Getting Started - Who's Gonna Join Me?

Ok, the decision was made that I'm really going to do this, one that I'd been putting off far too long. The next steps were to recruit some partners in crime, and research and purchase the equipment I'd need. 

Even though a number of people from our usual Pinecrest rowdies have expressed interest, getting them to join me isn't so easy given everyone's busy schedules and the fact that they too, would need to acquire the necessary gear.

The suspects (and their excuses) are: 

Martha - my wife, who is in much better shape than I am and hikes more often than I do - weekly in the Bay Area.  She's thinking help on the gear from the Kennedy Meadows Pack Station sounds good.

Holding me upright, as usual

Ethan - My son, who I imagine will show me more about surviving in the wild than I will show him. 

Ethan, at Powell Lake, Emigrant Wilderness, with sister Justine who I would

love to convince to come out for a short trip

Chris - brother-in-law who will keep us laughing with (at?) him, and who has college days backpacking experience in the Rockies. He's dusting off some old equipment, but most has probably seen better days. I think he needs to make some serious trips to REI.
                                              

Chris, Pinecrest Lake,  dreaming of an overnighter

Keith - easy going guitar shop owner (great boutique shop with his own line of guitars, and repair center - www.keithhollandguitars.com) who has quite a bit of experience from years past. With no guitar, he'll just have to entertain us A Capella.  He already has most of his gear, but needs to get his cranky knee fixed first.  His wife Joni is a hard-to-keep-up-with hiker, but likes the Kennedy pack mule idea for gear as well.


Bill - the prankster, we'd all better watch our backs, and our packs. He's just gotta get off his duff and make it happen. That gear isn't to show up on its own, so dump the dirt bike, invest the $$ in equipment, and switch to foot power.

Bill and Keith, trail-ready?

Dr. Jimmy - brings the good gadgets (portable blender for margaritas at the back of Pinecrest Lake was classic) and would be good to have in case of emergency. If it's his emergency and it's up to us to take care of it, he's in trouble.

Jimmy, but I don't think he'll be bringing Ruby

Kent - an east coast White Mountain hiker, but it'll be worth his while to fly out from Massachusetts.  Little does he realize that many of our trailheads are about 2000' higher than the top of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.

Kent, on a summit in New Hampshire, but I'm gonna get him to 10,000 ft.

Mike - another east coaster from New Jersey, a cigar aficionado with some Yosemite day hike experience.  Bet he's never smoked one in the the kinds of places he can see on these overnighters.  We might have to do something about those boots, though.

Mike, getting ready to head down to the valley from Glacier Point

Ingrid - A California high tech executive transplanted to Alaska, with lots of hiking and a little backpacking experience.  Since she's used to living in the midst of bears, we'll elect her the designated Yogi handler if they come visiting.

Ingrid, Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood, Alaska

Ed - Another east coast friend who has done a two week Alps trek with his son from lodge to lodge (hut to hut?), but this time he's gonna have to sleep outdoors with the critters.  We both wish there was a tap handle with a good English bitter at the end of each day like we've enjoyed together so many times in the UK.

Ed, hiking in the Alps with his son.

The rest of the Lambert clan needs to get involved - Bob, Matt, Dave, Chris Jr., Nick (so long as there are no bees), Jerome, Danny....in fact we could use Jerome's Eagle Scout expertise. Plus, we need those young bucks for hiding the beer in the bottom of their packs so they can unknowingly tote it up the hill. And of course Kristina can come along because a) she's a really good hiker, b) is fearless when it comes to natural waterslides, and c) because Chris Jr. certainly can't look after himself.

Some of the other suspects, I mean prospects

Seriously, we've all enjoyed many great hikes together and whoever is up for it would be most welcome.

Backpacking for Beginners from a Beginner - Introduction

I'm a lifelong lover of the outdoors, and I've been wanting do more backpacking ever since I made a few Sierra Nevada trips as teenager. Our family is fortunate to own a cabin in the Sierras at Pinecrest Lake in Tuolumne County, and we often hike in the area, especially in Emigrant Wilderness which borders the north boundary country of Yosemite. We've done just about everything we can in a day hike, and so the only way to see more is to get out and do what I've been dreaming about and putting off for 40 years!

If you're a beginning backpacker and want to read about what I've learned, or you're an experienced one who wants to laugh at my travails, follow me as I recount my progress through the decision to do this (and convince my wife this is a good thing to do), researching equipment and trips, and ultimately making my first few excursions as soon as the snow melts. I'll try to post every week or so until I reach the ultimate goal of a post-trip post.  On to the adventures!