PHC 2013 Clausen Springs Campout - July 12-14

You don't have to stay overnight at the PHC campout, some people drop by for the day on Saturday and drink some beers, eat some great food with the Iron Chef pot lock and hang out by the fire for a bit before going home.

So if you camp or just drop by for the day, here are the directions to Clausen Springs Camping area:
Take I-94 to Valley City.
West of Valley City take Exit 288 and Highway 1 south out of Valley City.
About 15 miles south, look for the entrance sign on the left. If you hit Highway 46 you have gone too far.
Follow the signs to Clausen Springs and/or Clausen Springs Dam, you will take the first right about a mile in and then the park enterance is on your left less than a mile after that.
Once in the park, keep left and go down the hill. We try to grab campsites that are at the end of the lower north loop.

From this map link, zoom in once and you can see the camping area as the very narrow horizontal loop to the south east of the pointer. We will be at the far east end of that loop.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?cat=clausen%20springs%20recreation&city=Litchville&state=ND&zipcode=58461#!

See you in a couple of weeks.

Update on the Iron Chef Cook-off at this campout.  I can pass on any questions or messages if you want.

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Its time for the Iron Chef Cook-off at Clausen Springs, south of Valley City. The cook-off will be on Saturday, July 13. Some of us will be arriving on Friday. The campground is a first come, first served basis for sites. We do try to spread out and get everyone together, but this is not always possible.
 
The cook-off will consist of a protein (which participants will know ahead of time), a side and a beer. The last two items will be drawn at the campsite on Saturday morning. The rules are simple, create a dish(s) with all the items and be ready to serve at 5:30pm on Saturday in a potluck. If you are not participating in the cook-off, feel free to bring/cook something to the potluck. Dishes will be voted on and a winner will be announced.
 
There are outlets available at the campground should anyone need to bring kitchen gadgets that need electricity. If you wish to participate please send me an email by July 3rd so we can make sure to get enough ingredients. The cost will be split among the participants. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email Dick Nilles or I.

Barb Nilles

OK! Sounds GREAT! I look forward to it! And look forward to meeting all of you!

I have about a total of about 50' of cord to get to a post. I will also see if my wife can take off that day and we leave early morning so we can get there around noon.

I better get to brewing so I can bring a full keg with!

It is a first come/first serve camping area with designated electrical posts but no specifically defined pads for campers. The people who are tenting have a wide area to pitch there tents, those of us with campers have to stick a bit closer to the posts.

We usually get there at about noon on Friday to stake our spot and try and 'reserve' a section for the rest of the homebrewers to set up their camps. We could also try and make sure that you have a good spot for your camper, close to electric, etc instead of making you wedge yourself in.

So no real reservations. When we get close, there will be a call for participants in the Iron Chef competition on Saturday, you will get a random protein and veg and have to produce a entree and side dish for the communal meal on Saturday evening in fun competition with everyone else.

With this campout, do I make a reservation for this? Or is the area already booked and I pay into your club? If I need to reserve a spot (with electrical) could you leave a thread? Do I need to specify in the certain area?

Also.. P.S.
Thanks Paul!

Hey Jayme!

Great looking portable keg cooler! Looking forward to seeing that in action!

Dang right!

Looks great. The PHC will have their 6-tap jockeybox there and possibly a second club jockeybox that I think is under construction. Also we just authorized getting firkins for the club to fill and use so there could even be some 'real ale' there on beer engine. You never have a lack of choices of what to drink at a PHC function.

I am DEFINATELY ready now! just built this. Just need to add some decals and good to go!

LOL! Yeah I hear ya, I opened the garage door to measure 27" snow in front of it and a waist high drift to get into my truck. I even have plans laid out to pick up the camper we pruchased in Feb. at Outlet Recreation in W.F. next weekend. Looks like we may have to postpone that.... maybe.

I still am thinking warm though!

Great, circumstances are going against my family making the ND Brewers campout too. I will make sure this thread is updated and you are kept in the loop on the PHC campout.

It is hard to think about camping now. We had to get our camper out of storage last week with snow still on the ground and now a blizzard on the way as I type this. Not quite camping weather yet.

Since I am, unable to make it to the ND brewers campout due to a wedding that weekend, I think I want to hit this up. Sounds great!

We will be in a camper too. Most of the PHC'ers tent there and that works out well because the camping area doesn't really have defined sites, just posts with electricity so we take over a large section and people have tents all over. There are some spots where campers do work better and we have seen some large 5th wheels camping there too so it should all work. You will get electricity but you will have to go to the common faucet to get water and lug it back to your camper.

The beer selection is great, the food is fabulous and it is a secluded spot where we usually take it over so it is a fun time with friends and beer.

Very possible that I may be interested in this! I would be in a camper though.

There is an all ND Club Campout being planned but the Prairie Homebrewing Companions in Fargo will also have our annual club campout and homebrewers from other clubs are also welcome to attend.

For many years the PHC has put together an informal campout at Clausen Springs Campground south of Valley City. This year we are going to go for July 12-14th. The campground is about 15 miles south of Valley City off of Highway 1.

This is a fairly secluded rustic campground, amenities include, water on site, electricity on most sites, vault toilets and a shower building. In the past we generally have only tenters, but the sites are set up for campers as well.
Although everyone needs to get their own site we generally operate as a group site sharing a fire ring and picnic tables.

Most of us try to get there Friday evening and depart on Sunday, but you are welcome to camp Saturday night or just come for the day.

For Saturday we usually try to do a group meal and if there is enough interest, often an Iron Chef type competition. Otherwise meals are on your own, but as homebrewers, we tend to work together.

Lots of beer will be on tap throughout the weekend and when it gets dark, we usually gather around the fire ring for a game of Fire Jenga and passing around bottles of interesting beer.

If you are interested, let us know and we can make sure you get the latest information as the time draws near.