Date:         Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:34:41 -0600
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Olson <jjolson@GWTC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Olson <jjolson@GWTC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Summer trip (reply from digest)
In-Reply-To:  <000b01c8aaf5$b7a962e0$4001a8c0@gateway.2wire.net>
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Check out the roadhaus reviews of campgrounds.  The east slope of the
Sierra nevada have wonderful forest service campgrounds that don't have
running water and have only pit toilets.  They're off dirt roads.  My
favorite campground - traditional  - is at Convict Lake just south of
Mammoth Lakes...

Jeff Olson

Don Hanson wrote:
> You might also consider an inland route during one leg of your trip south.
> The east slope of the mountains along the west coast, gets much lighter
> traffic and has some pretty nice areas.  Camping without reserving spots is
> not too difficult, if you  are able to get along without the
> "Tourist/Motorhome/Phot-op/Campfire Program" style of amenity that many
> think of when they go 'camping'.  Many public lands still allow the public
> to use them without fees, but be sure to take care of these areas if you do
> camp out in an "unstructured" spot like I almost always do.
>   There are state parks in California along the coast, but these are almost
> always full of reserved campers in mid-summer,  so if you plan on camping in
> the more popular parts, you just have to reserve ahead or go "Private" like
> to a KOA or other commercial camp area.
>   The Oregon coast is very crowded on weekends..unless the gas costs keep
> some people home this summer.
>   I like to travel using those Topo map Atlas books..DeLorme, etc.  They
> have plenty of campsites and points of interest marked on the maps and lots
> of small back roads that are interesting alternatives to the main routes..
>  Don Hanson
>
>
>