Secondly, it gave us an opportunity to continue our endless testing of gear and techniques, and to learn from each other.
Eric, for instance, got a great opportunity to test out his new dirt bike, try to figure how to pack the gear he requires, and get by on the absolute minimum. He drove several hundred miles with that rig. (My final trip distance was 831.9 miles...)
With my taking a truck, I was elected to bring all kinds of shit... You cannot test it if you don't have it. Turns out that was a good idea...
This report, I might say, is a bit different. We will be producing two separate reports, and including both in-field journal excerpts, and after-trip comments. So you need to read them both to get the full story.
(Except for the parts where we swore, over blood, to never divulge. But of course, there are always those parts, aren't there? Heh, heh, heh...)
We both hope that you enjoy, and learn from, these reports. We sure had fun, and both thoroughly enjoy writing up our experiences for what they are worth...
As for mine:
- Journal notes will look like this:
- After-trip notes will look like this:
Here we go...
Wednesday, 7-9-03
Left home 0800 - Arrived Bridgeport 1700. Fabulous drive through mountains through Sonora Pass. Had dinner, read and tried to unwind.
Thursday, 7-10-03
After breakfast, drove north out of Bridgeport to find the public access "Fales Hot Ditch". Possibly Eric and I might stop for a dip after the trip. One of the perks of living in California is the abundance of natural hot tubs.
Spent several hours in Bodie, the old mining ghost town. Fascinating that people could live in those shacks in the vicious winters. Reportedly below zero with 100 mph winds. Still, they took something like 65 million dollars in gold out of that place.
Old Saw Mill
One of the big saws
Spent several hours reading and dozing in shade on lawn of motel. I am now officially relaxed.
Eric arrives 1500. Spent rest of day talking... Lots to catch up on.
Eric bought dinner at a very high-end restaurant. T-bone steaks. We didn't embarrass ourselves too much!
It was great to see Eric again, it has been about a year since the last time we were able to get together. That was for a very short time, as reported in my Solo Trip into the desert. We have hooked up for some kind of woods trip every year since meeting in the year 2000 Tractor Trip, in Idaho.
Lessee... First there was the Tractor Trip, then the Mini Tractor Trip with Eric, Wally & I... Wally couldn't make it this year, so... Possibly we should call this the Micro Mini Tractor Trip?
Friday, 7-11-03
The eastern side of the Sierra just ahead!!
Arrived lake area early afternoon. Found great camp spot, and spent afternoon setting up.
The Lake
I generally look for a flat spot for my bed first, but Eric, having so much more wilderness experience, looks for more. I followed behind as he went through his process for selecting a camp spot. Remember, he travels with absolute minimum, so his criteria is much more stringent than mine has been. I began my learning process...
We ended up about 100 yds down hill from the top, in a few small clusters of trees, facing the east. The camp was warmed by the early morning sun, and as the day heated up, the shade of the trees was welcomed.
(Ain't logs great to have in camp?)
One of the things I learned about while researching this location on the internet, was the "howling winds". No shit... However, our site was located such that the worst of them were blunted by the trees. Our tarps were then capable of handling whatever wind reached us...
I used a SilNylon tarp for the first time. Paper thin, it is a scary thing to rely on for shelter, but it held up very well. I set it up like a George Tent... There was lots of room underneath for my bed and all my gear, should I have needed to protect it.
The wind sure made that thing rattle!!
I was warm at night, but the new foam pad I used was miserable. I got maybe one hour of sleep. Woke the next day very tired, very sore and very stiff...
Note to self: Kill the damn foam pad.
Done...
Saturday, 7-10-03
Messed around camp fine tuning stuff and soaking up sun, waiting for Ibuprofen to take effect. Most of morning spent taking pictures. Went fishing in lake, caught a couple and released. Eric went down stream (outfall from lake), fishing survival style.
We spent a lot of time this first day discussing how we do things in the woods.... Exchanging experiences... Lots of fun, and very informative.
One of Eric's lessons: Fire dust. (Not to be confused with Fairy Dust. No prancing in the moonlight in this camp...)
We have all seen old, rotten trunks of dead trees, laying around on the ground. Eric spend some time showing me the difference in the wood, after it has broken up into small pieces. You need to find the stuff that, when pressed in the hands, breaks up with a "squeaking" feel and sound. It breaks into a very fine powder that takes a spark well... It will blow into a large cherry coal, and start your tinder burning...
Nice to know the difference, and not waste time on that stuff that would not catch a spark. Been there, lemme tell ya...
I set up cheapo hammock... It sucks. However, I did take a nap for a couple of hours. Hope to get better night's sleep tonight...
Took several short hikes for pics....
Eric made a plank plate, and we both made spoons. We used a hook knife fellow Hoodlum Chad gave to Eric...
Thanks, Chad!! It arrived the day before Eric took off. Great tool...!!
Sunday, 7-13-03.
Slept much better last night. Used full sized Thermarest. Had a great day today, physically.
Made survival fishing rig using a beer can reel, and tried it out in lake.
I am impressed with the potential of this rig! I used a small "keg" can of Heineken. The small lip at the bottom was a great aid in keeping the line on the reel. I used some 14# test Spiderline, a bubble float, and a black ant fly. No luck in the short time I played with it... Had I been using bait, like salmon eggs, powerbait or even grasshoppers, I might have done better. No matter, I was mostly playing with the concept.
As you can see from the pic, there was a "shelf" extending out into deeper water. It was difficult to get the cast out to the deeper water in most locations. In addition, the vicious winds affected the cast a lot. However, I did manage to get several casts out to about 40-50 feet.
Eric tagged along, found a spot out of the wind, and promptly fell asleep. Hummm... So, who's the smarter one here?
On toward evening, Eric cobbled up a wilderness forge. Cobbled up is the right term. Eric's name for it:
Eric played around some with my Trail Stove. Tried different orientations to wind, and eventually ended up suspending his can over it for proper results. It demands constant attention and feeding of small sticks. Little better than a campfire.
No, No! Blow, Eric! It's not a hookah... (Geeze... Musicians, ya know?)
That's better...
Eric wanted to play around with trapping some more, so I demo'd the Promontory Peg for him...
Add some bait...
Eric's serious subject for the day... Shitting in the woods. You can see it here:
Skeeters real bad tonight... No wind! Geeze, never thought I'd welcome that stuff...
Monday, 7-14-03.
Gorgeous morning... Sorry to have to leave.
Packed up, and headed to town to get cleaned up... We spent some time in the Mono County Historic Museum. What a great museum! Best I've ever seen, with lots and lots of things from the area. Much from Bodie, etc. I found a newspaper from two days after I was born in 1946... Not much has changed, apparently...
Spend a peaceful couple of hours sitting in shade, chatting... Lots to talk about...
Our conversations ranged from women to philosophy and back again. So, which category does "Does the Little Mermaid wear an alge-bra?" belong in?
Eric and I make good camp mates as we both love the solitude, and are comfortable with the quiet. Neither of us have any need to fill the silence with talk, so it makes for a peaceful camp...
We talked about his upcoming Sierra Solitude trip. Oh, boy!! It's gonna be a great report! Stay tuned for that one...
I'll finish off with some pics of various stuff...
Cook can... Note the bench seat by the fire...
Baking Bannock
The view downstream from camp...
Some sharp things I used... I'm really impressed with that cheapo Mora Knife!! I carried it as a neck knife, and used it extensively.
Well, I hope y'all enjoyed the pics... Once again, a great time in the wilds...
Bill
Sundown... End of Trip...
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Copyright © 2003 by William Hay.