2025 GGG?

Hmmmm. What is GGG? I thought I was entering a thread about Garage Grown Gear. lol

gathering of gear geeks

they happen about once a year.  In the vicinity of San Francisco.  I’ve been to one, but it’s a bit far from Portland.

Uff da. That’s a hike for those of us on the east coast.

Wait…. Isn’t there an outdoor retailer’s conference somewhere annually? If so, why not piggyback on that and make it available to the companies and reps making the goods?

Last time I was in San Francisco, the Dead were still playing at the park.

https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/camping/group-campsites

you better start a GGG on the east coast : )

there were a couple in Washington (state).  Except it was called something else, something to do with moss.  I went to one of those

Last year we got some real weather, some great food from Alaska thanks to David Thomas and some great company all around. It would be nice to have another get together

We’ve had GGGs in SoCal before, but not recently.  I went to the Bay Area one in 2023 and had a great time. I’ll take the drive again.

It would be great to get together earlier in the year. Good time of year for the low deserts. I don’t have a specific location in mind, but maybe the central coast or area or the foothills would be a reasonable drive for more from LA/San Diego and the Bay Area.

AZ People would probably like that too!

Whitewater

^^^ that looks beautiful!
That is a long way south ; I was hoping to go north enough to make it possible for our Oregon and Washington friends.
any northern Cali or Oregon suggestions?

Ok, I’m in.

several new stories to relate, and a new McHale as well.

I am in possession of mood lighting : plenty of glow sticks, hangable lanterns, and flashlight lanterns. no shortage of mood. as well as a propane heater w/ 5# tank(s).

where ? when ? and who is self-cast into the satanic depths of the leadership role ?

cheers,

\v.

“I was hoping to go north enough to make it possible for our Oregon and Washington friends.”

what about Lassen? Which does tend to open late,  depending on the year.

These gatherings seem to be more about socializing than serious hiking. And they’re traditionally held in early spring, before the serious hiking season begins. And so I mentioned the East Bay parks as a possibility. Not terribly exciting, but easy to get to and accommodating.

Lassen is far more wild and beautiful. Maybe oceanside parks are a possibility? If hiking is less of an aim, these would be a possibility. Strolls on the beach and a chance to test out how well tents and equipment work in wet weather.

Yes, Whitewater looks grand! I’ve been around there in the Spring–but Joshua Tree.

Whitewater looks great.

@Jscott Lassen sounds nice or a coastal park works too!

@peter awesome !!

I would welcome anyone that wants to lead this or share with me as I haven’t put together something like this before myself.
We’ve been doing late February early March in the past; is this a timeframe that works for those inclined to make the drive and hang out ?

There was an East Coast GGG in 2011 at the adjoining corners of MA, CT and NY, which I attended with roughly a dozen other BPLers. I found the planning thread but couldn’t find the trip report. Great fun. Time for another one!

I’m down for SoCal but it is unlikely I will make it up to Lassen.

Montana de Oro

Montana de Oro—sweet!!!!

ok .. ok .

there is, cryptically mentioned in my first-ever-it-started-the whole-ph-thing guidebook, a trail that went up the “backside” of Mt Lassen. so, from the NW side as I gather. this could/might be accessed from the campground (parking), a reasonable flat hike, from the official (ie, it’s for the peasants) campground area a bit farther NW of the peak.

Lassen would need to be snow free’ish, which moves our GGG (see there .. taking “ownership”, as the say) into later spring. so probably not a fantastic, but modestly passable idea.

as long as I’m typing .. there are two other cool places that need to be later in the year. one is Sailor Canyon off of the Forrest Hill Divide road, which has acceptable parking/camping and a very nice (hella steep) day hike down to the river. that would be a dry camp at the top, as some might kind’a balk at coming back up out of the hole, but it’s so close to parking that it would not matter.

second is … find Cherry Lake west of Yosemite NP, and look at the creek feeding Cherry Lake from the north. notice how the lower reaches of the creek have awesome pools and are NOT in the NP. notice also that just a bit (although it is a steepish slab) to the west is a forrest service road that leads dang near to it. I have gently motored my Toyota Yaris to the very end of that road and it’s not  a 4×4 thing. then one just loads up and strolls down the creek. easy as pie and very beautiful. trees for hammocks too .. but, ya Gott’a have no snow.

if I had to vote on it, I’d go for earlier rather than later, and thusly, maybe no snow by virtue of “coastal-ness”.

cheers,

v.

Chime in those inclined to participate! Coastal, Cherry Lake, Lassen, …,?

Just my 2 cents here but location / logistics will impact attendance.  I love Montaña De Oro, however, I live in Southern California and it is only about a 3 hour drive for me.  People wanting to come from another state would more than likely fly in so a close airport would be San Jose and then add a 3 plus hour drive.  Pinnacles SP was nice as it was only a 90-minute drive from San Jose International airport.  Joshua Tree could be cool (LAX , Onterio or Burbank).

If you are looking for more of a Social Gathering, Valley of Fire in NV is pretty cool and is about an hour drive from Las Vegas.  If you haven’t been to the SW desserts, it is a pretty cool place with lots of features in a small area.  My 2 cents.

https://parks.nv.gov/galleries/valley-of-fire

Montana de Oro was close when I lived in Los Osos. I’m in Colorado now. I might make it out to Joshua Tree.  I was just throwing out a few places I knew of as the central coast and southern California was mentioned. Closer to Arizona.  There’s a nice walk in campground just north of Big Sur Village. Right at the end of the Big Sur River. The south end of Joshua Tree. I thought of GGG as a bay area thing though. There’s the Golden Gate Park. Hippie Hill.