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
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.
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.
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