Joshua Tree camping advise

Alissa Doherty wrote:It's worth noting that the wood burners did not appear to have any of their own camping supplies beyond two hoola hoops. Not even sure what stereotype that falls into...

Speaking of, have you guys seen that video of the gopro huluhoop girls at Burning Man?

It makes me want to drown myself.

johnnymuir wrote:Everyone citing the worst camping experience they've had as if it's commonplace is like watching the ten o'clock news and thinking all the world is rape and murder.

Yep. Pretty much. Far more often than not camping out in Josh is great experience. If you come with a negative, protect-my-site-with-a-shotgun-sitting-on-my-rocking-chair-attitude, you have already lost the Josh vibe.

I've always had pleasant experiences sharing mine and sharing others' site. My group usually reserves group sites and we have had squatters from time to time. We just politely ask them to either move if we are full or pay part of the fees of the site if we have space. This always work out.

Hey Locker thanks for the resole on my Mythos.

Locker wrote:Any chance you found my bottle of patchouli oil in the package? I can't seem to locate it.

Oh I thought it was a gift since there's a rumor of you being a prancing hippie and like to give out these things as part of the shoe resole. I've used it and the girlfriend really liked it.

Joking aside, no I didn't see it in the shoes.

kevin trieu wrote:If you come with a negative, protect-my-site-with-a-shotgun-sitting-on-my-rocking-chair-attitude, you have already lost the Josh vibe.

Kevin, I'm glad that you've had positive experiences. But, one, if you're camping with a group, you've already made the decision to hang out with a bunch of people. Still, you did say that the people pay or shove off. That's different than Alissa's weekend, where the squatters stole from her.

Two, like Locker, I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm 52 and have been going out to Josh since I was 14. I get the "vibe". It was that you share with folks who are chill and are willing to share with you. But people asked first. They didn't squat first and then ask. That's not the "vibe". That's being a dick.

Fat Dad wrote: Kevin, I'm glad that you've had positive experiences. But, one, if you're camping with a group, you've already made the decision to hang out with a bunch of people.

We fully expected to be asked whether someone could share our site, and we already discussed that we'd decline on this trip. About 90% of the time, we camp in a group setting at our home crags but wanted the time to ourselves. If we'd allowed these intruders to join us, we'd probably have had to watch them get high, hoola hoop, and talk about how they toproped a rad route in the park once. Regardless of the company, I don't think we (or anyone else) should have to justify camping at their site alone.

I also don't think our story is as exceptional as it seems. I have slept in a J-Tree campground a total of four nights and the wood burning intruder incident was one of those nights. However, the day before, a big van of people arrived at 4 AM and shouted/laughed/ran around at the site next to us and on our site. They walked up to the front of our tent while we were laying in it and took pictures loudly (this is all well before sunrise). A woman at another site they probably ran around on yelled at them...but too little, too late--half the campground was probably awake at that point.

In total, 50% of the time I've camped in a J-Tree campground, I've had a really negative experience. That is far more than I can say for any other national park.

Haha, wish I could say my climbing prowess scared them off but I was nursing an injury this trip. Luckily JTree is full value at any grade!

If you offer something in return like beer or paying half the site fee its hardly mooching. People are free to say NO. You sound like a surfer that won't share the waves and vandalizes cars. What is fucked is when I pay for my site and have stuff in it and people park in it without asking.

Locker wrote:"And don't be afraid to ask people if you can double up in their site." I personally find that rude and would never do it. I know that a lot of people do, but again, to me it's rude and intrusive. If you're fucked, you're fucked! Deal with it! Go somewhere else, camp somewhere else.

Russ Walling wrote:Hells bells young lady, you're a fucking bad ass! You didn't need to stalk her to find this out... From her earlier post: For perspective, I flew out from Boston, slept in my trunk at the Boy Scout trailhead, Slept in the fuckin trunk!!! You think Burchey would do this? #BadAss

I wouldn't fit in a trunk like most of you overgrown toddlers masquerading as adults.

#mansizeproblems

#getoutofmycampsitebraj

Every REI member, you included, has returned stuff. REI changed their lifetime return policy some time ago to NOT 100% satisfaction guaranteed. And their peons guilt trip anyone attempting to return anything ever for any reason. Happy?

Adam Burch wrote: Usually the same group of maggots that go to REI, buy a tent/sleeping bag/camp stove/etc for a climbing trip, and then return it all when they get back. Brag about it over a cloud of B.O. and "braj" to some noobs at Mission Gorge. Just call me "The Profiler"

other wrote:Every REI member, you included, has returned stuff. REI changed their lifetime return policy some time ago to NOT 100% satisfaction guaranteed. And their peons guilt trip anyone attempting to return anything ever for any reason. Happy?

Haha, was that you with the shirtless morons that shared that story years ago at the gorge? If so, friggin' small world!

Or, are you just mad because I dissed the hula hoop BM video? Either way, I'm pleased.

Youre lying if you claim youve never returned anything to any store. REI trumpeted for decades its membership scam. Be pressured to join, pay more money-full retail, get a bogus dividend that can only be used for purchases for 10 months and be 100% satisfied. REI brand clothes and gear fall apart after one year. Thats when the satisfaction guarantee now ends. And they won't price match competitors. I have no idea what you're babbling about. Party with locker and Happiiiie grrrrrl.

There are 1000 of those videos. And 1000 other related videos. The people that hate Burning Man have never gone and never will go. The Google founders have been there. You haven't. Enough said. Your photo is at the gate and you're blacklisted. Banned. Interestingly there are all sorts of things to climb there.

Adam Burch wrote: Speaking of, have you guys seen that video of the gopro huluhoop girls at Burning Man? It makes me want to drown myself.

Locker, are Tucker Tech and Chongo Chuck your muscle when you kick peoples ass and eject them bodily from your cave/site?

Well I see that the Fun is in Hi-gear at JT... again.

This thread points out the reality of the place and the camping scene... or lack thereof.

In the olden days, pre -national park, HVCG was almost never full or even busy. You could roll in at 4a pick a spot, run around, make noise and it didn't matter one bit cause nobody was around.

The place was deserted, mostly.....except during flower season in March and April when the RV types would roll through. If one was a climber, living in the rocks, this time of year was fun because all the RV traffic provided free rides into town or just a short run to like saddle rocks. But I digress.

When the place became a NATIONAL PARK, for some unknown and not needed reason, the place went to hell camping wise and in many other ways.

The National Park Service and its workers are a bunch of losers and couldn't manage a petting zoo on a good day.

Your, our, National Park Service started off by removing established campsites!

"Fewer is better" is their mantra and the goal of providing a good enjoyable visiting experience is a complete failure.

Lots of paving followed, sort of a good thing especially now that the NPS is advertising the place, inviting people to come on out and visit, and the dust from all the increased traffic was messing up the desert.

Lots of traffic now, some big ass parking lots, some really expensive interpretative signage, with misleading and wrong information and even some "fake adobe ruins" to look at are the sum total of the improvements.

But wait, the Park Service has tried to keep the place "rustic" and to do this they kept the smelly pit shitters and the same small campgrounds, the same old one lane entrance/exit stations. The only difference? You now get to PAY $$$$$$$$ and you have armed guards running around sneaking up on you while you camp, looking to bust your ass for to many cars, to many people, too much fun and whatever else they can dream up.

The National Park Service has caused all of this camping mess by not doing the job of managing the place. They have completely failed. They get an F. grade.

I don't understand why they don't just go and build more camping space. They have the land.... 1,000 of square miles of desert. Heck they could build a campground for the RV's with power hook ups, flush toilets and playgrounds for the kids and charge about $100/day and get it. This RV campground could be the centerpiece for the new Visitors Center, Grocery store and Gift shop. Another campground could be built for the climbers... heck just designate about 20 acres and build a "PIT" type campground with non-flush shitters and warn non-climbers not to camp their.

But I reckon the NPS likes to make it difficult.

That is their JOB and they do a good job of it.

This Other is hilarious - not even sure how to respond to the babble.

Locker wrote:Guy, that's all fine and dandy. But it still doesn't excuse individuals inconsiderate and intrusive behavior. The NPS was not their parent(s). But I do agree a lot with your rant above.

Yes indeed......looks like DAD.

Oh Locker don't get me wrong, people should respect others, all the time.

I have witnessed a one-way gun fight out there, over a campsite, but that's for a different rant.

Burch..... congrats on the Kid, pretty amazing thing no?

Guy Keesee wrote:Yes indeed......looks like DAD. Oh Locker don't get me wrong, people should respect others, all the time. I have witnessed a one-way gun fight out there, over a campsite, but that's for a different rant. Burch..... congrats on the Kid, pretty amazing thing no?

Almost as amazing as climbing at the catbox ;)

The ironic thing was that I was at the hidden valley cg climbers coffee ten-fifteen years ago when sites were free and always full. A ranger said "charging a fee will free up sites." Because dirtbag climbing bums spent weeks sleeping free in the park. The fee has gone up several times since then. Sites are just as full. Maybe he meant "charging $50 per site per night will free up sites"!

Different ranger told me a few months ago that plans are in the works for a brand new JTNP campground. Any info on that?