2012 Meetup Camping Trip PLANNING

[apache_blanca]

hola everyone
Alan, you've beaten me again! :O your ikran is faster than mine...

I wanted to email Sol Duc about prices in the restaurant/cafeteria & those of the lodge, too - it will be good to have the info. But I braked cos I am not sure if somebody is already doing it!

Erm, as a suggestion: if we do contact ONP / Sol Duc for our camping trip... shall we introduce ourselves somehow? So that they would know that it's the Same group of people who is going to be there 16th - 19th of July 2012, I mean, so that there is no "interference" between our messages?. I don't know let's say, "Dear Madam / Sir, I am Apache / Alan / Aketuan from Tree of Souls Meetup group, & I wonder if..."

Otherwise they might get an impression that we are not talking to each other or something. Or maybe I am exagerrating & worrying in advance; it just happens in my RDA sometimes - you call Whoever & Whoever says: "But So-&-so from yours already asked me this question!"

What do you think, clan?

[Alan]

Originally Posted by apache_blanca

hola everyone
Alan, you've beaten me again! :O your ikran is faster than mine...

I wanted to email Sol Duc about prices in the restaurant/cafeteria & those of the lodge, too - it will be good to have the info. But I braked cos I am not sure if somebody is already doing it!

Welll....it all depends on how you ask


I asked my questions in a very general 'tourist way'. I don't see a problem with us asking questions as long as we don't ask under the banner of the 'AvatarMeet Up'. Below is a copy of the email I sent:


"Hello there,
We are thinking of visiting Sol Duc campsite next year and were wondering about what facilities are available. I have looked on your website but am a bit confused. We would be looking to come July time. What we are wondering is does the campsite have access to toilets (flushing or pit?), showers, running water, wood for the pit fires and a shop to buy provisions? Many thanks for your time and assistance with my query.
Kind regards,
Alan"


I believe Aketuan has had the 'official contact', so if we need to ask anything in an official capacity I would say we air it here or via an IRC chat meeting thingy first. Then it can be agreed who needs to contact them as a representative in an 'official capcity' and everyone will know and be happy with what is being asked.


But if you have a general question about the place that anybody might ask, then I don't see a problem. Go for it.


It is only if they are specifically about our AvatarMeet camp that I would get agreement with everyone first.


Ooo, the other thing is to post any responses here so we know what info we have found out to save people asking the same question again ...

Originally Posted by apache_blanca

Erm, as a suggestion: if we do contact ONP / Sol Duc for our camping trip... shall we introduce ourselves somehow? So that they would know that it's the Same group of people who is going to be there 16th - 19th of July 2012, I mean, so that there is no "interference" between our messages?. I don't know let's say, "Dear Madam / Sir, I am Apache / Alan / Aketuan from Tree of Souls Meetup group, & I wonder if..."

Otherwise they might get an impression that we are not talking to each other or something. Or maybe I am exagerrating & worrying in advance; it just happens in my RDA sometimes - you call Whoever & Whoever says: "But So-&-so from yours already asked me this question!"

What do you think, clan?

I think Aketuan has already done that, so I would say best to go with him. If he's ok with that...right Aketuan? ... Always best to have one offical contact, plus a back up, so that it doesn't confuse or annoy the people we are dealing with.

Hope that helps. Thoughts anyone?

Alan

[mikkowilson]

Originally Posted by Alan

Catering materials wise:
If we went the disposable cutlery way, we would be looking at the following for the total camp (assuming 30 for 8 plated meals):
Plates $45
Cultery $48
Cups $30
This works out at $4.10 per person for the whole camp and saves them spending more on buying for the camp and carrying it around. Again what do people thing?

Aww hell no. Not for an Avatar campout.

Step one:

ThinkGeek :: Titanium Spork

$9. Do it.

Plates, bowls, cups, etc.. don't cost much either. They start out in the $5 to $10 range, and go up from there. They last ages, don't weigh much, and (obviously) aren't thrown away after just one use.

Pro-tip: a high edged plate/wide bowl serves double duty when camping.
Something like this can be used to eat pretty much anything:

$7 on Amazon: Amazon.com: MSR Alpine Bowl: Sports & Outdoors

Add this...

$6.18 on Amazon: Amazon.com: Coleman 12 Ounce Enamelware Coffee Mug (Blue): Sports & Outdoors - or at basically any general stuff store (Fred Meyer/B&L, etc..) in the US. It's a Coleman, those things are everywhere. I think my titanium one was a big pricy thing at like $40. I can't remember, I got it so many years ago (the usefulness has far outlived the cost = good investment).

...and you are ready to go.

So, hmm, for the price of taking (another) friend to see Avatar to give yourself another chance to see it (again) in the theater; you are set and don't need to fill this:

(^^ that's actually Olympic National Park, where we are going.)
with these:



- Mikko

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Sempu

FYI there's a decent health food store in downtown P.A., "Country Aire". Been there many times myself. Good place to stock up on healthier stuff than most of the supermarkets have.

Thanks for the info Sempu. I guess P.A. is within spitting distance of where you are? We'll all be passing through there on the way to the camp site. Any chance you will be able to make AvatarMeet 2012?

Alan

[apache_blanca]

Good morning/ night

About a contact person: we chatted on IRC yesterday with Aketuan (& I discovered so many new things ) - & I'd say it's correct to have somebody as a "central contact" + back-up. I don't mind to be a back-up - I know that everybody in the Meetup Planning is very busy, so I did sneak in as a tourist (thanks for the idea Alan! )

Now food for thought (not only):
From Sol Duc webpage we can find STAY -> Dining.

I am quick cos I am at work:
Olympic National Park - Dining Restaurants Meals - Olympicnationalparks.com

check it out! Breakfast about 11$ (vs 7$ "our own camping made one" as per Alan's calculations. Dinner - only the second course 23$ onwards so i won't even compare - but have a look, those who are interested.

Poolside lodge with sandwiches/meals for 8-9$ average could be something to fall back on though.

So - just the first thing that came to my mind:
Monday night - Barbeque (more teylu please)
Breakfast - our own (I am fine with an oatmeal + a banana or smth but different people have different appetites...)
Lunch - ours or Poolside (?)
Dinner - ?

As for "normal beds", i.e. cabins - here's the reply:
"Cabins run from $166-203/nt + tax. The one exception is the River Suite which is $375/nt + tax.

To check availability/pricing and book, you may go online at Washington`s Olympic National Park & Forest - Olympicnationalparks.com "

The Cabins are here: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort - Sol Duc Cabin Rentals at Olympic National Parks in Washinton State (thanks again Alan )

they accommodate from 5 to 10 persons! so that River Suite - 10 persons - would be 37.5$ /night each... is anybody tempted?

also let's not forget that this Sol Duc resort is, what, about a mile walk from the camping ground?

I've got to go, the RDA are watching me! But I'll be back
(hope my post is not horribly confusing?)



Olympic National Park - Dining Restaurants Meals - Olympicnationalparks.com

[Moco Loco]

Thanks for the recap apache, I passed out towards the end of the meeting and missed the part about food. I eat anything as long as it's cheap

[Human No More]

Interesting. Myself, I want to do the group campsite though, both for reasons of money and because I really like the idea

[apache_blanca]

Thanks for the feedback
Ok, we have (at least) two persons opting for low cost & "being closer to the real thing" so to speak. I am sure there will be more people willing to do so since most are students (not only) low on cash Meanwhile, quite a few persons would like to be there with the clan - but with a certain comfort.

I was thinking about the cost of the camping trip. What have we got clear until now?

Low cost - "the real thing" option:
Sol Duc Group Site - $2 a person
Transportation, return trip: 30$x2 = 60 (van?), 50$x2 = 100 (shuttle? sorry I don't remember which is which....)
Entrance to the ONP - 15$ a vehicle.
Carpooling - ?
MOMS & James of Terra's rented van - ?

Food:
Monday night - BBQ - ? (only meat, or veggie burgers/sausages too? is anybody a vegetarian?)
Tue +Wed = All Meals: 26$ x 2 = 52$ (as per Alan's appr. calculations)
Thu - breakfast only - abt 7$

More comfortable option (with real beds & showers! ):
Sol Duc Resort (reservations rules to check yet)
- from 166 / 5 persons max = 33.2 + tax each x 3 nights = 99.6$ + tax
- to 375 / 10 persons max = 37.5 + tax each x 3 nights = 112.5 + tax(this is River suite that's got a kitchen & all sorts of stuff, pls see my previous post for the link).
Breakfast - 11$
Lunch at Poolside lodge - 8-9$ sandwiches, but there's quite a posh restaurant too for those who are willing & able (quoting Bob Marley).

Me, I would probably want "a normal bed", a shower & maybe a hot meal (one or two?) in the Sol Duc Resort - but I would be hanging out all day with the clan at the group site, hiking etc. But that's me...

Let everyone decide, as we see there are a few options / combinations of them.

Oh, Aketuan, Mikko & who else is updating AvatarMeetup page - Go Hiking: - I tried to get there to check the van/shuttle prices & just have a general look, but couldn't. Am I doing something daft, or is it being updated or something?

Oh, and is there a link to it from here - say, if it's on the first page I won't have to search for it too far do you think it's an idea?

This was a bit of a recap again; & I see quite a few "??" here. Ah well. That's all folks (for now).

[Alan]

Kaltxi Apache

Irayo for the great summary there. Helps put it into persective.

I am able to add a bit more clarification regarding the Shuttle:

If up to 12 people go in the shuttle it will cost $400 each way. This works out at $33.333333(!) per person each way if all 12 go.

If between 13 and 24 people go then the Shuttle is $770 each way. This works out at $32.0833333(!) per person each way if all 24 people go.

I have also had a response from Willie the Shuttle chappy. Here's what he had to say:

"Howdy Allen,

Thanks for getting back.

In answer to your questions:

1. Yes, of course, there is room for luggage. There is no limit with my vehicle as I have a roomy trailer that I use for lugage. If you fill the 24 pass. bus it would be tight but we've done it.

2. This would be a custom transportation for your group so there are no restrictions as to departure time, however, I am assuming you would like to get there sometime before dark so a recommended departure time would be not later than 6 p.m. It gets dark at 10 p.m. that time of year.

3. It will take close to 3 hours, including a short rest stop.

4. I require a 50% deposit at time of reservation with balance due at time of service. I take cash, checks and credit cards (VISA,MC).

5. I would want confirmation as soon as you know that you are going to hire us, and a determinaton of which vehicle you need as soon as you know that so I can make the reservation.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Willie"

I've just replied back thanking him for the info and also enquired if the journey to Seattle with be via the ferry and for confirmation that the cost of the ferry is included. I'll report back as soon as I get a response.

Alan

[mikkowilson]

Apache; I assume you are referring to a page you may have seen during some discussion on IRC. That was a temporary preview page only. It'll be reflected on the site when we announce the dates shortly.

- Mikko

[apache_blanca]

Oh! thanks for clarifications, aytsmukan!

Alan, thanks for the transport info - $33 (and a bit) / $32 (and a bit) sound much better than $50 without bits!
Mikko, thanks for explanation about the preview page, yes, I was (almost) afraid I lost it forever (nah, joking, of course not! I am sure you guyz will take a loving care of it...) And yes, i got the "data" from our IRC discussion (mostly).

I guess things will be getting clear as we go; since it's a planning thread, i posted my thoughts here - good that we're here to clear the doubts, too, apart from other things...

[Sempu]

Originally Posted by Alan

Thanks for the info Sempu. I guess P.A. is within spitting distance of where you are? We'll all be passing through there on the way to the camp site. Any chance you will be able to make AvatarMeet 2012?

Alan

No, it's a ferry trip away. But the last few days in Seattle coincide with my expected return from an annual road trip that can detour through there en route to the island, so I think I can be at that part.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Sempu

No, it's a ferry trip away. But the last few days in Seattle coincide with my expected return from an annual road trip that can detour through there en route to the island, so I think I can be at that part.

Hey sounds like perfect timing to me Hope to see you there.

Alan

[apache_blanca]

KalTXi clan,

An update after several private conversations:
1. Cabins: We (5 persons including me) booked a Duplex Cabin with Kitchen , it comes out $60/person/ night. The advantages:
- a normal bed
- a kitchen: good for making sandwiches for hiking - for us & some other clan members - and a hot meal or two. Meaning, we'll need less gas stoves to bring/rent* (?)
- a shower

If anybody is tempted - think fast, & run (definitely run): they only have a few of Duplex-Cabin-Kitchen in Sol Duc.
Last year, Learn Na'vi booked several of them for the meetup - and got a group discount... Erm.. I wonder, if anybody else is interested in them, if we can do the same?

2. * Camping Gear Renting Place (sorry I never remember it's name) - do you think it's a good idea to put a link to that in the original post, or somewhere easy to find? I was wondering if they rented coolers, stoves, etc. but couldn't find the link altho I am very sure it was posted more than once There are actually some usefull links in the OP; this could be one more...

3. Food (one of my main concerns): I see very little feedback up to now; so I would suggest we set the deadline for food definition, let's say, in May** (?) to have clear:
- what to buy,
- how much (i.e. no. of persons to buy food for),
- how to pay,
- how to bring it on site (altho I think this last one is sorted, with the endless generosity of MOMS Ball Avatar & James of Terra, and their van... Yes?)

I guess the people will need to confirm their wish for the bought (by us) food so that we know the quantities; the rest will bring their own food, or look for... teylu! Or sandwiches in Poolside Deli, imho they are not that expensive.

**I say "May" cos we are not going to buy food until July 14-15, but yes we will need to know how to pay it...

Calling experienced hikers: Aketuan, Raiden, EG: any ideas about food to eat in a camping? I don't know what you US Na'vi eat... (Or shall we just postpone the food topic till... May?)

Alan, MOMS, James - please remind/correct me if I left anything out / got something wrong?

4. How about another IRC session? About stuff we need to bring/rent, for example... or something...

[MOMS Ball Avatar]

Yes Apache you nailed it. James of Terra and I are going to rent out a 7 passenger van for the trip. the 15 passenger was about $1,500. The 7 is about $700, oddly enough. Plus luggage. We are willing to help out a few with traveling from the hotel, campsite. From the airport there is excellent train and mono rail coverage.

We will keep the van by the campsite for needed transport emergencies. I hope that helps.