RoadTrip: now converging on the Tetons from Mi, Ca, Id

2PM 7/31/2012

Gary,

Sandy left for the Tetons this morning. I will leave tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

See you there, at Gros Ventre campground, the only one likely to have vacancies.

Peter H

11AM 8/1/2012

Peter, Sandy,

Thanks.  I'm in a little library in Arco, ID at the moment, on my way from the Craters of the Moon were I spent the last day and two nights. May spend tonight and maybe tomorrow along the Snake river SE of Idaho Falls before heading to Jackson the next day, tho that is all very tentative, depending on what  I run into.  

Looking forward to seeing you both soon,

Gary 

RoadTrip: Hot weather forecast, and I'm running late

Hot
2PM 7/20/2012
Hi everyone - just checked the weather and it looks like 90's all week, 50's at night, occasional T-storms. Wells (5600) is a bit higher than Elko (5,000 ft). Angel Creek is at 6,800 ft so hopefully cooler!
Betsy

2:30 7/20/2012
Yes, I confirmed our reseevation at the Motel and she said it is unusually hot  ;-(   But we're tough...right?
Judith

4:30 7/20/2012
The vagaries of weather forecasting -- I once wanted to be a meteorologist but felt the risk factor for incorrect prediction was less in reading crystal balls.

NOAA-Weather Service site shows high temps above 5000 ft. in the Wells area as topping out about 80 deg.F next week. It will be what it will be.  I hope there's water to immerse into, somewhere.


4:30 7/20/2012
Welll....  I guess this is the opening to admit that I'm STILL in SRosa CITY!  Hopefully Ben & Vishnu haven't wasted too much time looking for me since I SAID I would be up there in the Santa Rosa MOUNTAINS about yesterday...

Anyway, yeah, I am still stuck-in-the-mud taking care of enough of the last minute details to make sure I can be on the road for a full year including winter in New England...  (hah!)  -actually mainly still making sure I have good backups of all my picts - last chance for a while...

In case anyone's interested, I have a full set of my picts on my computer that I'm leaving at the EC (in the little room with the printer/fax machine) - you can log in as user "open" password "enter" (same as the "public" account on the Mac at the EC)  The picts are distributed over 3 disk drives, ordered chronologically in a file folder tree under root folder "photos" on each drive, then a subfolder tree by year, month, and day.  Most of the "day" -folders have a very long descriptive name beginning with the date, then the "host-org" (eg, CNPS for "our" outings) then a description of the locations and/or occasion.  (I've split the 2012 branch between two disk drives due to space constraints - months 04-April thru 07-July are in same drive as the 2003-2008 picts.)  

Anyhow, I WAS on the verge of leaving (stopping by my daughter's in Woodland near Sacto - taking the back-road route by Lk Hennessey & Lk Berryessa to try to avoid the Friday afternoon rush-hr traffic.

 But I hadn't yet checked the weather... hmmm... maybe I'll wait another day...  Nah.  I'm tough (as long as my car air conditioner works...)
Gary

RoadTrip: Ruby Mts trip arrival plans

8PM 7/13/2012
Hello All,
I'm just writing to share the current plan that Ben & I have for Nevada travels. Our plan is to leave Ukiah on Thursday 7/19 and return from Nv on Friday 7/27. We will take Hwy 20 to just beyond the Grass Valley area where it meets I-80. From there we'll drive to Winnemucca and then north for an hour or so into the Santa Rosa Mts. We'll camp there Thurs. night and explore the area on Fri. and, if there's enough to see, on Sat. also. We have talked about visiting the museums in Elko and if the timing is right we might meet up w ML & Judith there on Sunday. By Sunday evening, if not before, we'll make it to Angel Creek Camp and join with the group.

I am wondering about cell phones. Neither Ben nor I have one but we could call you, if need be. I have Ann's # & Peter but none for Judith, Betty, Betsy or Gary. If you 4 could send me (or to everyone) your number I will add them to my list. Are there other things like rain gear - if there are any thunderstorms, that might be good to think about bringing? I hope to make room for my spotting scope which has been good for birds & planets & also for sunspots recently.

I have spoken with Kerry Heise a few times about the Nv area, which is one he knows very well as he lived in Truckee and then worked in Nevada (basin & range area) for a number of years. He has given me some descriptive materials to read and I will bring that along on the trip. He also has maps of much of the area and I will be bringing a few of them. He speaks highly of Nevada's mountains as a whole, including the Nat. Park near Ely although he thought visiting there might be too much for one trip. I am hopeful we can enlist him as a participant (& guide) in another year.
Vishnu

11PM 7/13/2012
Hello Vishnu, Ben, et al.,
My Phone# is ...
I plan to head up in that direction around the 18th.  I intend to take my time getting there.  I may stay overnight here: http://freecampsites.net/dog-valley-california/  or here: http://freecampsites.net/water-canyon-blm/   or here: http://freecampsites.net/sonoma-canyon-primitive/   I suppose that would be Wednesday night.  Hope to then intercept Ben & Vishnu on Thursday night if I can guess their route. (Would that be hwy 95 north from Winnemucca?  Would you be heading for Lye Creek CG?)
I potentially have have more time to linger after the 27th, but hope to be in the Tetons around Jenny Lake no later than Thursday, Aug 2.
Gary

1AM 7/14/2012
Hi Gary,

I really don't know as Ben had looked it up but Lye Creek Cmpgr. sounds like the only one around that I can see. We'll try and be in touch as it would be good to connect with you out there.

Vishnu

8AM 7/14/2012
Sounds like a great trip. Betsy and I will be meeting up with Judtih and Ml in Elko on Saturday evening, hopefully. 415... Cell:...
Thanks, Betty Sent from my iPad

8AM 7/14/2012
Hi Gary,
Everyone seems to be leaving on Thurs or Fri. but I'd like to stay a couple more days to check out Great Basin and Lehman Caves.
ML

11AM 7/14/2012
You lucky ducks!  I've always wanted to visit the Jarbidge range.  It'll be good to hear about it.
My cell phone is ...
Hasta Luego
Judith

1PM 7/18/2012
Well, the hour is getting late so I should let you all know about my plans, which don't amount to any real plan.

I'm overwhelmed with work, and on the one task that I have to complete before I would leave, I've had little to no help from my 2 colleagues (grrr...), but my name is the only one on the contract (they're subs, but that's only for contracting and payment purposes).  So, regardless of their forthcoming participation, I must get this one document completed before I can go away.  I just don't know if that's going to happen in a timely fashion yet.  Item 1 on my list of why I prefer to work on my own....

I've lost track of where all of you are convening at various junctures of the trip.  Please let me know the locations of camping on which nights, as I might not be able to join you until sometime later in the trip.  All I have right now is a Nevada road map.

If I can't get away by early Monday, I probably will need to pass up the trip entirely.

To confirm, my cell phone number is ... , but use my land line, if you need to contact me, until at least Saturday.  If I do get away, I plan to drive straight through to the appropriate campsite in one day -- I expect this will take about 12 hours maximum.
Peter

6PM 7/18/2012
Hi Peter,  The only campsite you need to remember is Angel Creek CG #13.  To get there all you have to do is take state route 31 south of Wells for 6 or so miles.  We'll be there from Sunday at least thru Tuesday.  I'm in charge of beverages, and already bought a 16 pack of Lagunitas IPA, and besides, you need to put your Great Basin flora to use!  But, we'll understand if you can't make it.  Hope you can make it,  Ben

RoadTrip: family: leaving this Weds for Ruby Mts then Tetons, Yellowstone, Idaho, Glacier, Colorado-wards, then northeastwards

Dear family & close friends,

Just FYI on my immediate plans. I'm leaving this Wednesday to join CNPS folk in the Ruby Mts of Nevada, before heading on to the Tetons, where I will be meeting up with Sandy and her friend Peter after all.  (We thought we were going to miss each other by a week heading in opposite directions, but Sandy decided to enjoy the Michigan weather for another week before leaving for the Tetons.  Yay!)  I may be tagging along with those two through Yellowstone and then west into Idaho, before heading off in opposite directions again - I may head north to Glacier NP, then work my way back south along the Rockies into Colorado, then vaguely onward probably northeasterly to the Great Lakes and Northern New England by October, then hope to stay at Liz's home over the winter months (formally renting a room for the duration probably) then by Feb or sooner head south to Florida and other southern states working my way back west, ideally getting to CA by April to continue my Pacific Quest Trail hike.

Gary

8AM 7/16/2012

Oh, good... we are going to meet up. My sister still needs somebody to water the plants and feed the cats at the end of August while on their honeymoon.
I'll miss you this winter,but will try to keep busy either studying spanish in Guatemala and/or going to Hawaii with Bud and Michael. I had hoped you and the three of us could share a room so you and I could go hiking and snorkling. I'd like to hike the PCT in spring with you.
I plan on leaving MI on July 30th for the Tetons.

Sandy

RoadTrip: Ruby Mts trip carpooling

3PM 7/9/2012
Hi, Gary, are you planning on going on this trip?  I'm still uncertain, for a couple of reasons -- work and health.  Hopefully, I'll have some resolution on both issues within the next several days.
If I decide to go, and you plan to go, are you interested in sharing a ride?
Peter W

4PM 7/9/2012
Peter,
I do plan to go, but plan to continue on my grand road trip, specifically to the Tetons & Yellowstone, more of the rockies, then east to new england by autumn, where I expect to stay for the winter, then return trip in spring.  So my car may be quite loaded with all the contingencies I feel I may need.
However, I do have a roof rack and could put some stuff up there.
Gary

8PM 7/9/2012
Hi, Gary,
thanks for letting me know about your plans.  I'll have my own load, and will need to get back here after camping.  Hope to see you there.
Peter

9PM 7/9/2013
OK.  Hope you can take care of your health issue.
When do you plan of getting there?
Gary

4PM 7/13/2013
I've just been having swelling in my left foot - something I'll just have to manage over time, but might reduce how far or often I walk.  I'm thinking of investing in a full-body transplant, as that would address a lot of issues at once.

I have one week left to get a huge pile of work done, and still don't know for certain if that will happen.  But if I'm not prepared to leave by Saturday or Sunday morning, at latest, I would likely not go at all.  So, I need to press on with my assignments.
Peter

6PM 7/13/2012
Hm...  I have been yearning for a full brain transplant....  ...I wonder how ethical it would be to collect all the working parts into one and somehow discard the other.

wish I could help with your assignments. Maybe if you helped me with mine I would have the time to spare. Though, again, in my case the body is willing but the mind is weak.
Gary

PCT: Justin West's blog (he's Botanizing the PCT to author a field guide)

Hi Michelle,

Thanks again for hosting such a fun and generous workday.

Justin West is the person currently botanizing the Pacific Crest Trail aiming to produce a field guide the the plants along the trail.

his blog is 

http://storythewalk.wordpress.com/about/

I uploaded photos of today's workday to:
...

This again is an "unlisted" gallery so you'll need this link to view it.
...

Gary


9AM 7/9/2012

Hi Gary,

Thanks for your quick reply to my request for these links! It was great seeing you on Saturday. The photos you took of the seed planting are great! I love the dirty fingers close-up and the nice shot of the Stipa pulchra planting.

As you may know, we have a new communications assistant (Tom) who is responsible for all of our e-communications and marketing. I have cc’d him here since he might want to use some of your amazing photographs in the future and will contact you prior. Since you will be on the road soon, I’m assuming email will be the best way to communicate with you. If not, please send us your cell phone number.

Have fun on your traveling adventures!

Michelle