California GGG #7 – Jan 29 to Feb 1, 2015

Michael Driscoll has reserved MG2 for GGG.

I reserved site 54. As it's just two of us in one tent and six people are allowed, we can share the site with others. Also, and hopefully this doesn't complicate things, I reserved it for the full period, Thursday through Sunday, even though we'll be there for maybe Friday and definitely Saturday night.

PM me if you want to share the site and cost-split for any of those nights.

Gene

OK Ken. I didn't pick up on the subtleties of your earlier posts and did not realize that you were still planning on having a Bay Area GGG #7 of some kind in 2015. No intent to usurp the name. I'll go with "NorCal GGG #1" to keep it distinct.

My family and I plan to go. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

-J & M

Thank you for signing up Jerome. Look forward to meeting.

Hey David, I sent you an email to your gold gear email address.

Just checking, this is a drive up campground. "Everyone" is getting their own sites. I am considering bringing the MotorHome and the family. Unless that is just to "heavy". ;^)

Seriously, I'd like to meet other BPLers and learn from them. If I bring the family it is always easier for me to go.

Larry,

Feel free to bring your family and your motorhome. Just be sure to bring along your cool SUL gear for us all to check out.

See the original post for directions on how to sign up. If you're bringing the motorhome, you should get your own site. Looking forward to meeting you.

David

Updated the Original Post.

Susan and Allen Robinson will be attending GGG Norcal. We will arrive on Friday at campsite 027 Orchard Hill Campsite. We are new members to BackpackingLight, but not new to backpacking (50 years +). Michael Discroll told us about the event. We are looking forward to meeting like-minded folks.

No work has yet come in for me, so I’m looking good to go. Even if I do get work, hopefully I’d be able to attend at least Sat & Sun.

Besides, if I don’t come, who’s going to provide the pyrotechnics? Burn, baby, burn. :)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

Great Jim! Since I won't be hiking in, I plan to bring what remains of my alcohol stove collection – including the Ramjet "Blowtorch" which boils a liter in 4:30 min. We should have some fun. One event I would like to do this year is an alcohol stove "boil off" with two categories: (1) fastest to boil 500 ml of water with 20 ml of fuel, and (2) least amount of fuel to boil 500 ml of water. I wonder what the tap water temperature is there?

You kids have fun. Looking forward to the trip report already.

3 weeks from now. Who's packing already?

One event I would like to do this year is an alcohol stove “boil off” with two categories: (1) fastest to boil 500 ml of water with 20 ml of fuel, and (2) least amount of fuel to boil 500 ml of water.

Well there goes my spare time for the next several weeks… ;)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

I am not packing yet but am thinking about food… as in no oatmeal on this run !…

I’m just trying to figure out what temps and precipitation to expect. I see that Samuel P. Taylor State Park (never been there) is near Lagunitas, CA. The NWS says this is the forecast. Is that reasonable to expect in terms of temps? Obviously we won’t know much about precip until a few days before.

If that’s reasonable, that’ll be downright balmy compared to Henry Coe. I’m bringing bermuda shorts, a ukulele, and a straw hat.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

Samuel P Taylor is near the ocean and at sea level while Coe is at 2000'. Rain is predicted for next Saturday but I haven't seen anything for the end of the month. It's been dry around here for the past month unfortunately.

Yeah, I kind of figured Taylor would be more moderate than Coe. Sounds good.

Thanks,

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

Howdy,
The park is in a beautiful redwood grove with a creek. There will be little direct sun and it will be quite damp. The Orchard Loop is up and out of the creek bed, but still chilly. Some sites will have better sun than others. A warm puffy and some firewood will be your friends. I would also consider a micro lantern for tent time.
The Lagunitas store has basic groceries and supplies. The Good Earth market in Fairfax is a great place to shop, and has an extensive deli.
We are unable to spend the night as we have an infant, but look forward to meeting everyone on Saturday.

stephan

Stephan, thanks for posting the info and tips. Congrats on the infant! I'm planning a couple of events for Saturday and look forward to seeing you and your family.

Firming up some plans for the event.

There is a central picnic area where I'm planning to do a group lunch and gear show/swap on Saturday afternoon 12 noon to 2 pm. Following that, I'm planning to do the traditional wood-fueled "burn off" with two categories (naturally aspirated vs. with blowers) and a new alcohol stove "burn off" with two categories (fastest to boil 500 ml of water with 20 ml of fuel vs. least amount of fuel to boil 500 ml of water in whatever time it takes).

A group hike would be nice too, if someone is interested in taking the lead.

Updated the OP with this information too.

Should we plan on our own Saturday dinner or pot luck?

The thing about a group dinner is that the picnic area is only open during daylight hours. If we wanted to do an early dinner like 5-6 pm we can do it in the group picnic area. Otherwise we're technically limited to 6 people per camp site at a time, except the one mini-group site which can accommodate up to 10 at a time.

So let's take a straw vote: How many people would like to participate in an early pot luck dinner on Saturday?

I'd prefer to bring my own food, but an early dinner in the group area sounds good.

I like cooking in daylight so early is better. However, that limits any hiking in the afternoon. I'm either way.