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Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
#17737 08/23/11 08:00 PM
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My partner had to back out, so I'm doing it solo. Five days starting on Friday, Aug. 26 at Horseshoe Meadows, then onto Long Lake (1), Rock Creek (2), Guitar Lake (3), Summit - Trail Camp (4) then out via Whitney Portal (5). I'm a little apprehensive going it alone, but excited and confident at the same time. I have a Spot Communicator to update the family along the way. If you see a tall guy fly fishing the creeks, say hi. See you on the trail!

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Dennis68 #17739 08/23/11 08:09 PM
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Good luck, and safe journey. Post some pictures when you get back. Thumbs up on soloing the trip still.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Dennis68 #17741 08/23/11 08:16 PM
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Dennis, good luck and sorry your friends had to bail.

Have you set up a SPOT shared page that you could share with us? For those of us who are stuck at a desk, it would be fun to watch your progress.

...and have you verified that your SPOT actually sends to that page? We had a friend earlier this summer who gave us a page link that never worked. So please, test it and make sure it works!

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Dennis68 #17746 08/24/11 05:37 AM
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This was my first solo backpacking trip. There are more than enough people on the trail that you will not be lonely, especially if you stay at the stated locations. However, I did not and it made a big difference. I stayed at Long Lake the first day, stay at the west end of lake after crossing the outlet from High Lake. Do not go as from as Rock Creek Crossing, if you want some privacy. There are a few campsites as you approach Rock Creek about 1/8 mile short of the crossing. I have never stayed at Guitar Lake. We go an extra 1/2 to 3/4 mile to the tarns above Guitar...there are a few campsites on the largest of the tarn and others if they full. The sunsets are ungodly at this location. Lastly, after being out with just a few for 3 nights, many will just bypass the Trail Camp madhouse and go straight Whitney Portal. If you want to spend another night out on the trail, Lone Pine Lake is a better alternative, in my opinion.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
wbtravis #17747 08/24/11 06:58 AM
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Thanks all and thanks wbtravis for the tips on where to camp. To conserve battery life and having to carry extra batteries I usually don't leave the tracking feature on, only for sending text messages at specific locations along the trail.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Dennis68 #17748 08/24/11 07:19 AM
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> To conserve battery life and having to carry extra batteries I usually don't leave the tracking feature on, only for sending text messages at specific locations along the trail.

Ah, so you have the latest unit capable of sending text! Please tell us how it works out.

As for battery life, unless you are going out for several weeks straight, I'd reconsider that idea. Also, sending minimum signals can add to the possibility of confusion if you were to need help. There is a story of a woman hiking on the PCT who pressed 911, but her location got mis-communicated, so they were looking IN THE WRONG PLACE (30 miles off!)

And often, sending just one signal is not received, since there isn't always a satellite in view. Last summer, a group of PCT hikers tried that policy, and they got a signal out about once every 5 days.

If you're worried about battery life, just carry a spare set.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Steve C #17752 08/24/11 08:15 AM
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My SPOT II ran out of battery after about a week's worth of use. And that was with being turned off at night.

The bummer about the SPOT is that there is no indication that the batteries are low. On my hike to Meysan Lake, my SPOT stopped transmitting my location part way through my hike. Yet the lights that say that it is on and tracking were still flashing.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Steve C #17753 08/24/11 08:26 AM
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The text feature works great and the wife is worry free. The Spot sends three of the same text message to the satellite to make sure one gets through. It also sends a link to a map to see my location. So far I've been very happy with it.

Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
tdtz #17754 08/24/11 08:31 AM
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> The bummer about the SPOT is that there is no indication that the batteries are low. On my hike to Meysan Lake, my SPOT stopped transmitting my location part way through my hike. Yet the lights that say that it is on and tracking were still flashing.

The original SPOT changed the colors of the blinking lights to red when batteries got low. Are you sure SPOT II doesn't have that feature?

And could it be possible that either the terrain was such that signals didn't get out, or that your unit got covered up with the same result? In other words, did you try it again once you got home?

Edit: Checking the Spot 2 user guide, on page 21 (P 11 in the PDF file), it says the on/off button blinks red when batteries are low.

Last edited by Steve C; 08/24/11 08:37 AM.
Re: Horseshoe Meadows to Whitney solo
Steve C #17768 08/25/11 05:08 AM
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Edit: Checking the Spot 2 user guide, on page 21 (P 11 in the PDF file), it says the on/off button blinks red when batteries are low.

Now it all makes so much sense....

I am red/green color blind. so maybe it did change colors.

It definitely wasn't an issue of the signal not getting out. After the hike, I tested it in Lone Pine and then back in L.A. when I got home.

Anyway, sorry to have maligned the SPOT II.


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