Camping Swanking - June 28 - July 3

[blueerica]

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.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by blueerica

Ahh, somehow I'd not thought about Alex's camping history.

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.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by blueerica

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

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

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

Originally Posted by blueerica

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.

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

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.

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

[innerSpaceman]

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


1 kitchen. 1 pantry. and 1 opium den.





D'uh.

[JWBear]

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

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by JWBear

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.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

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

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.

[blueerica]

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.

[Disneyphile]

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.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

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