We will reach out for volunteers for certain tasks, such as dinner prep and venue set-up.
In a tent! Prepare to either take your camping gear with you, or rent. Fresno, the city closest to our destination, has an REI that allows you to reserve gear in advance. We have no idea what availability is like so we recommend doing this as soon as you know whether you're going to camp. https://fresno.rentals.rei.com/portal/
There will be a dispersed group camp along a forest road to the south of Hume Lake starting* Tuesday May 28 and ending Saturday June 1. Be aware that this will be a primitive campsite so there will be no on-site water or toilets, however, a communal toilet tent will be erected, and the best pit toilet absorbent gels, bags, and deodorizers we can find will be provided. Because the sites are non-reservable, we won't know the exact location until we arrive, but expect it to be near Hume Lake. We hope to fit as many guests and tents onto one site as possible but if it isn't we will find a place that has many sites located along the same road. *We are arriving Monday to scout out camps, however we can't guarantee that the camp will be secured until Tuesday.
Absolutely not! There's so much to see at Sequoia, feel free to explore on your own. You're not required to stay at the group camp either, especially if you're looking for quiet! Come early, leave late, camp wherever, hike wherever, just be there on Wednesday! If you do camp on your own, make sure to stick to the Hume Lake Ranger District area because the forest is broken up into sections that are quite far apart because they're divided by the national park or other forests. You could accidentally end up at a campsite tens of miles of winding mountain road away from the group and ceremony if you don't stay at one of the campgrounds listed in this link: If you want to reserve a site, do so ASAP - many of the reservable campgrounds have *just* opened up to reservations in the last 2 weeks, and will rapidly get filled up as we get closer to June.
Dispersed camping is when you camp almost anywhere outside of an established campground and is only allowed in National Forests. The best camping experiences we've ever had have been at cleared roadside sites. We think this is the best option for group camping because they are free, secluded, significantly bigger than campground sites, and allow us to be as loud as we want without disturbing other campers. More info on dispersed camping -> https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd883625 Additional dispersed camping maps also available in the Links tab.
You do not need any passes or permits to park or camp alongside forest service roads. HOWEVER, if you plan to camp on your own, you will need a CAMPFIRE PERMIT if you want to have a campfire OR use a portable gas stove. It's free, valid for a year, and printable at home: https://permit.preventwildfiresca.org/ In addition to a campfire permit, we STRONGLY recommend getting the America the Beautiful annual pass for the following reasons: - You can use it for entry to nearby Sequoia National Park, which is home to some of the most spectacular giant tree stuff. Otherwise, there is a daily or weekly fee (at least $30). It is assigned by person, allowing you to bring any car into the park for no additional fee. - It is valid for parking at trailheads and day use areas in the National Forest that have signage indicating a pass is required. - It's valid for all the national parks, forests, and recreation areas in Washington and throughout the U.S. too! Use it to enjoy a summer outdoors when you get back! It can be ordered online at least 2 weeks before departure at https://store.usgs.gov/2024-annual-pass Otherwise, can be bought in person at loads of random stores.
If you drive, expect to be on the road for a minimum of 16 hours, with an average of 17 hours. You can drive longer and only stay in one hotel on the way down, do a more relaxed (and safer) pace by staying in 2 hotels. ~Crazy pace~ (serious eye fatigue sets in after 7 hours of driving) Monday, May 27 – drive ~8-9 hours. Spend night 1 in southern Oregon (Roseville area). Tuesday, May 28 – drive ~7-8 hours to group camp. ~Relaxed pace~ Sunday, May 26 - drive ~6 hours. Spend first night in southern Oregon (Roseville area). Monday, May 27 - drive ~6-7 hours. Spend second night in Sacramento area. Tuesday, May 28 - drive ~4-5 hours to camp location with time to set up and relax. ___________________________________________________________________
All non-coupled guests have been given a +1., but this is particularly reserved for guests travelling alone. We ask that you avoid bringing others if you're traveling with another invitee due to limited space and want to make sure we have the physical capacity to bring in enough food and drink for everyone!
Probably. We'll get a spreadsheet going with food items, equipment, etc that we'll need at the group camp.
No, please leave kids at home. We love kids...but because of the way we want to celebrate, it would not be appropriate to have them there.
Unfortunately we can't cover travel expenses. Once we get a group chat going, you can make arrangements with other guests if needed.
We're working on it, info will be out soon. If you insist on a gift, the registry is there as a convenience for you - feel free to use it as inspiration for purchases elsewhere.