Expert: Steve Summers - 5/17/2009

Question
Hi, we are coming from the San Fernando Valley on early Fri. of Memorial Weekend.  We have reserved Joshua Tree, tent camping, but now concerned about the heat (prediction of hi 80's) with our kids, 4, 8, and 10.  We are thinking of changing to the Mts. of Los Padres, above Frazier Park in the Mt. Pinos area. We once went up to the top, Camp O Alto on Memorial weekend, and it was gorgeous, private, but freezing. We've done a lot of research and everything up there is 1st come , 1st serve.  A little concerned, since it is a holiday weekend, although we could arrive by 12:00 on Friday.  But after a long drive with kids, not finding a site could be risky.  I talked to the ranger station and they were not helpful at all, just kind of like "ya never know."  Any thoughts about camping up there vs.Joshua Tree, regarding risking finding a spot, fun for the kids and comfort of the experience for them.  Also, there seems to be no running water in the Mt. Pinos area.  Have you ever been to either area this time of year?  Which would you select for our adventurous family of 5???

Answer
Hi Jamie,

One of the most disappointing things that can happen to someone on a holiday weekend is driving all the way to a site, only to be skunked. This is one of the reasons I can't really camp at Jalama Beach any more. The lack of running water is a real bummer, but the real deal breaker for me is the possibility of getting nothing after all that driving.

I've been to both areas during different times of the year, and a LOT depends on temperature trends. Mt Pinos is about 8800' elevation, and you can get cold nights up there even in August. I've been up there to see the Pleides meteor shower in August, lying on my back inside my down sleeping bag, trying to stay warm. I think upper 80's in Joshua Tree wouldn't be too bad for you and the kids as long as you take some sort of portable shade. There isn't any real shade up there. But at least you would have running water, and you could take a bunch of balloons and have the kids throw water balloons at each other (making sure they clean up the mess). Basically it boils down to this: Joshua Tree may be warm during the day, but it will cool off nicely at night. Mt. Pinos may be perfect during the day, but it will be very cold at night. Based on that and the possibility of not getting a site, I would stick with the original plan and go to Joshua Tree. Take the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, and the kids will quickly forget that it was a warm day whilst they are munching on s'mores.