Friends, the plateau is wide open! Let's plan this thing!
For a bit of temptation... this was the view from our campsite last year... We won't have the lake this year due to drier conditions but the picture sure is nice!
Well with the major surgery about to happen to Mudhorn (fj60) it will stay home. My wife can't go so it will be me and my 3 boys. I might bring my baby girl but am on the fence there.
On a side note, I did attend the May 23rd Forest Service call. The forest service flat out said making the area more accessible will make more problems but still wants to do it. I think they are overreacting to one rainy year but that's just me. They want to close off roads they casually deem illegal even though if you look at satellite imagery they have been there forever. Go figure. But anyway, let's get up there and enjoy it why it's still nice and hard to get to!
I think with the dates we have we might see people when we get there Saturday but they will likely filter out Sunday leaving the area to us the rest of the time.
Are others bringing kids and if so are you brining bikes? The camp area is nice for them to ride around but if only my kids have them it might not make sense for me to bring them.
General things to remember:
- This is remote camping to prepare to be totally self sufficient.
- Comms: Same as usual, GMRS 22, CB 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.
- Please be aware of elevation. 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, kids get dehydrated much more quickly at elevation than we adults do. 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.
- 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 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 reliable. Make them aware of the elevation.
- Although reports are things are dry we are going earlier than usual so could encounter bugs. Hiking boots / socks can protect you from the ankle biters, spray, etc... for the others.
- There could be opportunities for some target shooting so plan accordingly if you are into that.
- Bathing suits and water shoes can be good for the hike to Hidden / Baker lake. They are next to each other (Baker spills into Hidden....) Hidden has a nice knee high wading area if it's full enough.
Plan is as follows:
Saturday: Since only Phulcrum is meeting us on the way up we will do a rolling start at the I76 on ramp around 8AM. I will be towing so speeds will not be scorching though the mid day temps might be. If anyone wants to just get there, go for it, we'll see you at the camp spot which I will describe below. We will make a lunch / gas stop in Adelanto (quick) and keep forward progress. One thing to note is that while it's 5 hours to Bishop, it's another 1.5-2 to air down and get to camp. Adding stops for more gas and supplies and you have us getting to camp around 3-4PM. Dinner, let's make it easy, burgers or whatever you desire.
Sunday: Day trip to Funnel Lake. We haven't been there in years and the trail to it is fun / scenic. While the odds of catching fish hover just over zero it's a great place to have lunch and let the kids practice casting. There are some short cool hikes in the vicinity. Dinner: Chili cook off! Bring it!
Monday: Explore the plateau. We always say we are going to do this and never do so let's map it out. Who knows, we might find a better place to camp. Dinner: Burritos / Mexican
Tuesday: Hike and fish at Hidden or Baker Lakes. Dinner: Steaks and taters.
Wednesday: Quick breakfast and hit the road to home!
- Elripster and 4 kids in Rathtar the 80
- Butch, dad of Elripster in his GX with Grey Poupon
- Phulcrum + boy
- Raptorpat + 2 boys
- Friend of Raptorpat + 2 boys.
- Loober + boy, Friday to Monday
- Friends from scouts and their boy
Where we camp:
Finding camp is quite easy. If you plan to head up there before the group, just Google maps to funnel lake. Once you are on the plateau, you will make a right hand turn (per the picture it's your first right) where the pin is dropped instead of going all the way into Funnel. We camp on the far end (North end).
For a bit of temptation... this was the view from our campsite last year... We won't have the lake this year due to drier conditions but the picture sure is nice!
Well with the major surgery about to happen to Mudhorn (fj60) it will stay home. My wife can't go so it will be me and my 3 boys. I might bring my baby girl but am on the fence there.
On a side note, I did attend the May 23rd Forest Service call. The forest service flat out said making the area more accessible will make more problems but still wants to do it. I think they are overreacting to one rainy year but that's just me. They want to close off roads they casually deem illegal even though if you look at satellite imagery they have been there forever. Go figure. But anyway, let's get up there and enjoy it why it's still nice and hard to get to!
I think with the dates we have we might see people when we get there Saturday but they will likely filter out Sunday leaving the area to us the rest of the time.
Are others bringing kids and if so are you brining bikes? The camp area is nice for them to ride around but if only my kids have them it might not make sense for me to bring them.
General things to remember:
- This is remote camping to prepare to be totally self sufficient.
- Comms: Same as usual, GMRS 22, CB 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.
- Please be aware of elevation. 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, kids get dehydrated much more quickly at elevation than we adults do. 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.
- 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 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 reliable. Make them aware of the elevation.
- Although reports are things are dry we are going earlier than usual so could encounter bugs. Hiking boots / socks can protect you from the ankle biters, spray, etc... for the others.
- There could be opportunities for some target shooting so plan accordingly if you are into that.
- Bathing suits and water shoes can be good for the hike to Hidden / Baker lake. They are next to each other (Baker spills into Hidden....) Hidden has a nice knee high wading area if it's full enough.
Plan is as follows:
Saturday: Since only Phulcrum is meeting us on the way up we will do a rolling start at the I76 on ramp around 8AM. I will be towing so speeds will not be scorching though the mid day temps might be. If anyone wants to just get there, go for it, we'll see you at the camp spot which I will describe below. We will make a lunch / gas stop in Adelanto (quick) and keep forward progress. One thing to note is that while it's 5 hours to Bishop, it's another 1.5-2 to air down and get to camp. Adding stops for more gas and supplies and you have us getting to camp around 3-4PM. Dinner, let's make it easy, burgers or whatever you desire.
Sunday: Day trip to Funnel Lake. We haven't been there in years and the trail to it is fun / scenic. While the odds of catching fish hover just over zero it's a great place to have lunch and let the kids practice casting. There are some short cool hikes in the vicinity. Dinner: Chili cook off! Bring it!
Monday: Explore the plateau. We always say we are going to do this and never do so let's map it out. Who knows, we might find a better place to camp. Dinner: Burritos / Mexican
Tuesday: Hike and fish at Hidden or Baker Lakes. Dinner: Steaks and taters.
Wednesday: Quick breakfast and hit the road to home!
- Elripster and 4 kids in Rathtar the 80
- Butch, dad of Elripster in his GX with Grey Poupon
- Phulcrum + boy
- Raptorpat + 2 boys
- Friend of Raptorpat + 2 boys.
- Loober + boy, Friday to Monday
- Friends from scouts and their boy
Where we camp:
Finding camp is quite easy. If you plan to head up there before the group, just Google maps to funnel lake. Once you are on the plateau, you will make a right hand turn (per the picture it's your first right) where the pin is dropped instead of going all the way into Funnel. We camp on the far end (North end).
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