Camping Sites

Last time I camped at Alabama Hills (the main dispersed area, not a formal campground) fires were NOT allowed.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses regarding Alabama Hills. Are there any dispersed camping in socal that are currently allowing a campfire? Just thought I'd check here before calling a bunch of different forest/BLM.

 

I wanna say most if not all dispersed camping in Socal are restricting wood campfires at all times.

Only developed campgrounds with steel fire rings will allow wood fire and even those sites are very strict about dousing those fire at the end of the night. People actually DO have some wood campfires from time to time and you will see evidence of this but it is technically illegal and if rangers happen to come through they will show NO mercy lol..

Otherwise, you can use a gas stove or gas firepit...I've been using a gas firepit in CNF for the last few months, man it gets old, and I don't smell like bourbon and campfire the next day...

 

Oh and P.S. I don't think you can even have a wood fire in an above ground firepit as far as socal dispersed camping, the reason I believe is that it's the flying embers that cause problems..Even some of the standing trees are dry AF.

 

No dispersed campfires in Inyo NF for remainder of the year. Harsh.

 

It depends on where and what local fire conditions are like. Some places require that you have a metal container/pit for the fire - a byo kind of thing. An old washing machine tub thingy works perfect for this, I grabbed one out of a neighbor's machine before they got rid of it. And yes, always always always have water and a shovel nearby.

 

Yea I need to find one of those. I believe it works in Anza Borrego but not CNF.

 

Your weekend report...
(From USFS) More campgrounds are opening in the Lee Vining Canyon, Rock Creek, Bishop Creek, and Whitney Portal areas.

The Whitney Portal Road opens tomorrow.

For now, Mt. Whitney Permits continue to be cancelled out one week in advance of the hiking date at this time. A permit is required to hike to Mt. Whitney (day and overnight use).

Virtual wilderness permits for other trailheads are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.

Lastly, please check here for current conditions since there may additional update as conditions change: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/inyo/recreation

This list will be kept updated and changed on a weekly basis. Stay tuned.

The biggest problem to reopening campgrounds appears to be staffing and the limitations imposed by social distancing requirements still in effect. Campgrounds can only be opened when enough staff is available to provide proper maintenance and oversight such as cleaning restrooms, emptying trash, and making any needed repairs that may be needed as the summer progresses.

 

Official Report

As a reminder, the state’s shelter in place order and local counties' public health guidance still advises local recreation and travel for only essential needs. “You can travel for urgent matters or if such travel is essential to your permitted work. Even though businesses around the state are opening up, avoid travelling long distances for vacations or pleasure as much as possible. This is to slow the spread of the coronavirus.” https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for- essential-needs/

The State of the Inyo, current as of 06/18/20

Mono Lake Ranger District

Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd.

Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at Yosemite National Park Boundary is open to vehicular traffic w/ day use reservation or proof of overnight accommodation in the park required.

Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county), Aerie Crag, Silver Lake, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge.
Campgrounds opening June 19: Tioga Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend.

Campgrounds closed: Saddlebag Lake Group. Aspen, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining , Hartley, Obsidian Flat Group, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-647-3040 or 760- 647-3044.

Mammoth Ranger District

Roads closed: Reds Meadow Rd. at Minaret Vista (estimated opening June 26), Lake Mary Rd. at Tamarack Ski Area, Old Mammoth Rd. to Lake Mary Rd (upper gate).
Roads open: Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Campgrounds Open: Brown’s Owens River (private). Mammoth Mtn. RV Park.: Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family, Sherwin Creek, Crowley (BLM) .

Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Agnew Meadows Family, Minaret Falls, Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater, Pine Glen Group,

The Mammoth Welcome Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5500.



The Devils Postpile Ranger Station is closed.

White Mountain Ranger District
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd. (construction underway, M – F, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, expect up to 30 minute delays), White Mountain Rd. Silver Canyon Rd. (4x4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4x4- high clearance, snow), Big Pine Canyon.

Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM).Convict Lake, McGee Creek, East Fork, French Camp, Pleasant Valley (County), North Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Sabrina, Baker Creek (County), Big Pine Creek, Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).
Campgrounds opening June 19: Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Four Jeffrey (no water), Sage Flat.

Campgrounds closed: Holiday, Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek Group, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Forks, Intake 2, Bishop Park, Table Mountain Group, Mountain Glen, Bishop Park Group, Willow, Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call Thursday- Monday (Closed Tuesday/Wednesday), 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, last call at 4:45pm, 760-873-2500 , 760-873-2501. 760-873-2503.

Mt Whitney Ranger District

Roads closed: . Horseshoe Meadow Rd at the Forest Service boundary. Road opening June19: Whitney Portal Rd. .
Roads open: Onion Valley, Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow to the Forest Service boundary.

Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine, Boulder Creek RV Resort (private). Independence Creek (county), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County).
Campgrounds opening June 19: Whitney Portal , Whitney Portal Trailhead
Campgrounds closed: Whitney Portal Group, Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian. Kennedy Meadows.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily , 8:00 am to 5:00 pm last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.

Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.
Mt. Whitney Permits continue to be cancelled out one week in advance of the hiking date at this time.

The Inyo National Forest and Bishop BLM Field Office are in Fire Restrictions

 

We had a fire, in an existing pit, near Chimney Wilderness on BLM land about 5 weeks ago. Very sheltered from the wind, sandy and green. Others had fire here. Lots of firewood. We kept a very small fire with 12" long wood. Elsewhere there is too much wind. Get your supplies locally before travelling.

Copy/paste into Google maps.

35.8505, -118.0272

 

Well, it's kind of like a highway surfaced with decomposed granite. Subaru 2WD is no problem. Nevertheless, we only saw 3-4 cars and a pair of bicyclists in 3 days and 2 nights. Since it is BLM you can pull over anywhere, but there are not many places conducive to flat camping. The first night we stayed further down the road. It was beautiful, but strong winds until late evening.

 

Are there any good BLM spot near Bishop for overnight camping? I'm planning on heading there sometime on October to show the beauty of Aspen Trees to my 2yo. I'm gonna first head over to near by campgrounds to see if I can score one but since it is first come first serve around that time of the year, I need a backup plan.

 

Big Thank you. Now let's see if the family is up to it

 

You guys probably already know this, but the organized campgrounds in SOCAL (and elsewhere, I'm sure) are really booked up. Not much available if you look at the online reservation system. Find a place early in the day if possible.

 

Anyone want to buy me out of my kernville site? I’m reserved at camp 3, site 47 in July. Pm for details, if not I’ll be getting a refund.

 

Pmed

 

Lone Pine EQ
Magnitude 6.0 - energy magnitude (Me)
Time Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 10:40:49 AM (PDT)
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 17:40:49 (UTC)
Distance from Lone Pine, CA - 17 km (11 miles) SSE (149 degrees)
Olancha, CA - 19 km (12 miles) N (9 degrees)
Independence, CA - 44 km (27 miles) SSE (152 degrees)
Coso Junction, CA - 45 km (28 miles) N (357 degrees)
Little Lake, CA - 58 km (36 miles) N (354 degrees)
Coordinates 36 deg. 27.2 min. N (36.453N), 117 deg. 58.2 min. W (117.970W)
Depth 2.85 km (1.8 miles)
Quality Good

 

That's pretty shallow - hope everyone is OK up there.

 

Rock slide through Whitney Portal campground, many hikers knocked off their feet, several minor injuries.