2023) SAN G. Family Reunion 9/22-24

Kenny is doing great, he was a little slower for a day after we got home, but he's been 100 since. He was living his best life with Django there to play with non stop.

 

I hope you guys had a good time. Sorry we couldn't meet up. I drove up to the ranch to check it out. I dropped off some t-shirts while you guys were out. I hope Kyle shared them with you guys. I tried to leave a variety of sizes.

How did you guys like the ranch? I didn't realize you had to take a small trail to camp... I took my wife up for our yearly pizza lunch in big bear. I mentioned I wanted to check out the site. well 30 minutes later, she said I tricked her into going out. She's been on a few trails and she can't stand the heights. There weren't any ledges that we almost fell off ...again.. but i think she has PTSD.

After we dropped off the shirts we headed off to Heart Bar campground. dropped of more shirts. We hung out at Aarons site for a few hours and drove home. a little sad that I didnt camp but happy I was in big bear where my friends were camping.

I hope you guys enjoyed that view you guys had.

 

Bummer we missed you while we were out. I think the Ranch exceeded our expectations, there was lots of room and the other campsites were a good distance away. Kept the noise from strangers down, but since it's such a big area you have to drive to each other's campsite to hang out. The view was nice to wake up to and the trees kept the sun off us in the morning. Showers were nice and hot. Some of them didn't work though, same with the toilet.

As for the Ranch being down a trail, it was both a good and a bad thing. It was nice because the dirt takes you immediately to other trails, but it was annoying at the end of a trail run because it's another 15 minutes of dirt back.

It got down to 30 degrees one night, so the big fire pit was a plus. We did have a few people drive through our big area, but that was due to poor signage. Did you stop and look at the other campsites or any of the group sites?

 

Thank you, Oscar, several of us did get shirts! I was bummed to miss seeing you. Without the big party at SanG as a reason to hurry back, we were happy to stay out on trails— didn’t get to camp until after dark both days, so I’ll need to go back another time to really take in that view. It was great we all found good places to camp… but dang, all the groups camping together is definitely the best magic. Got my fingers crossed, it can happen again.

 

Since I wasn’t camping or lugging around shirts/tables/food/generator/speakers/trailer, I took the Nuggg. Taking that dirt road like Godzilla walking down Main Street. I had a great 20 min session. It satisfied me but my wife got car sick and hated the whole ride.
I did see the campsite but I didn’t stay too long since no one was there. I didn’t see the showers & port-a-potties all around. Did they have real restooms?
There is plenty of space for everyone but I did hear people complain about the pice for a family of 5 at that campsite vs a family of 5 at San G.
One other thing that’s a plus or a negative depending on how you see it is, the lock to get in to camp. That’s great if you don’t want people coming in and disturbing everyone but if we are having a big event people just can’t roll in see who’s there and roll out after a fun time.

did any one take a trailer up there?
any one hit that water patch at the entrance?
Anyone drop their phone in the potty?

I’m glad you guys got out there. I’m thinking of setting up a quiet no vendor no forum trip to San G in May but you’ll never know….or will you…

 

The gate lock was a interesting thing, so was roundem up Edward…….. but it wasn’t a huge deal, pee breaks, picture stops; what’s two minutes at a gate waiting to roll into the E6 campsite to meet more friends?

As for the price, it was worth it and minimal if you split it, even with kids(thanks for leaving a smaller size for my munchkin!) it wasn’t that bad, besides ranger bill would probably not know the difference of a 10yo-20yo for fees……

I was skeptical, but @Silver1stgen13 dad did a great job of getting their 21+’ trailer into a tight spot. I didn’t venture around the camp much, but lots of possibilities for anyone willing to come!

 

Invite me and no one else need know.

I love San G but I’m pretty sure it will keep getting cancelled. Once there’s a fire that causes closures along 38 (every year), there’s no incentive to reopen San G for one weekend. Because the camp hosts know we’re all a group that know each other, instead of reassuring forestry officials that we’re motivated to keep it safe, I think we’re probably seen as a risk— a bunch of off-road partiers that will get drunk and burn the mountain down. My offer of proof is, Heart Bar gets reopened every year. That is why, this year, I reserved two double sites there, as “insurance” and, sure enough, that campground reopened. It was enough space for the number of trucks and friends that wound up staying at HVR, but not enough open spaces for others to pivot there on short notice. Which is why I threw in to stay at HVR, hoping to support the message that HVR was a location where we might recreate the best magic of San G…, all the groups meeting to camp together at days’ end.

I’m not sure I’ll get to all your questions tonight, but the main thing I’ll address is this: a few guys crapped all over the HVR option… and put out wrong info to back their argument. Anyone that actually read the prices on the HVR website would have seen, kids 10 and younger are free; no vehicle limits or extra charges for extra vehicles; polite dogs allowed; campfires allowed, even when not allowed on surrounding public lands. The camp host told us, the only way the HVR will close is if the public access roads in get closed.

That gate code was no hindrance— about a dozen people visited without camping… I guess anyone staying must have shared it with visitors.

Yes, there were working showers with hot water, and toilets that flushed, clean, with doors that locked, and stocked with t.p. Not a bunch, but some. And about a million portable outhouse— actually, more than one per site, and each site was about a full acre in size. Plus, the camp host did not mind that some registered for specific sites, then several gathered and camped together on one site.

I’m not suggesting we move San G away from San G, but I do think it’s worth looking for alternate venues *if* you want to keep the dates as they are, the last weekend of the summer season. Climate change, forrest fires, and humans making poor decisions, are trends we may expect to continue. While it is slightly less expensive to stay at a public campground (such as San G or Heart Bar) than at HVR, for events like ours where almost every adult brings a vehicle, it’s about the same. If someone was willing to herd cats, we could probably get the same rates.

Viva La San G!!! (and check out HVR as a backup to keep the magic alive).

 

Agreed. As a side note, the only gate hinderance was when one of the daisy chain locks failed, and @Cruzer pulled out a grinder to help Ed cut it off.

 

That guy! @Cruzer, who can charm someone while destroying property.

 

There are also the group camp sites Kyle was trying to arrange....

 

Some say he's still trying to arrange a group site to this day

 

<chuckle>

 

San G
9/22-24 2023
Word of mouth
If you know you know

From TW

 

@SAGE63 How 'bout this one?

 

this is the san g page.... takeca look over on TWs san g page

 

Ah, so officially not word of mouth then. Got it.

 

Booked site 9.... open to share for 2023 event

 

I'll be next door in #10.

 

I'm not sure if I can make it this year but if I do and your +1 is still open.....

 

I will keep you posted Cruz

 

One month away.
Are you guys getting ready?

 

Scheduled the entire year around it, Oscar!!

 

Sunnier grab me some swag if you can...TY

 

Trucks already packed and ready to roll. Leaving here on Thursday the 21st.

 

Yep, I'm all set to show up on Thursday.

 

staying at san g on Thursday or somewhere else?

 

Yes

 

Might stop

Might stop by then depending on how things are then. We currently have a closure on hwy 38 due to flooding and mudslides. Not sure how its going to affect the event but hopefully it won't be a big deal

 

Hi Kyle, I was supposed to reach out to you regarding taking Sid’s spot. I was able to pick up my own spot. Hope to see you up there!

 

Copy that, thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure someone fills up the camp spot then. There's always someone in need