LoP Con

Here’s an initial checklist for the backpacking trip we are planning. Remember this will be a backpacking trip with wilderness camping (no cabins). When I say wilderness that means no bathrooms, running water, essentially we will not be at a maintained campsite.

If anyone has any additions or changes to the list, let me know.

Checklist

Planning for 2011 or 2012 Tactical Camping is now in the works. It will take place in Cherokee National Forest located in Tennessee. This will be a true backpacking/wilderness camping trip. NO CABINS!! Even if we wanted to stay in one, ones for rent don’t exist in Cherokee.

Intitally I’m thinking the Ocoee Ranger District/Big Frog Wilderness Area. More details to follow in the coming weeks.

If it happens this year, it will be in October. However we may push it to Spring of next year. It all depends on the schedules of those that wish to attend.

2010 Picture Gallery is up.

Where

We’ll stay at Diamond Lake near Crater Lake in central Oregon. Then we’ll go to a cabin that Ben-Wah reserved near Mt Hood Tuesday and Wednesday night.

In between Diamond Lake and Clackamas Lake Cabin, we’ll stop in Bend, OR and buy more supplies. So you’ll want to buy stuff for 3 days and then 2 days. This way we don’t have to overload at first.

We’ll be less than an hour from Crater Lake when we’re at Diamond Lake. The site can support up to 12 people. We’re going to be pretty close to Diamond Lake, so if you want to fish, bring your stuff and get a fishing license at Wal-Mart or wherever we stop. You can get information on non-resident fishing license here.

This site is at 5500 feet elevation. It will get cool to cold at night. Expect temperatures in the 30s to 40s at night (60s and low 70s during the day). Prepare clothing and sleeping bag(s) accordingly. I’d recommend a sleeping bag rated to around 0F. Here is a good example.

There are hot showers available at this site. If you aren’t down with tent camping (skrewball, Tomas and Romanov will have tents available with capacity for … 10-12 I think) you can find out who else doesn’t want to tent camp and get a cabin or lodge room at the nearby lodge.

If you want to have your own tent and not share with anyone, here’s a good tent for a low price that you can fit into checked luggage.

The Clackamas Lake Historical Cabin has showers as well. From here, we’d drive to locations and hike during the day.

Really all you’d need to bring is a sleeping bag (also see the equipment list) and “crew up” with someone with a tent if you don’t want to stay in the cabin. The other supplies we can buy before heading out, including beer. The cabin sleeps 8.

For those concerned about beer + firearms, we’ll ask for volunteers to be designated firearms securers at night. Meaning you wouldn’t drink, rather you would ensure drinkers’ guns have been secured.

Arrival/Departial plans

Fly into Portland on Friday, July 9, 2010. Provision up at Costco or Wal-Mart (or both) Friday. We’ll drive down to Salem, OR and stay at a hotel or motel overnight. Once we get crews assigned, we’ll handle lodging for this. Fly out Thursday, July 15, 2010, if you like. Recommend no flight earlier than 2pm if you can. 12 noon might be a squeeze.

Agenda (we’ll re-crew up depending on who wants to do what in the area)

Friday – arrive at PDX, team up and get your SUVs, buy provisions and head to Eugene, OR for overnight stay.

Saturday – morning by 10am, depart Salem, OR. Check in at campsite between 1pm-2pm and set up camp. Possibly backtrack and visit some waterfalls in the area or go straight to Crater Lake. Crater Lake visit time estimated to be 5 hours, including driving time.

Sunday – hike Mt Bailey nearby — or part of Mt Bailey, depending on your energy level.

Monday – Waterfalls

Tuesday – pack up camp in the morning, depart by 9am and head to 2nd site at Timothy Lake/Clackamas Lake Cabin. Stop in Bend, OR at a Wal-Mart for refreshing food/perishables. Continue on to Clackamas Lake Cabin and settle in.

Wednesday – Hike Tom, Dick, & Harry Mtn

Thursday – clean up and depart for airport (2-3 hours from Clackamas Lake Cabin).

We’re teaming up to share expenses for each SUV + gas.  The idea is to put 4 people per SUV.  This is who you travel with to the campsites and from the campsites back to the airport on Thursday.  You will be responsible for paying your team captain 1/4 the cost of the SUV rental up front (Friday) and then chip in for gas.  I’m estimating SUV rental to be between $75 and $100 per person (National Car Rental is showing $341 for the trip duration for a Chevy Trailblazer) and gas an additional $25-$50 per person.

You’ll want to look to your team captain for hotel rental in Eugene, OR for Friday night (so we can head out early Friday and get a 2hr head start).  At 4 people per room, cost would be between $25 and $40 for the night.

You will be responsible for shopping for your food.  You know what you like to eat, so you buy it!  The only requirement is that it needs to be something that can be cooked on a stick or a portable grill-grate (Romanov has a couple of these).  Everyone buys 1 regular size styrofoam cooler for storing your own food and drink.  To save space, it is recommended not to put your water bottles in your cooler.  In 2008, we (DarKnight, leku, Tomas, Ben-Wah, Romanov) bought 3-4 days of food and it was barely $25 per person, not including beer.