California Camping
by Rosemary Rideout

I guess we all know a bit more about wildfires after this incredible wildfire season here in California this summer. Some of them were way too close for comfort. And our air quality and sense of security out there in the wilds have both taken a beaten. We even scared off a lot of tourism this summer. I feel for small business down in Pfeiffer Big Sur who had a 4th of July disruption to their businesses with the closure of Highway 1. As I write this, State Parks down there still have not reopened as the staff does resource and public safety assessments.
All of that notwithstanding, the fall months are a great time to pack up your family for a close-by weekend of camping. I’m speculating that fall will be quieter down on the Big Sur coast and will provide some last-minute opportunities for camping at places like Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which is usually fully booked.
We recently made a day trip up to Yosemite’s High Country and were surprised to find, on a Sunday afternoon, many campsites available in Yosemite Creek and Porcupine Flat Camp-grounds. These sites are available first-come, first served.
I’m taking a little cottage getaway at the end of the month to Costanoa just north of Santa Cruz where I’ve reserved a tent cabin for a couple nights. After we leave there, we’ll make our way up to the cabins at Steep Ravine in Mt. Tamalpais State Park, north of the Golden Gate, for a couple nights. The cabins at Steep Ravine, while quite rustic, have magnificent views of the coast. To reserve a spot, jump online at Reserve America on the first day of the month to book six months out. They are that popular.
I’ve been participating in a plant regeneration study up at Henry W. Coe State Park which had a big fire last September. One year already. This spring amazing things sprang up in the fire-affected area. We saw plants which only follow fires and an amazing display of flowering bulb plants. The fire-affected area of Coe isn’t easy to get to, but if you enjoy a challenging hike, ask at Coe’s Visitor Center to view the fire display maps and plan to check out the area yourself. About six miles in and six miles out will do it.
If you are looking for something tamer, consider a fall camping trip with your family. Check out availability online at Reserve America. Or get out on one of the trails at Mt. Madonna County Park to check out how close the fire there came to the campground. Get out there to enjoy our “weather for the locals” as weatherman, Jim Vanderzwaan , likes to call our fall weather pattern.

	~ Rosemary Rideout was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. She moved to California in 1993. She is an avid hiker and photographer. She has been enchanted by the abundance and diversity that Mother Nature offers here in our little corner of this amazing state. She can be reached at rideout@garlic.com