EISPIRATEN

Location: June Lake CA Assuming we don't get smoked out and have to pick a different trail, I am planning on hiking to Thousand Island Lake via Rush Creek this weekend. I am looking for suggestions for side trips or maybe a peak to watch sunrise from Sunday morning. This entry is still a work in pro...

Due to a mistake on my part, I essentially wore just one pair of socks while hiking the HST a few months ago, washing them twice on the trail. Here's my review of Farm to Feet. https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/hikinggeek.com/wp-content/hiking_photo_galleries/gear_reviews/farm_to_feet/forum/Rev...

My last training hike before heading up to Mt. Langley on 8/28. It's a short hike and more of a hill than a mountain, but I'm thankful to have it so close to home. Clicking a photo brings you to the full report and gallery: Blue Mountain Training Hike, August 22 2015 Sierra Dreaming... https://eispi...

It was.

We did see some smoke from Red's Meadow the day prior:

http://www.hikinggeek.com/2015/08/24/hi ... t-15-2015/

I have a pair of the Stoic boxers too - good stuff!

Have any of you used rental companies for gear, especially when you first started out backpacking/hiking/snowshoeing? I used these guys to rent a Delorme InReach Explorer for my HST hike and they were great. Any bad or good experiences with this company or others? Here's a link to my full review: ht...

Taking photos is an important part of hiking for me. I enjoy writing trip reports and sharing my experience through photos. In an effort to reduce weight, I’ve tried using my smartphone, as well as point & shoot cameras, but I’ve been unsatisfied with the results. In order to get the photos I de...

I'm surprised I haven't heard more about this hike. One of my favorites so far. It seems like a decent acclimation hike leading up to Mt. Whitney if you're in the area: Here's a link to the first trip report and full gallery: Duck Pass, August 16 2015 ...and some highlights. Clicking on a photo will...

After my Mammoth Pass hike , I headed out to Rainbow Falls with the family. Here are some highlights. Clicking a photo brings you to the full report and gallery: Hiking with Kids and Dogs: Rainbow Falls, August 15 2015 Playing with rocks at Red's Meadow: https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/hiking...

I got out for 3 hikes with my dog this past weekend. I'm hoping to do an overnight backpacking trip with him soon. Here's a link to the first trip report and full gallery: Mammoth Pass, McLeod Lake and beyond, August 15 2015 ...and some highlights. Click on a photo will bring you to the trip report/...

I've been testing WoolX's line Lightweight Merino Wool clothing since June. I've been very happy with it. Merino is new to me, so I don't have an extensive direct comparison with merino from other manufacturers, but being someone that had only used synthethic clothing prior to WoolX, I now consider ...

I've been meaning to use White Mountain Peak as a training hike for Mt. Whitney for a couple of years, but the timing has never worked out. I finally headed up there a few days ago: White Mountain Peak, 08/09/15 Some highlights. Clicking any of the photos will bring you to the full galleries (~55 ph...

My wife and I wanted to spend some time outside with my son, but the local forecast was for 100+ degrees F. We decided to head over to San Jacinto Peak to escape the heat, get a little a hiking in, and have some fun riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tram with my son. Here are some highlights. Clicking ...

On our way White Mountain Peak, we stopped for a couple of short hikes to break up the 6+ hour drive. Here are some highlights from our stops. Clicking any of the photos will bring you to the full galleries (~70 photos total): Fossil Falls and Patriarch Grove – August 8 2015 https://eispiraten.com/i...

The last day of our 6 day HST Hike last month. My buddy finally gets his Whitney summit on his third attempt! Leg 6 (as tracked), Guitar Lake to Mt. Whitney to Whitney Portal: 15.5 miles | | +3305, -6445 || 12 hours Details and full photo gallery (48 photos) are posted here: High Sierra Trail, Day 6...

Day 5 of 6 of our HST Hike last month. Our shortest day on the trail (my body needed a break) and one of the most enjoyable. Leg 5 (as tracked), Hidden Packer Camp to (just above) Guitar Lake: 5 miles || +1795, -285 || +1510 net elevation gain || 7 hours (including long lunch break at Guitar Lake) D...

Day 4 of 6 of our HST Hike last month. One of most physically and mentally demanding days on the trail.I'm glad I spent the last few gym sessions before my trip walking on a treadmill with my pack and hiking boots. Leg 4 (as tracked): Kern Hot Springs to Packer Camp || 8 miles || +3563, -470 || +309...

From what I remember, Flower Lake @ about 10,500 is probably going to be the last place for you to get water. You'll see a sign and path for Matlock Lake. The lake closest to the trail is Flower Lake. The water in the lake itself looked murky, so you may want to pull some from the inlet or outlet. h...

Hikin_Jim wrote: ↑Yeah, probably a good decision to bail on Gould.

How was the climb up Kearsarge? Long, hot slog?

HJ

After you get a view of Heart Lake, it gets hot and dry. Fortunately, it's only about 1.5 miles to the pass from there.

I stayed in Lone Pine July 17-19 and did a couple of day hikes in the area. On Day 2, I decided to hike to Kearsarge Pass, with the possibility of trying Mt. Gould. Unfortunately some weather rolled in as I was hanging out at the pass, so I decided to save Gould for another day. Here are some hightl...

Thanks! Looks like a fun trip Richard. Thanks! Here's a view of the route I took. Red was intended route, blue was actual route: https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/hikinggeek.com/wp-content/plugins/global-gallery/albums/2015_0717_Mono_Pass_Peak/Mono_Peak_Pass_Google_Earth_Caltopo_Overlay_1000w.j...

The area from upper Hamilton Lake to Kaweah Gap is spectacular. Did you go over to the High Sierra Camp at Bearpaw Meadow? The view from their front porch is jaw dropping. HJ We took a quick look, but they were getting the place ready for the day as we were hiking through. I wish my office had a vi...

I had originally planned for an overnight trip to Mt. Langley, but after several cancellations, I decided that I would just take on several day hikes solo. Looking at a list of possible hikes in the area , I decided on Mono Pass, with the possibility of a little class 2 to Mono Pass Peak. Here are s...

Day 3 of 6 of our HST Hike last month. If I hike the HST again, I'll probably split this day up or take a zero day at Kern Hot Springs afterwards. Leg 3 (as tracked): Precipice Lake to Kern Hot Springs|| 18.4 miles || +2066′, -5559′ || -3493′ net elevation gain || 14 hours Details and full photo gal...

I had plans to backpack Langley July 17-18 or 19. My plans fell through, but I still headed up to the Eastern Sierra to day hike and hang out with friends. Here are some highlights. Clicking on any of the photos will bring you to my blog, which has more photos: Misc Mt. Whitney Photos: Alabama Hills...

Thanks for the suggestions Jeff. I will check those places out. That is Joyce. My screenname on WPSMB is 63ChevyII I ended up hiking Mono Pass > Mono Pass Peak > Summit Lake Friday after driving up from Riverside. I drove back down to Lone Pine (I stayed at the hostel), then went up to the portal to...

When I tell people about LLV, I tell them it has best payoff:hiking ratio ever :D Are there any other passes or easy trails in the area that you would recommend? I have looked into or hiked: Bishop, Kearsarge Pass, Trail Pass, Cottonwood Pass & Mono Pass (yosemite and LLV) & Morgan Pass. I a...

Seeing South Lake so empty was a little depressing, but like you said, the upper lakes had plenty of water.

Have either of you been up to Little Lakes Valley? I'd argue that it's just as beautiful, if not more, up there: http://www.hikinggeek.com/2013/08/16/li ... t-16-2013/

I was hoping to hike White Mountain Peak this past Saturday, but the forecast scared me off. We ended up hiking Bishop Pass instead. We met a couple that had planned to jump onto the JMT/PCT for a bit after going over the pass. They started their hike Tues and spent much of their time hanging out in...

One of my toughest days ever on the trail, but also one of the most rewarding. I went from thinking "what the heck am I doing out here" to "wow, I can't wait to come back" in just a few minutes. Details and full photo gallery (75 photos) is posted here: High Sierra Trail, Day 2 –...