Bay Area BPL Sept. Hike

Hey Ken I don't know for us if it would be shorter to go hwy 99 to hwy 50 or hwy 395 to hwy 89 from Bakersfield? It looks like the elevation is about 7,500 feet is that correct? If so I might be able to pull up temps next week for that area on the NOAA site. Thanks Jack

jack

we will be taking my tahoe so we will have plenty of room for our gear
call me this weekend so i can come get my new pack from you and we can discuss what time we want to leave
we can split fuel between you and i and the newbie (ryan)
if that sounds ok with you
give me a shout
kevin

This is the weather report from the NOAA as of today when it gets closer I will try to update it.Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Southwest wind between 13 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Southwest wind 15 to 18 mph decreasing to between 7 and 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. West southwest wind at 7 mph becoming north.

Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. East northeast wind between 9 and 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 10 mph.

Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.

Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 45.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71.

Is there any interest in hiking from the trailhead on 89 thru to hwy 88 near Caples lake?

Hey Ken I went on google earth. Do we start hiking were hwy 89 goes south and makes a horse shoe loop and then heads east? That looks like the closest point to start the hike. I didn't see any rest stops, maybe just turn outs. I think its going to be faster for us to go up I-5 to hwy 50 to hwy 89, about 8hrs total apox. 400 miles.

There is a small rest stop place on the eastern side of the road. It is pretty much at the half way mark between 88 and 50. I have not been there in about 3 years but I am assuming that it has not moved.

As for hiking in from Hwy 88? Hmmm dunno, I don't have a map and would prefer just to stick with what I know????

I picked up a map of the area, it shows the trail starting near hiway 89 and continuing past Dardanelles Lake to hiway 88 near Caples Lake. The last part of the trail shows as the PCT.

So, if there is interest, we could leave a car at 88, start at 89 and walk through.

Then we would see new stuff both days.

It adds complexity and driving time, of course.

I'm good either way, just an idea……

Ken: My daughter and I are planning to go. Cameron, if you want to carpool let me know.
Jeremy.

Looks like we're car camping at Placerville KOA camp ground on Fri. the 25th if any one wants to meet us there. We will probably be getting there around 8:00 or 9:00 pm.

Just a side note can any one tell me how to make my avatar bigger like Jeremys

Jack that is a secret that only Jeremy will keep.

Nice to see this taking shape. Sorry for my inconsistency on dates etc. I have been over my head with work, but welcome this to stretch out and enjoy myself. My wife and I will be there too. Shall be a fun time.

Josh are you going???

HA! HA! Thats pretty funning. Maybe you could tell me how to make a bigger avatar. I'm with you can't wait to get out of this freaking hot valley into some nice cool refreshing air. It was around 102 today with about 40% humidity. I don't care who you are that just sucks when you have to work in it, oh well looks like I'll be doing it again tommorow. CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT WEEKEND! YAH!

Have you noticed my new avatar, proof that aliens do exsist. If you could blow up the picture you can see it looks like one of those heads from Easter Island. Dumb dumb want gum gum.

Jack: Sorry, I have no clue why my avatar is the size it is and why yours is different.

I'm in and I'll be bringing 3 of my kids; ages 7,9,&14.I'll be trying my hammock for the first time also unless there are no trees in that area. What do you think Ken?Katrina, carpool sounds good.Ken you can ride with us also if you would like. I'll be driving the mini van.

How long of a drive would it be from say Santa Rosa? Mileage be damned,how long in the car?

Ken I don't know if this will help you but we're coming from Bakersfield and my best guess with my Tom Tom is aprox. 8 hrs and about 400 miles. Hope that gives you some Idea. Maybe Ken Helwig can give you a better est. on time and mileage. Jack

By the way….what is the mileage on this trip going to be per day?

Are permits needed?

I am already committed to a trip with another family, but maybe we will join you?

Shorter distance and other kids makes this trip very appealing.

-Tony

I hate to bring this up, but according to my read of the zone maps for CA deer hunting season, Saturday the 26th is opening day for the area we will be hiking.

Wondering whether I should reconsider bringing my kids into that environment.

I have no experience with hunting or hiking around hunting (I generally try to avoid it) so any feedback others have on this issue is appreciated.

(I know from a couple of friends who hunt that they generally like to be there when the season opens, so next weekend will probably have the highest density of hunters for the year in the area.)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you have.

Jeremy.

I might need to re-condier this coming weekend. My gout flared up this morning and my knee is 3 times the normal size. Most likely the swelling will be down by Thursday or Friday, but the join pain is pretty bad after that for about a week. I am real sorry folks but this happens about once a year for me, and my body decided it was this week. Even tougher I have to work while having this condition. I am off today and tomorrow but have to suck it up for some specific reason. Maybe we can do sometihing in the near future like Golden Gate Rec. Area or Point Reyes. Please don't let me hold you guys back, please continue the trip!!!

FYI—I have a hiked planned for Oct. 10-11th if any one is interested…..Location:TBD

-Jay

that might work Jay, where were you thinking???

I fill your pain Ken I just got over a bad attack of gout last month it was in my hip. Are you taking any meds? I've been taking cherry tablets seems to be working so far. I didn't want to take the Allopurinol, I think thats how you spell it.I Wanted to try diet and cherry pills first. Hope you get better I wouldn't wish that pain on my worst enemy. I knew hunting season was this weekend but I didn't check to see what zone that was. I usally don't hike during hunting season in hunting zones. I think we might go to Gem Lakes if any body else wants to go let me know. I need to check on permits. Gem Lakes is just north of Bishop off hwy 395. I don't want to discourage any one from this hike but if any one wants to go with us let me know. The hike is 3.3 miles one way with 600 ft incline you pass about 5 lakes on the way to Gem Lakes this is an easy hike even for kids and lots of nice views and fish. Thanks Jack

ditto on the gem lakes hike its a beautiful and very easy hike and the fishing is awesome all around the several lakes you pass on your way to camp as jack and ifound out a couple years ago

kevin

Who's still going up to Dardanelle? I'd rather go there than have to go 395.