camping / backpacking thread...

[Road Guy]

I take my dog on trail runs at the Kennessaw Mountain National Park (NPS) about 3-4 times a week, there not "dis-allowed"....I dont really see any difference between one NPS and another....She also never shits on the trail

But the only section of the AT that you cannot bring your dog is the section through the Great Smokey Mountains.. its okay though, we will get over it...

I think this is a good time to go on one of my anti NEPA NPS rants!.....

 

[csb]

http://www.hikingthetrail.com/2012/11/35-reasons-to-hike-the-appalachian-trail/

Pretty cool infographic

 

[mudpuppy]

I spent a week in the Moab, UT area after Thanksgiving and it was awesome. We spent three days on the 77-mile White Rim trail in Canyonlands National Park, bicycling, off-roading and camping. I highly recommend it. On a bicycle you're completely immersed in the views. This time of year was a bit cool overnight (temps in the mid 20s) but perfect during the day for riding (highs in the mid-50s) and the park was not busy at all (on the second day we saw three motorcycles and a car on the trail, and the third day we saw no one outside of our own group).

We also did the Elephant Hill off-road trail at the Needles district of Canyonlands, which was fun. They bill it as "the most difficult off-road trail in Utah", which I doubt, but it was challenging.

We did some hiking at Arches National Park as well, which was fine, but I was much more impressed by Canyonlands and spent another day hiking alone at Island in the Sky.

In any case, Moab is awesome for anyone into the outdoors. I already want to go back, and next time I want to take an air tour of the parks and do some kayaking on the Colorado river. I also would like to do some hiking at Needles and check out the Maze district.

But first, I'm planning a week-long camping trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in early June. I'm planning to fly into Denver and drive up to the park with some friends, then fly out of Jackson Hole the following weekend.

I've never been to Wyoming before; anyone have tips/ideas? We're in the early planning stages now, mostly trying to pick where to camp.

 

[Ble_PE]

This time of year was a bit cool overnight (temps in the mid 20s) but perfect during the day for riding (highs in the mid-50s) and the park was not busy at all (on the second day we saw three motorcycles and a car on the trail, and the third day we saw no one outside of our own group).

As someone from SC, I call this f@#kin' freezing!

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

But first, I'm planning a week-long camping trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in early June. I'm planning to fly into Denver and drive up to the park with some friends, then fly out of Jackson Hole the following weekend.

I've never been to Wyoming before; anyone have tips/ideas? We're in the early planning stages now, mostly trying to pick where to camp.

I've been to both multiple times. I'm going to PM you.

 

[csb]

I spent a week in the Moab, UT area after Thanksgiving and it was awesome. We spent three days on the 77-mile White Rim trail in Canyonlands National Park, bicycling, off-roading and camping. I highly recommend it. On a bicycle you're completely immersed in the views. This time of year was a bit cool overnight (temps in the mid 20s) but perfect during the day for riding (highs in the mid-50s) and the park was not busy at all (on the second day we saw three motorcycles and a car on the trail, and the third day we saw no one outside of our own group).

We also did the Elephant Hill off-road trail at the Needles district of Canyonlands, which was fun. They bill it as "the most difficult off-road trail in Utah", which I doubt, but it was challenging.

We did some hiking at Arches National Park as well, which was fine, but I was much more impressed by Canyonlands and spent another day hiking alone at Island in the Sky.

In any case, Moab is awesome for anyone into the outdoors. I already want to go back, and next time I want to take an air tour of the parks and do some kayaking on the Colorado river. I also would like to do some hiking at Needles and check out the Maze district.

But first, I'm planning a week-long camping trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in early June. I'm planning to fly into Denver and drive up to the park with some friends, then fly out of Jackson Hole the following weekend.

I've never been to Wyoming before; anyone have tips/ideas? We're in the early planning stages now, mostly trying to pick where to camp.

There are multiple ways to drive to the parks, each one having it's benefits.

1. Straight up I-25, over to US14. Absolutely beautiful view of the Big Horn Mountains over 14. Probably the longest route.

2. West on I-80, turning north at Rock Springs towards Pinedale on towards Jackson. Things get scenic past Rock Springs. This puts you at Grand Teton first.

3. West on I-80, north at Rawlins, through Lander, on up to Dubois, launches you in north of Teton, south of Yellowstone. Beautiful country starting at Lander.

Definitely be sure to stop and sample the local fare. I have restaurant recommendations for any of those routes.

I'm sure you must own a National Parks Pass by now.

There is a lot of camping around and in Yellowstone. Make sure to get reservations for in Yellowstone. I've also camped just outside of Yellowstone at Pahaska Teepee.

Depending on your route, there are cheaper places to load up on food. Cody will be cheaper than Jackson. However, Jackson will for sure have all the organic things you could wish for to eat.

 

[mudpuppy]

CSB, Google maps wants us to take I-25 to US-26 to hwy 120 to US-14, what do you think about that routing? I was thinking we'd go in the east end of the park since we'll be exiting the south side to go to Tetons. Big Horn does sound kind of cool, though. Maybe we could drive up that way and stay in Cody the first night.

Our plan right now is to make reservations for camping in the park, but then hope we can find an open spot in one of the first-come, first-served rustic campgrounds because the reservable campgrounds are huge and not really our style. Since we're going earlier in June I'm hoping the place isn't overrun with tourists yet.

 

[mudpuppy]

This time of year was a bit cool overnight (temps in the mid 20s) but perfect during the day for riding (highs in the mid-50s) and the park was not busy at all (on the second day we saw three motorcycles and a car on the trail, and the third day we saw no one outside of our own group).

As someone from SC, I call this f@#kin' freezing!

Funny thing is the only time I've been to SC it was in April and they were having record low temperatures. We were camping there with lows in the low 30s.

 

[csb]

CSB, Google maps wants us to take I-25 to US-26 to hwy 120 to US-14, what do you think about that routing? I was thinking we'd go in the east end of the park since we'll be exiting the south side to go to Tetons. Big Horn does sound kind of cool, though. Maybe we could drive up that way and stay in Cody the first night.

Our plan right now is to make reservations for camping in the park, but then hope we can find an open spot in one of the first-come, first-served rustic campgrounds because the reservable campgrounds are huge and not really our style. Since we're going earlier in June I'm hoping the place isn't overrun with tourists yet.

Ah, you will notice CSB didn't take you that way. So Google Maps is spot on and that will get you to Yellowstone and it's the fastest way. However, the stretch of road from Casper to Shoshoni ( the US26 part) can feel tortuously long. It's pretty barren, can be full of trucks (well, Wyoming full), and there's NOTHING between Casper and Shoshoni. Well, there's a rest area, two very small towns (4 people in one, 16? in the other), and then a whole lot of nothing. Hell's Half Acre, where Starship Troopers was filmed, is out there, but you'll be able to see it on the way by. Used to be Shoshoni had a fabulous malt shop, but it closed down.

All that said, it's the fastest way. You're really trying to get to Yellowstone, versus exploring all of Wyoming. The Big Horn route will add about an hour. You're looking at a 10 hour day as is, so it might be wise to plan a hotel stay anyway. And, the drive probably is not as bad as I think it is...but I will say I try to avoid that route when I travel.

I'm right there with you on the rustic campgrounds, as we stayed outside of the East Entrance in Shoshone NF. You'll miss some of the crowds for sure. If we ever get snow, you might still have it on the ground when you come!

And I'll be there with my in-laws later in June...sure you don't want in on that funorama?

 

[Road Guy]

I've got the packs loaded taking the kids to put some miles on the AT today.,, it's supposed to be low of 50 tonight!

Hope no one else has the same idea and the stover creek shelter isn't packed!

Hope there is no 3G coverage also but if there is ill post am update..,

 

[roadwreck]

...it's supposed to be low of 50 tonight!

I can't believe how hot (and muggy) it is. This is January? The temps are nice, but I could do without the humidity. I went for a run this morning and while it was nice to be able to run in shorts and short sleeves it wasn't all that pleasant.

Have fun camping, hopefully it'll stay dry for you.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

Unseasonably warm here too, going to be in the 50s for a high today.

 

[Road Guy]

Awesome time.. We broke camp at dawn to get back in time for the game... Got a heavy downpour around 3:30 am... We had shelter all to ourselves but the kids felt safer in the tent...

It was worth the time and aggravation getting ready to go and getting there to see my kids (13,11,9). Sitting in a tent playing cards and actually not fighting like they do at home....

It had rained heavy the night before.. Took me about an hour to get a fire going all the wood was soaked ...30 miles from the closest dirt road it gets awfully dark at night

I saw these cool little led lanterns I wish I had bought... Will defin take 2 next time..

We got a late start and ran out of daylight at about 3 miles... But that was probably about all my 9 year old could handle...

 

[Road Guy]

I am afraid to look at the cost but I am seriously intrigued by what I see here:

http://www.tentsile.com/?&utm_source=NAT

 

[cement]

how do you get in? slack line walk?

 

[P-E]

Yup expensive and a bit heavy 9+ lbs for the light one.

 

[engineergurl]

looks pretty easy to whip up a redneck version of one... all you need is a cheap coleman tent, ratchet straps and something for the bottom that has a weight load of what 600 lbs to be safe?

 

[FLBuff PE]

Forgot about this thread. We went camping this past weekend in Ouray, Colorado. We had a reservation for a site at the Ridgway Reservoir campground (boring, no tree cover), but decided to try to walkup to the Ouray Amphitheater campground. We scored a spot there, and did some off-roading in the area. Very pretty, and we had a good time. I forgot the VTE tribute picture, though.

 

[Road Guy]

If you ever wondered how they clean out the privy at backcountry sites, we passed two lamas being escorted by NPS staff (probably with phd's) each had buckets of what smelled like "shit" strapped to each side of them :-

 

[Supe]