Camping at Pinnacles: Be prepared

The kids and I have camped before, but it has always been in a group camping situation. This summer, we set off on our own. The three of us headed to Pinnacles National Park (the newest NPS) for two nights of camping awesomeness. Mostly. Somewhat. Well, it was...an experience to remember.



We arrived considerably later than originally planned and found ourselves working hard to get camp set up as fast as we could because we were going to lose light. The kids and I had put up this tent before and I knew we could do it again. The challenge level this time was a little higher given the setting sun, but we could and would do it.

We got the tent set up and were adjusting the rainfly when Miss Kiera was going to start grabbing sleeping bags from the car. Just then...a raccoon paid us a visit. It was actually our second visit from this particular character. This time, though, instead of just wandering through camp, he saw the open car and decided he wanted to investigate things further. So, he hopped on it and even sat in the driver's seat at one point.

I had followed all bear protocol. The food was in the food locker. We only had the car open because we were putting away the tent bag and ready to get sleeping bags. We did everything right. Except, we underestimated the curiosity of this raccoon. The kids got help from some neighboring campers (a few folks from a fantastic Boy Scout Troop from the Riverside area) and we teamed up to 1) get the masked crusader out from the car and 2) scare him out of our camp. By the time we were done, the sun had set and so had our appetites. We nibbled on a few crackers, were thankful for the very late lunch we had and put ourselves to bed.

Just as we started to drift off to sleep...

...there was a noise.

A feral pig (aka wild boar) decided to wander through out camp, right by our tent. Miss Hollywood thought CD was making funny noises. The pig continued on its way and we finally fell asleep.

We had a wonderful day exploring the area nearest our campground the next day. We walked some, we looked for condors, we visited the Visitor's Center and the kids earned their Junior Ranger badges. We mapped out a hike that we will take on a return visit. And, we settled in to cook dinner. As we sat enjoying the fruits of our labor (bacon-wrapped chicken and quick rice), our masked friend returned. Unfortunately, we had waited just a little to long to fix dinner and caught him at what seems to be his regular time of wandering through our camping area. The three of us teamed up, scared him off, finished our dinner, and cleaned up for the night.

Aside from the annoying raccoon visits, we had a wonderful time. Our campsite offered great shade all around and we had near-perfect access to the restrooms. This could have been a miserable experience given the unwelcome company, but it really turned out well despite the frustration, in part because we were practive and prepared. However, we will be even better prepared next time.

1. We will return.
2. We will set up camp earlier.
3. We will cook dinner earlier.
4. We will carry a broom and better lighting.
5. We will have a rockin' experience.

So, I suggest giving it a try if you're up for it. But be aware of the raccoon population and their distinct lack of fear. We will start doing more camping and exploring from here, so I would love to hear from you! Where are your favorite places to camp? Why?

P.S.
We finally invested in our National Parks Annual Membership so we have lots more to see and do on the horizon!