Come prepared, and go home with memories
By Christina Reed
The Hired Pen
*Not all GPS directions should be followed.
Eastern Sierra, CA—It’s the height of the summer camping season. And, the travel gates are open, and for some, the campgrounds are still undergoing extensive tree damage removal, and for other it’s been just weeks, since they have opened. Research, and have options if your favorite spots are still not open for the season, and you can’t rely on the online information for many of the forests, as the agencies’ information is not up-to-date.
Come Prepared
Call Ahead. Check with your destinations ahead of time. Many places are still digging out / and tourists are just now visiting for the season. Be patient.
Think it so. Ahead of time. Prepare to pivot your plans, and access your level of camping / adventures accurately. Prepare for delays. Traffic. Construction. Come for a day, prepare for a few days. Supplies are sketchy on the Eastside. See it. Buy it.
Plan for changes in plans. Dress in layers in the backcountry.
You bring it in, take it out. Trash is on us.
Get a free campfire permit. Get a wood permit for wooding / camping. The permits allow more information / resources. Set a good example.
Be weather informed. Heads up in the mountains. Clouds say a lot. And, yes! It snows in summer in the Sierra backcountry. It’s not even rare.
Research your options. Plan B, C, and D. The Great Basin region can be difficult at best. Solar abounds, but not necessarily, electric charging stations. This region is remote. Prepare for “What Ifs.”!
People forget. Then and now.
Sometimes your best preparations can’t beat Mother Nature. That’s when you connect with regional efforts to give people a heads up with camping / recreating, safely. Research before you leave home.
*Acclimate yourself with the area. High altitude affects everyone, and everything. Bags of potato chips explode with the increase in altitude, and so does your body (pressure). Drink lots of water and stay hydrated, especially when drinking alcohol. Visit and stay a few days, stock up, and educate yourselves with some residents, business owners, and resources before your adventures. Shop local. Talk local. Some places in the Great Basin aren’t even connected to a TV!
¡Enhorabuena!