Hey, Baja, Gordon, and any other interested folks, I've been giving thought to all the great fun we enjoyed together at our very first CA Stove Gathering, last Summer, and I wondered if you guys had been having thoughts of a replay? Are you up for CSG Part 2? If so, when would work out for you? Sweet Bride and I will once again be back up in that same area in July, I think. That might not work out for camping at Montana De Oro, as it may well be infested with that ubiquitous bug, "Touristus Propanious", and a damned nasty bunch of pests they are, too!! The disease must be very virulent, as it seems to be spreading amongst the general population!! Symptoms include a total lack of education about stoves, and camp light, and a propensity to go with the most convenient method of lighting up, and cooking, at a campsite, with a total disregard for style, efficiency, enviromentalism, and adventure!!! However, we could, like last year, gird our loins with plenty of stoves and lanterns, and go amongst the Phillistines, once more!!! 8) 8) We have had an overseas inquiry from a Stove Mate, who just "might" try to join us this year!!! So, put on your thinking caps, Lads, and let's see if we can plan the sequel: CA Stove Gathering, Part 2!!! Talk to you later, and God Bless!! Every Good Wish, Doc and Sweet Bride
Hi Doc, Sounds good, I'll have to hold off on a commit for a while, as our contract is being taken over by .... Eskimos ! the Arctic slope company ! I'll have to see what changes are made... also Ahnold wants to close Montana de Oro, so he'll have enough money to give all the state workers a big pay raise ! Wait and see, i guess...
Hello, I just joined, live in Summerland, have a few stoves and lanterns and would happily meet at Montana de Oro.
Hey, Prime Us, Welcome to CCS! Plans for our 2nd CA Stove Gathering are sort of on hold, right now. But, as things firm up, we'll post that info here, so please keep a weather eye open for it. I got a very nice deal on an original screw-barrel flintlock pocket pistol, at an antique store in Summerland, many years ago!!! Great little pistol, and fun to own and shoot! By the way, please check out the thread on the CA Stove Gathering, and one about Montana De Oro, and see some of the fun we had last time we got together! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hey, Hobo, Great to hear from you! Though I don't know when, or where it will be, we WILL be having a CA Stove Gathering #2!! We'll keep kicking it around, and come up with a good time and a good place, them make our plan. Sound good? I hope we can all get together soon. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Any news? My girlfreind is comin back out here from Alabama, and is a stovie waiting to happen. I told her bout last years gatherin' an' how I missed it due to timing. She wants to go, pick y'alls brains bout different models types etc., and hang out w/ like minded people in general.
Montana de Oro would be nice or, from Lone Pine, Badwater (282' below sea level) Whitney Portal (6,200' above) and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest (at about 11,000') are all within easy drives. [/i]
I'm a hitcher, tho I'm hoping to get a touring bicycle together, either way, where ever is good to me. EDIT; Ok I'll admit. I'm chompin at the bit here, missed last years so... any up dates??
Anything new on this? It has been awhile, but then we are coming into the cooler season for a lot of camping areas, a good thing. I would assume what with the financial meltdown and cost of gas, that we would want to keep closer to home. Gas has become a big part of my "calculations" on attractive camp grounds. Montana de Oro and Death Valley are pretty close to the same cost for me and near the limit of attractive distance wise. I read an article about Buckhorn on Angeles Crest that is not too far, but interesting, if you like mountain camping. Thanks, Jim Henderson
Just a heads up... The Angeles Crest Highway seems to be blocked off by a landslide, some miles east of Buckhorn camp. Doc, you may have to take the long way around... Anybody with local info???
May 19, 2009 article in LA Times, "Column One" says the road would open on Wed May 20. So presumably it is now open to regular traffic. There is a new bridge at Vincent gap which the absence of I believe wasthe main cause of the road closure. Last fall, Nov 2008, I tried to get to Vincent Gap from the East side of the road and that was where it was closed then, just west past Blue Ridge. Jim Henderson
It is definitely open; I've seen the trip reports from local hikers and I've also seen photos posted on the Wrightwood forum (Wrightwood is a town just a bit east of the closure). HJ
I went up myself this past Saturday and did some hiking. There you have it: a first hand account that the road is open. Lovely stretch of highway. There's still snow patches up there above 6000' (the road is clear) which is quite a contrast when compared to the valley floor one vertical mile below where people are wearing shorts and sandals.
Hey, Baja, With Summer upon us, Sweet Bride and I have been up to our necks in alligators (work)! Things will continue fairly strongly for most of the Summer, which is a good thing. But, I'll drive over and check out Buckhorn, talk to the folks over there, and see if we can arrange a date that would for all interested parties. I know that Sweet Bride and I would love to have "round two" of the CA Stove Gathering fun you guys and we enjoyed at Montana De Oro Campground a few years back!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Buckhorn is practically in my backyard, so I can haul all my strange stuff. Only gotcha is like last time, the kids go off to Grandpas late July thru early Aug. Otherwise most days are good. Cooler part of the year is good, but there is a closed season for Buckhorn. I think around late November thru March?? I have a campground guide with specifics if necessary. Has some of the highest "star" ratings for the local camp grounds. I am also open to anything within reasonable range of LA, say 200 miles more or less. Jim Henderson
