2005 Memorial Day Retreat

5/24/05: It's still looking good for the campout itself although Saddlebag Lake and Tioga Pass are looking inaccessible. I think the fact that Tioga Pass is closed will considerably cut down on the competition on the trails and at the campground. The weather is not looking as good as it was with a 30% chance of thunderstorms and a drop in temperature on Sunday to the mid 60s from the mid to high 70s. But then again it's not called mild recovery. Since Tioga Pass is closed, use "Plan B" below to get to camp via Lake Tahoe/Hwy 50.

For a holiday weekend get-a-way that you will never forget, join our hosts John and Diane on this incredible retreat. We have reserved 6 campsites nestled above June Lake at Oh Ridge Campground for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, May 27- 29. We have room for 36 campers so get your reservations in early for this one. If you don’t like to camp, there are a number of resort hotels close by and one within walking distance from the campground on the other side of the lake. Costs: $20 / person / 3-nites (half price for children). Limited space so make reservations please. $20 fee to drive thru Yosemite and over Tioga Pass to the Mono Lake Basin. Level: 3; 8.5 miles; 200 vertical feet. Dogs on leash allowed. Due to heavy snow this year, we have decided to prepare ourselves with a snow Plan B.

Plan A

For those who arrive early Friday, you have more choices than we have space to print. To get there, we will travel through Yosemite National Park, where there are literally thousands of miles of hiking trails you could take before setting up camp at June Lake. On Saturday morning, we will drive to Saddlebag Lake and hike the “Trail of Twenty Lakes” as far as Lundy Canyon for a meeting in one of the most beautiful alpine lake regions on earth. Bring your camera for some panoramic shots that you will treasure forever. If you have children and or significant others who love to fish and don't like to hike, they can stay behind and fish all day at Saddle Bag Lake, or in one of the many lakes in the June Lake Loop. Saturday evening, we will gather for another meeting around the campfire.

Plan B ( Snow Plan )

If Tioga Pass is closed, we’ll have to drive through South Lake Tahoe to Nevada and down Hwy 395. It will be an all day drive but there are numerous trails and places to stop along the way.

If the snow proves to be too deep to hike in, we plan to rent snowshoes and go snow shooing on Saturday. It should be much less expensive to rent snowshoes at home so check the website the week prior to the retreat for information on weather conditions to determine the gear and the route to get there. If we do Plan B, we will do less of the 20 Lake Loop and have our meeting somewhere along the hike.

Sunday, after the Spiritual meeting, we will travel to Mono Lake to view the world famous tufa tower monoliths. This alkaline lake, noted to be three times saltier than the ocean, dropped 45 vertical feet between 1941 and 1990. This was the result of its feed streams being diverted into an aqueduct, to supply water to the City of Los Angeles.

GETTING THERE

Plan A

If Tioga Pass through Yosemite National Park is open, drive time is approximately 4.5 to 6 hours depending on traffic and pit stops. Take Hwy 17 / 880 North to the Mission Blvd. Exit. Take a right on to Mission Blvd. Take I-680 North. Take I-580 East, it will become I-205 East. Take I-5 North 2.2 miles to CA-120 East. Take CA-120 thru Yosemite to US-395. Note: you'll need to go north on Hwy 99 just past Manteca to reconnect with Hwy 120. Also be sure to follow the signs to Tuolomne Meadows and Lee Vining after you enter Yosemite Park. You do not want to go to Yosemite Village. When you get to Hwy 395 turn right and go south to the second June Lake Loop exit. Follow the signs to the Oh Ridge campground on your right. If you take the 1^st June Lake exit you'll end up with the Campground on your left after a very scenic side trip.

Plan B ( Snow Route )

Drive time is approximately 7.5 to 9 hours depending on traffic and pit stops. Take Hwy 17 / 880 North to the Mission Blvd. Exit. Take a right on to Mission Blvd. Take I-680 North to I-80 East toward Sacramento. Just outside Sacramento you want to get off Hwy-80 and on to Hwy 50 toward South Lake Tahoe. Go thru South Lake Tahoe to Hwy 207 East to Hwy 395. When you get to Hwy 395 turn right and go south to the second June Lake Loop exit. Follow the signs to the Oh Ridge campground on your right. If you take the first June Lake exit you'll end up with the Campground on your left after a very scenic side trip.