From: heycke@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (Torsten Heycke)
Subject: Backpacking w/5mo old
Followup-To: rec.backcountry
Organization: Stanford U. Knowledge Systems Lab
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 21:10:29 GMT

A few weeks ago, I sent out a message requesting advice about where to
backpack in Northern/Middle CA with a 5mo old on Labor Day weekend. We were
looking to avoid people without having to hike a bazillion miles with a lot
of weight. Thanks for all the suggestions (they are posted at the bottom of
this msg).

We ended up going to Carson-Iceberg Wilderness (which is about half-way
between Yosemite and Tahoe) and were pleasantly surprised all-around. After
hiking in from Pacific Valley Campground (a mile or so from Highway 4 and a
few miles north of Alpine Lake) on Sat, we headed Southeast towards Peep
Sight Peak. After 2.5 miles of hiking, WE DIDN'T SEE A SOUL FOR THE ENTIRE
REST OF THE WEEKEND. We established a "base camp" below Peep Sight Peak,
near an unnamed creek with a small waterfall. From there we did day hikes:
we climbed Peep Sight Peak (sort of like Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz,
except for at 9700 ft), nearby Henry's Peak and around the headwaters of
the Mokulmne. We could see north to Roundtop (near Kirkwood) and Job's
Sister and Freel Peak (near S. Lake Tahoe) and south to Sonora peak (next
to 108) and Matterhorn (in Yosemite). The Dardanelles were just a hop, skip
and a jump away. Other than the ubiquitous sound of cowbells (in a
wilderness!? (see cow thread)), we could look in any direction and see
virtually no evidence of humans. While Carson/Iceberg may not offer the
spectacular majestic views of Yosemite, it does offers a host of other
virtues and is very nice from the solitude perspective. 

We were a group of five, two 60-year olds, my wife Beth, myself and our
daughter Hanna (the 5 mo old). While backpacking in, I carried Hanna (about
17 pounds, 25/26 inches) in a front pack and a backpack on my back. Total
weight around 55-60 pounds, which is decidedly too heavy for my bony
shoulders. 

For day hikes, we used a Tough Traveler (brand name) back-pack, specially
made for carrying kids. Hanna was just big enough (barely) to sit with her
head high enough to see over the edge. These are very nice packs (available
from REI, and I don't know the price because it was given to us as a gift).

On most hikes, Hanna fell asleep. But on some, she seemed very curious
about the trees, rocks, flowers, creeks and the aforementioned cows.

The first night, the temp. got down well below freezing and Hanna slept in
a small bassinet (which my wife insisted we bring--she carried it). She
slept... well, like a baby (this is actually a stupid thing to say, since
most parents know that sleeping like a baby could mean waking up at all
hours of the night). Anyway, she slept the whole night through.

Subsequent nights weren't as good, and now I'm wondering if the iodine we
used to treat the creek water made it into the breast milk and made her a
little hyperactive (I've heard that iodine affects the Thyroid gland:
anyone else know anything about this?).

Backpacking with 5 mo olds can be delightful, but there are also moments
when both parents would like to just sit and read, and the rug rat wants to
play. You also have to be constantly vigilant that the kid isn't getting
sun (or if she is, that you use some kind of skin cream that won't harm her
skin), that she isn't eating dirt, etc. I suppose this is no different that
the potential hazards of home, but, at home it is easy to set up the
environment. In a wilderness area, you can't control the winds that blow
down the pine cones that startle your child (happened).

Anyway, here are some of the other suggestions about where to go (there
were also several folks who asked that I not divulge their suggestions to
the net and I am honoring that request).

-----------------------------------------------
From: David Paul Encisco <dencisco@eos.arc.nasa.gov>
To: heycke@sumex-aim.stanford.edu

In rec.backcountry you write:

>I'm new to the group, so please forgive me if something along these lines
>has been discussed in the all-too-recent past. 

Well it's about time you started to make some contributions to this
group!

(portion deleted)

I love Kings Canyon; heading up
Bubbs Creek would be nice (popular), Moose Lake from Long Meadows is
nice (though it's a climb), north of the Dardanelles is nice.

>We're considering Saddlebag Lake area (just east of Yosemite, off Tioga
>Rd).

Popular, volcanic sand, and can be entered from 395 as well. If you're
interested in the east side it's better to drive into Walker Lake
from 395 and hike up into the Mono Pass area or Trumbull/Virginia
Lakes off 395 and hike into Summit Lake or Hoover Lake or even Virginia
Canyon. It's been years since I went back into these places, but
I'm sure you'd get away from some of the Labor Day crowd.

Dave
------------------------------------------------------
From: johnf@auspex.com (John Fereira)
To: heycke@sumex-aim.stanford.edu

In article <heycke-260892113523@ksl-mac-98.stanford.edu> you write:
|We're considering Saddlebag Lake area (just east of Yosemite, off Tioga
|Rd).

Sorry about the empty message.  Ole fumble fingers did it again.

The 20 Lakes Basin area behind Saddlebag lake is one of my favorite places.
It is quite accessible and because of the shuttleboat to the other end of 
the late can also get quite crowded.  It can also get very cold at night
this late in the year as it is over 10,000'.  I got snowed on last Sept.
when I was there.  There are many other places in the area as well.  The
Twin lakes area near Bridgeport might be less crowded but is just as
accessible.  Generally the east side of the Sierras going to be less
crowded. 
-------------------

From: flb@lune.berkeley.edu
To: heycke@sumex-aim.stanford.edu


Torsten,

The best place I know of for a short hike to a pretty place is
Ostrander Lake in southern Yosemite.  It's not 3-4 miles (more like
6-7), but it's very nice.  Trailhead is on Glacier Point Road
several miles past the Bridalveil campground.

There are some routes from the Tioga road to Yosemite Valley that
are relatively short (again, 6-7 miles), but are fine for a one-way
overnight.

Have fun,

Lee Burghardt
U.C. Berkeley

---------------

From: Samson Tu <tu@camis.stanford.edu>
To: torsten

Torsten,

I saw your message in the rec.backcountry newsgroup. I have some books
that describe trails in the Sierras. Would you be interested in taking
a look?

Have you considered the Eastern Sierra? There are a lot of alpine
lakes easily accessible from the east side.

---------------



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