Procedure to save at the gate for Calstar

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Brad Templeton

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Sep 29, 2025, 6:56:31 PM (6 days ago) Sep 29

to The Astronomy Connection (TAC)

I asked for a clarification of the "second vehicle" rule for Lake San Antonio, which could make camping there a lot less expensive. The park wrote me:

Up to 8 people are allowed to camp at a single site, with a maximum of two vehicles per site. If you have more guests, you will need to book an extra site and pay for an additional vehicle if necessary.
The staff gate process is correct: the first person paying for the site must provide the name of the driver of the second vehicle. That second vehicle can arrive between 8am and 8pm, allowing staff to verify their identity. When the second vehicle arrives at the gate, they must inform the gate staff that they are the second vehicle associated with the reservation. If the $15 fee for the second vehicle hasn't been paid earlier at the gate, the driver must pay it at that time.
Names on the list cannot be added ahead of time until the person making the reservation reaches the gate. Until then, inform the gate staff of your group's name for the second vehicle. The $15 fee is payable either when paying for the site or when the second vehicle arrives at the gate. Be sure to notify the gate staff about the second vehicle associated with your site, regardless of whether you pay now or later.

So it means that two people can pay $60 rather than $90 (or $55 if over 62 years of age for the first driver.)

So next Calstar, I will create a spreadsheet. Once you leave, put yourself in the sheet with your ETA and number of days you plan to register for. After leaving 101, before losing cell signal, update it. Pick somebody else who will arrive later than you, "claim" them and give their name at the gate. Or, if you have been claimed by somebody, mark your acceptance, and once through the gate, find some signal and mark that it worked, and find your benefactor and give them $15/night. Or donate it to those who provide food like Dan or Randy.

(I suspect as well that they will cooperate and just ask, "Has <buddy> put <me> on the list as the second car yet? If so, great. If not, list <buddy> as my 2nd camper" and then you don't need to update the sheet, just know the name of a buddy arriving the same day as you -- you can arrive hours apart.)

Or don't bother and pay the full amount and give more to the park. Or just work it out with a specific buddy, and just set it so whichever of you gets their first lists the other. Note that this is not for people with trailers, that counts as your 2nd vehicle, I believe. Also best to pair with somebody spending the same number of nights.