Camping - where and when?

[MaryBear]

Poll question: Camping - where and when?

[LeftyMom]

1. I just checked online for Yosemite

and it appears there aren't any weekend campsites availible until October. I was a bit concerned that might be the case. :(

[Spiffarino]

6. You could try the backcountry if you're in the mood for a long hike

It's rugged, but there are some amazing spots up high. Ostrander Lake was one of our favorite destinations. We even did it in the Winter one time. Never again, I tell you.

[LeftyMom]

10. Rugged I'm cool with

but high? Errr, no. I have just a teensy bit of a phobia about that. :scared:

[Spiffarino]

12. Aw, you won't even know you're close to 10,000 feet!

The trail is wide and well-marked most of the way. It is long and meandering, and it goes through forests and meadows of incredible beauty.

There are some good climbs, but nothing that requires the use of hands as I recall. Once you get to Ostrander Lake you are close to treeline. The lakes are natural ones that were, like all of Yosemite, carved out long ago by glaciers. It's an awesome sight.

Edit: Redundancy

[Peggy Day]

2. not exactly camping

I will be in Ixtapa end of Oct.

[Spiffarino]

3. The last time I camped in CA was in the SLO area

The campground was about a quarter-mile from the ocean. The weather is great for summer camping. It's nice and cool at night and makes for a great night's sleep. Just be prepared for the morning dew...everything outside your tent will be soaking wet.

There are good trails for hiking and mountain biking nearby. It's more rolling hills than high, craggy mountains. It's wine country so you can blow off the outdoors if you don't feel like breaking a sweat and check out the local flavors instead.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. Santa Cruz - Just hope that you don't stumble into some hidden

dope farm.

[proud patriot]

5. I picked Santa Cruz

but I'm flexible it can be further to the South .

Also what about Sequoia National Park ?

[Spiffarino]

8. Sequoia is awesome, but campsites can be hard to get

Plan early and make reservations as soon as you can. It's not like Yosemite, but it's still very popular. If you like smaller crowds, nearby King's Canyon is far less developed than Sequoia, but improved campsites were limited last time I was there.

The last time I camped in Sequoia NP was about 20 years ago. It was a beautiful night so I decided to sleep under the stars. Something woke me up in the middle of the night, so I turned over and there it was -- a mama bear's paw right beside my head. I looked up slowly and saw the rest of her.

She may have been a small bear, but she looked like a grizzly from my position. She sniffed and looked around for maybe 30 seconds (felt like a couple of hours) while I pretended to sleep, then she ambled off. I told a Ranger the next morning and he said, "Oh yeah. Happens all the time. As long as your food is in the bear locker you're fine."

So have fun, but no crackers in bed, m'kay?

[LeftyMom]

7. How about Big Basin in the Santa Cruz Mtns?

It's a reasonably centralized location, the area is really easy on the eyes (although I've never been to this specific park, the area is lovely and has nice weather,) the fees are reasonable (there's a group rate option) and there are cabins availible for people who aren't really tent people. :) Here's the link http://www.bigbasin.org/index.html

[MaryBear]

9. Santa Cruz

could include Big Basin, Mt. Madonna, Henry Cowell, New Brighton, . . .

To be inclusive, would be good to have a drive up site available, and maybe tent cabins. Big Basin has those.

[MaryBear]

11. Go to separate polls - i messed up with this one