Tennessee Cookoff

“The date/location is somewhat to be determined at this time, but it WILL happen.
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Tennessee hikers, backpackers, and COOKs, this will be a great time. We will choose a place close to Nashville, and most likely will be South Cumberland. I want to mention that I have plans to do Foster Falls/Fiery Gizzard December 1st, so it would be a good time for me. Joshman has proposed the third weekend in January.

Make plans to either 'enter the contest' or 'enjoy the good food'. Final details are forthcoming, and will be posted on my website as we determine everything we need to decide.

http://members.tripod.com/towndawg/cookoff.htm”

“What are ya cooking?”

“me personally?.. not sure yet.. but thinking some sort of cajun seafood exotic endeavor..

The rules of the game is that all ingredients have to be within the realm of being backpacked in.

Have not decided on the prize yet, but from what I am hearing it will be a huge party with lots of folks stuffing their face.”

“Seafood on the trail....hmmm. Sounds scary.”

“lol...

I settle for the canned stuff.. but been trying to think thru alternatives.. I only carry cans when i am trying to impress someone.”

“I like to carry frozen shrimp or crawfish in the first nite. I put them in a softside insulated lunch box with a little dry ice. They stay frozen for a day even the heat of southeast Texas.”

“So where do you get your dry ice?”

“Exactly! I have been racking my brain, thinking thru some scenarios.. It only has to survive a dayhike. The purpose of the "that all ingredients have to be within the realm of being backpacked in" is to make sure I don't have some clown dragging in a 55 gallon bar-b-que gas fired grill, and a keg of beer.”

“One can get dry ice here in Houston at a few grocery stores (Kroger) and at Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlors.

I use in my lab and by directly from a large supplier.”

“Baskin Robbins? Awesome.. THANK YOU..

I think I know how to smuggle some seafood into some of my backpacking trips now!

Do they just give you some?.. or sell it?”

“I usually get mine from the pharmacy, the med clinic or the lab. In all of the above cases it's free, they just toss it into a sink when they unpack the meds otherwise.”

“I agree about the 55 gallon grill, but the keg of beer is a different animal.”

“Did you say the Dawg is having a kegger. Kuwl!”

“ChuckD: a keg?.. hehe.. serious weight problem.. a six pack.. even a case.. not so bad.. but a KEG?”

“Oops, I mean Kewl!!!”

“TownDawg,
Check out Zaterran's (sp) jumbalya rice mix. Add a can of shrimp and some summer sausage. Not Bad.”

“Leatherneck.. I already do.. I have used it for jambalaya, dirty rice, and gumbo..

That brand name is WAY too awesome.”

“Cookin contest?
I thought we were going BPing?”

“Looks like you need to go grocery shopping, wd.”

“I can barely make a peanutbutter sandwich!”

“Dude, we are going bping.. you can eat ramen.. I dont care..

I just figured i wuld play cook and make sure we all had some good food.”

“and what temperature would you like that?

I like my steak medium Towndawg”

“I am hoping for cool temperatures.. so refrigeration will not be a problem..

Are you coming Temprat?”

“WHEN: 12/01 Sat

WHERE: South Cumberland Recreation Area
Fiery Gizzard/ Raven Point/Dog Hole Loop

WHAT: Following the TT'er hike on December 1st to South Cumberland Recreation Area, some of us want a chance to show off how well we can cook in the woods. This is a strictly optional event, and is not a requirement for doing the Fiery Gizzard/ Raven Point/Dog Hole Loop dayhike.

WHO: The rules of the game are that all ingredients have to be within the realm of being backpacked in. No coolers, no propane grills, and there will be no car camping. This is a serious competition but not limited to only those who want to show off their backpacking cooking skills.

Hikers, backpackers, and COOKs, this will be a great time. Make plans to either 'enter the contest' or 'enjoy the good food'.

WHEN: There is a campsite near the Foster Falls Trailhead on the opposite end of Fiery Gizzard trail, and also a TVA campground nearby. We will overnight in one of these two areas. Final details are forthcoming, and will be posted on my website as we determine everything we need to decide.

WHO: towndawg@hotmail.com”

“Dawg is this going to be a BP trip or car camp trip?”

“I am sure we will have of both.”

“Raven Point has a camp ground you have to backpack to. Short miles in and out though. This would allow lots of food to be carried.”

“Ya, but it sucks so bad. Have you seen it?

It would be soo depressing.”

“stayed there for a night. didn't see the campsites at foster falls end, only the falls”

“ya.. pitiful.. trust me.. small wilds at foster falls is better.. or even the TVA campsite.”

“the one advantage is that we could hike in.. set up camp at Raven's point.. lay around all afternoon.. throw beer cans off the rocks.. and hike out the next day..

(kidding about the beer cans.. I am strictly leave no trace)”

“headed for home.. ttyl.”

“I need some commitment for who I can count on to JUDGE.

We need to get a judge's sheet made up and posted.”

“Did you ever post a meeting place & time? South Cumberland Visitors Center is a good meeting place.”

“WD: It depends on when everyone is coming in. Some folks are coming in Friday.

As for meeting place and time. 9am, Fiery Gizzard trailhead. (Not the Foster Falls side)

Cookout will be held Saturday afternoon/evening at Small Wilds.

So far I got interest from TrailTalk, TTA, Sierra Club, REI, and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.

What I need now is to develop a judge's sheet, so we can decide what the criteria is for winning.

It looks like it /might/ be able to get REI/BRMS to donate some prizes.”

“I'll be there Saturday morning.”

“If some freak of nature thing happen and I have to work that Saturday, I'll just meet yall in camp sometime before dark.”

“It looks like we have several going.. I know of about 15 who have expressed interest.”

“Towndawg,

Sent you an e-mail.”

“Rabbit, I believe that TD is on the trail for a few days.”

“Rabbitman. Just got back to work after been going over a week. Brain is swimming something horrible.

Email received, will respond ASAP.”

“Things seem to be moving along.. thought I would put this back on the front burner for anyone who does not know about it yet.

Today I emailed my friends at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and REI to request placing the following message in their Tennessee stores.

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Please join us December 1st 2001, as the Tennessee Trails Association hosts a chance to show off how well we can cook in the woods. The competition will begin Saturday afternoon at the Small Wilds campsite near the Foster Falls Trailhead on the opposite end of Fiery Gizzard trail.

The rules of the contest are that all ingredients have to be within the realm of being backpacked in. This is a serious competition: No coolers, no propane grills, and there will be no car camping. We are expecting a large number of entries, and some of the local hiking/backpacking stores in the Nashville area have shown interest in being present to demonstrate ?what?s new? just in time for the Christmas holidays.

This will be a great time, but not limited to only those who want to show off their backpacking cooking skills. Tennessee hikers, backpackers, and COOKs, please make plans to either 'enter the contest' or 'enjoy the good food'. For further information, please contact Chris Fox at or email him at towndawg@hotmail.com.”

“oh.. I forgot you can't use 'greater than signs' .. I had an editorial note in there also.”

“From an email today --

"Hello Chris!

I've printed copies of the COOK-OFF COMPETITION and have them hanging at
customer service and on the Events Board a the store front. I am trying to round up a prize and perhaps other REI
folks to make their way there.

Yes, let's get in touch!

Michael Hughes
REI - Special Events
Brentwood, TN"”

“WalkinDude has agreed to lead the 13 mile thru-hike from Grundy Forest to Foster Falls.

By the way.. who all is coming from on here?”

“I still plan on making it.”

“I'll be at the Grundy Forest TH that Saturday about 8:00am CENTERAL TIME.”

“I will prolly get there sometime Friday afternoon. I think I'll prolly hike in and back out the next morning.”

“Are you not camping Saturday night?”

“Mrs. Rabbit and myself will be there. We are trying to decide if we will come up Friday nite or get in early Sat. morn. I don't know any thing about the area so maybe somebody can give me some directions.”