2023-10: Mt. Pinos Campground – Los Padres National Forest

Milestones:

• 10th time in 10 months to go camping (7812 ft. elevation above sea level). (SHOW ON MAP)
• 2nd time camping in Ventura County (SHOW THE 1ST).
• Biking elevation: 8300 ft. above sea level.

• When I was in grade-school, my Dad had an idea of buying a cabin in Frazier Park, CA. I remember us driving around, and looking at an “A”-frame style cabin. As a 10-year-old, I thought how cool it would be to have my bedroom at the top of the “A”. Our family decided otherwise, but I always have retained a fondness for that area.

• I mainly chose this campground because of the location, not the bike-riding opportunities. In the end, the camping was great, and the biking was not-bad. I give it a B+. I probably wouldn’t go back, only because I already did all of what I could enjoy.

• The campsite was perfect at 7,800 ft elevation: (1) ground was dry, and on a slight incline (2) weather was cool/dry (3) the campground was almost empty, and the few neighbors I had were VERY quiet.

• As per usual, I start my camping trips with snacks.

• There was a full moon in the middle of the night. It was sooooo bright and beautiful. But, I needed to pee, and so I didn’t think to take a picture.

• I got up the next morning, and made coffee. I wanted to ride my bike, but there was ZERO-shoulder on those mountain roads. However, there was almost zero traffic. So, I decided to go a little ways, see how it went, and make my plans “on the fly”.

• I had decided to ride uphill, rather than downhill. It turned out to be a great decision. I rode my bike all the way to the end of the pavement, and I found the “Mt. Pinos Nordic Base“.

• The area was so covered in trees, I rarely saw the valleys and canyons below. I caught this picture driving down from the campsite, on the way home.

WEATHER: The Hi/Lo temperature at my campsite was 66/51. After driving 2 hours back to my home, the Hi/Lo was 93/67. The previous night, I was comfortable sleeping in my tent (not so much when I had to pee). The secret to cold weather sleeping is wearing a “beenie”. It makes it possible for my body to maintain an even temperature, rather than dump it out the top of my head. (I’m not using using it, so might as well cover it up… LOL)

ANIMALS: Oh… by the way… I have been reading a lot of recent news articles about bear attacks. I was a little concerned. I stashed my food in my car overnight. The next morning, I rode my bike past the information kiosk for the campground. It said, be on the lookout for… a mountain lion… recent sightings have been confirmed. (Ugh!)…. I’m doomed no matter what eats me.

LESSON: Momentum is a real thing (mentally as well as physically)

• My previous 2 camping adventures had been uncomfortable for me (my Utah campsite was a very hard/rocky surface, and it rained a lot during my 3 days camping in Idaho). I didn’t realize how discouraged I was after these experiences. Having an easy camp helped rejuvenate my camping enthusiasm.

• A couple of days before I left for Mt. Pinos, I did a test-drive of my bike. I know well enough to make sure my equipment is ready for the next adventure. Turns out my bike chain had finally been stretched beyond tolerance as a result of my previous 4500 miles of travels (oh… and also the recent punishment I put it through). I had to take it to the shop and get a new chain installed.

• On my test drive, someone in an SUV ran through a stop sign and came within 5 ft of running over me. I try to be careful, but the unexpected is always a possibility. People tell me I shouldn’t take the risks of riding my bike. That message has burrowed into my brain. I have to either fight it, or concede. Having an easy bike ride helped rejuvenate my biking confidence.