Talusdancers

***Materials and Kits

• Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics, (800) 693-7467; http://www.owfinc.com.
• Quest Outfitters, (800) 359-6931; http://www.questoutfitters.com.
• Seattle Fabrics, (206) 525-0670; http://www.seattlefabrics.com.
• The Rain Shed, (541) 753-8900; http://www.therainshet.com.

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***Parsons Peak

Report from Climber.org.

***Vogelsang Peak

Description from SummitPost.com.

Photos from SummitPost.com.
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***Next up
- the “traditional” (hey, three years could be a tradition!) end-of-season pack trip to Fletcher Lake – assuming that the weather cooperates. It can be beautiful in the Sierra, even sunny and mildly warm, in mid-October… or it can be freezing cold and snowy. If the former, we make a quick run up to Fletcher Lake for an overnight and a bit of exploring. If the latter, we consider the conditions carefully and either go for it or chicken out and car-camp somewhere high and wild. In either case, we visit the Tioga Pass Resort for late lunch on their last open day of the season and toast the end of another beautiful Sierra summer, the onset of a beautiful Sierra winter, and the prospect of future Sierra adventures.
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Horse Camp sunset on Mt. Shasta. June 2002.
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We planned to do this in May or June of 2003 (see Mt Shasta 2003) but it was not to be. How about trying again in 2004?

Update July 2, 2004: Oops. Didn’t do it this year either. (The attraction of late-season telemarking at Mammoth Mountain was just too great.)

Oh, well. The mountain will still be there next year.

Mt. Shasta sunset from Horse Camp. June 2002.
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Update: October 19, 2003: It was a great trip. Among other things, we climbed Vogelsang Peak. Dan has posted a trip report at one of his web sites.

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A mid-October trip to Fletcher Lake in Yosemite has become our traditional season-ending pack trip. We time it to coincide with the last weekend when lunches/dinners are served at the Tioga Pass Resort, normally around the middle of the month.

During the past few years conditions on this trip have ranged from 6 inches of new snow to gloriously warm fall days.

Likely dates for this year are October 10, 11, and 12.

***Friday
- Leave Bay Area as soon as possible and drive to Tuolumne Meadows/Tioga Pass area. If early arrival time (and conditions) permit, hike to Fletcher Lake. Otherwise came near Tioga Pass.

***Saturday
- Depending upon Friday’s activities and current conditions:

• If we made it to Fletcher Lake on Friday, hike around Fletcher (the cross-country route to Ireland Lake is popular, or perhaps an attempt of Vogelsang Peak, class 2)
• If we camped at Tioga Pass, hike to Fletcher Lake

***Sunday
- Hike out and drive home.

The best options for the traditional TPR meal depend on both on their schedule and how our hiking plans develop. A Friday evening dinner is possible if we arrive too late to hike to Fletcher and early enough that TPR is still open. A Saturday breakfast is also possible if we camp near the pass on Friday. TPR may not serve dinner on Sunday – we need to check on this.
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On the trail between Ruby Lake and Mack Lake. August 7, 2003.
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Just over Mono Pass and beginning descent toward Ruby Lake. August 7, 2003.
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Arriving at Mono Pass – Mt. Abbott in the background. August 7, 2003.
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Morning frost at Fourth Recess Lake. August 7, 2003.
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