Is anyone interested in camping in January? MLK Jr. weekend or any other???:confused:
Hey Tracy!
I WISH we could go camping somewhere right now... I am out on leave for the upcoming event ;)
Hopefully she'll come soon...
Quote from: tlhdocIs anyone interested in camping in January? MLK Jr. weekend or any other???:confused:
At this point I know we are not able to camp on the 17th due to having tylers b-day early. Then the following weekend I am camping with the Scouts. The 31st I have CEVO class with the squad. So unfortunately I think I am out for January.
Still looking for someone to camp with this month.:(
Tracy -
I was up in the pasture loading up firewood from the pole barn, and looking wistfully at my PUP (and my Mom's PUP) sitting there dormant. Mom's is in the pole barn, nice and dry. Mine is outside this winter, covered in snow and ice from two different storms. I would love to go camping, but I doubt I could even get mine open at this point without defrosting it in a heated garage first.
Where would YOU want to camp at this time of year? What is open? Convince me!
Quote from: Jim K in PAWhere would YOU want to camp at this time of year? What is open? Convince me!
Jim sorry I didn't get to respond to your post sooner. Hickory Run SP is open, but only the pit toilets and no showers. Pine Grove KOA/Twin Grove Park is open. French Creek SP is open with showers/toilets open. It is usually very quiet this time of year, but you might be surprised that there are a fair number of people camping in the winter. A hot fire is very appreciated this time of year. You can track animals in the snow. Go sled riding, and do many of the same activities that you do in the warmer weather. I do like having electric hookups in the winter so I don't have worry about my batteries going dead. They don't last as long in cold weather. Electric heat is my friend in the winter. I have 2 small "cube" type heaters and my AC has a heating element. I usually run the AC unit which distributes heat into the bunkends and heats the air that the cube heaters put out. If it isn't too cold I only use one cube heater. If it is colder and I need both I run the second heater off of an extension cord plugged into the power pole. You can only run one heat source off of a circiut in the PU. I only use my sink drain and my cassette toilet. No other plumbing. I do not dewinterize when it is freezing. So are you interested in camping if we get a "nice" weekend? Any other takers?:)
Hey all!
Tracy - reading your last post brought back great memories of camping at Pine Grove during winter... using the ceramic cube heaters, defrosting 40 gallons of frozen black water with hot shower water from the log cabin bathroom, and yes those campfires REALLY DO feel better when they're defrosting your body instead of just being a pretty campfire. Also going to Golden Corral for dinner for a full belly is a GREAT memory!
We all have severe cabin fever here. Even going out to the store to buy milk is a welcomed event just to get out for a few minutes!
I took Scott's advice and bought a HUGE remote-control monster truck with 4x4 and full working suspension to keep me and DS busy. I should've bought an extra battery though - 5 hours of charging only gives us about 20 to 30 minutes of play time. It might be my fault though doing 4 wheel drive burnouts?? heehee
As far as DD, she has still decided to NOT arrive. We've had a few scares but she's not sure if she wants to be a Jan or Feb arrival at this point. SO no female "Ricklets" yet. lol
Miss you all and looking fwd to when we can get together.
Rick it is nice to have an update from you. Speaking of Golden Corral DH went there last night with a few other COTOCians. We went to the one in Lebanon, the same one that we went to from Pine Grove. I will go camping this month if the weather is dry on a weekend. :)
Hi Tracy. I would love to go camping, if the weather were amenable. I have never camped at French Creek SP, but have been near there. My sons schedules are impacting us more and more. My oldest is now working weekends at a local resort (Great Wolf Lodge) so we are running him to/from there Fri/Sat/Sun. He would need to put in for time off at least a week in advance. Our younger son is camping this weekend at Worlds End SP (with the Boy Scouts). We'll play it by ear.
What might be within a couple hours of us? I'd be willing, not sure if DW or DD would come along, but I could see doing a Fri to Sun winter trip. I can't see driving much more than 2 hours for us, though.
We'll be gone the 3rd week in Feb. That's usually our week to go on a special trip, we'll be traveling to Rome this year.
Quote from: dthurkWhat might be within a couple hours of us? I'd be willing, not sure if DW or DD would come along, but I could see doing a Fri to Sun winter trip. I can't see driving much more than 2 hours for us, though.
We'll be gone the 3rd week in Feb. That's usually our week to go on a special trip, we'll be traveling to Rome this year.
Well, I think World's End SP is probably right about that far from each of us. They have electric sites open, and I know the main cabin area rest rooms and showers are open in winter. My son is heading out there this weekend with our Scout Troop.
Here is a link:
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/worldsend.aspxI can't believe I am condidering this, but I could take my Mom's smaller camper, as it is under cover and dry. Our Viking is a brick of ice and snow right now.
Dave - Rome sounds like a wonderful idea. Are you shipping the camper over ? :D :-()
I have never camped at Worlds End SP and have wanted too. The bonus this winter is that the toboggan slide at Eagles Mere is opening on Friday. So when do you want to go???:D
Quote from: Jim K in PAWell, I think World's End SP is probably right about that far from each of us. They have electric sites open, and I know the main cabin area rest rooms and showers are open in winter. My son is heading out there this weekend with our Scout Troop.
Here is a link: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/worldsend.aspx
I can't believe I am condidering this, but I could take my Mom's smaller camper, as it is under cover and dry. Our Viking is a brick of ice and snow right now.
Dave - Rome sounds like a wonderful idea. Are you shipping the camper over ? :D :-()
Looks interesting! Found this on Eagles Mere tobogganing.
http://www.eaglesmere.org/pressrelease.html Says Friday eve, all day Sat. and Sun. This might be good enough to tweak the interest of DD and a friend. Maybe. I'll have to look over our schedule and see what might be available. Just thinking off hand here, might be booked up until late Feb. Sounds like a great time.
No, I would not be shipping the camper to Rome. We'd row it over before we'd think about shipping it.
Well, good news and bad. The good news is I will be going to World's End SP this weekend. The bad news is I will not be taking the PUP. I have to drive 5 or 6 boys up and chaperone one of the cabins (we have two reserved). I was hoping enough other dads were going that I would be able to pull the camper up and be able to get a decent night's sleep by myself! Oh well.
Dave - that toboggan event sounds fantastic! I am going to print out the info and see if we have time to take the boys over there.
If either of you guys make it up there, give me a shout on my cell phone. 973-214-7054. IF there is no cell service, just ask the ranger where Troop 75 from Tannersville is staying (I dont know which cabins we have).
Jim I hope you are not sleeping in the same room as the boys! It is against BSA rules for an adult to sleep in the same room/tent as a boy scout, unless the scout is their child. I wish I would have read this earlier. I am going to try and make it up there this weekend. It may not be until Saturday. I really need to camp.:)
Quote from: tlhdocJim I hope you are not sleeping in the same room as the boys! It is against BSA rules for an adult to sleep in the same room/tent as a boy scout, unless the scout is their child.
No worries Tracy. I/we are all well aware of the BSA policies and rules. The cabins have a bunk room (for the boys - sleeps 6) and a seperate front Kitchen room. The adults stay in the front room. I am bringing my cot! At least there is a wood stove in the kitchen.
Quote from: tlhdocI wish I would have read this earlier. I am going to try and make it up there this weekend. It may not be until Saturday. I really need to camp.:)
We are heading up tonight (Friday) and will be leaving Sunday AM after breakfast. That is about all we can handle! :eyecrazy:
Tracy - it was great to see you again at W.E.S.P. It was sad to see just your lonely PUP there in the RV CG. We saved a steak for you Saturday night, but you never came over . . . :( Did you get to Eaglesmere?
I am definately going back there with the family. What a great little park, and so much hiking around to do. The cabins were nice to be in this AM when it was -5 degrees F!!!!
Hope you made it home safely.
Hi Jim,
I did drive over by the cabins just before it got dark. I didn't see anyone outside so I guessed you were eating, so I didn't want to intrude. A steak would have been nice. It was also nice to get to talk to you in person. Don't feel bad for me being the only one in the campground. It was just what I needed. It was -7 degrees F this morning in the campground at 0430. I didn't leave until 1400. I would have left earlier, but I had a few problems.
New things on this trip. I have never camped in subzero weather before (that is 0 F). I never had to use 4 wheel drive to back into a campsite before. I had to back the camper in over the hump where they had plowed the road. It was a frozen ridge of ice. Today when I stated to pack up I had a frozen sink drain. I did pour some antifreeze down the drain last night, but it must not have been soon enough. I poured boiling water down the drain and that did not clear the ice. From the outside the drain was open. I put one of the cube heaters in the cupboard where the drain hose goes and poured more boiling water down the drain. Finally I hooked the short hose for the blue holding tank to the drain and poured boiling water into the drain from the outside opening. I did that a few times and then poured boiling water into my water heater clean out nozzle (it has a fitting for a hose on one end and it is a small flexible tube to stick into the water heater). That finally did the trick and all of the warm water in the sink drained out. I poured more hot water down the drain and then poured a good dose of antifreeze down the drain. I could not get one corner of the roof all the way down to latch it. I had to get my step ladder out of the camper and put my weight on the roof to close the camper. Then a nice trip home in the snow. :)
:( :( So sorry you did not stop in. Intrusion? Heck, this is Scouting! Just come on in! I did say we had cabins 11 and 12, right? We were preparing dinner over at cabin 11 just around 5PM, probably as you went past. I was trying to keep an eye out for you and keep the boys focused, so I must have missed you passing by. It was not only steak, but shrimp ka-bobs, freshly baked bread, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and salad.
Sorry you had so much trouble popping dow. We were on the road by 08:30 (which is when I saw the -5 temp). I was leading a caravan of 4 vehicles, so did not have the freedom to swing by and see how you made out overnight.
My hat is off to you, Tracy, for being the most hard core pop-up camper I know! ;) I WILL camp in sub-zero weather someday, just so I can be as tough as you!
Jim if you had invited me for dinner I would have come, but I could not show up at dinner time. Other than the shrimp I would have enjoyed the meal greatly. LOL Jim I am not tough. I hope you do camp in subzero and that I am camping on that trip too.:)
My wife, Michelle, and I have just purchased a 2007 Coleman Santa Fe and take delivery on 7 Fed. Although we are seasoned tent campers, we are greenhorns to the Pop-Up experience.
We are very keen to try our new baby out and would like to join in on any plans you may have for the weekend 14 Feb (do believe this is Valentines Day so remember that special one in your life)
Please let us know what, where and how etc, etc
Spinnikerman - welcome to PUT! :) :)
You may want to post a new thread in the general forum and/or the COTOC main forum. Your post may get missed here, and we dont want you to feel ignored!
We wont' be camping that weekend, but wish we were :(
Hi Jim
Thanx for the friendly welcome and heads-up. Want to take it easy to start out and this looked like the best place to be for now, don't think I am going to get missed ......... you found me and thats a good start :) Promise I wont take a slow response to my post for "ignored"
So looking forward to meeting up with good folks, plus cabin fever is rapidly becoming a reality :eyecrazy: , sorry you will not be around on this trip but and the is always a "but" we will meet soon.
Besides with the mess call of "steak, shrimp ka-bobs, freshly baked bread, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and salad" I would seriously consider AWOL and jump ship to your campfire.
Quote from: SpinnikermanMy wife, Michelle, and I have just purchased a 2007 Coleman Santa Fe and take delivery on 7 Fed. Although we are seasoned tent campers, we are greenhorns to the Pop-Up experience.
We are very keen to try our new baby out and would like to join in on any plans you may have for the weekend 14 Feb (do believe this is Valentines Day so remember that special one in your life)
Please let us know what, where and how etc, etc
Welcome to PUT and to COTOC! Sorry it took me so long to respond. I haven't been on the site for a few days. If you are interested in camping with the group for a longer trip, check out the "2009 Eastern PU Rally", here at PUT. Now for camping on the weekend of the 13th, I may not be able to go. :o You don't know how hard it is for me to say no to camping. All of the winter trips are sort of "spur of the moment". The weather needs to be just right for a winter camping trip. Just right means dry, at least for me. I don't have anywhere to dry out a wet PU. Are you availabe to camp any other weekends in February? There will also be a March trip planned. Again welcome and feel free to post away.:)
Thank you for the warm welcome, do not worry about the delayed response, we all have other lives and things to do other than camping ........ where did we go wrong and get our priorities mixed up, should be camping first then everthing else? LOL
No stress on the weekend of 14th, we are like kids with a new game and want to play. Realize that there is a HUGE weather issue and I had not considered the "wet" thing, guess the greenhorn has a learning curve coming.
Do not worry about the weekend as we relize it is short notice, and because it is our first outing it maybe wise to be closer to home, Annapolis MD. Probably look at at Harpers Ferry KOA and we know Harpers which is not to bad a place to stopover.
Defenitaly available for camping most weekends and March is good. Definately will look at the "2009 Eastern PU Rally" but it mayconflict with work issues in July.
Michael
Michael the trip is not looking good for me. I would love to be camping with you on the long weekend, but I have some other stuff I HAVE TO DO, and I can't do it this weekend, sorry.:(