Tc2 - The Last Thread

“Hopefully this puts all the final chatter in one thread. After all the hype, the glitz, the pain and the disappointments.. LOL.. you can't stop this backpacking train.

Friday 12/6 thru Sunday 12/8, Titanium Chef 2002, Big South National River and Recreation Area, at Appaloosa Field.

HOW TO GET THERE
================
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is easy enough to find. The West entrance to the park is east of Jamestown, TN and the East entrance is west of Oneida, TN. Any map will show these two towns.

To get to Appaloosa Field, drive to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, following Hwy 297 as if you are going to Bandy Creek Campground.

When the visitor's center is on your left, and the campground is on your right, remain straight on a road that quickly turns to dirt. Within a half-mile, you will see the parking area for Titanium Chef 2002 on your right.

Register, and a Tc2 staff member will take it from there.”

“ican go!!! yeah!! I am going!!”

“Sorry to appear ignorant, but I've been hearing mention of this event for a few wks, saw that shirts are being sold for it, & am wondering about it. Can you enlighten me, towndawg??”

“Titanium Chef 2.
Last year was the first one.”

“What is Titanium Chef??”

“go to http://www.towndawg.com”

“i'll be there. can't wait to see everyone.”

“Thanks, Gemini!”

“so I will go anyway.”

“Lows are going to be in the mid 20's. Brrrrr its going to be cold!”

“whats the best cold weather sleeping gear?”

“The best cold weather sleeping gear?.. Ms Opie, is Mr Opie.”

“and Hinds Feet?

Titanium Chef is a backpacker's challenge cookoff where we will compete, give away prizes, hike, and fellowship.

http://members.tripod.com/towndawg/tc2.htm”

“Ca'nt wait for this weekend to get here so I can try out my new heater. I bought a portable propne heater that has a reburner on it(making it safe to use in tents). Since we are camping in a field I'm taking a big tent. Might as well be comfortable. If it gets too cold, I will be taking reservations. P.S. I drink Jim Bean”

“Ain't never heard of no Jimmy Bean!”

“How will that reburner eliminate carbon monoxide?”

“My apology to you and Mr. Beam.”

“Im not sure, other than it burns all the gases over to eliminate any danger. It is called Mr. Heater Buddy. I bought mine at Sportsmansguide.com for around a hundred dollars w/shipping. Try www.mrheater.com Then click on heater buddy. It should be great for car camping.”

“I get to be first to take pictures of his tent burning down.. hopefully with him running out of it.. and not caught in it.”

“Bring marshmellows, we could need them.”

“lol at towndawg.... i dont know about that, it sounds like paddler is going to have the warm tent”

“I am able to come, so that's great, but I have some questions, so here we go:

I now we are camping, but I also heard something about bring extra gear to compare, and of course there will be vendors. Are we camping close to the cars? (just checking so I know what to bring)

how can you guys stand the cold? if it is around 20 degrees it will be soooooo cold. are we allowed to have a fire and are we all dancing around it to keep warm?? (boy, I hate the cold)

I am still going to come, but I really would like to know how this will work.

Man, I know I had another question, but I just can't remember. Oh, are there bathrooms? (i know that's a REAL stupid question but I can't imagine finding a private spot with maybe hundreds of people...)I really hate to have some dude doing this thing right next to me. LMAO

I decided not to bring the kids because of the cold, and because I don't have extra bags.”

“woah, i just read "heater"....HEATHER!!! I am going to check into this. I want a heater!!!! ahh, I need a heater!!”

“Gemini: Flush toliets within a half mile.. and showers.. porta potties within walking distance.. woods all around.. take your pick.. :)”

“Geo...to answer your question, one must remember that carbon monoxide is the result of incomplete burning. This is why smoldering charcoal creates tons of carbon monoxide. Hell, I almost got CO poisoning once outside blowing on charcoal to get it to burn. Anyway, the reburner completes the burn of the CO to CO₂, which your body can detect and adjust for. I've seen stuff like this before used to heat indoor spaces, but this one must have some sort of guard on it to protect you and the tent from the hot burner.

At least, that's my guess.”

“This heater is safe for indoor use. I've never used it but can't wait to try it out at TC2. With a heated tent I might just get a great nights sleep.”

“Do we need to bring water?
Is clean water at the campsite?”

“Thanks for asking that. Its a question that I meant to ask earlier!”

“I'm not sure how close we are to water. (potable or otherwise) We were trying to get a water buffalo (a big butt mobile water storage tank) out there but I don't know the final status of that.

I'd be safe and bring enough for yourself for the weekend and maybe a little extra.

TD am I right on that?”

“Big Tents
Heaters

Hmmm, maybe I should bring a charcoal grill and grill!

Note to self! Do not forget the camera!

Moz”

“Leaving Wednesday at noon. I plan on geocaching on the way up. Thursday morning meetings with the Chamber of Commerce. I have requested help from them in regard to a water buffalo. Hopefully, we will have one, but I would suggest that everyone should come prepared (including water).”

“Water is not far.. even if we don't get the water buffalo.. I talked to the National Guard this morning.. hoping to know something concrete today.. They have to get it approved thru C'ville.. but he thinks it is going to go thru.. but even if it doesn't?.. water is not far..”

“Leaving early Thursday.. would like to be the first person there. Got a lot of do in preparation for the weekend's festival.

By the way.. just for fun.. who wants to guess at what our final attendance count will be?

Maybe give a prize to who gets closest to the final count here on TrailTalk?

By the way, spent Saturday in Nashville, checking out the prizes the stores donated?.. wow.. too sweet. You are going to love all the MSR stuff. They were WAY too good to us.”

“MY COUNT IS


91 People”

“>> Are we camping close to the cars?

You park your cars on the LEFT of the gravel road.. you take a path thru the woods, and the festival is way back in the BACK of the field on the right.

>> Are we allowed to have a fire and are we all dancing around it to keep warm??

The thought of you dancing around a campfire has my imagination going Ms Opie, and I don't even know you. I prolly better push that image COMPLETELY out of my mind.”

“117 people.”

“91, 117.. sounds reasonable.. I definitely am thinking we are going to bust the 100 mark.. how far beyond is the question.”

“What's the best route coming from the South?
I'm looking at coming up I-59 thru Alabama to Chattanooga.
Which road is best from there, 127 or 27, or even I-75/40?”

“Stove Stomper, it has been a few years since I have driven north out of Chattanooga on 127 or 27, but if it is like it used to be, I would go up 75 to 40 West and catch 27 at Harriman.”

“I'm heading to Obnoxville out of Chattanooga. I'll be going US231 to I-59 and then on to Chattanooga, Obknoxiousville, and then Oneida. Wahoo!!! can't wait.”

“We got APPROVED for the water buffalo.. the National Guard will be bringing it out on Friday, about 9am.”

“dayhiker, I suggest you take off the Bama sweatshirt when you stop to get gas in East Tennessee.....unless, of course, it is made out of kevlar”

“Stove Stomper:

According to yahoo maps!..

Jamestown is as follows --
1. Start on W MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD 0.2
2. Turn Right to take the US-27 NORTH ramp 0.1
3. Merge on I-124 NORTH 0.5
4. Continue on US-27 NORTH 20.8
5. Take the US-27 NORTH exit towards DAYTON 0.3
6. Continue on US-27 NORTH 12.7
7. Continue on US-27 SOUTH 1.3
8. Continue on US-27 NORTH 17.8
9. Turn Right on TN-68 21.1
10. Continue on US-127 NORTH/US-127 S 1.6
11. Continue on S MAIN ST 2.2
12. Continue on N MAIN ST 3.7
13. Bear Right on US-127 NORTH 0.2
14. Continue on US-127 NORTH/US-127 N 12.7
15. Continue on US-127 NORTH 17.0
16. Turn Left on US-127-TRUCK 2.3
Distance: 114.5 miles Approximate Travel Time: 2 hours 46 mins”

“1. Start on W MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD 0.2
2. Turn Right to take the US-27 NORTH ramp 0.1
3. Merge on I-124 NORTH 0.5
4. Continue on US-27 NORTH 20.8
5. Take the US-27 NORTH exit towards DAYTON 0.3
6. Continue on US-27 NORTH 12.7
7. Continue on US-27 SOUTH 1.3
8. Continue on US-27 NORTH 32.0
9. Continue on US-27 NORTH/US-70 0.2
10. Continue on S GATEWAY AVE 1.6
11. Continue on N GATEWAY AVE 4.3
12. Continue on N GATEWAY AVE/S ROANE ST 0.0
13. Continue on S ROANE ST 4.4
14. Continue on N ROANE ST 1.4
15. Continue on US-27 NORTH 51.0
16. Continue on DEPOT ST 0.2
17. Continue on PAINT ROCK RD/S MAIN ST 0.1
Distance: 131.2 miles Approximate Travel Time: 3 hours 34 mins”

“That's good news TD!!!”

“I want to clarify my earlier post.

DO NOT TAKE 27 NORTH OUT OF CHATTANOOGA......TAKE 1-75 TO 1-40

TD's post describes the trip just the way I remember it.”

“Re: Yahoo Maps!

-- but I can't say I believe those directions.. my gut level reaction is to take the Interstate up 75.. and get off at the Oneida exit.. but hey.. I don't claim to be smart.. I have heard that the Hwy 27 route is a nice easy drive, but have never made the drive to know.

I know from the WEST.. I have learned to get off I-40 at Monterrey, and make the little skip over to save time.”

“I'm leaning toward the I-75/40 route. I generally avoid Knoxville because I have an ex-wife lurking there, hee hee.
Last summer I took that route and it was wall to wall big trucks.”

“and from the EAST, the only way I have gone is to cruise up from Knoxville up I-75.. I can't imagine trying to backtrack to Jamestown .. unless that 27 Hwy is decent, but chili36's post seems to indicate do NOT go that way.”

“I think personally?.. If you want to avoid trucks.. and avoid Knoxville, the take Hwy 27 right up as Yahoo advises..

but I know the way I would go, would be to drag my butt up 75, all the way to Oneida.”