Hey Ally, Three RIvers has a bunch. I stayed there a few years ago. Wasn't too bad!

Thank you to whoever added the bear box dimensions. Looks like the cooler I've got my eye on will not only fit.. it'll fit turned end-in! (well, in the larger bear box, at least)

and theres one box per camp slot?

Yes, that I'm aware of.

But this cooler will hold enough food for Cherny and I. So unless Cherny has a cooler (which would save me the expense of buying one, which would be nice), we can just combine stuff. One cooler for two people=efficiency.

Hmmm, maybe we'll need Alex to go by the BearBox store, and bring a bunch of BearBoxes up in his otherwise empty care.






BearBoxes stuffed with firewood.

LOL. If bears want wood, they shouldn't be looking in boxes.

Will you need the smaller round containers {I believe you can rent them, from the rangers or something like that?} I am not sure what these are for but I know they are recommended for hiking, right?

Kegs?

LOL :snap:

No....

This is from a Yosemite page so I don't know if the rental fee is the same or if your campground offers it.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/wild...oodstorage.htm

This is just because....

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm

Though I may be abstaining from the planning department (as I tend to do, at least publicly until the last week or so... (sorry for those who are new to my rediculously loose planning style for things as easy-going as a camping trip))... I'm still really excited to know I'll be camping in a couple of months with some long-time friends and some others I have yet to get to know. Especially my sleeping-outdoors-pal.... Alex.

Unless I'm to tent up with iSm... In which case I'll be snug in my tent, protecting all that might intrude.

I am jealous. I really don't think we can swing it at all and I really wanted to experience this. {I would have had a 13 year old boy in tow, are any other kids going to be there?}

I am worried now that the Hubster may not even be able to take off the time we've already booked!!!:(

You stay excited, blueerica, it will be a lot of fun!

So you and your son will be arriving sans husband, then? ;)

*chuckle* *chuckle*

Aw, I couldn't do that to him. He is the one who really needs a vacation. Plus, he does all the grunt work. If I were to take the Boy somewhere alone, it would have to be pretty self service.

Gosh, I wish I could bring him around you guys. Let him quiz YOU for a while. He quizzed us all through dinner last night on science and math. :eek:

Anywho, I probably would stay home and clean up these bookshelves...I've been feeling a bit um, hoardish? :D

But....if he is able to I am still working on the first night coming up....I'll just have to leave that until the very end. I swear, sometimes we don't know if we are going until the very end. Even then, we never leave when we plan and are running before anything happens and makes him stay.

I love the bug zapper. My kids love to hang out at my friends house to watch it zap. :evil:

That would be a great tent lantern!

I've never heard of chickchock until today.

Very amusing site. One product, for one day. Interesting concept.

I'm a 'beneath the stars' sleeper, as well, unless the weather turns foul. I'll probably bring a single-sleeper tent, just in case. Other wise I'm bagging it outside.

Im starting to think I shouldnt be seen rolling up in a fully equipped motor lodge

I wouldn't care, just so long as you turn off the god*&(*&(*^(*& bing generator at a reasonable hour and don't turn it on again first thing in the morning.

Fail to do that and I will figure out how to get a bear in there with you.

point your hot dog at it?

I think I'm more scared of Alex than any silly old bear.

No need to be. I'm very easy going.

Unless you leave your generator on all night, spend the day sitting in an RV watching satellite TV and then tell me how much you love camping, or decide that 6:00a.m. is the perfect time to toss all your empties in the recycling bins...one at a time.

worry not. Id be too embarassed to show up in a vehicle larger than my house and try to call it anything resembling "camping"

Last time I went camping I did the third thing because the recycle bins were right next to the RV that did the first thing.

It felt good, but was very, very wrong.

I can go to the Grand Canyon but both that and a camping trip in one month might be pushing it considering I'm job hopping right now. So it doesn't look like I'll be able to attend.

:(

Technically, the camping trip is in July. ;)

Finally committed myself to a tent. Good price too :)

mine arrived yesterday. whoo hoo!

Agh!!! No post in almost a week! :eek:

Deal with it :D

Kevy, are you and Gus Gus in or out? We need a tally, and you've been on some damn ship without your pants on, or somethingerother.



Also, is anyone driving up Saturday morning? zapppop needs transportation, but due to work schedule, he can't leave till Saturday. And he would also need a volunteer who's departing camp on Sunday to get him back to SoCal that day.

Any takers??

Nearly bought a light-up plastic drink glass at Target today, but a) it was a margarita glass, not martini, and b) it was the exact one someone gave PB for her birthday this last weekend.

Did I miss the boat on martinis going out of style and margaritas coming in? I know May 5th is coming and all, but all over the place, the plastic picnicware is out, and there are wine glasses and margarita glasses, but not a martini glass in sight (not one I'd want to be seen drinking from, at any rate).

Kevy, are you and GG joining us?

Check with NM.

So, I was just watching some show on Food Network, and I'm inspired to cook for the camping trip. Why does it have to be TWO FARKING MONTHS AWAY?!??!

been mulling over the dietary needs of the trip as well.

any thoughts on how we keep certain items fresh beyond day 1 or 2? I'd love to grill up some shrimp skewers etc, but those would sort of need to stay fairly frozen, wouldnt they?

Yes and yes.

A basic cooler will do the trick. Ice is a camper's best friend. You can NEVER have too much ice.

One thing we should do is plan a pre-swanking get-together so that we can plan meals and other details (I assume that we re having communal meals - it makes the most sense). Plus go over who has what as far as camping gear is concerned. For example - we don't all need to bring our own camping stoves.

You could also use dry ice. It's common enough to get at the grocery store. We never use it for it intended purpose though.

We always got a couple blocks of ice (one 5lbs and one 10lbs). Kept 5-7 people's worth of food edible for a full 5 days no problem. Dry is is probably overkill

A cooler and keeping it well iced will generally do ok. But if you want to do that you can also just front load the eating schedule. Eat the shrimp the first night and the eggplant parmesan the last.

You can buy vacuum packed milk and egg product if you find the right store. (Powdered milk is also generally good enough for camp cooking; powdered eggs not so much especially since it is easy to keep them for a long weekend trip.)

There're also some stores somewhat available so you can get certain fresh ingredients (at a significant markup).

For space, consider repacking your dry ingredients in ziploc bags to reduce wasted packaging space. Dried fruits and vegetables are good as well.

Dry ice has added benefits for ghost story night. Who is bringing the hook?

I guess I am too used to camping with kids (3-7) and dry ice is avoided. Also, when traditional ice is used and it melts, you don't drain the water - it helps to keep things cooler and for longer than if you do drain it.

I've never had problems with food going bad using a cooler and standard ice. We tend to have separate coolers for drinks (opened frequently) and food (opened infrequently).

Oh, and I'm willing to be on the hook for providing a communal meal (dinner please, I don't generally eat breakfast) but with my meat restrictions I'm going to just assume that I may have to make my own dinner on any other nights.

Plus, since I frequently only eat once a day I tend to eat very large dinners so I don't really want to have to worry about portion size and fairness to the larger group.

Kevy, can you add your name to the Wiki with the date you will be camping, please?

When we go camping, I make lots of stuff before hand that gets sealed up in boil bags and then frozen. It does double duty as cold-making accessory until it's chow time, when it goes in the pot o' boiling water.

oh, duh. I hadnt thought of that.

ok...so Capt Jacks world famous Tomato Alfredo is on the menu. (ok, maybe not world famous but its pretty durn good, even if I do say so myself)

Well, there goes my farfalle with chicken & asparagus in vodka sauce plans...

For the ignorant mass of me, what is "the Wiki"?

See this thread for all the wiki information you need.

The Wiki.

Password to make changes/add names is 123456.

That will have to come later.

According to the current Wiki, 17 people have signed up. Three others have expressed their intention to join in. That's the 20 we were shooting for! Hooray. Let's start planning meals and what activities when, so we can try and accommodate the most desires for the most people.

Hooray, next stage planning. Oh, well, then there's carpooling and such. Oooh, so much to do .... we simply can't let another week go by postless in this thread!


Um, though 20 people have stated their intentions, only 5 have made actual re$ervation$ or specific re$ervation arrangement$.


Just sayin' :rolleyes:

Did my check show up?

Yes, everyone, Alex has paid. Hear that?

Let him be a shining example for the rest of you deadbeats, er, happy campers.

Hey, this is the mortgage paycheck. Some of us have to time things.

[drool]

thank you

The tent I was looking at is at a GREAT price.

The REI sale~

Members {which is why I think we received the brochure} also receive 20% off of one full price item with the coupon on the back of the brochure.

I think we will have to go check things out...

Hmmmm - I think we'll be getting a new tent this week

Steve, I will have to wait until next weekend (temporary delay on my funding), but your check should be forthcoming!

I'm sorry you won't make it out for this, but I hope you make it to DL sometime soon. We'll just have to make up for it.

I have a question~

We may need a camp site to ourselves....can I have a link to how you booked these campsites?


It is possible that we will be meeting some family up there, they'll have their own car, supplies, and poochie.

I would like to make sure and be in the same vicinity...darn close....ya know?

Thanks!

We just blew our wad at REI. :)

We ordered the tent we've been looking at - yay sale - (which means we have a cheap Target one up for grabs), and I ordered the Stainless Coleman Cooler of my dreams - yay 20% member discount. A few other odds and ends and a scheduled pick up at the store to save on shipping and now we're happy campers. :)

Gratz!!! Nice!

We need to keep up with the planning!

I seriously had a dream last night that we arrived, and I had packed everything except my clothes. :eek:

It's a sign that we've been too lax about this!

What?? I thought that was the plan.

Well, Rhode Island's a bit far. But, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check out the laws for Sequoia. ;)

(I wonder how many people think I'm some crazed nudist now after this post and the one about my having danced topless around a campfire...... ;) )

Don't worry - I promise to at least acquire a fake tan before we go, so I won't blind anyone. :evil:




;)

I have a surprisingly easy schedule from Thursday thru the weekend, so maybe I can get some stuff together.

It's still 7.5 weeks away... right?

I am officially out.

Turns out that my sis in law will be at Lake Crowley {Crowley Lake?} and we'll be heading up the 395 instead .

She said we'll probably be camping out at the place she'll be at because it is pretty small. :D

Another time, LoT'ers. :cheers:

Hahaha ... reminds me of the last big camping trip I did ... it was probably 15 years ago, at Yosemite. My friend Laurie arrived with everything but a change of clothes. And her husband left his wallet at home. They both had all their camping gear.

Then my friends Lisa and Eric arrived ... without the tent poles for their tent. None could be found in any of the camp stores in the Valley. They ended up hanging their tent from a tree limb .... and it hung there all weekend suspended like a giant nylon teardrop.




Ah, good times! :iSm:

aww. :(

OK. I'm going to propose some pairing up of camping and meal buddies. This is a PROPOSAL. If you disagree, take matters into your own hands, revise the list and let me know. I will put up a WiKi spreadsheet where you can pick the days/meal you want do prepare with your "team".

Meals that will be available are
Friday Dinner
Saturday Breakfast
Saturday Dinner
Sunday Breakfast
Sunday Dinner

I will put up the WiKi spreadsheet tomorrow evening and sign-ups will be on a first come, first served basis. This gives you some time to consult with your teams and come up with your first and second (and perhaps third) meal choices.

Proposed teams (You can name yourselves)
This is who you will share your campsite with and prepare the group meal with. Make sure you consult with your teammate about your team's needs (ie: Bear Box capacity, cooking equipment, etc)

Team 1 - Kevin/Susan/Ken/Teresa
Team 2 - Chris/Lisa/Kara/Tracy
Team 3 - Erica/Audra/Steve/Alex
Team 4 - John/Bill/Cindy/Joe
Team 5 - Erik/CJ/KatieSue/(I'll help with this one too- gotta have something other than meat ;))

MEAL GUIDLINE: $50 per meal (breaks down to $12.50 per person for 5 SCREAMING good meals) NOT including alcohol. You're on your own with the drinks - you're responsible for your own drinks at each meal.

So, the challenge is: GOURMET meal at a BUDGET price. I think we can do it and do it well.


OK, so that's my proposal. Take it, leave it, tear it apart, do whatever you want but come up with some other resolution.


NOTE TO REMEMBER: Each person needs to bring their own MESS KIT (plate, cup, bowl, utensils) to each meal - if you want to eat, that is. ;)

We're number one!
We're number one!
We're number one!
We're number one!

Kevy's a Dork.

Team 3 = Team Curmudgeon! ;)

Well, DUH!

What does that make us? Team Cuddly?

Looks like a good grouping.

Sounds good. Though I must sadly remind my team that I'm not much of a cook. I'll do whatever I'm instructed to do, but y'all should probably count on me for most of the prep and clean-up. Otherwise, you're dining experience will be anything buy gourmet.

I can cook. But, I really can't spare mental energies to start planning anything this soon.

Are we going to share some of the cooking gear, i.e. camping stoves/pots/etc?

I probably need to visit the wiki to check in on that. But, I won't be doing that for a while. Gourmet isn't difficult to do at all, even if camping.

Also, it depends on which meal we pick up. Earlier meals allow for a little better prep situation. ;) So How about Team 3 picks up Dinner one or either breakfast? ;) Hehehe...

That's what you'd work out with your team. :)

FYI, I've been consulting with Disneyphile in planning, so she's as up on this stuff as I am. Either one of us can answer questions. (Thanks T!)

I've no skill with breakfasty stuff, so hopefully my team would like to do a dinner?

This implies each team will bring their own set of pots and pans, stoves, cooking utensils, am I right? That actually seems like we, as a group (all apx 20 of us), would be carrying 5x the equipment... Which seems super inefficient.

I mean, I can deal with it - but it seems weird that we can't share between teams. I'd be more than glad to buy propane to use someone else's camp stove, or have someone buy propane to use mine (well, I'd have to buy a camp stove, first). Or perhaps who ever has a stove brings it, who ever has pots and pans, bring them... Hmmm.

But remember we're on our own for lunches, and for those people arriving early or leaving late, other meals besides.

Well, that was already mentioned - so I knew that. My lunches won't require pots, pans, stoves, etc. I'm planning on making myself a sandwich to pack in a day bag if I'm hungry while out walking or hiking. Plus, I hope to be not at the campsite at lunch time.

I mean, we're really bringing up our own stoves to cook one meal instead of sharing?

Like I said, I'll deal - but it's a big turn-off (mostly because it seems wasteful in terms of money, time, space and energy).

I'm thinking about this further. If there's another group out there that would like to split up tools of the cooking trade to be brought up, send me a PM so we can start dividing up what we'll bring.

Um, one or two camp stoves for the entire 5 sites won't cut it. Besides the 5 group meals, we'll still have ourselves to cook for on other meals (especially those of us staying more than Friday night to Sunday), and it really sucks standing in line waiting for an available cooking surface. ;)

Also, that means dragging equipment between campsites. Not that they're all like this, but our camp stove requires two people to carry, about 5 minutes to set-up / 10 to tear-down, and weighs about 60 pounds. It's designed to remain stationary for the duration of need. Needless to say, it's staying at our site, and I'm not willing to make our area the official camp kitchen. ;)

Trust me on this - I've helped organize camping for a group of 100 people over 4 years.

Um, with all due respect to blueerica ... unless she's willing to pull the entire weight for our "team," everyone in camp is going to starve when it comes time for our meal.


I can't do anything but boil water, EH1812 professes just above to not being much of a cook, and am I just assuming from Alex's other posts that he's ready to subsist on Ritz Crackers?


I think our team needs to be reconstituted ... and all of us last picks at volleyball should be spread-around foisted on other teams.

I think it pretty much works out that each "team" has veteran camper(s) on their team who come fully equipped.;)

Also ... with respect to the kitchen and equipment ... I don't see us as five separate campsites ... but rather a large group whose tent space must -- by National Park decree -- be spread out among five sites.

I'm sure we will have but one big social center, not three separately going campfires (one for smores, one for getting liquored up, and one for hot dog roasting only).

Similarly, I think we'd be best to pool our efforts and have one, vast Camp Kitchen Extraordinaire. Certainly, we need as many cook surfaces as possible ... but there's no reason they can't all be incorporated into one giant kitchen. Likewise, quadroupling up on pots, pans, spatulas, spoons, and every other such sundry of kitchen life does indeed seem a little wasteful and inefficient.

No, I'm more than happy to cook whatever I am asked to cook. And I can cook. You want fancy breakfast, I'll make fancy breakfast. You want gourmet dinner, I'll make gourmet dinner.

What will happen on the meals I am not cooking for everybody is that I will skip breakfast (even if we pick a breakfast meal and I cook it, I probably won't eat it) since I don't generally eat breakfast and I'll still end up making my own dinners (though when it for myself that generally involves little or no cooking).


At least for my camp I'll bring (and regardless of commitments will have in my car) four burners of Coleman camp stoves. Contribution of propane appreciated. I'll have the basic cooking supplies (a couple pots, cutting board, knife, etc.) if we decide anything additional is needed for what we want to prepare then I'll probably look to someone else to provide it or buy it since this is likely the only trip I'll need it. For example, I don't have a Dutch oven so if we want one we'll have to work it such that I don't have to buy one.

But when it comes to cooking for other people I am more than happy to do so.

Well, I prefer to be self sufficient, but I camp enough so I can be without any problem. And, if you are planning a particular type of meal, there is no guarantee that the equipment you will need will actually be among the equipment that gets brought - hence thinking and providing what you will need the most obvious solution.

In addition, making breakfast or dinner for 20 people (plus coffee, hot water for dishes, etc) will take quite a few stoves to accomplish. Having each team being somewhat self sufficient will ensure we all have everything we need to accomplish delicious meals.

Alex rocks. :)

Yes, and when I teamed people up, I fingered Alex (and ISM) as the veteran campers on that team.

And, if anyone would like to employ another team on a consultant basis, please do so. I have already offered to assist the poor 3-person team.

Ahh, somehow I'd not thought about Alex's camping history. I'm glad you can bring a stove! I'm certain the propane can be worked out, easily. I also have plenty of pots and pans, utensils, etc to bring.

I suppose this is also a bit of confusion on my part. Duh... of course one stove for the entire group just won't cut it, but I had assumed that the cooking would be more centralized. It didn't have to be - but in an effort to save space in the bear boxes, I figured it would just be easier. The last time I was up at Sequoia with a multiple site situation, we shared, just so there wouldn't be as many storage space concerns among our group as a whole. The bear boxes are big, but they're not that big.

I suppose I'm also a bit worked up, since I am no longer with much of my former camping gear, which can be discussed another time. So for that, I apologize.

Ahhh, but I DO think about these things.


And, if there is a need for certain camping equipment, maybe there are extras floating about in peoples' messy garages.;)

I will not claim to be as experienced as some of the others here, but I will say that the group camping trips that we are involved with, that we have a kitchen "tent" (actually - two 10' Eazy Ups - one for kitchen and one for pantry) that covers about 20 people. While we do get by on one stove (albeit, a very large and hotter than your average camp stove), a second stove would be handy. Also, we have a large portable sink.

While it wouldn't hurt to have everyone bring their own, I believe it would be much more efficient to have a single common kitchen area.

Just my $0.02

I don't see how it can work any other way.


1 kitchen. 1 pantry. and 1 opium den.





D'uh. :iSm:

My offer of doing a sourdough pancake breakfast still holds, if our team would like.

I'm not on your team, but PLEASE DO THIS. :D

However, I don't believe anyone has a camp kitchen set-up, a stove, a sink and several easy-ups and the stoves that we have are the ones we're going to use.

Now, if anyone in our group has the "complete camp kitchen" to bring, set up and provide for our use, then we can go a bit more in that direction. However, I still plan on being pretty self sufficient with the cooking.


EDIT to add: Also, storage (bear boxes) are at EACH camp site, not at one central area. Same goes for picnic tables.

I'm trying to remember correctly, but I think we kept our stove inside the bear box when I was last up there, because it was hard to ensure there would be no food residue attracting bears. Does anyone know any different? I may also be remembering this incorrectly.

I guess what I have been trying to say is that while one stove for the entire group is probably not enough, if we each brought one, that's space out of each bear box. One team, or two teams, could have extra space if only three teams brought stoves. Same goes for pots and pans (though they are easier to be cleaned. I'm not sure we put those in the bear box). If stoves are kept outside, then space isn't an issue, except for those traveling in smaller vehicles.

Also, I think people are forgetting one of the key advantages to having each site/team be responsible for a big meal - it means that everyone gets the opportunity to completely relax and be served for 4 whole meals. With one central area for everything, someone is always going to get stuck with cleaning it up. It's seriously been my experience in this - someone decides to use a frying pan, says they'll "clean it later", and then the next person who needs it gets stuck having to clean it (and I've had experiences with people who deliberately do that, just so they can be lazy).

Also, let's say that the people who are bringing the central gear are only coming up for the weekend. What are we all going to use the rest of the days?

What I've learned - coordinate with a small group, and congregate with a large one.

And, our stove would take an entire bear box in itself, so that's out of the question. I've camped in bear-infested areas, and have never ever had a problem with stoves being left out, as long as they're clean. It's simple - keep the area clean, and there's not a problem.

I keep looking at this thread and dream of going. This is going to be so much fun. GAK!

Then you must go

I've put my stove in the bear box but have had no problems fitting it in... but, my stove is small. Knowing that I have one bear box between 4 people will hep me pack accordingly. I'm not seeing a storage issue and we're planning on being there the entire time. It seems so much easier to coordinate with 4 than to coordinate with 20.

Of course, if there are kitchen items you need to borrow, I am more than willing to make loans. But, I will only be bringing the things I need to make the meals I plan. For example, I will not be making pasta so I won't be bringing a colander.

Too much stressing about the details.

A pantry seems unnecessary when all the food has to be kept in pre-determined locations (the bear boxes) anyway. Carrying camps stoves around as necessary is easy. Odds are we'll still end up with too much of everything and even if we don't the everybody will still have a grand time.

And if you're doing it right all of your cooking dishes are pretty much clean before you're eating. Worrying about perfection and absolute comfort is the antithesis of camping (even the pseudocamping that is when you pull up to your spot in a car).

Alex is my kind of camper!

Again, I repeat:

So I shouldn't be renting a 50' motor home?

Also, don't put a stove in a box unless it's completely cool. I was at a football game once and a tailgater slid his Hibachi under the car while he went to the game. You guessed it. Disco inferno.

That happens surprisingly often.

But the bear boxes are usually steel (and usually without a gas tank). Except for paper products that might also be in the bear box, it should be an issue.

does chili count as gourmet?

I love chili - but I KNOW NM will want meatmeatmeatmeat (as well). Also, be careful who you slep with post-chili. ;)

I added a packing list page to the LoT Camping Wiki.


There is a link to a file on the top of the page that is a bit prettier.

I envision the campfire scene from Blazing Saddles


that should keep them pesky bears away :D

CJ's bringing the "Bear Repellent"! :)

note to self: beano :blush:

will any non-omnivores be attending? ie: peanut allergies, meats, certain spices etc? I'll probably be making the base up ahead of time, so I'd hate to have my recipe "actually" kill someone.

ISM is allergig to nuts and chocolate. Erica has dairy allergies and is also allergic to something else....Peppers? Oranges?

Chris and I eat anything and everything.

Bear box? It must be female.

I don't eat beef or pork. But that is why I'm just going to feed myself so nobody needs to worry about it.

I just noticed that Erik's coming. That's awesome.

You know, meals can be modification friendly. With my dietary needs (which, NA, I'm beyond impressed that you remembered it at all), I tend to make everything customizable. In camping/prepping for group things, I tend to cook the items separately, able to be added in, if wanted. Not everything, but things we might know in advance people have a problem with.

Note on my allergies: I will eat cheese, though in small amount. Bell peppers are fine, so long as I don't eat too many. Oranges are my only "serious" allergy. And even then... though I watch labels carefully and haven't had it in a long time... I have yet to have an anaphylactic (sp?) reaction.

So, don't modify for me. I can adapt.

However, I'd make meals vegetarian friendly, since I know my team has a vegetarian in the mix (but do you eat fishes, EH?)

I don't eat anything that swims, except shrimp. But, don't worry about me either - because if a team wants to serve fish, I can bring my own meat to the table that night without a problem. :)

cool. the chili recipe can be easily broken down to a 'customizable' vegetarian friendly form(s). that actually makes it easier

OK. Dining Sign-up Sheet is up.

http://lotcamping.pbwiki.com/Team-Dinners

Edit the spreadsheet and add your choice. Password is 123456.

Man, this whole relaxing thing is a lot of work!

If you think that, what do I think?

You just calmly realize that you are a slave to my every whim.

HA! IN YOUR DREAMS, BABY.

I think JWBear, aka "Master of the sourdough pancakes" should pick the date for "Team Mini Me" :)

Done. Are we doing bacon as well?

Don't forget sausage in case you run out of bacon. ;)

Presumably you have a griddle...? (Neither Cherny nor I own a camp stove, so if you have one, that's one less expense)

I think bacon is almost mandatory with this group, but on the bright side, if you have a limited supply, you always make them compete for it ;)

And probably some other stuff besides.:coffee:

Our team only has one camp stove?! Oh dear! We may have to borrow another one for our meal.

We'll be fine. I'm bringing my stove that you can use as well as a large cast iron skillet.

A Few Good Men!

WOOHOO! I WIN! ;)

Are we starting the three-legged race wars with cooking?


If we are not all pooling our various dragged-out-the-garage camping equipment for the commune, er, common good ... then I hesitate to call this Swank Camping.

If this is a concern of yours, might I suggest you create a new page on the Wiki titled "shared comping equipment" where people can add the equipment they are bringing and are willing to share. The password is 123456.

I mean, if we NEED one I guess I can buy one, but if we can borrow one that would be better. How many burners is your stove? Also remember we have firepits with grills over them, and aluminum foil is cheap (even the non-stick kind)

I thought comping equipment is stuff you're willing to give away, free :)

It is... in LisaLand.
:D

It's a 2 burner, and I'll need them both for the griddle. I guess we can cook bacon and sausage on the campfire if we can't borrow someone else's stove.

Don't buy one just for the trip. We'll manage.

I really, really, really wanna go.

Can I? :(

Of course you can go, Mark. But, CAN you?

And, all of you other doofi, surely you must know how to read my typing by now.

How's that Wiki page coming along, ISM?

I'm not creating a Wiki page when I have zero to put on it.


That's right ... I have ZERO camping equipment. My tent, sleeping bag, the end.



I'm toying with buying one of those kewl kamp kitchens with the pumped water sink. But only if we're having a group kitchen that it can become a vital part of.


I'm not anxious to spend a few hundred dollars on something I'll likely use only once. But if we are assembling the ultimate kamp kitchen, I want to contribute something useful. If it's every man (or team) for himself, I'm not so hot on the idea.

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman If we are not all pooling our various dragged-out-the-garage camping equipment for the commune, er, common good ... then I hesitate to call this Swank Camping.

If you have nothing to drag out of the garage can you still call it Swank Camping? ;)

No, I would call it hobo camping.



But I'd like it to be swank. I'm willing to purchase something useful ... and to my mind, nothing has ever proved so useful on my camping trips than a pump-action sink, and lots of kitchen counter space, handy hanging and towel racks and such.

Add in a couple, three camp stoves, and a capuccino maker ... and you've got one heckuva kamp kitchen.





So ... are we having a group kitchen or are we having fiefdoms?

Neither.

We are having group dinners coordinated by teams so that the people who AREN'T cooking can relax and not have to coordinate EVERYTHING. Smaller groups plan better meals.

Personally, it sounds LOVELY to me. (But, even I get sick of trying to coordinate everyone.)

Now, for my part, I' don't have time to argue about this any longer. It's taking up too much of my time - and it is not really necessary.

The only thing missing is a butler.

I'll be replacing my busted old camp stove with a new one in the next weeks. probably the three burner one I was looking at.
all are welcome to/should plan to use it freely. I'll endvour to bring enough fuel

ISM - I totally understand where you're coming from on the group kitchen thing. How about we consider that for the future? The big reason being that we'd have to dedicate a whole site to it, plus separate and haul everything back to the bear boxes at every site, all the time.

The communal thing works best at a group campsite. At those, the bear boxes are usually right next to each other, and there's a very large central firepit as well which can easily seat 20+ people around it which also accommodates larger "bonfires".

But, since we are a group divided into 5 sites, it is much easier to just plan with our sitemates, but still party all together.

No matter what, we're going to have fun. And that's going to be most important. :)

sounds reasonable.


Lazy Fairy is my new approach. I'll check back in with planning around the middle of June. And I'll remain avaible to plan whatever meal plan my mealmates decide to plan.

:iSm:

I'm in the Lasseiz Faire boat, mehself. There's just no way I can think about any of this rationally until after finals. I signed us up for the Sunday Breakfast. I have a few good ideas about that. If anyone doesn't want to do breakfast, let me know - but I figured it would be a simple one for our group to do. Or even just for me to do. ;)

Yay, Sunday Breakfast sounds perfect. So does putting off all other planning till mid-June.


I love you, blueerica!






The irony of Alex helping to prepare a meal he won't partake of is not lost on me ... and I take no pleasure in it. But since I will be up at dawn every day, there might as well be one of them where I have something useful to do.

Alex, don't you like :cakes: ?

Hey, whatever timelines each team wants to follow is fine by me - as long as you've got food for 20 when your meal time comes around.

Trust me ... it will be Breakfast of the Gods.

I've never cooked for so many before, so I'll need help figuring proportions etc when the time comes to start shopping for grub

I annually cook breakfast for a crowd and have done enough parties that i'm pretty good as estimation. I can help you. ;)

Soooo, we stopped by my second favorite camping store today to get a dutch oven. (REI is the king of camping, but Grants on Newport Blvd is old home.) We walked out of there with the dutch oven, a new tent lantern, a lantern stand and 2 cool Coleman camp chairs. Check these out! It's got a table!

Actually, NA would be the go-to gal for portioning the whole thing out if you're unsure.

LOL, NA!

When I read "dutch oven" the first words out of my mouth was "Oh, shut the front door!"

Hmm... okay, yeah, we can do bacon on the campfire if need be. I have a cast-iron pan I can bring. Plus I'm thinking we do some fresh fruit, which Cherny and I can take care of while you're pancaking it.

Speaking of which, I have a set of color coordinated* cutting mats, and presumably we have a picnic table at the site, so you probably don't need to worry about a cutting board. (not that you need that for pancakes, but other things we serve, or lunch prep, etc)

(*- the colors of the mats are assigned to specific categories of food, to prevent cross-contamination, which will be especially handy where there is a lack of hot water with which to sanitize things)

FWIW, I'm sure there will be a significant amount of impromptu sharing of equipment, as things are always forgotten or unanticipated. That's when the power of pitching in (and having extra equipment) will show its colors the strongest. So we'll have fiefdoms that behave communally... the best of both :)

As far as the coffee thing... bloody brilliant. If there are enough folks interested, I may consider making a purchase of a certain type of stove-top espresso maker. That plus a saucepan full of milk and we'd be good for lattes and cappuccinos (and I just *happen* to have a Peet's coffee near me!), which would go quite well I think with pancakes and fruit, yes?

So, here's the question: who would drink espresso-based beverages?

Coolness. Sounds like a plan.

I also saw this contraption at the camp store yesterday.



Although, we have at least one french press we are bringing. I will drink ANYTHING coffee in the morning.

French Press? Dutch Oven? Chairs?

Sayyyyy, what kind of camping trip is this anyhow?

:D

They have this nifty invention for bringing the comforts of modern living to the wild outdoors:

Suburbs.

I believe we have access and should be able to bring a coffee maker similar to the one in NA's post.

The dutch oven has a long-standing tradition of use with camping. As for the other accouterments........They are camp necessities as far as I'm concerned.

If I go, I'll bring my chaise lounge.
:D

A hammock would be better, IMHO.

I hit the REI sale on Saturday and got a few things.

The girl who checked me out said they should be having a used equipment sale coming up in June (each store does it at a different time) and that they have incredible deals.

My tent and cooler should be arriving in Huntington Beach on Wednesday. If I can make it through the store experience without buying anything else, I'll be amazed.

It's called Swank Camping, which is something you should to be involved in. ;)

its all based on the "survival of the comfy-est" mindset

Page 69... hehehehehehe... (Because I'm 12).

Not for me: this is page 14.

I have my prefs for 50 posts per page. Many people go with 100 posts per page. You can actually set it to 500 posts per page if you wanted.

ok after last week which just sucked finally catching up on all this.

My camping skills are limited but I can do/buy/make anything as directed. I got a basic camp cookbook at REI Saturday too.

Looks like the only slot open for Team 5 is Sunday dinner, only I'm going back Sunday so?

So, it looks like you are staying later than you realized :evil:

Apparently. ;)

I'm sure a switch can be arranged ..... for a small fee.:p

Isn't KatieSue dinner on Sunday?

oh, did I say to much? Oops.

I was going to send a PM about Sunday breakfast to my "team" but it occurs to me that I have no idea what screen name goes with the real life name Audra.

Any help?

Eliza Hodgkins 1812

While I love me a cappuccino, I'll offer one word of caution - most of the camp espresso makers I've seen can serve only a couple espressos per set-up, meaning you could spend most of your morning playing barista if you're not careful. I think distributed coffee production will be necessary to et all us campers moving if they are as caffeine dependent as I am.

I have to admit when I'm camping I make regular coffee and dump in copious amounts of International Delight flavored coffee. I'm purely going for the buzz at that point.

To the right is the Bacon line. To the left is the Cappuccino line.

Is someone bringing stanchions for the queues and trivia cards for the "last piece/cup" contest? ;)

Apparently much time will be saved on my part for not drinking coffee or eating pigs.

So, will there be any hiking or sightseeing involved?

Or will it be a weekend featuring people sitting around the campfire wolfing Bacon and sipping cappuccino in our evening slippers?

:p

Hmmm - I wonder if I can find some silk camping pajamas...

If I have it my way, there will be plenty of both activities.

hahaha -

I think someone needs to bring a giant portable fireplace that we can put next to a tree...

Bingo:

Honey! Where did you find that picture of us on our last camping trip?


I think we all need something from THIS SITE.

It DOES say they are Adventure Pajamas!

OMG! I found more. Check out the High Country Snuggler or the stylish Velour Snuggler.

If we brought this crew along, I'm sure GC would join us.

NONONO! THIS ONE!

I think it would be perfect for everyone to be lounging around in these:

Well, GD and NM already have some.

Okay, I'll go, but only if you promise to bring this guy:

OMG, I am dying at all these suggestions!

I was going to say, Euro, that that's one way to keep the 'skeeters off!

Please tell me someone has found a battery-powered lava lamp?

Oh my god do I wish the men came with the pajamas. Rawr!

If they did, I suspect that some people here would never leave their tents.

if I actually wore PJ's I could totally wear those

guess I'll have to figure out something. my normal sleep attire isnt gonna cut it

Ooo! I have pink Dr. Dentons!! I have some cool flannel pjs' but after seeing all of these wonderful mens' designs I can't quite think of what they look like....

I dig the camo style but someone has really got to make captions speaking for the models....:evil:

Or perhaps, if these men were lounging around camp, some people here would simply have tents with them at all times. :eek:

Badum bum.

Since I haven't worn pajamas since I was five, I'm guessing nobody wants to see me in mine.

Also, it is wrong to judge intelligence by physical appearance, but if it were at all possible are not those two (in the camo) obviously in the dull knife drawer?

My stuff arrived at REI!!!

Lest we forget that I also have red longjohns (of death), but cannot wear them for fear of causing, ahem, alarm.

Just came across this image again in my photobucket, and felt compelled to post it:

No kidding. I'm a naturist when it comes to sleep attire, so um.... yeah. I guess I'll have to break out some of the PJ's I wear to parties, but never sleep in. :blush:

Eh screw it... I'm going au natural.

I just realized I have a prior engagement that weekend.

awww :(

bring 'em. :D

I think he was responding to my post :evil:

oh...duh.
more :coffee: stat!

or not :evil:

Wha.......?

See above :p

:) :) :) :) :D :D :D :D :D :) :) :)







(all the smileys I apparently left out of my JOKE post about Kevy's plan to smite all Swank Campers with blindness)

Dang... I was hoping we could stress Erica out :evil:

Not before Finals, for God's Sake!!!

Soooo, we've got some extra camping equipment that we'd be willing to free-cycle. I know there is a tent and some melamine dishes. We're going to test out all of out equipment this weekend and see what is available. I'll make a list, if anyone's interested.

dibs! I'll take enough of the dishes/utensils to use on the trip.

Oh, fine. I was just going to claim those.


Well, I declare LoT dibs useless. First one to Long Beach gets them!

I only need enough for one.

Mud-wrestling it is, then.

Haha... well, no. I don't think I'd have been stressed out. Just bummed out.

I was totally confused. Too much stuff going into my brain lately. I seem to be missing the simplest of jokes. :(

No posts in 2 days? Has hell frozen over?

The calm before the storm, I suspect.





As for me, I'm off to the Grand Canyon with zapppop in 2 weeks, and I can only handle one National Park adventure prep at a time.

I have a war next weekend. One camping excursion at a time.

Ah.... war. Brings back memories....

I'm in Yosemite next weekend. Realizing that I have done more planning for this trip than for Yosemite I've decided to equalize things by continuing to not thing about the Yosemite trip while simultaneously ceasing to think about the King's Canyon trip.

What do you plan on doing in Yosemite?

I don't know. I haven't given it any thought.

Wow. We aren't going until end of June/first of July. We know some things for sure that we want to do:

Go down the Merced either in our raft or in a rental.

Enjoy a few of their evening programs.

Eat a Philly Cheesesteak at the Lodge.

Go for a night bikeride.

Do the Mist Trail.

Go up to Glacier Point.

See the giant Sequoias.

Ride the free bus at night.

Go for rides in the early morning to see the valley as it is waking up.

And, before we hit Yosemite, I am hoping to check out the Devil's Postpile, some hot springs, Crowley Lake, and whatever else we can find out that way. {now this area, I need to research...I think that Bodie is actually out of the way....:( }

postpile is weird looking. doesnt seem at all natural to me, even after they explained it
totally worth the trip IMO

I've seen it before, can't remember its' story. But, this time I want to go on top of it. *gack* the guy who does the shows of CA, did a show on Mammoth and he was on the top. I've seen from the bottom and, yes, it doesn't seem natural.

But, I've seen this somewhere else, I can't quite recall where. It wasn't in a large scale as the Postpile {nor was it even compared} but it looked familiar.

I skipped your list because I really don't want to think about it. I'll get there, settle in, and then decide what to do. I may end up sitting on my ass for four days or I may end up crawling all over the valley. I probably won't go to the lodge if I can avoid it (nothing like a giant hotel next door to ruin the feeling of camping).

Well, then I'll say this for MouseWife's sake.


My favorite hike/stroll in the Park is on the cliffs above the Valley, with the trailhead located on the road to Glacier Point. This hike, which features only one difficult section, is better than Glacier Point by far.

It's a loop which first goes out a tangent to a spot called The Fissures, which are a series of five gaping cracks in the cliff where you can look straight down to oblivion. Right nearby is beautiful Taft Point, with its fantastic view of El Capitan.

The hike backtracks a bit, through a beautiful fern valley, and then downhill through a lovely forest till it reaches and parallels the rim of Yosemite Valley, with stunning views directly across to Yosemite Falls.

Then the trail heads uphill and comes to the base of Sentinal Dome. There's a stunning view of Half Dome from here and, if you climb to the top of Sentinel Dome (not really that arduous), you are afforded a spectacular 360-degree panorama of Yosemite Valley and the Sierras.

Returning to the bottom of Sentinel Dome, there's a short cut path (not very scenic) leading back to the Parking Area where the loop began. It's about a 4 mile trek, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. After the Mist Trail, absolutely the best hike in the Park ... and far easier.

Thank you! Oh, do you recall the name of this? I have a book full of hikes/trails. Easier than the Mist trail with all of those views? The Hubster may have taken this hike before...well, he took the one where you get on to it from the valley floor. Not the same, eh? He's done the Panorama but I don't think I'll venture that far.

I want to do a lot of hiking, but, not suffer so much with it. :D

I do like to plan because I don't want to forget anything and love to try new places. We found a trail last time, purely by accident. Found it by the new trail by the lower falls. We had my daughter and husband with us and hadn't planned on such a hike. It was a good work out, steep. But, nothing really to look at. It ended up behind the Ansel Adams gallery, just east of it.

I am not looking forward to the heat. I have been spoiled by the cool temps in the winter/spring. Ack! I don't even have any shorts out yet!

Alex, sorry if my list turned you off. I understand but I am really excited and am eager for any suggestions.

LOL I am just the opposite. A lodge is quite the welcome sight. :D I have a night with a cabin w/o a bath and am trying daily to get upgraded {I am 90% sure I'll get upgraded...} and the next two days in a cabin. I'd rather stay in the Lodge but nothing available.

AND I have to fess up. I leaned towards Crowley Lake because I didn't want to have to lug all of the gear up for just two nights of camping and then still have to carry all of the things we'll use on the rest of our trip. PITA

I am really going to study the maps, though, and see what we can do while we are up there. Who knows where we'll end up those days we don't have set reservations?

Wow, you are my kind of camper. I make few plans. I usually end up doing a LOT, and if I don't - I probably needed to do not-a-lot.

I like to plan stuff far in advance ... and then forget about it all. About a week out from any trip, I'll start getting preparations ready ... but the plans are old and hopefully not contemplated much in the lead-up to doing the stuff that I don't want to have overthought.


Mousewife, s'far as I know ... that trail is called The Taft Point / Sentinel Dome Loop. The trailhead and parking area are along the Glacier Point road, with decent signage, and should be clearly marked on any trail map of the park.

Thank you much, iSm. I will write that one down.

I over plan. Then, I only do a few things. I never do everything I plan to. That is why I have to keep going back. :D

I will look up places, see what there is around there to do, print up a bunch of info, make up a 'travel book' for only the places we'll be going to {that huge AAA book is too much} and if we go to those places, I let the gang know what we can do and then we decide what we will do.

Well, the more we go the less I need to carry but new trails {thank you, iSm} are always welcome because I want to explore as much as I can.

iSm~ I found the information about the hike your recommended.

I also found a few others on that website. Seems I have some new hikes to fill my days.

{they are all easy-moderate, too!} ;)

Thanks for the tip!

You're coming down here???
Is Susan coming too?
I'd love to take my son out to the site to see it. Esp if I knew someone there!

(My household and friends are all long gone)

Well, I don't know if I would actually count Potrero as part of San Diego - it quite a ways outside of town. The basic directions I was given last year was "Go to San Diego, turn left and drive for two hours." This wasn't too far from the truth.

If you did want to visit, I can check into what is needed. I do know you would need to be in garb. But it would be a fun visit - watching people beat the heck out of each other.

Yes, Susan will be there too. Our pics from last year at this link. A couple of pics from last year:

Is that the tent you're bringing camping??

Blah. You never have to be in garb.
Thats what being a turkey is all about.

I can pull off war visit in mundane clothes. Done it before, I an do it again. I jsut cant tell anyone I know what its all about. :)
I just say, I wanted my son to see if this a group we'd like to join. See what its all about.

There are actually several different tents visible. The blue and red one is two 18' rounds with a connecting section. I think that will be a tad large for where we're going.

I'm beginning to think I am not supposed to go camping. My Mom died while I was camping, the last trip I had planned was halted because of my cancer and, now, I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to go on this trip because of Dexter. (Did I mention I have a mamogram next week, too?)

Camping is one of my big life joys. What's the deal?

Umm... what a call to make.

On one hand, being out there, doing something you love, immersing yourself into the planning, etc., that is good for you.

The issues at hand, well, you will know more when the time is closer.

Did I miss something new that is wrong with Dexter? :(

I'll pray for you next week!! You'd better go, because it would be so selfish of me to play with the Totoros alone ;)

Sadly, Dexter is not so well, as being discussed in this thread of sadness, mixed I hope with some hope.

Lisa: The best thing at this point on the camping trip is to not think about it right now. There is plenty of time to see where everything shakes out the next couple of weeks.

Right now, just forget about the camping trip.

Ah here is the camping thread. So who is going on Friday night and coming back Sunday?

Methinks I am not wanting to make that long trip by myself...especially at $4/gallon.

^ that sounds like zapppop's itinerary.

Maybe we can take his dad's mustang

That would be hot. (I can't belieeeeve he doesn't want that car!)

If I go, thats something I'd do.

People used to do that when we lived in Montana. Little Hibachis under the cars in winter so they'll start in the morning. :)

Shawn and I were talking about this. We might be able to come (if there were space for us) and if we could bring the dogs. I can't really leave my gimpy dog home alone or in anybody's care. Either he comes with me or I stay home. I'll keep watching this thread and see how things shape up with work and all.

Mmmmm, animals? Methinks that's not gonna be cool up there. Pets, that is. There will be plenty of animals.


The kind that eat pets.

I dont have any problem with critters tagging along. we brought our dogs when I was a kid and never had a problem. I considered it briefly, but mine are a little...disruptive at times (mostly just day times and night times :p ) so they arent really candidates

Pets are allowed at the campground, but not allowed on the trails. There are quite a few bears that tend to roam the campground as well, so you can't really leave your dogs alone at all.

Guess where I just got back from spending four days? I'm ready to put the tent (if I use one) back to work.

Ahhhhh, how I miss it!

:eek:

Ah Half Dome and Death Falls!


Next Camping Swanking - - the beautiful Ahwahnee Valley!

oh wow

now I remember why I liked camping so much

Oooo, Alex!!

So, that one shot is from Glacier Point? Did you do the hike or the drive? Please share any new info that you have, would ya?

The only part of camping I will miss are the campfires. It sure is nice to sit around one at night, roasting marshmallows and telling stories. {oh, and you guys, but I mean all of the work, etc.}

At Target they have a bunch of stuff right now, like ponchos, waterproof matches, telescoping marshmallow roasters {I couldn't resist, even though I have no immediate plans for a roasting} and I forget what else.

Ooo, if you have more pictures, do share!

How nice there is still water flowing. How was the river? I am skittish about going down it if it is gushing too much....

Yes, it is Glacier Point and we drove up. The day before we'd done Upper Yosemite Falls (I made it about 2/3rds; that is the other photo) so following that with 4 Mile (really 4.8 mile) Trail wasn't in the cards. I was sorely tempted to walk down, though, once we were up there.

Also, I was within three feet of a bear at exactly 12:32 a.m. this morning. It was cool; in the morning most camp mates did not agree. Surprisingly, when I woke Lani and told her she just said "uh huh" and went back to sleep.

Missed the question about the river. We did do the rafting and while it looked hoakey everybody agreed it was a fun time. They don't open the rafting until the water is suitably low and slow. There is no thrill in the ride, but it was a fun afternoon killer.

Ack! A bear? So, what campground were you in? Were there a lot of bear sightings?

Upper Yosemite Falls. Hmm. I think that one is too hard for me. Is that on a lot of rock, with narrow trails?

The rafting being mellow is just fine with me. A nice little workout, being in the water with my two favorite allies, I hate for it to end. Unless it is too sunny, eh? Then it is just float and burn. :eek:

I've done Upper Yosemite. It's a great view from up there.

I miss Yosemite.

Is it a lot of granite or dirt trails? We've done a trail that starts a bit down from the falls but I forget the name. I am a bit clumsy and worry about slipping and sliding around....as well as I have a Boy who loves to climb rocks and at that altitude....yikes!

Upper Yosemite is a great hike - if you like switchbacks. I haven't done it since I was a kid, but the views are incredible.

Switchbacks drive the family crazy but I see them as a means to an end. :D

Upper Yosemite Trail starts with a million small switchbacks. It was one of the earliest trails, and that was the height of trailblazing tech back then.

They are annoying.

There's a great view from Columbia Rock at the top of the switchbacks, just before the trail curves inward to head towards the base of Upper Yosemite Fall. The base of that Fall is the furtherest I've gone (with rock scrambling to the small cave right behind the Fall's strike point - when the water was a trickle - - - not to be attempted when the Falls are full).


Also not to be attempted by me - is the trek onward toward the top of Upper Yosemite. From the base, I once saw a man plummet from the top to his gruesome death (hence my nickname of Death Falls) ... and I will go no further on that trail towards the top.



Did I mention the switchbacks are a PITA???

The second part of the ascent is all switchbacks too. 65 of them. Through rockpile.

I was lagging behind anyway and when I got into that the rewards seemed to diminish to the point I talked myself into turning around, happy with the view I showed above. Kind of regretting it now, but I'll go back someday.

Oh man, that was a gruelling climb, even for a relatively in shape (though asthmatic) 18 year old. But well worth it.

I don't want to look through 79 pages of thread. Did we discuss what hikes we wanted to do in Sequoia? I would actually really like to look at the Crystal Caves, since I didn't do that last time I was there.... I think they have guided tours every hour or two, but I'll have to check into how to sign up.

uh...we're not planning on doing one of those survival treks, are we?

I don't think anything has to be done by everybody.

Last time I was there the Crystal Caves tours were selling out pretty early and it was in early May. Mid summer is probably pretty busy. So if it goes on the calendar it should probably be early on in the day.

When I get back from the Grand Canyon on the 9th (if someone industrious hasn't acted first), I intend to transform the now-useless camping dates poll to an activity poll.

We should find out which folks want to do which stuff, and then coordinate our activity schedule as best we can to accommodate everyone's deepest desires.

Er, nature exploration desires.

Um, natural park hiking and activity desires.




As I recall, there's the Crystal Caverns, the trek to King's Canyon, the hike to the nearby grove of Giant Sequoias, and there's an even shorter hike to some big rock or another with a panoramic view (I don't have time to scour 79 pages either).

Then reset the "posts per Page to 500 and you will only have a page and a half to read!

I want to rent canoes and go canoeing. i believe Hume Lake is like 25 minutes away.

Actually, I just want to be able to go.

I wanna see huge wood - er, I mean big trees.

Just intrude upon my tent once zapppop arrives.

Hiking information.

Also, Boyden Cavern.

That's not the giant redwood I had in mind. :p

That sounds familiar. Oh, and I hate the paths/switchbacks over rockpile. When we did it, it was snowing.

Then there is Lounging - I plan on getting some of that done too while we are there

Hmm, while that site did mention Little Baldy (the rock I couldn't remember the name of), it didn't mention the main hike available from Dorst Campground, namely, to the relatively secluded grove of giant Sequoias (the Muir Grove??).

Of all those others mentioned there, I think we tossed about the hike to Tokopah Falls as a possibility. And I guess Zumwalt Meadow would be included in our trek to Kings Canyon.

Also ... is Boyden Cavern separate and apart from Crystal Cavern? If so, which do we choose :confused:




NA, € and I did quite a bit of preliminary activity research when making the camping reservations. Though by no means exhaustive, we did a fairly good job of finding reasonably unstrenuous, interesting and nearby hikes, plus a couple of cars-required excursions to fascinating sites beyond walking distance.

I'd hate to re-create the wheel and start all over again (especially when the desired information is likely somewhere in this very thread).

I'm not sure we posted all of the info, however, I believe my trusty Kings Canyon & Sequoia Hiking books are still in the living room.

Oh, and Boyden and Crystal are not near each other. Boyden is on the road down to Kings Canyon (and not in the National park) while Crystal is in Sequoia.

So, allowing for any further, independent discoveries - the for-sure hikes directly from camp are to the Muir Grove, and to Little Baldy. A short drive takes you to the trailhead for Tokopah Falls and, if anyone desires, the far more touristy Grant Grove of sequoias. Longer-driving excursions will be headed for Kings Canyon and one of the caverns (if there are really two of them).



Please contribute any further suggestions, if you have 'em.
And, depending on how my ascent from the depths of Grand Canyon goes, I may attempt to scale Alta Peak in Sequoia.

I'll be right there with ya!

I expect a good deal of campfire lounging and early morning lounging. And that's about all the lounging I personally plan to do.


Frankly, if I wanted lounging ... camping is the absolute last vacation option I would choose. It's work, work and more work ... almost constantly. In between, there's the adventuring that is the raison d'etre of my travel to the great outdoors.

Finally, after the last bit of work is done for the day, I can have a cocktail and sit around the campfire ... where, after all that work and adventuring, I'm likely at my age to fall asleep within the hour.


Then there's the last bit of work in throwing away all trash, bearproofing all foods, and battening down camp for the night. Ah, and a few hours shut-eye before the dawn.



I salute all ye loungers ... but I'm not one of you.

And that, is why there will be options ;)

What I love about a camp population of 20+ is that all the options can indeed be experienced. We will have an outdoor swank society!

I somewhat feel compelled to pick up pith helmets

If you don't because of funding issues, it could be a pith poor idea...
:D




Okay, I officially can't go swank camping. My job will be ramping up right around that time. We'll be gearing up to start editing that week. :(

Sorry for any inconvenience and don't worry about the $50, but I'm backing out.

:(

I'm not even going and I'm sad you're not attending.

Ok, who scared Alex away?

Maybe it was me and all my talk of running around naked? :eek:

Sorry to hear it, you'll be missed!

Alex, PM me an address and, natch, your $50 will be refunded promptly.


I'm sorry to hear you won't be joining us. :(

I'm really hoping it was something else and not the Bookstore thread.

I was really hoping the Capt could meet him. :(

Apparently it was the bookstore thread. I am flabbergasted.

If everyone who ever picked a fight with Alex on this board, or posted something stupid to which Alex took offense were to drop out of this camping trip, the bears would have to eat the crickets.

There's a difference between being a person I've argued with and being a person I don't want to spend that much time with. At some point I've argued (sometimes heatedly) with just about every regular here but I'd happily spend time with most of them.

And for the record, I have very rarely taken offense at what anybody has said. I have frequently disagreed, but they are hardly the same thing. You, currently, I find offensive. I'm sorry if that makes me a humorless boor incapable of seeing the bravery of saying what you did or the wit of what you did. But better that I step out now than put myself in the position of having to pretend to find you amusing for four days.

My apologies to anybody else I am inconveniencing or disappointing in some way. I hope you all have a great trip and the bears remain a respectful distance away.

And since this should be a happy, drama-free thread, I promise not to sully it further.

I think that no decisions should be made until the drama boat is past the horizon. There are 20 people going camping. We can't ALL like each other now, can we?

Well, I don't like anybody but I am going anyways.

Much earlier in the thread, I spoke of a possible common kitchen. At this link, you can see the kitchen/pantry setup that we had for the SCA Potrero War Memorial Day Weekend. Obviously, the cooler collection and open pantry wouldn't work (due to the bears), but maybe other parts of this setup could work.

We will be bringing the large camp stove (three burners, one of which is 17,000 BTU's) as well as a lot of other parts of this setup.

Ah, darn. I was really hoping to try out our new RoadTrip Grill. :(

Sounds like my honey and I are going to need to do the weekend camp thing at the beach that we've talked about.

By the way, I thought we're not doing a communal kitchen because of the five separate sites?

Is this changing now?

I really don't want to sleep in the "central camp kitchen".

The more complex this gets, the less I'm looking forward to going.

No change (that I know of at least). I was just sharing since I had mentioned it previously.
________________________

Oh crap... I never included the link in the post above. Here it is.

awesome kitchen stuff. I could sleep in there. the bears wouldnt eat much and if they did, I could at least fix em up something nice. :D

Coolies! We're still bringing our RoadTrip as well. Can't wait to play with it - I love cooking outdoors, so Ken and I will most likely be having hot lunches too.

Whelp...

There's a big part of me that's glad that I didn't send Steve my camping payment yet. As it stands, it looks like already my school schedule is going to be a big wrench in my options to have any fun that particular weekend. I am going to play it out until the end of the week to see when the professor will be doing my presentation, but it's not looking good. :(

Any of you ever heard "Nature Trail To Hell" by Weird Al? :D

It looks like Bill and I are going to have to drop out. Sorry guys.

well hell. :(

Im goin by hook or by crook. I so very much need time off and away its not even funny at this point. Dont care if Im the only person in all five sites and have to live on jerky and water. I'll be there.

to all those who have to bail...you will be missed.

GO CAMPING PEOPLES!

BE - take your homework.

I'd be all over this trip except it's the weekend between when I get back from FL and when I go to Vegas and I'll have a boatload of laundry and recovering/resting to do. I'd rather be camping.

What, and break up Team Mini?

So... are we still keeping up 5 sites, guys?

Sorry. :( Team Mini will just have to be mini-er.

Wuss :p

Yup. :p ;)

Well, if all works out I'll be going! Can I make up for the missing people? ;) I should be up on Fri and off sometime on Sunday.

:)

Well, it looks like Morrigoon and Chernabog will now need a couple teammates. :)

(Although, I am quite sad that the JWB's and Erica aren't coming now.)

I'm still trying to sit in maybe. I didn't realize the intense course-load I was taking on.

BTD - I would, except it's not like homework, and I have to meet up with my teammates. I can't expect them to schedule their busy lives around my camping trip, nor could I bear the burden of a lesser grade due to my negligence. So, I have to find out when the date will actually be, though on the calendar, it looks like its the Monday we're supposed to be coming back.

I'm sad; I'll look at my schedule, but I'm not sure if I can stress myself out by being gone over a weekend with the masochistic semester I've chosen. It's why I'm starting to look toward day-or-night type of things, like Cemetery Screenings...

Bring them camping with you. DUH! :p

Well, they're not going and I'm not going... so much for bears and crickets.
:D

This pic was stolen from a friend currently doing a trip through Alaska.



Seemed appropriate

Mmmm... Alaska (sorry, Deadiest Catch moment there)

Bears that hang out in outhouses are the worst

Cruising in the Porta Potty?

It wasn't me. I swear!

Quick question for those with dietary limitations - any issues with eggs?

We set op our new tent in the living room today. It's big! It took up all of the center of the LR floor with the furniture pushed back. We still have to test our stove and fuel lantern before going. I'm making preparations, even though I'm still unsure about what condition Dexter will be in in 2 weeks time.

However, Dexter really LOVED the tent. He climbed right in it an made himself at home. maybe he wants to go with us?

I think you should bring Dexter! He'll be fine in the tent. :)

Aw, your plans sound so fun.

I saw at Target they are selling a nice tent.

I am getting excited as well. While I am not going camping, I am getting the heck outta Dodge.

I will be thinking of you all and wondering what you are up to.

And I'll be thinking about Dexter, too.

I'm sad to report that I'm going to have to remove myself from this swanky camping expedition. Some unfortunate financial constraints are upon me and I cannot put off taking care of them anymore. I'll be very sad not to spend a few days in the wild with y'all. I think, instead, I'm going to take those days off anyway and stick close to home, relaxing and getting to know my semi-new neighborhood better. I hope you all have a swell time and I'll look forward to your post-camping posts.

Oh honey.. that stinks.
If I can help, or anyone else... let me know.

I'd love for you to be able to go if you can.

I wish it wasn't so far. I so want to go but it seems pointless to not be able to leave until Friday after work and have to come home on Sunday. I also don't have a tent.

My tent sleeps two - you're welcome to join.

Is anyone leaving Friday night/Saturday morning and coming back Sunday?

That's very sweet of you. It would, all told, be too stressful at this time. I really just need a few days where I'm not traveling or working or doing anything besides catching up on some old bills and reading in the park. It's really not that bad. Just bad enough that it makes a trip rather difficult. On top of which, work is really, really busy. So if it's hugely busy at the end of the month, I'll probably work the Thursday and Friday I was taking off and save them for some other time. Definitely going to take Monday - the 4th, though.

Well that was fun to think about for a fleeting moment. I really can't go. It's not a money issue or a lack of tent issue. It's just not good timing.

Everyone who is going - have a blast!

I went ahead and updated the Wiki to show those who are definite. We're now at 14, most staying Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings.

We can definitely drop to 4 sites and 4 meals, so Sunday dinner can be scratched, which will be better for Katiesue and company. Speaking of which, I switched you to the breakfast that became available due to an entire team dropping out. :)

We can also possibly drop Thursday and Tuesday, thus bringing the cost down even further.

Stay tuned - NA is working on the semantics. :)

The San Diego area REI locations are having their used gear sale starting on Saturday. I'm not sure about other areas. Apparently you can get some killer deals on things that have been returned etc.

Well, I just made up two jars of my infamous "cherry bombs", aka rum-soaked cherries, just for this trip.

We bought a box of fresh bing cherries today, so I stuffed two small pickle jars with them, and topped one off with coconut rum and the other with vanilla rum.

So, those who partake in libations are gonna have some fun! :evil:

those sound worth the trip all on their own :snap:

I look forward to trying one

Or ten. There are about 70 cherries between the two jars. :D

OK. We need to revise the meal teams since too many people have dropped out. Also, I am going to cancel the reservation for Thursday and Monday nights - all sites - and probably cancel one of the 5 sites. HOWEVER, we need to figure out how many cars we will have and who is carpooling.

If I can cance these ressies relatively soon, our cost PP will probably go down. So, now's the time to start revisiting our planning.

Cars first, meal teams second.

I do know that the Teresa/Ken/Susan/Kevin campsite will have two cars. Teresa and Susan will be going home on Monday whereas Ken and I need to leave on Sunday.

The Lisa/Chris/Tracy/Kara site will also have 2 cars.

That's 2 sites, 4 cars. All ok so far.

So, two cars per site is not a problem? Good to know.

Well........both cars have to fit within the alloted parking space at the site, which we won't know about until we get there. I was previously happy about having a collection of smaller cars as well as larger ones. However, the parking issue may dictate the decision about if we keep the 5th space or not.

Feel free to apply my contribution to keeping the fifth spot so that you have the parking space and the locker space.

Why don't you just use the money to join us, Alex?

Joe and I will be arriving in one vehicle, and that a mini (or at worst, a Matrix, if we can't fit it all in the mini).

And I don't know if Bornieo is arriving in his own vehicle or with another person, but there's totally enough room.

And then one assumes that Nirvanaman and Babette will be in a single vehicle, leaving plenty of room for KatieSue

There ya go... plenty of room still. There are two 3-person teams still!

*raises his hand*
uh...my vehicle isnt what I could call small. half-ton reg cab shortbed pickup. and since I'll actually be sleeping in it, I kinda need it. :P

sorry for the complication

Yeah, but our car barely counts as a car, so it all evens out ;)

On a side note, I think I know where we should go next time. My sister in law posted about it in her blog. (Complete with photos!) Look at that freaking waterfall!

As of now NirvanaMan and I are carpooling Friday night arrival, sunday night departure.

Maybe if Kevy and Ken ride back with us on Sunday night, that would cut the extra car???

Not to complicate things further, but ....


I don't really feel zlicklike being a boring, tired old Fudz .... so ....


If there's space for me .... I'd like to rejoin the camping trip.




Um, keeping the fifth space would be my recommendation. The bear box and parking spaces are primo attributes that are worth paying for, even if no one sleeps on those sites.



My passenger dropped out so .... as far as I can tell, I'd be driving up alone in a large vehicle.


Oh yeah, and my meal teammates all dropped out, too. So, er, feel free to throw me on some other team (of people who can, ya know, cook - - lest folks go hungry when it's our turn to feed them).



Sorry for the hemming and the hawwing. I was just adventured out for a bit and seguewaying directly into camping prep got me a little freaked out. My apologies.

*highfive* welcome back to da partay

Good points - overflow food and parking, and it might make a good open gathering spot for evening campfires! However, I think it's safe to say that we can drop Monday and Thursday evenings still, because it came down to only 2 or 3 folks being available those nights anyway.

Welcome back to the club, by the way. :snap:

Just check with the two 3-person teams and see which one could use your help the most. :)

K&T will be going up at a different time than S&I, so we will need both cars.

I agree - let's keep the fifth spot.

And ALEX: please reconsider. I know I am counted among the many who would love to have you there.

Us too.

yeah, Im not looking to get any of the up front funds back.

yeah to the 2nd part too. the more the merrier.
also, if theres anyone who feels like its too late, please consider/re-consider going anyway. I have the feeling this will be low key and seriously relaxing.

I'd go just for the natural 'pine fresh scent' and lack of...well, pretty much everything else in the world.

I can see the logic to keeping the extra site (yeah, bear box!)

If we keep the "open" space in the middle, we can set it up as a sort of communal living and gathering space. I might even offer up the 10'x10' sun shelter to the cause.

OK, it makes total sense to keep the 5th site, but I'm going to cancel Thursday and Tuesday for all sites - unless I hear any objections before I find time to make the call.

As for meal teams................?????

My only concern about cancelling Tuesday is the time pressure to bug out on Monday.


Remember, no one was ever going to actually spend Tuesday night there. The pittance in the price for one more night of the 5 sites was to guarantee anyone staying Monday night the pleasure of striking camp and bugging out at a leisurely pace.

To me, that's worth the money. I hate having to get up, strike camp and go in a big hurry. (ahem, Noon is a BIG HURRY)

At $16/site for 5 sites though, it may be worth partially packing up the night before... those who are still around monday

With all due respect, I'll be dropping twice that on dinner at Granvilles on Sunday.

It would be hard to convince me that $80 is worth the inconvenience of ten people.

One question is: how many people are staying through Monday night? I would imagine that most people would be leaving on Sunday and/or Monday.

Rather than keeping all five campsites through Tuesday night, maybe we only need to keep one or two on that last night. Even if there are (for example) four people staying through, if they are in two campsites, I wouldn't ask them to consolidate just to save a couple of bucks.

OTOH, there is no need to excessively overpay!

Let's be smart about this.

Wait, maybe I'm confused. I just want to keep the sites though Monday night - so that we can leave leisurely on Monday.

If Tuesday Night is the last night reserved, by all means cancel that.

It may be me who is confused. Does somebody who has all brain cells functioning provide better detail?

Even so, how many are leaving Sunday (I know Ken and I are) vs those staying through Monday (Teresa and Susan).

ETA: Nirvanaman and Bornieo are also leaving Sunday.

Hmm... maybe I should go look at that Wiki thing

Hmm, I'm leaving Monday morningish.


Hey, isn't that Wiki thing supposed to tell all?


(Ooops, I better add myself back in.)



ETA: According to the Wiki, 8 people are sleeping at camp Sunday night and departing on Monday. Monday is the last night reserved, and I think we should keep it so those 8 people don't have to rush around to strike camp and bug out.

And I really don't feel like being rushed ... on my Birthday :D

Okay, I just consulted the Wiki. There are six people staying through Monday:

1. Chris
2. Lisa
3. Teresa
4. Traci
5. Kara
6. Susan
7. Steve

I know that Disneyphile and Susan are in one site. Chris, Lisa, Traci and Kara are in one, and Steve would be a third.

Further, €uroMeinke and Not Afraid are the only two arriving on Thursday.

So, IF IT IS ALLOWED, we will need:

• One site Thursday through Tuesday (Team 2)
• Two sites Friday through Tuesday (Team 1 and the team that Steve is on)
• Two sites Friday through Monday (for Team 3 or 4 - whichever one Steve is NOT on and the bonus spot).

Presumably, the fifth site would not be needed after the Monday checkout.

And now that more brain cells are firing, "through Tuesday" means that we would have the site through Tuesday checkout (which means we are paying for Monday night even though no one will be there). This enables those leaving Monday do no have to race Monday morning to strike camp (which is fair!).

So the big question is: can we minimize the site orders down to the above?

AND - can we talk Alex back into coming?

Psst.. count again - it is only 7.


And you (and the other six) shouldn't be.

I know it was mentioned earlier, but what is the drive time to Sequoia/Dorst (not counting traffic).

Drive time is about 5 1/2 hours depending in the route.

We're not going up until Friday, so I will cancel Thursday for sure.

Let me know what the decisions is about Monday night.

Keep Monday night.

How many times do I have to spell it out? It's not for sleeping there Monday night. It's for a non-deadline departure on Monday.

For, according to Kevy's count, 7 people.


Do what you think best, NA ... I think I've made my vote clear, and I've just one vote.

Can seven people stay in one site? And, perhaps, if cancelled this late, no one will take one next to you and you can use it, too? :D

That way it isn't too much money spent.

A question, I wonder if you cancel that last night if they'll get that one space rented out anyways for you to have to be rushed out....one lone night may not be attractive to anyone....

Um, unless we were all seven camped on the same site the whole time ... there would be, for all practical purposes, no way to have seven people camped on one site for the final night.

I think we either keep all of the sites on Monday night or we dump them. I don't want to have to move camp 1/2 way through.

Ok, at $20 per campsite per day, that's $400 for all five sites for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings. Divided by 15 people, that's just under $27 per person.

That's so not a problem. :)

Also, it would be perfect to keep the fifth site in the middle, because we can make that the evening communal firepit/gathering place with less worry of disturbing our neighbors. The bear box would also make a great place for the bar needs. ;)

I like the idea of the middle camp area idea.

That's where we can keep the "Conch."

Great ideas, everyone.

Yes, and $27 per person is a hell of a lot better than the original $50, so none of us can complain about that! :snap:

We're going to have a great time! :D

Bear box... bar needs... awesome.

I, for one, will be contributing a bottle of Mr. Shaw's finest Shiraz, as well as some Rum :)

Also considering bringing some snacky stuff to share.

What is that? The community vagina?

Take care with the wine and having it in bear boxes. If the boxes get any direct sun they turn into ovens. On our recent Yosemite trip three decent (as if there is such a thing) bottles of wine died this way.

Hmmm, then we best take the booze with us on any excursions. :cheers:

Which reminds me... I still owe ISM some money :eek:
_______________________

On the money issue in regards to the additional day:

I wouldn't expect the seven people staying to all cram into one campsite. I also wouldn't ask someone to move their camp for one night just to save a couple bucks. Since it appears there are three camps worth of people that are there through Monday (two "unneeded" camps), we are talking about a $40 difference.

$40 / 15 people = $2.67 per person.

I vote keeping all sites through Monday.

BTW, no more paypal payments, please. I guess I've reached some kind of limit where they've started deducting amounts from your payments before they get to me. Feh on that.

We're close enough to the trip so that we can work out the money on site. Some people haven't paid, others will likely be due partial refunds.

Those who haven't paid yet, please bring small bills. :)

Just as well - the link on the Wiki no worky.

Alex: good point. Maybe we should be bringing white wines that we can keep chilled in the coolers ;) Thanks for the heads up on that, btw.

(I'm actually considering picking up a bottle of Moscato as well, but I didn't have the money when I was at TJ's the other night, so that's why the 2-buck chuck... and shiraz sounded decent)

Exactly. Like I said, I don't think people will really gripe at only $27 per person for the entire trip. :)

And, iSm, Ken and I will be sure to bring it all in ones. :p

Yeah, but you have to blow on it when you want to speak to the group.:p

Didn't anyone read Lord of the Flies?

No, no, no... "Blow" is just an expression.









;)

I was thinking about bringing my guitar. Anyone know how to play it?

no, but bring it anyway. I have several I put through 773H when Im good and drunk.

I can only play a CD

*wondering if she can figure out where she has a conch stored*

Meh, probably in my storage space.

Hey Morrigoon.. what did you change on the Wiki?

For anybody else who has forgotten about it, there is a thread with info on the Wiki here.

There may be a small challenge. I am not sure what time I am getting off on Friday (I am going to try and get the whole day, but that may not happen). Our group is scheduled to do dinner on Friday, but I am concerned about getting up there in time to make and serve dinner.

ALSO, what is meant by "Gourmet" meals? We were planning on serving stew and bread - not typically considered gourmet (though darned good!).

BTW: Do we need to cater to any vegetarians or other dietary considerations? Other than mine, there are none listed on the Wiki.

Just had to point this out. I was scrolling quickly down the page, so I read these in succession. :evil:

Kevy,

I made "Dorst Campground" and "Loop E 121-125" into links that take you to a page I found with a map of the campground.

Your stew is mostly pre-made, isn't it? So basically heat and serve? Sounds like a good plan, especially with you driving up. I'm sure somebody could have a stove or campfire up and running by the time you get there if you're late.

Isn't that Paris Hilton's nickname?

:D

We will need bacon

I've cancelled Thursday for all 5 sites. We will be recieving a credit for each site of $20 (that = $100). Someone else can figure out the math of how much we all owe and how much money each of us who have paid will get back.

ooooh, maybe that's what we'll have for Sunday dinner.


Not being on any meal team (which, btw, is a fine idea, trust me), I thought I'd throw together a quick dinner for the folks staying Sunday night ... and it seemed camp stew would be the perfect easy thing, and nicely rustic after all those other "gourmet" meals. Um, now I see that stew is first up on Friday. Fine.

So howzabout we just grill up a ton of bacon Sunday night???

Well, we've "taken in" $325 in payments so far, on a total site bill of $400. So basically, those who haven't paid will be paying those who have, with $50 going to me at some point in there.

Like I said, everyone bring small bills.

Well, that's a given!

That will come in handy for the strippers.

Bringing the Bunny suit for some fireside entertainment?

Cool. Thanks for the extra info!

So okay, I'm sure a lot of us will be shopping this weekend for stuff. SO, just as a refresher, we're supposed to bring one bundle of firewood each, right? As well as remembering that we're each on our own for lunches. And those who haven't paid yet need to remember small bills.

Anything else?

As I stated earlier, it's $27 per person total. (400/15 = 26.666666) So, those who have paid $50 get $23 back. Very simple. :)

Kevy - if you like, Ken can pick up the stew from Susan on Thursday night, and we'll be happy to heat it while we're prepping the bread and appetizers on Friday. That way, it will still get served around 6 or 7pm, even if you're just arriving then. :)

I don't eat liverwurst. Make sure none of the desserts have it please.

awww...you dont know what you're missing!
wurst on a kaiser roll with some red onion and hot mustard? mmmmmmmmmm


meanwhile, back at the campsite...
so, to prevent duplication of meals, is there a published list of what the menu looks like so far?

Use the Wiki. I am going to put a link to it in my sig. The password to edit it is 123456.