2008 Camp Swank

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Again, I don't mean to offend anyone. I just have a yearning to take my younger friends who've never seen Yosemite to explore the Incomparable Valley while I'm still young enough to explore it with them. Tick, tick, and all that. No Time Like The Present.

Then find another weekend and get a group together and go to Yosemite! There are many weekends between now and June and after. This weekend was planned for Camp Swank and YOU were at the helm of planning. You just bow out and make other plans? That's really not cool.

[Ponine]

I'm confused, and I know its not just me. I'm confused that the King's Canyon and Yosemite trips seems have merged into one trip.

Could you possiblly speak of them as two separate trips,
so that we could truly see what you're talking about, and them we could have the choice of combining them?

Or the choice of combining them could be a group decision?

I know that I'm late to the group, but being told that someone would like me to consider it, and suddenly have it seem like an even larger trip than I had been talked into, is very intimidating.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

So, um, how about us non-Yosemite folks plan on Thursday through Monday nights at the reserved group site or the Sheep Creek sites that NA mentioned?

We'll try to save room for the latecomers. I know I'll be taking up a nice shady spot.

This sounds like a plan. I'm with NA that we take our chances getting Sheep Creek sites.

[Morrigoon]

How close to use do we have to cancel the sites? Because we could always book the group one as a backup, then have the first-comers see if they can land the FCFS sites, and if they can, cancel the group reservation - I mean, assuming that the group one is cancelable... But that way we have a shot at the preferred camp spots with a solid backup plan.

[katiesue]

There is no deposit or anything for the group sites and they don't take a credit card or anything to hold. I guess it's possible to cancel at the last day but that's kind of suckish if another group had wanted that date and couldn't go and then we bag at the last day.

There are also medium group sites (which we technically probably would be) but they are first come first serve as well. Those could be scouted by the first comers as well.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by katiesue

There are also medium group sites (which we technically probably would be) but they are first come first serve as well. Those could be scouted by the first comers as well.

That's a good idea.

[Morrigoon]

Hmm... yeah okay, sounds like there's a lot of backup there.

Is it June yet?

3 months is a long time to wait.... I need a vacation!

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I just have a yearning to take my younger friends who've never seen Yosemite to explore the Incomparable Valley while I'm still young enough to explore it with them. Tick, tick, and all that. No Time Like The Present.

But, if you wait, then you can lead iSm's Geriatric Tours, and the participants can carry you on their backs like Yoda!

[Morrigoon]

Why can I suddenly picture iSm on someone's shoulders, bopping them on the head with his walking stick?

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

You just bow out and make other plans? That's really not cool.

OMG Lisa, Please READ.

I AM NOT BOWING OUT.

I will be at Swank Camp in Kings Canyon. I will arrive on the same day that MOST PEOPLE ARRIVE. And I will be among the last to leave.

This is not in any way bowing out. This is PURELY AND TOTALLY ADDITIONAL for anyone who also wants to spend a couple of COMPLETELY EXTRA days in Yosemite. It's a little further north in the Sierras. Yeah, it sucks we can't crow fly, and have to drive thru Fresno.



Let me see if I can read between the lines, here. And correct me if I'm wrong.

Are you upset because this side-trip would prevent me from being one of the campsite Pioneers at Sheep Creek? One less tent to claim 4 adjacent spots with? Yeah, that would be true if this Yosemite thing flies.



But you are mistaken if you think Swank Camp is being spearheaded by me or helmed by me or anything of the sort. I reiterate for the umpteenth time that I am a single voice with a single vote. I have been outvoted on dates and on place. And I am still a participant. But JUST a participant. Like everyone else.

I have already said, some weeks back, that I am not willing to front the camping money this year, and I have said over and over that I am just one among many who will go with the majority decision.

And I will. But I don't feel I have any personal responsibilty to be one of the first people to arrive. I hope that four people/parties will volunteer for that. I just won't be one of them.


It's no secret I have less enthusiasm for Kings Canyon than I do for Yosemite. We were just at Kings Canyon last year. It's beautiful and I want to visit there again. Maybe not so soon, but that's what's happening ... and I look forward to joining in the fun. But I do not have the enthusiasm required to be one of the first four people there, and I resent your implication ... if you are indeed implying ... that I have a responsibility to do that.


I have a responsibility to follow my heart. My heart wants to take some people on a side-trip to Yosemite. If there are any such people who want to do that. I hope there will be a few.