THE 2ND ANNUAL POINT REYES BAY AREA BPL TRIP

hey david

we got it figured out thanks for the replies

we should have no problem making the 9am start time saturday

looking foward to an awesome time with everyone

kevin

Jack,

Now I am curious to know….why did they modify your bag?

Was it a special request on your part?

Did it cost you money and if so, how much?

Adding more down into it sounds great to me, as the 40 F rating on the Atom seems a bit optimistic for a cold sleeper like me.

-Tony

Hey Tony, I sent it off to have it washed since at the time I didn't have a front load washer, and because it had lost its loft. I had mentioned to them that on my last couple of hikes I was getting cold around the shoulder area. As far as cost it only cost me $30.00 to wash plus shipping, they added the down after washing and checking the specs. They didn't call me before to ask if I wanted more down added, I didn't I just wanted it washed and checked to make sure it was ok. Now it looks like its pregnant. I really don't need another 1 lb 9 oz bag I have an Arroyo 30 degree bag that weighs that so its kind of silly to have 2 now that weigh that much. Will give it a try and see what happens. Cudos for Marmot though and thier warranty department they want to make sure thier cusomers are happy. Thanks Jack

Jack,

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like they added down to match the new European Specs that they adopted last year.

Great customer service, but I see how the added weight becomes a problem.

Interesting to know….if I find that I am too cold, I might consider sending mine in.

-Tony

Tony if you have just the regular Atom I might be interested in trading if I don't like the way this one is made, just a thought if your interested. Will talk at the camp site. Thanks Jack

Thanks to all who have given their info so far. I still need vehicle info from
Robert Recinos
David Wage
Michael Swarczek
Richard Gless
Sheila Oswalt
Looking forward to seeing all of you.
BTW I am not working Friday and will be there early.

might be a tad early to ask this but has anyone happened to have checked the extended forcast for the campsite area yet??

if rain is in the mix i will pack accordingly
i just wanted to throw this out there just in case

kevin

Rain is always in the mix there. Plenty of rain for the next week looks like. Hopefully we will time it between systems.

Is this going to be the largest gathering of ultralight hikers!? History in the making lol.

> Hopefully we will time it between systems.

hopefully we will be in the middle of a system. It's a short trip so if things go badly, it won't be that bad. We will be surounds by friends who can help. What a great way to test some thing :-) Much closer than the lost coast which is my typical testing grounds for rain.

> Is this going to be the largest gathering of ultralight hikers!?

My guess is that the PCT kick off or AT gathering will continue to hold that record.

–mark

Yes but those two gatherings are not exclusively ultralight. Want to talk to you about the Lost Coast next weekend.

NM.

I was looking at long range weather and all I could come up with was a 7 day outlook and we have rain so far until Thurs. Hope we get a break on Fri-Sun.

Also, folks let's think about bringing some charcoal. The kind that lights with a match and not the type that you need lighter fluid for. If we all split some up, then we should have some warmth for the evening.

> all I could come up with was a 7 day outlook

My desktop weather gadget from The Weather Channel has a 10-day forecast, out through Saturday. Here's what it says for Pt. Reyes Station:

. Wed: 50% chance of showers 43* low, 48* high
. Thu: 60% chance of showers 42* low, 50* high
. Fri: 60% chance of showers 41* low, 53* high
. Sat: 60% chance of showers 42* low, 53* high

Hopefully the star of setting up a hexamid will arrive in the bay area before the trip. It would be nice to have rain and wind so it can show it’s stuff.

–mark

I was out there on Sunday, it was a little rainy and blustery – and really beautiful. My first time there. I posted a photo on my blog from late Sunday afternoon, right after I got swallowed by a rogue wave, playing chicken while trying to get a close up shot of the surf.

I found myself dreaming of camping on a knoll overlooking the Pacific. Dang, I wish I could join you guys.

I do miss the ocean.

camping at reyes is great, just have to remember that everything gets wet when you camp close to the sea…

also I think it would really cap the trip off if you could make it ryan… I'm sure I'm not alone in this ;)

> little rainy and blustery .. posted a photo

nice picture. pretty common this time of year. It tends to be windy but not so wet in the spring and summer.

> I got swallowed by a rogue wave

a common problem that gets worse as you head north to the lost coast. I don't understand the dynamics that produces rogue ways, but most of the times I have been caught it's been up that way.

> Dang, I wish I could join you guys.

We would have loved for you to join us. Maybe next year.

–Mark

Yeah Ryan it would have been very cool to have you around on this trip. Do yourself a favor sometime, please camp at Point Reyes. As you noticed, it is a special place

Fellow Bay Area BPLer's,

I'm considering writing a short email to Tom Stienstra (the local backpacker who writes books and weekly newspaper articles about backpacking in local Bay Area papers) telling him about our outing next week. My hope is that he would show up to see the gear then write an article that would be seen by the masses.

Comments?

Casey,

Hey, I think that it is a great idea.

Anything that can help get some exposure to motivate people to get outdoors and to light weight alternatives to traditional backpacking is a good thing.

To help "sell" him on the idea of coming out, maybe you want to email him a link to the photo gallery of the photo essay from last year to give him an idea of what we did?

Regarding the charcoal, even though I won't be there to start the hike out with all of you, I am going to make a point to pack a few lbs of charcoal in my pack.

Skinny dude that I am with my love of fire and staying warm, I will bring as much as I can.

Hope others can bring some too…just sorry that I was not able to follow thru with my original plan to have baggies pre made up for people to carry in.

-Tony

Ill be happy to bring some match light and some bags for folks, (not to sound like a hippy ;) BUT I just hate the idea of using that many PLASTIC bags for such a short trip thoughts anyone? maybe come to my truck with your empty trash bag and fill up?

I also like fire tony :)

Jesse, check you pms

How about brown paper bags?

Keeping an eye on the weather and we just might hit a window on Sat-Sun. Friday should still have a alot of rain though.

9am meet time at Bear Valley Visitor Center

If you have not done this, please list your car and make and model and what trailhead you will be coming in on. Palomarin or Bear Valley. Let Ken know for the main camp site and for those on the other site, please make sure you email me please.