The official camping August 7th/8th thread

[mattadams]

OK, sounds like the 7th/8th of August sounds like the best day for most folks, so lets plan on it then. We will be camping up at Saxon Mountain, which is between Idaho Springs and Georgetown, near the Highland Hills area. There are some nice relatively flat, relatively smooth areas to set up a campsite. 4-wheel drive required or a 2-wheel drive with adaquate clearance can typically make this run (but be prepared to scrape everything underneath), though if there is any question, be sure you travel there with a group. If you want to go camping but don't have a 4wd or dont want to take your 4wd four-wheeling, please let us know! We will find a way to get you there!
This will probably get updated as more information becomes available or other ideas come up.
I recommend meeting at the Safeway in Idaho Springs around 10am if you want to head up with the group, otherwise if you know the trail, feel free to head up anytime. We can head up there as a group and then start setting up camp, tooling around various spur roads, or doing whatever people want to do.

Things I would recommend people bring for themselves:
-Tent (unless you plan on sleeping in your vehicle, where you sleep is up to you)
-Sleeping bag. Even with temperatures down here in the 100's, it can get very cold in the mountains at night, so be prepared for some cold weather.
-For myself I will be bringing an air mattress, but you can bring whatever you are comfortable with. Foam mats, etc. work good as well, the basic idea is that sleeping on rocks is not comfortable.
-Extra clothing. With it being cold the possibility exists that it will rain or even snow up there, you just never know. A windbreaker, jacket, and/or coat or recommended as well as long jeans.
-Sunscreen and mosquito repellant with deet. Dont want anyone getting a sunburn or catching west nile now!
-Cooler with food, water. We might be able to plan a pot luck for Saturday night where everyone can bring food, but its still recommended you bring some basic food items. If we're having a campfire, smores come in handy too :). Remember, you won't starve, because we're only about an hour or two away from Idaho Springs, but why go hungry? :). I recommend at least one or two gallons of water per person per day. You use a lot more water when your in the mountains and extra water helps fend off dehydration and altitude sickness.
-Alcohol is allowed, but I don't want anyone getting roudy or anything. I'm sure everyone is in agreement on this. I'll be drinking myself I'm sure. If anyone is drinking, they aren't allowed to drive. That's what happens in a responsible group :).
-Extra water/fire extinguisher. Because the possibility exists for a campfire where we are going (even though its technically not allowed) it would be a good idea to bring some extra water to make sure our fires are out, and some fire extinguishers just in case something takes place outside of the fire ring. Where we will be camping is near water, but its not drinkable water. There isn't a lot of dry dead material around to burn, so I'm not too worried about it, but its always better to be prepared.
-Camping chairs. These come in handy for sitting around the campfire or just loungin around reading or whatever. Much more comfortable then sitting on a dead tree :).
-Plastic bags and garbage bags. We WILL pick up everything there, and leave the site cleaner then when we arrived. Boy scout stuff here. ALso because of the nature of the water we will be camping near, we will not be washing dishes or anything near the water, so plan on getting everything dirty and bringing it home to wash it.
-Shovel and TP. For obvious reasons. Cause when you gotta go, you gotta go, just do it away from everyone else :).
-Firewood might come in handy as well. Theres a lot of dead wood in the surrounding area we can collect, but if anyone has some they'd like to bring that would work as well.

I'm sure I will think of more later, but this is a good start. Everyone else feel free to chime in as well :).

Below is an unofficial list of those going (let me know for sure and I will get your name added to the list):
Matt Adams & Maggie (dog)
Courtney (up2mylbowsnmud)
Chris (mmpc)
Niels (Clavos)
Grant (gmkiller110) (and possibly his girlfriend as well)
Jeff (walkingeagle) - 70%

[Anonymous]

the gf is going for sure now. but she wants to take her truck instead (2002 chevy silverado) bc its 4wd. i shot that idea down very quickly. lol principles. plus i just gotta see what the new truck can do in its stock stage before i go all out crazy. well i might do that before i get there. we'll see.

[mattadams]

Dont worry we've had people bring non-fords, we'll generally laugh a little but there still welcome. AS long as htey've got a Ford heart. :).
Hell I drive my Buick to most events, but I have an excuse, my truck is torn apart! LOL.

[MMPC]

Looks like a good, sensible list, Matt. I'll be bringing a fire extinguisher as well.

BTW, I WOULD like to request a ride up there with someone as my lease is nearly up in my 2001 Sport and I don't want to take any chances. :wink: Anyone but Dom and Jen would be appreciated...

JUST KIDDING!!! Dom and Jen were a lot of fun to ride with and I appreciated doing so very much. :D

[Anonymous]

well the gf is a diehard chevy fan. lol but i have turned to fords seeing as i now own one and need to stand up for my truck (it can usually stand up for itself).

[clavos]

I don't think I saw the most important item on the list, which should include a shovel and T.P. I always have at least one shovel in the truck. Also a flashlight or a lantern of some sort almost always comes in handy.

[mattadams]

ahh good thought, I added that to the list.

[Tray]

While I won't be able to go, wanted to throw in my pocket fuzz (What, you think I'm rich, I need to keep my 2 cents).

It never fails that I always need a 2nd pair of shoes. Whether I sink in some mud, fall in a river, pass out in the fire, get attacked by a deer, it never fails that I need that 2nd pair.

[MMPC]

I don't think I saw the most important item on the list, which should include a shovel and T.P.
We have to be careful though - remember those bears in the TV ad who like a certain brand of TP. That's all we need is to attract pooping bears into our camp who eat our food and steal our TP! :shock: That's just creepy...

http://www.charmin.com/chm_images_global/img__topGateway.jpg

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

Chris, what is it lately with you and attracting bears? LOL:)

[Walking Eagle]

I've decided to go. I'll bring the firewood. I'll steal it from the folks, they order a couple of cords every year.

[Glass]

Another thing, anyone who thinks they might end up infront of a chevy, bring a tow strap, everyone who thinks they might end up behind one, bring some tools....would hate to see the Natl Guard get called in to lift a truck out, by the way, i mentioned this in the other thread, but im a new member, as of...15 minutes ago, ill see if i cant get my hands on some forest service piss packs (backpacks with water for extinguishing hot spots) , and my police scanner, loaded with clear creek counties frequencies....

---JOHN

[mattadams]

Cool, will be glad to have both of ya there :).

[MMPC]

Chris, what is it lately with you and attracting bears? LOL:)
I guess I just don't care to see any and the thought of one gnawing on my head doesn't appeal to me... :D

Walking Eagle - great to hear you'll be joining us - sounds like quite the merry crew we'll have.

[mattadams]

Merry crew? WTF??
By the way Jeff, dont bother buying any firewood. Niels said he has a bunch, and I've got a bunch I can bring from my parents "wood pile". Not to mention gathering bits of wood out there...

[MMPC]

Okay, leave me alone - I was just watching the Tour de France on OLN and I think their announcer's British accented colloquialisms are starting to get to me! LOL

How's this: "Hey Jeff, that's cool that you can make it, man. Now we'll really have a kick ass group to party with!" :wink::P

[Walking Eagle]

I was not going to buy any firewood, my parents already have stacks and stacks of firewood available. Each year it takes a couple of people about fours hours to stack it when we have more delivered.

[mattadams]

ahh ok, then bring it by all means :). I didn't want you spending any MORE money though.

[TrooperGirl]

I have a buddy who doesn't have a "FORD" but would love to go would it be ok. I have to see if Im working first.... it sound like a blast!!
Jenn

[mattadams]

Jenn, if he parks away from everyone else... LOL. Seriously, its for RMFTC members... however, you are a member, and if your mode of transportation of getting there is someone elses vehicle, then we can make accomodations.

[Glass]

Rocky mountain jeep club is going to be bombarding on the saxon mountain area for a week, ending on August 7th...so the trails might be packed on the 7th....just FYI for everyone

---JOHN

[Walking Eagle]

I deleted what I said.

[cory]

jeff said i couldnt be mean dammit.


got ford. :headbang:

[Walking Eagle]

I'm having a hard time monitoring Cory. I'm online watching what he posts and talking to him on the phone approving everything he posts as he adds it.

[cory]

ok ........... what club is adopting the mountian.
R M F T C !!!!!!!!!!

were going lets not back down.

[TrooperGirl]

OOOOOOH NO...... I have my "Scotty" (My F150). My buddy has a Scout...... I had mention to him that there's a get together.... that's all
I don't go anywhere without my "Love"......(Scotty). I was just asking.....
I've been working 6 10's and maybe now 7.. I'll have to see. Im actually working around the corner from you Matt at Wilder elementry, Goddard, and Centennial.

So what is the latest on the camping gig....?
Jenn

[mattadams]

tomorrow (which is actually today) I'm going to see what exactly the jeep club has in mind. If they are just wheeling, I could care less, after a few hours they'll be gone and it'll be ours. If they plan on having several hundred people camping there, I'd say lets plan it for another weekend. My experience with jeep clubs camping has not been one of "sharing" and "unity" if you catch my drift. But I'll look into it in the morning.
Thanks for finding out the info on that other clubs planned event!

[mattadams]

ok I contacted the person in charge of mile hi jeep club all-4-fun planning. The all-4-fun is definately a huge event, about as big as they get for the Mile high Jepe Club. There expecting people from surrounding states. What I'm still trying to figure out is if they anticipate having people camping out in the wilderness, or what... I can't imagine many jeepers would be doing saxon mountain unless there are not many trails nearby they want to do by then, because as far as technical challenges it doesn't really have them. Anyways I asked her some good questions so we'll see. The only thing I'm worried abotu is the amount of traffic on the trail, buit I still thinkthat as of now we should still keep our curent schedule. If we come up from idaho Springs we can avoid a lot of the problems of the switchbacks, with huge groups having to pass other huge groups on narrow areas of trail. So hopefully I'll hear back from them soon...

[clavos]

Hear anything yet. Tell them it is not a Jeep thing and they should try to understand. LOL...

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

:( I have a jeep and I understand that this is not the weekend for jeeps, thats why I'll ride with Matt and Maggie :)
hopefully the other jeeps can understand too. lol

[mattadams]

LOL well I'm sure the Mile Hi Jeep Club all-4-fun has been in the works for months, can't really tell them to work around our schedule, LOL.
Haven't heard back from them yet. Hopefully I will soon.

[Walking Eagle]

The All-4-Fun is a huge annual event, which they move to different locations around the state each year and it just happens to be Georgetown this year. At first (which I deleted in earlier post) I thought we should move our event, but I agree with Matt. I don't think many Jeeps will be doing Saxon Mt. It does not provide the challenge many will be looking for. I say we go as planned.

[Walking Eagle]

I just got off the phone with Cory and this subject came up and he brought up some great points which I'll try to post here and I'm sure he'll elaborate on tomorrow.

Since we are adopting this trail, this is a great opportunity to show the F.S. that we are serious about keeping this area clean and educating people about the area. Hopefully the Jeepers, and I expect most of them will respect the area as we do, will keep the area clean and stay on the designated trails. But as we leave Sunday we can evaulate the area and will know if there are any trouble spots that require immediate attention.

[mattadams]

yeah, typically the Mile high Jeep club is full of lots of good people who have the same theories about trail preservation, etc. Very rarely do they get any "wild ones" that just want to go tear things up. But I agree, it'd be a good chance ot monitor things as we are there, and as we leave on Sunday, after the Jeeps have left. Just how much shit do we pick up? LOL.

[mattadams]

Here is the response I got from the MHJC:
Hi Matt,
Your camping trip is safe. On Aug 7 95% if not more of our group will break camp and head for home. The 5% that remain will be cleaning up from the week. Saxton Mountain should have no more than normal weekend traffic and there shouldn't be any extra campers either.

Thanks for asking

[Walking Eagle]

That sounds like good news and we shall continue on as planned.

[clavos]

Sounds good to me.

[MMPC]

Good to hear. :)

[cory]

good hopfully ill be the only wild one, and glad to hear that .

[CNTRYCOWBOY]

Sounds good, we'll be there as well.



Dom

[Glass]

Sorry for the fuss , i just wanted to make sure everythiung was in the clear for you guys to 4x4, i might not be able to go, I have some state certification tests on the 7th, and seeing as how none of you know me, it migt not be too big a deal. But have fun, i look foward to getting up saxon if time allows to meet some of you.

---JOHN

[Up2myLbowsNmud]

no, no, no, Im sure we all appreciate the heads up on that! Better to know, and try to get details than be blindsided by the possibility of bazillions of jeeps up there! so thanks for your knowledge!

**jeeps have a bad connotation here only b/c for this weekend they represent not group members.... not that theres anything wrong with jeeps on a regular day**

[cory]

the wife and i are there, got a lot of work done on the bronco it's ready.

[mattadams]

sounds liek we'll have a goo dturnout, I can't wait :).

[y33dave]

Hey Matt ..

If you hadn't already planned on it .. bring some window stickers to the camping trip .. I think I wanna see how one would look on my truck !

Dave

[mattadams]

Dave, I'll plan on bringing a few!
Dom mentioned yesterday that he was thinking of going up a day early, setting up camp Friday night instead of Saturday. I mnight be doing this as well and anyone else that wants to can as well! One more day to goof around up there :).
I would still come back into Idaho Springs and lead the way back for those that are planning on coming up on Saturday.

[mattadams]

I think I"m still going to come up Saturday, after thinking about it. SO I'll see everyone in the safeway lot at 10:00 Saturday morning!

[mattadams]

I havent decided yet if Im going to bring the mountain bike with me. It might be more hassle then its worth, I will definately be bringing a bunch of garbage bags and stuff so while we are there, we don't have to worry about that. I might be hiking along the trail for a while, maybe wander off on some of the little side trails and see where they go, get some exercise and not have to worry about damaging my dads truck, hee hee!
Hope everyone goes and has a great time!
I'm also still not sure about the poker situation. I dont mind bringing chips but we'd need a table and a source of light as well as a bunch of chairs to make it work.