Center Basin

Center Basin

Camp at Golden Bear Lake in Center Basin, with Mount Keith in the background.
mrchad9
on Aug 23, 2011 2:20 am
Image ID: 740018

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Vitaliy M.

Vitaliy M. - Aug 23, 2011 1:58 pm - Voted 10/10

this tent..

is one of the best things ever invented!

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 23, 2011 5:11 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: this tent..

This one certainly gets around... a bit promiscuous really. But it is 19 ounces and that is good enough for me.

Marcsoltan

Marcsoltan - Aug 23, 2011 7:13 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: this tent..

What? 19 ounces? Is it a Black Diamond tent? If not, what brand is it and how many people does it sleep? Does it have a bottom? I doubt it.
Sorry Chad, too may questions. Very curious!

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 23, 2011 7:28 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: this tent..

Yeah. It is a Black Diamond Bata Light. Best purchase I have made in the last 5 years. Floorless, sleeps two. And is roomier than my previous 2-person 4 pound tent. They have a four person version as well that weighs about 2 pounds. Both use your walking sticks for poles. I usually bring a groundcloth, when I am solo just a tarp that weighs a couple ounces that barely fits the sleeping pad. Does good in the snow too, and makes carrying your pack to a summit or on a traverse MUCH more feasible.

Largely because of this tent, after my last backpacking trip my pack weighed in at 12.76 pounds. Not bad for a three day trip considering I had an extra pound of food left over.

Marcsoltan

Marcsoltan - Aug 23, 2011 10:57 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: this tent..

I'm impressed, very impressed, not so much by the 19 oz tent but by your 12.76 pound pack after a three day trip.
I used to travel light, but never this light.

Thank you for the detailed response.

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 24, 2011 2:34 am - Hasn't voted

Re: this tent..

No problem Marc, happy to provide information. I've learned to do it quite confortably too. There are folks that travel much lighter than me, but I am close to my limit now. Doing more requires giving up a lot at this point.

anita

anita - Aug 23, 2011 7:52 pm - Voted 10/10

looks

like a great spot to camp.. you sure know how to pick them

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 23, 2011 8:28 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: looks

Thanks. I've become obsessive about finding scenic camping spots, and this has been one of my favorites. No mosquitos either.

lcarreau

lcarreau - Aug 24, 2011 12:15 pm - Voted 10/10

Cool tent ..

Looks like you were getting a nice breeze
blowing across the lake.

I used to use a Eureka tent that could
(withstand) some stiff winds, but I live in AZ, where the weather is quite tame and what few natural lakes they have are completely
covered with skeeters this time of the year.

I bet 'Paddles' was really having a joyous
time at this secluded location.

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 24, 2011 1:07 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Cool tent ..

A slight breeze but actually not too windy where I was. And no mosquitoes!

Paddles had a blast. Earlier this day he climbed Mount Keith, his highest summit at the time (13976 ft). Thanks Larry!

On the summit:

Marcsoltan

Marcsoltan - Aug 24, 2011 4:08 pm - Voted 10/10

Trying to...

wrap my head around the 12.76 pound pack. I used to sleep in a bivy sack with my cloths on, thin cloth backpack with no pockets, etc.etc.etc. Never carried a bear canister at that time. Sorry Chad, one more question, do you carry a bear canister on your ridge traverses, or your solo climbs?

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 24, 2011 5:01 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Trying to...

To get to 12.76 (with too much food btw) I do not carry a canister. Sometimes I carry an Ursack, but not when I am going extra light or doing ridges, I'll just toss into a tree or hang food off a boulder to avoid marmots. Also I do not use a water filter, and at that weight I leave the stove at home (eat cheese, crackers, nuts, sandwiches, and Mountain House meals that use cold water). Also have a neoair sleeping pad that is very light and compact.

Keep asking Marc. Happy to explain. IMHO going out is more fun when you can avoid extra weight.

Marcsoltan

Marcsoltan - Aug 24, 2011 6:02 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Trying to...

Thank you very much, Chad. I understand now. I can only imagine the kind of distances you can cover with a super light pack. Great memories for when you get to my age.
Thanks again.

EricChu

EricChu - Aug 24, 2011 4:52 pm - Voted 10/10

Very nice!

What a beautiful place to wake up in the early morning!
Sometimes I do think - I admit it - it's a bit of a pity that camping in tents up in the mountains is forbidden almost everywhere in the Alps meanwhile...

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 24, 2011 5:04 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Very nice!

Thanks Eric. I spent two days at that location. Usually I am on the move but I couldn't bring myself to leave it.

And my goodness at the Alps regulations! Staying in the tent in a remote location is usually my primary reason for an overnight trip. Though huts can be nice too especially if they are a change from the norm.

mvs

mvs - Aug 28, 2011 4:17 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Very nice!

That amazing tent was all I used on many trips in the Cascades for some happy years. As for the alps, I'd just say put your tent up after people descend to the hut or lift station level (this is ridiculously early, like 6:30 pm), and no one will ever see you. And you'll probably eat breakfast and be packed up before anyone comes along (ie, before 7:30).

BobSmith

BobSmith - Aug 24, 2011 6:46 pm - Voted 10/10

Great...

Humping Jove that is a nice campsite!

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 24, 2011 8:14 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Great...

LOL. Thanks Bob. I certainly can't complain about it!

goldenhopper

goldenhopper - Aug 30, 2011 3:23 pm - Hasn't voted

No skeeters?

I'll vote 10 if you just tell the truth! ;-)

mrchad9

mrchad9 - Aug 30, 2011 4:19 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: No skeeters?

That lake is just over 11,000 feet, but it wasn't that cold. I suppose that helped. There wasn't a single mosquito. An ideal place right there.

Vidette Meadow, on the other hand, three miles downstream, was brutal.

I still need to climb East Vidette and Center Peak. Let's go next July and I will show you.

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