From November 1st through the 5th, 2008, the Student Chapter of the Society of American Foresters at NCSU were in the High Sierra wilderness, starting at Hetch Hetchy. We went into the wilderness along with a winter storm.
Half Dome, looking east in Yosemite Valley (taken on November 5th on our way back to Reno)
The infamous tarp before collapse from heavy snow. It has a layer of ice. (November 3 ~ 5:00 PM)
There were 20 of us going into the wilderness. To meet park regulations we divided into 3 groups of 8, 6 and 6.
The group of 8 included: Greg Allen, Jordan Astoske, Bill Hillmuth, Zach Manor, Philip Mead, Justin Morris, Eunsik Park and Dr. Roise. Their plan was to hike to Miguel Meadows (day 1), Tiltill Mountain (day 2),Tiltill Valley (day 3) and hike to within a couple of miles of Hetch Hetchy Dam (day 4). Hike out on day 5. They actually followed the red line on map.
One group of 6 included: Ilana Bloom-Cornelius, Lauren Forbes, Lindsay Hannum, Graham Hannum, Cormac O'Doherty and Nick Williams. Their plan was to hike to Ranchereia Falls (day 1), Tiltill Mountain (day 2), around Laurel Lake (day 3), close to Hetch Hetchy (day 4) and hike out on day 5. They actually followed the green line on map.
The other group of 6 included: Matt Cuneo, Daniel and Darla Griffith (alumni and wife), Otavio Guimaraes, Dr. James, and Susan McIntyre. Their plan was to hike up the Jack Main Canyon trail (day 1), hike over and down Tiltill Mountain (day 2), Tiltill Valley (day 3), close to Hetch Hetchy (day 4) and hike out on day 5. They actually followed the blue-violet line on map.
We all started day one at Hetch Hetchy, nobody completed the original plan, which would have included the blue line on the map.
Getting ready to go: Lindsay, Lauren, Graham, Nick and Matt
Philip, packing up.
April at start of wilderness trip
These large salamanders were everywhere (at lower elevations)
At start of trip looking up the Hetch Hetchy reservoir
Susan at start of trip.
Roise went over the cliff and we cannot find him!
Zach and Bill decided there must be a better trail.
Dam on the Hetch Hetch Valley. This is San Francisco's water supply.
Bill, Greg, Eunsik and April listening to Zach explain the meaning of life.
It was decided to take the hardest trail possible at the start. After this everything else would be easy.
Darla starts to question the sanity of this expedition.
Crossing the Hetch Hetchy Dam to get to the backcountry.
Susan doesn't like the looks of the trail that goes up the mountain behind her.
Clouds and rain welcome us into the Wilderness
April on the rocks, after making it to the top the first time. Shortly she had to go down again to help Daniel and Darla get safely back to the trailhead. The next day she (and Susan) climbed back up the mountain. April and Susan were to meet with Roise's group at Lake Venon the next day.
50% of Aprils group.
Day 2, April makes it back up the mountain to the meeting place, but Roise's group is not where they were suppose to be.
Rocks mark the trail across barren Sierra batholiths.
Where are those %#$%#*&. April and Susan ended up being their own group, while Matt and Otavio joined up with Roise's group.
Susan and April make it to Lake Vernon where they were suppose to rendezvous with the rest of their group which had joined up with the missing Roise group.
Lake Vernon
Susan and the sky.
River flowing out of Lake Vernon, which eventually flows over Wapama Falls.
Picture looking down at Lake Vernon, by April and Susan, on the hike over Mt. Gibson.
Mt. Gibson (Susan and April).
Looking back at trees growing in the batholith.
While Susan is taking this picture Roise's missing group is making their way to the clump of trees in the valley on the right opposite side of the lake.
On the hike over Mt. Gibson
Susan and April take a (what is left of their group) group photo
This is where April went toe to toe with a back bear.
April on the way down the pass over Mt. Gibson
April does not want to get lost like that other stupid group.
Down in the Tiltill Valley.
a twilight dance to give thanks to the stove for working.
Third morning in the Tiltill Valley.
Morning in Tiltill Valley
Susan appreciating the sun.
Can somebody ID this flower for us?
On the fourth day it stopped raining and snowing and the sun came out.
Looking back up where they came from yesterday.
Down by Tiltill Creek
On the north Hetch Hetchy trail, heading west.
San Francisco's water supply. Only a hydrologist could appreciate the utility of this beauty.
View south across the reservoir.
April admires the water from Lake Vernon falling over Wapama Falls
Wapama Falls
The view looking east from Wapama Falls.
Pictures from Lindsay and Nick. Lauren, Cormac, Graham, Linsday, Ilana, Nick and Roise trying to get in the picture with Nick's group.
Lindsay took this picture of Justin, Zach, Greg and Bill just before they started. Daniel Griffith in back.
Cormac and Lauren on the trail east from Hetch Hetchy.
Ilana and Graham Day 1.
Not very comfortable after a day of hiking in the cold rain
Nick and Ilana
Lindsay demonstrates her tree hugging ability.
A ponderosa blown down across the trail.
The trail maintenance crew cut a chair big enough for two.
Coming into Tiltill valley for the first time.
The beginning of day 2 for Nick's group. On the way up Tiltill Mountain.
Second night camping on the snow at about 8200 feet. A cold wet night. They were too tired/cold/wet to cook so they went to sleep without a hot dinner.
Morning of the 3rd day. A big breakfast of 2 pounds of spaghetti and sauce. Hunger makes food taste so good!
Lauren hordes over her warm hot chocolate!
MMMM, spaghetti and tacos for breakfast!
The Hannum siblings
Morning of the third day, at about 8200 feet.
The group decision was to go down to a warmer elevation. (This was smart.)
View looking down into Tiltill Valley
On the third day they were dry(er) and warm(er) and they prepared a great feast. Including hot pudding for dessert.
This made Nick happy
Morning of the 4th day. The sun comes out at last!
Lunch by Wapama Falls on the fourth day. It is warm (er) and dry.
Thankful for being alive!
Pictures from Roise's group. Justin, Bill, Zach and Jordan at the beginning.
Resting before the big climb (1 hour on the trail)
Zach, Justin, Jordan and Greg after the first couple of hours in the pouring rain, at a break at top of climb. (Day 1)
Another rest stop!
Otavio demonstrates his tree hugging skill. (Day 1)
At Miguel Meadows we found a dry spot under the porch of the Ranger Station (day 1)
We had a Korean feast cooked by Dr. Park
We also had a fire!
First night was one torrential down pour after another (1 1/2 inch of water in a pot left out)
The forest around our camp was dense growth after a fire. (day 2). We left early because we were going to meet April and Susan at Lake Vernon.
We came to a stream crossing that was flooded from the rain. (Matt Cuneo)
Eunsik Park
Dr. Roise
Frog Creek was about 4 feet deep at the crossing. We explored up and down stream but couldn't find a safe crossing.
We desided to bushwack along a ridge line going east to another trail.
With Justin leading the way, we walked through some spectacular groves of Ponderosa.
We saw many places where post fire regeneration was taking place. Parts of it burned within the last couple of years.
We hiked up mountains through dense Whitethorn shrub layers.
We kept trying to go east but cliffs and rock faces kept getting in our way.
Justin, lead the way.
we stopped to get something to eat around 2 PM, still not on a trail.
Bear scat was everywhere! It was worse than walking through a dog park.
after 4 hours we were back on the new trail, but several hours behind.
We stopped at a puddle to get some drinking water.
Bushwacking tired us out.
Except Matt
It was getting dark so we pitched camp in an old growth forest. (it rained most the night cleared up and froze )
On the third morning we got up early to get to Lake Vernon with the hope that April and Susan would wait for us there. However we ended up taking another detour.
We explored a large rock outcrop
Justin and Otavio look to be at peace, but
Not really
Otavio declared himself the winner!
Greg, Justin, Philip, Zach and Jordan. The 5 amigos
The lone photographer, Bill
Justin, Zach, Eunsik, Roise, Greg, Bill, Jordan, Matt, Philip and Otavio on the high Sierra batholith. Mt. Gibson (with Susan and April crossing) is in the back ground.
The trail over the batholith
Quaking Aspen
A message left by Susan and April.
.
The Lake Veron snow survey shelter. It also had a dry spot under the porch.
Eating lunch at Lake Vernon.
The rain stopped for a while and we tried to dry out around a fire.
Matt at the edge of Lake Vernon.
Philip at Lake Vernon
Around 4:30 PM it started to snow.
Greg, Justin, Phil, Jordan and Zach decided that they would sleep under a tarp on day three.
We ate a good dinner, it was dark so we went to sleep around 7 PM.
Over the night we received between 8 and 9 inches of snow. Throughout the night we would have to get up to clean the snow from the tents.
The tarp collapsed the first time around 9 PM, then around 11:30 PM then around 2:30 AM. It was an adventure.
Morning the 4th day and the sun was out!
We decided to hike out to Hetch Hetchy and camp there tonight. Only 12 miles to go.
A bear crosses our path.
Note that it was warmer today then the rest of the week.
Philip at the Beehive spring.
with the Hetch Hetch reservoir in the background.
with a mountain man
Looking southeast down into Hetch Hetchy Valley
Same view as above but lower in the valley.
same view but getting close to the bottom of Hetch Hetchy valley.
Everybody had the same thought, "Get back to the Hetch Hetchy base came on the fourth night".
It was a success, "20 people in 20 people out". Everybody made it back to base camp.
Zach telling the saga of the Tarp.
Many good stories were told.
The group picture, early on the 5th morning (Nov. 5th) on Hetch Hetchy Dam.
The rock climber Susan in base camp. She convinced us to take a detour into Yosemite Valley, to get the following pictures.
Susan with Half Dome
A giant Brazilian with Half Dome
A van
Bridal Vail Falls
We stopped for a bite to eat at Donner Pass.
that night back in Reno at the SAF Quiz Bowl we cleaned up and represented NCSU well (getting into the third round -only 75% of our team is in this picture, but Ilana was there so who cares what happened to Cormac?).