Ultimate Camping Thread

Awesome pics Lisa !!! Thanks for sharing



Heading out to Smith Mountain Lake next weekend, doing a family trip, it'll be my son's maiden camping adventure, so we're keeping it simple and comfortable, he's only 2.

Could use some suggestions. I'll be cooking for a number of people while we're out there. I have a Coleman 2 burner whitegas stove, and I'm thinking of buying a 2 burner propane for convenience on trips like this. I don't have experience on doing big family camping trips.

 

Cooking on a camp stove is all about timing. I like to keep things simple so I try and do as much prep work before the trip as I can. I also like to use convenience items (like bagged, washed, and cut lettuce or sliced mushrooms) where possible and I like to bag meals together too-pull a dinner bag out and everything you need is in the bag. A BBQ helps too.

Lisa, great looking owl!

Obligatory camping pictures from Monday's over night trip.





I went to San Simeon State Park which is near where Hearst Castle is. Nice park and hardly anyone seems to go there--I was shooting for Kirk Creek but by the time I got there, it was packed--it's on a bluff overlooking the ocean and is about as idyllic a spot as you could want for an ocean side camp site.

 

Nice. That top shot is San Simeon SP? I just told the wife of an idea for a short teardrop trip. Sac down I-5 and over to Paso Robles wine country, continue down 101 to SLO, out to the coast, up to Big Sur, Monterey, and back to Sac. San Simeon would be a nice spot for an overnight.

 

It is. It's site 212 if you're interested

If you were going to cut over, Hwy 198 from Coalinga toward the coast would be nice. The Parkfield Grade is about 20 miles from I5 and an easy dirt road that takes you into Parkfield. There are some nice views from the Grade-it's trailer friendly too. Parkfield would be a great lunch stop-there's only one place to eat, The Parkfield Cafe, and it's good. Check their hours if you decide to go, www.v6ranch.com. They're usually open Thurs-Sun from 11:30 to 8ish.

From Parkfield, you'd head south along Cholame Valley Road to the 41/46 junction (be sure to stop at the James Dean memorial) then head west on 46. There are a number of wineries along 46 from Paso Robles over to the coast too-I don't know anything about Paso wines but the region is booming.

Lots to do down that way. Have a great trip!

 

Cool tips, thanks, man. If we're lucky, we'll get an earthquake in Parkfield.

 

GTFO

 

Packed up for recent camping trip.

 

I learned a crazy important lesson this trip-"drunk" and "ladder" don't mix so well

But yeah, Paso Robles is the new up and coming area. Apple Hill (which is on the way to Tahoe) is also a great stop to wine waste. And the Santa Cruz Mountains are also home to some really great wineries!

No need to hit Napa & Sonoma either.

 

Amador County, south or Placerville/Apple Hill, is our favorite spot. Try Cooper. Bought all our wedding wine there.

 

Just got back from Nor Cal Coastal Redwoods (Prairie Creek Redwoods SP). Great weather, fun mountain biking and hiking.. My Wife and I sleep in the truck and store stuff in a tent.. works great (truck airbed).. a couple pics:

 

I love Prairie Creek! Looks like you had great weather too!

 

Nice. I haven't been up there in a long time. Did you do the hike to Fern Canyon?

 

Yes--the weather was Great ! Not a drop of rain. Even woke-up to bright sun 3 days (foggy on the other days until 11 AM). One day hit 70*! Hiked Fern Canyon, James Irvine/Miner's Ridge, Lost Man and a few others.. Also mountain biked about 40 miles..

Great place--and not crowded "yet"...

 

It's still early in the season. It also tends to get crowded more toward Sept/Oct as the weather warms up.

 

I love those Camp Chef stoves. Is yours a double or tripper burner?

 

best stoves ever!!

Just got a 2 burner Yukon 60 last year with the pro griddle and a bbq box.

Makes me want to throw away or sell my Weber I have at home.

 

X2, really enjoying our oven

 

I looked at the Yukon the other day. Very nice.

 

Ok, so I hike this small mountain by my house every morning when the sun comes up. Last week, for 3 days in a row, I saw this truck (looked like a superwhite taco from the rear) out in the middle of this desert preserve with a small tent set up next to it. On one of the days, he was out of the tent breaking down camp, and loaded up and drove out of there.

My guess is he is either in dire straits and lost his place of residence, or he's in the doghouse, or some other option that's not good.

Anyways, his "camp" is in the center of the pic if you zoom in. He hasn't been out there this week at all, so he either improved his situation, was run off, or got bored.