Lots and lots of snow was waiting for our adventure.
Snow Camping Feb 01
Lots and lots of snow was waiting for our adventure.
| This trip was the culmination of a number of years of
snowshoe building projects and remodeling. While planning for the
camping trip, each Scout worked on a pair of snowshoes to put new bindings
and stronger pivot support on the snowshoe. Check
out the snowshoe story.
Our original plan was to go to Sugar Pine Point State Park on the west side of Lake Tahoe, a part where Keith Locke had done Scout Winter Survival Training in past years. We left Vallejo at 7 AM. Progress was soon stopped at Applegate where Highway 80 was closed due to accidents. While waiting there, it started to snow. It would not stop for the whole weekend. By noon we were as far as Colfax and the traffic was stopped again. We pulled off and visited the local Taco Bell for lunch just be fore a major power failure shut them down. We discussed the reality that we would never get over the mountains in time to build our shelter at Sugar Pine Point. We decided to try the Boy Scout Camp at Marin Sierra, just off Highway 20, about 20 miles up the road. That turned out to be a good choice, as we arrived about 1:30 P.M. The rest of the afternoon was spent building our shelter for twelve. Here are our pictures, thanks to Ryan, Bill, and Phil.. Click on the picture to enlarge. |
| Click on picture to enlarge | ||||
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| All those exits look the same in the snow storm. | Our camp area about 100 yards from the parking lot, through soft snow. | The trail was packed down with snowshoes. Just think what it would be like without snowshoes. | Phil cutting snow blocks to build side walls of shelter. | The sleeping platform on the right was packed down; and the cold sump dug out. |
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| Walls were built on four sides to close in the shelter. | Snow bricks were cut from the packed snow. | Snow block being carried from "quarry" to shelter. | 20"x30" tarp hung over peak rope. | Snow anchors being cut from 5 gal plastic bucket. |
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| Tarp anchored. Keith on "sleeping platform". Note bandage on thumb. | Outside of shelter. | Final stretching of tarp over center rope. Note end wall to peak. | Entrance to shelter | Night fell and the shelter was completed just in time. Dinner of chicken noodle something sure tasted good. |
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| Yes, that is blood soaking through - the result of a pocket knife without a "Locke" blade. | As soon as work was done on the shelter, everyone changed into dry (non- cotton) clothes. | Are we having fun yet? | Stacked side by side like cord wood, all twelve were happy to turn in for the night. | |
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| Bill just about ready to turn in for the night. | "What do you mean, It's still snowing?" | At about 5 AM Keith and Phil got up and shoveled snow off the top of the shelter that was now down to three feet high at the far end. | We got this much snow packed on the trucks overnight. | "Snug as a bug in a rug." It really was warm and comfortable, with proper ventilation to eliminate condensation. |
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| Breakfast shelter added to back of Keith's Explorer. | The breakfast bunch | Phil dressed in his finest snowshoe attire. | "Donner, Party of 12" ;-) The survivors!! | Returning home over the Yolo causeway. |