The Gorge Q&A and FAQs

[RiotAct]

Originally Posted by yoshi

Hi folks, this will be the first time Gorge for me. Can't wait for coming the day! Let me ask some questions.

1)Is there a battery charge spot at the venue? If there isn't, how does everybody charge your phone etc?

In 2012 when the wife and I were at Wildhorse, we just ran the rental car for a little bit and plugged in via the cigarette lighter outlet to charge our phones up to an acceptable level. We only had to do this once or twice though.... we weren’t on them too much except to contact the folks we were swapping tickets with, check on family back home, etc.

[ExistenceNow]

Last year, I took one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It gives 2-3 full charges, which is more than enough to get me through the weekend.


First two years we did the car thing. Both years someone in our group forgot about it and let the car battery go dead. Idiots.

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by dmbolp

1) Don't believe so. You may find a random unprotected power outlet somewhere

2) Toilets?!?!? It's all port-o-lets in General Camping, maybe "emptied" a couple times a day, but don't know about cleaning

Yes, I know. When I went to outdoor shows, it was so dirty that I couldn't put my feet anywhere. I wonder how everyone uses there.

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

Last year, I took one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It gives 2-3 full charges, which is more than enough to get me through the weekend.

First two years we did the car thing. Both years someone in our group forgot about it and let the car battery go dead. Idiots.

It was unfortunate! Was anyone charge it with the engine on at camping site?

Originally Posted by RiotAct

In 2012 when the wife and I were at Wildhorse, we just ran the rental car for a little bit and plugged in via the cigarette lighter outlet to charge our phones up to an acceptable level. We only had to do this once or twice though.... we weren’t on them too much except to contact the folks we were swapping tickets with, check on family back home, etc.

I'll prepare s few mobile batteries.

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by yoshi

It was unfortunate! Was anyone charge it with the engine on at camping site?



I'll prepare s few mobile batteries.

I tried to tell them to start the engine every once in a while but they don't listen very well.

Luckily people camping around us had jumper cables, so no big deal.

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by dmbolp

1) Don't believe so. You may find a random unprotected power outlet somewhere



2) Toilets?!?!? It's all port-o-lets in General Camping, maybe "emptied" a couple times a day, but don't know about cleaning

Wtf is this port-o-let’s bullshit. They’re honey buckets.

[BotheLaneFan]

Should I go to this? How many hippies will be there?

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by daveshookme

Wtf is this port-o-let’s bullshit. They’re honey buckets.

Hahaha! A lot of ants gather there!

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by BotheLaneFan

Should I go to this? How many hippies will be there?

All of them, Bo. You’ll hate it and have a blast.

[beatmichigan100]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

Last year, I took one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It gives 2-3 full charges, which is more than enough to get me through the weekend.


First two years we did the car thing. Both years someone in our group forgot about it and let the car battery go dead. Idiots.

I got something similar to this a couple years ago for Deer Creek camping and it was fantastic!

https://www.amazon.com/24000mAh-Port...70_&dpSrc=srch

[dewke]

I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCo...p_ob_title_wld

It will keep your phone charged all weekend, but I am intrigued by the solar one for longer camping trips.

[ExistenceNow]

Southwest schedule is out.

[YouNeverKnow25]

itineraries look good for me but prices too high right now. will wait and book when it drops.

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

itineraries look good for me but prices too high right now. will wait and book when it drops.

Got our flights from Austin to Seattle on Thursday for 6,900 points each. Flights home on Monday are outrageous on SW. Actually ended up booking on Delta for the way home. So we're pot committed now.

[dmbolp]

Decided to come back TUE for the lower price, no rush out of camping, spend the holiday in Seattle

[CrushB610]

Originally Posted by dewke

I have one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCo...p_ob_title_wld

It will keep your phone charged all weekend, but I am intrigued by the solar one for longer camping trips.

i have the same one... came in clutch for sure.

In 2016 there was a charging station up at the Pivot I think you had to pay a few bucks to use.

[YouNeverKnow25]

Originally Posted by ExistenceNow

Got our flights from Austin to Seattle on Thursday for 6,900 points each. Flights home on Monday are outrageous on SW. Actually ended up booking on Delta for the way home. So we're pot committed now.

nice to hear that you will definitely be there. I'm not 100% on it at this point.

probable-to-definite though

I essentially have to fly SW. unless the competitors are literally double SW's price, I'm saving by booking with them via the companion pass

[eliz]

Originally Posted by dmbolp

Decided to come back TUE for the lower price, no rush out of camping, spend the holiday in Seattle

This. We take our time getting out of camp, hit the hotel, shower, order pizza and crash.

Somewhere in there we re-pack everything to suit flight requirements.

Usually we book a very early flight on the Tuesday, so early sleeping is good.

[ExistenceNow]

I’d love to stay another night but another hotel, paying the pet sitter for another day, plus inevitably going out in Seattle for another night... would really add a lot of expense to the trip. Definitely more than I’d potentially save on a flight.

[Whiteyxc514]

I thought I read somewhere that you should make sure to book your Monday flight out for at least noon, maybe later. Can anyone confirm? It takes what? 2.5 hours to get from the Gorge to Seattle airport?

[ExistenceNow]

Originally Posted by Whiteyxc514

I thought I read somewhere that you should make sure to book your Monday flight out for at least noon, maybe later. Can anyone confirm? It takes what? 2.5 hours to get from the Gorge to Seattle airport?

It just depends on how early you want to wake up on Monday morning.

Have to wake up, pack up camp, drive 2.5 hours (should budget extra in case of a wreck causing traffic), return the rental car and get through airport security (which takes a while at SEA, in my Gorge experience.)

[russvodder]

Originally Posted by Whiteyxc514

I thought I read somewhere that you should make sure to book your Monday flight out for at least noon, maybe later. Can anyone confirm? It takes what? 2.5 hours to get from the Gorge to Seattle airport?

2.5 hours at speed limit. Holiday weekend will at least add an hour if not two. I’d plan on 4 hours plus the need to consider getting to airport early enough to return rental car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by Whiteyxc514

I thought I read somewhere that you should make sure to book your Monday flight out for at least noon, maybe later. Can anyone confirm? It takes what? 2.5 hours to get from the Gorge to Seattle airport?

Yeah as others have said noon is pushing it. Id plan on no earlier than 3 just to be on the safe side.

[PS4125]

We were booked on a Monday, 5pm flight and we have to return an RV rental. I read this and realized the error of my ways. Changed to a Tuesday flight. Thank you Southwest for making flight changes so easy. Now we don't have to rush at all and can keep the Labor Dave weekend relaxation vibe going. We're retired. Why were we planning to rush?

[CrushB610]

Are the views from 205/201 really that bad?...Like part of the stage cut off bad? Or simply not desirable seats but still can see everything?

I’ve seen pics from 101/103 but since those are closer to the stage I imagine the angle comes into play a little more compared to 201/205 being further back. I tried to find pics online from those sections but couldn’t find any.

[garagebrothers]

I'm in 202 N1 and lawn the other 2. How is the view from 202? Last thing I need to get is the flight, but I can't do that until I know if I am even going and then who (if anyone) will be going with me. I'm gonna have to book flights last minute unfortunately if I go

[dmbolp]

Originally Posted by garagebrothers

I'm in 202 N1 and lawn the other 2. How is the view from 202? Last thing I need to get is the flight, but I can't do that until I know if I am even going and then who (if anyone) will be going with me. I'm gonna have to book flights last minute unfortunately if I go

Rows in 202 are about 50 seats long, depending on the row. The inside aisle of 202 (and 204) are in line with the outside wall of the stage. So all seats in 202 (and 204, 201, 205) are all outside the width of the stage.

So without knowing your seat numbers, you could be in a pretty good spot (high seat numbers) or you could be seeing a lot of the outside of the stage wall (low seat numbers). Gorge reserve sections are so wide, there's no easy answer to these outside sections.

[pogoslis]

Originally Posted by Whiteyxc514

I thought I read somewhere that you should make sure to book your Monday flight out for at least noon, maybe later. Can anyone confirm? It takes what? 2.5 hours to get from the Gorge to Seattle airport?

after the whole weekend, its not easy to wake up at 6am to pack and get on the move. If you can, more power to ya.

I would round up to 3 hours from the campground to the airport. Never had any issues with traffic

A lot of my group takes the 3:40pm flight home. Allows time to relax / pack up in the AM, grab lunch in Seattle, and get to the airport with plenty of time

[ZjR326]

Taking the plunge this year. Been an Alpine guy for the past decade or so, had to pull the trigger eventually. Couple questions...

1. Flying from Nashville, best airport to fly into?
2. There are four of us coming in, talking about renting an RV. Is there a designated RV spot AND is it worth it?
3. Is the Gorge in BFE? Any towns nearby? Worth renting a car to drive to and from if we need anything for the weekend?


Appreciate any insight. It's been a long time coming.

[eliz]

Originally Posted by pogoslis

after the whole weekend, its not easy to wake up at 6am to pack and get on the move. If you can, more power to ya.

I would round up to 3 hours from the campground to the airport. Never had any issues with traffic

A lot of my group takes the 3:40pm flight home. Allows time to relax / pack up in the AM, grab lunch in Seattle, and get to the airport with plenty of time

The Seattle airport is INSANE on the Labour Day Monday.

In 2016 people who showed up 2-3h early to check in for their flight did not make their flights. The later in the day, the busier it is.