I'm getting a really bad case of cabin fever, but the last thing I want to do is risk getting SARS-CoV-2 or giving it to someone else.  So, I'll follow the recommendations of the qualified epidemiologists.  

Pinnacles is a wonderful place to visit.  I went there many years ago and am anxious to return some day.  In fact, I was scheming on it for late fall after the rains (if they come) reduce the fire danger.

Greetings:

I'm lucky enough to own a family cottage on a lake only 8 miles away (purchased in 1946 and much improved).

I park the pod out there to sleep in and use the cottage kitchen and bathroom.  Hopefully, the State parks will open soon for camping.  

Crankster78  (80 in May)

To fight off a new virus which humans have never seen before (which Covid is) you have to survive an exposure to it. In the process of doing that, you body develops antibodies (proteins) which are specifically "customized" to destroy that virus. This can either be from the disease itself or from a vaccine, if and when we get one. The genetic code to create those antibodies is retained and next time you are exposed your immune system can trigger the rapid generation and deployment of those antibodies. Just spending time outside in nature doesn't do anything to create those specific "custom" proteins. 

We really have no clear count on actual infection rates.  I also read this morning that in one state, the death certificates are no longer listing probable cause of death, thus skewing the data and underreporting the infection mortality.  

We also have to understand that some viruses don't necessarily confer immunity once you have recovered from an infection.  One example is dengue, a hemorrhagic fever, in which the second infection is far more dangerous than the first.  We are getting mixed information about whether SARS-CoV-2 confers immunity.  This complicates the development of a vaccine.

We contacted the Lassen Ranger District about our upcoming reservations and they are saying that they will follow state practices, so if CA keeps the campgrounds closed, they will keep the Forest Service campgrounds closed as well.  And, Lassen County is telling non-residents to stay away for recreation purposes.  If you ain't from around these parts, stay out of Lassen County.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a very successful form of semi-life.  It's victims spread the infection very efficiently well before they show symptoms.  It is not too fatal, like Ebola, so it can persist in a population for a very long time without killing the too many carriers, and it is highly contagious through aerosolized particles and from contaminates surfaces.  We are going to see this virus, in one or another of its evolutionary iterations, around for a very long time.  

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/County-trails-US-Forest-service-campgrounds-to-15235641.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=briefing&utm_campaign=sfc_baybriefing_am - https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/County-trails-US-Forest-service-campgrounds-to-15235641.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=briefing&utm_campaign=sfc_baybriefing_am

In regard to a "medical discussion," one cannot make an informed decision about camping without discussing the medical science issues of SARS-CoV-2.  To do so without considering the science would would be dangerous, especially for many of the members of this board who are retired or close to retirement, thus in the most vulnerable age group.  Pandemics, though they may have socio/political elements, are diseases and Mother Nature* dictates the rules by which they spread or are contained.  Those who don't want to play by her rules risk paying a terrible personal price and risk infecting many innocent people. *[This is intended as a metaphor for the process of nature, not an expression of religious or mystical belief.]

This isn't an issue of machismo, in which the brave go out and the wimps stay home.  This is an issue of caring about one's community and the common good and not spreading a potentially fatal infection to our "neighbors."  It's a matter of following the Golden Rule.

Can we camp with our self contained trailers?  Probably so, but there are limits.  Not only do we have to think about our own exposures, we need to also think about those folks who work in the campgrounds and have to clean up after us.  If we truly camp in a fully self contained situation where we bring our own water, take our "drainings" and garbage home with us, as well as avoid interactions with other campers and camp ground staff without proper PPE, i.e. face masks, and physical distance, then probably we can camp with minimal risk to ourselves or others.  The reality of camping is such that people don't always clean up after themselves, thus putting the campground employees at unnecessary risk.

For myself, I will go camping when the consensus from qualified public health officials says the risk is acceptable.  They are the only ones who know what the heck they are talking about; the others just emit greenhouse gasses from their posteriors.  

I would also add that dividing everyone into camps of either "staying sheltered for an indefinite period" or being "hell bent on getting out there" is not productive and just creates yet another point of contention. I don't want to be pigeon holed into either of those groups, IMHO both are silly positions to take. No one with any sense is going to stay locked in their house forever or charge straight into a Covid hotspot and take no precautions. What ever happened to obtaining the best information available and making the best possible decision for the whole community based on that information? 

For we lay people, we are at risk for listening to what we want to hear vs. what we need to hear.  It is human nature to filter information from others to fit into one's own "world view."  We have to be equally critical of our own preferred points of view.  

Personally I don't like to hear anyone's music, regardless of the genre, while camping. I'm looking for a natural experience, not an urban one. That's one reason I got rid of the class A and got an rPod, smaller is better to get to the nice quiet out of the way spots. 

As to the comment that "experts can often be mistaken", I'm honestly not sure what to make of that. Does it make more sense to take guidance from non-experts? Who is more likely to get it wrong, the experts who have made that subject matter their career or someone who knows nothing about it? And why would someone who doesn't understand a subject want to pontificate about it anyway? What is their agenda? 

Frankly I am concerned about the prevalence of this apparent negative attitude toward expertise. We used to respect and recognize our experts and encourage our young people to get the education needed to achieve that expertise in their chosen field. Now not so much it seems, even though we live in an age where the global economy is more knowledge based than ever. This doesn't bode well for the future I don't think. 

 

Unfortunately, sometimes experts are so narrowly focused that they can't see how their area of expertise fits in with the world at large. I'm tired of "experts" saying that man-made global warming is established science. At that point, it becomes like a religious dogma and anyone who dares to disagree is treated as a heretic. It is the same with this virus. For the experts who say that the isolation is the best way to go about this, there are epidemiologists and doctors who say that it is the wrong way. We have plenty of data, lots of knowledge, but unfortunately, little wisdom. Experts are people and even they can have personal agendas. I fit were not the case, we would have no need for new science textbooks every few years as what was once accepted is shown to be false with further research.

Point in fact: The VA tested hydroxychloroquine and concluded that it did not help, and in their opinion, made things worse. What was not stated in the report was that it was only given to the most ill patients and the control group was younger patients that weren't in as bad a shape. It turns out the doctor conducting the study works for a drug company associated with a competing product. Other doctors have said that in their practices, if hydroxychloroquine was administered early with azithromycin and zinc that it sped the recovery and none of the patients so treated got so bad as to require hospitalization. Which side should I believe? Meanwhile, Remdesivir is possibly helpful, but 15 days to 11 days while significant is not as good as something that given earlier, might cut the disease progression to eliminate the need for hospitalization.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2020/04/06/here-are-five-doctors-whose-patients-have-seen-recovery-with-hydroxy-chloroquine-n2566409 - https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2020/04/06/here-are-five-doctors-whose-patients-have-seen-recovery-with-hydroxy-chloroquine-n2566409

It isn't a peer reviewed, double-blind study, but I am willing to accept "anecdotal" evidence from doctors who have been observing the results.

As to the topic, we can't stay shut down. The original purpose was to "flatten the curve" so that new cases would not overload the emergency rooms and the ability to care for the most ill patients. Given that we now have increasing surplus supplies of ventilators and that other items of PPE are being manufactured at an increased pace, the purpose of the initial order has been met. People need to get back to work.

Based on all of this, I feel confident that, taking appropriate precautions, going camping will not be a problem. For people without a self-contained unit, it would be. Our next trips will see us using our R-Pod's shower instead of campground showers, etc.We will be ready to go when state parks and campgrounds open up.

As the famous comedian/philosopher said

" good judgement comes from experience. experience usually comes at the expense of bad judgement" or something like that

so, experts do indeed have their place, but we still need to evaluate and question anyone's opinion. Opinions are based on knowledge, experience and other unknown factors that are influential to the opinion givers. True facts and science are not generally influenced . sometimes it's hard to discern the truth

Vann

The fact that you started this paragraph with  "sometimes experts are so narrowly focused that they can't see how their area of expertise fits in with the world at large" tells me that you are allowing your view of the potential implications of a scientific theory to color whether you accept the theory or not. The  potential economic impact of addressing climate change has no bearing at all on the validity of the theory itself. Of course those impacts have everything to do with what society does about it, but that is a different matter. Or put more simply, don't shoot the messenger. 

As to Covid 19, it is very early days and much is still unknown, and certainly there hasn't been time for proper peer review.  Townhall has a very clear political agenda. 

But in the meantime there are known effective responses that we are ignoring. South Korea's actions for example have been highly successful by any reasonable definition. Their outbreaks started before ours, but their death rate per capita has been tiny, its currently only 2.5% of ours. They never broadly locked down, and their gpd only shrunk by 1.4% in Q1, compared to our 4.8% decline. Just maybe we could learn something from them? But for some reason I've never understood, it seems to be very difficult to get Americans to look outside our own borders for solutions. 

Part of South Korea's success is in how people interact. Hand shaking and hugs are not common. Also, if anyone feels ill, he/she wears a face mask. Both of those contribute to a lower rate of spread. What they are doing to treat cases, possibly much earlier than we start treating, is helping but we don't hear in the news how they are treating this.

As for science, scientists can and do confuse cause with effect and later on have to change their theories. My citation for doctors (who may not be "scientists" per se, but are conducting research show that there is conflict in opinion as to the validity of hydroxychloroquine, which was my point. Low-dose use with antibiotic (alternative if Zithromycin is not tolerated) plus zink given earlier seems to cut the severity in most patients. Remdesivir may be effective if it reaches the latter stages, but the cost will be many times that of hydroxychloroquine, which is generic and inexpensive. Which one will the drug companies want to make? Right now, the major source of hydroxychloroquine is India.

I wouldn't use duct tape. Perhaps Gorilla tape.

I heard experts tell us that 2 million people were going die of cv19. They appear to be very wrong. The experts said the earth was flat, I believe they were wrong. [post edited by techntrek] would say that in any situation that has variables, there is no such thing as experts. You can only guess or assume how the variable will go. At best, your making an educated guess. The most world altering inventions were almost all discovered by mistakes. Experts that were looking for answers to other things. In many cases an experts opinion is guided by other parameters such as cost, or availability, or the bias against something they tried 20 years ago, not working, and won't even consider now. I think it's important to seek advice from someone with vast experience in something, but I still reserve the right to question their opinion. 

[I edited this post due to political content - techntrek]

The beauty of science is its methodology.  No other human endeavor tests and retests established doctrine as does science.  No, science hasn't reached perfection and does go off track from time to time, especially when science gets influenced by large research funders who demand, either subtly or not so subtly, that the results are skewed in their favor.  But by and large, it sticks to the objective evidence better than everyone else.  

In non-scientific human activities, that are not peer reviewed or are peer reviewed based on whether it conforms to an earlier body of accepted beliefs, we tend to make up what we believe and treat it as fact when it is really an invention of the human mind.  Our arguments tend to be over whether the current belief fits an established doctrine and, where it doesn't, whether it is expedient to change the doctrine.  In my profession, for example, we argue about the law as though it is something that exists apart from human beings imaginations, but that is pure poppycock.  The entire legal system is a creation of the human mind that we "adjust" whenever we feel like to achieve the results we think we want at the moment.  So when we talk about legal "theories" we are arguing inside a tautology, or a manmade fiction filled with circular reasoning.  Science, on the other hand, is always testing, retesting, and looking outside the accepted doctrine to see if it is really describing the world objectively.

StephenH, you are confusing scientific hypotheses with scientific theories.  The use of various drugs to fight SARS-CoV-2 are being examined as we "speak."  Their efficacy is not scientific "theory" but rather a hypothesis that is being tested.  In the testing of the hypothesis that one or another drug actually works, plenty of mistakes will be made.  Research, when rushed, tends to not stand the test of time and peer review.  Preliminary findings in the testing of an hypothesis are often wrong.  This was the case with Hydroxychloroquine, which we are now finding has little effect on the virus and increases the mortality rate for those who take it.  

It is not that drugs like that should not be tested, but the testing process is inherently a trial and error process that will raise hopes, then dash them on a rocky shore when they turn out to be wrong.  The problem with the lay world is we tend to cling to these false hopes and blame the scientists when they prove that what we wished for does not achieve what we wanted.  Humans are impatient and want immediate solutions.  Objective reality doesn't conform to our wished for instant answers.  We are going to have to get used to the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in our lives for a long time to come.  Whether we can develop a vaccine or drugs to fight the disease are still open questions.  We must, if we are going to defeat this terrible disease, use the tools we have to stop the spread while we give real science, not radio announcers and politicians, the space and time they need to test each hypothesis and subject it to peer review so that whatever drugs we find will actually be efficacious and not dangerous to use.  There are plenty of chemical compounds that exist in the world that will kill the virus.  The problem is we have to sort through them to see which won't also kill the patient.  

<Sigh>

I was hoping that an R-Pod forum would be a welcome respite from the poorly informed, anti-scientific opinions spewed by Fox News acolytes, but alas, I guess not. Very unfortunate. 

Greetings:

We do not live on a benign planet!  Everything  is  trying to kill us.  We are social creatures, 6.6 billion of us.  We cannot go backwards in time.  A ongoing disruption in our economy will end up killing more people than the virus.  99% of folks who get the virus will recover. For this we have given up all our Civil Liberties, for some false sense of safety.  I'm going to be 80 in a couple of weeks.  As a American Citizen and a veteran,  I want to die as a free man.

Crankster78

Hand shaking and hugs aren't common in the US right now either. I'm sure we would all be willing to give that up in order to save lives and get our economy running again. And wearing masks in public isn't a big deal. 

This video provides a pretty good idea what South Korea has been doing. Its in Korean but subtitled and well worth a watch. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAk7aX5hksU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAk7aX5hksU

This is a short form summary. 

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2020/04/13/combating-covid-19-lessons-from-south-korea/ - https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2020/04/13/combating-covid-19-lessons-from-south-korea/

And these is some recent comments from their health minister.

https://time.com/5830594/south-korea-covid19-coronavirus/ - https://time.com/5830594/south-korea-covid19-coronavirus/

Their response has not focused on treatments for sick people, Theirs has been a public health response.  IMHO, focusing on treating sick people is like shutting the barn door after the horse has gone. Pharma companies might be happy if everyone gets sick but personally I'd rather not have them get sick in the first place. The S Korea success shows that is possible. 

Gorilla tape?  What's that? Duct tape and WD40. That's all that we southern engineers ever need 

As for the remainder of your comments, they are blatantly political and I beg to differ, but out of respect for the promise of all not to get into political discussions will leave it at that.

As for crankster78's comments, again, they are musings and speculations at best, all of which are unsupported by facts, and are also very political.  SARS-CoV-2 sees you as food and could give a flying fig whether you are free, a veteran or an American citizen.  Viruses have no politics.

You just did. We hit 6.6 billion ppl in 2006, 14 years ago. We're at 7.8 bil now. But what's a measly 1.2 billion here or there? 

My personal opinion, which I freely admit is partly driven by the mental disability of a very severe case of cabin fever and the beauty of spring days, is that we can reach the fine balance between being utterly self centered and utterly self sacrificing for the common good by camping in remote areas in fully self contained trailers where we take home all our "by-products" of camping and dispose of them there.  As I stated in other posts, we also have to consider the effect we are having on those who have to work in the campgrounds we want to visit. Though we may use the utmost care to avoid spreading SARS-CoV-2, others could care less about the workers in the campgrounds.  

I see this in everyday life in my own community.  When I go to the supermarket it amazes me how many people pretend the virus doesn't exist and don't follow even the basic mask and distance practices.  I wear a mask, knowing full well it does little to protect me, but I tolerate the discomfort knowing that I don't want to infect others by a sneeze or cough that could make someone else ill, potentially fatally.  I wish others would think of the common good too, but they seem to only be able to think of themselves.

We need to also recognize the preference of the locales where we wish to camp.  Not everyone wants us there.  Lassen  County, CA, in its county website has specifically asked people to stay away.  Their policy states:  "In summary, if you are not in already in Lassen County, please do not come here. Everyone can walk, run, hike and bike in their local community, and nearby forests. When the COVID-19 crisis is over, we will be happy to share our beautiful county with you but until then, please exercise and recreate close to home."  Maybe it's time to respect the feelings of others instead of trying to gratify our own wishes.  Sadly, the ability to put the needs of one's community above one's own ego is disappearing from the American experience.  

We went on a recon mission yesterday to see if some of my "Secret" dispersed sites are free of snow yet.  We drove up Chinook Pass.  As I said in an earlier post, developed camp grounds are closed but camping is allowed at dispersed sites in the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest. There were people camping in almost every dispersed site we passed on the way up.

I had to walk about a half mile over a snow covered road to get to this one.  I was surprised to see a tent already set up there.  This spot is just off a paved road.  We drove up some gravel roads and didn't see anyone camping and lots and lots of spots to park an Rpod.

But, that being said, we need to pay special attention to not putting the park employees at risk, either through the failure to use masks and keep a safe distance during interactions, or in not cleaning up after ourselves.  Garbage, water and toilet facilities are likely the most difficult to protect from the spread of the virus and should be opened very cautiously.  This is gross, but remember, when you smell the stinky vault toilet, the reason for the odor is that aerosolized molecular bits of fecal matter are landing on your olfactory nerves.  The virus is even smaller and can be aerosolized far more easily.

We have reservations at the Merrill Campground north of Susanville, CA.  I am hopeful that Lassen County will withdraw its stay away request to the public and that the campground will be open on a limited basis for fully self contained RV's.  If it is and we can safely camp without being unreasonably endangered or endangering others, we will probably go.

For the time being, widely disbursed camping in fully self contained RV's seems to be a reasonable step in very cautious reopening.  

Yes. The campground is open. BUT, the facilities are closed, and the trails are closed. So if you're OK with sitting around at the campground, go for it.

Assuming you may be paying attention (I gave up)... Any word from Canada besides roadblocks/check points and folks being turned back? Province to Province is restricted at last I hear, never mind entering.. 

Figure your trip is gone for this year... I'm still hoping to salvage mine into New Brunswick, probably fall though... Still optimistic about late summer.

 

My wife and I had many trips planned for this summer and fall, starting this month and many, if not most, will not come to fruition.  Since I hit the big 73 this September [yes birthday gifts in small unmarked bills would be most welcome], I'll be pushing 74 or 75 when camping and full unrestricted travel become a possibility again.  Who knows if I'll even be able to drive by then, much less alive.  It's bad enough buying stuff thinking that this may be the last widget I ever buy, but to lose time seeing the country is especially hard to accept.

But, as I have reminded my children many times over the years, life is not fair and you just have to deal with it.  We have to act responsibly not only for ourselves and our own health, but for the best interests of everyone.  The last thing any of us needs is to burden our families by getting sick out on the road and not be able to get home, need help from them, then give them the lasting gift of SARS-CoV-2 when they come to our rescue.

Up until I don't know when, the restrooms were closed. It's not been until maybe the beginning of May when they opened the restrooms.

That said, the state is generally still in shelter-in-place until the end of May. So use public restrooms with extreme caution.

Maybe you don't realize it but you are inviting argument about how we should be responding to this epidemic by the way you are asking that question and stating your position.  Many of us think that for the good of the whole community during the pandemic it shouldn't be up to you. Its like if I said I'm personally responsible and am going to get back to enjoying my life poaching elephants. That's an exaggeration but I hope you get my point. It immediately turns into a political argument. 

My suggestion is that we drop it and keep this to just to specifics about what's up with various parks and campgrounds. 

Remember everyone, "Life is not so much about avoiding the storms, it is more about learning to drive in the rain"

Everyone have a great summer and fall and be careful out there!!!!!

For myself, I would be fine with going to a sparsely used campground, going on quiet walks, maybe a short bike ride, and sitting around reading, none of which is a high exposure activity.  Using the public facilities, such as water spigots and the bathroom facilities, is another matter.  So are very crowded campgrounds since they inherently involve close proximity to others and shared facilities and, like the open beaches, people don't seem to be able to resist the party on behavior throwing caution to the wind. 

Between the two extremes of opening everything and pretending this invisible killer doesn't exist and closing down everything, there are reasonable compromises and actions that can be taken that make the risks acceptable, but each situation has to be evaluated given its particular circumstances.  What is reasonable should be guided by the advice of epidemiologists not by those with a political agenda.  

We are really like teenagers engaging in risky behavior thinking that bad s...t only happens to others.  Life doesn't work that way.

I just heard May 25th for State Parks in MA... Actually opening the parking lots and hopefully other services, like camping. I looking to get out and surf cast a bit, but the public lots are closed..

Please pass your source for the 18th so I can check this out! 

Just saw your second post... Matches up more like what I've heard.

I've held back from commenting, but please Fred.. Stick to what is opening and leave your views of how we 'should' behave to a different thread. I, as a few others, are tried of hearing this. A different thread please... 

(groan)

The Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest is planning on Opening developed areas by late May.  We are going to stick to camping in dispersed areas though.  We went on another recon trip up Chinook pass yesterday.

We drove forty miles on Gravel roads suitable for our Hood River edition R-pod and saw a total of 3 camps occupied.  There are Literaly hundreds of places suitable to park an R-pod.

Rocky Prairie looking NW toward Bald Mountain.

Mount Rainier from Canteen Flats.

Nelson's Ridge, looking SW from Canteen Flats.  The Highest peaks from left to right; Rattle Snake Mountain, Bismark Peak, Mount Aix.

Glacier Lillys, Canteen Flats

Not to worry, this sign is left over from last Fall when they burned the area.

The Deer like all the new growth that sprouted in the burn this spring  Thank you USFS

It looks pretty nice and has various levels of hook up, though on this trip, we may hook up to only the electricity.  

I agree with you on the beauty of North Carolina Stephen.  In early May 2007 I was pulled out of retirement by the USFS to work with a Wildfire Incident Team on the Pinnacle Peak fire in the Linville Gorge on the Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest.  A highlight was flying up the Linville Gorge in a Jet Ranger with the doors off.

We flew back home out of Asheville so drove the Blue Ridge Parkway back to there.  There was a day to kill before our flight so we were treated to a tour of the Cradle of Forestry in Asheville.  It is the first School of Forestry in the United States.  Established in 1898.  It was a highlight of my 45 year career as a Fire Fighter for the USFS and for that I am greatful.

 

What I also found out, that is especially disturbing, is that there are a lot of very, very angry people out there.  The official said that they are not only getting calls from people unhappy with the fact that they cannot open until they have adequate PPE for the staff, but that there are people threatening to kill campground employees and volunteers if they aren't allowed to go camping.  I don't think the camp ground hosts, forest rangers, and maintenance staff signed up to get shot. 

Unfortunately, people who make these threats are another example of "shoot the messenger." While I am disappointed with the situation and really would like to go camping, especially dispersed, self-centered people like those who would threaten the staff are only going to cause things to open up even later. These are the same type of people who run their generators, play loud music, and get upset if somebody asks them to tone things down during quiet hours when they are having their party. Unfortunately, this is not a virus problem. It is a character problem with those who make these kind of threats.

I want camping to open up, but I want it open safely and am willing to wait until the staff has their PPE.

I was tempted to try for dispersed camping since some is open, but as those locations are not well patrolled, especially now, I am afraid of running into some of these jerks who think they are "entitled" to do whatever they want, or might even be "entitled" to my campsite because they just drove all the way up the mountain and they have been somehow much more unfairly put upon by Covid-19 than anyone else. 

My apologies for going off topic of this thread, but really??

Its not off topic I don't think. Let's face it, camping is a public activity and we rely on the existence and enforcement of rules to have a good experience.  With less monitoring activity and higher demand on the fewer open areas Covid is likely exacerbating the problems.  Just something to be aware of when considering dispersed camping during the pandemic. 

As for trying to live where there aren't people who have an outsized sense of self entitlement, you'd probably have to find another planet.  

The only practical trips for the time being are short 2 or 3 night stays that are close to home.  Dump stations give me the creeps because they are crawling with nasty bugs anyway and now can be worse.  Several posts back, I cautioned about aerosolized critters in toilets, suggesting that the smell you sense is the result of aerosolized molecular sized fecal matter landing on an olfactory receptor in your sinuses.  And OG's caution about laundromats being problematic is exactly right.  If you did one of those fancy black light paint transfer experiments in a laundromat you'd probably never want to go back to one.  Here's a little black light experiment that illustrates the issue:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGQEuuv9R6E - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGQEuuv9R6E

So, today, in an effort to lessen the horrible case of cabin fever we have, we're going to drive up to the Sierras for a nice walk in solitude and return before we have to pee.  We might even stop on the return at Big Box Hardware to get some stuff for my ongoing gardening projects.

Being out doors with a carrier is probably not going to get you infected. And probably OK to "touch" things that might be carrying virus particles; just remember to wash/disinfect before you touch your eyes, nose, mouth, or something that will spread it around to others.

The article is behind a paywall, but I think the paper has lowered the wall for the duration of the pandemic (or for some time). If you can't access it, send me a PM or post here, and I will figure out a way to get it to others.

I'm heading out on Tuesday to confirm some local ones to report to my local chapter. Our WMNF's are due to open in the next 2 weeks (as typical). No word of services as of yet (i.e. bathhouses, visitor centers..).