Friends, we are at it again, what has become our yearly trip to Coyote Plateau since TheTim aka Phulcrum took us up there in 2015. The trip as evolved over the years finding the best place to camp and cool stuff to do and so we will keep it rolling, literally, in 2025.
Here are a few pics from prior years...
Where we camp...
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Amazing views
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Might catch your first fish like Brennan did!
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This is what it's about, we will hike here.
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If you haven't been here, the Plateau is something to behold. It is beauty, ruggedness, and adventure, all wrapped up in a place that just hard enough to get to to keep the crowds out. We typically see very few rigs up there. The group will enjoy a mix of off roading, exploring in trucks and feet to awesome lakes, and of course relaxing at camp enjoying that thing we are know for - good food! Where we camp is big enough for many, many rigs so if you have friends you'd like to bring along, go for it, plenty of room for all. I will have the whole heard, wife + 4 kids and dog. This spot is protected from wind and see nightly lows in the 50's, just perfect. This is completely self contained adventuring so you want to bring what you need for 3+ days or so in the wilderness.
General things to remember:
- This is remote camping to prepare to be totally self sufficient.
- Comms: Same as usual, GMRS 22, FRS 22, or HAM 146.490. I haven't used a CB in years so please post up if that's what you'll bring so I can bring my spare. For truck to truck GMRS / FRS22 works well if you don't have HAM.
- Restring your fishing poles, 2lb test is good. Trout like spotted spinner lures.
- Gas, I typically bring 5 gal with me to feed the cruiser. The newer rigs use less so might not be an issue but the 60 and 80 drink it up. For reference, it's 18 miles from the air down to camp but we climb like 5-6000' so it takes some dino juice.
- Please be aware of elevation and ensure your kids stay hydrated. Dehydration occurs much faster up that high. We will be camping at 9,600'. Hidden / Baker lakes we will see 11,000'. If we drive over towards the west we will get close to 13,000'.
- Hydration, I recommend something like Prime sticks you can put into water bottles. I have brought lots of bottles of stuff in the past but they always seem to get abandoned half full and makes for a lot more trash to haul out.
- The camp site is very mild and well wind protected but at these elevations best to be ready. An errant rain can pass through.
- No one on this forum will have issues getting there but if you have a friend who wants to come along (which is totally cool) just make sure their rig is up for it. AWD vehicles (Subarus) routinely overheat their transmissions and take body damage. If they absolutely insist on going we will put them last in line so they can turn back when the going gets too tough. The vehicle needs 4low and legit off road tires to really be considered adequate and safe. Make them aware of the elevation.
- There are typically opportunities for some target shooting so plan accordingly if you are into that. I will bring some of my hardware.
- Bathing suits and water shoes can be good for the hike to Hidden / Baker lake as well as any of the other lakes. Hidden has a nice knee high wading area.
- I planning to bring our ebikes this year and hope to use them to do some quick exploring. My younger boys have their electric Razor motorcycles. Kids have fun just riding around the camp area on their bikes so feel free to bring if you have the room. My oldest son will probably map the whole area in one afternoon his knowing his propensity to get out ride.
Meal plan, not required to follow but often we potluck.
Breakfast: My kids get up early so I am usually one of the first up. I'll have my Blackstone flat top and coffey going. Often folks just throw in on the flat top as the food starts flowing.
Thursday Dinner: Easy mode, burgers, etc...
Friday Dinner: Club sponsored BBQ theme, we'll bring tri tips and beans. Feel free to bring a appetizer or desert.
Saturday Dinner: Mexican theme, tacos!!!
Sunday Dinner: Surprise us! I have never cooked in a dutch oven and don't have time to learn before the trip.
High level plan:
Let's meet Thursday 8/14 around 7:30 AM from the I15 / 76 park and ride if you want to caravan. If you know the way and just want to get there, go for it. My wife will be towing and I will be in our 60 so we won't be moving very quickly. Basically you can tell Google maps to navigate to Funnel Lake and it will take you there with only difference being you will turn right per below vs. proceeding another mile or so and turning right to Funnel Lake. If you do head up, please set up on the far end per the picture below. We have learned that leaving on Thursday means traffic is lighter and we are sure to get the prime spot in our favorite camping area. If you want to leave sooner, later, or whatever, all good. Let us know in case you don't check in at camp so we can make sure you are Ok. We will make a quick lunch / gas stop in Adelanto and head to Bishop where we we refuel, buy the things we always forget pack, and head up the mountain. We will camp at 9,500'.
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Friday: Call this the acclimation day so we can adjust to the altitude. We will check out (drive to) Green Lake though not hike down to it. We did that one year and while my son caught a big trout we brought back to camp (yummy!) the hike back up was tough. (I will have my 2.5 year old in the hiker on my back....) The altitude is 11,000' plus as you negotiate a steep single track switchback. If anyone, however, is feeling adventurous and wants to hike down there, don't let me stop you, just get your cardio in because you will on the way back up. We will then check out Funnel Lake. This is a great place to have lunch and let the kids practice casting. There aren't any fish in Funnel lake but one can work the bugs out of the fishing gear so we can slay 'em on Saturday. If we are feeling frisky we can check out the road to a mine that overlooks Funnel Lake. We will be near our trucks so let's be prepared to make lunch out of our vehicles.
Saturday: Fishing in epically amazing alpine lakes. We will hit up Hidden Lake this year. Last year we did Baker Lake (next to each other). Both are good but Hidden has this nice shaded beach which opens to a knee deep section which makes it great for hanging out and splashing around. Yellow spinners with black or red spots catch lots of trout in these lakes. and it's not uncommon to catch one big enough to bring back to camp. Being wild fish, they don't seem to like bait, at least not when I fish with it. The hike is only 1.5 miles but we are over 10,000' so it can get you huffing and puffing. I typically just bring the tackle I need, luers, cutter, split shots, collapsible poles, all of which makes for easier hiking. We will want to pack lunch since we won't be near our cars during that time.
Sunday: We'll plan out Sunday at camp. People can go with whatever flow they are feeling. There is a lake, Thunder and Lightning Lake, that is a mile past Hidden / Baker. I have never been there but would like to explore it if anyone is up for it. I'll post up some more details on where it is at in relation to Green and Baker/Hidden Lakes. There are also mining ruins and lots of roads I have never explored that one could check out.
Monday: Quick breakfast, pack up, and head home. We have learned that leaving Monday avoids the Vegas Sunday rush and affords less traffic all around. Also, this puts the camping to driving ratio > 1 which is always nice.
Other ideas for fun, target shooting as long as there aren't any restrictions in place. If you hunt, well you can do that too up there.
I will post up more the boilerplate information as the trip approaches.
Here is an attendee list to get that going.
- Elripster + wife, 4 kids (boys 14, 11, 7, and girl 2.5) and dog. 80 and 60 series land cruisers. (now I really have to get that 60 running...)
- (hard)Coredawg + boy (maybe wife / baby)
- Raptorpat + 2 boys 14, 11
- SDNative
- Bicycleagent003
- Landcruising
- Hamilt0n
- Loober + General
- Justsendit
Frank
