PNW GGG 2016

[Ian]

Greetings and salutations!

This may possibly be the easiest GGG ever organized.

Who: You regardless of pack weight or experience.

What: 2016 Pacific Northwest Gathering of Gear and Geeks

When: September 16th-18th

Where: Surprise Lake, Washington.  Here’s some info: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/surprise-lake-2

(topo map at bottom of this post)

How: Hike in, have fun, hike out.  No reservation fee necessary.

Couple admin notes:

• I’m not too keen on hitting up any of the cottage industry folks for samples or freebies.  Nothing against it but it’s just not my thing.  If anyone would care to liaison with the usual suspects, or if any of the cottage industry folks reading this would like to show up to demo gear, have at it.  Please remember that this will be in a wilderness setting so any materials will need to be packed in/out and demos will need to comply with LNT principles.
• Since we’re just hiking in and don’t have a reserved spot, we’ll collectively need to be flexible on where we set up camp so not to impose on others.  If the group is the same size as last year, this shouldn’t be a problem.  If it’s much larger, that’s fine and I’m sure we can solve in on D-day.  I’ll hike in weeks prior and will give better intel and pictures prior to the event for potential campsites and contingency locations.
• Monetary reservations are not necessary but please either respond to this thread or send me a PM if you plan on showing up.  Having an idea of the group size will help tremendously with the planning.
• We had a nice show-and-tell session with gear last year with gear and Katherine demonstrated how to carry a small child using a large cloth wrapped around her body (sorry for forgetting what it was called).  I’d like to do this again but perhaps we could solicit more ideas ahead of time.  I was thinking about demonstrating how to use trekking poles as a traction splint for example.
• There will be more information later but I thought I’d get this going so folks could keep these days open.

Here’s Jerry’s trip report and a Caltopo map with his GPX tracks

http://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/South_Tieton_Hike

 

[BlackHatGuy]

I’m planning on attending. I am not planning on carrying you using a large cloth wrapped around my body, just in case you were wondering….

[Ian]

Alcon,

From Wilderness.net:

The group size limit is 12. Any combination of persons and pack or saddle stock exceeding 12 is prohibited. Groups larger than 12 must split into separate groups and remain separated by at least 1 mile and 1 hour at all times. Limits on group size help to preserve Wilderness solitude and reduce impacts to vegetation.

Our group was close to 12 last year so this could be a problem, and we’ll need to break our camps up if we exceed twelve.  I’ll call the ranger’s office as well but we had a lot of no-shows last year and I’d hate to freak them out by telling them 50 hikers are showing up and separating into multiple camps when it’ll likely be a quarter of that number.

I haven’t read the statute or actual policy yet, but if this quote is correct, we would not be able to congregate into groups larger than 12, even if we’re not camping together.  Again, I’ll contact the ranger station for guidance.

Please respond or PM me if you plan on coming.  We may need to consider another location.

[Ian]

I am not planning on carrying you using a large cloth wrapped around my body, just in case you were wondering….

I was going to suggest a rickshaw but you know wheels and wilderness don’t mix.

[Edward Jursek]

I will be there. As it just happens, I was planning on a trip to Surprise Lake at the same time!  How random!  I just might run into you guys. That is my story and I am sticking to it.

[Jerry Adams]

I’m probably 50-50.  I always go solo but that was a lot of fun at Point Reyes a year ago.  I’ll have a year and a half to decompress from that trip : )  This will be two months before the election which could be entertaining if my wife doesn’t insist we move to Canada…

[Rod Braithwaite]

As mentioned on the previous thread, I’m in.

[Curt Peterson]

I’ll be a game time decision. Might be able to join on the scouting trip though, Ian. Let me know if you want company on that.

I’ve been up there multiple times. A few quick notes as folks plan:

1. The trail in to Surprise Lake itself is nothing special. Very dusty trail that time of year. Tons of horses and horse crap. Much of the shoreline is inaccessible. Best sites are at the head of the lake. There is generally very good fishing, however, so bring your pack rod!
2. Excellent hammock hanging options. This could ease the stress of finding a large number of tent sites. You could probably hide a hundred people in the trees in some areas.
3. It would be a crime against backpacking to not plan on going into the upper basin. The only reason I’ve ever gone by Surprise Lake is on my way up there. It’s truly outstanding. One of the best alpine basins in the Cascades as far as I’m concerned. Gorgeous wide open glacier lined valley with a river winding through the middle. Warm Lake is neat. Cold Lake (longer hike) is a full on glacial puddle with the ice literally in the lake. Easy walking on the floor or ridge walking on the edges. Huge elk herd up there if you’re lucky. Should be in rut and bugling that time of year. It’s a tough hour or two from Surprise to the basin, but so very worth it. Plan on a trip up there for sure!

 

[Ian]

Here are the names of those who’ve publicly posted that they’re coming thus far, are a definite maybe, or have commented during the pre trip planning phase but haven’t said if they are coming or not:

1. Me
2. Doug
3. Rod
4. Ned is going to be there anyways
5. Alexander
6. Michael
7. George (maybe)
8. Curt (?)
9. Steven (?)
10. Katherine (probably)
11. Diane
12. Jerry (50/50)

Based on last year’s stats, roughly half the people who reserved a spot didn’t show.  It didn’t make much difference then since we were in a group campsite that could accommodate a larger group if need be.  I think Surprise Lake looks wonderful but I think it’d be wise to keep looking for other campsite options that are convenient for Seattlites and PDXers.

 

 

[Ian]

Curt,

I’d love to have company on the scouting trip.  I’ll be in touch mid summer to schedule something.

 

 

[Steven Paris]

+1 to Curt’s description of the area. I recommended this place for proximity to Ian (who drove a long way last year) and it being roughly equal driving between Portland and Seattle. I tried to say the same thing as Curt in the other thread, but everyone should know that Surprise Lake, while a very pleasant forested lake, is not the reason to go to this area. The upper valley/basin is outstanding and that’s where most of our time should be spent. I just wanted to make sure my comments in the earlier thread didn’t lead anyone to feel that is was super easy. A second day spent up in the upper basin wouldn’t be harder than the Mt. Ellinor day hike we did last year (but less people!) but no one should bring children unless they study the map well and pay attention to how uphill this is.

On the map above, the blue arrow on the right marks the TH/parking area and the light blue arrow is Surprise Lake. The two black arrows show the trail up to the alpine basin. This spur trail was easy to find but I don’t remember it being signed. Hiking up between the arrows is straightforward but does climb quite a bit. Once you have climbed this trail (at the left black arrow above), there are multiple small use/game trails going different directions. There should be plenty of places to camp on a 2d night, but no place likely to keep us all together. The pink arrow points to the upper head of the basin.

The two red arrows show a pass that goes from a side valley at the foot of Gilbert Peak over to Conrad Glacier and Cold Lake (Conrad Lake?) that I’m going to try if the weather is ok (the left red arrow is the top of the pass). The only other person I saw up there was someone very familiar with the valley (his family owns a lot of the land down near the parking area in Conrad Meadows) and I watched him head over this pass. With good weather, this is just a tough stair-stepping hike/climb (i.e., not technical). I might just go up and back down the same way since I do not know what Conrad Glacier is like. I’d just like the chance to look at the other side. The man I talked was completing this loop so it is doable.

[Ken Thompson]

What’s the current situation of this event?

[Ian]

Hi Ken.

The plan hasn’t changed and we’re moving forward with it until a better idea is presented.  I will contact the ranger station but I’m 90% sure that there is a limit to the size of the group that they will allow in a Wilderness and that it’s our responsibility to follow the spirit and letter of the law.  My plan was to reach out to those who expressed interest a month prior to see if they would confirm so we could firm up the numbers.  If we want to accommodate more people, then we’ll need to find another venue.  Unfortunately I’ve yet to find something similar to Henry Coe here in Washington where we could both hike in and have a large group so as of now, it either car camping like last year or a small group.

Nothing is engraved in stone and we can make changes as necessary.

[Ken Thompson]

Thanks. Coe is a gem. I haven’t found anywhere else comparable in all of CA.

[Jerry Adams]

the wilderness boundary is about 1 mile before Surprise Lake.  A bit before the “lollipop”

I think there are places along the South Fork Teiton River you could camp

Or, at the trailhead there’s a large area

[BlackHatGuy]

It’s beginning to look like I won’t be able to make this after all.

[Jeffs Eleven]

I’d like to go but i need to ask the bosslady. She would prolly go too. But there are sites all over the place. I mean, cant upu pitch your stuff a half- mile away and just walk to where people are chillin?  Dost that constitute a group? I would assume the mean people sleeping in the same area, not hanging out.

 

But i have also thought about the tilley jane/ cloud cap area on hood. You can drive up, you can hike up. There is a cabin run by ‘friends of tilley jane’ that i would suspect would be cool with experienced folks having a pow wow. There are maybe 20 campsites there. Also cloud cap is a short hike and there are campsites there. Hell people could park at timberline lodge and hike the 10-12(?) miles to it on the timberline trail. There is a friggin amphitheatre that i can just picture joeV pulling the oprah impersonation and giving away his favorite things

“and YOU get a duplex, and YOU get a duplex”!!

[Ian]

I like the Oprah option Jeff!

[Michael Gillenwater]

just catching up on this thread.  missed the shift over to the Trip Planning category here.

do we have an agreed meeting time (rough) on the 16th?

and what about car pooling from Seattle anyone?

[BlackHatGuy]

I’m heading up to Surprise Lake for a quick scouting trip – probably just a dayhike – next Saturday. Would be helpful to know who is still planning on attending.

FWIW, Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at the trailhead.

[Diane Pinkers]

I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it.  We’ve got real estate deals happening, and I don’t know if I will be moving, or needing to paint or clean a house or what.  Everything about this has been a complete s*** fest, and I would really like to have a backpacking trip for stress management, but everything is so up in the air, I can’t commit.  I haven’t had time for any backpacking for 2 months, because my entire 2 week vacation was devoted to moving out of our house in a big hurry, only to have the brakes put on our sale at the last second.  I’m so wicked pi****ed about the whole thing that I probably wouldn’t have any decent conversation anyway.

[BlackHatGuy]

Diane, I can commiserate. When I sold my house in Maryland I went through a similar upheaval. I had shipped most of my stuff to my brother, sold my bed, had a pretty empty house, and then one week before closing the buyer backed out. Had to borrow a bed from a neighbor while the house went back up for sale. Fortunately it sold quickly a second time, and as a benefit it sold for more than it did the first time. But for a few weeks I was sweating it, and it wasn’t fun.

Hope things smooth out for you soon.

[Ian]

Michael,

Sorry for the late reply.  I’m waiting to see what is uncovered on the scouting trip but assuming there’s a suitable campsite near the trailhead and before the wilderness area, my plan is to not take leave on Friday and arrive around 5pm or so.

[Rod Braithwaite]

Disaster for me, my plan to attend has been sideswiped by my 60th birthday, and the “surprise” party planned by family and friends. Alas.

[Ian]

Many happy returns Rod.  You will be missed but we look forward to seeing you at version 3.0.

[Author]

Posts