Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

The first week I had my truck I took it up to Cow mountain off-road area and it looked like that

 

Spotted this cool looking fj

 

Big thanks to @HAVING FUN Leonard....he helped me fix my axle seal...or i mean i helped him...lol......props sir...thank you so much....wheeling next weekend

 

Another boring day in the "office" almost done and will roll into beer-30.

 

https://youtu.be/a6tKJvWWDP4

 

Had me rolling.

 

I went last year and they're one of my customers.

Whatchu wanna know?

It's a nice park, beautiful area. The campground hosts we had were pretty much terrible and for some reason didn't like me at all. Worked out okay, since after the first 16 hours there I didn't like them either and we had a mutual understanding of where we both stood.

We spent 2 days and 3 nights, the hiking is great. The heat is great also, and it can get pretty busy. Like most NPs, the tourists don't venture far so if you hit a trail you'll get away from the groups for the most part.

We didn't hit the summit (still had lots of snow) but did hit the volcano. It's a calf burner.

The ground is very fine up there with fine sediment and silt and can be pretty dusty on everything, so you'll likely want to wash up in evenings, the camps have water available.

Mind your Ps and Qs in camp, the hosts are all senior citizens and I've met most of them through work and they're very nice folks, but the pair at my campground weren't people I had met and when I talked to my ranger friend was told they're kind of a thorn in the side of park staff and campers, so maybe they've been thanked and let go by now.

The lakes there are beautiful and perfect for swimming. Particularly when you're hot and dirty.

If you want to shoot me dates of your trip and a brief idea of what you're wanting to do, I can see if my friend can recommend some stuff. If not, I can always give you her name and you can ask for her when you're there and get recommendations in person.

The lodge by the ranger housing has decent diner food and cold beer.

 

lassen rocks.

Summit Lake South Campground, space C8... I try and reserve this space, or C9 next to it every time I go there.

 

That tent.

How do you like it? I covet a Kingdom 8.

 

that tent rocks. its quite rain tight, its really roomy for the 2 of us, was our virtual-RV for a couple years. We put a queen airbed in the main room, and can sit up in upright chairs in the front screen room, which can be either be raintight or open breezy as in the above, by pulling the fly back.

at the golden state star party, I set it up under a pair of 10x10 popups plus shade cloth as we're out all night stargazing, and want to sleep til noon, but that morning sun busts over the low horizons at the crack of dawn, and immediately bakes you. also each afternoon is quite windy, so having wind protection is handy too, so this was my setup...

 

Some good info! Thanks much.

The plan is just now in the formulative stages. More like "I just bought I truck I should go do something" than a plan ... but hey. I'm looking to have the week of 11-15 July off and then always have the weekends off. Problem is the lady still has work that week until Thursday around lunch. So anything we do would be a Friday morning till Sunday morning type of adventure.

I know nothing about the park so I'm reading up on it whenever I take a break from packing up the house to prep for a move. I camp, hike, swim and such but she had knee surgery a few years back and so we'd be sticking to the easier or at least shorter trails and climbs.

With it being the first time up that way I'd wanna go in somewhere relatively easy to get in and out of spend a few nights and check out the area, and plot for a return with bigger/badder adventures.

I'm trying to decide if I want to do roughing it tent camping or if I want to rent a popup camper and ease her into the wilderness life.

I'll definitely keep that in mind and I do research. That's one fine looking spot and a sweet damn tent!

 

I spy with my little eye a 2016 White TRD Sport at El Caracol in Vacaville.

Still rocking the dealer sticker in the window.

 

F$&@ having to work on Sunday!

 

A must-do at Lassen is the trail down to Bumpass Hell, even if you have to make a full day of it due to said knees. Climbing to the Lassen Summit, meh, don't bother unless you really feel the need, its a brutal climb, the air is thin and sucks the moisture out of you, there's no shade.

avoid Summit Lake North, the one time we camped there, the whole campground was swamped with smokey fires and my eyes burned for days. one reason I like that C loop is its upwind of the rest of the summit south campground, so the predominating breezes keep it nice and fresh. that and its right on the lake, which is swimmable (or inflatable/kayak/whatever). I do suggest bringing a supply of DEET, there can be a lot of mosquitos, especially in the earlier part of the summer.

the Devastated area is cool to drive through and stop at the various 'get out and look' spots. the whole big Manzanita Lake complex at the north end of the park isn't really worth the effort to drive there.

 

IKR? At least I get to sleep in

 

back side of the K8 at another camp, this time at Grass Valley, for the Strawberry Music Festival ...



that rear vestibule is large enough that I stowed my bicycle in it

you can just see the airbed in the back of the tent...

(yes, thats me, taking a break from festival photographer duties, lugging that (rented) 70-200/2.8 around for 4 days was a beasty job, glad I rented it instead of bought one)

 

Get back to me when you get done lugging a 500 around for a day-that 70-200 is an easy carry.

 

heh, I bet. a 500 is something I'd only use on a tripod, I don't care how good the IS is.

then there's my astro toys...





that Orion is a 12" f/4.9, in camera terms its a 1500mm 'lens' ... of course, its not really suitable for photography, its a visual telescope. those binoculars are 100mm f/6 (FL=600mm) APO triplets, gorgeous views at 25 or 40X...

 

I should look into getting new / more lenses for my old crummy Meade telescope. The thought hadn't occurred to me yet...but getting out from under the light pollution would make for a great reason to break it out of storage.