This past weekend I went snow camping with my WTC class. We went up to the sierras to Rock Creek area. We arrived around 9:30 pm and it was probably around 20 degrees. Cary and I lugged our backpacks to palisades campground and set up our 4 season tent. I had 4 layers on including my awesome Patagonia down parka. I have never camped in the snow let alone backpacking and snowshoeing in 20 degree weather. The first night the wind was howling, I don't think I fell asleep, just closed my eyes. It was definitely a learning experience as far as layering clothes and how to keep warm. The next morning we packed up our tent and backpacked to Rock Creek Lake Campground. This was a short 3 mile hike. We basically followed the creek up crossing over some snow bridges as well. The weather was nice Saturday, it didn't start snowing until we got to camp in the afternoon. It proceeded to snow until the night. Luckily we were able to still have a fire, the wind was not bad the second night.
Saturday afternoon, we set up camp and melted water, I helped create a snow fire ring for the evenings fire. Saturday night I felt more comfortable sleeping, even though I had two pairs of fleece pants, 2 pairs of socks plus down booties and 3 layers on my chest plus a beanie! To get an idea of how cold it was I bought a water bottle insulator for my water bottle and the water inside it still froze! Sunday we woke up and went on a hike above Rock Creek Lake. It was absolutely breathtaking. I could spend a whole week there shooting photographs without getting bored. The hike was fun, it was snowing out and the lake appeared to be frozen over. Later on that morning we packed up our stuff and backpacked out via the fire road. We enjoyed strawberry shortcakes Pat(one of the WTC leaders) brought for us. On the bus ride home we stopped by the pizza factory in Bishop and had some pizza and beer. Overall, it was stink'n cold but well worth it. I look forward to more snow trips, it is so beautiful and hardy anybody around. Good times!
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Location: Rock Creek Lake (Eastern Sierras)
Altitude:
Campsites: Palisades & Rock Creek Lake
Total Miles 8 (3 there,2 on hike, 3 out)
Temps night : Teens
Temps day : 20's
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6 comments:
Wow, Todd,
You made it! Woo Hooo! Crazy, freezing weekend - can't wait to see the pix.
Welcome back to So Cal :-)
i can't believe that is fun for you! sleeping in the snow!
Looks beautiful and glad it is you rather than me...........loved the comment about the "4 Seasons". I am so with you Melis..........
you rock Todd--way to live through snow camp. Wish I could have been up there with you guys, looks like it was nice and cold, and snowing! Perfect for a Colorado girl...
love the google map and photos boy! way to integrate all the cool stuff you know and love!
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