Camping Swanking - June 28 - July 3
 

I'm breaking this out of the general 2007 swanking thread because a camping excursion requires a little more planning and prep.

Specifically, the campgrounds in Sequioa/Kings Canyon that take reservations start taking them less than a week from now on February 7. There's only two that take ressies, but that leads me to believe they are among the more popular camgrounds ... and are that way for a reason. In any event, all other things being equal, I'd prefer to have ressies than not.

Still, I will gladly defer to the knowledge and experience of people who have camped in Sequoia, and if first-come, first-served campgrounds are more desireable ... we can certainly go that route a bit more spontaneously. One caveat to that, though ... is that you can't save campgrounds for people who aren't there. So in a situation (such as the one I envision for this swanking) where some people start out on a Thursday, but most come up for the weekend ... it would be difficult for everyone to get camp sites near one another.

Just sayin'


Here's a handy map of all the campgrounds and where they are, with some info below on the various amenities and logistics. Someone mentioned an affinity for Sheep Creek in the 2007 Swankings Thread. Dorst and Lodgepole are the two that accept reservations.

So, let's pick the date, and otherwise get the ball rolling. Especially if we determine that ball needs reservations. And let's determine that real soon, eh?



Ah, waking up in the woods to the smell of coffee and hot bacon!
:coffee:
Swanky Camping!!

ooo Camping!

Any weekend but the last weekend in April and first weekend in May work for me.

I'll bring a pen to ward off mountain lions.

As far as saving campgrounds.....ythe first person to arrive just pays for them all, puts the little sign on the post and maybe a chair or something in the camp. That should be enough to save it.

As for campgrounds, Dorst and Lodgepole are in Sequoia rather than Kings Canyon and Sequoia is always MUCH more crowded (which I why I usually camp in Kings Canyon).

Last weekend of April is Coachella and is out for us. Lashbear wil be here in April, so we can't go camping when he's here.

First weekend in May for us too!

(And like iSm, I prefer reserved sites, but I'll go along with the majority decision. :) )

If everyone feels most comfortable making a ressie than we have the three to choose from. Dorst in Sequoia (higher elevation than the others and it will be COOOOLD at night); Grant Grove (nice area, a bit lower but nothing great or; Cedar Grove - Canyon View. I've only stayed at Sheep Creek in this area and it is LOVELY! I like being in a canyon with the Kings River rushing by and Zumwalt Meadows an Muir Rock just down the way. However, the canyon dead ends, so you don't have as many places to go - driving. Hiking is great and horse back riding is close by. It is also a bit warmer in the canyon than it is at the higher elevations and early May can still be a bit icy.

Of course, I've camped in actual snow in Sequoia proper in April. Nice way to chill with wine if there's no river nearby.

I've also seen bears in all of these areas. They start at the higher elevations and work their way to the lower ones as the year progresses, but bears will be bears.

Oh jeez, I gotta get me some camping gear! Luckily, already got the cot as a guest bed (if you don't have one of these, ya gotta get 'em... it's a folding frame, like the chairs, and on top of the frame is a zip pouch to hold a very thick inflatable mattress :) LIke a real twin bed, almost.

Need a tent though, LOL. Maybe I should look into one of those fancy ren-faire dealies ;) j/k.

I won't be joining since I'm already committed to a Yosemite trip around the same time, but for those who haven't been, keep two things in mind:

1) You have to keep all your food in bear lockers so don't go crazy with what you bring, particularly if you're going to pack in the maximum people per campsite. Not all of the campgrounds have overflow community lockers you can use if you have too much (I don't recall Grant's Grove having any).

2) Grant's Grove I liked because it was relatively easy to get everywhere else of interest but other than a couple big trees there really isn't much right there (and I find big trees to be the least interesting part of the scenery around there). It does, however, have a full ranger station and a large amphitheater hosting (even early in the season, I presume) ranger programs. So overall we liked it and it wasn't a problem going without a reservation since we made sure one person in our party arrived early to stake out some space. That said, if you're going to need more than two campsites it can be difficult to find that many really nice ones consecutively (though you really only need one and the rest are for sleeping).

Also, I notice that iSm is presuming that someone else in the group will be getting up early so he can wake to the smell of coffee and bacon (I'm always an early riser when camping so I never wake up to the smell of food).

Um, no ... I was advertising the smell of bacon and coffee to entice others.


I would be shocked if anyone woke up before me in a camping situation. I'll likely have been for a hike in the forest, then back at camp making coffee and bacon before another soul wakes up.

that works for me. I usually sleep in on camp trips. just remember:
bacon, crisp
coffee...strong and black as coal
bears...try not to piss any off before I wake up or at least make sure theyre fed and in a good humor.

be forwarned: Jack is NOT a morning person :coffee:

I'd love to attend. I'll leave it to you folks to pick where and when and endevour to be there.