Hey, when is this meet going to be BTW? Bajabum, I will be in San Diego 10th and 11th around the Midway Area. Youngest graduating from boot camp. What are the nice flea markets around that area also. Ron
Hi Ron' We are looking at the September timeframe for the meet, I guess we're waiting for Doc to make up his mind... I graduated from Navy boot camp at S.D., in 1968.... My, how time flies! You'd have to ask Doc about flea markets, I really don't get there often, unless you count passing thru on my way to mexico.
Hey, Ron, THE swap meet to visit in San Diego, is the Kobey's Swap Meet, help at the San Diego Sports Arena, which is right around the corner from where you'll be on Midway!! For the last 30+ years, I've bought, quite literally, HUNDREDS of great stoves there, most of the time for very good prices!! Lots of rare ones have come from that meet, too, and though they don't turn up as often as they used to, last time I was there I chanced upon my Prentiss-Wabers 1920's double burner for just $8!! The real secret to that swap meet, is to go every single weekend, all year long. But, even for a single visit, there is a chance you will stumble onto something fun. Just keep your eyes open, and take your time digging through all the "offerings"!! Best of luck, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. As to the CA Gathering #2, yes, I'm certainly up for it. It's not quite as Brother Baja has said, with me having to "make up my mind"!! It has more to do with our work and event schedule, which is filled to the brim time year. But, hopefully in mid to late September, we can plan something fun. Or, in October, or in November....!! 8) 8)
Doc, Sorry to keep bugging you, BUT... SWMBO and myself both need some notice to get time off. Coupla weeks for me, 30-45 days for the Boss! As for camping in October or November, at 6000 ft... Brrrr. The campground probably will be closed anyhow. Just sayin'
Actually, not that big a problem, most of the time. I camped at Blue Ridge, same road(Angeles Crest but maybe 1000-2000 feet higher, you actually pass by all the ski lifts and are at the top of the highest one. I was there in mid November 2008 a week before closing for the winter. It is dead around there at that time of year. No trace of any snow and it was cool but not cold at night. Probably 30-40F. Daytime was a bit chill, maybe 50F in shade. I don't think they got any appreciable snow last year till well into December. Besides, I have camped in Oregon where it was below 20F in the daytime sun, so what's a little cool mountain air. And there will be plenty of stoves alight, I am sure. Of course it all depends on when snow hits. Recent years snow has been a bit late, but then again you can have really heavy snows if and when it does hit. I have been on the ski lift where my butt dragged in the snow. My experience with snow in So Cal on Angeles Crest since the 70s is that usually you are OK thru November at least, 90% of the time. But you are correct, the campgrounds do close for the winter near the end of November with some a bit sooner. BTW the Buckhorn listing shows winter close end of November. Don't let a little cold slow you down, Jim Henderson
Just did a drive thru July 28, 2009. Website info... http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/pacficsw/angcmp.htm My comments... Road condition is excellent(Pasadena thru Cajon Pass) until you get into the camp ground access road. The access road is narrow, maybe 9-10 feet, windy and has Rocks and trees intruding over the road way just a bit. You could lose a truck mirror if you don't pay attention. Single lane so if there is opposing traffic it is going to be fun, no turnarounds. But I think it is one way since there is a separate exit available. I would say a full size pickup maybe with a typical utility trailer is OK. Pickup with a full size camper in the bed might be tight. I would hesitate to use a motor home unless it was a shorty and not too wide. I would never try my 30 foot travel trailer. Maybe you could get by with a 20 footer or less, doubtful, but no guarantees from me. Web site says not recommended. The parking spaces I saw were all pickup truck length and a bit. This campground is VERY unlevel. Tent spots are maybe 20 feet square at most, but more space for table and firepit etc. Usually not level, and some had lumps or the "tip of an iceberg" rocks in them. Fire pits, no grills, vault toilets. No showers. $12 fee open thru November 15. Campsites are seperated by terrain, elevation, creekbed(dry) trees etc. Basically they bult flat spots wherever they could fit as you rolled down the creekbed. Maybe 100 feet or more from low to high camp spots. There is water on site, so they say, I did not notice. This campground did not look good for wheelchairs and there is some minor climbing between parking pads and tent spots. If you can't hike uneven terrain for 50 feet or so, this is not for you, usually abled people are fine. A pretty forested campground with maybe 50%+ shade and probably a lot more early in the morning and late afternoon due to being in a ravine. I plan to take my boys up for a weekend sometime after Labor day. It was almost empty when I went thru on Tuesday this week. This would be a decent spot for us if we are willing to spread out in multiple sites, 38 available. Multiple tents per site can be tough on some of the sites I saw, unless we are talking 2 man tents. Supposed to be good access to many trails. PCT is close by. I have a campground guide with this campground listed as one of the best in the Los Angeles Area. If more detail is needed I can look it up. Jim Henderson
Evening, Jim, Thanks, very much, for your report, Sir! Well done, and much appreciated! I have yet to make it over to that campground, but hope to do so after our return from this current gig. I don't think September will work for us, as we still have plenty of gigs on tap, as well as one Living History gig. October might be much better, but November would work, too, before the 15th, or course! Thanks, again, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi all, I propose either the weekend of september 26 th, or at the latest, october 3 rd. After that, I think it will be too cool for us. Either week works for us, and we would be up there on the wed. before to set up. Lets hear from all interested !
Hey, Baja, I just checked our work schedule, and it looks like the October date will not work for us. We will both be employed at a local event on that weekend. September 26th weekend would work for me, but Sweet Bride is teaching out of State on that date. If that date is best for everyone else, then I can plan to be there, solo, and will look forward to seeing any and all that can join us! November is still good for us, for much of the time. But, I do understand that it may well be cooler during that time. We dearly love camping in that time of year, though, and welcome the cooler temps! Hey, fire up a bowl fire, and call it good, right?!! 8) Let's hear from all other interested parties, and if the September 26th weekend works for for everyone, let's make it a firm plan!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hey, Lads, Bumping this one back to the top, as time is passing, and we need to make a firm plan. How about it, Friends? Anyone still interested in CA Stove Gathering #2?!! I'm up for it, and hope that many of you are, too. Please let us all know about the weekend of September 26, 2009, and we'll make a plan to camp, fettle stoves, share a brew (or two), eat some good food, tell a few lies, and enjoy getting together!! For those that have missed this info in the past, it will be held at the Buckhorn Campground, on the Angeles Crest Highway, West of Wrightwood, California, which is up in the San Gabriel Mountains. Hope to hear from you all soon, so plans can be made! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
we're in ! Already put in for vacation time... we'll be there from Wed. to Sunday. 8) Hope to see new faces too !!!
Hey, Baja, er, I mean, Steve! 8) Sounds great! Sweet Bride will already be working out of town, so, I'll call my Brother to see if he and his wife would like to house-sit for few days. So, far, they have always come up when we needed them! Cool! IF they can make it up here, then I'll arrive on Wednesday morning, too, and grab a camping spot. I'll be using a backpacking tent, and not bringing "quite" as many stoves as I did for our first CA Stove Gathering! 8-[ But, I'll bring some fun ones, and also a few parts and tools, for any fettling that needs be done. I'll also pack along some decent chow, and see what I can rustle up. Might bring a small oven, too, probably our "Boss"oven, which is a tad smaller than our old 1924 Bluebird oven. Yea!! I'm really excited about this!! So, far, it's you, Mrs. Baja, and me, but I do hope that our numbers will increase by the time the event comes around! Talk to you soon, and SEE you and Mrs. Baja next month!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc P.S. Hiking Jim: How large a backpacking tent do you think the sites at Buckhorn Campground will allow? How about a large canvas fly? Room enough, do you think? Hope to see you there, and Thanks for all the info on this site!!
Hi all/Doc: I will plan on it. (If you need to do it later for Sweet Bride, cold is no problem for us, as we still have our mountain equipment.) Not sure if wife can make it yet. I also will bring a "boss" oven and my Clayton & Lambert 3 burner as a community stove if needed. I need a spot for a 10' by 10' canvas tent and accessories that I can back a car into. Will do a set up similar to the "today's camp with yesterdays equipment" in photo gallery. I can probably be there Wednesday too. Mike..
Hey, Flivver, That's great news! We'll look forward to seeing you there! So far, if everyone that has contacted me, actually joins us, the Gathering is shaping up to the following: - Baja Bum and Mrs Baja - Flivver (and "maybe" Mrs Flivver) - Jim Henderson and his kids (coming up on Friday) - Doc (sans Sweet Bride, as she has a gig ) - And a very special Guest, from the old CCS Days: it's very possible that Arch McCullogh may well join us for this Gathering, too! Cool!! I'm still waiting to hear back from a few others, and so we may end up with 5-6 Stovies+ and some of their interested family members, which is outstanding! I'm planning to drive over to the campground early next week, to scope it out, and will report back, as has Jim Henderson, and Hikin' Jim, in earlier reports. But, I think a very nice little Gathering is shaping up, Friends! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Evening, Friends, Today, Sweet Bride and I arose at 2:30AM, so that we could get her down the mountain, and to the airport by 4:30 to check in for her flight to her next teaching gig. Ugh!! After that, I drive back up the mountain, caught two more hours of sleep, did our mail orders, and then headed out to check out the place for our CA Stove Gathering #2, Buckhorn Campground!! Cool! 8) I tried to drive up Hwy 39, which someone had said was now open, after having been closed, due to unending rockslides, for many, many, years! To put it succinctly, IT IS NOT OPEN, DO NOT GO THAT WAY!!! Though my time in trying that route was frustrating, at least I know that it is not open, has not been open (except to emergency vehicles), and will not be open in the future, PERIOD! I drove back down and headed farther West, to Hwy 2, the Angeles Crest Highway. After negotiating tons of twists, turns, and lots of climbing, I arrived, safe and sound, at Buckhorn Campground! Here are some photos and with with I will include some comments. The drive into the campground is a nice one, on a small paved road, which is fairly narrow, but should accomodate a small to medium-sized trailer, or motorhome. Lots of "green" along the way! |imgRemoved| Here's a typical campsite, which happens to be near the group camp. Nice table, and a fire ring, which has a grill over it. Lots of flat spots for backpacking type tents. Some sites are smaller, or closer to the creek bottom, in which the green resides. But, those are far more populated with mosquitoes, one of which chose to bite me on the forehead..... little bastard!! OUCH! |imgRemoved| Here, a gentle giant has given in to time and old age, and fallen into the now dry creekbed. Even his once mighty root system has given in to the passage of time, and is totally gone. RIP, Old Timer! |imgRemoved| Of course, I HAD to enjoy a nice cup of tea, so I brought along my old trusty 1961 Primus 71. Great little stove, and with his help, I soon had a steaming cup of spiced tea brewing! |imgRemoved| Ahhhh, that's good!! A nice place to enjoy a cuppa, and to contemplate our upcoming CA Stove Gathering in late September! |imgRemoved| Part two is upcoming.... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Part Two: Each campsite at Buckhorn costs $12 per night, with a 14 night maximum stay. There used to be a "Camp Host", but none was apparent today. Check out time is 2PM, and fees are paid on the honor system. Spot checks are made, so best to put your money in the envelope and do it the honest way! Buckhorn is about 39 miles West of Hwy 15, from Cajon Pass, and is about 61 miles from our home, doing down the back way. At 5PM, when I got there, it was a balmy 74°F, and sunny, with lots of shade under the many, many trees in the area. Sites 13-18 are fairly close together, near the bathrooms, which are pit toilets, near the trash dumpsters, and very near piped water spigots. There are, between the lot of those sites, probably 15-20 spots for backpacking tents, and plenty of parking. So, with the small numbers we have coming to this event, we should have little problem being able to camp nearby one another. By the time I left the campground, after walking the entire area, and checking out every site, it was 7:30PM, and a nice 66°F. I will probably get down into the 50°F range tonight, which is wonderful! On the way out, I took a few more photos of the surrounding mountains. Usually, you can see all the way down into the desert, but as we have several huge fires up North of us, the smoke has drifted down this way, and caused lots of haze, which has obscured the desert view. In any case, here are some photos to enjoy.
Hey, Guys, Just a few more thoughts on this campground: - There are fire rings, but NO firewood to be purchased, and you cannot "harvest" any locally. So, bring your own, IF you want a fire. Personally, I don't care about having a fire, most of the time, and my stoves and lanterns will be "fire" enough! - There is NO cell phone reception at this campground, or at least not as I was able to find. Also, though the published info states that there is a pay phone, it is gutted. So, the only way for you to call out, would be to drive out of the campground, and try to find a spot where your cell phone might work. I found a place, about 5-8 miles to the East, last night, on my way back home. - Getting to the campground early is probably the best way to go. Or, failing that, please advise others that you will be coming later, so that arrangements can be made to make sure you have a place to park, and a spot for your tent. - Tables might have to be shared, depending on how many folks actually arrive at this event. I'm bringing some folding tables, just in case, and a chair for myself. Something to consider. - The San Gabriel Mountains have one of the largest populations of black bears of any of our local mountain ranges. Please make sure you clean your dishes every night, dump your trash in the dumpsters, and put your stuff away each night. Whilst it is always nice to "see" Brother Bruin, we do not need to leave "invitations" for a late night visit!! Also, rattlesnakes may be found, as well as mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats. You can bring pets, on a leash, but remember, your animals are "on the food chain" for several of the aforementioned mountain residents, and keep an eye on them. - I was thinking that, since we have NO idea, exactly, how many folks might show up, and since some folks may well have food issues, we should each plan on seperate cooking for our meals. But, maybe we can have a community feed, once cooked. What are your thoughts on this, Friends? Last, Mr. and Mrs. Baja are arriving on Wednesday, September 23, as will I. I am thinking that, since it's going to be getting late in the camping season, for most folks, we may well have the place to ourselves, once everyone else shows up. BUT, we might have others camping there, too. So, be prepared for sharing.... That's about all that comes to mind, right now. I'll post more, if anything relevant crosses my single brain cell. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
I'll bring my teriyaki sticks(thin sliced beef, sheeshkebabs marinated in soy sauce, sugar, garlic spices etc) for communalpot luck. I'll have 5g of Deionized water on hand. I can bring a couple extra camp chairs. And of course will have enough lanterns to lightup the midnite baseball game and enough stoves and heaters to do OK. Still contemplating a generator to charge the kids computers and DVD players. Not to worry tho, my kids poop out around 8pm when camping so there won't be much noise other than my snoring after that. There is supposed to be a nice hike to a small water fall according to the guide book. Not sure if there will be water there this time of year. Like doc said, bear country so store ALL FOOD in bear proof containers. NO Bacon sandwiches in bed. I plan to contemplate my navel and read and maybe fettle a bit. Ignore the kids, hope the bears get them, won't the bears be sorry then. Jim Henderson
Hey, Jim, Great to hear that things are moving along, and that you will be a part of the Gathering! I also think it's great that you will be bringing your kids along with you. If we don't get our youth interested in camping, stoves, and other such important diversions, they might not support such things, when it's their turn to be in charge! Well done! I'm up for a pot luck on one night, and think that's a great idea. I do know, however, that at least one of our attendees does have food issues, and so will, more than likely, be sticking to "home cooking" at the event. Still, we can offer, and see how it goes, right?! Like you, I'll be bringing a fun selection of stoves, lanterns, and maybe a heater, or two, depending on how my parts stuff comes together. I know we'll have a ton of fun, too! There are a couple of waterfalls in the area, and one of actually very nice, indeed. As you say, however, they might be bone dry, this time of year. When we did our PCT adventure, they were in full flow, and quite lovely. Worth a day hike to find out, that's for sure! Well, work is demanding today, so I'll close, for now. Things are really shaping up, Jim, and I'll look forward to meeting you at our event, if not before. Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
