temporary layoff - what to do?

“I got the official notice today. Laid off 5 weeks, till labor day. Bummer!

I've worked 27 years with only meager vacation time. I've been secretly waiting for this for a long time.

I promised the family a week at the beach. That leaves four. I had thought about putting in new windows and siding, but, well, my enthusiasm is kinda low.

The hiking possibilities are staggering. Hodgeman's Yoho trip sounds awesome. I had a plan partially laid out for the Colorado Rockies earlier this summer that didn't work out.

Any suggestions for once-in-a-lifetime trips in USA/Canada?
How long does the Long Trail take?”

“Sorry to hear about the job lesubtil, but it looks like there is a silver lining for you!

According to the Green Mountain Club Ranger I spoke with when I hiked part of the trail last year, it takes about a month to hike the whole trail. I think you could do it in 3 weeks if you really busted a$$. I wish I could go with ya, have a good trip, and good luck with the job!

BB”

“Too bad it happened in the Summer. Too hot to backpack. Bet you wished it would have happened in the winter or Fall, huh.”

“Go backpacking!

8)”

“Go NORTH! It's gotta be cool up in The Northern Territories of Canada!! I've seen pics and it is too gorgeous! Wish I could go!”

“Go Postal!”

“HOLY #&%!$!!!!!!
That's Funny!!!!”

“Go Postal with Lance!!

Whoops, thats another thread!”

“Pick up some side jobs- if you can put in your own replacement windows- many home improvement companies will need help coming into the their busy season of the fall. Money is ok-but it ain't a lifetime ambition.”

“wow 4 weks an you have to ask?

go backpacking you silly hiking rabbit!!!”

“Are you nuts!
It's too hot outside!”

“What about pimpin'? Raddy and I could put you through our $39.95 crash course "Pimpin' for Beginners, how to whack your ho with a shoe."”

“That's a good class. I took it a few weeks ago.
Now I'm taking the ever popular, "Bustin a cap in yo @ss" class.”

“Yeah, Tarpy teaches that one. Once you guys get to level 3, you can take the "Rollin' in yer Caddy with Raddy" seminar. It has so much information!”

“hay can i be your first female pimp???”

“Can one be female and a pimp?”

“wow i can make my own money then spend it myself
its too good to be true
please tell me more about this wonderful class..”

“The Long Trail is 270 miles.

If I had 5 weeks in summer, other things I'd also consider:

The Cohos trail in NH
Doing a piece of the AT from Katahdin south.
Doing some of the Great Divide Trail in Canada.

I hope the money works out during your lay off. Other than that: have fun!”

“once you complete the final semester "Last Class: Kickin' Ass", then you will be presented with a commemorative edition of the Velvet Jones Library. then you can learn dem beeyatches to "Be A HO!".

now, fetch my beer, beeyatch!”

“New Mexico towns on the edge of the forest need your money. Come buy beer, ice, fishing tackle, food, more beer. REI too. No fire restrictions in Gila or Lincoln (pretty hot) all the forests are open.”

“Whatever you decide, HAVE A BLAST!”

“dang they just open??”

“Im done been, ima kicken ass, ho hitn, #&%!$ slappin, ass banging slut fuker!”

“you won't be, after kym reads that!”

“OSH1T!! I said that!no”

“she's gonna pay walkindude's jail $60 to hack them nutz, yo!”

“I'd hike the southern part of the Colorado Trail

Or the John Muir Trail plus the Tahoe Yosemite Trail

or the PCT through Washington

or the CDT through northern Wyoming or central Montana

or the AT through New England

or the Canadian Divide north from Glacier”

“Good Times.
Any time you meet a payment.
Good Times.
Any time you need a friend.
Good Times.
Any time you're out from under.

Not getting hastled, not getting hustled.
Keepin' your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.

Temporary lay offs.
Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs.
Good Times.
Scratchin' and surviving.
Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line
Good Times.
Ain't we lucky we got 'em
Good Times.




I was told that the second shift (I'm on first shift) won't be working next week because of lack of work, sos I asked for a few days off cause this'll be my last weekend of driving for a while and I want to get out of Dodge for a stint , and the foreman says Sure, you can have a few days off...You may just get the whole week off!

What to do...What to do???”

“I would head for Bellingham, Wa. catch the ferry north to Haines, Ak. You can sleep on the observation deck for 3 nights. Hit up WhiteHorse in the Yukon and then double back around zig zagging south thru B.C. and Alberta till you hit Glacier NP. Road trip,,,, if you got a family truckster/van to borrow for three weeks. Car Camping with some overnighters and dayhikes mix in. You can cover alot of ground, scouting more like it,,,,,for possible future returns!!!
or
Hit up the SW USA.,,,, 4 Corners area. Dry heat and all.”

“ Tents on deck, Alaska Marine Highway”

“

Inland passage at dusk, Alaska Marine Highway”

“If you make it to Fairbanks, I have some gear there, including a canoe, fishing tackle, SD stretch dome tent. All with a friend.”

“One more from the ferry





Glacier at dusk, leaving Juneau”

“August is my favorite time of year in AK.

Silver salmon fishing, leaves start to turn, mosquitoes are tolerable.....”

“hey, what happened to my images? They were there a few minutes ago.

If interested, they are in this album

Webshots album, look for moving to Fairbanks V1 and V2”

“oh well, you get the picture.

Alaska Ferry System”

“Le Subtil - I sure hope you decide to come north. With that much time, and a re-supply in Field, you could reserve a second whole week, to check out the Lake O'hara area, on the south side of Yoho. And/or from there, you could spend, yet another week, hiking south east down the Rockwall trail in Kootenay NP, which is totally awesome! I wish I had that much time, all at once, for a 'grand traverse'. For that matter, Banff is less than an hour away!”

“Sorry about the layoff,

I second Ginny's list from above.

4 weeks is plenty of time for the LT. I'm a slow hiker&last summer made it northbound to just south of Camels Hump (allmost 2/3 finnished) in 2 weeks and had a few rest days. A great on line LT resource was the End to Enders area at:
http://www.hikevermont.com/enders/summary.htm

Camel”