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California - Alabama Hills Camping Attempt

Discussion in 'Trip Reports' started by khens12, May 5, 2019.

  1. May 5, 2019 at 11:52 AM
    #1
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    Figured out first family trip was worthy of a post here. What time I had planning, organizing, loading and getting everything ready over the past few months.

    This past Friday 5/3 I took a half day at work, got home, loaded up the food and got the little one and dog loaded up and we headed up 395 to Lone Pine/Alabama Hills for our first family adventure. We pulled into lone pine around 6:30pm and then headed up Whitney portal road to movie road/Alabama Hills BLM area. Wow, what a a beautiful spot.

    I grew up doing lots of trips to the eastern sierras with my father and now I’m getting to the point where I want to share that with my girlfriend and our daughter.

    We set up camp in the dark Friday night due to the little exploring we did to find the perfect camp spot. Our little one was not having it Friday night so we called it an early night once we set up and made a quick dinner. Saturday morning came around and she had a nasty cough. We decided to go for a little hike only to turn around, pack up and head into Lone Pine for some medicine for her. When we got there we both decided it would be selfish to take her back out for another night so we headed back to Southern California and ended up at the ER last night. Briar is ok, just has a pretty nasty cough that we are monitoring. We think she picked it up from the doctors office earlier last week.

    Nonetheless, I wanted to share some photos of our first adventure and some takeaway I learned.

    Takeaways:
    - Planning is key
    - Set up when it’s light out
    - I need to re organize my travel boxes Andy downsize so that it’s only what is needed.

    We plan to go camping again this summer which will give me some more time to go back through everything again and re-organize. That is all for now. Enjoy guys!

    D0292E71-178E-437D-A1BE-D9AAE480B5F6.jpg DB0C590C-DAC2-4FEC-9A62-19846DB24FC0.jpg C3CAB418-B0CD-4212-9ABA-C9968188D15C.jpg E114E7D8-81AE-4027-AACF-61BF4C97B7A3.jpg 5874F2B8-9821-4368-9950-E3B7D1148DC9.jpg E4A5409F-71A1-473D-ABBC-3CF47B189957.jpg FD567CEC-878F-4956-A0AC-5C65E6261EA9.jpg B2A59BE6-A865-4FF8-8441-D8573DA989C1.jpg D0DBA627-D770-4C16-A311-A1D549E855DB.jpg 264E220D-C304-482A-AE4E-5D7AF98D9F55.jpg BB1F9B72-8B50-4475-8F21-7D23AF6EB74E.jpg F04E12CF-3461-4819-86B7-522E34FA338B.jpg
     
  2. May 5, 2019 at 11:56 AM
    #2
    Bailey

    Bailey Enjoy Every Sandwich

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    Alabama Hills sure is beautiful

    Glad the little one is doing ok. Hope she has a speedy recovery and is back for more adventures soon
     
  3. May 5, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    #3
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    It definitely is. We will be back-maybe in the fall.

    We are too. This was her first time really being sick so we both were concerned (hence the ER visit). She is already 100 times better than last night.

    @Bailey my XL80’s were awesome btw. Looking to add an s8 behind the grille with the @sdhq_offroad mounts that I have back there...
     
  4. May 5, 2019 at 12:02 PM
    #4
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    looks like fun ! family adventures.
     
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  5. May 5, 2019 at 12:03 PM
    #5
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    We enjoy exploring so this gives us the chance to go/do what we want to as a young family.
     
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  6. May 5, 2019 at 12:03 PM
    #6
    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

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    I've have a perfect little 2 year old girl. Always plan to change your plans at a moment's notice, that's my plan.

    Beautiful area.
     
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  7. May 5, 2019 at 12:08 PM
    #7
    Bailey

    Bailey Enjoy Every Sandwich

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    Sweet :cool:

    It's always nice being able to use the lights to their full potential
     
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  8. May 5, 2019 at 12:15 PM
    #8
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    That’s some great insight! We loved it and will definitely be back soon.
     
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  9. May 5, 2019 at 12:38 PM
    #9
    Midway

    Midway New Member

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    Beautiful photos...

    My wife is from Bishop, so absolutely love Alabama hills, Owens valley.
     
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  10. May 5, 2019 at 12:55 PM
    #10
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    That’s awesome. We do have a trip planned to mammoth in late July but most likely will be in the condo with some other family. Such a beautiful part of CA.
     
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  11. May 5, 2019 at 1:28 PM
    #11
    Porschetech29

    Porschetech29 New Member

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    I also plan to visit Alabama Hills sometime this summer. Looks like a place my son would enjoy exploring. We camped at Valley of Fire last month with our 9 month daughter for the first time. Our 2 night camping trip turned into one night since she didn’t do so well the first night. It is very different when camping with a baby. Prep and planning is important but exercising good judgement when it comes to their health and safety is number one. You made the right choice. I’m glad she is doing well.
     
  12. May 5, 2019 at 1:33 PM
    #12
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    I’m glad I’m not the only one. Multiple people doubted that we even make it a night so I’m just gladness she’s in good health at home now.

    You guys will enjoy. I can try to put a map together of where we camped. We were right by Mobius arch, the often photographed arch in the area.
     
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  13. May 5, 2019 at 1:37 PM
    #13
    saybng

    saybng Just a member.

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    Wow..that's awesome!..beautiful view for sure.
     
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  14. May 5, 2019 at 3:03 PM
    #14
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    yes it is. my favorite part for sure. winter and summer !
    plenty to do during summer too.

    you will probably recognize this shot

     
  15. May 5, 2019 at 3:14 PM
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    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    It's really dark
    Looks amazing
     
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  16. May 5, 2019 at 3:25 PM
    #16
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    Yes i sure do. Also was the first time Offroad with the set up from my build thread. Felt like the highway going down Movie Rd.
     
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  17. Jun 30, 2019 at 8:52 AM
    #17
    Tzvia

    Tzvia Just an old woman in a pickup truck.

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    Hope your little one is doing well.
    The Owens Valley is one of my favorite places. We used to take our dog up there and drive up to Mount Whitney. A little ways up Mt Whitney Portal Road is a small campsite along a creek that we would setup at and fall asleep to the gurgling of the creek. Dog loved it, he was a chocolate lab and of course, the hare and ground squirrels kept him up all night. He would be so excited that he wouldn't pee. Literally. Just could not take a moment out to pee. We would walk him around and around till he finally did like 12 hours later, like a gallon. There with his leg up for over a minute. Crazy pooch. Miss him.
    Great photos, bring back memories.
     
  18. Jun 30, 2019 at 10:15 AM
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    Cake's Pro

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    Small world...... I call Lone Pine my home!
     
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  19. Jul 2, 2019 at 4:52 PM
    #19
    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    We just talked about checking out that campground next time we are up there.

    I’m sorry to hear about the pooch. We had two labs before (chocolate and yellow) and both went blind at 5 and passed near 10.
     
  20. Jul 2, 2019 at 4:55 PM
    #20
    porkitt

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    You wanna lead a run?Camp?
     
  21. Jul 3, 2019 at 8:44 PM
    #21
    diableri

    diableri New Member

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    That's a great camp ground for ease of getting into and out of. We always base camp there before a Whitney summit to acclimate a bit the night before and head up early in the morning.

    Here's a few pics of Alabama Hills, the camp ground, creek and trail head along with the Portal store. I highly recommend the pancakes, get two! :devil:

    https://flic.kr/s/aHsjJYAPti

    EDIT: By the way, the little town at the base of the range (Lone Pine) are just a great bunch of people and put up with people like us that roll through with a great attitude, smiles that desert/mountain folk personality that I for one, love. They have always treated us well whether we're packing, driving through or camping. Horseshoe Meadow is also absolutely fantastic hiking and near there. Do those folks a favor and spend your supplies money with them if you can.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2019
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  22. Jul 3, 2019 at 9:10 PM
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    WrigglingWilly

    WrigglingWilly Well used Member

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    Did you leave your Mt.Shitneys in view of Mt.Whitney?
     
  23. Jul 3, 2019 at 9:37 PM
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    diableri

    diableri New Member

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    Not me, we've been packing for around 35 years. Not a leave no trace fanatic but been baggin and draggin since almost the beginning. The real base camp before the switchbacks was pretty bad on our last trip when those pics were taken though but nobody has ever messed with our excess gear thankfully (even the marmots) although going down in fair weather really isn't that bad that you need much.

    My knees and lungs are about done with all that now though, hence moving up to the more comfortable Tundra.

    If you meant Long Pine though... well yeah. Many a post trudge night was spent in the hostel or motel in less than ideal shape because we'd spent too long in the bar afterwards. :drunk::drool::proposetoast::puke::sick: And they still put up with us. :laugh:
     
  24. Jul 3, 2019 at 10:23 PM
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    khens12

    khens12 [OP] New Member

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    I would love to but probably wouldn’t be free to do so until late summer early fall.
     
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  25. Jul 17, 2019 at 5:05 PM
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    FXFormat

    FXFormat New Member

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    Beautiful truck, beautiful family, beautiful area...life is good yeah? I just did a 7000 miles trip from DC to CO, UT, CA...my favorite was the Sierras, though i didn't take my Tundra, i wish i did...the Land Cruiser was lacking power going up those mountain passes, but she was very comfortable since i got my hydraulic suspension dialed it. Still can't believe i missed out on Alabama Hills, i was further north at Lee Vining and then ended up in Tahoe.

    [​IMG]
     
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  26. Jul 17, 2019 at 5:51 PM
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    KTM Hauler

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    Nice pictures everyone.
    What lake is this?
     
  27. Jul 18, 2019 at 9:47 AM
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    FXFormat

    FXFormat New Member

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    I think that was Ellergy lake off of Tioga pass.
     

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