Can we get some Cali respect?

[JimmyLyding]

I hope that the HAZ'ers who hike in California recognize how many hikes and photosets that user "slegal" has posted. I thought I was representing, but no way.
I miss the hiking in Arizona like nobody's business, but dayum we got some good stuff out here. I just hope that I can hit the Sierra Nevadas before mid-July. Some places up there have 20-feet of snow on the ground after seeing 50-feet of total snowfall.
Anyone who's coming up here who wants to hike should let me know, but ocean fishing is probably a better bet for a few months.

[big_load]

The biggest problem with California is that I don't have good plant book coverage. There is some overlap with my AZ, Rockies, and PNW stuff, but plants have a frustrating way of being specific to their environment.

[dround]

HCA doesn't roll off the tongue like HAZ, but sounds like a new web site should be coming up.

[Jim]

Props, yo

[azbackpackr]

Props, yo

Huh?

I wonder why the term "Cali" bugs me sooooo much. I am a 4th generation Californian. Nicknames I have used for various areas include SoCal, Frisco, Dago-town, LA, etc. But NEVER "Cali." In fact, I never even heard of that term until I moved to Springerville in 1999--one of my friends was saying it. Anyway, I am not sure why it irritates me.

I have always thought there is great hiking all over the state. I once hiked for a week in San Diego County, on the (now re-routed) PCT. It used to follow the CRHT, or Calif. Riding and Hiking Trail, but later was re-routed as some of that trail crossed too much private land that was later developed.

As for the slang, just meet me some time. I dont' write much slang but I sure do speak it. Or at least, a 60's-70's version of it. Long before "yo" became popular. (Whatever "yo" means. Half of a yo-yo, I presume.)

[Jim]

I would hike with you if I can get to the Sierra this summer. Probably will not happen. Won't really be the best year to head out early, with well over 150% of the normal snow pack in the Sierra.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/snowap ... art.action

[azbackpackr]

Ok, while we are on this lala land subject, I have a question for people. What is the likelihood of getting some kind of permit if you just walk into the ranger station in Lone Pine? I will also call them and ask, assuming I have the time and the money one day this summer to drive over there.

I don't want to go to Whitney, (been there done that), so I want to go into a remote area with few people. So, therefore, I would think, like at GC, I could get a permit if it is not a popular area.

Anyone been to Lake South America? I have, but it was years ago. At that time it was off the beaten track and we saw no one for a week.

[hippiepunkpirate]

@azbackpackr
Liz, this hike descrip by Jim may help answer your question: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2241

[Jim]

The probability is high, especially if the Whitney Zone is not your priority. You can get a Meysan Lake overnight permit very easily, and everything except the Whitney Zone does not require a permit for day stuff. Busy weekends are harder, but a mid-week permit for a less visited location is easy to get, I think. Keep in mind, I never reserved a permit for the Whitney Zone, but have twice gotten North Fork overnight permits on walk-in basis, in summer, and once during the labor day weekend in 2008. The J34 North Fork Permit is for the Mountaineers Route and Mount Russell, so the trail people don't deal with it. There are enough places to go, that if you have a back-up or two, or are flexible with trying again the next day, you can get a permit pretty easily. As I am sure you know, the eastern Sierra is a place where you can hang out and do day hikes to incredible places, and then try for a permit again the next day if you are really set on one location.

Also, don't hold me to this explanation of the permit system, but there is no USFS Ranger Station for permits in Lone Pine, the permit location is the Interagency Visitor Center on US 395 just south of town. The place in Bishop is the USFS Ranger Station near downtown. I believe, that both places will issue the permits for any location, except that the only place for a Whitney Permit is the Inter Agency Visitor Center. That means, that if not looking for a Whitney Permit, you can go to either Lone Pine or Bishop, and in Bishop you can get permit a little faster, since most people traveling from LA will probably stop in Lone Pine. I had no line, and do not recall the morning lottery for line position when I stopped in Bishop to get my overnight permit for Meysan Lakes in August of 2009.

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=2241

[azbackpackr]

Yes, that is what I meant, that Interagency place. I had forgotten the name of it. I would like to get up into the inner Sierra, actually. But what you described, that Meysan Lake area, does sound nice!

Thanks very much. Now all I need is a little time and a little gas money!

[JimmyLyding]

The biggest problem with California is that I don't have good plant book coverage. There is some overlap with my AZ, Rockies, and PNW stuff, but plants have a frustrating way of being specific to their environment.

When I moved here I was really interesting in learning about the native flora. I've just about given up. The plant guides I've perused and/or purchased leave a lot to be desired. Invasive species are everywhere.

[big_load]

Invasive species are everywhere.

That problem seems worse in CA than other hiking areas. It's worse here in the northeast than in AZ, but still not as bad as CA.

[azbackpackr]

I'm in Oceanside for the weekend. I used to know the difference between seals and sea lions, but had to look it up on the internet. The large animals we spent time watching down at the harbor a few minutes ago were sea lions. Quick way to check is the fact they have visible ear flaps. They have just recently taken up hanging out near the boat harbor, and the front page news, North County Times, today, is about how much of a mess they make, and how they keep the live-aboard population awake at night with their constant barking. My son says they also will follow your boat and eat the bait right off your hooks, and will somehow steal the lobsters out of the lobster traps and the live bait out of the underwater bait storage cages.

They sure are fun to watch, though. The ones already laying on the dock hold the territory, so that when other ones come to try to climb up onto the dock they go over and push them off, barking loudly. They have great big sorrowful-looking brown eyes, giant whiskers, big dog-like teeth.

[PLC92084]

Howdy, Liz!

Wished I'd have know you were in town; would've made plans to visit! Vista isn't so far from O'side...

[azbackpackr]

Well, I thought about it, but it's the first time the whole family, my three kids, granddaughter and husband, have been all in the same place at the same time in several years. We are just doing family things. My granddaughter's birthday (she's 3!!) and hanging out at the beach on base, etc.

This coming summer I hope to spend more time here. Will let you know.