This all sounds great, but what with a trip to Utah the week prior and one to Adak (Aleutian Islands), the week following, it would be a bit much to spend all the weekends of the month away from the family. But a few memories:

It was a gourmet backpacking trip in 1992, kind of the antithesis of UL BPing. Three rules: Bring a gourmet dish. Wear formal or semi-formal wear for dinner. Bring a toy. A really stupid toy. Someone brought a basketball and backboard and set up a half-court game. "The man who killed Pluto" (Mike Brown) brought an 8" reflecting telescope. The first human to (later) entangle more than two photons brought his med student sister. I married her 5 years later on a beach of Tomales Bay on the east side of Point Reyes. I brought ice cream sundaes on dry ice and MSR-fired hot tub (some people helped me carry the parts).

Just about 2 months away now. Hope everyone is having a great summer.

5 weeks away. I will be needing vehicle license numbers if you are staying with me in the group spot. You should know if that is you or not. These need to be on record for the park staff. Carpool if you can.

I'll get an official list when we get a little closer.

Heads up. One month.

Do we want to do a pot luck?


I have a friend bringing fresh oysters.

Edited by kthompson on 09/20/2012 18:49:50 MDT.

Getting close.

Those of you staying in the group spot, I will need your license plate numbers for park staff if you are parking overnight.

Hey Ken,

Looks like I'm not going to be able to make it this time. Everyone else have fun though!

Ken, is there anything you need help with?

We will be arriving at Point Reyes late Friday morning. (We have a private site reserved.) I'll be there with a friend who has been backpacking for just a couple of years and has mostly traditional gear, and a brand-new backpacker. I believe this will be his first trip. I've been backpacking for about 5 years (not as often as I would like, though) and still consider myself a newbie. So hopefully people will not mind sharing their knowledge with newbies!

I'm especially interested in checking out various shelters and hearing about their good and bad points, as I plan to replace my tent with a lighter shelter next year.

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Thanks Rowan, I am all set.

We'll see you at the next one James.

On the fence about coming? Need a spot for the night? I have a few spots open. PM me if interested.

And geez if you want to come by for the day, that's fine too.

Can hardly wait to see everyone!

Jim and I plan to come by for a few hours on Saturday, probably late afternoon and staying into the evening. We'll hike out after dinner rather than spending the night. Eager to enjoy the company of new friends.

First time camping at Point Reyes? Read this.

http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Camping is by permit only. Camping permits must be obtained from the Bear Valley Visitor Center before starting your trip. When you arrive to pick up your permit, you will be asked for the number of vehicles your party will leave parked in the Seashore overnight. We will issue the appropriate number of parking passes and it is your responsibility to ensure that all of the vehicles associated with your permit display an overnight parking pass. There is no afterhours self-registration for camping available. You must have made a reservation in advance to camp within Point Reyes National Seashore. If you have made a reservation and are arriving after 5 pm, you will need to contact the park at 415-663-8054 before 4:30 pm to inform us of how many overnight parking passes your party will need. A backcountry permit and the appropriate number of overnight parking passes will be left for you in a small wooden box on the back side of the information board outside of the Bear Valley Visitor Center. Retrieve your permit and parking passes from the box, fill in the highlighted sections and sign the permit, remove the carbon copies and put the carbon copies back in the box. Place a parking pass on the dashboard of each vehicle, making sure that it is visible from outside the vehicle. Attach the original backcountry permit to your backpack as you hike, then attach it to the outside of your tent once you've set up camp.


Coast Trail from behind the hostel open again too. So ride your bikepacking rig to camp.

http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_guide.htm#CP_JUMP_432589

Like maps?

http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/upload/map_park_with_relief.pdf

Edited by kthompson on 10/10/2012 22:55:34 MDT.

Weekend after next. If you are staying with me at the group spot I need your license plate number of the vehicle you are leaving overnight in the parking area for park staff.

I can't remember if if I ever officially signed up for this. I don't believe I can take the Friday off but I plan on being there Friday night. Hope there's room.

You have a spot Matt.

I will be there mid afternoon on Friday.

Did I ever sign up?
I am definitely in if there is room.
Any trees?

There are no trees at all in the campground. The group sites are open and grassy, and the individual sites are surrounded by brush.

You may want to bring something to protect your food from mice. There are metal food lockers but small mice can get inside, and last year my friend's food got nibbled even though it was inside an Ursack Minor (the model that is specifically recommended for small critters, not bears). Also, the raccoons are brazen enough to grab food that is left unattended for even a few minutes.

On the plus side, Coast Camp is home to a lot of really adorable quail! And sunsets on the beach are wonderful!

10 day bump.


Those staying at the group spot can send me a PM with your license plate number anytime.

Weather forecast looks good!

Carpooling? You should.