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The High Sierra giveth…


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Home Forums Campfire Member Trip Reports The High Sierra giveth…

Viewing 17 posts - 1 through 17 (of 17 total)
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  • #3511797
    Adam White
    BPL Member

    @awhite4777

    Locale: On the switchbacks

    …and giveth and giveth and giveth.

    Placeholder first post, because I’m a wuss.

     

    #3511798
    Adam White
    BPL Member

    @awhite4777

    Locale: On the switchbacks

    Well BPL, it’s been a while since I posted a trip report.

    It’s not you, it’s me.

    Or rather, the other 9,831 things I’ve been trying to get done.

    Excuses aside, here’s a trip report from an adventurous (and spectacular) trip last fall to the High Sierra: https://ontheswitchbacks.wordpress.com/2017/12/26/adventure/

    I apologize for somewhat shamelessly linking to an external blog, but BPL’s forum software still drives fear into my heart. The blog is not monetized in any way.

    The trip report opens with what is likely a contentious sermon. It’s one person’s opinion, but I’d gladly welcome further discussion here, especially from BPL’s sage denizens.

    Here’s some eye candy, to complement this otherwise drab post:


    There were no mosquitoes here. Nope, definitely none. That’s the way I choose to remember it.


    Looking down on the highway below.


    A granite amphitheater*.

    * be honest, did you know there were two h’s in amphitheater? I just discovered it.


    Yonder cornice, over which we are headed.


    Mmmmm.


    It could be many places in the Sierra. But where is it?


    About to get wet feet.


    Us guys, what that done some hikin’.


    Robert stares down his nemesis.

    #3511801
    Rex Sanders
    BPL Member

    @rex

    Wonderfull writing, not a clue what route you took, mission accomplished!

    — Rex

    #3511930
    Ryan Tucker
    BPL Member

    @beartoothtucker

    Thanks for sharing.

    #3511951
    Tom K
    BPL Member

    @tom-kirchneraol-com-2

    What a great hike you guys put together.  Your TR was beautifully written, eloquently conveying your frame of mind as you worked your way through challenges and were overawed by the beauty around you.  Everything a TR should be.  Thank you, Adam, for taking the time.

    #3511955
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Great pics.

    Tom K. and I were just discussing a version of the question of leaving things unknown…to what extent it’s appropriate, possible, or pointless.

    Thanks.

    #3511956
    Mike B
    BPL Member

    @highwarlok

    Locale: Colorado

    Great trip report, I don’t blame you for pointing to the blog. You wrote a great story there, thank you for sharing.

    #3511964
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    Nice report, thanks, and your blog, some day I’m going to do a Sierras trip…

    I always question whether to put more detail in a report and thus ruin the adventure of someone finding it themselves.  And spoil the wilderness by making it too well known.

    #3511986
    Matthew / BPL
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    I have decided to totally abstain from geotagging photographs on social media.

    I have decided to not participate in Facebook groups about wilderness areas.

    I will share information with people here (especially via PM and usually with the request that they be thoughtful about how they share the information).

    Adam’s TR is great as always (I’m a big fan).

    #3515568
    Dan @ Durston Gear
    BPL Member

    @dandydan

    Locale: Canadian Rockies

    Great stuff. I recognize a couple spots but not many.

    #3516527
    Adam White
    BPL Member

    @awhite4777

    Locale: On the switchbacks

    All, thanks for the feedback!

    There’s a map in the Flickr album if you’re really jonesing for our whereabouts.

    I thought it would be fun to write a trip report with ambiguity regarding locations–might be fun for the reader to try to do some sleuthing. But I don’t think that’s the real information that ruins adventures–I think it’s the excruciating detail on route finding (GPX files, annotated photographs, “instructions”, etc.) that does. So, even with the map; I kept the spoilers out of the writing, so hopefully I’m not eroding future adventures my any measurable amount.

    Like Matt, I’m happy to share far more detail and information with anyone that desires it–but I prefer PM and offline dialogue.

    #3532108
    Andy Duncan
    BPL Member

    @bluewater

    Locale: SoCal

    Thanks for another great trip report. It was fun following along through some of my favorite High Sierra spots. . . and thanks for keeping the route vague. There are some mysterious water “features” along your route that I am glad you kept a mystery.

    I especially liked seeing the big difference in the size of the cornice at the top of a certain pass (between Amp & Dumb). I was there the year before and was able to walk right over it. . .

    #3532184
    Katherine .
    BPL Member

    @katherine

    Locale: pdx

    great writing!

    #3532416
    Tom K
    BPL Member

    @tom-kirchneraol-com-2

    “I especially liked seeing the big difference in the size of the cornice at the top of a certain pass (between Amp & Dumb). I was there the year before and was able to walk right over it. . .”

    It really threw me off.  When I passed through there in 2013, there was no cornice at all.  It was only after your comment about Amp and Dumb that I recognized the rocky run up to the pass, just below and on the right.

    #3532452
    Adam White
    BPL Member

    @awhite4777

    Locale: On the switchbacks

    Thanks all!

    A couple more pics of the much-discussed cornice (ca. 2017), for direct comparison with Andy’s image above:

    Despite how imposing it looks (especially from afar!), it was pretty trivial to bypass.

    #3532463
    Matthew / BPL
    Moderator

    @matthewkphx

    That last photo is amazing. The cornice looks massive.

    #3532468
    Erica R
    BPL Member

    @erica_rcharter-net

    Thanks! Really enjoyed your story.

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