Dorothy Garcia's Backcountry Page

COOKING POT

This is a very important item, you will need a pot to melt and heat water. Drinking hot water will warm up your whole body. I would recommend just getting a cheap mess kit and using the pot from it. You could just grab a pot from your kitchen but these tend to be relatively heavy which is OK in your kitchen but not in your backpack.

DUCT TAPE

It's a good idea to pack a roll of duct tape. You can fix everything with duct tape, make sure you always have some with you.

LAMP

A good flashlight is an absolute necessity on every single trip to the backcountry.

FOLDING TOOL

Such as a Swiss army knife or a Leatherman tool. You will need this to fix broken equipment, cut branches for a shelter, cut wood for a fire. This item will always be used and if you don't have at least a knife you might not make it.

SLEEPING BAG

Sleeping bag? Of course you need a sleeping bag, no doubt about it.

STOVE

If you are into backpacking because you love going out in nature and getting away from civilization for a while than the Stratus Trailstove is for you, it's a light weight wood stove that sells for about 20 bucks, it'll make you feel like an old time explorer.

1. COLLECT WOOD. You should have about 20 to 30 very thin twigs, and 10 to 15 small sticks to get the fire started and as many larger pieces you need to keep the fire going for as long as you need it.

2. BOTTOM BRANCHES. If the ground is covered with snow you can break dry branches off the bottom of a tree.

3. STARTER MATERIAL. You will need some material that ignites very easily to start the fire. There are a number of things you can use for this. Dry leaves, dry grass, bark, or chips from a dry semi-decomposed dead tree. Paper works fine too if you have some with you.

4. FIRE RING. Find a good location for your fire, there should be nothing nearby that could catch fire such as dry vegetation. Make a ring on the ground with rocks.

5. STARTER MATERIAL. Place the starter material in the center of the fire ring. Make sure there's plenty of air around each piece of material.

6. TWIGS. Make a teepee around the starter material using the thin twigs you collected earlier.

7. STICKS. Put the larger sticks around your twig teepee. Finish off with some more massive pieces.

9. WAIT. In about a minute the starter material has started to ignite the small twigs.

10. FIRE. After a few minutes your fire will be in full flame. Soon the teepee will collapse into a shapeless collection of burning wood, don't worry this is all normal and good. By now you fire is stable and will keep burning for as long as you feed it wood.

Pinnacles National Monument

Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Within the monument's boundaries lie 24,000 acres of diverse wildlands. The monument is renowned for the beauty and variety of its spring wildflowers. A rich diversity of wildlife can be observed throughout the year.

Pinnacles National Monument is divided into East and West Districts that are connected by trails, but not by a vehicle road. More than 30 miles of trails access geological formations, spectacular vistas and wildland communities. The Pinnacles' rock formations are a popular destination to challenge technical climbers. Pinnacles is a day-use park, but occasionally offers full moon hikes and dark sky astronomical observations led by ranger-interpreters.

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The monument is open to day use activities all year long. Winter hours are now in effect at Pinnacles. The park is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Getting There
CAR - Pinnacles National Monument consists of two districts: east and west. The West District is accessible from Highway 101 near the town of Soledad, then east along Highway 146 to the Chaparral area. The East District entrance is reached via Highway 25, south of the city of Hollister, then west on Highway 146. The districts are NOT connected by a road. It is not possible to drive through the Monument from one side to the other.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - There is no public transportation available. Greyhound Bus lines stop at King City, which is located 32 miles south of the monument.

Weather & Climate
The Pinnacles area is one of low rainfall (15 inches, occurring primarily during winter and spring), hot, dry summers (100 F+) and cool (50 F average), moist winters. When hiking, always carry plenty of water and wear sturdy, comfortable footwear.

Accessibility
The Bear Gulch Visitor Center and the Chaparral Ranger Station are wheelchair accessible.

Getting Around
Pinnacles National Monument is primarily a hiking park. Bicycles and vehicles may be used only on paved roads within the Monument.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
ANNUAL PASS
$15.00 for Annual
This pass can be purchased at any fee collection station in the park. It is good for 12 months beginning with the purchase month.

FEES PAYABLE BY CASH OR CHECK

Please bring cash or a check to pay your entrance fee. Credit cards are not accepted for federal fees, though you can use them to purchase books.

VEHICLE
$5.00 for 7 Days
This fee covers entrance to both districts of the monument for seven days.

WALK-IN
$2.00 for 7 Days
This fee covers park entrance by foot, motorcycle, and bicycle. Children under 16 do not need to pay. Please bring cash or a check - credit cards are not accepted.

CAMPING

There are no campgrounds within Pinnacles National Monument.
There is a private campground located just outside the park boundary on the east side of the monument.

LODGING

There is no lodging in Pinnacles National Monument
The closest lodging is located in Soledad (12.5 miles from the west district) or Hollister (40 miles from the east district).

FACILITIES

Ranger Stations
CHAPARRAL RANGER STATION
Open All Year 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (when staffing permits)
Phone - none
Location - West District.
Special Programs - Pinnacles Junior Ranger Program for kids 8-13 years old.
Exhibits - Various natural and cultural history exhibits.
Available Facilities - Restrooms.

Visitor Centers
BEAR GULCH VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone - (831) 389-4485 ext. 0
Location - East District.
Special Programs - Pinnacles Junior Ranger Program for kids 8-13 years old.
Exhibits - Seismograph, park topographical map, various natural and cultural history exhibits.
Available Facilities - Restrooms.

COOKING POT		This is a very important item, you will need a pot to melt and heat water. Drinking hot water will warm up your whole body. I would recommend just getting a cheap mess kit and using the pot from it. You could just grab a pot from your kitchen but these tend to be relatively heavy which is OK in your kitchen but not in your backpack.
DUCT TAPE		It's a good idea to pack a roll of duct tape. You can fix everything with duct tape, make sure you always have some with you.
LAMP		A good flashlight is an absolute necessity on every single trip to the backcountry.
FOLDING TOOL		Such as a Swiss army knife or a Leatherman tool. You will need this to fix broken equipment, cut branches for a shelter, cut wood for a fire. This item will always be used and if you don't have at least a knife you might not make it.
SLEEPING BAG		Sleeping bag? Of course you need a sleeping bag, no doubt about it.
STOVE		If you are into backpacking because you love going out in nature and getting away from civilization for a while than the Stratus Trailstove is for you, it's a light weight wood stove that sells for about 20 bucks, it'll make you feel like an old time explorer.