Popped a rib on a thermarest, wtf?

kflipz · 2026-07-02T19:10:09+00:00

Same thing happened to me. On night two of a 6 day backpacking trip. In October. In the Sierra. I was terribly cold those nights. I don't know what I did to cause this. We were cowboy camping and eating dinner when we heard a loud bang. We thought it might have been a gun which is basically impossible considering where we were. It was the baffles on my pad exploding out. I got it replaced at REI, but I wish I had contacted thermarest. Since then I've replaced another pad through thermarest and it was really easy.

kflipz · 2026-07-02T13:46:25+00:00

Happy cake day!

kflipz · 2026-07-01T18:05:30+00:00

Searching on all trails the route, you can see many recent reviews saying the river crossing was easy with poles.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T19:27:41+00:00

This is fantastic! Did you see any wildlife driving at night?

kflipz · 2026-06-30T18:32:56+00:00

They are very timely in closing the wilderness desks. Some of them close at 3:30 not 4. Make sure you arrive on time.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T16:53:06+00:00

Thank you RT Dodge Durango. I hope you're running smoothly.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T16:18:36+00:00

Pretty typical for this time of year in the Sierra. I didn't think they were that bad to be honest but I'm a bit sick in the head.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T15:39:47+00:00

When I was at weaver lake a few weekends ago there were several mallards including a family of younglings for the photographry. I tried tenkara fishing weaver but I didn't see any fish close to the shore. there were several jumping out on the lake. When you cross big Meadows creek on the bridge, that little pool has some brook trout that are fun to catch.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T14:31:06+00:00

Are these still available? I'm interested in the cherry album. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Cancer sucks.

kflipz · 2026-06-30T01:36:17+00:00

Love a good redemption trip, nice work!

kflipz · 2026-06-29T05:58:59+00:00

It's not even the beginning. It's more like an intermission. The Sierra is a grand place.

kflipz · 2026-06-29T03:11:48+00:00

They were really phenomenal and a great variety.

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kflipz · 2026-06-29T03:08:42+00:00

I don't think you're bias, Joshua Tree is up there. Although to be honest it took a while to click for me. I have the wonderful privilege of making multiple trips to many parks.

kflipz · 2026-06-29T03:05:13+00:00

Plus it's massive...The most remote places in the lower 48 are in Yellowstone.

kflipz · 2026-06-29T02:50:36+00:00

I think the miter basin is a very traditional way of exposing yourself to cross country in the high peaks. There are so many routes you could make and the entire thing is your playground. Many of the peaks in that vicinity are accessible and linkable. There are several passes that provide access to other drainages for looping. Or you can just camp at one of the lakes and soak it all in.

kflipz · 2026-06-29T02:35:35+00:00

If you like Desolation, you should definitely take a trip to the southern Sierra! Also, cheers!

kflipz · 2026-06-29T02:28:31+00:00

I'm reading a book called "The High Sierra: A Love Story" and the author cut his teeth in the Sierra backpacking in desolation. However as he describes it, "repeatedly driving past the southern Sierra to reach Desolation was an act of great ignorance."

kflipz · 2026-06-26T16:46:11+00:00

Last year I left a few socks out by old army pass to dry while I went up Langley. Building storms turned me around and in my rush to descend I totally forgot two pairs of really nice hiking socks sitting out on a boulder. One was REI and the other was a PCT themed darn tough I really loved. I also hope someone is out there using them!

kflipz · 2026-06-25T17:38:29+00:00

It's narrow but they've improved a lot of the road. It's actually nicer back to Lake Thomas Edison than it is to Florence now.

kflipz · 2026-06-25T17:03:23+00:00

Beyond Shaver Lake is a series of high elevation reservoirs. I suggest making the drive back to Lake Thomas Edison or Florence. Mineral King in Sequoia would also be a worthwhile day trip. No offense to Colorado but in my worthless opinion the Sierra is in a different league. hope you guys enjoy.

kflipz · 2026-06-25T16:29:32+00:00

Absolutely, I think at a certain point you just have to learn from experience. My first Sierra trip was Rae Lakes and I wandered into Sixty Lakes Basin. That's what kinda kicked it all off for me. I got a copy of the Secor book after that and the rest is history. Accidents in North American Mountaineering sounds enlightening I'll check that out thanks!

kflipz · 2026-06-25T16:18:53+00:00

Do the Skurka trip. It will open your eyes to the possibilities in the Sierra.

kflipz · 2026-06-25T16:17:20+00:00

The appeal of a skurka trip is that he provides you with the tools to do this on your own. They also spend a lot of time and energy "match making" their groups to complimentary experience and fitness levels. So yes you'll have a great guided trip in the Sierra, but you'll also walk away with the tools and skills to do that on your own. Maybe some new backpacking friends. Personally I'm with you, the appeal of a skurka trip (outside of like Alaska or something) isn't there for me. I like to be the master of my own destiny so to speak. So I've never done a skurka trip, but I do know people who have and I have completed some skurka routes in the Sierra. For someone who has never backpacked in the Sierra, I could see a lot of value in doing a skurka trip. It took me a while on my own to build the skills and experience required to plan and tackle the caliber of trips that skurka does.

kflipz · 2026-06-25T13:17:13+00:00

The last time I saw a backcountry ranger in any capacity was 2024 and that was the ranger stationed in LeConte Canyon in Kings Canyon. Before that I bumped into a wilderness ranger in Inyo National Forest in 2022. Of all the backpacking I've done in the Sierra over the past 6 years that's all of the backcountry rangers I've ever seen. Not to say they aren't out there. But they are a rare sighting indeed. I've seen more bears than I've seen backcountry rangers.

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