This all gets my blood pumping and the mind more focused than anything else out there.  The feeling you get when you conquer your fears and are able to look back at what you accomplished is one more thing that keeps me coming back.

This page is your one stop shop for everything outdoors; from the Appalachian Mountains in the East, the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, to the Canadian Rockies in the North.  This is the place for gear reviews, suggestions on cool places to visit, how to travel with the kids, and of course tons of pictures.  People are getting after it all around the globe and I hope to inspire everyone who visits to get out of their chairs and get a piece of the pie.   It may seem tough to try and find the time but everyone has a few hours here and there.  Try it.  It may change your life.  When you come back we want to hear all about it.  Be it a funny story about how you lost the car keys or that epic journey that you didn’t think you would come back from.  Please help me make this a place a success and get the hell out.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

John Muir