le 29 août 2007
Pre-history: Les Pétomanes has its roots in the late 1960s, when Dave Kenagy introduced Jay Helms to back packing, and in a series of wonderful trips which Dave, Jay, Scott Cook, and John Grant have been doing together since college in the early 70s.  These were truly primitive trips with old-style back packs and freeze-dried food cooked on a quirky Svea stove.  We drank the water straight from the steams and weathered storms huddled in a 4-oz plastic tube tent.  Venues included Cottonwood Lakes (DK&JH in the late 60s and JG&JH in 1973), Chickenfoot Lake (SC&JH in 1973 and JG,DK&JH in 1974), Mammoth Lakes (JG&JH in Winter 1974), Brainard Lake (JG,DK&JH in 1975), Long Lake in Little Lakes Valley (JG,DK&JH in 1976), Humphrey's Basin (JG&JH in 1980), Dingleberry Lake (JG&JH in 1981), Thousand Island Lake (JG&JH in 1982), Young Lakes (SC,JG&JH in 1983), and Cathedral Lake (SC,JG&JH in 1985).  When the 1985 trip was cut short on the first night by a bear who decided to consume all of our provisions, it became apparent that we needed to call in reinforcements.
Les Pétomanes: We date the formation of "Les Pétomanes" from 1987 when John Selling joined the group, followed by Rich Cotter, Jon Ball, Karl Edwards, and Steve Levoe over the next few years.  From the fabled hail storm of 1990 ... to our first glimpse (as a group) of magnificent Thousand Island Lake in 1992 ... to Jon and Karl's formal proposal of the name "Les Pétomanes" in 1994 ... to our planting of a High Sierra time capsule in 2000 ... we have hiked together every summer since 1987.
The softening process: The first equine participants came along in 1993, and in the subsequent years our food and equipment have expanded from 50 pounds per person (on our backs) to well over 100 pounds per person (on the mules).  The Svea stove on the ground, freeze-dried food, and powdered drink mix have given way to a full-size camp stove on a table, leg of lamb, and more civilized beverages.
Les Pétomanes today: With the addition of Jim Murphy, Gary Hester, Bill Edwards, Russ Waters, Donn Harms, and Wak Kani, Les Pétomanes now hail from Southern California (5), Northern California (6), Oregon (2), Canada (1), and England (1).  All are alumni of Crescenta Valley High School except for long-time participant Rich Cotter, whom we have made an honorary alumnus.  And all are great life-long friends.
The authoritative list of who, when, and where...with first-timers highlighted!
year dates trailhead destination participants
1987 7/30-8/2 Devil's Postpile Minaret Lake 4: Scott Cook, John Grant, Jay Helms, John Selling.
1988 7/28-7/31 Agnew Meadows Garnet Lake 5: Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, John Grant, Jay Helms, John Selling.
1989 8/23-8/27 Mammoth Lakes Upper Woods Lake 5: Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, John Grant, Jay Helms, Dave Kenagy.
1990 8/8-8/12 Rock Creek Hilton Lake #4 6: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, John Grant, Jay Helms, John Selling.
1991 8/7-8/11 Agnew Meadows Ediza Lake 5: Scott Cook, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Steve Levoe.
1992 7/27-7/29 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail) 5: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, John Grant, Jay Helms, John Selling.
1993 8/25-8/29 Agnew Meadows Emerald Lake (via High Trail) with mules in only 6: Jon Ball, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Dave Kenagy, Steve Levoe.
1994 7/27-8/1 Agnew Meadows Emerald Lake (via High Trail) with mules both in and out 8: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Steve Levoe, John Selling.
1995 7/26-7/31 Agnew Meadows Badger Lake (via High Trail) 7: Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Jim Murphy, John Selling.
1996 7/31-8/4 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail) 8: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Gary Hester, Jim Murphy, John Selling.
1997 7/30-8/3 Rock Creek Hilton Lake #4 9: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Bill Edwards, Karl Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Gary Hester, Jim Murphy, John Selling.
1998 7/29-8/2 Agnew Meadows Ridge between Thousand Island and Emerald Lakes (via High Trail) 8: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, Bill Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Dave Kenagy, Russ Waters.
1999 7/28-8/1 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail) 6: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Bill Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms, Jim Murphy.
2000 7/19-7/23 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail, returning by the River Trail) 12: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, Bill Edwards, John Grant, Donn Harms, Jay Helms, Dave Kenagy, Steve Levoe, Jim Murphy, John Selling, Russell Waters.
2001 8/3-8/6  Shasta Lake Squaw Creek Arm of Shasta Lake, near Bully Hill Mine (by houseboat) 10: Scott Cook, Rich Cotter, John Grant, Donn Harms, Jay Helms, Wak Kani, Dave Kenagy, Jim Murphy, John Selling, Russell Waters.
2002 8/7-8/11 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail, returning by the John Muir Trail) 6: Jon Ball, Bill Edwards, John Grant, Donn Harms, Jay Helms, Wak Kani.
2003 7/30-8/3 Agnew Meadows Garnet Lake (via Shadow Lake Trial, returning by the River Trail) 7: Jon Ball, Scott Cook, John Grant, Donn Harms, Jay Helms, Jim Murphy, John Selling.
2004 7/21-7/25 Catalina Island Goat Harbor (by speedboat) 5: Rich Cotter, John Grant, Donn Harms, Jay Helms, Russ Waters.
2005 7/27-7/31 Agnew Meadows Thousand Island Lake (via High Trail) 5: Bill Edwards, John Grant, Jay Helms,  John Selling, Russell Waters.

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