Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Trippin' the Tuolumne Light Fantastic

Trip Report

Betsy and Jack, I did my best to emulate your treks in to see Rob and Laura. Fresh strawberries, arugula, tomatoes and avacado, chardonnay, Macallan scotch, fresh-baked lemon-almond bread, Hungarian bacon. We raised a glass to you both.

This trip was a nod to my mom, who asked me a few years ago when she might get to "see" Tuolumne in winter. Many thanks to Rob and Laura Pilewski for organizing the rendezvous, and for treating me to some of the most incredible views yet. This, like EVO Basin or the Ansel Adams Wilderness, might just become an annual adventure.

Trippin' the Tuolumne Light Fantastic from Laura Molnar on Vimeo.

Pictures.

From the luckiest girl in the world:
Climb Hard. Be Safe.

-L

PS: Rob and Laura are consistently updating the TM winter conditions here.

Majestic. So few make it out in the winter, and even less get to experience Yosemite cloaked in her winter robe. Thank you very much for taking the time to share.

Thanks, Laura! It is really really beautiful.

Who sang?

I love your well done video. That area reminds me of Sheep Flats up near Mt Rose where I go cross country skiing above Lake Tahoe.As a matter of fact my wife and I are heading up there this morning. A big open meadow with surrounding forest and mountains. I'm very interested in the amount of snow up where you made this video 'cause I'll be hiking in Yosemite just after Memorial Day and hope to drive over Tioga Pass. It appears that there wasn't much snow up there. Was the pass open?

Great video, Laura. What program or app did you use?

Thanks, all. It was indeed a very special weekend, spent with good friends in beautiful country. Glad to share it with those who appreciate it.

RenoFrank, there is a great list of open/close dates for Tioga Pass [url=http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm]here.[/url] The average is May 29th, which may or may not put you over the pass on Memorial Day. In the post above, Rob and Laura's updates are posted, and will probably give you the best estimate. As for me, I'm hoping/praying/dancing for more snow and a long spring season of skiing!

Brent: I use iMovie, which is a great and simple application. I then upload the videos to vimeo.com.

Best,
L

Since you are doing things on iMovie that I can't do on iMovie on my ipad, I'm guessing that the Mac has a more robust version.

Thanks for the beta.

Brent

Great slideshow.Laura you have become a Sierra legend. Proud of you.

Laura does things that nobody else can do. I love reading about her adventures.

That's very sweet, you guys, thank you! But, Steve, I have to disagree with you. The things that I do are well within reach of just about anyone, given enough focus and preparation. That's why I still occasionally post up about things: to hopefully give someone an idea of what is within the realm of "normal" possibilities. I don't go for speed or distance records. I just go to see how far I can reach within myself.

Thanks again!!

-L

Or, as you once told me: "I'm just stubborn!"

I am always amazed to read that "fanboy" (and girl)sort of idolization on these boards. I saw people in the military who weighed 90lbs carrying almost twice their body weight for twice the distance than the average recreational hiker. They are my heroes.

I am really glad that you don't buy into the "one and only" nonsense that people lay on you, Laura. Good for you in immediately debunking this silly myth.

Gar-bear, that might indeed have something to do with it all...

Bee, I don't know about debunking myths, but I definitely need to put it out there that, while the compliments from everyone are amazing, they actually add to the already tremendous pressure I put on myself. Believe me, especially after the Sierra Challenge of 2010, I saw a huge increase of "Laura's going out there to kick ass again!!!" when really all I was trying to do was have fun.

Most of my patients are my heroes. I worked with a patient today who had suffered a stroke and has moderate to severe aphasia (difficulty finding/speaking words). I was discussing bacteria types with them and they got stuck (REALLY stuck) on the word "Escherischia" (as in E. coli). Then they started laughing hysterically at what did come out of their mouths as they attempted it again.

That, to me, is legendary.

And THAT, my dear, is exactly what you do that is, if not unique, very, very special.

Thanks, saltydog.