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April, 2025

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Questions about camping at guardsman

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treebeard
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 3,210
My friends and I are coming to brighton for a few days and we're trying to keep this trip as cheap as possible, so we're planning on finding a spot to do some winter camping. I'm familiar with the Guardsman area but I have a few questions about the possible sketchiness of camping in a non-designated camping area like this.

1. How far up is guardman pass road open? I'm guessing up until the access gate but I want to make sure we can drive far enough in.

2. Any experience with parking overnight near that gate? Definitely dont want to get my car towed. that's probably my main concern out of all of these

3. Any ideas of the legality of camping up there? We'll be going far enough into the woods to get away from most people but I know its a popular snowmobile area and id like to avoid attracting any unwanted attention
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61940 - Karma: 126,550
Rent a hotel in sandy, it will cost 50 bucks a night and you wont freeze.
12 years ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3606 - Karma: 3,972
Go post up in whats his fucks snowboard dudes area. He has a pretty legit shelter and some wood rails all over in his area.

I don't know why you would want to sleep up there though. Just get a hotel and not be a scummer...but you are going to Brighton, so...


12 years ago
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chubbspeterson
Posts: 575 - Karma: 4,341
pretty sure its illegal to camp there but id doubt they are cracking down on that right now. the road is only open until the gate. dont know about leaving your car over night. have fun freezing, especially if you're coming this weekend into early next week.
12 years ago
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onearmwanderer
Posts: 1153 - Karma: 31
Here is a good site for you: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/uwcnf/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5048559

Don't know how up to date it is, just found using google.
Although it appears they only want you camping in a designated spot, I really don't see what it hurts.

Also, while touring the other day I saw some guys camping. Do it up man if you have the gear. There's a reason they have 0 degree down bags. Sounds like a fun time!
12 years ago
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McDiggler
Posts: 140 - Karma: 17
unload gear at the gate with friends, drive car down to brighton or solitude parking lot and drop off, walk back up. have fun camping!
12 years ago
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treebeard
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 3,210
thanks for the feedback everyone

yeah we're going this week. i realize its going to be fucking cold as balls, but we've got the equipment, and cant change the weather right? if its too brutal after the first night we'll probably find somewhere inside for the second night
12 years ago
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gr4
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 945
i'm all for winter camping but brighton's low tonight is gonna be -19 with a windchill of -30. probably colder and windier up on gaurdsman. if you are geared out with stuff that can legitimately handle those temps then go for it but otherwise that can be pretty dangerous.
12 years ago
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FreeballinPGH
Posts: 64 - Karma: 23
-14 at 8 am today up that way, or so my car said
12 years ago
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nhjibber
Posts: 761 - Karma: 38
how are you gonna get your boots on?
12 years ago
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treebeard
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 3,210
We're as prepared as we can hope to be really. Sleeping bags rated to -20, thick sleeping mats, winter tent, propane burner and as many blankets as we can fit in my car. It's probably not going to be fun, or as fun as we were hoping for. Definitely didn't expect it to be thiiis cold when we started planning our trip but we're ready for it.
And we'll sleep with everything we need for skiing so it doesn't freeze. Like boot liners, gloves, that kind of thing. I'm a little nervous but we won't get ourselves in a bad situation. I think most importantly here is the fact that we fully understand the danger of being out in this cold of weather. We wouldn't be going after it if we weren't prepared.
I really appreciate all the feedback though. Here's to givin er
12 years ago
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dylhole
Posts: 2926 - Karma: 983
Dig a snowcave, it's worth the effort.  It can be tiny, and in all honesty, the smaller the better as far as warmth goes.  Good luck!  Oh, and don't forget the whiskey, you'll need it
12 years ago
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YewTard
Posts: 619 - Karma: 196
Jesus... I feel like I can deal with extreme cold better than most but it's just fucking stupid cold right now. You'd be able to unload your gear at the gate but I'm not sure about parking there. What you might have going for you is it's so cold nobody wants to deal with driving up there and ticketing/towing you. Parking at Brighton could work but would still be a bit of a bitch walking back up/down. It's a pass so the wind can really rip up there but you should be able to find some thick pines to shelter yourself a bit. After this last storm you might even be able to build some sort of snow shelter.

I dunno... I love the sense of adventure and would normally be on the same page, but this is one of those weeks a shitty hotel in Midvale/Sandy just seems necessary. Would allow you to actually enjoy the skiing without being sleep deprived and drained the entire day because your body used all of its energy trying to keep you circulating/alive at night.
12 years ago
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
Wait you guys have 4 season tents and -20-0* down bags, but you can't afford to split a motel room?
12 years ago
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treebeard
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 3,210
haha we rented them from our school's outdoor center. like 5 bucks a day. and its not so much about not being able to afford a place, we just dont want to. we enjoy winter camping.

anyway, the one kid who was coming with us ended up hurting himself on friday and didnt bother telling me (i'd been away since christmas), so we're postponing the trip. in all honesty its probably not a bad thing. i was stoked for some cold-ass camping but...fuck last night would have been fucking brutal. we'll probably try for the same trip when he's not hurt, and hopefully it wont be in the negatives this time
12 years ago
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