Welcome to the 2014 National Sheepdog Finals and Camper land at Strang Ranch. This year we are expecting just shy of 100 handlers, volunteers and vendors to call Strang Ranch home for the week, which gives us just a wee bit more room to spread out from 2011. As with everything of course there are rules, most of which boil down to common sense and respect for your neighbors, below you will find the “Rules of Camper land” along with some general information intended to increase everyone’s enjoyment of the 2014 Finals and of the beautiful Strang Ranch.
Rules:
- Camper land opens on Saturday September 6th at 1 PM, no prior admission without previous approval or wads of cash.
- Watch your speed driving in and around the campground, please keep it under 10 mph.
- Signs, signs everywhere there are signs, follow them they are there for a reason.
- Trash – please keep your site picked up and place trash in the proper receptacle.
- Be considerate. Walking through other people’s campsites is not always appreciated.
- Remember that some people plan on making the handler’s meeting in the morning. Quiet hours are generally 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Remember that some handlers hit the hay as early as 8:30pm. There are some exceptions and we have attempted to isolate them as best as possible.
- If you leave your dogs inside your rig, remember that you are responsible for providing adequate ventilation & climate control.
- Be a good neighbor. Make an attempt to keep dogs quiet.
- Be mindful of fire danger. Field strip cigarettes. Keep an extinguisher handy. And, keep a metal pan of water under your generator exhaust pipe.
- Scoop the poop, if your dog drops it please pick it up. Poop bag stations and trash cans will be located throughout Camper land to help keep it clean. Remember 550+ dogs x 1 week x forget the math that’s a lot of poo…
General Information
Camper Service
There is a general fix it guy on call – business card will be with camper headquarters.
Honey Wagon will be available Friday. Sign-up at the Camping HQ (Bring cash at the time of sign-up…no, it is not a free service).
We hope…. Fresh water (also on Friday) sign-up at the Camping HQ. Bring cash.
Why did I get the parking site I got?
Handler parking assignments were determined using the following criteria:
- Handlers with special needs. These handlers are placed close to porta-potties, handler’s tent, handler’s post, etc.
2. Handlers traveling with 10 or more dogs. These handlers are closer to dog walking areas and as far from the pack as possible.
3. Handlers needing to run a generator 24/7. These handlers are grouped together and further away from the pack.
4. Handlers requesting to park near friends. These handlers are placed as close together as possible [which, by the end of the week, might just be “too” close].
5. Handlers with bigger rigs and no special requests. These handlers are placed in sites according to size.
This was the theory anyway, at the end of the day we broke out the darts and let them fly…
Getting Here:
- If you are in a MOTOR HOME and towing a vehicle (as in, you have a Class C or Class A and tow a car), we STRONGLY recommend that you unhook before making the climb up the hill to the Strang Ranch. If you are traveling alone, call us: 303-356-2178 and we will send someone down to drive your “towed” up the hill for you (bring cash). There is a place to pull-off and unhook– that will fit big rigs. It is called, “Visitor Overlook,” and, is located on Colorado 82 at mile marker 11.2. Route up to the Strang Ranch. When you turn off of Colorado 82 onto County Road 100 (Catherine Store Road–just past mile marker 15), be advised that there is a short, steep, initial uphill switchback. Please be especially observant going around the turns. It is not a heavily traveled road, but, play it safe anyway. Take it slow and wide and you will be fine.
Go 2.4 miles up the hill to the turn-off for Missouri Heights Road. Make a right. The Strang Ranch is visible on the left. Follow the signage. If for any reason you have difficulty, DO NOT HESITATE for one moment to call us for assistance:970-963-2319or 303-356-2178.3. Advice to larger rigs when coming into Carbondale via Glenwood Springs via I-70 you will be well advised to do the following: get into the far right lane coming off the interstate in order to make the “U-jog” onto the bridge that goes over the Interstate and the river. Once onto the bridge, get into the far left lane and stay there until you are through the town of Glenwood Springs.
We hope this information will make your transition into your National Finals “home” easier. If you have any questions, concerns, comments, please do not hesitate to email us: mtcrase@hotmail.com, or, call: 303-356-2178 or 970-963-2319. We will do whatever we can to assist you.Your Campground Hosts and RV Parking Crew
ADDITIONAL NOTES ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF THE TRIAL AND GOLF CARTS
I realize that I didn’t make clear the physical logistics at Nationals. Both the open and nursery posts will be near the Strang ranch house. At the other end of the long driveway, parking/camping will be just to the right as you enter the property. The farthest campsite is around 1/2 mile away from the posts, so we are offering golf cart rentals for folks who want them. They are being hauled from Denver so that is why they are so expensive and we are offering them as a pre-order. Go in as a group and “cart pool”.
One of the handler day parking areas will be adjacent to the handler camping area. Handlers can come and go into this lot all day long. We are also offering parking up near the ranch house but a handler will have to be parked by 8 am and will not be able to leave that parking area until after the last dog has run for the day. Traffic on the driveway will be highly restricted since the two trial fields are on opposite sides of the driveway. There will be two parking passes, one for each lot, in the handler welcome packet so you can use them according to your wishes
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of us,
Terry Murray