Bay Area GGG Host

We should come up with a census of where/ when to have it, then maybe someone close to that location would step up?

My vote's for Big Basin Redwoods State Park at Sequoia Campground.

… but… but… ken… you've done such an awesome job the last five years…

We?

I would not mind being a guest.

I would not mind being a guest.

So, by saying you would not mind being a guest… I (we?) can only presume that this means you are not going to be organizing the GGG this year??

(doh: edit…. NEXT year :-p )

I organized this years G.G.G.

–K.T.–

You did and it was great.
I understand if you would rather just enjoy next time, without the work and stress that surely comes with it. We'll have more time to hang out :)

As someone who's been to a few GGGs and immensely enjoyed meeting other BPLs:

Thank you. WE are grateful!

How about if I just take some time off in the fall and we go on a trip out there somewhere. No organization at all.

My vote’s for Big Basin Redwoods State Park at Sequoia Campground.

Never been there. How does this park fit into the Ken’s Advice for Organizing Your Own Gathering of Gear Geeks factors?

1. Site Selection

• Number of People Dictates the Location
• Human Waste Disposal Determines suitability of site selection
• Water availability at site
• Are Fires Allowed
• Online Research & Communication

-100 person capacity
– Bathroom with showers
– Yes
– Firewood available Yes
– Yes

2. Ease of Permit and Location Access

• Keep it simple: no special use permits, no insurance waivers, no hassles
• Parking Lot Size, Availability, and Permits for Vehicles
• Develop a working relationship with Rangers & Park Staff
• Distance Needed to Hike to Campsite Determines How Many Will Attend
• Meeting at the Trail Head or Campsite

– Check
– Check
– Shouldn't be hard since they offer a 100 capacity group site.
– Group parking could be somewhere a few miles away, while anyone wanting to bring extra gear to sell or what not, can still drop it off at the campsite and drive back to the parking lot.
– Check

Also:
– Dogs allowed (on leash)

Personally, I like the idea of moving it away from Henry Coe. While that is a neat location, and has catered to our needs the last few years, I would (personally) like somewhere that is not so blasted cold and somewhere that is no so far South.

It is about a 9 hour drive for Ken and I to get down to Henry Coe. Others, like Ron Moak driving down have an even farther drive. Those flying in from the East might like somewhere closer to SFO for if they have to arrive at night.

I suppose whoever is going to organize this years trip (if anybody) will also have to factor in cottage companies. Last year we had a half-dozen or so cottage companies (plus a couple more that were scheduled but had to not come due to being sick, and one due to bad weather). Suppose it will have to be decided if cottage companies are wanted this year, and if so, that decision will have to be taken into account of a location selection. Getting companies to come out in better numbers and more gear is going to be making it a *lot* easier for them to get on-site with the gear. Only having one or two companies make it in with their vehicles is just such a limiting factor for these guys). I am pretty sure I could get a few other companies that have never come to show up (and something I would be willing to help do), but not if they have to haul in backpacks full of gear. These folks will want to come out and setup both tarps and all their gear, much like at the PCT/AT kickoffs. Suppose that all of this just depends on whether people want this type of cottage company presence. Anyway, this is my open commitment to help organize this bit of effort, if it is wanted and if somebody steps up to help out with the overall organization, and other aspects of the 2015 GGG.

Ken, you've been an incredible host, not just in organizing logistics but also in making everyone, from long-timers to new members and guests feel welcome. The GGG has always exceeded my expectations – got to check out a lot of cottage gear in one place, learn a lot and really enjoyed meeting everyone. Thank you!!!

John, I'm open to having it in other locations. Henry Coe is practical and familiar, but I wouldn't mind traveling some for a change of scenery. Big Basin is beautiful, but maybe you had something further north in mind.

For cottage makers who can't make it, they could still send samples of gear with members heading in. Also people could post gear they're bringing as they've done before.

I don't know if this was done already, but one thing that might make things easier going forward – I'm organizing a regular community/professional event during the summer, and while it's a ton of work, one thing that helps is delegating some things to volunteers in charge of specific things, like cottage maker invitations, raffle items, activity planning, etc.

EJ: Big Basin is beautiful, but maybe you had something further north in mind.

Hey EJ. Well as you know I have wanted to put together a "Redwood GGG" for the last two years, but it would be highly impractical as 99.999% of the attendees live 275+ miles and 5 hours South of where Ken and I do. This would result in (very likely) very poor turn-out. Ken and I have also been hunting for over a year for a location that can support 50+ people and we have just not been able to find anywhere viable. So while I think it would be awesome to have a gathering up here, the numbers just do not make sense.

For cottage makers who can't make it, they could still send samples of gear with members heading in.

Last year we had that and I must say I left the event feeling really bad about the whole situation. Dan/Zelph sent a few hundred dollars worth of gear and he really got nothing out of it – not even photographs of his products in the post trip reports (not blaming anybody on that, I failed to capture a photo of them myself). If these cottage companies are going to send out gear (cost of product + shipping) we owe it to them to properly represent them, and that would mean somebody stepping up and finding a way to go about doing that, and actually doing it. (not gonna be me)

I am embarrassed and upset with the way things went with Dan's stuff.

Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions.

I know to never say never. But I would like to be a guest once in a while.

Trying to find a location that is open during the off season that could take a large group has been the most difficult aspect of putting these on. Without it being a car camping event. My fear with individual campsites that we would lose the big family reunion feel with everyone off in little groups of six or so.

Open to any well thought out suggestions.

Briones Regional Park is located in north Contra Costa County, just over the hills from Oakland / Berkeley. This is the closest group backpacking site to the Bay Area. There are two group campsites, one with 50 and another with 75 person max.

http://www.ebparks.org/parks/briones
(their website is horrible to navigate, but the campsites do exist and are probably 1-2 miles hike in).

Cache Creek wilderness is about an 90 minutes north of the Bay Area and is never crowded. There is ample space there, no reservations needed. There are no toilet facilities, but maybe someone could bring in a portable one? I might be able to borrow one even, as I have connections to a rafting company that uses these (but obviously won't be needing them in the winter!). Jack Haskel, if he chimes in, is quite knowledgable about Cache Creek and might be able to offer his thoughts on this location.

I checked our and rejected Cache Creek a couple of years ago. Too much Star Thistle. Ground is like concrete and cat holes would be an issue.

Danny, ever been to Briones?

Just to throw another idea in the mix: Coast Camp at Point Reyes. I've brought 35-40 people to that group camping area in the 1990's and we'd out-gear-geek BPLs, at least in tonnage (basketball backboard for a half-court game, skis for skiing the sand dunes, an 8-inch reflecting telescope, a portable hot tub, etc). I have no idea about current wood-fire restrictions, but for standardized comparisons, I like a 1000-box of popsicle sticks (found in any craft store). A 6-mile hike in from the large parking lot at the HQ building.

I have been backpacking to Cache Creek many times as it's only an hour drive from my house.
Ken has scouted this area before for a potential GGG location.
I don't think the parking lot there could support all of the cars.
During the winter months there are few if any cars parked there. There is no listed group limit, but if the ranger/blm manager/whatever drives by and suddenly sees a massively full parking lot, he/she will probably be concerned. This is an actual wilderness area.
Across the creek from Baton Flat would be a nice flat area for a meetup. However, Cache Creek is not the most pleasant place. There is a lot of trash from the hunting season and it is very weedy, lots of yellow star thistle.
There are no camping facilities, only hike in camping. The closest place is 2-ish miles to Baton Flat.

The suggested Big Basin one is only 5 miles drive from my house. Guess I would have to go.

David. We outgrew Point Reyes. They won't let us have two group spots. We outgrew the capacity there thee second year.

You can't pack wood into camps anymore either. Charcoal. Drift wood fire on the beach only. And only if by some defeating of the odds you find wood.

>"We outgrew Point Reyes."

Gotcha. A victim of your own success.

I dayhike in Briones quite a bit. It’s pretty, and hosts lots of wildlife (coyotes, bobcats, deer, turkeys…), but also cattle grazing. Most winters it rains, and then the ground turns to soup. There are outhouses. At 6200 acres, there isn’t really the sense of wilderness you might get at Henry Coe; any ridgeline will give you views of freeway and houses.

The park’s page: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/briones

General EastBay Parks info about camping: http://www.ebparks.org/activities/camping/group

Campground directory

Even though the theres others saying we "have" to have a group site, there is always the option to just reserve an entire area of a campground.

This will give us many more options.
Below is Samuel P. Taylor State Park
6 people per site.

1

Two questions:
1) Does Big Basin really shave off that much driving time compared to Henry Coe?
2) What's the expected group size this year?

(I'll cast another vote for Big Basin, as I much prefer the redwoods.)