Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Sleds in the Sierras

I am flying to Los Angeles next weekend, then taking on Mt. Russell as one of several training trips for a Denali attempt this May. One of the things we want to have for this training trip, of course, are some sleds so we can practice rigging and descending with sleds full of gear. However, my buddy (who lives in LA) is having a heck of a time finding anyplace in the area that sells plastic kiddie sleds. Apparently the Wal-Marts (I know, they are evil, but they are also big and open at weird hours) in Palmdale and Ridgecrest do not carry the things. Does anyone have any ideas for a place between Los Angeles and Lone Pine to pick some up?

Thanks in advance.

During the winter months Big 5 sporting goods and Adventure 16 usually carry plastic sleds.

West LA Adventure 16 link

http://www.adventure16.com/locmapdetailwla.html

Big 5 sporting goods around the LA airport area

http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store_locator.html



Big 5 Sporting Goods #137
2515 E. El Segundo Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 297-7777

Big 5 Sporting Goods #2
301 South Market Street
Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 674-4344

Big 5 Sporting Goods #18
4343 Sepulveda
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 397-0645

REI carries Paris Company Expedition Sleds for $29.95. Don't know if they have them in the stores, but there's a bunch of them in LA, so call around. Ordering from their site takes about 2 weeks according to the web site.

MN, Just a comment - Sleds are gonna be a big pain in the a-- going up the N. Fork, and especially since not much snow down low.
Have fun

Kashcraft could chime in on this. Last year, he asked my opinion about it and I said don't do it. (It's always been my opinion that they work up the road to the North Fork junction.) They did it anyway, and if I recall correctly, it worked OK for them.

I did ask Richard's opinion about the sled and he was right....it wasn't easy going up the lower part of the North Fork.

Basically we had small internal frame backpacks that were not big enough to carry all of our stuff. And in a way we wanted to test out the sled idea.

We tied about 3 sleeping bags and some pads on the sled. Going up the road (covered with snow) was relatively easy. Much of the lower trail was not a problem either.

Once we entered the North Fork (mostly above the inviting canyon to the Left - below the Ebersbacher ledges) it became more difficult.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2719523800061435028YpYHBr

There is no trail there and it is not in any way horizontally level. It worked best to have a rope in front and one behind. Otherwise the sled slid sideways one way or the other. Often it flipped over and our stuff fell out a few times. It was kind of a pain at times.

Once we got to Lower Boy Scout Lake the sled was easier to use. It is more horizontally level from there on up. Going up the slabs between Lower & Upper Boy Scout Lake the sled also came in handy.

Although we did not go higher then that it would have worked through the Morraine field above Upper Boy Scout Lake, as long as one picked a route where you were not walking across a hill sideways.

Brandon,

I think you'll find sleds to be a pain for a trip up the N Fork. Also, it won't really simulate what you will experience on Mt. McKinley. Most people on McKinley drag sleds to 11,000'. The terrain getting up this far is not as steep at the N Fork is. It is wide open and rather gradual. Some groups decide to drag sleds to 14,200'. There are two slopes with a similar slope angle to the N Fork if you do this but your sled loads will be pretty light since you'll be doing a load carry. On the N Fork you'll most likely take all your loads at once and that requires carrying a big pack plus dragging the sled. It isn't impossible but it would be pretty hard work.

If you have trouble locating any sleds I have one that I rigged for going to McKinley. I use it to teach people how to rig up a sled set up for McKinley. If you strike out finding a sled and want to borrow mine let me know.

All the best,

Kurt

Wow, thanks for all the helpful thoughts, folks. I did the Mountaineer's Route in the summer a few years back, and all my recollections of the slope angles does lead me to believe that dragging a sled is going to be a huge pain in the rear... hence part of the appeal. If we can rig the sleds to handle dragging them through that nightmare, I feel like we will be ready for some of the potential difficulties on Denali.

Also, since we are attempting Denali in early May and will therefore be facing the possibility of long storm-bound periods, we are planning to mostly avoid double-carrying in order to give ourselves more time higher up on the mountain. Here again, the heavy sleds up tough terrain on the North Fork (we are bringing all of our Denali gear, just for the practice) should be just what the doctor ordered.

Kurt, thanks for the offer, we may just take you up on it!

Incidentally, I noticed that back in early February some folks made the drive up to Whitney Portal in a 4WD vehicle. Any beta on the current road conditions on the Portal road?

BT