Camping in Angeles National Forest (San Bernardino, Azusa: home, safe area, shop)

[Westbound12]

Hi all
So I'm thinking about possibly taking a week off to go camping in Angeles National Forest. I have been doing some research on the area and had a few questions. I understand that if you have an Adventure Pass you still have to pay the campsite fees however there are some campgrounds in Angeles National Forest that are free; is this true?? Also is Angeles National Forest in general a safe area for camping alone? Other than the necessary precautions one would need to take is there anything that I absolutely need to know before I go? I don't plan on going into the middle of the wilderness or hiking through the boonies rather I would just like to set up camp in a more crowded area and call it good because I want to be closer to the city.

[ferretkona]

Make sure to pick up a campfire permit. Bring fresh drinking water and toilet paper.
You are not required to use pay camping sites, I have often made camp in nice clearings.
I have never had a problem in USFS camp sites or state camp sites. I tend to enjoy state camping more as they usually have hot showers available.

[Chicano3000X]

You would not want to do that. I did that before and didn't enjoy it one bit. First of all, at night there is children laughing. I woke up turned on my flashlight to find a doll sitting at the corner of my tent with no eyes. I froze, then saw a shadow above and then it disappear. Looked at the corner again and the doll was gone. The next morning there was intestines scattered around my tent. Intestines of who knows what. My friend was freaked out too. We decided that tonight we'll leave. He didn't believe me about the doll though. Anyway we were ready to leave just around sunset. Just then our car stalled. I used my phone but nothing but a weird distorted screaming noise came from it. We checked under the hood to see what had happened and noticed the battery was disconnected. We fixed it and got back into the car. But not before hearing laughter and someone running around in the grass. The car started being rocked back and fourth and we just drove the hell out of there.
We found the freeway and were home free and I realized that my car was making a weird vibrating noise. I took it to the nearest gas station and looked at it. I looked for the nearest shop that was open and the mechanic wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money just for a checkup. I argued with him and decided to check it again. It was my timing belt. I decided to take it to my uncle's pad and we got it fixed and so I finally got that problem solved. I decided never to go camping there again without properly checking my car first.

Other than that it was ok. But it was a crappy experience with having to fix my car and all..

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

You would not want to do that. I did that before and didn't enjoy it one bit. First of all, at night there is children laughing. I woke up turned on my flashlight to find a doll sitting at the corner of my tent with no eyes. I froze, then saw a shadow above and then it disappear. Looked at the corner again and the doll was gone. The next morning there was intestines scattered around my tent. Intestines of who knows what. My friend was freaked out too. We decided that tonight we'll leave. He didn't believe me about the doll though. Anyway we were ready to leave just around sunset. Just then our car stalled. I used my phone but nothing but a weird distorted screaming noise came from it. We checked under the hood to see what had happened and noticed the battery was disconnected. We fixed it and got back into the car. But not before hearing laughter and someone running around in the grass. The car started being rocked back and fourth and we just drove the hell out of there.
We found the freeway and were home free and I realized that my car was making a weird vibrating noise. I took it to the nearest gas station and looked at it. I looked for the nearest shop that was open and the mechanic wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money just for a checkup. I argued with him and decided to check it again. It was my timing belt. I decided to take it to my uncle's pad and we got it fixed and so I finally got that problem solved. I decided never to go camping there again without properly checking my car first.

Other than that it was ok. But it was a crappy experience with having to fix my car and all..

What the hell are you talking about?? Is this like some kind of joke to scare newbies?? What were you smoking when you were camping?

[Fontucky]

Camping and LSD don't mix.

[Mike121]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

You would not want to do that. I did that before and didn't enjoy it one bit. First of all, at night there is children laughing. I woke up turned on my flashlight to find a doll sitting at the corner of my tent with no eyes...

LOL.

The truth is that much of Angeles is not really a zen place to experience nature. It is too close to the city. It is more like a good place to head out and have an afternoon BBQ. It'll still be fun, but, might not be what you're looking for.

However, there are area of Los Padres that can be quite quiet.

[Spikett]

Originally Posted by Mike121

LOL.

The truth is that much of Angeles is not really a zen place to experience nature. It is too close to the city. It is more like a good place to head out and have an afternoon BBQ. It'll still be fun, but, might not be what you're looking for.

However, there are area of Los Padres that can be quite quiet.

I agree with this. We always go to the San Bernardino Nat'l Forest. Los Padres has some nice areas too.

[Tex?Il?]

Hmm . . . I don't know,

I definitely agree that the Los Padres of Ventura County have bigger tracts of wilderness, more solitude, etc. and the San Bernardinos are great because they are a little higher, with more forest, alpine areas, but the San Gabriels/Angeles Natl' forest is a pretty amazing wilderness area. I mean once you get past La Canada on the Angeles Crest theres basically not a building in site all the way to Wrightwood, except for Newcombs Ranch. There are MANY areas where one backpack and get lost.

It offers a lot more than an afternoon BBQ. Its one of the steepest and highest mountain range abutting a major urban area in north america. Its not Griffith Park.

The one caveat though is that the east fork San Gabriel on 39/north of Azusa can get crowded and trashed. People like escaping to the river on a hot day. The parking lot on hot summer days for Bridge to Nowhere hike is packed. I got a ticket because I was borderline parked in a no parking zone. I contested, but to no avail.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Chicano3000X

You would not want to do that. I did that before and didn't enjoy it one bit. First of all, at night there is children laughing. I woke up turned on my flashlight to find a doll sitting at the corner of my tent with no eyes. I froze, then saw a shadow above and then it disappear. Looked at the corner again and the doll was gone. The next morning there was intestines scattered around my tent. Intestines of who knows what. My friend was freaked out too. We decided that tonight we'll leave. He didn't believe me about the doll though. Anyway we were ready to leave just around sunset. Just then our car stalled. I used my phone but nothing but a weird distorted screaming noise came from it. We checked under the hood to see what had happened and noticed the battery was disconnected. We fixed it and got back into the car. But not before hearing laughter and someone running around in the grass. The car started being rocked back and fourth and we just drove the hell out of there.
We found the freeway and were home free and I realized that my car was making a weird vibrating noise. I took it to the nearest gas station and looked at it. I looked for the nearest shop that was open and the mechanic wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount of money just for a checkup. I argued with him and decided to check it again. It was my timing belt. I decided to take it to my uncle's pad and we got it fixed and so I finally got that problem solved. I decided never to go camping there again without properly checking my car first.

Other than that it was ok. But it was a crappy experience with having to fix my car and all..

Sort of a Blair Witch experience?