Camping/hiking/fishing/hanging out/skinny dipping?

This is a real meetup unlike some imaginary ones which have been posted.http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/4/c/c/event_137117612.jpeg

I hope to share a campsite along the creek with several or a lot of real (nice) people that come for all or part of the trip. If you can't come til Saturday, fine, if you can get up there earlier, all the better. I've posted Friday at 4:20 as start time and by default, the latest you can rsvp. I'll actually be leaving town on Thursday at about 10 AM to secure a great site.

Halfmoon Creek has some of the nicer dispersed camping spots I know of. Right beside a nice sized creek, in the heart of the High country, yet accessible by passenger car, about 2 hours from Denver. It is very close to Leadville as well as some campgrounds for those who prefer a hotel or campground ammenities. It is close to the trailheads for Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, The Colorado Trail, and a shorter hike to North Halfmoon Lakes. For the more sedentary, there is beautiful Emerald Lake Picnic area to hang out at. Tons of other places to drive to as well, either passenger car trips or 4wd roads. Elevation of campsite is about 9,000 ft.

Directions and Meeting: From Leadville, travel south approximately 3 miles on US Hwy 24. Turn RIGHT on Colorado 300 at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery sign. Continue about 3/4 of a mile and turn LEFT at the Halfmoon Campground sign. Follow this road and turn RIGHT at the Halfmoon sign at the end of the pavement.

At this location I will put some orange surveyor tape on the sign or near it, and will leave a plastic bottle at the base with a note inside with directions to the camping spot.

This dirt road will lead to the Halfmoon East/West and Elbert Creek campgrounds. I will be camped before coming to those. (They do have 1st come 1st served camping sites)

I have a tan '91 Ford F-150 with camper shell (see photo in my profile), will also put out some orange surveyor tape to mark my campsite.

Activities: Besides what is mentioned in the title, this is a hippie group, so you may expect to see or do some things hippies are known to like. Other possibilities are kayaking at nearby Turquoise lake (or on tiny Emerald Lake), a road trip to Cottonwood Hot Springs, rafting the Arkansas. It will be a "do your own thing" meetup. I'll probably get a hike or 2 in. Evenings will hopefully be hanging out with some good peeps at the campsite.

I will be doing a hike with Second Wind Hiking to Native Lake on Saturday at 9 AM. It is about 40 minutes from the camping area to that trailhead.

We will not be able to have a campfire, but we could still roast marshmallows on a propane grill. I have 1. Bring some music if you can, either instruments or some kind of player/speaker for hippie music you may have. If no one brings any of this, it may be quiet which is fine too. I don't have a good sound system for camping. I do have a large tent and a canopy to make hanging out during a rainstorm comfortable.

Regulations and other info:

Although the statewide fireban has been lifted, I spoke with Leadville Ranger and there are still stage 2 restrictions in this area. No campfires, charcoal, etc. Any flames must be able to be turned off rather than put out. Even smoking is prohibited unless in a vehicle or while stopped in an area at least 3 ft. in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. (We'll have a designated smoking area or 3)

Forest service website. Please check out any of the recreation and campground info you may be interested in. Here's a good start page: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=12475&actid=29

Please use the comments section below for arranging carpools, sharing gear etc. And let me know through my profile email button if you want to caravan or possibly go with me on Thursday morning.