Mt. Whitney Trail

Mt. Whitney from Lone Pine, California

   Mt. Whitney Trail is the easiest way to reach the top of Mt. Whitney.  Majority of people are going through this trail.  To enter Mt. Whitney area, people needs to get permission.

How to get permission:

Mt. Whitney Lottery
   People who wants to climb Mt. Whitney needs to plan well in advance.  It is better to file an application  for Mt.Whitney Lottery  in February through mid March.  This might be maximize a chance to get the permission.  The application can be filed through on-line.  In the application, people can put multiple dates.  The result will be notified through E-mail in the end of March or early April.

After Mt. Whitney Lottery
   Once Mt. Whitney Lottery is closed.  People can reserved left over dates through on-line or phone.  Usually, it can start on April 1st.   Then people who wins the Mt.Whitney lottery needs to confirm its reservation.  If the people have not confirmed by the deadline, the reservation won't be valid and back to the pool.   After May 1st, those space will be available on-line as well (This is a schedule in 2013).

  Also, people can go to the visitor center in Lone Pine to check if there is any available space or not.  If there is any available space, it might have a chance to get it.

Pick-up the permission
   To pick up the permission, people need to go to the visitor center in Lone Pine.  People can pick it up a week in advance.  But if the schedule is very tight, people can picked up from a night box.  People need to make a phone call to the visitor center for this arrangement before.  The night box is located close to the entrance of the visitor center.  This is a good option, people who just arrive that area and start climbing right away.  Otherwise, people need to wait for business hour to pick up the permission.

Trail

Mt. Whitney trail is the most popular trail to climb Mt. Whitney.  Many people are doing a day trip to Mt. Whitney.  Some people really start almost mid night.  The trail is very long.

I personally, have never tried a day  trip.  I think I can do it.  For my first try in 2011, I started around 6AM with camping stuff.  I reached "Trail Camp" around 10am with heavy camping stuff and then reached the summit around 2pm.  I could be back to Trail Camp before 5pm.   I could be back to the trail head before Sun set.  But I think camping on the trail is very good idea.   Since just reaching summit is not only purpose of the  trip, but also enjoy a night on the trail.  People can see different view time by time, especially night time is really nice view on the sky.  There are so many starts on the sky.

If you have a chance, I really recommend to have camping on a trail.

[End]

Hiking in San Francisco Bay Area

  There is no picture today.....
  I have been living this area more than 10 years.  I often go hiking in this area including trail running.  I also went hiking / climbing when I was in Japan.  A big difference between here in the US and Japan, I think people enjoy hiking more easy with very casual style.

   When I went hiking / climbing, I always carried a backpack with some food / snack and drink like water, some time many beers.  It was very rarely not to carry the back pack except very short walk.  However, there are many people just walk with a single bottle water on their hand on many trails.  Some people does not have anything, just walk and talking with friends.  I was a kind of surprised in the beginning.   But nowadays, I am one of them.

   Majority of trails in this area is not really mountain, I would say they are trails on hills.  Basically, the trails are not very long, most of them are just a few hours round trip and no very steep portion on trails.  Most of the time, if anything happening, it is very easy to going back to a car.  People does not have to worry about too much.  Weather in summer time or other than winter, it is very stable and it is very rarely raining in summer time.

   Many trails are short and probably a few hours walk is good enough.  Depending on how much time people have, people can choose many options to enjoy nice view on a hiking.  People can do hiking a sort of a daily life if people live in this area.  For visitors, I think it is a good option as a part of sight seeing.  It is different from a really nice view on a trail in a national park, but people can enjoy to see cites in the bay area and very easy access from cities.

  If people really look for a mountain that is something like in Japan, people probably need to go to Serra Nevada, Tahoe, Yosemite and etc.  There are many nice mountains in California.  But they are little far away from our town.... For typical weekend, just enjoying hills near our house  is very nice!  So that I really enjoy hiking nowadays!  Climbing mountain could be a few times a year nowadays.....

Mission Peak (Fremont CA)

Mission Peak (Fremont CA)

Mission Peak

  Mission Peak is located east side of San Francisco Bay.  It looks like a symbol of Silicon Valley!
  There are a several trails to reach its peak.   The most popular trail would be from the west side of the peak in Fremont.  People can reach the peak around 1 ~ 2 hours.  This trail is really nice view, people can see a whole San Francisco Bay Area.  In a good weather, people can see down town San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge from the top!!

  I think the best season to hike Mission Peak would be in spring.  There are many wild flowers on green hills.  The climate is not too hot and not too cold.  In summer time, due to less rain in this area in summer, hills are getting brown and it is getting hot.  In winter, it is rainy season and some time cold wind.

  Mission peak is very easy access from Silicon Valley, like Fremont / San Jose area.  Also, it can provide really nice view.   I think you should visit at least once if you have a chance!

Let's go camping (3) ~ Sleeping bag

Let's go camping (3) ~ Sleeping bag

Cheap sleeping bag v.s. down sleeping bag

Today, I am talking about sleeping bags.  A sleeping bag is one of essential camp gars.  The price range is vary, some of inexpensive one could start around USD$20 in many discount stores, such as Walmart, Target and etc. in the US.  On the other hand, people can find much expensive one in many outdoor stores.  Some sleeping bags that are designed for very extreme use is some time more than USD$1,000!!  I guess many people who are looking for a sleeping bag for the first time might wonder what would be difference between them.

General guide line

There are a couple factors to select a sleeping bag depending on usage.

·         Packed size

·         Insulation (heat retention)

·         Insulation material (synthetic fill / down / etc.)

A major factor that impacts to the cost / price is insulation material.   Most of insulation material for sleeping bags for backpacking / climbing uses a special material that can pack smaller.  That is one of reason those sleeping bag is more expensive.  Down is one of the best insulation materials for sleeping bags.  Sleeping bag with down can pack very small and heat retention is very well.  There are different type of down and price is vary, especially one for very extreme condition like special winter climbing.  Those special purpose, people know what they need very well.  Since down is very good material for sleeping bags, people develop many synthetic material like down.  Nowadays, synthetic materials are getting improved and work very well.  However, the packed size is relatively a little bigger than one with down.  Typically, if heat retention performance is a similar, one with synthetic is less expensive than one with down.  However, the price for one that is typically used for a regular camping seasons, spring to fall, is getting very similar.  If people can spend around USD$150 ~ 200, then people can find a good sleeping bag. 

One of disadvantage on sleeping bags with down is heat retention in wet condition.  As long as down is dry, it is very good heat retention.  However, once it gets wet, the heat retention is getting worse significantly.  People who use a sleeping bag with down needs to have a good care to avoid it is getting wet.  Some of outer shell is using GoreTex that can breath, some people using a cover with GoreTex.  GoreTex or other breathable material helps to block moisture from the outside and take away moisture in side.

On the other hand synthetic material is much better heat retention performance even if it gets wet.  Also it is much easy to maintain after use.  Most of synthetic materials are washable.  Disadvantage for synthetic material is relatively heavier and packed size is a little bigger.

People need to know what environment they plan to use a sleeping bag.  Then they can narrow down which would be a good selection for them.

Here is some guide line to select a sleeping bag

Family Camper

This is a group that typically does camping next a car.  The packing size is usually not a concern.  Most of case, family camping is around summer season; therefore, one that is sold in a discount store is typically good enough.   If people want to save some packed space, people always can buy nice sleeping bag from outdoor store with some extra money.

 They are from a discount store (40F and 50F)

Backpack camper

Since people need to carry all gear with a backpack, the packing size and weight are one of key factors to select one.   People usually do not want to buy really cheap sleeping bag from discount stores.  They are usually really big packed size and heavy.  Most of cases people want to spend some extra money to buy a better sleeping bag.

Depending on a place, the heat retention can be various.  Especially, hikers / climbers who typically have camping in higher altitude, they probably need one that is capable around 0 degree C for summer camping.   People who need to sleep in snow; they probably need a really good sleeping bag.  However they must know what they need, therefore, I do not discuss / explain in this article.

 Down Sleeping bags

The left one is (30F/-1C, 300g down, total wait is about 800g)

Summary

I think most of back packers / hikers / climbers are usually experience people for camping.  They usually know what they need.   People who really need advice which sleeping bag they need to buy are really beginners.  The easiest way is probably just buying low cost sleeping bag from discount stores and try some easy camping first.  If people do not see any problem, that would be a good one for them.   If people feel cold, then those people may need a better sleeping bag.  If people think the packed size is too big, then those people need to look for a good sleeping bag from outdoor stores.   I think most of cases for family style camping; low cost sleeping bag is usually enough.  If people have a concern for temperature, just bring extra blanket or closes.