3-4 openings for Rae Lakes loop 8/12-8/15

Well I put every thing in the pack except for water, and it comes in at 20lbs, unless I decide to use the tarp instead of the Moment, which would put me at around 19.2lbs, if I add the 2 liters of water I should be under 25lbs more like 24lbs.

For most of that loop route, you don't really need 2 liters of water. However, for the section between Paradise Valley and Woods Crossing, you will. The upper part of it tends to be sunny and dry.

–B.G.–

Bob is right, that stretch going towards Castle Domes is rough, even worse, the trail is pretty high up from the creek.

As they said in the Army, "It's good training."

So, you roll into camp at Woods Crossing with three drops of water left in your bottle…

–B.G.–

Been there done that about 10 years ago. This time it will be with a 22 lbs pack!

I was debating on taking my 2 liter or my 1 liter. I might switch to the 1 liter since I'm also taking 2-1 liter platys to fill up along the way. Come on Ken what's your total?

pack weight?? My battery died on my scale. I will know tomorrow. I picked up my pack and it felt like around 20-22 lbs

My list
1. ULA Circuit
2. Moment
3. Golite ss shirt
4. Capilene 1 ss shirt
5. 2 pair of hiking socks, 2 pair undies
6. possum down socks
7. silk base layer
8. Atom sleeping bag
9. Bruton stove, 2 cans of fuel
10. Spoon,wisk,2 lighters
11. GSI cook set
12. First Asent down sweater
13. Golite ls shirt
14. Golite Ether wind jacket
15. Head buff
16. Camera, head lamp, spare batteries
17. 4 Liter platy,2-1 liter platys, empty
18. firstaid, knee brace, meds, toilet paper, plastic
shovel
19. Bare Boxer with food
20. EZ lite pad for seat
21. Neo air
22. 2 bandanas, 1 wash cloth
23. Titianium Goat trekking poles
24. Water treatment system ( gravity feed)

I think I will probably will go through and eliminate some more items after looking at the list.

You don't need two cans of fuel, possum down socks, and ditch a lighter. We all have lighters if yours dies

ULA CDT
Nemo GoGo Bivy
Big Agnes Clearview pad
Western Mountaineering Ultralight
GSI Hautelite cookset
Soto Cannister Stove
Snow Peak 110 cannister
Spot (I have to bring this, my wife makes me)
Two empty Arrowhead water bottles
Two platypus resevoirs
Frontier Pro (also used as a gravity filter)
Pentax camera
Flip video camera
first aid kit
sundry kit
Montbell trowel and tp
Integral Designs poncho
Montane windshirt
Gossamer Gear rain chaps
balaclava
bandanna
rain mits
shorts
short sleeve t-shirt
beanie
Salomon trail running shoes
long pants
Go Lite long sleeve shirt
hat
Bearboxer cannister

Edit: and I forgot….a flask of Lagavulin single malt scotch!

Ken, the fuel cans are the small ones, one will fit in my cook set, the other on the outside in the pack. I have the same cook set as you, the possum socks are for the cold feet at night instead of my Goose Feet, at least with the socks I can get daul use out of them, if I need an extra pair, but I think I'm going to go through it again and get rid of some more stuff. The one with the lightest pack is probably the happiest one hiking.

Unless you cook more than me (I only cook dinner) then one cannister will do. You cook your lunch too, right???

A fellow might want two cans of fuel to slowly work that poached trout with Eggs Benedict.

There are 4-oz, 8-oz, and 16-oz cans. It makes a big difference.

–B.G.–

mmmmmmmmmmm….nice!

Our last trip Cary B. was catching trout and we had some nice side meals as we hiked up towards Muir Pass….I can always go for some poached trout!

Just thought I should help make this the longest thread;……can't wait to head out. Haven't weighed a thing, we'll see if someone brings a scale to the trailhead . See you soon.

to make it longer…Yes Kat I am bringing a scale!

Hope you all have a fabulous time. We will be waiting for a world class trip report with video upon your return. Stay safe, play nice.

We were able to get water twice on the way between Upper Paradise and Woods Crossing, once from Woods and once from a creek. We used Aquamira Drops for the first time, I don't see me using anything else unless there is a clarity issue.

>Casey, I'm not working on Wednesday and can be at your >office anytime. Since I'm riding BART over from the city how >does between 1:30-2:00 sound?

Dylan, That's great, I'll see you between 1:30 and 2:00 pm on Wednesday. Please come up to my office. 1300 Clay Street, 7th Floor. If you need to reach me my office number is 510.267.7156.

I didnt know there would be time for fishing! Maybe i should pack my rod. Sean's pic of that brookie was awful purty. I wouldnt know how to cook it though with out a campfire. Is anyone bringing a rod? If not, then I'll pass too.

it would be a crime not to fish that area

bubb's creek has some of the best fishing i've ever seen–just above the falls a bit i hooked a huge (around 5lbs) brown & saw several others. downstream are rainbows as well, upstream are brookies and around vidette meadows and up some goldens mixed in

Rae lakes (i've heard) are full of small but eager brookies

Cmon Cary, 5lbs? You're kidding right?

I consider that a conservative estimate–this was a huge trout. I retrieved it to within about five feet of me and was standing in the crystal clear stream when it came off the lure, so I had a real good look at it. It was well over 20," probably around 25" or so and very thick. I caught peeks of several other very large browns (18" to over 20"), but this was the biggest I saw. Didn't fish that stretch much at all, as we had to make time, but have been wanting to go back and spend some time there ever since.

If you do catch such a monster trout…

You are required to clean it and cook it. Probably poach it unless you have butter and lemon. You must distribute equal portions to all members of your party for immediate consumption. By ultralightweight standards, you would not carry it out.

Besides, not every trout fisherman is legal. If a park ranger or Fish&Game warden is wandering around, you would want to dispose of all evidence. Consumption is best.

–B.G.–

I usually release fish, but that far back in the woods, I'd be inclined to do exactly as my group wishes me to do.

made a meal of this one, caught while backpacking last year. put in foil with seasonings and cooked over an open fire. this one was about 20" and about 3.5 lbs.