Nostr notes by JDS

7/ after overnight at Little Jimmy camp, up Mt Williamson in the ...

2026-04-06T14:37:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…p0ky
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7/ after overnight at Little Jimmy camp, up Mt Williamson in the morning, then the endangered frog roadwalk detour, then friends of my hiker rolled up and come with us through the Cooper canyon tangles. After a hard climb up Cloudburst my hiker was done. 5 miles to camp wasn't going to happen. We decided to just try to get to the vehicles at 3 Points trailhead and maybe stealth camp nearby. Got to the trailhead and '23 hiker Recon and his dad were doing trail magic! Dinner!

6a/ sidetrail: the noticeable lack of early people, especially ...

2026-04-06T06:57:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…nfp2
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6a/ sidetrail: the noticeable lack of early people, especially snow experienced early people, to me confirms the theory that lower permit demand this year is in part due to less international hikers. The way it normally works is the spike is full of try hard Europeans racing each other to be the first over each mountain range in the snow. That's northbound PCT in the spring and it doesn't exist this year. The head of the spike is a woman from Montreal in her 20s and there's a couple Swiss hikers behind her and a Swede and that's it. Bunch of confused American kids behind them and still permit openings.

6/ we got dropped off Saturday at the trailhead and bumped into ...

2026-04-06T06:39:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…lctv
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6/ we got dropped off Saturday at the trailhead and bumped into several hikers from my hiker's bubble so we all went up Baden Powell together. Hasn't been much northbound flow since I passed 2 weeks ago and many hikers who've come this far are still apprehensive. I led anyone that tagged along around the snow to the summit and over the ridge to Little Jimmy camp avoiding the snow covered trail. Seemed appreciated, several mentioned they wouldn't have gone or would have turned around.

5a/ sidetrail: connecting with this particular trail angel was ...

2026-04-06T06:00:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…74ut
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5a/ sidetrail: connecting with this particular trail angel was serendipitous as they're a nexus type of person. I'm connected with a couple of trail angels up and down trail from me and we forward people along to each other but this is a different level. There are people who actively help hikers suffering from harassment and stalking to transfer between large segments of the trail for their safety. Getting to know this trail angel has given me an opportunity to get involved.

5/ ok, present me (pic 1, Sunday?) will fill you in. Things ...

2026-04-06T05:48:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…xe3w
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5/ ok, present me (pic 1, Sunday?) will fill you in. Things change fast. Got out of the Hwy 2 closure Friday morning, kept walking to Wrightwood. My hiker (third day fog soaked, cold, on the other side of Wrightwood) got picked up by a trail angel offering laundry, shower, overnight stay. They accepted, mentioned me, next thing I knew I was picked up and whisked to a warm shower, pancake breakfast, town day, buffet dinner, and a bed. 🔀

4/ I knew the road was bad but I had no idea there were complete ...

2026-04-04T14:59:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…zmyc
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4/ I knew the road was bad but I had no idea there were complete washout sections that have also closed it to pedestrians this year. I got by all this and booked it to get to the end of the closure before work trucks arrived. I almost made it but ran into one crew. Chatted and they confirmed the road is fully closed and enforcement has been out issuing fines. I updated comments on the PCT trail app with the info, jogged down to the gate and got out.

3/ going through more pictures as the overnight roadwalk ...

2026-04-04T11:12:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…84nz
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3/ going through more pictures as the overnight roadwalk continued. Walking the tunnels was fun. Then lots more washouts. Many had debris piled in front to mark safe area for work trucks, but many did not and I had to make sure not to get distracted on the phone and waltz off one.

2/ overnight road walk was awesome in the literal sense. Just ...

2026-04-04T00:25:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…uu53
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2/ overnight road walk was awesome in the literal sense. Just past full moon, closed road, easy to move, no light needed. Dramatic water damage from this winter every quarter mile. By far the worst I've ever seen, little did I know what I'd encounter in the morning.

1/ Late start as usual. Left home at eleven and got to the ...

2026-04-03T10:36:22Z

1/ Late start as usual. Left home at eleven and got to the trailhead after midnight. Overnight road walking Highway Two closure 26 miles through the san gabriel mountains right now to meet with a hiker I'm supporting. Friend from trail maintenance is thru hiking this year. Noticed, they were a little discouraged going through Whitewater creek washouts last section, so I'll keep them company through the messy bits here.

I'm just staying out of the snow completely 😅

2026-03-28T17:23:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…869y
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I'm just staying out of the snow completely 😅

6/ my volunteer trail crew chief got in touch randomly day one ...

2026-03-22T20:59:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…fegn
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6/ my volunteer trail crew chief got in touch randomly day one and when he realized where I was hiking he asked if I could scout the wilderness zone approaching Islip saddle and Mt Williamson for an upcoming project. Good timing, hope it helped. They were aware of a lot of these but I was able to extend the known issues. They cleared this all with hand tools yesterday and today.

5/ day one continued after covering the ridge west of Baden ...

2026-03-22T19:51:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…ts8z
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5/ day one continued after covering the ridge west of Baden Powell down to Little Jimmy spring and then sunset at Islip saddle before going over Williamson to get city lights of Los Angeles after dark. Past Williamson the endangered frog closure left 2.7 miles of roadwalk detour down to Buckhorn camp to end the day (~31 miles / 8,000 feet of climbing, the big hump of the route)

4/ a couple bonus shots from up on Baden Powell. Wally the ...

2026-03-22T16:14:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…frxs
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4/ a couple bonus shots from up on Baden Powell. Wally the ancient limber pine clinging to the ridge and looking east to Mt San Antonio and Pine Mountain's west ridge.

3/ views got more dramatic approaching and hiking up Baden ...

2026-03-22T01:59:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…h7t5
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3/ views got more dramatic approaching and hiking up Baden Powell. Just wore trail running shoes for the three days since I anticipated no snow except this area. Carried an ice axe and microspikes though which helped for the final mile to the summit that was just steep boot pack. Nice juxtaposition to the rest of the hike and satisfying lunch up top where it was dry (op pic).

2/ went up Acorn trail from Wrightwood late Tuesday night so I ...

2026-03-21T22:13:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…uad2
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2/ went up Acorn trail from Wrightwood late Tuesday night so I could already be up on PCT in the morning and get an early start for day one. Hope for the day was to get up and over Mt Baden Powell and past all the snow before dark. Nice morning color with great views of Iron and Pine mountains.

1/ got a few days on Pacific Crest Trail section D northbound ...

2026-03-21T15:14:16Z

1/ got a few days on Pacific Crest Trail section D northbound from Wrightwood home to Agua Dulce. 92-ish miles across the San Gabriel mountains, daily 30s. Been across this section many times both ways all seasons with and without a sleep system. Familiarity delivers novelty in the form of change. The differences increase each time. Wanted to check snow on the high peaks (melting), look for any early thru hikers (none), and scout issues for my trail crew (lots). Great trip!

Whole bunch of food prep. Want to enjoy this warm spell passing ...

2026-03-18T05:25:49Z

Whole bunch of food prep. Want to enjoy this warm spell passing the next few days.

8/ total numbers and clipstream Distance: 107.5 miles (30.69, ...

2026-03-10T18:02:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…vav4
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8/ total numbers and clipstream

Distance: 107.5 miles (30.69, 38.58, 38.27)
Climbing: 16,834 feet (5440, 6056, 5338)
Temps: 25.6-82 (25.6-65.5, 32-72.7, 36.2-82)

7/ day 3: spent the rest of yesterday hopping canyons and water ...

2026-03-09T18:06:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…3xl5
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7/ day 3: spent the rest of yesterday hopping canyons and water caches and picnicking across the sierra Pelona. Perfect weather, warm but dry with constant cool breeze. Lots of shade and flowing creeks everywhere. Brought filter and tabs but the caches were full since it's just us locals out here still. Got to Agua Dulce by midnight.

6/ day 3: stopped a little short of my objective last night for ...

2026-03-08T17:28:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…vhwy
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6/ day 3: stopped a little short of my objective last night for an opportune water source for morning. Moving along now, it'll be a long day with the time change. Moving across the entire Sierra Pelona range. I like this part, nice and hilly and green all the way home.

5/ day 2: continued up Liebre mountain to the top of the range. ...

2026-03-08T04:42:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…a854
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5/ day 2: continued up Liebre mountain to the top of the range. Lots of wildflowers. Had dinner after dark up top. Cozied up with night layers and a light. There's a tent site in 16 miles I'd like to stop at. That will put me at 34 miles from home for tomorrow. I'd planned today to cover the bulk. Chilly but not as cold or windy as up on the Tehachapi mountains previously.

4/ day 2: woke up in the southern windfarm and crossed the desert ...

2026-03-07T21:20:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…983h
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4/ day 2: woke up in the southern windfarm and crossed the desert this morning. Looks like I was sharing the road with a mountain lion. On the bottom slopes of the sierra Pelona now (3000 feet). I'll have lunch and then afternoon hike up to the ridge (5700 feet). Dinner there, then evening hike. Usually lots of poppies in the foothills.

3/ been a great night hike though the south windfarm. Warmer down ...

2026-03-07T04:55:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…qggl
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3/ been a great night hike though the south windfarm. Warmer down on the desert side and less wind tonight. Lots of poppies out on the south slopes. Going to sleep early and cover some bigger distance tomorrow.

2/ over the hill and down into the other wind farm on the other ...

2026-03-07T02:35:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…jj70
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2/ over the hill and down into the other wind farm on the other side of the Tehachapi mountains. Had dinner, 5 miles to the water cache where I'll stop for the night. It'll be 31 and a half miles for the day, been great!

1/ 113 miles home. Slept in the windfarm last night so I could ...

2026-03-06T16:27:42Z

1/ 113 miles home. Slept in the windfarm last night so I could get an early start south back to Agua Dulce. Quick Section E sobo lash before the thru hiker herd arrives. Cold and windy last night!

Trail work project this past weekend. 3 days back on San Jacinto ...

2026-03-03T16:21:04Z

Trail work project this past weekend. 3 days back on San Jacinto clearing overgrowth and re-treading the trail. Had a good group of people and one red diamond rattler on the way out. Getting hot! Maybe the last project over there for the season.

2 day PCT hike-in trail work on San Jacinto a few days back. I ...

2026-02-25T22:09:01Z

2 day PCT hike-in trail work on San Jacinto a few days back. I love the north side, best summit and desert views, and the lower trail feels like a botanical garden. I've hiked up from here before. We're taking advantage of seasonal creek flow to get some work done before the real heat. Trail is completely overgrown. A lot of cutting and digging back with hand tools hiked 6 miles up to camp.

Some pics from a trail work project a week ago. Huge washout, ...

2026-02-23T19:44:50Z

Some pics from a trail work project a week ago. Huge washout, lots of rock work and rerouting and tread work. Took a couple of days but it was great crisp sunny weather.

I often catch myself scanning the area for raw materials to ...

2026-01-26T21:12:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…qmfn
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I often catch myself scanning the area for raw materials to fashion an incendiary device should I come under attack

Rocks looked kind of pretty today. ...

2026-01-26T20:02:59Z

Rocks looked kind of pretty today.

expectations were low (it's obvious YA) but it's ...

2026-01-23T05:09:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…u9hj
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expectations were low (it's obvious YA) but it's aggressively bad

Accidentally watched one of the Starfleet Academy episodes. ...

2026-01-22T16:49:46Z

Accidentally watched one of the Starfleet Academy episodes. Typical Kurtzman 'trek' tedium.

Got some olives off one tree before the birds. A little beat up ...

2026-01-06T18:44:27Z

Got some olives off one tree before the birds. A little beat up but I've done a few salt soaks so they're heading into a proper vinegar brine for the long soak next.

Noticed this Bigfoot shadow at the park the other day. ...

2026-01-04T05:08:25Z

Noticed this Bigfoot shadow at the park the other day.

Growing, still not on ...

2025-12-16T18:35:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…pljq
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Growing, still not on [@watchduty_bot](https://m.ai6yr.org/@watchduty_bot ) and no heli activity #Fire #WildFire #CAfire

I don't see this fire on Watch Duty yet

2025-12-16T18:13:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…qyjj
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I don't see this fire on Watch Duty yet

Fire south of Mt Gleason in the San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles ...

2025-12-16T18:11:10Z

Fire south of Mt Gleason in the San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest.

7/ Bonus pics hiking down. Exiting the bowl toward Trail Camp, ...

2025-12-16T15:11:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…ftp7
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7/ Bonus pics hiking down. Exiting the bowl toward Trail Camp, picnic at Trail Camp, the buried Trail Camp sign, and a frozen Consultation lake beneath Mt Irvine.

6/ Some pin drop silence for sunday. ...

2025-12-14T15:29:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…8n3j
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6/ Some pin drop silence for sunday.

5/ picnic at 13,000 feet on Trail Crest, buried John Muir Trail ...

2025-12-14T02:39:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…ee47
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5/ picnic at 13,000 feet on Trail Crest, buried John Muir Trail junction sign (can you see it?), as far as I got along the crest by Mt Muir where the boot pack ended (can you see the summit hut up ahead?), and another picnic up on the back slope after turning around.

Boot pack ended and people were climbing over Mt Muir's shoulder to continue. Looked tedious. I'd already had my climbing fun on the chute so I turned around there happy to be able to hike back down in sunlight.

4/ Views at the top of the chute above TrailCrest. Chute climb ...

2025-12-13T18:56:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…qvjh
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4/ Views at the top of the chute above TrailCrest. Chute climb was fun, mostly firm crust. Went straight up in alpine snowshoes with integrated crampon and heal lift (almost cheating really). Softer near the top but nice switchback foot pack shelves for the last few hundred feet. Bluebird conditions, dead silent with no wind.

3/ didn't pull the phone out much moving with snowshoes and ...

2025-12-13T06:19:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…mcns
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3/ didn't pull the phone out much moving with snowshoes and trekking poles but something up past Trail camp in the bowl below the chute caught my eye. From far away I swore it was a person but it was just some sticks marking what I thought were dugout bivy sites. However after seeing the recent news stories about the missing hiker search, it's possible this was a search site and excavations. They weren't tent shaped, or arranged like a camp, and no other signs of camping. AI6YR Ben (npub1ucv…5a8g)

2/ Fuzzy dawn impressions while moving up the trail. I was up ...

2025-12-12T23:33:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…7tja
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2/ Fuzzy dawn impressions while moving up the trail. I was up over Mirror lake where the winter route begins to diverge south of Trailside meadow but not high enough to get any color. Makes me appreciate the times I've been up inside the momentary glow even more.

1/ It's been a couple weeks of sun since the snow. I saw a ...

2025-12-12T18:08:51Z

1/ It's been a couple weeks of sun since the snow. I saw a zero wind day on the forecast so I went to have a look up Whitney main trail from the road (no summit). Fuzzy hand held phone night shots but you can squint and use your imagination.

wow, what a capture 👏

2025-12-10T05:37:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…505c
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wow, what a capture 👏

🤣🤣

2025-12-10T05:32:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…0ytu
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🤣🤣

395 is a gem full of gems ...

2025-12-10T02:00:36Z

395 is a gem full of gems

Got a bunch of persimmons and tangerines from my sister's ...

2025-12-09T06:48:18Z

Got a bunch of persimmons and tangerines from my sister's trees at Thanksgiving. Decided to use a few to make some Italian ice. Good flavor and texture.

kept my legs warm!

2025-12-05T06:39:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…d8u6
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kept my legs warm!

Diva likes my curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket program ...

2025-12-05T00:26:53Z

Diva likes my curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket program here. She's tucked right in with me. Been getting over a cold. Busy with holidays, family, and work. Feels nice to take a couple days off, finished a lot of work recently anyway so I can coast.

1/ rainy PCT bug out. Felt like listening to rain on a tarp I so ...

2025-11-15T23:18:36Z

1/ rainy PCT bug out. Felt like listening to rain on a tarp I so grabbed some gear and I'm heading south from home for the night to check out this weather.

8/ lots of color with sunrise. I took all the usual photos that ...

2025-11-13T07:33:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…u8g7
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8/ lots of color with sunrise. I took all the usual photos that I've shared before. Some different angles here.

this is true, I always pull my buff up when bivying around rodent ...

2025-11-12T18:38:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…rrxg
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this is true, I always pull my buff up when bivying around rodent potential but a mask is perfect. No hardship to carry either, great point.

7/ admittedly, did stay in the hut. It's a gray area. I ...

2025-11-12T15:55:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…r6yc
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7/ admittedly, did stay in the hut. It's a gray area. I mostly avoid it and don't share on popular social media. It exists for a reason, but it's not an official camp site. I prefer open air anyway and have rodent dropping / hanta virus concerns in these huts. Didn't feel like waiting for the evening breeze to pass though and it is a stone building. I want to say 7th night on this summit, but I'm losing track.

6/ 💙👽 someone commented the other day that it feels like ...

2025-11-11T19:11:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…m0ge
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6/ 💙👽 someone commented the other day that it feels like the Sierra is holding its breath for winter and they couldn't have described it better. Really feels like we're in the calm before the storm. Apart from the dusk/dawn breeze it was almost spooky silent all night.

5/ great colors continued after sunset in every direction. ...

2025-11-11T06:24:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…r5ts
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5/ great colors continued after sunset in every direction. It's impossible to get a flattering pic of Mt Russel (3rd pic) from Whitney looking down. The Kaweah's to the west behind the hut looked spectacular though.

4/ nice momentary flash of alpenglow color on neighboring peaks ...

2025-11-10T20:28:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…6adw
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4/ nice momentary flash of alpenglow color on neighboring peaks at sunset. McAdie looking particularly stunning.

so dreamy, great views!

2025-11-10T19:55:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…kadj
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so dreamy, great views!

3/ I love the mellow pace of hiking for sunset at Whitney. ...

2025-11-10T15:55:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…fclc
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3/ I love the mellow pace of hiking for sunset at Whitney. Everyone is going down to be off the switchbacks by dark, back to camp by dark, etc. Then you get to the top and no one is there and no one is coming.

2/ went up Whitney Saturday to take advantage of the clear skies ...

2025-11-10T05:51:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…e7p2
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2/ went up Whitney Saturday to take advantage of the clear skies and low wind before this week's coming storm. Remaining snow is squeaky, packed, and grippy.

1/ I guess I'm the highest tonight ...

2025-11-09T01:33:58Z

1/ I guess I'm the highest tonight

8/ felt good to be off the snowy pass and back into sunlight. ...

2025-11-04T16:52:59Z

In reply to nevent1q…latv
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8/ felt good to be off the snowy pass and back into sunlight. Lake 4 is particularly scenic. I like the drop-off shelf on the one end and looking back at the pass on the other. You can see the long high diagonal of the 'trail' going downward to the left from the notch.

7/ weather wise, it stayed below freezing up on the pass all ...

2025-11-04T05:57:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…adff
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7/ weather wise, it stayed below freezing up on the pass all night above 12,000 feet with a low of 26.4 F. Clear and no wind though. Still comfortable in the bivy with the summer quilt, foam pad, and vapor barrier liner. Have to switch to the winter quilt and inflatable pad eventually though.

6/ Went down Old Army pass on the way down. Already troublesome ...

2025-11-01T13:14:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…3hea
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6/ Went down Old Army pass on the way down. Already troublesome snow drifted and frozen over the trail on the washed out spots. Some footprints but mostly had to kick in new steps. Crust was hard and a few inches thick in places and had to be whacked severely with my axe adze to be able to punch through with my boot. Slow but fun. Had the gear so took my time.

5/ Mid day washed out summit views. Looking down Tuttle creek ...

2025-11-01T05:51:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…xlel
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5/ Mid day washed out summit views. Looking down Tuttle creek drainage, summit survey marker, one little cloud over the Kaweahs, Cirque peak dusted in powdered sugar.

4/ Sunrise continued to pour color in every direction. ...

2025-10-31T15:59:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…cx7l
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4/ Sunrise continued to pour color in every direction.

3/ Great color to the west before sunrise. ...

2025-10-31T05:47:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…zrp6
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3/ Great color to the west before sunrise.

it was really clear. So clear that I was seeing light pollution ...

2025-10-31T05:24:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…6kdm
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it was really clear. So clear that I was seeing light pollution in every direction that's usually hidden by low cloud I guess?

2/ Tucked into a good spot for the night facing east so I could ...

2025-10-31T01:22:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…yfww
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2/ Tucked into a good spot for the night facing east so I could see the earliest glow.

1/ Went to have a look at what autumn is doing. Night hiked up ...

2025-10-30T17:38:28Z

1/ Went to have a look at what autumn is doing. Night hiked up New Army pass and bivied on top, trail up was clear. Most of the snow is gone in the high meadows and south facing slopes.

Baby potatoes are huge this year ...

2025-10-22T17:32:49Z

Baby potatoes are huge this year

6/ Clip shenanigans. I love moving overnight. Morning transforms ...

2025-10-22T03:21:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…54es
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6/ Clip shenanigans. I love moving overnight. Morning transforms everything and you really feel how short night is when your goal is to rendezvous with the sun.

5/ Snow stayed fluffy, fun, and decorative across Trail Crest and ...

2025-10-22T01:18:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…sgfw
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5/ Snow stayed fluffy, fun, and decorative across Trail Crest and down the switchbacks to Trail Camp at 12,000 feet. Fun sunny day exiting.

4/ The sun though, really brings the color. Bit of haze on the ...

2025-10-21T17:38:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…ke9a
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4/ The sun though, really brings the color. Bit of haze on the eastern horizon lit everything up with an orange fuchsia glow.

3/ Very colorful morning even from before the sun. I need to ...

2025-10-20T23:30:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…p399
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3/ Very colorful morning even from before the sun. I need to record 360 time lapses so I can look in all directions.

oh for sure. I didn't think it would be dangerous but you ...

2025-10-20T22:48:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…fdzj
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oh for sure. I didn't think it would be dangerous but you never know. Expected to use them for helpful traction but the path was packed just right, not loose and not ice. I wear my helmet when I get up into mixed snow and rock, but more for comfort than necessity. Same for ice axe. I pull it out when it's high and steep but mostly because I enjoy holding it, tapping everything, and using it like a cane to step up big rocks.

brought crampons but didn't use them. Snow underfoot was ...

2025-10-20T20:01:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…5wmy
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brought crampons but didn't use them. Snow underfoot was scrunchy and grippy, the boot pack on trail was trenched, and the rest of the snow on slopes was soft powder with no base beneath so there was no real fall risk. Wore boots with a good hard heel and that was fine. Tall gaiters kept the snow off.

2/ first significant snow storm Tuesday stopped all Mt Whitney ...

2025-10-20T14:46:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…x64n
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2/ first significant snow storm Tuesday stopped all Mt Whitney hikers until some fool broke trail to the summit Friday (and had to get air lifted out from frostbite). Had a look yesterday, went overnight for best snow. Started 10pm Saturday and summited 6am. Waited for 7am sunrise, saw the first people an hour later while descending.

🕉 Om Namah Shivaya ...

2025-10-19T14:13:21Z

🕉 Om Namah Shivaya 👁🌙🏞🔱🐍🐅⚱️🐊⭕️💀🪘 Har Har Mahadev 💙 Love you all so much right now. Have a great day. I got to go down now 👋

Still, it's a fun route. ...

2025-10-17T02:10:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…jehs
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Still, it's a fun route.

1/ Some SoCal fall color courtesy of the Bridge fire. ...

2025-10-14T15:06:13Z

1/ Some SoCal fall color courtesy of the Bridge fire. Wrightwood's Acorn trail and Pacific Crest Trail to Inspiration point is completely demolished. Went up Mt Baldy the back way from Wrightwood on Sunday before the snow today. First time since the fire. Pretty scary how bad this one was.

oh don't worry, I changed my LinkedIn header to: "very ...

2025-10-08T17:34:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…75kd
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oh don't worry, I changed my LinkedIn header to: "very anti-AI Game Developer" 😎🤘

"Ultimately, the team is very pro-AI" - did not get the ...

2025-10-08T15:39:06Z

"Ultimately, the team is very pro-AI" - did not get the job 🙄

Wild how the correct answer in an interview nowadays is: "yes I like to burn down the planet to use inferior tools with predatory licensing models"

My bad for bothering to talk to a non-AAA studio but regardless an interesting canary in the mine here.

Bobcat visitor. Rather large, assumed it was a coyote when I ...

2025-10-08T03:07:29Z

Bobcat visitor. Rather large, assumed it was a coyote when I first noticed something moving.

5/ The psychology of popular places like Mt Whitney is ...

2025-10-07T15:20:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…u3jr
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5/ The psychology of popular places like Mt Whitney is interesting. I forget many people are doing a once in a lifetime thing and maybe get a couple hikes a year. When I stop and chat anything can happen so I've learned to small talk and shield my psyche.

Often it's tired day hikers descending on their 18th hour in a mood. Could be people breaking down emotionally because they can't continue up. Or angry people coming down who quit. Or sour people on their way up who missed sunrise. + the group dynamic version of all those. People can get riled up because they've invested a lot in an expectation.

Most are open and excited as I am, but people in a state will drop landmines into your consciousness. It's dangerous in a place where your mindset may be the most important gear you brought to accomplish and enjoy your day.

This day was the night storm. Everyone descending had quit and tried to convince me the weather up there was terrible and I wasn't prepared (tho it had already cleared). Nod and say thanks!

4/ I've done this a lot so I have a lot of data to compare. ...

2025-10-06T16:42:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…mt99
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4/ I've done this a lot so I have a lot of data to compare. Interesting how low I've brought the effort. I basically apply LSD/Maffetone method to alpine speed hiking. Repeated, long, slow distance at low effort and my overall ability increases without ever trying harder (the opposite really). I'm quite sure I could hike this route with just the clothes on my back now. I consumed 1 liter of water, 1 small bag of chips, and 1 protein bar. Not my fastest, but my easiest for overall time.

3/ blue bird skies and fluffy underfoot conditions 💙 ...

2025-10-05T21:43:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…sv68
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3/ blue bird skies and fluffy underfoot conditions 💙

Moon was pretty yesterday evening when it popped over the ...

2025-10-05T17:16:54Z

Moon was pretty yesterday evening when it popped over the horizon.

2/ some more bright and sunny mid day views from Friday's ...

2025-10-05T05:31:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…q3sy
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2/ some more bright and sunny mid day views from Friday's fresh dusting of snow. Bighorn Park, Lone Pine peak seen between two aretes, Mt Hitchcock and Hitchcock lakes, and the southern side of the Whitney zone with the entire eastern crest south of it 😍

Quicky day hike up Whitney between storms to check out the snow. ...

2025-10-04T02:58:43Z

Quicky day hike up Whitney between storms to check out the snow. I made a snow angel, successful trip.

8/ 🎶 super compressed montage for fun #hiking ...

2025-09-28T01:25:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…k3ww
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8/ 🎶 super compressed montage for fun
#hiking

I've been good there so far by managing layers and only using ...

2025-09-27T15:24:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…6k02
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I've been good there so far by managing layers and only using it in temps below freezing. That's the trick though, not overheating within the vbl. I've been wearing the same as I always do and just using the summer quilt + vbl in temps where I would have brought the winter quilt and it's balanced out well. I was warmer this time at 28 F than on Whitney a couple weeks back at 19 F though, so I opened the collar a couple times to regulate the temp a bit.

7/ Short lollipop, but a fair amount of gain at decent elevation. ...

2025-09-27T14:39:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…amuu
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7/ Short lollipop, but a fair amount of gain at decent elevation. Trail gets up to 11,500 at Meysan lake pretty quickly then Mallory was around 13,800 and Irvine around 13,700 for the night. Went under freezing to 28 F but I've been experimenting with extending my 30 F summer quilt with a vapor barrier liner and staying toasty warm. It was 10 degrees F warmer than Whitney a couple weeks back anyway with the same setup so I wasn't concerned.

6/ I started descending during sunrise to cover some ground, I ...

2025-09-27T01:33:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…jwhd
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6/ I started descending during sunrise to cover some ground, I knew I'd be east facing anyway. The morning views continued to impress as the sun got obscured by clouds but was low angle enough to still cast and reflect color under them. I made good time back to the lake and was able to move casually the rest of the way to get to the vehicle with time to spare for a job interview.

5/ I feel like I say it every time, but the sunrise alpenglow was ...

2025-09-26T15:05:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…5aj8
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5/ I feel like I say it every time, but the sunrise alpenglow was among the deepest and most vibrant I've seen. Great views from the summit of Mount Irvine. The layered horizon clouds to the east were reflecting so much color. Passed quickly so it was worth the effort.

4/ Cold all night on top of Mount Irvine, but still and clear. ...

2025-09-26T02:15:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…wvq0
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4/ Cold all night on top of Mount Irvine, but still and clear. Morning brought clouds a red sky. Snapped a fuzzy pre-dawn night shot of Whitney with hiker headlamps going up trail and even one up top.

3/ colorful sunset from up on top of Mount Irvine but it passed ...

2025-09-25T20:53:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…hgsd
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3/ colorful sunset from up on top of Mount Irvine but it passed quickly with no clouds to reflect the setting light.

edit: eastern horizon over the Inyos. The sun, Discovery pinnacle, Mt Muir, Mt Whitney, Mt Russel. LeConte hiding Langley with Mallory up front. The sun setting behind Mt Hitchcock.

2/ Mid day flat light rocks and sky. Out the chute looking north, ...

2025-09-25T16:13:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…yte6
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2/ Mid day flat light rocks and sky. Out the chute looking north, Green pass to the left and Mallory still further up. On Mallory summit looking south to Green pass dropping down the right to Miter basin and Sky Blue lake. Looking back along Mallory's unnamed north wall sub peak while traversing to Irvine. Looking north, Richins pass to the left and Irvine still further up the ridge to the right. Down climbed around the big wall, but fun traverse between the pair of mountains.

1/ Got up Mallory and Irvine from Meysan Lake and bivied up on ...

2025-09-25T01:03:59Z

1/ Got up Mallory and Irvine from Meysan Lake and bivied up on Irvine. Nice weather window, clear skies and no wind all day and night yesterday. Fun perspectives on the lake while passing and climbing the chute behind it.

4/ sunrise color and light transitions to the west and south ...

2025-09-14T04:42:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…fnpq
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4/ sunrise color and light transitions to the west and south