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Join PXL at Camp Hamilton for Our Fall '26
Four-Day Clampout We're Calling a
Salute to "Master Guns" Glenn Denton
Camp Hamilton is a unique place for a Clampout. It's a memorial park, but not in the traditional sense. Some years back, our late Brother Glenn Denton, while serving in combat during the Vietnam War made a promise: That members of his squad of Marines who died trying to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades would not be forgotten. Never leaving anyone behind is a sacred promise that Marines have made to each other from the founding of the Corps, and the members of Glenn's squad were hit especially hard trying to live up to that promise.
In remembrance of these brothers in arms, Glenn began to plant trees on his 10 acres parcel north of Bakersfield to honor these men who had given their all. Glenn hand carried water to establish the trees and staked a plaque before each tree with the name of each fallen comrade. The site has since become a unique, private memorial park, with lawns, fixtures reminiscent of military service and over 330 trees honoring veterans who have died in service, by suicide or after living out their lives as members of their communities.
The roads to Camp Hamilton are all highways, with the exception of the last half mile of gravel road leading to the parking area, both well maintained and level. If you have an RV, you shouldn't have any problems getting to the gate. If you are Clamping in the designated parking area make sure to bring shade, and bring a burn barrel if you'd like. Tents are welcome on the lawns, but avoid placing vehicles, burn barrels or anything else that might damage the grass.
Check the weather before heading out. Temperatures in Bakersfield during early October vary between the mid-seventies to the upper nineties, with nighttime temperatures in the sixties. Rain is unlikely, and you can leave your snow gear at home. Cell service is available; as is potable water, just make sure you're using the right spigots because some water is intended for irrigation only.
If you've forgotten something, you can find gas and fast food about 3 miles west on Lerdo Highway at the junction with CA 99. More serious items can be purchased in Shafter, which is further west, but the real deal is in downtown Bakersfield 12 miles to the south.
Thursday arrivals are welcome as of 12 noon but be advised that we don't actually start to feed everybody until snacks and libations on Friday afternoon, so plan accordingly. Or to put it another way, until then, just bring some stuff to share. Clampers are generous and that always seems to work out.
Keep in mind that the chapter does not provide alcoholic beverages, though you are welcome to share. Brothers of sobriety are welcome, dudes doing illegal drug are not. And don't forget PXL is no longer doing a Saturday morning potluck. The chapter will provide a hearty brunch including eggs, meat, potatoes and pancakes, with the option of customizing your own breakfast burrito, all washed down by an appropriate beverage.
We're planning a tree dedication on Friday afternoon and a plaque ceremony on Saturday morning so you will want to attend both of those. Also don't miss the brief caveats posted on the Doin's registration page, particularly as it relates to the "Crow Bar" and respecting other visitors to the park. As always enjoy the weekend. Hope to see you at Camp Hamilton!
To read about Clamping with Peter Lebeck in Kern County, just read on.
ABOUT CLAMPING WITH PETER LEBECK
Kern County is a big place and it covers all kinds of terrain: from the driest portions of the Mojave Desert, to the snowiest pine forests of the Sierra Nevada; from the oak woodlands of Walker Basin to the still wild grasslands of the San Joaquin Valley. Then of course there is Fort Tejon, Pine Mountain, the Kern River Valley, the Tehachapis, and…you get the drift. Kern County IS a BIG and interesting place.
And needless to say, we do try to get around. So if you are looking for something different, always make sure to look us up when you are planning your Clamping Calendar. If you've Clamped the desert, try the mountains. If you've Clamped the mountains, try the desert. But always make an effort check with us because we may be going someplace you'd really, really enjoy, and we do get around.
PXL Clampouts are not so large that you'll ever feel lost, and not so small that you'll ever feel like you're crashing someone's private party. Brothers visiting from other chapters are always made to feel welcome, and we especially encourage you to drop by if you live in Kern County or the adjoining areas of southern and central California.
At Peter Lebeck we plan two, full-weekend Clampouts every year, one in the spring and the other in the fall, and we favor overnight outings because we believe it is the surest way to make sure that each of our Brothers makes it home safely. At Peter Lebeck we also believe that Clamping is as much about plaquing as it is about camping and camaraderie, so we try to mount at least one erection every year and we try to Clamp near by. So won't you join us for the adventure? We'll make sure you get an extra helping of Timbo's beans.
