OAUSA Net - 04/29/21 – Favorite Campsites (5 Minutes)

toms · Post by **toms** » Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:35 pm

Favorite Campsite

The net this week is on favorite camp sites. We want to have as many operators as possible take 5 minutes and tell us about their favorite campsite.
Describe the campsite
Tell us where it is located
And why it is your favorite and what qualities make it a great camp site

Post pictures of the campsite and any links to locate it.
FHA

toms · Post by **toms** » Mon Apr 26, 2021 8:41 pm

What makes a really good campsite?

With the exception of remoteness, the following traits are in no particular order. Of course, we four-wheelers prefer to get away. At the heart of four-wheeling is a desire to discover new places. And with the exception of friends, we invite along, we prefer to enjoy the great outdoors without neighbors. So oftentimes, the more remote, the better.
No campsite has all these qualities. But the better ones have most. And I’m not talking about a specific campground.

What follows are the attributes IMHO that make a great location to set up camp. Feel free to disagree or to add your thoughts.

Qualities of a great campsite

 Remoteness.
 Level ground, or at least some level spots for tents, RTT’s and vehicles that people sleep inside.
 Trees: For shade, but we want to enjoy the morning sun and great views. So, just the right amount of tree cover. And just enough dead kindling
on the ground to start a fire. Oh, almost forgot – a good branch to hang food on in Bear country.
 Morning sun to warm the soul and get the day off to a good start.
 Clear view of the night sky for stargazing.
 A clean fire ring in a clearing.
 A bubbling brook or lake nearby. (fewer bugs with running water.)
 Great view: Whether mountains, a wide-open prairie, or even a gorgeous sunset. Scenic surroundings add so much to a camping experience.
 A little elevation, at least in summer. Scenery is generally better, and you’re less likely to encounter other campers.
 Protection from the wind. Even better no wind the smoke from the camp fire goes straight up.
 Tent stakes go in easy, come out easy but will hold in storm.
 No bugs no bugs that bite, no bugs that sting.
 No music. Musical tastes can vary, and we don’t need any arguments during camp. If someone wants to lead the group in campfire songs, that’s
OK. Those guests who insist on listening to music must pop in the ear buds.
 No fees.
 Bonus: Some sort of restroom, if just a pit toilet.

Tread Lightly with all camping
Just because a site has the above attributes doesn’t mean it’s ideal for camping. Many portions of the country are pristine and should be left that way. Try to find established campsites. You can still be dispersed, but you’re not creating a new fire pit or trampling down vegetation.
Regardless of where or when you go camping, always follow the Tread Lightly® principles. (You can learn more about Tread Lightly! at https://treadlightly.org/ ) Enjoy nature, but do so responsibly.

Now lets see some pictures of your favorite campsites.

DaveK · Post by **DaveK** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 1:57 pm

Favorite (best) Campsites

What constitutes a "favorite or best campsite" will depend on so many things that it would be impossible to agree on a set of criteria that satisfies all. To a large extent however, this website, and our members, seem to favor the more remote locations.

Living in the American West and Southwest, and having spent a great deal of outdoor time exploring this land, it has become "my favorite." Without any exaggeration, it is safe to say that this area is vast, and the best that I will be able to do, is just see some of the highlights. For me however, that is just fine.

For many of us, I think the following things make a "favorite campsite:"

Spectacular scenery

Remote locations (solitude)

Absence of crowds (and even better, absence of any other campers, except in your group)

Great food (breaking bread with family and friends)

Great beverages

Family and friends

Longer term visits (more than a weekend)

Great memories AND stories

Opportunities to introduce family and friends to our great country

Passing down traditions (camping, appreciation of the outdoors, survival skills, hunting, shooting, etc)

Appreciation of the value of Ham Radio

Freedom from the daily grind (no business calls, no boss, no deadlines, no pressure, etc.)

Evening campfires and the camaraderie of conversation.

Exploring places that very few people have seen

This is not to say that every camping trip must have all these things. Which ones make for a favorite camp, you decide.

It should be mentioned that there is one thing that will play a significant role when deciding on a "favorite camp", and that, of course, is preparation. When done properly, campers need not sacrifice any of the comforts of home.

The trip pictures below are great examples of some of my favorite camping spots.

North Rim of the Grand Canyon

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: North Rim-2.jpg (140.61 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: North Rim-1.JPG (129.3 KiB) Viewed 674 times

Views from Camp

: Parashant -3.JPG (63.07 KiB) Viewed 673 times

: Parashant-2.JPG (55.67 KiB) Viewed 673 times

: Parashant-1.JPG (62.29 KiB) Viewed 673 times

East Mojave Desert

: Mojave-1.JPG (208.16 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Mojave View From Camp.JPG (165.34 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Mojave Kitchen Central.jpg (1.52 MiB) Viewed 674 times

Grand Staircase Escalante

50 Mile Bench

On the way

: 50 Mile Bench-3.JPG (4.22 MiB) Viewed 673 times

: 50 Mile Bench-6.JPG (3.94 MiB) Viewed 673 times

: 50 Mile Bench-8.JPG (2.56 MiB) Viewed 673 times

Camp

: 50 Mile Bench-1.JPG (5.19 MiB) Viewed 673 times

: 50 Mile Bench-2.JPG (4.52 MiB) Viewed 673 times

: 50 Mile Bench-4.JPG (4.4 MiB) Viewed 673 times

Camp on Hole in the Rock Trail

: GSE Camp.JPG (99.25 KiB) Viewed 673 times

Dry Mesa (Utah)

: Dry Mesa, Utah.JPG (191.41 KiB) Viewed 671 times

Monument Valley (Navajo Nation) View from Camp

: MV-1.JPG (51.55 KiB) Viewed 674 times

High Sierras (Near Kings Canyon)

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: Kings Canyon-2.JPG (185.9 KiB) Viewed 674 times

Colorado River (white water rafting)

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: Rafting-1.JPG (161.83 KiB) Viewed 671 times

: Rafting-2.JPG (146.76 KiB) Viewed 671 times

Alstrom Point (overlooking Lake Powell)

: DTK Cooking at Lake Powell.JPG (3.46 MiB) Viewed 671 times

: Alstrom Point-1.JPG (2.2 MiB) Viewed 673 times

Beef Basin, Utah

: Beef Basin Camp.JPG (134.51 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Beef Basin - View From Camp.JPG (77.05 KiB) Viewed 674 times

toms · Post by **toms** » Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:40 pm

Witcher Meadow on Wheeler Mountain - High Sierras

This camp site is at 7,000 feet over looking the Owens Valley and the White Mountains to the east.
You can reach it from Hwy 395 north of Bishop. Turn left toward the Sierras and go through the town of Paradise.
Paradise is just across the country line of Inyo in Mono County.

It requires 4-wheel drive. The Bishop repeater on Silver Mountain can be reached with a mobile rig if positioned just right.

: Wheeler Mt.jpg (1.07 MiB) Viewed 686 times

: Witcher 8.jpg (475.26 KiB) Viewed 686 times

: Witcher 7.jpg (437.99 KiB) Viewed 686 times

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: Witcher 1.jpg (897.12 KiB) Viewed 686 times

Coyote Flats

Several other high Sierra campsites are located on Coyote Flats at 10,000 feet. Access to these sites requires 4-wheel drive as you drive up a long shelf road to the top. Take US Hwy 395 to Bishop and then turn west on Schober, make the dog leg to the right and follow Underwood to the start of the shelf road.

Nice Camp in the Pines at 9800 feet

: Pines - Coyote Flats 1.JPG (511.89 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Pines - Coyote Flats 2.JPG (349.69 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Pines - Coyote Flats 3.JPG (284.72 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Pines - Coyote Flats 4.jpg (231.1 KiB) Viewed 674 times

Looking over Sanger Meadows from the edge of Sugar loft Mountain down into Coyote flats. The arrow points out the camp in the pines.

: Pines - Coyote Flats 5.jpg (299.16 KiB) Viewed 674 times

Funnel Lake Camp

The surface of funnel lake is at 10375 feet. There might be two places you can set up tents. The terrain is a bit rocky and not super flat.
But the scenery and remoteness is worth the risk that no-one else is there.
The road in is a long rough boulder drive which keeps most people out. Only a die hard trout fisherman might show up for a few hours.

: Funnel Lake - Coyote Flats - Road to.JPG (353.35 KiB) Viewed 674 times

: Funnel Lake - Coyote Flats.JPG (268.94 KiB) Viewed 674 times

lrsrngr · Post by **lrsrngr** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 9:09 am

KK6CTT, Rick, for the online check-in please (04/29/21).

: On the way down to Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon from the Kaibab Trail.; 090722 Grand Canyon 2.JPG (145.07 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: The ALCAN Highway was a rolling camp from one parking spot to the next but it was quite the adventure from Anchorage to Seattle.; 110320, ALCAN HWY 02.JPG (179.96 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: The wood bison where amicable enough. I would love to do Yellowstone some time!; 110320, ALCAN HWY 01.JPG (238.25 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: More of the wildlife along the way.; 110320, ALCAN HWY 04.JPG (154.95 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: Say what? Got grass?; 110320, ALCAN HWY 03.jpg (131.41 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: Sometimes the camping sites were not my choice and I wish I had a camera but this was my introduction to camping in the jungla, the Republic of Panama.; 1983, Panama Bivouac 01.jpg (175.27 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: What more do you need? Cover, check. TP, check. Radio, check, water, check...; 1983, Panama Bivouac 02.jpg (143.31 KiB) Viewed 628 times

: Little Yosemite was a great place to put us in striking distance of Half Dome.; 110524, Yosemite 10.JPG (162.38 KiB) Viewed 621 times

: Half Dome from another perspective. Pulling permits for hikes like this can be very difficult. High pressure but managed well under the circumstances.; 110524, Yosemite 27.jpg (74.68 KiB) Viewed 621 times

NotAMog · Post by **NotAMog** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 5:54 pm

Please check-in

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO

k9atk · Post by **k9atk** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:08 pm

Check inn please

K9ATK BRIAN
K9FOG TRISH
KD0EXI CHEYENNE
KD0RHA TYLER
KD0GPE AUSTIN
KD0RH JIM
thanks looking forward to another great net
Thanks

KK6DYO · Post by **KK6DYO** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:13 pm

This favorite campsite doesn't have many of the qualities of more remote sites, but it's where I've gone camping with my family the most: Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Palm Canyon Campground.

It's easy to get to, not requiring any off-road travel. There are convenient markets and restaurants within a mile in the town of Borrego Springs. I think this is a great family campground, especially for younger children.

This campground offers a nice hike to a palm oasis, good dark sky stargazing, and you can hear the coyotes howl every night. Within easy driving distance are many Ricardo Breceda sculptures, plus fruit stands and wildflowers when in-season. A bit further is Font's Point with a great view of the badlands.

There's a nice Cinco de Mayo festival on the Saturday closest to May 5th at Christmas Circle (the traffic circle) Park in Borrego Springs.

I've been going there for almost 50 years. My kids developed their joy of camping and being outdoors there starting at an early age. Here they're looking for pollywogs in a year-round pond.

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The family toasting marshmallows.

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We've hiked to the Palm Canyon Oasis many times. Fairly easy hike. Bring water, though there is often an exposed stream at the oasis.

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Returning to camp on the oasis trail.

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How did this picture slip in here? Well, I obviously know how to treat a child that needs discipline!

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If you get a little lucky, you will see the borregos (big horn sheep) that the park is partially named after. These were hanging around the pond.

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Campsites range from spacious to something resembling tract housing (sites 53 - 99). There is a large RV area with 52 full hook-ups.

In my opinion--and apparently in the opinions of many others--the best campsite is number 107 at the northwest corner, which features a large ramada with a fireplace. It is as "remote" as it gets. You'll need to make reservations six months in advance to get this one.

: BP Campground.png (180.24 KiB) Viewed 654 times

: BPC107.png (657.73 KiB) Viewed 654 times

Information links:

PDF file of campground rules and map

Good summary of various activities in the area

Geoff · Post by **Geoff** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:32 pm

Please check me in tonight. Thanks.

AK6DH · Post by **AK6DH** » Thu Apr 29, 2021 6:41 pm

Check me in:

David - AK6DH

Outdoor Adventure USA

OAUSA Net - 04/29/21 – Favorite Campsites (5 Minutes)

OAUSA Net - 04/29/21 – Favorite Campsites (5 Minutes)

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