newbie needs advice

“Hey, I want to go on a trip this summer. about a month. Want to burn some vacation. Can't decide where to go, need advice, people to go with, maybe shorter trips before then. How do I get started planning? Was thinking either maine or california.”

“Well it can't be Mapleleaf.”

“Contact Dunadan. Since you can't decide between Maine and California, you might consider Kansas.”

“Maine or California, huh? I suggest Kansas. Just beware of crevasses.”

“I hear Afganistan is nice that time of year. Watch out for the mines!:)”

“I hear the mountain climbing is Florida is also very nice that time of year.”

“Baxter State Park in Maine is a great place to go backpacking.

8)”

“Have fun, smoke crack!”

“Great idea Artex. Beach hiking in New Mexico is almost as good.”

“Take a trip and never leave the farm....”

“Too many people do that where I live!

8)”

“Eerie psychic connection between Pathman and Dunadan. Same thought at the same time.
There's your spooky Halloween scare for the day, boys and girls.”

“yeah, yeah, haze me, i love it. Now how about some actual information?”

“How about an actual question?”

“What Crazy Mike said.”

“leener, there are tons of trips being posted here, so keep checking back. Hopefully snowdude or snownymph will post some cool places to hike in CA, I think they've hiked the whole darned state.

If you need crack, talk to a fellow named radagast.”

“leener, we don't know where or who you are, but somebody's always going on a trip. Keep an eye open for something that interests you. Get to know some people.

Are you really a newbie to backpacking?

If you know what you are doing, get to know some people so the network can check you out, plan a trip and post it.”

“Tell me what you do? How often do you go out, are you all from different places or what? what's your favorite place? how did you get started? how much beer do you really drink/can you carry? did you meet each other all on the internet, or otherwise? how much of what you say on this chatboard it total bull#&%!$?”

“I'm guessing that you are wealthy and have a lot of time on your hands.”

“no, no, not rich, just have an obscene amount of vacation and a severe case of cabin fever.”

“Have you checked out the "hiking with internet people" thread?”

“yeah, I'm really a newbie. I've done a few days in Lassen, that's it. loved it. bored of city life, going crazy here!”

“So, you're from No Cal?”

“I go solo and if I want somebody to come along, I post it. Sometimes somebody comes, sometimes not. Much depends on where you are and how many are around.

I carry no beer, but have carried wine or brandy in the past.

I usually go in NM, cause its close to home and limits my driving time. I'm at a point where time driving takes away from time backpacking.

I've only me a couple on this board, and I actually knew them from another board. I went on a 5 nighter, got back yesterday with 4 people I met on another board.

Most of the backpacking stuff is not bull#&%!$, much of the stuff not on backpacking is bull#&%!$.

Check Phil's Photo Page (link on the right) for a list of where people are.

Many have info in their profile.”

“I'll tell thee everything I can:
There's little to relate.
I saw an aged, aged man,
A-sitting on a gate.

"Who are you, aged man?" I said.
"And how is it you live?"
And his answer trickled through my head,
Like water through a sieve.
He said, "I look for butterflies
That sleep among the wheat:
I make them into mutton-pies,
And sell them in the street.
I sell them unto men," he said,
"Who sail on stormy seas;
And that's the way I get my bread--
A trifle, if you please."

But I was thinking of a plan
To dye one's whiskers green,
And always use so large a fan
That it could not be seen.
So having no reply to give
To what the old man said,
I cried, "Come, tell me how you live!"
And thumped him on the head.

His accents mild took up the tale;
He said, "I go my ways,
And when I find a mountain-rill,
I set it in a blaze;
And thence they make a stuff they call
Rowland's Macassar Oil--
Yet twopence-halfpenny is all
They give me for my toil."

But I was thinking of a way
To feed oneself on batter,
And so go on from day to day
Getting a little fatter.
I shook him well from side to side,
Until his face was blue:
"Come, tell me how you live," I cried,
"And what it is you do!"

He said, "I hunt for haddocks' eyes
Among the heather bright,
And work them into waistcoat-buttons
In the silent night.
And these I do not sell for gold
Or coin of silvery shine,
But for a copper halfpenny,
And that will purchase nine.

"I sometimes dig for buttered rolls,
Or set limed twigs for crabs:
I sometimes search the grassy knolls
For wheels of Hansom-cabs.
And that's the way" (he gave a wink)
"By which I get my wealth--
And very gladly will I drink
Your Honour's noble health."

I heard him then, for I had just
Completed my design
To keep the Menai bridge from rust
By boiling it in wine.
I thanked him much for telling me
The way he got his wealth,
But chiefly for his wish that he
Might drink my noble health.

And now, if e'er by chance I put
My fingers into glue,
Or madly squeeze a right-hand foot
Into a left-hand shoe,
Or if I drop upon my toe
A very heavy weight,
I weep, for it reminds me so
Of that old man I used to know--
Whose look was mild, whose speech was slow
Whose hair was whiter than the snow,
Whose face was very like a crow,
With eyes, like cinders, all aglow,
Who seemed distracted with his woe,
Who rocked his body to and fro,
And muttered mumblingly and low,
As if his mouth were full of dough,
Who snorted like a buffalo--
That summer evening long ago,
A-sitting on a gate.



"The White Knight's Song"
Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
(Charles Lutwidge Dodgson)”

“For a taste of how many people have met for hikes, check out the "Who Have You Met" thread. Use the search function at the bottom of the list of threads.”

“AFLAC!”

“Tell me what you do?
-Internet Developer

How often do you go out
-every month but not all are backpacking trips

are you all from different places or what?
-yes

what's your favorite place?
-Right now the Smokies and the southern AT (Georgia and NC)

how did you get started?
-Boy Scouts

how much beer do you really drink/can you carry?
-Zero

did you meet each other all on the internet, or otherwise?
-I've met about 15 or so from this board and liked hiking with all of them

how much of what you say on this chatboard it total bull#&%!$?"
-Depends on the day but right now is running 60/40 with BS leading. Don't worry, it will come back around.

If you have a month and want to do a mega-trip, I'd think about doing the John Muir Trail in California. Yes, do a bunch of shorter ones before committing to a biggie trip.

First step of planning is finding out info on places. I'm no expert on Maine or California but I'd think California would give you more options for a month long hike. Well, there is the AT in Maine anyway.

Hmmm......”

“

AFLAC!”

“For CA hiking, go to
Snow Nymph's site

Most of the trips are in the Eastern Sierras, but some are Southern CA. Our trip on the John Muir Trail is on the webpage. Also, a few trips in AZ, 5 days in Montana (do a search for Montanapalooza on this site), and 12 days in Wyoming. There's also "Internet Friends" under "Other Links". I've met ~40 people from this site, and more from other sites. Where are you from?”

“welcome to the insane asylum...you can enter, but you can never leave.

I'm in South East Missouri..and your not invited on any of my trips...unless you carry beer for the 2 of us and provide cigars.

I do canoe trips in the summer in Ark and Missouri...come along and learn what a real party is all about...we'll even let you sink a canoe and loose gear...then make royal fun of you for weeks and weeks.”

“Gee Stikmon, I thought you had recovered from all that canoe swamping busting.”

“AR KAN SAS”

“Leener doesn't want to divulge what part of the country he/she resides in.”

“woah, Pathman & Tuna-can share a brain!! 8)

yeah, leener...are you of the masculine or feminine persuasion?

and what about raddy's crack??”

“Raddy gets the good "Atlanta" brand crack, that only super pimps know about. Ask tarpy, he'll tell ya.”

“hehe! that's cute...

okay, i'll ask to see Tarpy's crack at the next opportunity. i'll tell him you wanted me to.”

“Just make sure he has the hidden camera turned on this time. Raddy and I need new material for our new website www.pornocracklick.com”

“A month?
Roadtrip!
I recommend that you do 2-3 niters starting in the Appalacians and ending in the Sierras. Include the Black Hills, the Rockies, and the desert Southwest.”

“There is no place to hike in Maine. It's all flat and mostly paved over.”

“Listen to Violin. He is an expert on pavement.”

“That is your website?????

Cool!!!!!

8)”