Talusdancers

Wildflowers, Lake Six, Big Pine Creek. Sierra Nevada. August 11, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

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A few more photographs have been posted in the Big Pine Lakes 2006 Trip Report.
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In addition to the trip report posted here, Dan has posted his report at his dan’s outside weblog.
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Two trips have been posted:

• September: Donner Pass to Squaw Valley
• October: Fletcher Lake 2006 (our traditional final trip of the season)

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DONNER PASS TO SQUAW VALLEY TRAVERSE

[Dan has posted a trip report at his dan's outside web site.]

***Sat. Sept. 16

drive up very early to Squaw Valley (3 hours from Concord), park car(s),

drive to Donner Pass on old US 40, park car(s)

hike south along PCT towards Squaw Valley,

camp just more than halfway to Squaw Valley (8-9 miles, aside or down from Tinker Knob).

***Sun. Sept. 17

hike via PCT to Squaw Valley/Watson Monument, then leave PCT for High Camp facility across the plateau. At High Camp, showers, Jacuzzi, cocktails, swimming pool, great view.

http://www.squaw.com/

ride Tram down to the Village at Squaw Valley

nice dinner at Balboa Cafe in the Village http://www.plumpjack.com/balboa6.html

pick up car(s) at Donner Pass

drive home (3 hours to Concord)

Note: On the 1st day, there will be little or no water available – bring enough. On the 2nd day, we are supposed to cross two spring fed streams and the headwaters of the North Fork of the American River. They will likely not be gushing.
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Annual
FLETCHER LAKE EXPEDITION

***Fri night October 6

drive to Evergreen Road off sr120 (immediately west of Crane Flat Entrance to Yosemite, 3 hours from Concord), carcamp on roadside (free “dispersed camping,” restrooms at Crane Flat)

***Sat October 7

drive to trailhead (Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite, 90 minutes),
get permit at Wilderness Kiosk
hike to Fletcher Lake, basecamp

***Sun October 8

Parson’s/Fletcher high traverse, class 1-2

***Mon October 9

hike out, drive home

***October weather
in the Sierra is most often very beautiful – the crowds are gone, vegetation is turning colors, the weather is usually very comfortable during the day… and there are no mosquitos! Not surprisingly, nights are cold, and they start earlier and last longer than during summer.

While the weather most often corresponds to this description, there are exceptions. This is, afer all, the “shoulder season” in the Sierra. It can snow. We’ve seen snow on a couple of late season talusdancers trips. One year we arrived following a snowfall of several inches and went on up to Fletcher Lake. Another year the weather was mostly lovely, but a small front passed through and we got some fun snow flurries on the ridge above Cathedral Lakes. Last year we cancelled the trip at the last moment wheb the weather forecast included words like “100 mph winds…”

NOTE – If a blizzard occurs on this weekend, we’ll make alternate plans.
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Dawn, Palisades Ridge and Fourth Lake

Dawn Light, Palisade Ridge and Big Pine Creek Lake #4. August 12, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

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