Emigrant Wilderness SUL Trip – July 13-14

I'm ultralight.. I might just pack dry food… :-P

Jay, I'm considering that Friday night option if you still have room. The main reason I wanted to leave Saturday morning was to avoid the traffic getting out of the city, so bypassing the traffic by taking Bart to WC would work too. Just sent you an email to coordinate.

What are the current carpool options? I'm headed out from SF … I can take BART anywhere or just drive and leave my car.

I can also drive if necessary.

Kevin, what time did you plan on heading out? I think it's me, you and James W. that would be leaving from SF. I should be out of work between 4 and 5pm that Friday.

I'm down to leave ASAP … we can sleep at the trail head and get up early.

I have a flexible schedule and can leave any time on Friday.

Hello,
I am interested in joining and I can go up either friday afternoon or early saturday from the Sacramento area. I am going to shoot for the 6 lb target, but I will be closer to 7-8 I am guessing, damn fishing gear. I have an ursac that I can share with others..

If anyone wants to join me, i have no problem driving, up to 2 others plus gear

michael

It looks like there will be several Ursacks available. I would like to reserve some space in one if I can. I'll bring a BV450 in the car as a backup if it doesn't work out.

I too have converted to hammock camping but will most likely be going to ground as it is a lighter setup with fewer parts.

Anyone familiar with the conditions at the trailhead for hammock trees? Will probably hike in a 1/8th mile or so Friday night so not to get in trouble with camping at the actual TH.

Sounds like we will have 4 Ursacks now for 11 people which should be plenty of space for anyone who needs it.

I am not sure of the exact camping situation at the pass, from what Jay said it sounds like camping is not allowed at the trailhead. The actual Sonora Pass trailhead is just a dirt pullout on the crest with a good view. But there are a bunch of campgrounds close by at Dardanelle and Kennedy Meadows. You guys shouldn't have any problems finding an open spot at one of those.

This is what I normally do as well.. just hike into the woods for 5 minutes and NO one (not even the bears) know you are there.

Going with a hammock adds about a pound but MAN is it worth the extra weight for the flexibility and comfort.

SUL Gear List

Packing:
ZPacks ZERO Pack 13oz
Hydration Sleeve 0.7oz
Food Bag 0.3oz
Tent Stake Bag 0.1oz
Clothes,Sleep Pad Bag 1.6oz
Total: 15.7oz

Shelter & Sleeping:
Yama Mountain Gear Bug Shelter (1.25) 10.4oz
Tyvek Footprint 2.5oz
Tent Stakes (6) BPL 1.3oz
NeoAir All Seasons 19oz
WM HighLite 35* 17.5oz
Total: 51oz

Clothing Packed:
Houdini Jacket 4.7oz
Houdini Pants 3.4oz
WM Vest 6.3oz
Sleep Sox 0.8oz
Beanie 0.8oz
Gloves 1.2oz
Golite T-Shirt 4.2oz
Total: 21.4oz

My Essentials:
ID,CC,CarKey,Wallet 0.4oz
First-Aid 1.5oz
Headlamp 0.8oz
Lip Balm 0.2oz
Bug Head Net 0.7oz
Insect Repellent 0.5oz
TP 0.5oz
Aqua Mira Kit 1.2oz
Food Hanging Kit 1.4oz
70oz Platypus w/Hose 2.6oz
Total: 9.8oz

Clothing Worn-Items Carried:
(NOT IN BASE WEIGHT)
Hat 2.3oz
Shorts 7.6oz
Shirt 7.2oz
Underwear 3.2oz
Sox 2.2oz
Shoes 37oz
Gaiters 1.4oz
Watch 0.7oz
Sunglasses 0.7oz
Bandana 0.6oz
Camera 4.4oz
Trekking Poles 5.9oz
Map 0.8oz

Total Base Weight: 97.9oz or 6.11 LBS

I also did not include Food, Water or Beer. If rain is in the forecast I will include a MLD Grace Duo and 6 more tent stakes. Lets keep it Simple & Stupid and Less is More!

Andrew, what is our group count for this trip? I have three 'traditional' backpackers interested in coming and seeing what an SUL trip is like. Would that be OK?

"I also did not include Food, Water or Beer."

Isn't Beer one of the ten essentials?

–B.G.–

Looks good Jay!

Eric, the latest count is 11. We can have up to 15 so please bring your friends as long as they are OK with 12-13 miles each day.

Got room for 1 more? Ive got my 6 pounds of stuff packed!!!! :-)

If there's room count me in for 2.

Jack

Hey guys, I am sad to say we are actually at the 15 person limit now unless someone's plans have changed… One more person sent me an email wanting to join after Eric's friends joined. There's no quota though, so no one would stop you from getting your own permit as long as you weren't part of our official group.

No Problem Andrew,

If I come up it will be Fri. night late, so I can grab a permit in the morning.

Jack

I was up near Ten Lakes and did about 45 miles this weekend.

Daytime was 80-95 and night was about 45-65… depending on altitude, wind, etc.

Mosquitos were VERY active in some areas and not so active in others (which depends on altitude and wind).

Just FYI.

Andrew,

Michelle and I went this weekend for a 45 mile loop from Crabtree. We went via Camp Lake, Piute Lake, Gem Lake, Jewelry Lake, Deer Lake, Buck Lake to Emigrant Lake. We returned via Blackbird Lake, Maxwell Lake, Huckleberry Lake, Cow Meadow Lake, Wood Lake and Grouse Lake. Fishing was great – so don't forget your Tenkara – even if it busts your SUL limit :) The day temperatures were up to 92F. The night temperatures were in the 60s – so my WM SummerLite was way too warm. The mosquitoes stayed active all through the night – so we chose to rather sweat in our sleeping bags than be eaten alive. Our only regret for this trip was not bringing the nettent – that was going "stupid light" under these circumstances. Otherwise it was a wonderful trip with lots of swimming in warm lakes to cool off.

Enjoy next weekend,

Manfred

I'm glad you and Michelle had a good time Manfred. Sorry you can't join us on this trip. But we'll be hiking together with SUL packs soon anyway…

Right now the forecast calls for a high of 66F on Saturday and a low of 50F overnight. Seems like it's been quite a bit hotter this year than usual. Unless the forecast changes I think I'll leave my puffy coat at home and save another 8oz. I'm hoping since we will be camping at around 9500 ft in a big exposed granite basin there won't be too many mosquitoes to deal with. But the DEET, headnet and bivy are definitely coming along.

FYI, Two of my friends have canceled. So just me and one other will be coming. Andrew, is this the proposed route?

http://www.hillmap.com/m/ag1zfmhpbGxtYXAtaGRychELEghTYXZlZE1hcBjMrIMBDA

Yup, that's the route Eric. Looks like most of that 4300' total elevation gain is on the first day. Good thing our packs will be light… :)

does this mean there is room for me?

Yep Chris, we have spots for you and Jack on our single permit now. That puts us at 15, so anybody else will have to get their own permit.

In terms of a car shuttle – Michael G. and I are both driving by ourselves on Saturday morning. We are going to meet at the Kennedy Meadows Trailhead at 9:00 AM and shuttle a car to Sonora Pass TH from there. We will be at Sonora Pass TH by 9:30AM. We should have space for 3 drivers plus Michael and myself on Sunday afternoon. I am guessing at this point that we have more than 3 other cars coming, so we might have to park a second car at Kennedy Meadows to avoid doing the shuttle multiple times. If anybody else wants to join in on the car shuttle on the way out, please post up.

Keep in mind there are two trailheads at Kennedy Meadows – a free one about 1/2 mile before the pack station on the east side of the road, or you can pay $5 and park at the pack station itself. Michael and I are meeting at the free trailhead parking.

As Andrew said, I am coming up Saturday Morning, still haven't figured out which route, in that they all are about the same distance and time, but I am coming from Sacramento, if anyone needs a ride, feel free to contact me…