Annual Full Moon Paddle & Picnic/Camping Event

## Details

Join us for our annual tradition of gathering for dinner and paddling on the lake after the sun goes down to catch the full moon!

We secured the group site at Hood Creek Campground at Hyalite this year. NOTE: This year we have it for only one night. (That site is hard to get and it books out a year in advance especially weekends)

***FIRST-RSVP FIRST-SERVE FOR CAMPING SPOT - PLEASE RSVP AND ANSWER YES YOU WANT TO CAMP AND TYPE/SIZE OF VEHICLE*** Otherwise answer NO to join for just the dinner and/or paddle.

2:00pm - check-in time at the site, come early if you are able and want to paddle and help us set up
5:30-6:00pm - cookout/potluck
8:30pm (est) - launch for moonlight paddle

We will do our normal style event: providing gas grills, paper plates etc. and some type of main dish(s), and drinking water. Attendees should contribute some kind of side dish or appetizer. BYOB.

Arriving: The entry road is narrow and after about 50' there is a sharp left turn. It's possible to continue straight down to a boat ramp and turn around there, although the place gets more crowed every year.

Parking will be tight - only 15 parking spaces, for vehicles and smaller RVs/trailers. Preference is given to people staying for the night. Last time we had about 23 participants so we did a small shuttle to a day use only parking lot about a half miles away.
Bring your favorite happy hour snacks to share (for Steve that's maybe pistachios - double duty as fire starter).

Informal group dinner Monday Evening: We will provide a main dish, possibly involving chicken - TBD. Cookware should be available for people with special diets. We probably won't starve. :) BYOB

Participants need to bring a side dish or dessert of their choosing for the group. We will post a potluck signup when we get closer.

Money: We suggest a $10 per person donation for the main dish food for the group and help toward site reservation ($208.00)

Firewood: To protect against invasive species, Forest Service rules understandably say do not bring in firewood from other places, although if it's local firewood from this forest generally okay. Small bundles are available for $8 ? from the camp host at campsite 5.
Also any scrap lumber (kiln dried 2x4 scraps etc) that has been kept dry would seem safe from invasive species. In the past, members have kept a large fire going from about 8pm to 11pm in the large group fire ring ...

Estimated launch time: ---- to be determined ---- generally around 8:00-8:30pm this time of year. Haul boats to the water soon after arriving (ask for buddy system help) so you are ready when the time arrives. A couple of us have strap on wheels for kayaks.

Facilities
Distance from our parking lot to lake shore is roughly 30 yards. Vault toilet at our parking area. A working hand water pump exists next to campsite 4 (narrow road with no parking there) and that's about 400 yards from us - a long way to carry a large container of water.
There is one raised ground tent site. In past years some have pitched a tent near the water. You will need a WARM sleeping bag - the nighttime gets cold at 6,700 ft elevation).
If you plan to sleep in your vehicle or camping trailer, please mention in your RSVP what type of vehicle you will have.

Parking: There are only 15 parking spaces at the site. A goal is to give priority to people with vans etc. who will be staying over night. Otherwise, we encourage arranging carpooling ahead of time, and parking is available at the main boat launch parking lot - you can unload your boat at the campsite and we'll follow you over to the parking lot for shuttle.

On the following morning, people are mostly on their own - checkout time is 10 AM
Options:
a) Move your vehicle and boat to the boat launch at the other end of the campground and do a daytime paddle. Park your vehicle carefully so that when lots more people come you won't get blocked in.
b) Move your vehicle and boat to the Palisade Falls parking lot and hike up to the waterfall. Park your vehicle carefully...
c) there is a relatively new parking area uphill from Chisholm campground - I don't know what trails it serves.

- Short hike on switchbacks to Palisades Falls after about a five minute drive to the parking lot.
- Hike the trail to Hyalite Peak: You would have to be in good shape to reach the top (start early to arrive at the top by 2pm and get off the bare mountain top before possible afternoon lightning storms !)
- Hike to just the first waterfall on the Hyalite trail (easy and interesting - maybe 45 minutes for most people to reach the falls)

General Items:
Guests who are not paid members are welcome for a $10 donation per person.
Bring a waterproof small flashlight "just in case" (also possibly a camera or cell phone in a waterproof bag) for evening paddling.
We intend to provide small glow lights for the front and back of each member's kayak so the flock of kayaks can stay together... or two or three can paddle off together. Just don't go far off by yourself.
Paddle at your own risk. Always wear approved flotation device while on the water. Always paddle with the buddy system. If someone falls in, get the person to shore as quickly as possible while designating anyone with extra dry clothing / blanket also head to shore and others paddle to get help. We will probably have a liability release form (same one as people join the group).
Note: In some past years green algae blooms have been found at the lake. These are usually near the shore line and thus more harmful to dogs and children.