You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar

Speciality Forums >> Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Pages: 1 Peter Natscher sage Reged: 03/28/06 Loc: Central California Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA       #5338744 - 07/27/12 04:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Has anyone observed up at Grandview campground in the White Mountains, CA? Can you share your observing and camping experiences and let me know how to pack for it...for 3-4 days of camping and observing? Post Extras:       MikeRatcliff Carpal Tunnel Reged: 06/12/04 Loc: Redlands, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Peter Natscher]       #5338794 - 07/27/12 05:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, I've been there numerous times. There is no water available so bring lots of that. The nights can be cold --below freezing-- in September at least. Weather can be highly variable between clear, calm, windy, rain, snow showers(light amounts), hail, hot, cold (or all of the above!). So I would bring your winter gear for warmth, tarps for surprise weather. i.e. bring everything. The nights can be good to excellent. Some slight light pollution can be seen to the west from Bishop, and a little bit from Las Vegas (yes, unfortunately) is visible. Sunlight during the day can be intense, so bring dark glasses. It is almost always fun and memorable up there. July/August weekends can be crowded. Mike Post Extras:       Zoomit sage Reged: 12/04/06 Loc: Tehachapi, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: MikeRatcliff]       #5365692 - 08/12/12 11:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Peter, I've been up there once, two years ago, and will be going again this coming weekend. Mike's comments are accurate: variable weather and bring plenty of water. I was impressed with the number of astronomers out there. There were about 10-15 telescopes setup along the north side of the campground. There's plenty of space but still a very congenial, social atmosphere. In fact, I spent about an hour or so with Steve Kennedy. Steve was there helping a new owner of one of his 32" mirrors debug his telescope. I know of one gentleman that makes the trek out to Grandview from the Bay area very frequently. Are you going to be there this weekend? Edited by Zoomit (08/13/12 12:04 AM) Post Extras:       Alex McConahay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/11/08 Loc: Moreno Valley, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Zoomit]       #5365735 - 08/13/12 12:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Been there many times. In addition to the astronomy, and visiting the Bristlecone Pine Forest, be sure to trek to the top of White Mountain. It is about the easiest of the 14,000 foot peaks for a hiker. All a walk, nothing technical. Takes all day and a round trip 40 or so mile drive on a hardpacked dirt road. Also, if you can get somebody willing to accompany you in a car to bring your bike back up, ride your bike down to Independence. Except for 200-300 meters, there is no pedaling all the way down. Great ride. Be ready for any weather. And be ready for it to change. I have arrived at 5:30 in the afternoon in a snow/hailstorm, and been observing/imaging just after 9:00 that night. (And I have gotten set up and collimated at 6:00 in the evening, gone off to get dinner together under clear skies, and while eating, had it cloud up for the night. Any given three day weekend up there will probably get lots of observing in. But you will probably lose a few hours, also, to weather. Alex Post Extras:       Zoomit sage Reged: 12/04/06 Loc: Tehachapi, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Alex McConahay]       #5367618 - 08/14/12 12:32 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Slight change of plans for me. I've got to reschedule for Sep 7-8. Anyone planning to be at Grandview then? Post Extras:       jrbarnett Eyepiece Hooligan Reged: 02/28/06 Loc: Petaluma, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Peter Natscher]       #5412463 - 09/09/12 10:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yep. Trip report here on CN: http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2804 Regards, Jim Post Extras:       JMW scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/11/07 Loc: Nevada Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: jrbarnett]       #5425966 - 09/17/12 06:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looking at doing a 4 night Grandview campground trip on October 5th. We plan to do several day hikes in the area. Want to observe for about few hours each evening before moonrise. I want to bring my 5x8 cargo trailer which I have converted for astronomy camping. Has solar power, 220 amp-hours of batteries and a propane furnace for cold nights. I would leave the trailer at the campground for 4 nights and do daily drives to nearby hiking trailheads. If the weather forecast is poor we will reschedule this trip for next year instead. The road looks paved up to the campground. Do you think there will be any problem with navigating up with a small 5x8 trailer with a lot of ground clearance? The insulated trailer with a furnace would be useful to serve as a warming up place for cold high altitude astronomy. Post Extras:       Alex McConahay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/11/08 Loc: Moreno Valley, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: JMW]       #5426059 - 09/17/12 07:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have several times hauled my 19 foot, 3500 pound dry, travel trailer up there with my Dodge Dakota (with 190 k miles on it.) THe roads are no problem. It is a struggle to get up there with an undersized truck. But, just go slow and it happens. The roads are hard and smooth (paves all the way) to Grandview. Roads in the camp are hard, smooth decomposed granite. I do not believe there is any problem with high center or low clearance. Check the weather report before heading up in an October.....Winter can start anytime at 9000 feet. ALex Alex Post Extras:       JMW scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 02/11/07 Loc: Nevada Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Alex McConahay]       #5426097 - 09/17/12 07:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the word on the road regarding trailers. My 11 foot trailer is about 1000 pounds after modifications. I will only be bringing my TEC 140 on my DM6 mount so won't have to deal with complicated nightly setup/teardown. The refractor will do better in windy conditions compared to a large dob. If the forecast is not blue skies/clear nights we will head for other lower elevation recreation. We didn't have the option of going in September due to work constraints. I expect that we won't have many issues with light pollution from others in the campground. We will be prepared for all conditions (including high wind/snow) on our day hikes. Whites Mountain peak is a 14 mile round trip from the locked gate. Post Extras:       Alex McConahay Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/11/08 Loc: Moreno Valley, CA Re: Grandview Campground – White Mountains, CA [Re: Alex McConahay]       #5426129 - 09/17/12 08:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Is it 14 miles round trip? it seems longer. I did it just last July. I left Grandview about 7:00 in the morning, drove an hour, got to the top about 1:30, I think, then back down, drive back, and back at Grandview about 7:30 if I recall correctly. I am a slow hiker. (seriously, people were passing me up and down.) Alex Post Extras:       Pages: 1

Previous   Index   Next   Threaded

Extra information 5 registered and 1 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  csa/montana, darklighteditor  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 848 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info

CN Forums Home