Keeping the Smartphone going while Camping.

As more and more people transition from regular cell phones to the new line of internet enabled smart phones, battery life away from the home and vehicle can become a concern. Take my example, before my trip to Bass Lake in July 2009 I purchased a new IPhone 3GS. One thing that I quickly realized was the limited battery life this unit had. While I am not new to smartphones, the rate at which the unit used the battery was a surprise to me. I have listed a few tips that will help keep your phone going on those longer dry camping trips.

• If there is no signal, go ahead and turn the phone off.
  • Some phone can use a lot of power trying to pick up a signal, if you’re in a remote area it is better just to turn the phone off or place it in flight mode.
• Adjust your power options to turn the screen or backlight off sooner.
• Turn down the brightness
• Disable push e-mail and have the phone fetch e-mail once every hour or not at all (hey you’re camping you deserver a break).
• Bring the phone car charger.
  • You would be surprised how a quick run to the camp store can add a few hours' worth of use to your phone.
• Consider purchasing an extra spare battery or external battery-charging device.
  • I always carried a spare battery for my old Treo. Since the IPhone has a non-removable battery, you will have to purchase a charging case or battery. While these items are expensive, they can be life saving in an outdoor emergency. Here is a list of couple of external charging devices.
    • Mophie juice pack air
    • Case-mate
    • Energizer Energi To Go (non-IPhone)

With some of the tips listed above, you should be able to make it to the end of your camping trip.

Wishon Bass Lake Campground Part 2

Good Eating:
Dining choices are limited to the near-by Millers Landing Grill and the Forks Restaurant on the campground side of the lake. Ducey’s on the Lake is a 15-minute drive on the other side of the lake. Each of these locations has a general store to pick up forgotten items.
Fishing:
Fishing can be good in the spring and fall at this lake. A combination of bass, trout, and other warm-water species are available. During the summer the warm-water temperatures make this lake a prime area for wakeboarding and tubing.
Hiking
Several hiking trails are available at Bass Lake. The following is a small list of trails to try out:
Willow Creek Trail and Angel Falls
Goat Mountain / Spring Cove Trails
Way of the Mono Interpretive Trail
For more information check out the Bass Lake Trail Page from BassLakeCA.com.
Critters:
Due to the low elevation and abundant water source mosquitoes and wasp can be an issue. An ample supply of insect repellant is mandatory. The majority of Bass Lake regulars have invested in those big screened patios to keep the pests out while eating around the picnic table.
Squirrels and raccoons are around the campground. Please remember to store your food properly, either in the RV or the vehicle. There are a few bears around, but they are not as problematic as the bears in Yosemite up the hill.
Things to do:
In the spring and fall, fishing and hiking are the top activities. As summer rolls around and the water temperatures warm up, then everyone hits the water to cool off. There are two paved boat launching areas (Pines Resort and Wishon Point). You can also rent boats and other watercraft at Miller’s, Fork’s or Pines Resort.

Insiders tip:
If you’re looking to rent a boat try early morning or midweek (Monday – Thursday) for a discount. You can also ask for a discount if you see a lot of unused watercraft sitting around the rental dock.
Part one of my Wishon Bass lake Campground Review

Wishon Bass Lake Campground Review

Bass Lake is located in the Sierra National Forest about 15 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite. At an elevation of 3,400 feet, Bass Lake is a great place to enjoy water activities during the summer. During the spring and fall, Bass Lake is an oasis for fishing and other activities. Wishon is the smallest camp at Bass Lake and set at the end of the lake, near the dam. There are several lakeview and partial lake view sites to choose from.

General information:

The Wishon campground is located a few miles off of California State Route 41 about 35 miles north of Fresno, California. This lakeside campground is open May to September. Reservation for the summer months are recommended and can be booked online. Wishon campground has 47 campsites, several of them that are double sized for up to 12 people and 4 vehicles. Each site includes picnic tables and fire pits. Piped drinking water is available at several locations around the campgrounds. Camp hosts and firewood sales are also available on site. There are sites for RVs up to 30 feet long. The sites are a combination of dirt and graded dirt. There are some sites with a lot of slope, so leveling may be an issue for RVs.

Campground Photos:

Click on the picture below to see all the Bass Lake Wishon Point pictures.

Bass Lake Photos

Bath Facilities:

There are four bathhouse buildings in the campground. Of the buildings I observed, the bathrooms are private stalled with flush toilets and washbasins. I have seen cleaner facility at some of the State Parks, but these were acceptable. Showers are not available at the campground. There is a private shower building located at Millers Landing resort which can be reached via a trail located by campsite 18. Price for the showers is 3.00 per five minutes, and they are open as late as 10:00 PM. Please check with the resort to get the exact hours as they can change during the season.

Our family was able to set up a Cabela’s shower shelter and take a quick shower using our Coleman Hot Water on Demand unit.

Pets:

Dogs are permitted, two per site, and must be kept on a 6-foot leash during the day and need to be in confined areas overnight.

Best sites:

If you’re looking for a lakeview, you will need to reserve sites 1 through 4 months in advance. If you’re looking for a peak of the lake through the pines, then sites 40 through 47 are a good bet. If you’re looking for a short walk to the nearby store, restaurant, and showers, then sites 9 through 18 will keep you close by. Be aware of the steep uphill walk back to camp.

Continue to Wishon Bass Lake Camp Review Part 2