event NW Chilefest 2013 Discussion

My current thoughts... Early September - maybe week after labor day. Location - I'm good with anywhere. KSP was a really nice place - maybe we should go again for 2013?
 
Kanaskat is a good sitetried and true, and we're also looking to do something on the east side of the hills. It seems like the general feeling is that if we go east side, we need to go before school starts so people don't have to pull kids out of school to go camping.

Based on those who are involved at this point, I feel like the east siders are more flexible to go-early-stay-late than west-siders. Those with kids in school will need to have an event closer on the west side so they don't have to pull kids. Which could be a September event.

We're (my family and the families of our boy's buddies) flexible enough (and don't really care what the school district says) that I can take my son and 2 others out of school for a day and it's not big deal. Heck, we have a regional family barter fair that is so big and so many local families attend it, that the local school districts "conveniently" arrange for a teacher's work day on that Friday, cuz they know about 30% of the kids will be gone anyway.

A few of the items I'm considering...and others please chime in...


Reservations- do sites need to be reserved and paid for in December (which is state park sites), can you add people to the site at the last minute, can we "block out" a bunch of sites without actually having them paid for/reserved. Can we add tents as we go?

Picnic- do they have a picnic site we can use on Saturday for free, or does it need to be reserved and paid for?

Fun/Entertainment- what do they have for the kids? river/lake swimming? mini-golf? other things?

Day-trippers- There weren't many day trippers this year, so maybe we shouldn't worry about this and just worry about those who will be camping. I still think day-trippers need to be considered, but to what extent?

Campground Tolerance- how much shenanigans will the campgound put up with?



What else should be considerd?

EDIT- already, to add out of town travelers, but I don't think they should dictate where we have an event. They'll be coming in aheadof time and will have MANY in the NW Pack to coordinate with.
 
Well I have spent several hrs looking at many private and state campgrounds and a few things keep popping up that were not an issue at the site this yr. The top of these were no large quantities of alcohol and in " no kegs any size or containers larger then 20oz" and no glass bottles or alcohol in day use areas. These 2 things alone would have killed the party we had this year.

I know the rangers were so cool this yr but who is to say they will be there for next yrs and not new ones who might not be as cool. Could we expect other state parks like this one to be run the same way. If so then there are several just over the passes on the east side that have plenty of shade and cover for those not wanting the sun.

I am checking with a cool campground on this side of white pass since we are not on lock down for location. I can not find it online yet and am looking on driving there tomorrow maybe to chat and make sure it is still in bizz. it has over 300 camp spots, whfi, private owned, group camps, fishing, playground and other activities. It is right on hiway 12 and those who fly in can then choose between seatac and portland for airports.
 
Thanks 1F1 for helping out looking for options. I remember you talking about something on White Pass.




That whole "no large quantities of alcohol" is a new one for me. I haven't seen that before. Suprisingly, it seems like campgrounds are extraordinarily behind the times in getting their schtuff together and getting online!


Last year, just for S&G, I googled campgrounds near my home town of Carlton, WA, and didn't get a single hit!!!, even with putting in a 30 mile radius, I got nothing....but I live here, and I can name 6 private campgrounds right off the cuff.....but they aren't online.

So that always leads me to wonder what other private campgrounds are lurking about in Leavenworth, Easton, Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Mattawa ( I've been every where man...I've been every where..) [sub]sorry just got a little distracted by Johnny Cash...[/sub]
 
Ya it was for me too. I found a few promising sounding ones as to price and looks then clicked on the rules tab and almost everyone of them towards the end of the list had it stated on the alcohol. Might also be a rule many only apply if they need a reason to boot someone.

Also at this yrs spot if we tried to book up all the spots together like down by where Jerret was so 43-50 we could party in one of the central camps. This way our other camps would act as a buffer from other campers while we party it up. Also the restroom lights give us a night light of sorts for the potty runs in the dark. Only drawback is those pesky large rocks several met up with in the dark.lol.....
 
Yea, what was up with those rocks!!!????What a pain inthe arse....i mean, neck...




yea, seriously....in the neck.....I SOOOO need to go see Dr. Love....
 
I am good with whatever... East side, West side its all good with me. I think it would be a great excuse for me to check out the east side of the state though.

As for the date, I too would like August for the kids thing, but I will be out there with the whole family for the weekend regardless this time. No harm in missing a day of school to hang out with a bunch of cool pepper people.

And what is this I hear about no kegs? That would have been awful if they kicked my kegs out.

Also, Martin will be down for the next NWCF even if I have to buy his plane ticket up here.

I am also willing to pitch in by reserving 3 or so sites and letting them go to late comers this time. It would be nice to have a nice block of sites. If the place we pick has a big group camp area I would be good with pitching in on a group site as well.
 
I'd like to do this next year in August on the east side. Then maybe the next year we can go back to September on the west side. There's an event we've been wanting to do (Bonneville Salt Flats) and it's in September and conflicts with the NWCF. I know by changing it to August we may miss a few this year, but by alternating dates and site, maybe we can accomodate most people for most years.

I'm hoping to hear from chileaddict. Anyone know if he's back home yet?

Scovie, have you talked to SunBanks?
 
RS67 posted he's super busy the week after their kitefest, which, looking at the 2013 calendar, would be Aug 19-25. And that's also pushing it for some schools. Our schools don't start until Sept, but I think other schools start in Aug.

So, I'm making a vote for---


August 16-18 (add a couple days for those that can camp longer)
SunBanks Resort in eastern washington (or maybe Sun Lakes...or maybe the KOA in leavenworth..but somewhere in eastern WA)


It's a few weeks earlier, it'll be hot in EastWa....Hopefully we can secure a location that will mix with our agenda...(aka not getting pissy about a keg-r-2 ).... no guarantees as to camp fires, that depends on the weather!


We'll work on locations to make sure it's not super dusty.



I'm good with going back to K/S in 2014 in Sept. As I said, maybe alternating as needs be....
 
pepper mead with an "un-named" pepper??? Knowing this crowd, it's prolly a 7 Pot or t-scorp! :lol:

Hmmmmm, I have a batch of jalapenos fermenting.....might just have to keep it in the back room until August .....



So what say ye all..... Yay or Nay on the Date and/or Location?
 
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