Come, into the Wilderness! Olympic National Park awaits us!

[Raiden]

Okay!

So, as some of you may have heard, there will be a camping trip before or after (yet to be decided) the 2012 meetup. So, I've created another (masterfully-titled OwO) thread for the occasion.

So far, it will occur at the Olympic National Forest, North of Seattle. There are two camp setup options possible, but there are differences between them.

-Group:

Group setup means we will be camping in close proximity with each other, which might be nice, but we will pay more money for this sort of setup. Also, there is a lodge that serves one of the group campgrounds, which likely means showers and such would be available there. The cost for the lodge site is 20 for the reservation, and then 2 per night per person.

So, for example, if we stayed at the lodge site for 5 nights, and there were 35 of us, we would need to pool 370 dollars to pay for the whole thing, besides whatever money it would take to put some food together. That would only require a little more than 10 bucks from each person.

Pros:

-Close-knit setting
-Possible showers/food/etc.
-An "indoors place" for those who might want it

Cons:

-More expensive
-The lodge is nice, but might take away from the outdoors/life-in-the-wilderness experience
-Might be farther away from good hiking trails and such
-Only a couple group sites

-Individual

The individual setup won't be as close-knit as the group setting, but since different camping "spots" in a site are usually side-by-side, it wouldn't be too much different. There are also more of them, and so more variety in terms of choices. There is also one at the Hoh river rainforest, which I think will be a place that many of us would like to hike to/in.

The cost is different...it's 12 per night, so each person would have to pay separately. It would be more expensive, but there wouldn't need to be a pool. Also, the only amenities at most of the individual sites are likely running water and pit toilets.

Pros:

- More variety
- More trails to pick from for hikes
- No need for a cash pool

Cons:

- More expensive per person
- Fewer amenities
- Not quite as close-knit

Okay, that's probably all for now. If those interested in coming to this camping trip could post and say whether or not they will be coming and their preferences for camping, that would help move things along.

Remember, we need to make reservations, and camping sites in these kinds of places fill up quickly, so post ASAP so that we can get plenty of space for our "clan"!

[Aketuan]

Bring on the camping!!

[Human No More]

I hopefully should be coming (50%?) - depends on when and what.

I like the idea of the group campsite.

[Raiden]

Okay, so just for clarification, this thread will be for suggestions, questions, and updates from us as we continue planning the trip.

Please vote in the poll if you are going instead of telling us in here, so that we can keep this thread cleaner than my last one.

This is the poll thread:

http://www.tree-of-souls.com/seattle...ping_poll.html

[Empty Glass]

If we were to stay at the group site, how much effort would it take to get to some of the hiking trails? Would we need to have a few cars on hand to travel around the park?

I like the idea of being closer to trails in the individual sites, but the alternative definitely seems less expensive.

I should try to familiarize myself with locations of all the campgrounds, trails, etc.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Empty Glass

If we were to stay at the group site, how much effort would it take to get to some of the hiking trails? Would we need to have a few cars on hand to travel around the park?

I like the idea of being closer to trails in the individual sites, but the alternative definitely seems less expensive.

I should try to familiarize myself with locations of all the campgrounds, trails, etc.

There might be some greener ways to get to the Olympic National Park. Check out their website:
Getting to the Olympic Peninsula | Olympic Peninsula

I guess it all depends on the exact place where we end up. Maybe if there are enough of us it might be worth sorting out a coach to get us there and bring us back. Does anyone know what other useful websites there are for the area? I've found a few here:
Olympic Peninsula website:
Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau | Olympic Peninsula

This one has links to campsites and stuff:
CAMPING on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula

another one here:
Olympic National Forest Campgrounds

Some general info here:
Olympic National Park - Planning Your Wilderness Trip (U.S. National Park Service)

Another general one:
Olympic National Forest- Home

A waterfall trail (does the picture on the website remind you of anywhere?):
The Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail | Olympic Peninsula

I'll leave it there. Had a bit of google over load! Hahaha.

Alan

[apache_blanca]

I've just voted for the group site but if there is an individual site with a shower (July = hot. Or not?), I might think it over. Especially if this individual site happens to be in Hoh forest with an access to waterfall routes!

(Beautiful sites! Thanks for the links, I've just seen those waterfalls - whoah!)

[Moco Loco]

I don't exactly have a preference for what type of site. I do all kinds of camping, and I love it all VERY looking forward to this.

[CyanRachel]

Irayo, Raiden, for posting all this info! And I'll go now to the poll to vote...

Irayo too, Alan, for posting those links.

[Moco Loco]

So the camping is now for sure for sure going to be before the meetup? If so, why is that? (Though I was on IRC a bunch last night, I somehow missed the discussion)

[Aketuan]

Alan: great info. Irayo.

Moco Loco: most likely yes, it will be before, unless a bunch of people can't do it before.

Also the group discussions take place on a different channel than ToS. It is on #avatarmeet-camping. Feel free to join us next week.

[Alan]

No worries about the links. I did forget to look up equipment hire for those of us who will not be able to cart all the stuff across. I'll have to do that. I know there is that big outdoor pursuit place in Seattle about a 15 mile walk east from the Science Fiction Museum.

Alan

[Aketuan]

Originally Posted by Alan

No worries about the links. I did forget to look up equipment hire for those of us who will not be able to cart all the stuff across. I'll have to do that. I know there is that big outdoor pursuit place in Seattle about a 15 mile walk east from the Science Fiction Museum.

Alan

I know that a few people have volunteered to bring extra gear...and the place I think you are talking about is REI. REI is great (I get a lot of my gear there) and they do cheap rentals of outdoor stuff. This might be a great option for people that are flying/don't have gear.

[Alan]

Hahaha! I've just notices I put '15 mile walk' to get to REI ... I meant 15 minute walk. Doh!

Yeah, you're right I was meaning REI. Here's their website:
REI Store - Seattle, Washington - Sporting Goods, Camping Gear

I did put it on one of the itineraries I did for the June meet up as it has a massive indoor climbing wall...not that it is my kinda thing. Although I have done some in Derbyshire and Wales when I was in sea scouts. Come to think of it I used to do a shed load of hiking and camping!

Yeah, I had loads of energy back then...kinda running on vapours now! Still want t' come hiking though. Just that I might be with Apache and fellows taking a more sedate 'stroll' rather than 'hike'. Hehehe.

Alan

[mikkowilson]

The REI climbing wall is lame.

Expensive, one climb, and always booked up for HOURS (and days) in advance.
Gimmick.

... And I found a loose hold half way up it.

- Mikko