Camping anyone?

[mattadams]

Chris recommended the idea of a camping trip, and although its been years since I've gone camping, I'm interested in giving it a go. I love nature and all that crap! And I'm sure Maggie would love to poop in the woods and chase squirrels and stuff! LOL.
What's everyones thoughts on this? Got any good spots that people can get too without too much trouble but aren't too crowded? I'm open to dates, as it gets into September my date book gets really busy, but before then is fine.

[MMPC]

Cool - glad you posted this! :) I'm definitely up for it - whenever. Are we wanting to wheel to the camping spot or hike? Or both?

One of my favorite spots as a kid was "Duck Lake" near Ward in Boulder County. There's a decently sized parking area and a trail that climbs (but not too severely) along a streambed for about 2-3 miles before coming out at the lake. It's one of the prettiest, most pristine lakes I've ever found in Colorado. There are also numerous places closer to the metro area we could look at. Jefferson County Open Space has some great parks near Pine as well...

[mattadams]

Im ok with a reasonable length hike, but not sure about other members...

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

I w*oudl LOVE to go, not sure though if this is something that would end up being a boys only kinda thing though... but if not then i would enjoy this too...

...as far as the hiking stuff goes I'd have to have Chris make the call for me, not really used to the altitude/lack of oxygen in CO yet so I dont know if I could make it that far...

[CNTRYCOWBOY]

Me and Jen would be up for it. There is a place near Nederland that we went to over Memorial day weekend, that was only 15 min away from several great trails.



Dom

[mattadams]

Hey Dom do you have any more info about this campsite, like is it a designated camping area or just camp wherever? Accessible or off the beaten trail? Water or anything nearby?
As far as wheeling/camping, I wouldn't be doing much wheeling for obvious reasons... I'm kind of liking Chris's idea of a "short" 2-3 mile hike where we can kind of get away from everything... although that is an awful long way to carry a keg... LOL j/k.

[MMPC]

Matt, isn't Maggie strong enough to pull a keg up the trail??? ;) Just kidding - the girls can carry it... :wink:

[mattadams]

:beer:
BWAHAHAHAHA!!! maybe if it were on a sled Maggie could handle it, i dont want to strap that much to her back though :).

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

oh dear chris... the girls may be the stronger ones to do so... however i do recommend that you sleep with one eye open that night(s) after that comment...

[MMPC]

Okay - for those of you who don't have camping gear (me included), don't panic and cancel on us! REI rents everything from packs to sleeping bags to tents. :) I'll call tomorrow and get pricing. Perhaps they'll give us a group rate!

Courtney - you don't know anyone named Lorena do you??? :shock:

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

thats my middle name... watch it! hehehe

[Burg460]

Hey, what about Bune School Road?? It's up between Lyons and Allenspark. I have went camping quite a few times there and it is also a decent trail to go on and the 2wd folks could make it too!

[mattadams]

You mean Bunce School Road? i did it in my Explorer, that was back when it was lifted, I recall it being more difficult then your making it out to be, LOL. you talking about this one:
http://mattstruck.com/bunce/bunce.html

I guess Chris and Courtney and I are gonna go check out a spot this weekend, see how bad the hike is and whether its still a cool place ot camp or not...

[Burg460]

That sounds like the one! Sorry, can't spell today.

Some of those pictures look famalier...

That ain't that hard, shit I took my cavalier up through there once...(it only bottomed out a few times, but I didn't go all the way up) Plus, I know the guy that is watching some property back up in there and he will throw mad party's up there.

[mattadams]

As long as a stock vehicle can make it... cause I'll be either in my dads F-150 or my moms Explorer, and both are not modified and should remain intact to save my ass... LOL. Did you see that plane wreckage up on bunce? That was pretty wild, saw it a few years ago... I can't remember if they said everyone died or if they lived or what, but the fuselage, etc. is still there.

[Burg460]

It's been a long time since I seen that plane wreckage..

I know a stock vehicle can make it up at least half way for sure, thats as far as I went.


Besides, if we do this I might just have to get a tube in the ol' dirt bike and round me up a date for the weekend!... :mrgreen:

Does anyone have a date in mind yet?

[Walking Eagle]

This sounds like a special occasion. I may have to patch up the blow up and bring a bottle of JD.

[mattadams]

ahh good ol JD... LOL.
A good time for this event might be around late July or early August, while and most of the seasonal flooding has slowed down, its still warm but hasnt started snowing or anything yet :).

[MMPC]

Okay campers - listen up! :D Below is some information from REI on rentals. First thing to mention is, if you're not an REI member, it just might pay for itself in one trip. It's a $15 one-time charge and you get a 20% discount on all rentals, don't need to provide a deposit (or CC #) and you can reserve items in advance. Non-members get none of these bennies.

Okay, with that out of the way, here's some sample pricing (not including 20% discount!):

1-2 person tent: $20 first day, $4 each additional day
3-4 person tent: $25 first day, $5 each additional day
Sleeping bags (come with foam ground pad - available in regular and tall sizes): $16 first day, $3 each additional day
Hiking packs (various sizes): internal frame $16 first day, $4 each additional; external frame: $12 first day, $3 each additional.

They have many other items as well - one example is a camp stove - $6 for first day, $2 each additional.

REI also gives you a FREE pick-up AND drop-off day (within store hours)! So, for those who don't enjoy math (like me), 2 days of actual camping for one person might run about $65 (give or take) to rent a tent, sleeping bag and backpack. Not too darn bad, in my opinion! And we can always look at some sharing options (bigger tent, fewer packs, etc.) to get the costs down for everyone.

LET'S GO CAMPING...! :wink:

[mattadams]

Chris and I and Courtney went and checked out Duck Lake yesterday. It's about an hour or so outside of Boulder, its about an hour or so hike but nothing too terribly bad, I think everyone in the group could make the hike no problem as long as they have some good shoes :). The lake isn't really a "lake" as far as you can't really swim or fish or anything its too small for that (you might be able to fish but I'm not sure you'd catch anything). Overall, had some decent camping sites where you can go free of charge. We might check out some other potential spots, but this one seemed ok. We got a little lost a few times but just follow the creek, no big deal.

[clavos]

Now how am I supposed to haul my 30' redneck house up a hiking trail? LOL... had it three years and still haven't used it.

[mattadams]

Neils, one other potential site is Devils Head, which I think you can trailer at and thent here is a nice hike you can go on or not go on... we might check that out sometime soon.
Devils Head is the last remaining fire lookout tire in Colorado. It's a fair hike, then its got one of the nicest views in all of Colorado.

[clavos]

I probibly wouldn't take the trailer anyway, so don't go changing any plans on my account. If I ever get around to registering it, I am going to turn around and sell it so I can buy a car hauler trailer and some tools. Things I might actually use.

[mattadams]

I thought some of the spots we saw today at saxon mountain were awesome, what does everyone think of camping there?

[MMPC]

That works for me as well. Then at least Dom and Jen can bring up their Winnebago with jacuzzi, satellite TV and other "necessities..." :wink: