Posted by Steve Sieren on August 25, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Taken in the rain at Thousand Island Lake near Mammoth.
Well 8 miles of backpacking near Mammoth Lakes, CA
Not a common thing for summertime in the Sierra but still very much enjoyable. My girlfriend backpacks with me only a couple of times a year and glad at the end of the trip she didn't mention I'll never do that again. I've been experimenting with light weight backpacking and this I slept on bubble wrap. It worked fine and saved a pound or two. My 2lb Insul Mat is preffered.
haha.. bubble wrap... just hope you don't have a fitful night and pop all the bubbles. I used this pad for a while and for the weight it was decently comfortable (and indestructible): ultralight pad.
I've tried a lot of ultralight gear, including using an 8oz tarp for my sole shelter.. in the end I've come full circle back to light, but durable and comfortable gear. A few extra ounces/pounds tends to be worth it when you're already carrying 15lbs of camera gear!
Hope the rain gave you a break eventually!
Posted by Robert Dayton on August 25, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Gold (warm) and blue (cool) colors always work. This image looks like a pix
that might appear on an outdoor magazine such as Backpacker. By going to
these remote areas, you'll get images that others won't capture.
A nice classic scene! I was up in LLV over the weekend. It rained all Sat night and Sun morning. When I left, it was still raining and it looked worse to the north. I have been to 1000 Is and Garnett and had it rain for 4 days. It is unusual, but when the monsoons are in, not all that uncommon. Glad your girlfriend was a trooper and the two of you did not pop too much bubble wrap.
I use the same pad as Floris. Not as comfortable as the old ThermaRest, but it is much lighter.
Nice image, Steve! I like images that bring back memories of places I've been under similar conditions. Banner Peak is truly a nice lookng mountain!
Glad your girlfriend was a trooper and the two of you did not pop too much bubble wrap.
Too funny! I can hear it now; poppity-poppity-poppity-poppity...pop.
I tried the ultra-light routine--once. I got cold, I had bruises from stones, I was always hungry, and I hate cold coffee in the morning! I love my Thermarest!
Harley, we had rain here in the Foothills last Sunday. Krilliana said it rained most of the day in Yosemite. It looked pretty grim up toward the Sonora Pass crest. Luckily, there was very little lightning activity up high, and none here.
-P
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on August 25, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Steve, Nice shot of Banner Peak. I took my daughter backpacking for the first time and we did a 4 day trip out of Lake Sabrina. We spent Sat. night at Hungry Packer Lake (11,000') and it poured all night long. Luckily I brought the 2 man tent and, other then some middle of the night rain fly maintenance, we stayed pretty dry. I usually just bring a lightweight nylon tarp, trekking poles, some tent stakes, and make a shelter. I’ve even used my tripod for added support. This has worked well for the typical Sierra thunderstorms, but I think it would have been a wet night without the tent.
Posted by Steve Sieren on August 25, 2009 at 9:29 PM
There were a few moments of expected poppity-poppity-poppity-poppity...pops that became a laugh here and there. Trying to stay away from the sides full of condensation was the worst. She slept on my REI light core short 1.5 but was willing to swap me my bubblewrap. She was also using my winter 20 below bag which of course became way to hot in the middle of the night. Too bad it was a low pressure system coming through or we might of had some snow. No lighting at all up here either. I was getting crap for the bubble wrap on the trail too
Steve,
I've been trying to reduce backpacking weight too. Recently switched to a Hennessy Ultralight backpacking hammock. With it, you only need 1/4 inch insulation pad - only weighs 4oz. The hammock weighs 2 lbs. Sure helps when you're carrying a 4x5 and lenses. Best Regards.
Steve, this has outdoor advertisement written all over it. Heck, with a little clone job on the Eureka name it should sell very nicely. I think it's a really great shot in that context, Steve.
So far as the bubble wrap, well, do they make it in 250 lbs.per sq. inch load capacity? Just thinking out loud of course.
Discussion
12 repliesWell 8 miles of backpacking near Mammoth Lakes, CA
Not a common thing for summertime in the Sierra but still very much enjoyable. My girlfriend backpacks with me only a couple of times a year and glad at the end of the trip she didn't mention I'll never do that again. I've been experimenting with light weight backpacking and this I slept on bubble wrap. It worked fine and saved a pound or two. My 2lb Insul Mat is preffered.
Posted this in Man & Nature also.
I've tried a lot of ultralight gear, including using an 8oz tarp for my sole shelter.. in the end I've come full circle back to light, but durable and comfortable gear. A few extra ounces/pounds tends to be worth it when you're already carrying 15lbs of camera gear!
Hope the rain gave you a break eventually!
that might appear on an outdoor magazine such as Backpacker. By going to
these remote areas, you'll get images that others won't capture.
I use the same pad as Floris. Not as comfortable as the old ThermaRest, but it is much lighter.
Glad your girlfriend was a trooper and the two of you did not pop too much bubble wrap.
Too funny! I can hear it now; poppity-poppity-poppity-poppity...pop.
I tried the ultra-light routine--once. I got cold, I had bruises from stones, I was always hungry, and I hate cold coffee in the morning! I love my Thermarest!
Harley, we had rain here in the Foothills last Sunday. Krilliana said it rained most of the day in Yosemite. It looked pretty grim up toward the Sonora Pass crest. Luckily, there was very little lightning activity up high, and none here.
-P
Yes, I imagine the popity pops make things interesting...
I've been trying to reduce backpacking weight too. Recently switched to a Hennessy Ultralight backpacking hammock. With it, you only need 1/4 inch insulation pad - only weighs 4oz. The hammock weighs 2 lbs. Sure helps when you're carrying a 4x5 and lenses. Best Regards.
So far as the bubble wrap, well, do they make it in 250 lbs.per sq. inch load capacity? Just thinking out loud of course.