Re: permitted

From our blog:

Unless you want to spend more than twelve hours in a tent in the snow, these are not of the best of times for backpacking. And while we're grateful for the massive snowpack in the Sierra and all that it promises for the coming year, it does limit the kinds of trips we can take right now.

But that hasn't kept us from planning some adventures, and taking care of a little business. Yep--it's time to get a few permits and licenses. Yesterday I biked over to the local California Department of Forestry Fire station and got our campfire permit for 2011. That allows us to camp with a stove (or campfire, where they are legal) in any national forest in California. In 2009 we took a lovely fall hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from Carson Pass north to Meiss Meadows, Showers Lake, and Dardanelles Lake. And we did it without a wilderness permit, because that section of the trail isn't classified as wilderness--it's just national forest. All you need is campfire permit. Which we had.

And now we have one for 2011.

Not only that, but the fireman who helped me could not have been nicer. It was more than just service with a smile---he also offered water for the bedraggled cyclist (I declined, since it was about 40 degrees outside, and cold water was NOT what I needed) but also encouraged me to be careful out there. The weather was cold, a bit foggy, and he was concered about visiblitiy. I was wearing a high visility vest, and the bike has lights, so everything turned out fine. Except I still doesn't have much feeling in my frozen nose.

But that's not all. Today we went over to our local sporting goods store and bought a fishing license, so that I can terrorize trout all over the SIerra. The cost keeps going up (over $40) this year, and the process is more complicated. (For the first time, I had to show my California Drivers License, which was scanned, and then assure the earnest young clerk that I had, indeed, resided in California for the last six months.) But the new licernses are a different shape and color from last year, complete with a bar code. And the clerk warned me that if they are left in a very warm place, it's possible that the thermal paper will turn black, obliterating all the information on the license.

That must be a big improvement over last year's model. sigh.

But hey--we're ready for summer!

---

Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

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balzaccom
From our blog:

Unless you want to spend more than twelve hours in a tent in the snow, these are not of the best of times for backpacking. And while we're grateful for the massive snowpack in the Sierra and all that it promises for the coming year, it does limit the kinds of trips we can take right now.

But that hasn't kept us from planning some adventures, and taking care of a little business. Yep--it's time to get a few permits and licenses. Yesterday I biked over to the local California Department of Forestry Fire station and got our campfire permit for 2011. That allows us to camp with a stove (or campfire, where they are legal) in any national forest in California. In 2009 we took a lovely fall hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from Carson Pass north to Meiss Meadows, Showers Lake, and Dardanelles Lake. And we did it without a wilderness permit, because that section of the trail isn't classified as wilderness--it's just national forest. All you need is campfire permit. Which we had.

And now we have one for 2011.

I would note that you also need one in order to use a fire outside of a designated campsite on California BLM areas too. Several Forest Service offices in California will issue them. I was at the Grant Village visitor center at Kings Canyon NP, which is staffed by a combination of NPS rangers from SEKI, Sequoia National History Association personnel, and Forest Service rangers. They had a sign saying that personnel there could issue campfire permits. The person who signed my permit was from the SNHA.

There was a quiz on the Sequoia NF page that allowed one to print up a 2010 permit. I think they haven't updated for 2011 yet.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passespermits/campfire_permit/calcampfirepermit2010.pdf

Hey--thanks for the link! I'll post it on our website. I've heard about that possibility, but none of the CDF guys could point me in the right direction!

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balzaccom
Hey--thanks for the link! I'll post it on our website. I've heard about that possibility, but none of the CDF guys could point me in the right direction!

Here's where I found it:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/passespermits/campfire_permit/campfire-index.html

I've seen other FS websites that claim that they must be picked up in person. I was wondering if issuing them via downloads was even legal, or if maybe the individual site I saw was somehow unapproved.

No--I've been told by various authorities that is was possible to do the whole thing on-line...but none of them could ever give me the link!

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balzaccom
No--I've been told by various authorities that is was possible to do the whole thing on-line...but none of them could ever give me the link!

Then maybe people interested should keep their collective eyes on the 2nd link in case it gets updated with the 2011 permit.

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balzaccom
But hey--we're ready for summer!

Only 5 1/2 months to go...

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bill-e-g

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balzaccom
But hey--we're ready for summer!

Only 5 1/2 months to go...

And several billion mosquito eggs just waiting for you!

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eeek

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bill-e-g

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balzaccom
But hey--we're ready for summer!

Only 5 1/2 months to go...

And several billion mosquito eggs just waiting for you!

yep you're right eeek...say, what in your opinion would be the mosquito 'blackout' months for the high sierra...say last week of June to the third week of August?

Thanks
James

Jim,

You can pretty much dismiss mosquitos as a problem by the second week of August. There's a few around but are way past the point of being so thick that they drive you out of some location.

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tomdisco
Jim,

You can pretty much dismiss mosquitos as a problem by the second week of August. There's a few around but are way past the point of being so thick that they drive you out of some location.

Thanks Tom, I was up near sunrise mid july and it was pretty nasty! I'm hoping for some serious melt in June so I can go up third week of June...we'll see..

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rroland

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tomdisco
Jim,

You can pretty much dismiss mosquitos as a problem by the second week of August. There's a few around but are way past the point of being so thick that they drive you out of some location.

Thanks Tom, I was up near sunrise mid july and it was pretty nasty! I'm hoping for some serious melt in June so I can go up third week of June...we'll see..

The mosquitos book all their conventions at the lakes and meadows.
The best place to camp when they are out partying is in a forested area with good shade, preferably near a stream for water.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2011 08:36PM by szalkowski.

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szalkowski
The best place to camp when they are out partying is in a forested area with good shade, preferably near a stream for water.

The best place to camp is near a human they like a whole lot.

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szalkowski

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rroland

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tomdisco
Jim,

You can pretty much dismiss mosquitos as a problem by the second week of August. There's a few around but are way past the point of being so thick that they drive you out of some location.

Thanks Tom, I was up near sunrise mid july and it was pretty nasty! I'm hoping for some serious melt in June so I can go up third week of June...we'll see..

The mosquitos book all their conventions at the lakes and meadows.
The best place to camp when they are out partying is in a forested area with good shade, preferably near a stream for water.

Thanks szalkowski...err Marmot luvin person...wish there was a stream up around Cloud's Rest...that's the one problem, you're up at 10K and there AIN'T NO AGUA!

Don't count your mosquitoes until the eggs have hatched, Bill!

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balzaccom
Don't count your mosquitoes until the eggs have hatched, Bill!

But do take note of the signs: