'It's a race to get out there': stir-crazy Californians are overwhelming campsites

Parks in California are seeing double or even triple the usual number of campers, who can bring trash and unsafe behavior

Chris Giesige thought planning a camping trip would be simple. He's a regular, often heading out into the wilderness several times per year. But when he recently tried to reserve a campsite online in Yosemite, then Mammoth, then Whiskeytown Lake, he was shocked to see they were all booked for weeks. Twice he thought he'd found an open spot, only to see it get snapped up moments later.

I know May, June and July are busy camping months, but I don't remember it being like this," he says. I have never had as much trouble before in trying to find a campground."