WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Outdoors => Topic started by: Rez on Jul 10, 12, 05:43:13 AM
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It's been about 2 years now since ive been out in wrightwood ( had an awesome camping trip when I went and a great breakfast in town hehehe).
Anyways A buddy of mine and I were considering going out there to go camping but were hoping to go in the forest, as opposed to a campground and rough it for a few days. I know there are areas in california where you can do that im not sure if wrightwood is one of them or not, I imagine if it is I would probably need to get an adventure pass.
If it is possible out there I was curious to know if the local rangers allow open fires ( assuming they would if you take the class for it, if they have one out there or if you can get the cert from anywhere and have it be fine ).
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Hi Rez -- not sure about backcountry camping up here, but even in Low fire danger open fires won't be allowed outside of designated camping areas with fire rings. And you need a CA Campfire Permit to do gas and petroleum jelly stoves outside designated sites. Even in Low fire danger this is true:
"Wood and charcoal fires in designated sites only, in agency-provided campfire rings and stoves.
Gas and petroleum jelly stoves only outside of designated sites with a valid California Campfire Permit."
Even with this restriction, I hope you come up and have a great time. And a great breakfast. LOL!
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"Wood and charcoal fires in designated sites only, in agency-provided campfire rings and stoves.
Gas and petroleum jelly stoves only outside of designated sites with a valid California Campfire Permit."
This is true, no campfires outside developed campgrounds. You may camp in the back country in the Angeles National Forest. As stated above a permit is required for gas/petroleum stoves. With the Big Pines Station closed until further notice, you may obtain a fire permit from other ranger stations. Don't count on bumping into one of us on patrol, you should obtain one before you arrive.
Fire citations are taken very seriously, with no set bail amount on the citaion. If you receive a fire citation, you will be mailed a court date to appear before a judge in L.A. Downtown courthouse and the judge will set your bail.... and it won't be cheap.
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Hi REZ,
As Mentioned open fires are NEVER allowed in the Angeles National Forest outside of designated campfire rings and or BBQ grills provided in the campgrounds. As stated, gas and petroleum are allowed with a valid California Campfire Permit. As Toolman stated, fire violations are taken VERY seriously in the forest. Also as mentioned there is no "bail amount" set that you can mail in like other tickets. IT IS A MANDATORY VISIT BEFORE THE U.S. FEDERAL JUDGE IN THE U.S. FEDERAL COURT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. He decides your fate.
The violation is punishable as a misdemeaner by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisionment of not more that 6 months or both. I'm told the Judge takes fire violations very seriously in light of the devestation of recent fires. Failure to appear will result in a federal bench warrant being issued for your arrest. I guess what I'm trying to say is, just follow the rules and you'll be fine. Go ahead and have fun. If a campfire is a must for your camping experience outside of a campground, you'll need to go further north, say to the Inyo National Forest. I'm partial to the Bishop Creek area myself.
There are plenty of back woods areas to camp off the beaten path. Anywhere along the PCT trail is nice. I used to like to backpack into Devil's Canyon on the backside of Mt. Waterman. The trailhead is near Buckhorn. There are also a lot of nice spots, right here around Wrightwood, with water. Try the Prarie Fork, Fish Fork areas below Camp Lupine. I also like the Blue Ridge area. While there are two campgrounds on top of the moutain, Guffy and Blue Ridge Campgrounds, there are a lot of nice areas inbetween that have very thick wooded areas. Near Frost Peak is a favorite of many and the view from up there are spectacular. With the current fire danger it is possible that the fire danger level in the Angeles National Forest will be raised from HIGH to VERY HIGH. That still shouldn't prevent gas or petroleum stoves from being used.
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Looks like it's going to be bring a stove and go wherever or stick with a camp ground.
I wasn't entierly sure of the fire restrictions. so I thought I would ask.I ask because I know there are rules regarding all of it, im not about to go wandering off and having a fire in the middle of nowhere, I sure as heck wouldn't like someone doing that over here near crestline either, especially given the fire we had yesterday.
Bishop creek area and further north sounds good, were still trying to decide on a location, I like wrightwood, perhaps ill take my family there and go elsewhere with my buddy. hard to tell at this point , we will most likely choose an area based on whether or not we can camp out in the middle of nowhere and have a fire, just not in the desert.
It's been rough pinpointing locations like that.
I really do appreciate all of the input regarding area. any other suggestions are more than helpful.
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Did you say Bishop :2thumbsup:
http://www.mammothtimes.com/content/top-world (http://www.mammothtimes.com/content/top-world)
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I might recommend "Little Jimmy Trail Camp". It's a two mile hike, from the trailhead at Islip Saddle. As the name implies it is a "hike-in" campground that is "lightly used" after all the PCT hikers go through. It does have campfire rings and stoves. There is also a spring. I'm not sure if it is still running this time of year since our rainfall totals were so low.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/angeles/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=41718&actid=29
If the USFS does put open fire restrictions on the campground, since it is off in the woods and not near the highway, they will indicate so with signs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattmcgrath/2391591668/sizes/l/in/photostream/
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Did you say Bishop :2thumbsup:
http://www.mammothtimes.com/content/top-world (http://www.mammothtimes.com/content/top-world)
Outside of the backcounty in Yosemite, my favorite backpacking is near and above Blue Lake. The trailhead starts at Lake Sabrina, 13 miles West of Bishop. I've caught a lot of native Golden Trout in that area.
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Outside of the backcounty in Yosemite, my favorite backpacking is near and above Blue Lake. The trailhead starts at Lake Sabrina, 13 miles West of Bishop. I've caught a lot of native Golden Trout in that area.
That's a great area. My brother in law is still making his way North on the JMT. He's North of there now.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0jbFjVAslXoxnlPvTHoDo48UKRb5jDEv6 (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0jbFjVAslXoxnlPvTHoDo48UKRb5jDEv6)
He's checking in three times a day but not all signals are showing on the map, which makes us wonder how reliable the SPOT device is in an emergency.
Another nice jeep trip is Monache Meadows out of Kennedy Meadows in the Southern Sierra. There's the South fork of the Kern for water and you can also have fires.
(http://kennedymeadows.info/images/RegionalMap.gif)