The purpose of this adventure was to open the horizons of the back
packing scouts of Troop 253 and introduce them to new environments. The
following pages show that these goals were met and the trip was a success.
This year's 50 Miler took place in the North Eastern part of the John Muir Wilderness. The total distance actually covered with full packs was about 50 miles additional miles covered by some of the scouts during day hikes without packs.
Preparation for this annual event included 35 (minimum) prep hike miles for the scouts (with packs) selected from about 106 scheduled miles. The traditional prep camp was omitted from this year's agenda due to circumstances beyond the troop's control.
As noted in the following financial report, we completed this year's
Miler in the black. The excess funds will be used to upgrade and refurbish
the troop's camping equipment which has been neglected for the past few
years.
| Paul Sidenblad | Heber Slusser | Laura Wilbur |
| Harmony | Karen | Carrie (ill & couldn't go) |
| Sharmini | Jennie | Suzanne |
The third patrol's equipment and supplies were removed and the food
reduced by one complete dinner and two lunches when the new configuration
of 2 patrols was established.
| Paul Sidenblad | Laura Wilbur |
| Harmony | Karen |
| Sharmini | Carrie |
| Heber Slusser | Suzanne |
An elevation plot of the route provided an
accurate picture of each day's effort
PREP HIKES
Each scout and leader was required to hike 35 prep miles prior to the 50 Miler. 106 miles of hikes were scheduled.
We had to adjust the food because we had way too much due to the loss of some scouts. We eliminated 1 of 3 patrols dinners completely.
Paul was already off the trail from his previous week's hike and called from Wishon around noon Laura left in Paul's van at 12 PM with all of the scouts (Suzanne, Jenny, Sharmini, and Karen. Harmony and I left at 4:00 PM and arrived at 9:00 PM.
Weather Report. A cool evening with clear skies.
We broke camp by 10: 15 AM. 7 mile hike (980 vertical feet) on shaded trail. Full hour lunch. Arrived at camp after crossing the Maxim Stream at 4 PM. Mosquitoes are abundant.
Weather Report. Clear skies, -75 degrees daytime
high and - 50 degrees night time low.
Fish Report:
Lots of good action
Paul 1
Golden Trout Super Duper
Heber 1
Golden Trout Super Duper
Scouts got up around 7:30 AM. On the trail around 10: 15AM. 4 miles - 1600 vertical feet. The hike had some real pulls up steep trails generally through heavy forest (thinning at the end). Lovely camp on the northwest shore of the lake. Stopped at Fleming Lake to patch feet, get water and rest. Mosquitoes aren't bad but always present.
Weather Report. Clear skies with a few white puffs of clouds, -70 degrees daytime high and - 55 (warm) degrees night time low.
Fish Report:
The fish followed a Castmaster and Super Duper but not a fly. I didn't
do too well today.
Some bumps but couldn't bring them in.
Paul 2
Pan sized Brook Trout Super Duper
Heber 1
Bite sized Rainbow Trout Castmaster
Broke camp, and on the trail at 11:00 AM. 3.9 miles, about 3 hours with little shade. Down, out of Rae Lake to the trail junction, moderate up hill to a knoll and trail junction, traverse (real fast) down to the first stream where we rock hopped and shuttled packs across. Lunch at the second stream crossing and a rock hop to the other side. Down to the third stream crossing. Had to use Aqua socks for this one. 1.5 miles and 400 vertical feet from here, a hard pull, to Devil's Punch Bowl. The females complain of mosquitoes. They aren't too bad, however. Snow leading into the lake on one side and forest (10,000 feet - sparse), on the other.
Weather Report. Clear skies and nearly a full
moon. , -75 degrees daytime high and - 65 (warm) degrees night time low.
Fish Report:
The fish followed a Castmaster and Super Duper but not a fly. I didn't
do too well today.
Some bumps but couldn't bring them in.
Paul 5
over 9 inches Brook Trout Super Duper
Heber 5
over 9 inches I Brook & Rainbow Trout Super Duper & Royal Coachman
fly
Weather Report. - Same as yesterday except some cumulus clouds formed
in the West in the mid-afternoon, but dissipated before sunset. A few high
cirrus clouds formed over us yesterday.
Fish Report:
The fish followed a Castmaster and Super Duper but not a fly.
Paul 10
over 9 inches Brook Trout Super Duper
Heber 10
over 9 inches Brook-Trout Super Duper & Royal Coachman fly
We kept four 8 to 10 inch trout for dinner.
Broke camp and hiking by 9:00 AIM. 6.3 miles and 9 hours with little shade Cross country hike with serious climbing between Punchbowl and Two Passes. Not to be undertaken by anyone without excellent map and compass skills, rudimentary rock climbing skills, and excellent physical condition. Heading toward Crabtree Lake we came in below it by about 100' vertical. The route we took out of Crabtree was not the way to go. There must be a trail, but we weren't on it. We hiked up the necessary 160 feet vertical but it felt like more, again missing anything that looked like a trail to Horsehead Lake There are 2 other big parties here ( 12+ each) but all is quiet.
Weather Report. - Like yesterday but bigger cumulus clouds starting around 11:00 AM and dissipating in the late afternoon. Mostly clear skies and warmer tonight - around 65 to 70 degrees.
Fish Report:
Paul 4
over 9 inches Golden/Brook Trout Super Duper
Heber 4
over 9 inches Golden/Brook Trout Royal Coachman fly
All fish were returned to their home.
Lots of mosquitoes
Gravel on our side of the lake
Forest at the inlet
Weather Report. Still more cumulus clouds but clear skies around 4:00
PM
Fish Report: There is a log jamb in the stream between the camp
sites. While I was looking for the Sierra Seat, I crossed the stream. If
my boot laces had been untied, the fish would have bit on them. Later
I showed Paul that I could 'dip' a fly in the logs and pull out a 10 inch
Brook with Golden markings. He did the same with a Super Duper (amazing).
We pulled out 3 fish from this "Fish Locker" and then fished the lake.
Paul caught the last one from the 'Locker' giving us 4 good sized fish
for after dinner. Good fishing.
Paul 7 over 7 inches
Golden/Brook Trout Super Duper
Heber 7 over 7 inches Golden/Brook Trout
Royal Coachman fly
This day may be the best Miler day ever - this trip or others - everyone has bonded.
Weather Report. Today the clouds threatened rain but dissipated
by 5 PM. The temperature has remained the same during the day but cooler
tonight, -45 degrees.
Fish Report: We were both skunked. We tried all afternoon. I had one
bump on a Super Duper and saw one big, Brook at my feet in an under cut
of the lake
Paul 0
Super Duper, flies
Heber 0 spinners, flies,
bait, everything I had
9 miles and 5 hours down 3000 feet of trail. Our route started with cross country from Woodchuck Lake to Marsh and Chimney Lakes where we picked up a good trail to Moore Boys Camp. This route is much better than the rough trail out of Woodchuck. The remainder of the trail is a dusty horse trail.
Weather Report. The temperature has remained the same throughout
the day, about 70 degrees, some clouds.
Fish Report: I considered fishing on Wishon while waiting for the car
shuttle to complete, but I didn't
Total hike distance: 45 miles plus over 10 miles of day hikes = -50 miles and 9420 feet of vertical, gain.
