Date:         Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:35:15 -0500
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
Subject:      AVW to WVA- winter camping Pipestem WV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I made a quick weekend camping trip recently.  Took off Friday evening
headed to Pipestem State Park in Southern WV.  I have visited there a
number of times before, but not camping in the winter.  As usual my
departure was delayed a bit.  I got to Wyetheville, VA and decided to camp
at the Walmart.  It was about 30' F outside, but since I had been driving
for several hours, it was nice and warm in the van.

I picked up some food at the Walmart, then came back out to the van.  I
picked a strategic parking/camping spot near a big trailer, but not too
close, right under the big light pole.  I've found that to be a good choice
so that the light is coming straight down on the van and not into the
windows so much.  Also a nice bright spot might keep any n'er-do-wells
away.  When I settled in the best spot, I left the engine idling and ran
the rear heater on medium while I put up the curtains, folded out the bed
and got the sleeping bag in place.  When I shut off the engine it was about
75 in the van.   I climbed into the sleeping bag and listened to the radio
a little, enjoying the remote control feature of the cheap Jensen stereo I
have.  Soon it had dropped to about 50, and I decided to hunker down and
sleep.  this was the coldest yet I had used a nice down mummy bag I
recently bought from a friend.  My first nice sleeping bag, it is
amazing.  I was not cold at all, as the inside of the van dropped down to
around 30 overnight.

Getting up and out of the warm sleeping bag is always the worst for me.  I
often would get up and fire up the stove for about 5 minutes to take the
chill off of my hands and torso, but I had left my lighter at home
(D'oh!).  I slept with T-shirt and sweat pants and socks on.  So I just
jumped out of the bag, put on coat and hat and shoes and hoofed it into the
store (to get lighter).  Well, that movement kept me pretty nice and
warm.  I came back to the van, and started it up.  Closed front heater
valve and put rear heater on low speed.  While I took down the curtains,
and set up the van for day travel.  In just a few minutes I had heat at the
rear heater and turned it up.  By now I was ready to drive, and there was
plenty of heat.

Got to the Pipestem SP campground about 8:00am.  Apparently it is totally
self-serve/honor system in winter.  The instructions as to how to register
yourself were non-existent.  I sort of made it up and found a spot.  (A
couple maintenance type truck came through the campground while I was
there, but nobody ever checked if I paid or anything.  It's probably not
worth the time for them during the winter.  $14.00 for electric hookup only
is a pretty good deal.)  Hooked up AC power and used my little ceramic
heater while making some breakfast.

The nice thing about winter camping at Pipestem is you can use the other
(indoor) facilities of the park when you want to get out of the
cold.  There is a big lodge with indoor pool, fitness equipment, sauna,
restaurant, game room, etc.  There is also a nice nature center with some
knowledgeable and enthusiastic naturalists.  Jim Phillips is great and I
always learn a bunch from talking to him or going on hikes he leads.  When
there is snow they have cross country ski rental and a sled run with a lift
to pull you back up the hill.

The campground was pretty deserted, but they did have a heated bath house
open.  I took advantage of the bath facilities in the lodge though, and
they are very nice.  Bring a lock so you can lock your stuff in the
dressing room.  I spent quite a while in the big heated pool and shared it
only with 2 young teen girls.  I could subtly herd them around the pool
like a border collie.  They always maintained a several yard margin from
me, and from the hunky lifeguards.  So as I paddled around, they would move
here and there.  I didn't realize this until after I got out of the water
and remembered that they seemed to be spending a lot of time hanging on the
ladder in the deep end.

I like Pipestem.  Built in the early 70's as the crown jewel of WV's park
system, it is an interesting mixture of themes.  Parts of it still have
the  sort of funky look  of the 70's, and some parts have been updated and
are quite modern.  It sort of aspires to be an upscale resort, and is maybe
more of a down-home lodge.

Edward