2013 Death Valley Campout

[Miss Ellie & Co.]

Paul, Very true. Everyone who's done the Group Camp at Tahoe Valley loved it. Whats not to like? Got a swimming pool, free shuttle ride back and forth to the casinos, incredible Pizza joint down the road from the camp entrance, open area camping under Ponderosa Pines thats well away from the rest of the sprawling campground. An outdoor kitchen w/electricity, a huge fire pit ring with bench seating, seperate showers and restrooms for group campers only, yadda, yadda.
Tahoe Valley is hard to beat. And there's that big old beautiful lake too.

I hope we can get in. I'll know later today or tomorrow morning when they call me back.

[Dog Owned]

Originally Posted by Miss Ellie & Co.

Scott, no one is asking you to do that,
nor would they think you'de look like a bad guy for not not paying you're share of a group site at a location you didn't agree to on a date you didn't agree to.
I certainly wouldn't.

This trip idea is a timing issue and there's not enough of it to bring to committee for votes.
The idea was brought up yesterday at DV by several Camping Fools.
We have to move on it ASAP as most places are likely booked for July 4th Week End which this year falls on a Thursday. (4 day week end)

The only Group Camp actually specified in the post is the Tahoe Valley Campground in Lake Tahoe

San Simeon is on the radar because it's close to "Morro Bay" which is booked solid for that week end.
You guys had unusually schitty luck at San Simeon when you went the last time, the weather sucked along with everything else.
It can happen.
I've camped there often enough (not in a group) and always had a good camping experience. Go figure.

People are wanting to be near greener things and water for the next trip.
I'm just trying to find a suitable camping location with water access.
Salt or Fresh.

The selected July 4th Weekend date would allow people with out vacation time (myself included this year) to attend a summer camping meet.
Those who have vacation time could extend thier stay beyond the Holiday Week End if they chose to.
Realistically it's doubtful that we'll be able to find anything decent available for July 4th Week End camping anywhere.
Statewide, campgrounds are probably already booked.
But we could get lucky...

Tahoe Valley/Lake Tahoe is a long shot option and it has a nice Group Camp area.
Heck it may not be available either... I'll know by tomorrow.
But if it is... I think we're going to try and book it.
Trust us on this.. if we can get the Group Camp at Tahoe Valley I know you would love it.

But if no suitable camping can be found, then the July 4th Week End idea goes bye bye.

At which point we'll put something together (by vote) for the Labor Day Week End where we might have better luck as it's 6 months away.
Do you have any preferences on where to have the meet?

There's always time to vote! And voting is the appropriate way in a group. You said attendees talked about it yesterday in DV but I thought most peeps were gone by Monday?? It probably should have been discussed at the potluck, then also put to a vote on the boards for people who could not make DV. I'm just trying to include everyone.

For myself and John, we don't camp at popular places for the July 4th weekends because there's usually too many people and that messes up why we camp.

As far as San Simeon SP: Our recommendation is DON'T!!!! I almost got KICKED OUT OF THE CAMPGROUND by staff simply because I asked them to honor more than one of the group's RESERVATIONS that we had printed proof of, and they refused, sending us on a 3 hour driving hunt around the campgrounds (more than one) for unoccupied sites. Gene, if you remember, you even called and talked to them on the phone when one of you got too sick to attend so one of us could use your reserved spot, and they refused. It was insane. The lower campground is insanely stacked together on top of each other, and the upper is up a steep road at least a mile away from everything else with no trees and high wind. It was the worst camping trip we've had.

[Dog Owned]

Some pics:
The Racetrack Playa, Darwin Falls, the moving rocks at the Playa.

[Dog Owned]

Teakettle Junction, Dante's View, roadrunner tracks at the dunes.

[Miss Ellie & Co.]

There wasn't time to vote and if there was, the vote would been heavily in favor of Tahoe Valley anyway.
Putting it to a vote in a Poll format on the boards would take days. (and not everyone visits the boards everyday)
No one else brought up any ideas of alternate places to go and you guys don't go camping on Holiday Week Ends.

Yes it could of been brought up at DV and it was. You guys missed the discussion is all.

San Simeon would happen if it's available and all other locations are sold out for July 4th.
I'm sorry you had such a bummer of a time when you went there.
Myself and others hadn't the problems that you encountered while you were there and we've been there often enough.
Perhaps they had incompetent, campground staff trainees running the place while you were there.
That's what it seems like to me.
It's a State Park and all the State Park Campgrounds I've been to are run well, organized and not like you experienced.

[Dog Owned]

Originally Posted by Miss Ellie & Co.

There wasn't time to vote and if there was, the vote would been heavily in favor of Tahoe Valley anyway.
Putting it to a vote in a Poll format on the boards would take days. (and not everyone visits the boards everyday)
No one else brought up any ideas of alternate places to go and you guys don't go camping on Holiday Week Ends.

Yes it could of been brought up at DV and it was. You guys missed the discussion is all.

San Simeon would happen if it's available and all other locations are sold out for July 4th.
I'm sorry you had such a bummer of a time when you went there.
Myself and others hadn't the problems that you encountered while you were there and we've been there often enough.
Perhaps they had incompetent, campground staff trainees running the place while you were there.
That's what it seems like to me.
It's a State Park and all the State Park Campgrounds I've been to are run well, organized and not like you experienced.

Gene, thank you for editing your original reply to be a little less harsh!

Being that text never reads true to life, I want to clear up something. I did not say Tahoe was a bad idea. I only was encouraging the notion that including everyone as much as possible is a nice thing to do, regardless of if everyone can go or not (which is the "fuss" that you referred to in your first post).

And I DO camp on holiday week ends...DV WAS a holiday weekend when I got there! I said we usually don't go on July 4th due to crowds.

Let's all please read posts carefully so there are no misunderstandings...and keep it polite!!!

-Tonya

[Miss Ellie & Co.]

Tonya

Dang* I was hoping to edit that out before anybody got a chance to read it.
It was a bit harsh and unnecessary.
A thousand apologies.

[Mels E]

Great pictures all - I will post some soon. I have been at a conference for the past couple of days, so I have not even unpacked. ;-(.

San Simeon - well I have been back 2 times since the group went there and have had pleasant staff experiences both times and it was not that crowded. However, yes the weekend we went for the 4th it was indeed really bad but I think that was due to overbooking resulting in bad decisions from the staff (for unknown reasons to us). Yes July 4th most do want to camp on the coast and go to the "Castle" that weekend.

So keep this place on your list as a place to visit on other dates. Note: July and Aug the area is known for high winds. The upper camp ground is the one I prefer the most.

[Miss Ellie & Co.]

I just got off the phone with the friendly folk at the Tahoe Valley Campground in Lake Tahoe.

The Group Camp is not available. However they do have 17 available campsites in the E Loop. (get it? E Loop)
Additionally there are several sites w/hook ups in this section. Those with trailers (who want it) will have electricity. (but you need to move fast)


From 2006 - our first trip to Tahoe Valley Campground


I think we should go for it.

I also checked out "16" other campgrounds, near water all around the Sierras.
There are alot of them with availabilty.
However, these are mostly Dry Camp facilities some with flush toilets, some with Pit toilets but none have showers or hot water.
Given our group's proclivity to smelling good and not looking like a band of Sasquatch, I think we need showers.

If you choose to go (I hope you do because Lake Tahoe has a ton of fantastic recreational options) the proceedure to secure a campsite at Tahoe Valley is easy as pie. You pay one night in advance and additional nights once you get there at check in.
Rate is $42 per night.

When making your campsite reservation make sure to let them know that you are with the Honda Element Group.
Dates are July 3 - 7 (but you can stay as short or long as you like.. the most important thing is to reserve your campsite ASAP)

Tahoe Valley Campground
1175 Melba Drive
Lake Tahoe, CA
Phone: 530-541-2222

Make sure to tell them that you are with the Honda Element Group when you make your campsite reservations.

I'll make a dedicated Thread for this camping trip shortly.

[Mels E]

Also another trip for all you campers - this is a meet right in the middle of CA near San Luis Obispo. Date is TBD

http://www.elementownersclub.com/for...ad.php?t=76123