TC 3 IDEAS?????????

“Lizs: You and I are saying the same things. We can have a MidWest event, and I will even help you to a certain degree.

I am just saying that Titanium Chef (the original, the best, bow down before us, etc.. etc.. ).. will always be in TN as long as I have a say so.. why?.. cos the whole reason we could give away such a huge array of free gear is cos we all SHOP here.

Nothing says that we can't set up multiple locations.. with similar guidelines, expectations, etc.. in fact.. should you guys want to try to set up something in the middle of nowhere; e.g., Iowa.. I would find this an incredibly flattering move on your part.”

“lizs: send me an email pls. need to ask ya something privately.”

“who in the heck would want to go to Iowa anyway”

“Gemini: Who says your idea is not possible? It's those kind of idea that can take us even farther into a wider, more family orientated appeal.

We need games. Clue games, adventure games, GPS games, geocaches, and all sorts of races. I luv your ideas!”

“Ewker..I agree with you..Iowa SUCKED !!!!!

The ONLY highlight was meeting Lizs.. =)”

“Hi evergreen. :)”

“...why would I want to go to Iowa?”

“are there even any backpackers in Iowa. We know Lizs isn't :-)”

“Hi TownDawg”

“I would like to see more true BACKPACKING cooking going on.
Not giant Coleman two burners and such.
Maybe have a seperate competition rating weight of stove, food, pot, ect.....
I have a few more ideas but have to work today (arggg...), but I am willing to work toward making the next TC3 better (NOT just #&%!$ and moan).”

“What if every contestant had to start 5-8 miles away from the event, and whatever they had on their back is ALL they could use when they walked into the competition?”

“make it 10 miles. It is suppose to be a backpacking cookoff. I don't know many bper's that bring ovens, cutting boards, 14 knives etc, well bblinkley might have all that stuff in his bag”

“TD, I think that is the best solution.

In fact, you could have a 5 mile day hike with pack, and come in to the site, set up and cook. You could ONLY use what you had in your pack.”

“I didn't go to the first TC1. Wasn't it held at the Small Wilds campsite. One way is 10 miles with one hell of a climb out of a gorge while the other way is 2-3 miles.
Which way did you make people hike in.”

“I talked about this the first time. We will always need a basecamp... but the competition is a matter of being dropped out by car a good 8 miles away, and having to hike back.”

“lizs: ??.. did u see my post to you?”

“I think that idea would work TD”

“Ewker: Most folks dragged all their stuff in from the short way, and then hiked the long way in the day of the competition.

Question tho. Ideal world. We find a place that can hold 50-100 people. It's got water, porta-potties, etc.

We find this place, and everyone backpacks in. 5-10 miles, with nice elevation change and scenery.

How do the onlookers, curious, spouses, bf/gf, sponsors, radio/tv media -- etc.. etc.. get there?”

“okay, i have to go and order me a
-50 bag now, no way I can carry 3 sleeping bags. LOL”

“Among the many ideas I am considering for Tc3 is something similar to what you are suggesting tho, Ewker. It's a totally different location, and the park rangers has already written me twice and asked me to consider this place.”

“butt darts”

“So to summarize.. there is a challenge to creating an event that satisfies all persons.

Anyone can see by reading thru these posts we have gathered so far that there are a variety of opinions on how to manage/offer this event. As you can also see, there is not a clear solution to resolving every one of those differences.

Can we agree to disagree and still remain friends? Maybe.

I can only hope that we will find the good in each other, and find the common parts of the whole that we can all agree upon -- and allow this project to bring us together, not drive us apart, but as you have seen in the last several months this whole project became a devisive tool among us.

In a recent email from Matt the webmaster to me he said -- "If you want it to be more than just a TT gathering, then moving it to maybe a beginning or end of the season event would be helpful."

What is it we want? Is this our private party? Or do we want to make this a public gathering that includes all backpackers, all hikers, all message boards.

My guess is that it is impossible to find one location that suits all. Let's set up regions. We can set up the same guidelines and have multiple events. Occasionally, we will have the funds/time to visit other region's events.

Many of you have recognized faults/shortcomings with our current event. Let's work together and make it better. I have said this before, and will say it again. This is NOT MY EVENT. It is OUR EVENT.

hMmm.. enuff rambling for one day.”

“Me likes the idea of packing in and cooking. It would add a different level to the event. Maybe a combo of both? It would be a challenge, but doabe. I'm sure that with many ideas, there could be something set up to please most.”

“Hiking and cooking with what's on your back...yep, that's the ticket.”

“Set up a base camp. Hang out, day hike, shoot the breeze for a day.

Transport all participants in the cookoff to a trailhead 5 to 8 miles away and have them hike to the basecamp, set up the cooking gear and produce their entry from items contained in the pack they carried over.

Assuming you left out the tent; sleeping bag and other items left in base camp, you could carry as much or as little as you felt prudent to compete.”

“Im not bashing my buddy TD, but is it ALL his to license Liz? I thought Joshman was some what the originator as well as TD?
It should be held Nation Wide regardless. It would give the chance for many others including Liz to attend.

Hold the Tc's all across the country, Im shure TD can get help from MANY tt'ers to set up & help etc.”

“One more thing !! This would NEVER of happened if it wasnt for ALL the people that donated for a SHELTER. (no griping) But there must be a understanding that everyone WAS a part of TC2, and to make ONE person the decider on where to have this would be rediculous. Many have put forth the effort to get TC2 going (including TD for SHURE), but the whole reason it did was because of DONATIONS! The extra cash that was recieved (i thought) would go to a good cause. It WASNT, instead it was used for a LArger location and more OVERHEAD!

TC3 should be hekd onm a vote (to donaters) one where the event will take place. There should be 5 locations to choose from and from each location we could have TD work with another TT'er to get the event moving in that area. This should not be a profitable event!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Who about the Second weekend of November. Some of us that Work for a living may have trouble getting the weekend off before Thanksgiving. We usually have to work overtime the week before a Holiday weekend to get ahead so as not to be behind when we return to work.”

“good point walkindude....

Prowler,,,I can tell you it was not a profitable event....”

“i no it wasnt!!! the whole thing was blown out of proportion !!!!!

The ORIGANAL donation plans where changed, causing me to donate to some thing I couldnt attend. If it was like origanally planned then maybee I could have come and had the KIDS in doors. (which is why I donated) THATS what Im getting at. Things should be held at a group level, not a one man idea.”

“The plan of having it at Cherriot Creek Lodge fell through. I thought TDawg & Company did a fantastic job of getting an Alternate place.
The money that was collected was not stuck in someones pocket either. As a matter of fact, TDawg went in the hole a bit getting it together.
Next years Event should be a MANDATORY Registration fee. This year it was just a donation.”

“thats just bull#&%!$!

it did not FALL through! The estimated attendeance was blown out of proportion.The site did not fall through a larger area was needed TO ACCOMIDATE MORE THAT WAS NOT NEEDED!

I give Td praps for puttinmg it together , he did a GREAT job no doubt. That is NOT my point WD!”

“Everyone that attended and helped did a great job!
It wouldnt be plan to pay a registration fee, if what was needed was needed and proceeds go to the enviroment or kids programs, not to cover more overhead. Thats just plain out stupid to waste money that can do a whole lot better!! The overhead can be cut out 100%.

There are some caveing events that gather in the woods have fun, party etc. Yet no cost, pl;ain fun in the woods. They have an attendence around 150-300 every year. They put what they need to get peopl to attend then thats it, prizes etc are donated so.....Then the rest would be up to the peopl enjoying what was put together.

All in All there should be NO need for over head of a simple event! Just think about it for alittle!!”

“Make this event HELP the enviroment or people by useing it to do good. If not it may lead to a stereo type of a bunch of drunk fools partying. Not that its a bad thing.

That would bring the attendence up and help our trails & woods there in. Dangit think use it for good!”

“I don't think that people need to be whining that weren't at TC2 and did not see the work that TownDawg put into this event. This event was made possible by alot of people, but for those of us who attended, we all know TownDawg was the main contributor. Blue Ridge Sports also did a fantastic job and I don't know many other outfitting stores that would be able to donate as many high price items that they did. They not only donated awesome gear, but they also spent the entire weekend with us crazy TT'ers.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I thought the program was well run. I thought BSF was gorgous and we had a great area to set our camp up at. I'm about as cold-natured as you can get, but if you are prepared, than the weather should not be a factor. I would much rather camp in the snow and have the campfire to keep me warm than camp out in the rain where you are misearable... and there's alot of rain in October! And as far as finding a convienent location, to suite EVERYONES need.. that is almost impossible. If you really want to go, then you'll be there no matter where it's at. I think the area where we were at was beautiful and that goes for anywhere around the Appalachian Mountains. TC originated in TN.. so why not keep it in that same area? Moving it far away would be like moving Montapalooza to Florida. Why would you want to do that?

Just my two cents”

“Whos wineing? And I KNOW it was a awesome event, im shure, an who the hell said it wasnt?? op


It BETTER for me to attend in TN! I live close. I think of others that are not capable to travel that far.

What is the same about Montanapalooza and Florida, no #&%!$ it would be stupid to move.

But TC2 is not Tennessee Cookoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its Titanium Chef 2002!!!!!!!!!!! dah!! It doesnt have a location to its name!”

“Miss Opie, if you haven't noticed, some people just aren't happy unless they're complaining about something.

It's all about THEM.”

“Prowler, I wasn't naming anyone specifically. I was just saying it seemed like the only people that were trying to change the way TC2 was run, were the people that did not go. I said that I understand that everyone can't drive that far and I think it would be a great idea for each region to have their own version of a backpackers cookoff. I know TC2 does not mean Tennessee cookoff, but the event did originate there and has been there the past 2 years. Why move it now when the event has already been established in that area? I think prosector has a very good idea for TownDawg to buy the rights to the name.”

“The enviroment or Kids wack off!

and why is it others can bash gripe and bull#&%!$ but yet when it comes from me evey once in awhile, because I want to get INVOLVED for a BETTER cause.

You wack off!”

“Ok opie NP I was mad or any thing just being sarcastic! its good!”

“The enviroment or Kids you wack off!”

“It was/is my intent to offer opinions on how to improve this event, not change it. The sprit should remain. I think that point is clear.

I don't know what happened with the last setup fully. I do know that I did see posts offering money back to people when the site was changed. I don't know why some donated and could not come. That was there choice. I don't know if I would feel comfortable giving money to something like this and not show up, but that would be my choice. I sence a lot of rage in your posts, Prowler. Maybe this is somethig that you should take up with TD via phone or email and not here. Your point is getting lost in your tirade.

Seeing as some might not be pleased, either: #1 Don't come and not b!tch, #2 Pay, come, have some fun and help out, if you can.”

“Bottom line, TC was and is a complete blast!!!
If you don't want to come than don't. If you do than we'll be glad to see you there.”

“dido WD”

“Yeah Walkindude.. TC2 was the most fun that I've had in a longtime. You tell them!”

“wow. the things one has to catch-up on when a late contributor to a thread. but I'll throw in my view too.

I stumbled across a description of TC2 on the net. E-mailed TD a few times and decided to drive the five and a half hours with my sons to participate in the cook-off. Two of us participated, both paid to participate. Would be willing to pay more for TC3 if needed to cover expenses. Guess there'll always be sour grapes for those who can't make it, for what ever reason. And to clone this concept to other regions of the country, well, that's another matter. Guess the Titanium Chef name belongs to TownDawg et al, but I don't think TD has (or really wants) to control backpacking cook-offs for the entire country.

I like the cold weather camping, but can see where inclement weather may at some time throw the whole thing into the proverbial cat hole. I suppose any outdoor event can be negatively impacted by the weather, no matter what state it's held in (not to mention lava flows on the Big Island, earthquakes along the San Andreas fault or tornadoes in the Plains).

We arrived at 11:00 PM on Friday with the understanding that we had to backpack all our gear in. Was relieved to find TownDawg in the parking lot to give us some direction. I hadn't realized that the carry distance was only a few hundred yards, that's all.

Yeah, if we can, I'd like to see us really hike in next year. Prizes could be awarded as vouchers (so somebody wouldn't have to be concerned with those logistics). But that in turn would mess with the proposed gear swaps and vendor displays. I don't envy you TownDawg for being faced with those decisions. But I am willing to assist with TC3's planning and implementation.

Steven Wright said "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" Maybe he should of asked, "How would you get it there?"”

“I liked the location. Not hard to get to, many good trails at various levels.
There are several more trails I want to do in the Big South Fork.
Keep TC3 in Big South Fork, the "local" people doing most of the work need the area to be close by, but I'll support whatever TownDawg wants. He took more abuse than anyone should have and still got the job done (with help).
I would have just started cussing and told the know it alls to do it themselves.
TownDawg - You and your people put on a fine event and I thank you.
I hope I can help with TC3.”

“This thread is long, so I didn't read the whole thing. I would, however, like to add my $.02... I'm still in favor of keeping it in December. There are always so many fall/summer/spring events. A nice December event is the perfect way to wind up the year. Plus, I like the idea of the crowd control that cold weather provides.”

“until he relinqueshses control...it should be left to him.”

“Thank God for 1st amendment rights and freedom of speech, ehh?

I had a thought come to me last night on how to manage this.. totally different idea.. Going to discuss it with BRMS today.”