THE thread.

“I will be carpooling with Divinity to TC3...I think...anyhow, wanted to get this thread to the top of the list once more...”

“Just a little more than 2 months folks. Time to make those travel plans.”

“Don't remind me.

Plans for the DisneyHell trip are accelerating at a breakneck pace.”

“I spent a whole week at a Disney Resort this year for a conference and never went to any of Mickey's parks.”

“Unfortunately, that is not amongst my choices. Animal and Magic Kingdoms, here I come!”

“I am not sure mine will outgrow Disney, but I will be glad when they are old enough to go by themselves.”

“I'm already looking forward to our next big family vacation when we go back to Colorado for a week. But that's about 3 years away.”

“I need to work on a new recipe or tweak something old...did we figure out the deal on the actual cooking contest???..are we still going by the if you can lug it you can cook it...are we cooking a few miles away from town..or on main street so we can let some pastry chef drive up and beat us all?”

“Opie, it is a 7 mile hike. If you lug it, you can cook it.

I will have the information on trailhead parking; shuttles; etc ready to post by end of week.”

“Our permit covers the Martins Fork and Chadwell campsites.

Note: The Chadwell trailhead is Closed.

PDF map ”

“getting hitched, thinking about hooters, and on top of the TC3 info...oh and don't worry about getting married (congrats by the way)..we just move you into a different division of the HMWHC..Someone has to suffer in order to show us better!”

“OPIE, are you talking about YOU getting hitched or chili!!!”

“dayhiker..you just look for ways to get me in trouble every single day!!!

Oh on weekends that i can't head towards the AT this fall/winter i'll be hitting the pinhoti, and sipsey on the weekends i'm not prepping the build site on my land, i'll be hitting you up for advise on the pinhoti”

“Sure thing, come north. MDS and I are thinking of trying to do half the Pinhoti one weekend in Nov. I'm real familiar with the Cheaha area of Pinhoti but don't know much else. I want to do the northern half in Nov. You're welcome to join us. I may do a and Sipsey dayhike and then there's the Sipsey trip you signed up for.

Let me know when you come to the Pinhoti. I can be at pretty much any of the trailheads in an hour. There is a nice 18 mile loop at Cheaha.”

“okay”

“Howdy. SmokyGirl has a great sign up sheet for tc3, and I was wondering who would help spread the word?

I still need to give her final guidance, (Have I working around the Japanese lately or what.. ) but it will be done about the time you can consider reading and responding.

Ideally, the .pdf file would be printed in color, and placed at the store which you think would show interest. (I assume you already shop there, and the repore' is built.)

Sign up folks would contribute sign up fee to store management, who would in turn invest that money in prizes, or use it as leverage when negotiating with their manufacturing REPs.

Any questions?


For more information about this trip visit http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip.php?id=82


"Aiight den." -- Billy Bob Thorton.”

“bbinkley, towndawg?? what is the prize status??

chili36
11:17:56 AM
08/14/03”

“Frank Carroll email me, and said BRMS was on ready, 'just come see them', and get the sign-up in the store.. Nashville and Knoxville both want to participate. (Some new names, and several in new positions of authority.)

:)”

“Sign up fees are strictly donation. $15 is assumed, but not required.”

“Eat bar-B-que.. if you are so inclined. (The extra $7 would be well worth it, y'all.)”

“what about us far out pple? do we sign up/register/pay at the front, and pay for food AT or BEFORE the BBQ?”

“Sonny is not going to refuse 'pay as you are', at all.

Bring on your appetites.”

“TD - I'm not following"

Sign up folks would contribute sign up fee to store management, who would in turn invest that money in prizes, or use it as leverage when negotiating with their manufacturing REPs.

Sign up fees are strictly donation. $15 is assumed, but not required."

Are you saying that it's assumed that the store where a sign is hung would be paid $15. If so, by who? Would we pay the $15 as a donation, would TC3 pay the fee. I don't understand.

Who are sign up folks? Is that the person who talks their local store into hanging a sign? I think all of this is common knowledge to the folks intimatly involved with the details, but the folks who got the broadcast email might not. I'm totally lost.”

“yea the whole e-mail and post lost me...was it a complete thought?”

“I think it was a partial thought.”

“Ok, point well taken. I will revise and post in a few minutes.”

“OVERVIEW

One of the drawing points of any competition is the caliper of prizes being given away to the winners. Without corporate sponsors, the organizers of any such event are typically left to private donations, and canvass the general public to generate interest, and needed funding.

FUNDING SOURCES
Last year, the organizers of the Titanium Chef competition were lucky in finding several hiking/outdoor sports stores would found the event to have such promise, as they elected to donate prizes. This creates a 'professional begger' mentality, and also can develop into a 'whats in it for me' liability for the hiking/outdoor sports stores.

3rd YEAR PLAN
Bryan Dodge and I hit upon a business plan model that solved both concerns; i.e., 'professional begger' and 'whats in it for me'. Persons interested in competing in the Titanium chef event would contribute a sign-up fee to store management, who would in turn invest that money in prizes, or use it as leverage when negotiating with their manufacturing REPs.

In essence, the competitors are 'purchasing' their prizes, but we have the buying power of the collective mass -- and the leverage to say to the local manufacturing REPs that the store is well-thought of to the same collective mass. (Translating -- WE buy HERE.)

ADVANTAGES OF PLAN
1) No one is asked to send money to a blind box from just 'some guy on the internet.'

2) Everyone gets to give their donation to the store they normally deal with.

3) The sign-up list becomes a mailing list for the organizers, and a 'gauge of local interest' for the stores.

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS
A) I am saying that the store would collect a donation from each person wanting to compete in Tc3.

B) The sign-up sheet would be your record that you paid your money, and registered for the event.”

“What about "US" that don't goto a certain store, and live 8 hours from any of the "sponsors"

I contributed last year, and have no problem doing so again, and again. But I don't have a loyalty to any one store, or opportunity to "sign up".

So your saying that our donations could goto a chain store with millions in profits, or even a mom and pop outfitter that does/could jack gear purchases up 100%.
Or are these donations going to the set-up, fees, permits, services rendered during the course of present/future TC's.
This is what i want to see paid for, i don't want to see organization of this as a financial hardship to our friends and comrades.

I would guess it's up to the coordinators to determine what the donations go too. But i do not feel good about mine going to a company that is already making money just to "bribe" them into donating a sleeping bag or stove that I'll have a slim chance of getting.”

“You tell them Opie!”

“I feel like a lost ball in high weeds.

How is it we come up with a "new business plan" 10 months later?

The last thing I heard on this, after discussion with TD and Barb, was that the sign up fees could be sent to Barb's store.

IMHO, is a little late in the game to be enlisting agents for sign up fees.

Where will the registry be centralized? Who transimits information? Who coordinates to the stores?

I am not being negative, but I see several questions with no apparent answers.”

“...and so the chaos begins...”

“I think I understand but I am torn by who to donate to. I have several favorite stores to choose from in this area, but since I finally joined REI, guess I'll send my donation their way. I did talk to the guy I know at Blue Ridge Mtn Sports today. He said that he didn't know if anyone from that store would attend TC3. Mainly because the store in Knoxville is closer. He did say that he would be donating some goods tho. I sent him my website so they will stay in touch with me.”

“chili36: Barb's Store works for me, but can she carry it all? I need to hear from her to be honest. I love touch with her in the shuffle of changing jobs.

-- but Frank Carroll did call me specifically, and ask for someone to come visit and set it up with him again, much like last year.

We have several... blah blah.. blah blah.. blah..

* forgets what he was saying *

Umm.. yeah, that too. I really need to respond to OPIE's side of it tho, because he raises a really good point.. referring to -- >>

"But I do not feel good about mine going to a company that is already making money just to "bribe" them into donating a sleeping bag or stove that I'll have a slim chance of getting."
OPIE
08:09:27 PM
08/18/03

I need to think that answer through, OPIE. I need your help in maybe suggesting something that would be good? Talk to me some more.

( goes off to think a bit )”

“chili36: Did I speak out of turn, JB? You might be right.

"IMHO, is a little late in the game to be enlisting agents for sign up fees.

Where will the registry be centralized? Who transimits information? Who coordinates to the stores?

I am not being negative, but I see several questions with no apparent answers."
chili36
10:04:42 PM
08/18/03”

“OPIE: If you know a better way help me. I don't claim to know anything. I really don't. I just know some of the mistakes that were made earlier on, 1st yr, 2nd.. One of the complaints was -- "what? do what? am not."

So anyway, to be honest? I don't know. (Isn't that the best answer sometimes?)”

“StoveStomper? You are right, though. Hang on for the ride!

"...and so the chaos begins..."
StoveStomper
10:10:28 PM
08/18/03”

“The prizes aren't what make this for me.

I reaaaaaallly don't like this idea of REI or anyone getting a check for 150-500 just so they will drop off last years 10 degree bag, and a slow selling stove.
What's a few 15 buck donations going to do for REI or blue ridge? Nothing!
...what's a few 15 dollar donations going to do for the organizer...probably help ease the financial burden, help with Park Permits and headaches..if not maybe buy him a case of beer to forget about all us b!tch!ng!!

From the tc2 i went too i saw no rampant mistakes. The only thing i didn't like was the unsocial professionals driving up and wiping the mats with us, and driving off to never be heard from or a recipe shared again. But it seems you have fixed that by making it a hike into competition this year..so it seems fixed till we see something that needs tweaking again.

I would think (but i don't know since i'm not beating the bushes) that the outfitters would greatly benefit from printed TC3 newsletters advertisement space, event signage, event participation, clinics offered with their Name alll over the booth, sell booths, etc, etc.

We are all about the schmooze..but it's not a have too in my book..because if you get into the habit of talking it up that everyones gonna get a prize...and something big and nice to boot..and everyone gets something but 1-2 pple( and thats' only because we couldn't squeeze the sponsers for 1 more thing)..then you might have some feelings hurt.

Do what you may..but i would like my donations to go to paying for this to continue or police bribes...or hooters...yea..boob..err i mean hooters”

“FWIW, I don't see it as a chance to win good prizes, although that's a nice draw. Granted, I'm not going to be a competitor, but I think those who are, are doing it for a good time and love of backpacking, if their heart is in the right place. It looks like I stand a good chance of getting to come, but I don't even plan on actually competing (this year anyway). I just want the excuse to hike in, meet some of you all, and hopefully learn a little more about backpacking from you guys and ladies.”

“TownDawg - Don't take that "chaos" comment the wrong way. ;)

I do plan on attending but I doubt I'll compete. Too many "pros" last year.
Even a seven mile hike will not keep some from packing big coleman stoves, tables, and ice chests of fresh food to cook.
I'll be there to see my TT friends and meet a few new ones.”

“Who "IS" titanium chef now?

I still have that URL. Wondering what to do with it now.”

“Last year I cooked all dried food available at any grocery store in an 8 year old 2 quart aluminum pot over a 8 year old single burning white gas stove and I walked away with over $250 worth of prizes. Last year, everyone who entered won a valuable prize. BuddhaBear even won a stove after his own burst into flames and to save his own tent, he kicked the flaming stove too hard and it almost started his neighbors tent on fire. I would not call that "pro'" cooking. More like hobo cooking at its best. I would encourage everyone to enter, even BuddhaBear now that he has a stove that WORKS.

As to any criticism of how it is being done this year, I could not manage it better than TownDawg is doing even if I was retired. And I am retired. Keep up the good work.

Boy do I have the recipes for TC3 this year. Maybe deep fried black bear gall bladders? Maybe something better?”

“I thought this was backpacker's cooking competition, not saunter in from the car for an overnighter kind of food.

So if I want to participate in what has been billed as a free competition and get together, I MUST "donate" to a specified company? Sounds similar to forced donations through a union to me.

I'm rapidly losing interest in this.”

“It's true, all that competed in TCII won a prize.

Here's a picture of the tea kettle I won!
The cup is there to give you an idea of the size. Pretty light, I think it only weighs 3 or 5 pounds.
If I ever go horsepacking and make tea for 30-35 people, I'll be ready! Ha Ha! ;)”

“Heck, I'd be mixing plant food in it.”

“Hey SS-I know a good chai recipe we could possibly make in that thing, for all the participants, or at least the campers or something.”

“treebait - I gotta meet you sometime. Maybe HPM and you will plan another FL hike this winter.
Sorry you couldn't make Ocala this year.

Are YOU gotta carry that thing to camp? LOL. I guess we could hang it from the outside of a pack. I'm not gotta carry the stove fuel to boil 2+ gal of water though. Ha Ha.

TC3 will be a hoot just to see the other TTers!”

“Argh! I just found out one of the foibles of TT. I typed an entry, went to look at your profile SS to where you are, came back and oops! message gone! Gr!

I'll be at the next Ocala trip. I'll be going to TC3, though I'm not sure if I'm competing. I'm also going on the Old Settlerd' trail tt trip at the end of this month.”

“Towndawg, I am not being overly critical, but I think TC2 worked well last year and I think you should stick with that plan.

I think it is too late to change direction now.

Maybe this is something that can be discussed at TC3.”

“We absolutely positively need to start planning TC4 BEFORE we head home from TC3. If nothing else than to determine the date and time of the first TC4 staff meeting.”

“Treebait/Chili36/OPIE/et al: Ok, I'm listening. Maybe you are right. Maybe we don't need donations, maybe we don't need anything. Maybe the sheer beauty of nearly a hundred good friends getting together for good food, fun and fellowship is all we need.

:)

Prosecuter: Thank you. (but don't think I am going to let up on you this year. I think I have a killer entry for tc3.)”