Final Shakedown

It would seem that spring has officially arrived in the eastern Sierra.  While the warm weather is a welcome change of pace from that which we experienced on Mt. Whitney, it is far from good news given the light snow year.  Ignoring the fact the trip originally had a slated destination of Mt. Shasta, a good deal of fun was had by all. 

Back to the Grind

Sadly, nothing noteworthy has occurred in the last few days or weeks. The continued stress of moving and preparing keeps doing its best to get the best of me and it's doing a damn good job.  Some amateur surgery and cutting a perfectly good snowboard in half have provided a brief break from the monotony though. 

Pre-pre shakedown

I've duped yet another person into partaking in the "joys" of winter camping.  A few weekends ago we managed to get out for an outing Mt. Whitney.  Thanks to a few post-work mimosas (for the employed folk), the drive out was rather uneventful, and quiet save a Caltrans sanctioned tumble weed fire in California Valley.  We made it to Lone Pine by early evening and were able to drive all the way to the trailhead (I guess there are some upsides to low snow years) where we spent the night.  After a leisurely start, we eventually made it to Mirror Lake before altitude and fatigue crippled half of our party. We made camp in the most sheltered location possible, but sadly all the planning in the world doesn't allow you to hide from 50mph winds. While some of of enjoyed the beauty of high fiber foods, altitude, and mummy-style sleeping bags, others slept well. A cold, breezy night produced several casualties; namely our sleeping bags and a packet or two of Gu. Low spirits and stormy weather prompted our return early the next morning.  On our way out, we (re)learned the importance of properly lacing boots, and that snowshoeing is harder for some than others.  The drive home, while long, was also uneventful