April 1999 SCREE

General Meeting

Date March 9, 2010

Time 7:30 – 9:30

Where PCC

3921 E. Bayshore Road

Palo Alto, CA

Program The Icy Slopes of Vinson Massif

Presenter Enrique Rodriguez

In January 2010, Enrique Rodriguez left sunny California for the icy slopes of Vinson Massif, the high-point for the continent of Antarctica. With cold-weather resilience developed over years of waiting for the school bus in New Hampshire and winter camping skills honed high in the alpine zone of Mt. Washington, Enrique will discuss his sub-zero expedition in pursuit of his 6th "Seven Summit."

How do you even get to Antarctica, aka "onto the ice"? What's day-to-day life like on an expedition to "the freezer"? How can you improve your resilience to cold? What gear was bulletproof and what gear totally failed? What's it like climbing with the youngest kid to climb Everest? ... the top Arabian/Palestinian woman? ... Himalayan veterans with numerous ascents of Everest?

For the answers to these questions and many more, come March 9th for an exciting multimedia journey to the coldest place on Earth!

Directions from 101

Exit at San Antonio Road, go east to the first traffic light, turn left and follow Bayshore Rd to the PCC on the corner of Corporation Way. A sign marking the PCC is out front. Park and enter in the back of the building.

Google http://tinyurl.com/28ngaw

Editor’s Notes

With only two trip reports this month, (thank you, Louise!), our focus is on planning for the summer. Below you’ll find the trips we came up with on February 23, at our planning meeting. This is a tentative list only – so be prepared for any changes and trip additions.

And here’s my plug for myself: I’m going to be presenting my second book, Get Out! 150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future (Free Spirit, 2009) at several events in the Bay Area in the next few weeks. Here are the listings: I’d love to see you there!

3/23 - East West Bookstore, 324 Castro St, Mountain View, 7:30 pm

4/15 – REI, 2450 Charleston Rd, Mountain View, 7:00 pm

4/21 – REI, 1119 Industrial Road, San Carlos, 7:00 pm

4/25 – Kepler’s Bookstore, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 11:30 am – Children’s Storytime

4/27 – REI, 145 General Stilwell Drive, Marina, 7:00pm

Judy

Chair column

As advertised in the previous Scree we had a trip planning meeting on February the 23rd. As expected we came up with an exciting list of trips. You’ll find the tentative list of trips below, but stay tuned for announcements on the website and in upcoming issues of Scree.

But while we have many trips planned, there is still room for more. Some weekends are still not taken and in other cases we could fit in easy or moderate trips in addition to the strenuous ones planned. Contact Louise if you would like to lead a trip. Or twist the arms of the existing leaders to make them lead a trip to that peak you have always wanted to climb!

As always, let me know if you are interested in giving a slideshow or know famous or infamous climbers who can be talked into it!

See you in the mountains!

Jesper

PCS Trip Calendar

These are required statements.

Note: CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Note: All Sierra Club trips require you to sign a Liability Waiver.

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/signinwaiver.pdf

March 12 - 14 – Sierra Ski Mountaineering

Leader: Louise Wholey

March 13 – Henry Coe Park

Leader: Ron Karpel

March 21 – Arun’s Annual Round Top Day Hike

Leader: Rick Booth

PCS Trip Details

Sierra Ski Mountaineering

Goal: To Be Determined

Location: To Be Determined

Dates: March 12 - 14

Leader: Louise Wholey

Difficulty: Advanced skiing skills

Come join us for our grand finale of the Backcountry Skiing Series, skiing in the High Sierra. The peak will be announced at the beginning of winter.

Requires advanced skiing skills (resort black diamond+), avalanche training. Randonee or Telemark skis, climbing skis, avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe.

Henry Coe Park

Goal: Mt. Sizer

Location: Henry Coe Park

Dates: March 13

Leader: Ron Karpel

Difficulty: 15- 20 miles/3000 – 4000 feet of elevation gain

This is a wonderful loop with great vistas from the ridge. Strenuous hike with possible stream crossings. Bring water and food for the day.
Please contact the leader if you haven't hiked with this group: Ron Karpel, ronny AT karpel.org Heavy rain cancels. Carpool: 7:30 am at Cottle & 85 Park & Ride, or 8:30 am at Henry Coe Park Hdqs.

Arun’s Annual Round Top Day Hike

Goal: Round Top

Location: Carson Pass

Date: March 21

Leader: Rick Booth

Difficulty: Ability to use snowshoes or skis, plus ice ax and crampons.

Arun isn’t dead yet but he is working on it. Join us on what has been Arun’s annual Round Top Day Hike. Arun cannot do it this year so this means you are stuck with Ron Karpel and Rick Booth. Consider yourself warned. Cat herding begins at 8:00 am at the Carson Pass Snow Park on Sunday, March 21. We will be moving by 8:30 am. Snow shoes or skis, ice ax and crampons are needed and the ability to use them. Group size limited to 12. No morons. Snow Park Pass a must. Bad weather cancels. This means rain, snow, howling wind, freezing cold, tsunami, avalanche conditions, hurricane, flood. We are fair weather climbers. Contact Rick Booth rwdbooth@gmail.com or Ron Karpel ronny@karpel.org.

Private Trip Calendar

Important: Private trips are not insured, sponsored, or supervised by the Sierra Club. They are listed here because they may be of interest to PCS members. Private trips may be submitted directly to the Scree editor.

March 6 – 7 – Yosemite-Glacier Point

Leader: Terri Michel

March 25 – 30 – Mosquito Flats Hut and Rock Creek Lodge

Leader: Terri Michel

April 1 – 4 – Late spring Ski Tour – High Sierras

Leader: Tim Hult

April 3 – 4 – Pinnacles

Leader: Jeff Fisher

May 2010 – Annapurna Loop

Leader: Warren Storkman

October 2010 – Trek into Tibet

Leader: Warren Storkman

Private Trip Details

Yosemite – Glacier Point Turnaround

Location: Badger Pass, Yosemite

Dates: March 6 – 7. 2010

Leader: Terri Michel

Difficulty: Intermediate Skiing Skills

We'll ski from Badger Pass to Glacier Point and back in one day -- for those of you with stamina! Our lodging for Fri and Sat nights is a recently remodeled charming mountain A-frame cabin in Yosemite West (convenient to Badger Pass), with great views and a hot tub on the deck. Saturday we'll ski the 22-mile round trip to Glacier Point for the spectacular views of Yosemite Valley. Sunday's options include trails near Bridalveil Creek, Dewey Pt, or tele-skiing at the Badger Pass ski area. Cost est for two nights lodging, one dinner and two breakfasts is $140 (based on avg 6 people). Due to new Sierra Club rules, you cannot write STS leaders checks for more than $50 in advance. So please send a check for $50 now and pay the remaining amount when you arrive at the trailhead. The $50 deposit is nonrefundable unless a qualified replacement is available. Limit = 8 participants. All participants must sign a Sierra Club Liability Waiver and a Sierra Club Medical form and send both completed and signed forms to the leader prior to the trip. Send your email address to obtain the forms and mail the $50 check made to: Terri Michel, 131 Ortega Ave, Mtn View, CA 94040. Leader: Terri Michel, 650 965 8456 .

Mosquito Flats Hut and Rock Creek Lodge

Location: East side - Tom’s Place

Dates: March 25 – 30, 2010

Leader: Terri Michel

Difficulty: Strong to Advanced Intermediate Skiing Skills

Five lucky people will enjoy early Spring skiing and take Thursday off work so they can have a leisurely drive to Tom's Place (near Mammoth) for Thursday night the 25th; then on Friday the 26th ski the 5 miles from the Rock Creek SnoPark to the Mosquito Flats Hut. We'll spend 3 nights at the hut so we can take advantage of glorious backcountry in the incomparable Little Lakes Valley and beyond, then return for Monday night to modern cabin accommodations (including good food, hot showers and sauna!) at Rock Creek Lodge The next day after breakfast, we'll tour back to our cars at the trailhead for the drive home. Cost est for five nights lodging, four dinners and four breakfasts is $325 (based on 5 people). Due to new Sierra Club rules, you cannot write STS leaders checks for more than $50 in advance. So please send a check for $50 now and pay the remaining amount when you arrive at the trailhead. The $50 deposit is nonrefundable unless a qualified replacement is available. Limit = 5 participants. All participants must be comfortable skiing 5 miles and 1,500' elevation gain with an overnight pack, bring metal edged skis, climbing skins, a winter sleeping bag and and avalanche transceiver. Our tours all start > 10,000' so high altitude endurance will be necessary. Participants must also sign a Sierra Club Liability Waiver and a Sierra Club Medical form and send both completed and signed forms to the leader prior to the trip. Send your email address to obtain the forms and mail the $50 check made to: Terri Michel, 131 Ortega Ave, Mtn View, CA 94040. Leaders: Terri Michel, 650 965 8456 and Janet Hoffmann, 408 374 0435

Late Spring Ski Tour – High Sierras

Route: TBD

Dates: April 1 - 4

Leader: Tim Hult

Difficulty: Excellent Skiing Skills and Winter Camping Experience

The route is TBD, but I'd like to do a 3 to 4 day ski traverse, possibly Mammoth to Yosemite, or Rock Creek to Mammoth. Otherwise open to suggestions. Mid April to Mid May are the target dates, weather and conditions dependent. Excellent skiing skills and winter camping experience required.
Contact Tim Hult for more information: timdhult at sbcglobal dot net
650-966-2215 (w)

Pinnacles

Location: Pinnacles National Monument

Dates: April 3 - 4

Leader: Jeff Fisher

Difficulty: Your choice!

Climbing, hiking and biking. Come down for the weekend or just for the day. A group camping site #134 has been reserved for the Saturday night April 3. If climbing, need shoes, harness and climbing shoes. Bring other gear if you have hit. We will meet at the Bear Gulch Ranger Station on the east side of the park at 9AM Saturday morning. Carpool from park and ride at Cottle Rd and Hwy 85 at 7AM. Carpooling encouraged because of the limited parking at the camp site. Camping fees average about $8 per person. Leader: Jeff Fisher E-mail: jeff_fisher_5252@sbcglobal.net
Co-leader wanted.

Nepal Trek

Location: Nepal

Dates: May 2010

Leader: Warren Storkman

A Nepal trek into Tibet, then Mt. Kailash – flying back from Lhasa to Kashmandu. A 22 or 23 day trek.

Nepal Trek

Location: Nepal

Dates: October 2010

Leader: Warren Storkman

Walk up Gohyo Peak and cross over a well traveled glacier to walk up Kala Patar – with the option of Everest Base Camp. An 18-day trek. For more details on both these trips, email dstorkman@aol.com or phone 650-493-8959.

Trip Reports

Backcountry Ski Series #3, Tamarack and Jake’s Peaks

February 13-14, 2010

By Louise Wholey

A huge group of skiers dwindled due to sickness and personal matters, leaving Nick Washburn, Cyndi Lee, Jim and Louise Wholey to enjoy the snow coating the Tahoe mountains. On Saturday we climbed Tamarack Peak for the great lake view and discovered that Hourglass had some very nice snow. We skied quite low where the snow continued to be silky smooth, then moved over to experience the best powder in North Bowl.

We tried another area but found crust so took one more run on the north side of Hourglass before skiing to the car. It was very nice, Nick unfortunately bid us farewell, in serious pain from his boots.

Sunday was a beautiful day, so we chose Jake’s Peak to enjoy very nice skiing above spectacular Lake Tahoe. The scenery is what makes skiing the Tahoe Peaks so outstanding.

Mt. Tallac

February 17, 2010

By Louise Wholey

My circle of women mountain climbing friends has been expanded recently by Tom Cronin’s effort to get us all in touch through Facebook. One day one of my new friends, Jackie Neau, and I decided the snow was just too good; we needed to get out skiing and boarding.

On a beautiful bluebird Wednesday, we set out for an ascent and descent of Mt. Tallac from the Northeast. At a break we had a great view of our target peak. The bowl on the upper right is the top part of the run.

The ladies posed on top of Mt. Tallac. Dick’s Peak is behind to the left.

Advanced Trip Schedule

Below you will find the tentative schedule for the next six months. Yeah! Looks exciting!

Month	Peak	Start	End	Leader	Co-leader	Class	Comments	Status

March
	Shasta in Winter	3/5/2010	3/7/2010	Tim Hult	needed	W	Tentative, depending on weather
	Ski Mountaineering	3/12/2010	3/14/2010	Louise Wholey	Jim Wholey	2W	Destination TBD	MOC ?
	Mt. Sizer	3/13/2010	3/13/2010	Ron Karpel	needed		Strenuous day-hike
	Morgan North	3/19/2010	3/21/2010	Lisa Barboza	needed	2	snow trip (4) - may be 3/27-28 ?	MOC ?


April
	Pinnacles Climbing	4/3/2010	4/4/2010	Jeff Fisher	desired	5	Annual car camp climbing trip	Private
	Sierra Ski Mountaineering	4/16/2010	4/18/2010	Louise Wholey	Jim Wholey	2W	Destination TBD	MOC ?

May
	Snowclimbing practice	3/8/2010	3/8/2010	Kelly Maas	needed	2W	Carson Pass area
	Cartago	3/15/2010	3/15/2010	Lisa Barboza	Daryn Dodge	2s3	Dayhike (long)
	Sabrina Basin Peaks	5/29/2010	6/2/2010	Lisa Barboza	needed	3	Cloudripper, Gilbert, Goode, Haeckle, Johnson, Wallace (6)	MOC ?
	Sierra Peak	5/29/2010	5/31/2010	Louise Wholey	Jim Wholey	3W		MOC ?
	Shasta - Green Butte	5/29/2010	5/31/2010	Emilie Cortes	needed	3W	Alt route West face Gully	Private

June
	Sierra Peak	6/5/2010	6/6/2010	Louise Wholey	needed	3W		MOC ?
	Mt. Mills	6/11/2010	6/12/2010	John Cheslick	Lisa Barboza		Fri - Sat (4)	MOC ?
	Lyell, Maclure	6/18/2010	6/20/2010	Ron Karpel	needed	3	3 days Fri-Sun (8)	MOC ?
	Black, Diamond	6/25/2010	6/27/2010	Daryn Dodge	Lisa Barboza	2	Kearsarge/Dragon Pass (6)	MOC ?

July
	Lone Pine Peak	7/3/2010	7/5/2009	Kelly Maas	Landa Robillard	?	route?
	Julius Caesar	7/3/2010	7/5/2009	Louise Wholey	Jim Wholey	2	Pine Creek TH
	Taboose Pass Peaks	7/10/2010	7/14/2009	Lisa Barboza	John Cheslick	3	Pyramid (S), Pinchot, Wynne, Goodale, (Perkins), 5 days (6)
	Castle Peak	7/11/2010	7/11/2010	Jim Wholey	needed	3	Day trip
	Meysan Lake	7/17/2010	7/24/2010	Aaron Schuman	needed	3	LeConte, Corcoaran, Mallory, LonePine, (Joe Devel), 1 week
	McGee Creek	7/23/2010	7/26/2009	Lisa Barboza	needed	3	Red Slate, Red&White, Baldwin, intermediate, 4 days, (6)
	Lodgepole	7/24/2010	7/31/2010	Louise Wholey	Jim, Bruce ?	3	Eagle Scout, Lion Rock, Stewart, Triple Divide, Picket Guard, 1 week

August
	Mineral King	8/1/2010	8/7/2010	Louise Wholey	Jim, Bruce	3	Sawtooth, Needham, Big and Red Kaweah, Eisen, Lippincott, 1 week
	Evolution Basin	8/14/2010	8/18/2010	Lisa Barboza	Daryn Dodge	4	The Hermit, Fiske, Huxley, Goethe, McGee, Mendel - 5 days (6)
	Table plus via Shepherd Pass	8/14/2010	8/21/2010	Louise Wholey	needed	3	Table, Cal Tech, Barnard, Trojan
	Mt. Sill	8/20/2010	8/21/2010	Kelly Maas	Landa Robillard	3 - 4	From north via glacier
	Thompson, Powell	8/21/2010	8/23/2010	Aaron Schuman	needed	3	3 days Sat - Mon
	Gardiner/Cotter	8/21/2010	8/28/2010	Jim Ramaker	needed	4	Glen Pass to Gardiner, Cotter, Fin Dome, Black, 1 week	Private
	Winchell, Agassiz	8/28/2010	8/30/2010	Jesper Shou	needed	3	Sam Mack Mdw, 3 or 4 days
	Unicorn	8/29/2010	8/29/2010	Ron Karpel	?	4	Day trip	MOC ?

September
	Whorl, Matterhorn	9/4/2010	9/6/2010	Jeff Fisher	needed	3	Labor day trip
	Piute, Petit, Volunteer	9/4/2010	9/7/2010	Louise Wholey	needed	2	4 days
	Lake Italy Peaks	9/11/2010	9/11/2010	Lisa Barboza	needed		Julius Caesar, Gabb, Hilgard, Recess (4)
	Gould & Rixford	9/18/2010	9/18/2010	Lisa Barboza	?	3	List finish - party in Independence
	Merced	9/25/2010	9/26/2010	Louise Wholey	needed	2	2 days

October
	Deerhorn, E&W Vidette	10/1/2010	10/5/2010	Lisa Barboza	Louise Wholey	3	5 days, Sat - Tues
	Black Hawk	10/16/2010	10/17/2010	Lisa Barboza	needed	2

November
	Kern Peak	11/13/2010	11/13/2010	Lisa B.	needed	1