Human powered camping issues for Joshua Tree?

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Messages 1 - 20 of total 22 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 19, 2014 - 04:30pm PT
Topians:

My wife, our dog, and I will be cycling through JT, but our time frame looks like we'll have to camp on Dec. 31st and Jan. 1st--not good for getting access to sites. I figure the first night will be in the White Tank area, night two at Cottonwood to the south. Does JT provide Hiker/biker camping? I don't recall ever seeing it. We'll be moving slow on a tandem trike and loaded for bear, so blasting through in a day is not an option. Think we'll be able to find sites? We may have to beg and rely on the kindness of strangers. Ugh. Ideas welcome.

Hey, Locker: Are we gonna die?

BAd
Banks

Trad climber
Santa Monica, CA
Nov 19, 2014 - 04:36pm PT
My wife, our dog, and I will be cycling through JT

Pics of dog bicycling please!
Happiegrrrl2

Trad climber
Nov 19, 2014 - 04:38pm PT
Rely on people at a campsite to park your bike at their site and then hike into the back country to camp


ohhh I didn't notice the dog. Dogs are highly discriminated against in the US National Park system, and it would be against the rules to have the dog in the backcountry.... In JT it is "no dogs further than 100 feet from paved roads.

You probably aren't gonna die but the chances of being tooled are high
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Nov 19, 2014 - 04:40pm PT
Aren't National Parks not very dog friendly?
Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2014 - 05:07pm PT
Yeah, Jim, you're right, but we're just cycling through. No need/desire to hike into back country, and we won't be climbing. This was a cycling tour.

We have a red one now, but this is our setup:


BAd
Dapper Dan

Trad climber
Menlo Park
Nov 19, 2014 - 05:13pm PT
Wow , that is a rig !
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Nov 19, 2014 - 05:15pm PT
Why don't you get a Flintstone type trapdoor for the dog?
Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2014 - 05:19pm PT
The pup--Django--walks up any hill of consequence, you betcha. He can hike a 20 mile hill and beg for more.

BAd
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Nov 19, 2014 - 05:22pm PT
So put a harness on him and get him out front.
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Nov 19, 2014 - 06:47pm PT
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Nov 19, 2014 - 06:50pm PT
BAd, that rig is badass.
Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 19, 2014 - 09:02pm PT
Thanks, Apogee. It's a lot of fun--slower than a glacier going uphill when we go uphill--but fun. Comfortable, too, which is the main benefit. Going downhill, however, is a blast that is out of this world, your ass just inches off the ground. Without doggie, dropping down into Truckee from Lake Tahoe, we got up to 60 mph on this.

TGT--is that you on that 'bent? A very cool rig, that one.

@Toker: Once riding the American River bike path outside of Sacramento on a cross-state tour, he pulled us like crazy due to all the squirrel action off the trail. We had to reel him in and try to calm him down. We were worried about him hurting himself. He was pulling hundreds of pounds of stuff! What a nut.

BAd
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Nov 19, 2014 - 09:13pm PT

Since you do not have a car you could share a site with someone
MisterE

Gym climber
Bishop, CA
Nov 19, 2014 - 09:27pm PT
Ever notice how recumbent sound alluringly like recombinent? Weird lateral thinking...
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Nov 19, 2014 - 09:35pm PT
Do I see a whip beside the pooch in the caboose?
Bushman

Social climber
The island of Tristan da Cunha
Nov 20, 2014 - 06:04am PT
Didn't I see your contraption in a Dr Seuss book?
Maybe you have a puppy-pup-pup-puffy-ranger-danger-bamboozle-booze-boozler to sway the rangers with on that thing?
Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 20, 2014 - 09:58am PT
Thanks, Mr. Locker! I believe you are correct. Keep an eye out for us as we tool through your neck o' the woods.

BAd
wheatBeer

Social climber
TheBronx
Nov 20, 2014 - 01:02pm PT
Why would you even want to blast through such an awesome place.

I have never had a hard time getting premium camping in JT during the winter. Believe it that it gets cold and even snows.

I would try to camp in every CG and enjoy it. Black Rock to Cottonwood!
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Nov 20, 2014 - 01:18pm PT
One thing to consider:

There is no water (except at the east entrance, pay water dispenser, something like 50c for 5gal...can't recall, it's cheap).

So planning on multiple days, via bike, carrying enough water for 2+dog could be a concern. It might dictate your direction of travel through the park if nothing else.

Bad Climber

climber
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 20, 2014 - 05:07pm PT
We've traversed the park before in this manner. Water up at the entrance, dry camp once, water available in Cottonwood. Works fine.

Re. JT generally: I've camped, climbed, hiked, backpacked that park for 30 years! This trip is cycling, and time/water constraints means we have to keep moving. My main concern was the popular Christmas to New Years window. I'm thinking White Tank is far enough from major climbing that we'll be okay. We'll beg some space if we have to, pay for the site, whatever.

BAd
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