The Loma Prietan - November/December 2009

Photo op on Fernandez Pass. Ted Raczek, Ginny Laibl, David Crosley, and Mary Facchetti enjoy fine weather during last summer's mule trip. Photo: Larry Stafford

Alpenglow on the Minarets, scrambling over rocks to tranquil alpine lakes, the scent of Jeffrey pines in the crisp air, all in the company of some great folks... what could be better? Since 1992 the Singleaires have offered high Sierra mule pack adventures. Trip members enjoy the Sierra; mules carry the gear. This year's destination was Lillian Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The group met at Clover Meadows Campground Sunday, August 9 and enjoyed a group spaghetti dinner. Early the following morning, they dropped off their gear at the pack station and began the seven-mile, 1,800 ft. hike to Lillian Lake.

The group spent four full days exploring granite ridges and basins, enjoying the many lakes in the area and reveling in the magnificent views of the Ritter Range, the Minarets, and the many other distant peaks. Some of the group climbed Madera and Gale Peaks, and some hiked up to Fernandez Pass, boundary of Yosemite Park. The weather was warm; the bugs, few; and Lillian Lake, beautiful and swimmable. Happy hours, and lively storytelling and singing around the campfires rounded out the days. On the last night a Boy Scout troop shared their freshcaught trout with the group. On the way out the following Saturday, the group helped stamp out a small wildfire near Sanford Lakes. Everyone spent the night in an Oakhurst motel and enjoyed a gala farewell dinner before heading home the next day.

Mule packs were begun in 1992 by Ray Prendergast and Jack McKellar, avid backpackers, who wanted to offer High Sierra trips to Singleaires who weren't up to the rigors of backpacking. The first mule pack was up McGee Creek to Golden Lake. Other trips have been to destinations such as Thousand Island Lake, Emerald Lakes, and Honeymoon Lake. Most trips have been central commissary, with participants divided into groups, each responsible for a night's happy hour appetizers, entrée and dessert. Excellent food has become quite a competition, and trip participants have enjoyed many gourmet meals as a result.

Several ideas for the 2010 mule pack are already being floated, so it looks like this longrunning tradition will continue into the future. Join us.

If you're interested in next year's Singleaires mule pack trip, contact Ginny Laibl at ginnylaibl@hotmail.com.

Ginny Laibl is a Chapter Singleaires Outings Leader, a member of the Chapter Executive Committee, and a member of the Club's Local Outings Support Committee.