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Big Dee · 10-26-2008, 04:28 PM

Join us for a Lassen to Lavabeds Cararally. The plan is to meet-up at Gurnsey Creek Campground near Lassen National Park for two nights then caravan to Eagle’s Nest RV Park near Lava Beds National Monument for three nights. The option of adding days at either end of the cararally is open.

Gurnsey Creek Campground is tucked into a pine forest along a year-round creek near the south entrance to Lassen. Lassen National Park is a spectacular park. If you have never been then you must see it. For those that know it well, one never tires of Lassen. Mazanita Lake is a favorite swim spot for me and so beautiful. Walking the boardwalk through the bubbling Bumpass Hell sure makes an impression. And the views from the drive through the park are breath-taking.

Eagle’s Nest RV Park is a hidden jem near the Lava Beds N.M. The RV park is tucked away in a little valley on a ranch. The campground is wonderful because it's all grass with nice views and extremely quiet. The land around lava beds is beautiful and ranges from thick forest to juniper desert. The air is crystal clear and visibility is unlimited. Lots to do in the area but at the top of the list is the hundreds of caves open for exploring. I enjoyed hiking around Captain Jack's Stronghold in the lava beds where the Modoc War was fought. Medicine Lake is a beautiful lake with a nice day use area great for fishing, swimming and kayaking.

For more info including directions, maps, and pics:

Gurnsey Creek Campground

Eagles Nest RV Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lava Beds National Monument

Reservations for Gurnsey Creek are available online at the above website.

Reservations for Eagle's Nest are available by email at eaglesnest@cot.net or phone at 530-664-2081.

Note "Airstream Group" when making reservation.

Sites will very likely be available without reservations.

Please Note: We will be boondocking at Gurnsey Creek so make sure to arrive with empty black/grey tanks and full water tank. Water is available to fill water tanks at campground but no dump station. Sites are long at both campgrounds. We will have full hookups at Eagle's Nest.

FreshAir · 10-26-2008, 04:35 PM

Sounds good to us. Any need to be sure we camp together?
Neil

Al - K4GLU · 10-26-2008, 04:40 PM

Was at Lava Beds and at Eagles Nest a month and a half ago and Captain Jack's Stronghold is closed - there is no access.

Big Dee · 10-26-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Sounds good to us. Any need to be sure we camp together?
Neil

neil- we should note "airstream group" when making reservations. we should have no problem being together since i fully expect both campgrounds to be mostly empty.

Big Dee · 10-26-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al - K4GLU

Was at Lava Beds and at Eagles Nest a month and a half ago and Captain Jack's Stronghold is closed - there is no access.

i heard there was a fire after we left last summer. they named it the "jack fire". what a bad fire season it's been.

there are only ranger led tours for now. hopefully the stronghold will reopen by next summer.

Big Dee · 10-26-2008, 05:39 PM

the most incredible meteor shower i have ever seen was at lava beds. the air is so clear and there isn't many people to create light pollution. apparently the night sky is so special at the lava beds that the government is designating it a "dark sky preserve." how cool! now everyone will have to come see for themselves.

Quote:

The Monument is also taking the first steps to become a “Dark
Sky Preserve”, which is an internationally acknowledged status recognizing the quality of the night sky
above the basin. “Dark Sky Preserves” are very popular with stargazers, and will encourage amateur
astronomers to visit the Basin and enjoy its stunning starry skies.

warbler5 · 10-26-2008, 05:53 PM

Count us in! Lassen and Lavabeds....two of my favorite parks!

Coastalview · 10-26-2008, 07:26 PM

Dan, Put us on the list. I'm gonna max out my time from work and will be in trouble!
And to think I just received recognition from our city council
Shameful I am.

Big Dee · 10-26-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastalview

Dan, Put us on the list. I'm gonna max out my time from work and will be in trouble!
And to think I just received recognition from our city council
Shameful I am.

congrats jeff! now you have a "get of jail free" card. so you're good to go for the cararally. and they miss you from work because i am sure everything falls apart when you're gone. haha this will be a fun time!

Cararally List
Big Dee........................Dan and dogs Deakin and Addie
coastalview...................Jeff, Kathy, Collin and dog Lucy
warbler5.......................Dee and Paul

Coastalview · 10-26-2008, 08:02 PM

Oh if you only knew the kind of mess they make and wait for me to return to!
Jeff

warbler5 · 10-26-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastalview

Oh if you only knew the kind of mess they make and wait for me to return to!
Jeff

Hey Jeff......that's why they call it WORK!

FreshAir · 10-26-2008, 11:13 PM

MAN! I sure am GLAD I don't have a job to worry about anymore!
Neil.....Lynn too.

1953 Flying · 11-06-2008, 07:30 PM

This is the perfect date for us. We are actually starting our vacation from here.

After a couple of days we are planning to head North to Victoria Island, BC.

So Dan. I assume we make our own reservations. Has any one else made theres? If so what site numbers do we want to be around?

Wabler5, depending on when your planning to head to Lassen, we could start a small caravan. We plan to leave Friday afternoonish and head north Sunday Morning. What do you think?

Eager to start Ralling,

Robert and Family

1953 Flying · 11-06-2008, 07:42 PM

opppps, I guess I should have clicked on the above link to Gurnsey Creek Campground to find out it's a group site.lol Dan, just keep me posted on the amount required.

Robert

Hit'the'road · 11-09-2008, 12:55 PM

I've marked my calendar. Maybe Murphy won't try to chase down the Sheriff this year.

Big Dee · 12-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1953 Flying

opppps, I guess I should have clicked on the above link to Gurnsey Creek Campground to find out it's a group site.lol Dan, just keep me posted on the amount required.

Robert

hey robert,

i wasn't planing on reserving the group site but we could if we get 7 rigs signed up. but i really don't see any problem with getting sites in the middle of the week at this remote campground without reservations. anyway i need no fees upfront, everyone can pay upon arrival at both parks.

Big Dee · 12-17-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit'the'road

I've marked my calendar. Maybe Murphy won't try to chase down the Sheriff this year.

hahahahahahahahahaha, cam that made me laugh! i will never forget that memory of murphy galloping after the sheriff with you chasing after a red face. great times!

Gene · 12-17-2008, 09:42 PM

Thinking about August is a little hard with 15" of snow since Saturday and more forecast tonight and for the rest of the year, but we are interested. We went to Lassen several years ago in the late spring, but there had been so much snow earlier that spring, everything was buried. We've seen the lava tubes at Craters of the Moon NM, but would like to visit the Lava Beds. Every time we travel through N. Cal., I look at them on the map and think I'm going there some day, so maybe that day is closer.

So put us down for a maybe and when the sun starts to return and Spring is near enough that we dewinterize the Safari for our annual trip to New Mexico, we'll be able to decide just what we're doing. We never travel much in summer—too many tourists, traffic, etc., so this would be different.

Looks like everyone is from Cal. and I hope that "outsiders" are welcome. Seems like 10% of Coloradoans are from California after all.

Gene

Big Dee · 12-17-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Thinking about August is a little hard with 15" of snow since Saturday and more forecast tonight and for the rest of the year, but we are interested. We went to Lassen several years ago in the late spring, but there had been so much snow earlier that spring, everything was buried. We've seen the lava tubes at Craters of the Moon NM, but would like to visit the Lava Beds. Every time we travel through N. Cal., I look at them on the map and think I'm going there some day, so maybe that day is closer.

So put us down for a maybe and when the sun starts to return and Spring is near enough that we dewinterize the Safari for our annual trip to New Mexico, we'll be able to decide just what we're doing. We never travel much in summer—too many tourists, traffic, etc., so this would be different.

Looks like everyone is from Cal. and I hope that "outsiders" are welcome. Seems like 10% of Coloradoans are from California after all.

Gene

hi gene,

funny that i have also looked at the lava beds on the map for years before i finally made it there. it's just so remote but that's it's charm i have discovered. this is really the boonies. and i am with you about the summer crowds so you will not see any at the lava beds that's for sure. would love to see you at the rally. enjoy the snow!

warbler5 · 05-06-2009, 08:48 PM

Soooooooo....now that Casini 2009 is in the rear view mirror, I am starting to look forward to this rally! Are we going to reserve the group site at Gurnsey Creek? I think we have 7 units going. And, is it necessary to reserve a spot at Eagles Nest RV Park? If so, what nights are we planning to stay?