Maine trip

“Twigeater - I tried to view your photo album but the link took me to the member log-in page. Saw some other pics of the Knife's Edge. Hooobaby, that looks like fun!

Shelter - I always bring a tent but I can sleep anywhere, as long as I'm out of Artex's "range" after one of his jerky binges. ;o)

Gforce - I definately intend on hiking in the Whites. It's tough to plan on anything specific in advance (weather, waterfalls and foliage chasing with my camera etc) but I'll let you know when I book my campsite. We'll work something out. Do you know where you'll be staying?”

“Is this better?

http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestListAlbums.asp

(sorry, I don't have my html cheat sheet here)

It sounds like you guys would rather tent, but unfortunately my main reservation is for a lean-to. Personally I prefer the fresh air of a lean-to, I like the breeze at night and I feel more like I'm outdoors than when confined to a tent. If wildlife happens by all I gotta do is sit up and look. If you're thinking mice, I've encountered maybe one in the 15 or so years I've been hanging out there.”

“Is this better?

http://www.dotphoto.com/GuestListAlbums.asp

(sorry, I don't have my html cheat sheet here)

It sounds like you guys would rather tent, but unfortunately my main reservation is for a lean-to. I prefer the fresh air of a lean-to, I like the breeze at night and I feel more like I'm outdoors than when confined to a tent. If wildlife happens by all I gotta do is sit up and look. If you're thinking mice, I've encountered maybe one in the 15 or so years I've been hanging out there. And he was just little - once a moose nuzzled one of the food bags hanging from the eaves of the lean-to. He wasn't really after it, he was just being nosy.”

“I hate it when that happens! sorry.”

“twigeater: I can go either way (lean-to or tent that is), makes me no difference. But if you need someone to tent, to make room for others, I can do that too.

Pennsy: My plans are verrry sketchy at this point. So if you have any suggestions on where to stay in the Whites, fire away . . . I'd appreciate it. Are you going to base (car) camp or hike out and camp? Very true, the weather will likely decide final plans upon arrival.”

“I guess I don't know how to make it so everyone can see my photo albums. I searched for "moose" at dotphoto.com and mine were the last 5 or 6, then I clicked back to the rest of my albums from there.”

“Uh Oh, she's stuttering. ;o)
That link worked. It brought me to a guest login page for 'Mark and Maurie.' Are those yours? I'll look at the pics in a few.

The lean-to will be just fine. I'm just used to a tent. You now have me looking forward to the lean-to after reading your reasoning.

Gforce - I plan to base camp and day-hike each day in the Whites. I'll be hauling camera gear, tripod, lenses etc.. so backpacking wouldn't be practical. I haven't camped in the Whites but I know of 2 reputable campsites. Lafayette CG, located in Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch located on rte 302.

Anyone else who had camped in the Whites feel free to chime in.”

“I figured out that you are NOT Mark nor Maurie. LOL!
But I typed in twigeater at the guest log-in and found you. Cool Moose pics! I have to go back and look at the rest now. I did see some extreme wildlife pics of a critter called Jerbear. Geez, he gets everywhere!”

“twigeater - on Dotphoto.com, click on "My Account" then "Display Album Links" then copy what you see there and paste it here.”

“Glad to hear I'm not Mark and Maurie! here's some links - again, sorry for the cut and paste.

adventures with jerbear - there should be some knife edge ones in this album and pics of where we will be backpacking. http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=twigeater&AID=91407&Pres=Y

moose http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=twigeater&AID=91393&Pres=Y

other Baxter State Park pics http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=twigeater&AID=98574&Pres=Y

As far as the lean-to/tent thing, I'm really looking forward to this trip and just want everyone to be comfortable. I know it'll all work out.”

“GREAT pics, twigeater.. I wish October would hurry up and get here!

Like Pennsy, I'm also fine with the lean-to. As long as I'm in the woods, I'm more than comfortable.”

“Okay, maybe I'll drive. I'm still not totally committed, so if someone else wants to go and that is all you have room for, Twigeater, give them first dibs.

I'm a little brain fried (the VBS teaching is without A/C and it was so hot the last three days). But maybe someone can clear up some things. Is gforce driving with Artex, or with Pennsy or is everyone separate? I read that Artex is stopping off at the Cape earlier. Is gforce (former SB)short for gaseous force? We all have to train hard so we can hike ahead of these guys at all times.

If I head out to drive there, I'm sure the scenery is going to be distracting and beautiful. But I'm pretty sure that Baxter's leaves will be down by the time we get there, which is fine, I love when the woods open up. I just think that I won't be there before 10 on Thurs. Can I park just outside the park and sleep in my car?”

“twiggy, I think you will find that everyone is very flexible with the arrangements. A few may have slight preferences but it will be simple to keep us all happy.

As long as I get a good spot in the lean-to next to the wall. ;)

Just kidding. Can't wait!”

“Wow, gforce is driving all the way from Indiana! Sorry about the crack about your name. Won't happen again.

Twigeater, I've never stayed in a lean-to but it sounds good. Tent or lean-to would be fine. How many people can stay in the lean-to?”

“ adventures with jerbear

moose

other BSP pics”

“Not that anyone cares, but I needed to do that.

Great to have you along LyndyS, I think there's plenty of room. Avalanche Field holds 14, Russell Pond lean-to holds 8, and tent sites hold 2 and 6. (assuming I get back what I asked for)

Ok Fritz, but I tend to cuddle up to the wall, so I should probably claim the other side!

How many people are arriving late - that is, after 10pm - Thursday? Maybe I goofed and option 2 would've been better - staying outside the park the first night, we could've showed up anytime. However, there are several turn offs and pits along the road if you don't mind sleeping in your car. That makes me feel like a bad host though. :(

Anybody know this lipton guy?”

“well ive done alot of thinking about this trip.

here is where i stand (sorry for flip flopping back and forth)
i can get the 8:00am bus to bangor and arrive at 5:45pm. on Thursday the 10th.
then return on the 13th on the 12:25 or 1:40pm bus.
they both get me into ny pretty late and i still have to work on Tues. so id hate to have to get a later bus.
so how does that sound twigeater?
its about a 9 to 10 hr ride.
lyndys if you want to ride togeter in a car maybe this is something we can talk about further.”

“Twigeater, I'm guesstimating that I'll arrive Thursday sometime in the late afternoon or early evening, perhaps around 4-5pm, so no problems for me with the 10pm curfew deal.”

“Maple Leaf - returning the 13th or 14th?”

“not sure
what day and around what time do you think we will be getting back to everyones car?”

“We'll be coming out of Russell Pond the 14th. What time depends on what time people need to meet buses and/or planes. Bangor is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours from BSP, taking into consideration time to drive out the perimeter road.

I think the 1:40pm bus is doable, maybe plan on being at Roaring Brook by 11am. If we estimate 4 hours for the hike out, we should be fine. That works for me picking you up on the 10th and dropping you off on the 14th.”

“ooohhh you may have just helped me plan my get away!!!

its looking very good
bus = $80.00
and i dont have to fly.
unless ticks get very very cheap or is that the vodka that gets cheap?? oh well unless my boss pulls a fast one on me or something happens close to home (with my brother) then i guess you can count on me.
please be advised that if i need to cancell at the last min. for personal reasons dont be mad.
but im looking forward to this it sounds like a great time with all the moose im hoping to see and all the fall colors at there peak!!”

“Great! glad to have you along!”

“ok now all i need is some more info.
i understand we are staying at a camp outside of baxter state park?
then hike in?
id like to get a map of the are we are going to be hiking. can you tell me what is the best map.
also i understand that i will not able to use my tent. so then what is the weather going to be?
im think maine in oct, will be very cold
so ill need to get the right gear for late fall weather.
if ive missed somthing please help me out. ive never backpacking that far north.
i want to enjoy this as much as possible and be prepared!!”

“sent you an e-mail Maple Leaf.

I think I have four maps - the Clark and Delorme maps and people are welcome to use them. BSP also sells maps or you can print the map here (I think this is what they refer to as the day use map):

Baxter Park

You can also click on "campgrounds and sites" if you want to see where we're staying.”

“ok you have mail right back at ya..


look out Maine here i come!!!



ooohhyyaahh”

“I'm planning on making a photocopy of my map for each of you anyway.”

“We can drive together MapleLeaf if you don't mind; but I still have to make sure that my husband can handle the kids without getting in trouble at work. If he is okay with Thurs. afterschool duty, then I can leave earlier on Thurs. and get in before the park closes. Twigeater can you send me an address and the costs that I need to send you for the reservation? Thank a bunch for setting all this up.”

“i apologize to those whose emails i have not answered, i am down at home computer and can read email from work but it will not allow me to send other than from my work email addy (so complicated)

at any rate. here is where i am now.....still looking for reasonable flight, the money pit has taken its toll on my funds, but i may be able to swing a good deal if i can find it.......i MAY be able to get thursday off and arrive earlier and would love to share a rental (fritz and LyndyS), but I have to clear the thursday off early thing (have a lab inspection at 9am).....so....i am still in the hopeful column as of this moment.....

i also have no preference on the tent/lean to issue....
even a gravel pit outside the gate..heh...lordy lordy...”

“Hey OM, I am driving now because I couldn't use my Get on a Plane Free Pass, and the flights to Bangor were too many $ for me. Sorry, but I think that Fritz is flying up still. If you want a fly/drive option, fly into Newark and I'll pick you up and drive you up to Baxter. I think that Artex is right that the scenery will be beautiful.”

“Hey LyndyS - another advantage to driving is you can stop off at Boston McDonald's and get a McLobster Roll... no joke.

They're wicked awesome!”

“A McLobster roll? When I was in Nova Scotia, a museam guide said that in the days of whaling, people used to eat beef and feed the servants the lobster. Many servants, when hired, insisted on a clause in their contract that they couldn't be fed lobster more than twice a week. That was back when the lobsters were so plentiful and were twice the size that they are today. They were some of the cheapest food around at the time.”

“Wow, that's interesting. I guess if I were living there back then my name would be Jeeves.”

“Lobster used to wash up on the beach and were used for fertilizer. Among the fishermen here in Maine, lobster is still considered a poor man's dinner.

I had that McD lobster roll last weekend - it was better than the rest of the grease they serve.”

“well maybe we all can get togther and take the bus for only $78.00 and its only about 1 1/2 hrs longer then a car ride
so this way we get to kick back and chill and its less wear and tear on someones car. and then twigeater can pick us up all at once.
what do you guys think?
or if we want to still do a car pull, then who all would rather do that?”

“Pulling a car all the way up to Maine may leave you too tired to hike, ya know.”

“Artex, I resisted that about four times now on this thread, you simply MUST exhibit a little more self control.

Maple leaf -- Artex is busting on your spelling...most of us would spell it "car pool."”

“yup thats what im thinking. thats why i kinda like the idea of a bus doing all the driving. just me and some cd's and looking out the window and getting a chance to really ejoy what im seeing instead of just road.”

“I dunno about you Yankee types, but down here, we have tractor pulls, not car pulls....”

“Artex......am I still going with ya mate?”

“hay by the way
when is moose mating season?
is it in the fisrt week in Oct?
twigeater i read what you wrote about the moose so thats why im asking. its funny but also a little scary. so what other wildlife do you think we will be seeing? (no PS you cant go)
also im back at the gym come this monday!!
got to get into shape for this hike because this will be a real challange for me and i want to be fit for this trip!”

“Awe shucks!”

“hmm lindys...will check into the newark thing...when are you planning to leave for the drive up...day and time?”

“cheer up there little PS from what i here your going to be going on a very long and nice vaction very soon


”

“So who's been up there apart from myself already?

Wish it was winter....nothing like the knifes edge in winter.”

“I was wondering about that myself, but figured a car "pull" was just a New York term...
Tractor pulls are a big draw at the fairs here.

Not sure exactly, but the rut is right around the time we will be there, late September, early October. That's the whole idea behind going at this time - hopefully get to see some big ass, handsome, musky smelling bulls with big racks - it's the best time to see the big boys. Usually the place is packed with photographers.

One year we got to see an attempted mating and the whole lot of 'em - cow, bull and last years calf thundered through the same campground we are staying at. I ran over beside the lean-to and watched them run by - it was something to see I'll tell ya, but a rare thing - a little scary as well, but exciting.

Maple Leaf, I didn't post the article to scare ya, just thought it was funny! You know - amorous moose wears out his intented, takes out his affections on a car instead. They are unpredictable during the rut, but I've never had a problem. Mostly they could care less about you. We may not see any moose at all which would be too bad. :(

We could see deer or bear - although I just saw my first bear in the park a few weekends ago - and it ran away as soon as it realized we were there. Other people see them all the time. Hunting is only allowed in certain areas of the park (not where we are) so the critters don't mind people so much.”

“Gore tex, you're more than welcome to ride with me, so long as you don't mind stopping off in Cape Cod for a night or two before and/or after the trip. He's a bit crazy, but a very cool guy. He's also a tattoo artist, so if you want to get inked, he'll hook you up. Did you get my e-mail? I replied to you about a week ago. Drop me another e-mail, not sure if I have your address still. Lemme know also if you're still up for the 'Daks for Labor Day.

I probably won't reply to the e-mail until Sunday night (heading out of town), and things are starting to get busy here at work.”

“When I talked about "he's a bit crazy", I was refering to a good friend who lives there... sorry for the disjointedness, I got distracted when I was typing that. :-P”

“This will be a great trip wish I could join you. I’ve been up Katahdin twice but it’s been at least twenty years.”

“hay i want a tattoo.
one that has a moose in a circle with a red slash through it...


it would be awsome to see a bear or a moose.
that would make the trip!!

goretex,
maybe we can car ride(is this better hehe)
but if we do i will have to drug you for this trip. cause your nuts to drive with. remember your not in aussi anymore and we drive on the right side of the road not the left got it??
its ok to release your break every now and then even when your not doing the driving but i am!!


llooll”