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Member
Posts: 479
 
| Going through my shed, I just found my old backpack (by old, I mean metal frame ...) and decided I want to get out of dodge next weekend.
I'm going to Burney Falls, I'll be taking bus up and camping the weekend. Anyone else who wants to get out of dodge, hit me up - I'll go alone but heh, company is cool too.
May 7 (evening) through 10 (morning) is when i'll be there, plan is to herp Saturday and Sunday. Bring your own tent and food. Not sure if they have cooking pits, so a pocket rocket would be a good idea (or even fancier since not backpacking).
Potential herps:
* P sierra
?? Taricha
Ambystoma macrodactylum
?? Anaxyrus boreas
* Actinemys marmorata
Charina bottae
T elegans
* T couchii
T sirtalis
?? Lampropeltis getula
Lampropeltis zonata
* Pituophis catenifer
Crotalus oreganus
* Coluber lateralis
Coluber constrictor
Diadophis punctatus
Elgaria coerulea
Plestiodon skiltonianus
* Sceloporus occidentalis
* Sceloporus graciosus
?? - not sure if they are there but suspect.
* - I personally have encountered there before
-=-
My targets will be T couchii and Elgaria coerulea, but more will be seen.
Saturday is mostly sunny, Sunday should have some showers (good for snot lizards). |
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Active Member
Posts: 1324
Location: San Rafael | Wish I could get out of dodge! Dodge is giving me a headache!
Beautiful Zonata in Burney! |
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CRIS Field Activities Coordinator
Posts: 3180
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas | Dang. I'd love to get up there but there's no way I could swing it. |
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Member
Posts: 479
| My pack is all packed - I'm ready to go. Well, virtually, I still need fuel for the stove. Two more days until I leave, and I'm itching to get out of here.
11 mile hike in from bus stop, no pain no Gloria Estefan.
Unfortunately the trail from the falls to lake britton is closed for maintenance, but the other trail to lake britton is open.
Doesn't really matter though, most of my herping is going be upstream of the falls.
Elevation may actually be a little low for southern long-toed.
High temp is suppose to be 67 on Saturday - partly cloudy. 64 on Sunday, still with showers predicted. I'm hoping that is good boa weather, would love to find a boa. Drops into 30s at night. Ouch. |
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Banned
Location: - | LOL, are you sure you are ready for that night time drop? I've slept in the Sierras when it dropped to 36F, and I really didn't quite enjoy it too much. LOL
If you wanted to consider an alternative, or an additional trip, look at what BAARS is doing in a few weeks... I am inclined to go, but hard to say at this point if I'll make it.
http://www.baars.org/shows.html
Pepperwood Field Herping Campout
Pepperwood Ranch Preserve, Sonoma County
Friday-Sunday, May 22-23, 2010
About Pepperwood Preserve
The 3,117 acre Pepperwood Ranch nature preserve is now operated by the Pepperwood Foundation, with a mission to preserve this beautiful open space in its natural state for current and future generations to enjoy and study.
Pepperwood, located in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco Bay, between the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, features incredible views and rich biodiversity, including nine different plant communities and a variety of native reptile and amphibian species. While we have called this a "Field Herping Campout", in reality, it is hardly camping. Lodging will be at the Bechtel house with 4 bunk beds (additional tent space available), electricity, and a complete kitchen - nearly all the amenities of home - but with a glorious view and peaceful surroundings away from the stressors of modern life.
Sign-up is a must for this event, and there is a $10.00 registration fee to hold your place.
http://www.baars.org/shows.html |
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Member
Posts: 479
| Yes, I'm ready for the drop.
I've camped in snow before, where had to dig pits in the snow for the steaks and bury them (actually didn't use steaks, last twigs together with bio-degradable twine so all we had to do was cut the line).
I have a insulating thermal pad, a decent sleeping bag, and long johns. Eat a candy bar before going to bed and the blood sugar helps. And hope you don't have to get up to pee.
it's better with two in a tent, but Cate Blanchett never returns my calls or letters. |
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Banned
Location: - | LOL, yes, you have indeed endured cold camping trips. And while it is no fun time to get up to walk to the port-o-let in the middle of the night, if your bladder wakes you during your sleep, you have no choice but to answer the call of nature!!
Yeah, I heard it is better as two peas in a pod, but have yet to test that hypothesis. Maybe your luck might be better with Sandra Bullock... she looks like an outdoors kinda gal and she's newly single! :D |
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Banned
Location: - | Oh, and pack along a travel size fleece blanket, compact enough and it really helps. Just offering the insight to someone who probably already has things taken care of, but figured why not! 
Have a great time!! I'll be looking forward to the photos. |
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Member
Posts: 479
| CA cowgirl - 5/5/2010 3:09 PM
LOL, yes, you have indeed endured cold camping trips. And while it is no fun time to get up to walk to the port-o-let in the middle of the night, if your bladder wakes you during your sleep, you have no choice but to answer the call of nature!!
True story, first time I ever did snow camping, it was in the scouts. Scoutmaster was ex-marine and we used a big surplus canvas tent that we all fit in. We had soda with dinner.
In the morning, there was a huge patch of yellow snow in front of the tent because we all had to go at some point in the night and none of us wanted to walk in the snow, so we all (being male) just stood at the opening and aimed.
What was worse, it was a popular spot for snow sleds, so as people walked by to get to the sled hill, they all noticed the big patch of yellow snow in front of our tent. |
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Banned
Location: - | Oh that's rough!!
My story is slightly less embarassing. I had camped at a location in the Sierras that drops to the 40s at night. A few friends had joined me, one of which, was tossing and turning in his tent for a good 30 minutes. We had shared two sites between the half a dozen or so of us, each in our own tents. His tent was closest to mine and he woke me with the noises of this sleeping bag rubbing against his sleeping pad. Finally I hollared to him, "John, go use the bathroom!" A couple minutes later he hit the head then fell back asleep.
The next morning he asked me how I knew he needed to use the restroom. I laughed, telling him the same thing happened to me earlier that year! Except, I was camping alone and had only myself to bother for resisting going to the restroom. |
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-CRIS Adoptions Coordinator
-Sonoma County Reptile Rescue
-SFBATS Education Specialist
Posts: 1870
Location: Sonoma County | I believe Michael is an experienced camper, so I'm sure he'll be fine. Take lots of pics for us poor sods who have to work and can't get out of Dodge this weekend! |
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Member
Posts: 479
| I hope I'll be fine, what I haven't done is backpacked in awhile, but I don't drive so I walk a lot (record distance last year was 34 miles in a day according to my GPS, left before sunrise and got home well after dark) so it shouldn't be that much of an issue, especially since it is mostly flat and it's only 11 miles.
June or July will be rougher, as i hope to get to the place where I know a Rana cascadae was seen last year, and the closest I can get without a 4WD to drive me is 5 miles - but it is 5 uphill miles, steep climb, rocky terrain. Once I'm back into the shape I was in when I was a Boy Scout, I plan on going to all kinds of remote places (with a buddy, you don't ever do remote alone) to see what crawls. |
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Member
Posts: 479
| Back - I'll post report over in field reports, but after some sleep and a hot bath. |
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CRIS Field Activities Coordinator
Posts: 3180
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas | Looking forward to it. |
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Burney Falls next weekend
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