Camping reservations needed for Yellowstone?

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kyzen

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2005
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So my room mate can be stubborn at times (some of you might remember my "So I think my room mate bought a dog..." thread), and very rarely thinks things through. We're going camping in Yellowstone this weekend - from Thursday to Sunday. She insists that we don't need to make any reservations - that there will be plenty of options to choose from.

At first, I decided to let her do what she wants; she isn't aware that I can drive a stick, so if we get stuck driving around looking for a place to camp, she'll be the one doing it, while I can doze off, read, or whatever.

But the more I see her prepare for the trip, the more I wonder what the fuck is going on in her head. She has no plans to bring any food besides powerbars and cliff bars, suggested she'll be ok with a 50 degree rated flannel sleeping bag (the weather forecast is as low as 25 degrees at night, with rain and snow all weekend).

So, to any campers, or people who have been to Yellowstone before - should I insist we make reservations, or am I worrying too much about being stuck without a place to sleep after a 10 hour drive?
 
E

ericb

Senior member
Nov 11, 1999
898
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Hmmm...inexperienced campers going to a far away place with no prep. I can't wait to read this story next week.

1. Do you have everything you need? You have lanterns, extra gas, cooking stove (hard to cook over a fire in the snow/rain), flashlights, extra batteries, a tent and sleeping pads?

2. A sleeping bag has that rating because that's what it is rated to. Unless you're sleeping together in the same bag a 50 degree bag is going to get really damn cold those nights. Bring lots of clothes to sleep in so you don't freeze.

3. No, that is not ok for food. You need a lot more food. If nothing else bring a case of ramen and a pot to cook them in. Would you want to eat nothing but power bars at home for the next three days? So why do it when you're out camping, already uncomfortable sleeping in a tent on the ground and probably needing extra energy from the walking/exploring you plan to do?

Good luck.
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,346
106
106
She's not going to secure her food at all against bears, is she? Have fun! :laugh:
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
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You can buy food there at the stores operated by Xanterra, and get to meet some hot Eastern European Xanterra employees too.
 
L

laurenlex

Platinum Member
Feb 26, 2004
2,370
1
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You two sound like good candidates for the Comfort Inn in West Yellowstone. Then drive into the Park for day hikes and the like.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,550
940
126
Originally posted by: kyzen
So my room mate can be stubborn at times (some of you might remember my "So I think my room mate bought a dog..." thread), and very rarely thinks things through. We're going camping in Yellowstone this weekend - from Thursday to Sunday. She insists that we don't need to make any reservations - that there will be plenty of options to choose from.

At first, I decided to let her do what she wants; she isn't aware that I can drive a stick, so if we get stuck driving around looking for a place to camp, she'll be the one doing it, while I can doze off, read, or whatever.

But the more I see her prepare for the trip, the more I wonder what the fuck is going on in her head. She has no plans to bring any food besides powerbars and cliff bars, suggested she'll be ok with a 50 degree rated flannel sleeping bag (the weather forecast is as low as 25 degrees at night, with rain and snow all weekend).

So, to any campers, or people who have been to Yellowstone before - should I insist we make reservations, or am I worrying too much about being stuck without a place to sleep after a 10 hour drive?
Click to expand...

Prepare for a week of being miserable...unless she's a fuck buddy of course. ;)
 
K

kyzen

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2005
1,557
0
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www.chrispiekarz.com
Originally posted by: ericb
Hmmm...inexperienced campers going to a far away place with no prep. I can't wait to read this story next week.

1. Do you have everything you need? You have lanterns, extra gas, cooking stove (hard to cook over a fire in the snow/rain), flashlights, extra batteries, a tent and sleeping pads?

2. A sleeping bag has that rating because that's what it is rated to. Unless you're sleeping together in the same bag a 50 degree bag is going to get really damn cold those nights. Bring lots of clothes to sleep in so you don't freeze.

3. No, that is not ok for food. You need a lot more food. If nothing else bring a case of ramen and a pot to cook them in. Would you want to eat nothing but power bars at home for the next three days? So why do it when you're out camping, already uncomfortable sleeping in a tent on the ground and probably needing extra energy from the walking/exploring you plan to do?

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm not inexperienced, and as far as I knew, neither is she... but I'm starting to doubt that. I already have my bag packed with everything you've listed and then some.

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
She's not going to secure her food at all against bears, is she? Have fun! :D
Click to expand...

Fuck
 
K1052

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
51,929
44,787
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I vote you let her feed herself to the bears and look for a new roommate.
 
E

ericb

Senior member
Nov 11, 1999
898
0
0
I wasn't sure about you but I would not go camping with her unless I was in charge. Going camping in winter conditions in a summer sleeping bag with nothing but power bars to eat is a disaster waiting to happen.
 
herm0016

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,509
1,122
126
this is why people die in Yellowstone.
where are you planning on going? i have a friend that is a training manager based in mammoth hot springs. the bears are a real threat. make sure you know how to handle EVERYTHING that smells. hang it on a bear pole or have a bear canister.
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
Originally posted by: K1052
I vote you let her feed herself to the bears and look for a new roommate.
Click to expand...

Agreed. but get next month's rent in advance.
 
S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,346
106
106
Originally posted by: kyzen
Originally posted by: ericb
Hmmm...inexperienced campers going to a far away place with no prep. I can't wait to read this story next week.

1. Do you have everything you need? You have lanterns, extra gas, cooking stove (hard to cook over a fire in the snow/rain), flashlights, extra batteries, a tent and sleeping pads?

2. A sleeping bag has that rating because that's what it is rated to. Unless you're sleeping together in the same bag a 50 degree bag is going to get really damn cold those nights. Bring lots of clothes to sleep in so you don't freeze.

3. No, that is not ok for food. You need a lot more food. If nothing else bring a case of ramen and a pot to cook them in. Would you want to eat nothing but power bars at home for the next three days? So why do it when you're out camping, already uncomfortable sleeping in a tent on the ground and probably needing extra energy from the walking/exploring you plan to do?

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm not inexperienced, and as far as I knew, neither is she... but I'm starting to doubt that. I already have my bag packed with everything you've listed and then some.

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
She's not going to secure her food at all against bears, is she? Have fun! :D
Click to expand...

Fuck
Click to expand...

And remember it's fall so the bears are extra hungry getting prepped for winter. ;)
 
T

Terabyte

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 1999
3,875
0
71
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: herm0016
hang it on a bear pole or have a bear canister.
Click to expand...

do you put the bear canister inside the tent or just next to the door?
Click to expand...

No! Give it to her and tell her to go look at the stars...
 
Capt Caveman

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
I suggest putting in an ad for a new roommate before you go. Odds are you're the only one coming back.
 
herm0016

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,509
1,122
126
i believe its supposed to be 200 or 300 feet away from the tent. they just prevent the bear from getting at your food, not from finding the can. its fun to watch them try to get it open. :)
 
O

OdiN

Banned
Mar 1, 2000
16,430
3
0
Some campgrounds will have locking bear boxes as well, which work very well. Just steel box with a latch to lock it. Don't know if they have those up there, but you can call the local ranger station to find out more information.
 
H

Henrythewound

Senior member
Oct 25, 2002
477
0
0
Are you camping in one of those huge "not really camping in the midst of RVs running generators all night" fields or backcountry camping? Makes a big difference I think regarding danger from bears. Sounds like you will be babysitting as well as capming that weekend.
 
FoBoT

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
Originally posted by: Terabyte
Originally posted by: FoBoT
Originally posted by: herm0016
hang it on a bear pole or have a bear canister.
Click to expand...

do you put the bear canister inside the tent or just next to the door?
Click to expand...

No! Give it to her and tell her to go look at the stars...
Click to expand...

so basically, she should use the food cache for a stool. like she can sit on it in the evening before she goes to bed

do you rub the bear canister in bacon grease or lard? which is best to scare away the bears?
 
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