Camping Disscusion for AvatarMeet 2014

[Aketuan]

With another meetup on the horizon, the time has come to plan out the camping event for 2014! We have looked at dozens of possible locations around Los Angeles and have narrowed it down to the 3 best locations. This year, we plan to continue to streamline the camping event to be more efficient and have less problems overall.

The goal of this thread is to let everyone have a say in what type of camping they prefer as well as what location they like best. Also, everyone can talk about camping advice, gear selection, food preparation, past camping experiences, carpooling, and anything else related to AvatarMeet and camping. Disclaimer: This thread is not the only deciding factor in planning the camping event, as there are several threads on other forums and coordination with the AM planning team.

This year we have 2 options:
- 2 events/locations back-to-back (like at Am2012), where one will be a more tame basic camping experience and one will be a more adventurous difficult camping experience.
- 1 event/location, but have several options per day so people can choose the activity/difficulty that they want.

The camping will take place immediately before the meetup, however the dates are up for discussion and will depend on attendance and the type of event/events that are chosen. (most likely the camping will start on July 5th or 6th)


Here are the 4 locations we have chosen. (keep in mind that these are subject to change)

A Sequoia National Park

Driving Distance From LAX: 4-6 hours
Lodging: primitive campsites, group campgrounds, cabins, lodges
Food: multiple on-site stores/restaurants
Environment: forest/mountain
Cost: depends on lodging and food choices, but camping permits and national park pass are required
Information: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (U.S. National Park Service)
Possible Activities: hiking, exploration, night hikes, ecology lessons, camp games...ect
Other Info: The best option for overall experience. One of the United State's most famous national parks, with unique environments


B Joshua Tree National Park

Driving Distance From LAX: ~2 hours
Lodging: primitive campsites, group campgrounds (bathrooms/tables/firepits)
Food: pack/bring it in (buy at local stores on route to the national park)
Environment: desert
Cost: camping permits and national park pass are required
Information: Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Possible Activities: hiking, exploration, night hikes, ecology lessons, history of wall paintings/mines, camp games, desert camping lessons, stargazing, nearby mountain tramway with shopping/restaurants/views (Palm Springs Aerial Tramway)...ect
Other Info: The best option for desert camping. A unique camping experience in the California Desert, right next to Palm Springs, CA


C Angeles National Forest

Driving Distance From LAX: ~1 hour
Lodging: primitive campgrounds (bathrooms/tables/firepits)
Food: pack/bring it in (buy at local stores on route to the national park)
Environment: forest/mountain
Cost: camping permits and forest "adventure pass" (for vehicles) are required
Information: Angeles National Forest - Home
Possible Activities: hiking, exploration, night hikes, ecology lessons, peak summiting, camp games, great backpacking opportunities, varied terrain and trail options.
Other Info: The best option for backpacking and peak summiting opportunities. A very short drive from Los Angeles, this area has several campgrounds and multiple trails for a more secluded off-the-beaten-path adventure. The specific campgrounds/trails are in the "Redbox" area. Red Box : Trailhead Information : SummitPost



map




So let the discussion begin....What camping event would you like to see this year?


For any questions or comments about the planning feel free to contact us:
However, please keep the general camping discussion in this thread so everyone can be included

PM:
Aketuan
Raiden

IRC:
server: irc.geekshed.net
channel: #camping (camping discussion) or #avatarmeet (general discussion)

[Raiden]

Also, here is the thread for the LN version of this post, in case anyone wants to look at it or compare threads:

http://forum.learnnavi.org/avatarmee...-2014/new/#new

[Empty Glass]

I have no say in this matter as I cannot go. But...

Keep in mind that Joshua Tree in the summer can get very, very hot. Weather.com says the average high for July is 103 degrees Fahrenheit (nearly 40 Celsius). It's a beautiful place and fantastic for rock climbers, but unless you can tolerate the heat...

Sequoia & Kings Canyon...well, anyone who knows me knows that these places are like Pandora on Earth to me. Can't speak highly enough about them.

Angeles National Forest...sorry to say I really don't know much about!

[MOMS Ball Avatar]

I don't know about the other two locations but I lived in LA and graduated from UCLA. My roommate was a grip in films and had a cabin IN the park. They don't let you do that anymore. I spent many many blissful weekends up there. It's beautiful with a perfect climate . The trees are the biggest in the world. Truly Home tree. Some are a couple thousand years old. The diameter of the base can be 40/60 feet. You might have seen pictures of where the cut a tunnel through the tree big enough to dtive a large car through. And the tree was still alive!
These trees can take almost anything. Floods , fire and lightning. What kills these trees is they have a very shallow root system . If the gound shifts too much they simply fall over. They are ancestors of prehisttoric trees.

[CyanRachel]

Irayo, Aketuan and Raiden for posting this news.

Of the 2 options...
I'd be OK with either the 2 events/locations back-to-back (like at AM 2012) OR the 1 event/location. It really doesn't matter to me.

And, of the 3 choices of Parks, I'd prefer choice A: Sequoia National Park mainly b/c I'd like to be able to stay in a cabin/lodge.

[CyanRachel]

I'm planning on staying in a Standard room (with 2 double beds) at the camping lodge at Sequoia, and I'm looking for a roommate to share.

If anyone is interested in sharing the room with me, please post a message here or PM me ASAP so I can go ahead and book a room.

[CyanRachel]

Well, it turns out I won't be joining the camping group after all, since I waited too late to book a room at the lodge and there are no rooms available now.
Bummer!

So disregard my above message about needing a roommate.