Attendance

Saturday, August 19

Travel day. We went up through Mojave and turned left just past Pearsonville. We went past Kennedy Meadows and checked in with the ranger and stayed in the overflow campground.

Sunday, August 20

We had breakfast in camp and headed to the trailheads. Group A (our group) went counterclockwise starting near Jackass Peak, Group B went clockwise starting near Blackrock Peak. Our trailhead was at the turn-around at the end of the road at about 8400'.

We hiked further down the road to a dirt bike trail. Dirt bike trails are too deep and dirty for good hiking. We will soon leave it. We stopped at Jackass Peak and most of us climbed it while Mrs. Hoesly guarded the packs. There was some class 3 (rock climb) near the top. It took about 40 minutes to climb up. Fun little peak. Just enough rock climb for me (i.e. simple). It rained lightly for the last half of the way up. Nature had to do something to add a challenge. There were also zillions of flying black ants at the top. I counted 4 to 6 per sq. inch. (Typical of an engineer to count them!) They squish easily in your hands. Ryan didn't want to do the last rock as it had a blind handhold that might be covered in ants. I climbed up first and assured him the handhold was ant free. Wild! There is a great view of the area including Deer, Olancha, and Monache.

We continued on down Hooker Meadow over to Lost Meadow where had a fresh turkey sandwich lunch (thanks to Bill Dixon). There are some cows in both meadows so we have to watch for cow pies. There is no water except for a puny polluted mini-stream down the meadow. The trail is not maintained here and is easily lost as it is overgrown with tree limbs. Some bush-wacking is required. We kept a careful eye on our maps and continued on until we broke out on the side of Beck Meadow. Getting to Beck Meadow was a fairly steep downhill and 100% bush-wack. We crossed the meadow near the small dam after waiting for lots of cows to move. They seem to "own" this meadow. We camped on the other side of the meadow near a spring, on a ridge, at about 8000'. Obsidian is everywhere. There are lots of small pieces. We all look for arrowhead but only Scott found a big piece that looks like it might actually be an arrowhead. We all figure some early California Indians made arrowheads here and left the scraps behind. It's neat thinking we are camping where people have stayed many years ago. My cook group fixed a spaghetti and French bread dinner. Yummy.

Monday, August 21

We got up and had a cheese omelette breakfast (yuck). Everyone then climbed Deer Mountain. On the way back we were rained on fairly heavily for the last half hour before returning to camp. We contemplated waiting the rain out in the tents, but it let up so we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, packed up, and headed up Beck Meadow. (It turns out I forgot my bear bag rope here, but that would not be obvious until later in the day.) We encountered a herd of cows at the north end of the meadow. It's the same herd that we crossed through yesterday. This time they are stationary instead of wandering. The path passed right by the edge of the herd. The bulls were standing around the outside guarding it. A white one with black spots decided we were a bit too close. He pawed the ground, did a mini-charge, and we all stopped! Sorry fella. After a long staredown, he won (no contest) and we walked around the herd. Once safely around, we had a rest break and watched the calves nurse, etc. We continued on to the South Fork of the Kern River. It is about 15' wide and 1' deep so we crossed by booting down and using water socks. Fun. Cool clean feet. The path then turned into a dirt jeep road.

We continued up Monache Meadow (the river differentiates the meadows). There were many, many 1 inch long frogs on the road. Some were bright green, some were camouflage color. The boys started counting "road-kill". They stopped at 131 out of respect for the dead. We passed Monache Mountain and a landing strip. We hiked for what appeared to be forever and finally camped at Monache Creek campground at about 7 pm. It is also at about 8000' so it was a long flat day with one peak. Everyone was very exhausted and hence tempers were short. Ryan was so tired he was close to refusing to walk any further. Rich could not cook dinner he was so tired. We had chicken rice casserole after dark. It wasn't stirred properly so some people got very spicy while others (me) got bland. We were too tired to care.

Tomorrow was supposed to be Olancha but we all decided to sleep in to 7 and do pancakes instead.

Tuesday, August 22

We had a leisurely pancake breakfast. Everyone has recuperated. We broke camp at 10:30 and hiked up Hessian Meadow to the pass. It was ham chunks for lunch and then we started up Brown Mountain. It started to rain about half of the way up. It got harder and harder and then we heard thunder but could not see the lightening. We discussed the proper lightening procedures and continued up. There were tall trees all over the mountain so our biggest danger was probably a falling tree rather than a direct strike. We could see the top when the thunder got real loud. We stopped for 20 minutes and listened and looked. We determined the lightening was coming from upwind which is also the way to the top. We reluctantly gave up and started down. Coming down the lightening was still getting louder and there were several strikes within five seconds of us. Depending on who you listen to, the closest was either one second or three seconds away. I didn't know a group could move so fast downhill! Anyway, we returned to our packs and changed from ponchos to rain suits. We continued on down to Brown Cow Camp in the rain. It soon let up and then stopped. We arrived in Brown Cow Camp about one hour later and found the other group! Neat surprise. We set up camp uphill from them in the high-rent district.

Brown Cow Camp is at about 8700' and consists of three well maintained log cabins. One main one and two bunk house/storage buildings. They have running water from a faucet, thanks to a spring. There is also an out-house, a shower, and various pieces of equipment. No one was there, and it was all locked up. We got our water from their faucet. Nice. Thanks.

Dinner was chicken a la king. Not bad. The other group did Olancha today. They just barely make the peak before weather drove them down. Tomorrow is our day. Ron and Dick advise that going up Olancha is very strenuous. The Hoeslys decide to try Brown again tomorrow with the other group and then return to camp for a nice lay-day.

Wednesday, August 23

As the rain doesn't seem to start until after lunch, we decided to get up at 4:30 so we can be on the top of Olancha by noon. We leave camp at 6:15 am. Mike (and Scott) navigate through the forest, around Buck Meadow without seeing it, and to a spring at 9800' with pinpoint accuracy by following contours. I'm impressed. We climb straight up to the Pacific Crest Trail at 10000' and follow it south for about 1/3 of a mile. Then we traverse to the left to hit the saddle on the top. Along the way we come across a large bird. Smaller than a turkey but bigger than anything else I've seen in the wild. At one point, we flushed one out that was uphill and he came down right at us as he became airborne. Scary. We continued on the the ridge which is fairly flat, and it is a hands-in-pocket walk from there. We arrive at 10:36. It is 12123', and I am stoked. Very impressive view even thought the clouds covered the view east. The view west was always clear and beautiful. It feels like being at the top of the Sears tower that has been moved to the top of the highest mountain. Nothing else for many miles is nearly this high. I write in the log book that there is a God. (In fact, this is probably where He rested on the seventh day.) No rain clouds in sight but windy and cold. We decide to eat an early chicken spread lunch on the peak. There is a Forest Service relay tower on the peak. A shed slightly below it houses the equipment. Poles with solar cells provides power. The Sierra Club has provided a neat box for the log. It is 100% weatherproof and is bolted to a rock. Ryan says only Whitney is classier. The way down is uneventful except for blisters. Mike and Scott navigate us through the forrest and we come out just right on Brown Cow Meadow. They are amazing.

We get back about 2:30 and relax for a while. I dry out my socks and Ryan's sleeping bag. The Hoesly's were successful at climbing Brown. Carol and I putter around and make bread. She supplies the labor, me the info. Since we are cook crew tonight, we have fresh bread with our Top Ramen. Everyone loved it. Dinner is Spam. Everyone feasts (except Carol who doesn't like Spam). There is enough gravy this year. Great meal, great day!

Thursday, August 24

We have a Western Omelette breakfast and break camp. We say goodbye to Brown Cow Camp and walk down Brown Meadow and cross the South Fork of the Kern River again. We all find a rock/log crossing and manage to get across without getting our feet wet. Scott finds another way and encourages his father to follow. Mike looses his footing on a slippery rock and gets his wet feet. Suspicious that Scott had a camera at the ready and got 3 pictures!

We proceed along Strawberry Meadow and see a young family who call out "hello" to us. We stop at the base of Templeton Mountain and eat a tuna lunch. Carol guards the packs and everyone else climbs Templeton (9975'). The top half is all rocks. All less than 2 feet in diameter. Just find stable ones and go up. No scrambling but it is in the sun. There are too many trees on top for a good view. On the way down, Ryan's heels are really hurting thanks to the blisters from yesterday. He does crab walks and walking backward to get down the rocks. Back on dirt he resorts to walking normally. We meet up with Carol and then proceed through Fat Cow Meadow and beyond Schaeffer Meadow. We find a level spot on a 9000' ridge and setup camp. This place has the first few mosquitos of the trip. Not really bad. I set up the tent and make like a butler for Ryan so he can stay off his feet. Dinner was Stroganoff and corn. Ryan didn't like the Stroganoff but gobbled up everyones corn. It all averages out. After dinner we fix up each others feet with moleskin and turn in early.

Friday, August 25

It's an oatmeal breakfast and we are off toward the trailhead. There are lots of downed trees and branches thanks to the rain storms. The trail deviates in places and the Vaheys' and I stay back and pull some smaller branches off the trail. One branch breaks off and I cut my finger. Ah. So much for trail work.

We go down Long Canyon which is like a long meadow. The sun is glistening off the dew and there is occasional wisps of haze. Simply beautiful. This is a great spot for a camera buff.

Saturday, August 26

Up for an early breakfast again and time to hike out. We paused at the end of trail for a group photo and then climbed Blackrock peak. The way up goes right along the boundary of the National Forrest. You don't need a barbed wire fence to know where the boundary is. The tree stumps are dead giveaways. Again, this peak has too many trees for a panoramic view but the views are still good.

Prior to departing from our respective trailheads, the drivers had exchanged spare car keys. We load into the other groups vehicles and proceed on to the ranger station to link up with them. After briefly exchanging stories we all head out for the traditional Sizzler and Baskin Robbins feast. Another successful longterm.

Submitted by Tom Thorpe

Longterm Journals