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Backpacking with Karen

This will be a very small web page because I want to go backpacking.

Some important items for your backpacking trip.

FOOD

Bring good tasting food to eat, even if it weighs a bit more. You're going out in nature to have a good time and enjoy yourself, not for some kind of punishment.

DUCT TAPE

Don't forget to pack a roll of duct tape, you can fix anything with the stuff.

FLASH LIGHT

If you don't have a flashlight you can't see anything in the dark. Always bring an extra one too and extra batteries.

MULTI PURPOSE TOOL

Such as a Swiss army knife or a Leatherman tool. You will need this to fix broken equipment, cut branches for a shelter, cut wood for a fire. This item will always be used and if you don't have at least a knife you might not make it.

STEEL WIRE

Steel wire is an excellent substitute for screws, bolts, or any other type of fastener.

CAMPSTOVE

The Trailstove by Stratus (cost = around $20) has the lowest pack weight (weight of stove plus fuel) of any stove on the planet (it runs on wood that you pick up yourself so there's no weight of fuel at all). It boils a quart of water in about twice the time of a gas stove, but much faster than a Trangia Storm Cooker. If your thing is low pack weight then the < /FONT > Trailstove is your stove, if your thing is survival then Trailstove is also your stove. But if your dream is to be a champion of high speed water boiling I recommend something from MSR for about $150 or so.

TARP

As any hiker knows, a tarp is incredibly useful. You can make a simple shelter with it to sleep under. I normally don't bring a tent with me, I just sleep under the stars. But once in a while the weather turns ugly and then that tarp is real good to have around.

How to make a quick snow shelter

Find a flat sheltered spot for your shelter. Don't go too close to trees or big rocks since blowing snow tends to accumulate around them.
Dig a hole in the snow, about a foot longer than your body and about 3 feet wide, use the snow from the dig to build walls around the hole. Try to get one of the short sides downwind.
Keep digging until the hole is 3 ft from floor to upper edge. Keep in mind that the smaller your shelter is the warmer it will be.
Leave a 1.5x1.5 ft opening in the downwind upper short edge with a connecting corridor, this will be your door.
If you plan to use a stove in the shelter you must also make a vent opening in the side opposite to the door. This opening should be about 6x6 inches.
If possible, try to make a block of hard snow 1.5x1.5x0.5 ft to use as a door block, place this block inside the hole when you're done.

Cover half of the floor on the opposite side of the opening with soft branches to provide extra insulation from the cold snow beneath. This will be your sleeping area, you will later cover the branches with your sleeping pad. If you don't have a sleeping pad with you, make a thicker layer of branches. If it is snowing while you are building your shelter, you can do this step later, after the roof has been put up so you won't get snow on your branches.

Place a number of tree branches over the hole. Keep in mind that these branches may have to carry some heavy snow loads. You can use skis and ski poles for this purpose as well but keep in mind that you won't be able to use them again without ruining the shelter.

Cover the hole with your tarp. Attach edges and corners as well as possible with stakes made from tree branches or string to a nearby tree. Don't rely on weights such as rocks or big chunks of wood, they will start sliding. You want to make sure that there's no way that the tarp will start sagging or slip down through the openings in the ceiling.
Cover the tarp with a layer of snow for insulation. If there is powder snow available try to get a coverage of at least 3 inches. If there is no powder use wet snow or hard snow to make blocks 1.5" thick to form a sheet on top of the tarp, try to rest the blocks on the support poles and not on the tarp. If it is snowing heavily you can let nature take care of this step.

Move in to the shelter. Put your sleeping pad on the branches and sleep with your head away from the door. You can block the door opening to keep warm but you must have at least two small air vents on opposite sides of the shelter to ensure an adequate air supply.

SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
When you're using a stove in the shelter you must open both the door opening and the vent opening. Make sure that the vent opening is kept clear from falling snow on the outside, poke around with a stick periodically if needed.
If you need to urinate during the night, don't go outside in the cold. Just go on the floor inside the shelter. The urine will seep down through the snow, there will be a stained crater left but you can just cover that with some snow.

Devils Postpile National Monument

Mammoth Lakes, CA

Geologic Wonders along a River of Life

High on the western slope of the Sierra Crest, nature reveals two of its wonders - the weirdly wonderful "postpile" and the lovely San Joaquin River with its dramatic Rainbow Falls.

The geologic formation that is "the Postpile" is the world's finest example of unusual columnar basalt. Its columns of lava, with their four to seven sides, display a honeycomb pattern of order and harmony.

Another jewel in the Monument is the San Joaquin River. Along the river corridor, the Monument flourishes with life. Meadows burst forth with flowers that nourish deer, birds, and butterflies. This portion of the San Joaquin is a designated Wild Trout River where both novice and expert can play the waters for four species of trout. Lining the river are a combination of old-growth red-fir forest and new growth rejuvenated by fire. On the lower reaches of the Monument's 2.5 miles of river course, rainbows frequently sparkle over their namesake -- the 101-foot drop of Rainbow Falls.

In addition to its geologic wonders and the beauty and diversity of the San Joaquin River, the monument is a portal to the great Sierra backcountry. Some 75% of the monument is part of the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It is traversed by the historic John Muir and Pacific Crest trails; you can follow a trail from here to Mexico or Canada!

At 800 acres, Devils Postpile National Monument may be considered small by some, yet its natural and recreational values abound.

CONTACTS

Email - DEPO_Superintendent@nps.gov

Write to
P.O. Box 3999
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Phone
Headquarters - 760-934-2289 summer
Visitor Information - 760-872-4881 winter

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Summer season only: Opens in late June to early July, weather permitting. Closure in the fall depends on weather.

Ranger Station open July - August 7 am - 6 pm (closes for emergencies).

Winter months - Closed.

Getting There
PLANE - Closest commercial airport is Reno, Nevada.

CAR - Drive 10 miles west from U.S. 395 on S.R. 203 to Minaret Summit & then 7 miles on a paved, narrow mountain road. Most visitors must park at Mammoth Mountain & use the shuttle -- see "Getting around" below.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - From late June to early September, day-use visitors to the Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow area must ride the shuttle bus -- see "Getting around" below.

Accessibility
Accessibility is very limited in this remote area; none of the facilities or trails meet the ADA.

Getting Around
The road is closed from 7:30 am & 5:30 pm daily. All day-use visitors must ride a shuttle bus from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area between those hours. The first shuttle leaves at 8 am; schedules are posted there.

Shuttle Fare (buy tickets at Mammoth Mountain Inn):

*Under age 5 - FREE

*Ages 5-12 - round trip $5.50; one-way $3

*Ages 13-18 - round trip $7.50; one way $4

*Age 19 & over - round trip $9.50; one way $5

*Stop to stop within the valley (from Agnew Meadows to Reds Meadow Resort: free

*Hikers must purchase a $5 one-way ticket to exit the Valley

-Exceptions to shuttle use: walkers, bicyclists, vehicles carrying 11 or more passengers, vehicles carrying non-ambulatory passengers, people with valid camping permits, overnight guests at Reds Meadow resort or packstation, & vehicles pulling horse trailers or boats.

-Backpackers: wilderness permits do not include permission to drive to the trailheads or to the valley; you must use the shuttle or walk. Shuttles have racks which accommodate backpacks.

This shuttle system is necessary to lessen impacts on the environment & the visitor. Please relax & enjoy the view on your ride.

FEES/PERMITS

Permits
CALIFORNIA FISHING LICENSE

Required for people 16 years of age and older. The limit is 5 fish per day & 10 in possession.

CAMPING

Devils Postpile
There are 6 campgrounds in the area totaling over 180 sites. All are first-come, first-served; all close during winter. The campground in the monument, administered by the National Park Service, has 21 sites. The U.S. Forest Service administers the other 5 campgrounds: Agnew Meadows, Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Minaret Falls, & Reds Meadow. Group campsites can be reserved at Agnew Meadows & Pumice Flat: 1-877-444-6777 or www.reserveusa.com.

FACILITIES

Ranger Stations
DEVILS POSTPILE RANGER STATION
Phone - 1-760-934-2289
Available Facilities - The station is open June through August, 7am - 6 pm (occasional closures may be necessary). Stop here for information & to purchase books & maps about this fascinating area.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service

FOOD		Bring good tasting food to eat, even if it weighs a bit more. You're going out in nature to have a good time and enjoy yourself, not for some kind of punishment.
DUCT TAPE		Don't forget to pack a roll of duct tape, you can fix anything with the stuff.
FLASH LIGHT		If you don't have a flashlight you can't see anything in the dark. Always bring an extra one too and extra batteries.
MULTI PURPOSE TOOL		Such as a Swiss army knife or a Leatherman tool. You will need this to fix broken equipment, cut branches for a shelter, cut wood for a fire. This item will always be used and if you don't have at least a knife you might not make it.
STEEL WIRE		Steel wire is an excellent substitute for screws, bolts, or any other type of fastener.
CAMPSTOVE		The Trailstove by Stratus (cost = around $20) has the lowest pack weight (weight of stove plus fuel) of any stove on the planet (it runs on wood that you pick up yourself so there's no weight of fuel at all). It boils a quart of water in about twice the time of a gas stove, but much faster than a Trangia Storm Cooker. If your thing is low pack weight then the < /FONT > Trailstove is your stove, if your thing is survival then Trailstove is also your stove. But if your dream is to be a champion of high speed water boiling I recommend something from MSR for about $150 or so.
TARP		As any hiker knows, a tarp is incredibly useful. You can make a simple shelter with it to sleep under. I normally don't bring a tent with me, I just sleep under the stars. But once in a while the weather turns ugly and then that tarp is real good to have around.