[pct-l] Re: Silly Questions

[aandg at telusplanet.net (Alistair & Gail Des Moulins)]

> 1.  Any thoughts or opinions on going into Cabazon after having gone into
Idylwild?  Worth the trip to cut the weight carried across Fuller Ridge and
to Big Bear City?

We hiked the trail in 2003. We opted to resupply in Anza (Thanks to Hikers
Oasis) and Cabazon instead of Idyllwild. Our reason for avoiding Idyllwild
was the 2000' drop to town and reascent back to the trail. The 4 mile walk
into Cabazon on the south side of I10 was not enjoyable against a very
strong wind. But Hadleys Fruit Orchards store about 2 miles west of Cabazon
on road on north side of I10 has an amazing selection of dried fruits, nuts,
mueslis, granola and was a great place to resupply. Check out
www.hadleyfruitorchards.com. There is also a store in town.

>
> 2.  The side trip to Mt Whitney is a must.  Knowing that... do you make a
trip into Independence or Bishop or carry it all to VVR?  If you make the
trip, which town?
Whitney is a must. We planned to go right through to VVR but decided due to
snow to go out for supplies before. We chose to go to Cedar Grove on the
west side of the trail from just before Glen Pass. It's a 14 mile hike to
the road dropping to about 5000' then a 6 mile hitch. A very small store and
rather expensive but a very fine hike down and less snow than other options.
We left KM on May 29th 2003 - so encountered more snow than most hikers did
that year - sounds as though this year will be more snowy leaving KM mid
June than we had on our trip leaving KM late May.
>
> 3.  Zero in VVR or Mammouth Lakes or both? -
We spent extra time at Evolution Valley and Virginia Lakes rather than
stopping too long in 'town'.
>
> 4.  If you had it to do over again, would you make the effort to get to
Yosemite's Valley floor?
No but had seen it previously.
>
> 5.  Do/did you make the trip to Tahoe "just because you could",
"BUFFETS!", or the  possibilty of winning enough to pay for the trip?  Or do
you even bother to go?
We did go to Tahoe - mainly for equipment reasons - also for haircuts. The
Buffets were great. You can manage 2 in a day. Try to avoid the weekend when
room rates are double the Sunday - Thursday rates.

>6  "Do Not Miss" point on the trail?  One only please.
So many so won't mention any. Just camp high whenever you can.

Alistair