Help with California camping this summer - 2006

[nc-scouter 10]

My Troop, 100 - Raleigh NC - is planning to go to California this summer to sightsee and backpack in Yosemite and Sequoia/King's Canyon. Can anyone suggest campsites near these destinations, as campsites inside the parks are few and far between this late in the season. We are planning the last week in July for the trip.

 

Thanks in advance, YIS

 

David Sikes, ASM

Troop 100, Edenton Street Methodist Chuch

Raleigh, NC

[CA_Scouter 11]

It really depends where you are coming in from... if from down south ( Fresno area ), you are probably coming in via Hwy 41 I would think... I know of some campsites off Hwy 120, but that's the opposite side of the park. Let me dig out some of my books and I'll try to get back to you ( I'm out of town at the moment ).

 

 

[nc-scouter 10]

We'll be flying in, probably to San Francisco. I appreciate any suggestions.

 

YIS,

 

David Sikes

[CA_Scouter 11]

I am a San Francisco native, though I live in the foothills now, but am down in SF every week on business. I can help you out on the SF part also, if you haven't already made arrangements. At least I can tell you where the good eats are!

 

Feel free to PM me and we can discuss offline via email.

 

 

[Scoutmaster Ron 12]

I'm in the Bay Area let me know how I can help/ PM me with your questions and how I can contact

[CA_Scouter 11]

NC,

 

Not sure what your plans are in Yosemite, and you may already be aware of this, but backpacking requires a Wilderness permit. They take reservations for about half the capacity of each trailhead. More information at this link:

 

http://www.nps.gov/yose/wilderness/permits.htm#reserve

 

As part of your wilderness permit, you can stay in the backpacker campground ( there is one in the valley and one up at Tuolumne Meadows ) for one night prior and one night after your trip, no reservations required. I've been backpacking quite a bit up there, so if you let me know which trails you are interested in, I can give you some pointers.

 

With regards to camping nearby, I usually come into Yosmite via Hwy 120, which runs through the Stanislaus National Forest. They have some 'no reservation' campsites, so you take your chances on those, but dispersed camping is permitted in many areas, you'll just have to provide your own water.

 

http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/pacficsw/staninfo.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/

 

I've not been to Kings Canyon, so I don't have much to tell you, except they are surrounded by Sequoia National Forest, and they have the same policies with regard to dispersed camping.

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/

 

 

With regard to SF... Yosemite is about a 4+ hour drive, not sure you want to be tackling that after a long plane ride... if you need some help/advice setting up accomodations in the SF area just let me know, I'd be glad to help...

 

I've also got some maps I can send you ( I have duplicates ) if you'd like. PM me with your address and I'll drop them in the mail.

 

 

Oooh, Oooh, this is fun... I think I want to be a wilderness travel agent when I grow up! :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nc-scouter 10]

CA....

 

Great links. We'll know more about our plans after Tuesday. (D-day to commit).

 

SM Ron,

 

As noted above...after the commitment to the trip, I'll probably be looking for additional resources or ideas.

 

Thanks to you both. Scouting...need I say more?

 

David

[MaScout 10]

CA Scouter -- grow older, but never ever grow up! We don't forget how to play when we get old, we get old because we forget how to play!

[nc-scouter 10]

To all....

 

Thanks for your assistance, but we did not get enough takers on our plan to move forward with a trip to California. I think that they are mising a great opportunity.

 

Thanks again....

 

David

[CA_Scouter 11]

OK, too bad, but you know where to find us when you need us!

 

 

Ma - no worries, I can still take my 6'3" son and most of his buddies to the hoop... and out-hike the entire troop....

 

'old age and treachery will overcome youthful exuberance'

 

 

[le Voyageur 72]

 

 

A heads up....http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/01/yosemite.road.ap/index.html

 

It the road is not opened, take 108 north to 395, then drop south. The Tioga pass is climb, but worth the effort. Also, got the time, take in the ghost town of Bodie....