Document Overview This documents summarizes the reservation process for the high-adventure treks and other treks that Troop 476 goes on. High Adventure or Week Long Summer Camps When To Make Camp Camp Target Dates/Notes Reservations 2 years out Philmont X years out Northern Tier 1 year out Hi Sierra The reservations are typically made by the Trek Leader while at Hi Sierra camp. The troop goes in July. 20 months out Sea Base Start talking it up Oct-Dec, 20 months prior; lottery is held in Feb of year prior to trip. Submit reservation request Jan 15- Feb 15 th of the year before trip. www.bsaseabase.org. Reservation info at: http://www.bsaseabase.org/resources/procedures.aspx Emerald Bay Camp Whitsett Weekend Camps When To Make Camp Reservations 8 weeks to the day Big Basin State Park Trail camps (Jay Camp, Waterman Gap) 6 months out Mt. Madonna, Ed Levin County Parks Camp Target Dates/Notes Call for trail camps 8 weeks to the day before your reservation. For standard camps, go to reserveamerica.com 6 months to the date. For more details, see the page for Mt. Madonna. The troop has been going in the spring (if the troop can t reserve Camp Chesebrough), or at other times during the year. January 1st State Parks State park reservations are the first of the month, 7 months prior. Jan 1 opens all of July www.reserveamerica.com. Be ready to go at 8am sharp on the 1st!! February 1st East Bay Regional Wilderness: - Del Valle - Sunol/Ohlone Wilderness All reservations for the coming year made on Feb 1 st for out-of-county residents. This is done over the phone. March April 1st Angel Island For October campsites May 1 st Angel Island For November campsites June 1 st July 1 st August 1 st September Pt. Reyes This is a national campground. 6 Page 1 of 12 February 19, 2015
months to the day is correct. www.recreation.gov. Be ready at 8am sharp. September Campette at Chesebrough There isn t a specific time period, but the earlier the better November 1 st Alcatraz Lottery (on hold) As of 11/1/14, this program is on hold. Applications only accepted during month of November December 1st Other Sunset Group Site (or New Brighton State Beach) Formerly the troop went in June, now the troop is going in august Time Frame Camp Notes No reservation needed Castle Rock campsites First come first served Flexible Mt. Madonna County Park No specific time frame Page 2 of 12 February 19, 2015
Alcatraz Lottery process - Submit application during the month of November - If troop wins, you ll find out. If troop isn t picked, you do not receive any notice. Process: - Download PDF from: http://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/permit-forms.htm - Email or fax it in Transportation: - Take ferry over to island from Pier 39 - Park in an overnight parking garage Service camp: - Do several hours of service on the island in the afternoon - Scouts bring gloves, rangers will provide tools Notes: (as of 4/6/14) - The cost of the Alcatraz Overnight Program is $2,000 - The maximum group size is 35. - Applicant groups may not have won the Alcatraz Overnight lottery within the past five years. - Last Contact: melinda_moses@nps.gov Page 3 of 12 February 19, 2015
Angel Island State Park Reservation Time frame: - 6 months in advance (at the start of the month) - For any reservation in October, you can make a reservation at 8 am on April 1 st. - This site goes very quickly. Process: ReserveAmerica.com - Login before 8am, have the campsite and dates set up; - Start hitting book (or whatever the button is labeled) just before 8 am Group sites: - Reynolds (Kayak) holds 20 campers - Only group site on island Permit process: tbd Parking: Park in lots near ferry terminal in Tiburon Transportation: Take ferry over to island; bike to campsite. Water: Water faucets at site. Toilets: Yes Garbage cans: tbd Bear boxes: tbd Service camp: - Visit http://angelisland.org/programs/ - Write to ServiceCamp.AngelIsland@parks.ca.gov - Site holds 40-4 hour service project - Take any weekend that is open - Troop has not done this. Page 4 of 12 February 19, 2015
Big Basin Redwoods State Park (does not include Castle Rock trail camp) Reservation Time frame: - Permit process: - Check in at Castle Rock ranger at kiosk in parking lot - Pay ranger at kiosk or pay at iron ranger - Can also pay at Big Basin Headquarters (much further away) Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540 Sites: - Watermans Gap (trail camp) - J- camp (a trail camp, but at Big Basin headquarters) - Slate camp at Portola Redwoods state park Parking: - Limited parking at Castle Rock parking lot - Can t park at skyline summit Water: - Water faucet at Waterman s gap and J-camp - Must pump from stream for Slate camp Toilets: - Yes (regular state park toilets) - Flush toilets at Jay camp Garbage cans: - Yes at Jay camp - TBD elsewhere Bear boxes: - Not at Waterman s gap or Slate creek - TBD at Jay camp Ammenities: - From Jay camp can walk (.25 mile) to Big Basin store and snack shack - At Jay camp there are showers ($.25 for x minutes) Notes - Typical destination for beginning backpacking trek - Check with ranger about campfires. If there s been enough rain, then a campfire will be allowed and wood might be available. Page 5 of 12 February 19, 2015
Castle Rock State Park Reservation Time frame: - No reservations needed; first come first served - Rest of Big Basin area requires reservations Permit process: - Check in at Castle Rock ranger at kiosk in parking lot - Pay ranger at kiosk or pay at iron ranger - Can also pay at Big Basin Headquarters (much further away) Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=538 http://www.parks.ca.gov/mediagallery/?page_id=538&m=brochures (maps) http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/538/files/castlerockcgmap.pdf (flyer, campsite map) Sites: - No group sites - Each site holds 6 (ranger may check) - 20 sites in campground Parking: - Limited parking at Castle Rock parking lot - Can t park at skyline summit Water: Water faucet Toilets: Yes (regular state park toilets) Garbage cans: Yes Bear boxes: No, use a bear bag Ammenities: - Campfire area - Covered area - Firewood may be available for purchase at Saratoga Toll Road trail head ($7/bundle) Notes - Typical destination for beginning backpacking trek - Check with ranger about campfires. If there s been enough rain, then a campfire will be allowed and wood might be available. Page 6 of 12 February 19, 2015
Del Valle (Part of East Bay Regional Parks) Reservation Time frame: - February 1 st for groups outside of Alameda and Contra Costa county - Call Feb 1st for group site or backcountry reservations anytime during calendar year. - Regular (small) campsite reservations are made online (troop has not done this) Process: Call ranger office - 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, and press option 2 o Hours 8:30 to 4:30 M-TH; 8 4 F; closed weekends - They will send a confirmation email - Must pay fees with a charge card at time of booking (this is new in 2015) o I put the deposit on my charge card and then they refund my card - Will send confirmation via email - Will mail parking passes before trek - For family campsites (i.e. 6 to 8 per site), go to www.reserveamerica.com Website: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle Group sites: - Puenta Vaca this is the site for the September Family Camp (holds 75) o This is reserved every year. o Reservation typically around September 19 th /20 th (3 rd Saturday in Sept.) o 2015: $100, plus $8 reservation fee; plus $100 deposit o They will mail 15 parking passes 7 to 10 days before reservation - Hetch Hetchy a large walk-in site on the lake used for Northern Tier prep o This is reserved only during the years the troop has been going to Northern Tier: 2015, 2012, 2009 o 2015: $175, plus $8 reservation fee; plus $175 deposit o They will mail 30 parking passes 7 to 10 days before reservation - Stewart's camp 1 st camp in Sunol Wilderness when starting at Del Valle - Star's rest 2 nd camp in Sunol Wilderness when starting at Del Valle - Stewart s camp and Star s rest are supposedly for 24 campers 20 is better Permit process: - Check in at gate when entering Del Valle - Sign in on trail when hiking to Stewart s camp Parking: - Puenta Vaca: Parking for 15 cars at site - Hetch Hetchy park near boat ramp and hike in - Sunol Regional Wilderness when starting at Del Valle, park at XX Water: - Water faucets at each group site. - Pumped water at Sunol Wilderness sites Toilets: Yes (regular state park toilets) Garbage cans: - Yes at Puenta Vaca & Hetch Hetchy - Not really at camps in Sunol Wilderness Page 7 of 12 February 19, 2015
Bear boxes: No Page 8 of 12 February 19, 2015
Mt. Madonna Reservation Time frame: Process: To make reservations, go to URL below; to cancel reservations call phone number below Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Dept. http://www.gooutsideandplay.org 298 Garden Hill Drive Los Gatos, CA 95032 Telephone: (408) 355-2201 Group sites: - Huckleberry Permit process: - Parking: plenty of parking (arrive early) Water: - Water faucets at each group site. Toilets: Yes (regular state park toilets) Garbage cans: Yes Bear boxes: Yes Typical hiking distance: 13 to 18 miles round trip Mt. Wittenberg peak at 1440;.4 miles from trail; one of Rim of the Bay Hikes Page 9 of 12 February 19, 2015
Philmont Time to start: 2 years in advance. This timeline (copied on 4/2/14) is from: http://philmontscoutranch.org/camping/trekplanning/howtoreserve.aspx Page 10 of 12 February 19, 2015
Pt. Reyes National Seashore Reservation Time frame: - 6 months in advance (at the start of the month) - For any reservation in October, you can make a reservation at 8 am on April 1 st. - These group sites go very quickly. Process: ReserveAmerica.com - Login before 8am, have the campsite and dates set up; - Start hitting book (or whatever the button is labeled) just before 8 am Group sites: - Coast (holds 24) campsite that troop goes to most often - Wildcat (holds 24) several miles from Coast, a few miles further from start - Troop can reserve both of these sites on the same night without problem. Permit process: - Take reservation to Bear Valley Visitor Center on the morning of the trek - Get permit from ranger (1 for coast, 1 for wildcat) - Get a separate permit to build a fire on the beach (1 for each site) - Get parking passes from ranger Parking: plenty of parking (arrive early) Water: - Water faucets at each group site. - We ve never had to pump. - Rangers check water several times per week in case of contamination. Toilets: Yes (regular state park toilets) Garbage cans: Yes Bear boxes: Yes Typical hiking distance: 13 to 18 miles round trip Mt. Wittenberg peak at 1440;.4 miles from trail (small marker on the ground in a small clearing. Not obvious; one of Rim of the Bay Hikes Page 11 of 12 February 19, 2015
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