BSP Maine winter trip II

“A thread to start some chatter about the trip....dates, number of nights, etc...
and to see who might be interested...

see the trip page for very vague details, LOL...”

“Just how cold will it be?
Anything under 40 degrees is pretty dang cold to us Southerners.

Will snowshoes be necessary?
Can you rent them?
Will twiggy carry my pack?”

“I've resolved not to try and predict the weather since the last two trips we've lugged 50lbs of fleece and it was hot...but chances are it'll be "pretty dang cold"
=D

...snowshoes will be necessary
...you can rent them
...I'll carry your pack if you pick up the squishy things, LOL...”

“Don't listen to her! It will probably be a heat wave!”

“And I'll sweep the spiders away for you Lt...

=D”

“Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay... I have to come up to Maine around this time for my job prospect in Sanford (no it's nothing to do with the casino proposal). Intriguing. There's a very good chance I'll make this trip, I'm putting myself down as a maybe for now though.”

“Count on it being cold, it's not likely to be above 40, EVER, on this trip, but you never know.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/65465161/65494118frNGcF

Copy and paste the previous address for a picture of how to properly dress for the weather.”

“Hey, Scaretex....your gonna try to come back here??? Hope it works for you. GreasyGrimyGopherGutsStomper, ya oughtta come, its a blast...It'll be a trip to remember ;)”

“Skeetah, thanks much! Yes, a friend of mine teaches TV production at a high school in Sanford. She wants to move closer to family in the Carolinas, and is very graciously offering to help me takeover her job when she leaves. About a week ago, we came up with a plan for me to come up there sometime in late winter/early spring to check out the school and get introduced to the principal. I'm thinking I could do that, and then make the trip with y'all right afterwards.”

“Scaretex I hope you can make it!

And Stomper - are you threatening to come to Maine again?? LOL...

It was around 15-20 degrees on the last TT winter trip which was the beginniing of March.”

“well #&%!$ a duck - this laptop has a mind of it's own - I wasn't quite done with that post.

I better watch what I type I guess, LOL!”

“Yea, bunnygurl!
I want to meet you. We'll just kick everone else out of the cabin. ;)
Hey, I can handle 15 degrees! I was just thinking it might be like -20 or -30 something. I have a Western Mountaineering 5 degree bag but that might be overkill for the cabin.
I'm down as a maybe.
When the dates get solid, I may can arrange to get off work.”

“Yea I guess I want to meet a few of the other Maineiacs too......
;)”

“No ya don't. You just wanna meet the Twigstah and no one else. Who you tryin to bs?

By the way, the first night at Compass Pond Cabin, it was -15.

Hey Bunny Broiler (hmmmm, initials are BB just like your favorite TT'er), you got the new laptop working? Why haven't I received an email from it yet?

You Scaretex - won't you like explode or something if you travel from Florida to Maine?”

“Stomper, your 5 degree bag will be warm in the cabin, but you should have it for the trip in and out. We're required to be prepared for emergencies - if there's a storm we may need to make camp on the trail. The BSP website has a list of required individual and group items. I'll post a link tomorrow.

The day we left Compass Pond our car doors were all frozen shut. I had to climb in through the way back of mine to get it started.

Sheesh, you're awfully bossy Mr Almighty. The laptop arrived, was quickly and easily set up and connected. I'm sure it will e-mail you soon - it's a fickle btch, just be patient. ;)

Dell rocks and Best Buy SUCKS!”

“I am absolutely ready to committ to thinking about it. Would be fun!”

“Um... about sleeping bags, a 20 or 40 degree bag would be fine in the cabin. We had the windows open, even some at night, because the woodstove was putting us right out of there. We brought our zero degree bags, big mistake. But like Bunny Boiler (does that mean you'll cook us some hausenfaus????) says, we'll need to prepare for emergencies on the trail.

So BB you are all set up now!!! Dell Rocks, and yes, best buy... well they don't rock.”

“Mmmmmmmm, bunny stew?



Yeah, -15 the first and last nights at Compass Pond cabin.


I might just tag along on this one.”

“Oh yay! reunion trip!

monkeyboy, I am set up and cranking - just gotta write a nasty letter to Best Buy telling them how much they SUCK!”

“Bunny boiler.... aw... that name is just a begging........... but you're a good friend..... so I digress....LOL!!!

Back to reality... Did you get a copy of the letter I sent to Best buy? I thought I sent it to you. It generated a very apolegetic phone call from the manager.”

“"just a begging" ay? spit it out, LOL!

yes I did read it, very good that you got a response.”

“It actually brings several things to mind.

Some one who is way overweight is said to have a boiler.

I also envision you throwing those cute lil' bunnies into a boiling caldron (tell me the name is only for halloween) awwww.....

And then, of course, there is the reference to Hugh Hefner's bunnies

It could also be an indication of what you plan to cook us on the winter trip (here I am talking like I'll be there, when I know I don't have enough vacation time.....)

It just brings so many visions that I can't get a clear indication of what the name means.

So tell me, just how did you come up that name, it is a cute one.”

“LOL...

do you mean boiler = fat belly? I never heard that one before. I've always just called mine a beer belly. =D

Maybe I can get some rabbit, I'm outta moose meat. Rabbit is yummy.
I know I'll have deer heart and liver. Maybe I can come up with a good recipe for that.”

“How much difference does it make if the trip is 4 or 5 nights?

For example, if we did meet and greet night at Shin Pond, then 3 nights in BSP, then post hike party at Shin Pond.

Would you be more likely to go, or not to go if the trip was more nights.

=D”

“Not to go. I'll have two+ very full days of travel.”

“Bunny stew, count me in!!!

As far as how many nights, would I be more likely to come. Friday and Saturday night is never a problem. Losing work days is a problem. Of my 12 vacation days, I have 10 accounted for. Skeetah Bait has all 10 of hers accounted for. I could come up if it was 2 additional nights, costing me only 2 work days, but I'd have to leave my favorite piece of gear at home, my sleeping bag warmer. LOL

Then again, if the 3 jobs I am overseeing now are completed and I can get started building our new home (which, in all likelyhood will be sometime in April), basically, if I am temporarily unemployed, then you could count me in for all of it. SB will be gainfully employed, so....”

“Part One:

Get a bunny to jump into the fireplace”

“WTF, I didn't see the bunny. But I did see some tubing off to the side. Running a still on your trips are ya Pennsy?”

“I was talking to twigeater and told her that I would like to come but a 600 mile trip each way for three days i am opposed to. The way it is scheduled we have one day at our base at South Branch in Baxter and if that day is a bummer, the trip becomes a waste. Say the day up is a notheaster, I can come up the next day and we still have a go with the original plan. You can be so much more flexible with the extra day built in, so I am strongly in favor of five nights (1st & last at Shin Pond and 3 nights at South Branch, BSP). Maybe we can have a split group with those willing to stay an extra night at South Branch - is that a possibility? Look forward to meeting all of you that I only know by the internet, it will be nice finally meeting you all in person.”

“Good catch Geo!

I'd also like to point out the fine job the almighty one did on the laundry, LOL...”

“holy #&%!$ - you lovebirds need more vacation time! Can't you go to work for the state or something?

Everyone is invited to stay at my house the pre trip night as usual. Course - like I don't mow, I don't plow - however I do shovel, so if you're brave and have a strong back...
=D”

“Geez Ghoulblind, open yer eyes. The darn bunny is in the center of the pic sitting in the firepit.

I did enough shovelling on last year's trip to cover me for a few years. I'm on strike for this trip!

I'm still thinking about 4 versus 5 nights, although I'm leaning towards 4. I don't think there is such a thing as a wasted day in Baxter. Shoot, last year we hiked out in a noreaster. It was a blast!”

“oh bite me, mr I'm on strike! AS freakin' IF! - if there's shovelling to be done, you'll be there and you know it!

However, I can assure you that my dooryard will be shovelled by ME as usual and salted/sanded. I dare ya to drive yer car in even if it isn't. I'll get it out.
Course there may not be any underpinnin's left on that spiffy jetta when I'm done, but I'll get it out. (j/k!)
But you fly right by here anyway mr almighty, so what're you btching about.

=P”

“Wow, you're a grouch when you post at home. With all that flaming, I hope your new Dell doesn't go up in smoke. ;o)”

“GROUCHY, I'M NOT GROUCHY!!
>Pouf!< it's gone~~~~~~

grouch, never! always a btch, never a grouch. =D
Besides, you know I was just giving you a hard time, mr almighty.

So how bad do you suppose it'll be when I'm on pain killers trying to type on this keyboard and use this touch thing - grrrr!

Guess I'll have to borrow a keyboard and mouse from work - no wonder my legislative notes suck!

=D”

“Ifffff... it works for me, I'd be up for trying to stay and extra day. However, things are way too ifffy for me to commit to anything right now...”

“Might not be any underpants left on it either....hahahahahaha


Sorry couldn't help myself.

the door was open and nobody was going through, so I felt it necessary to do it.”

“That jettas a pretty tough car seeing how Bruce attacked a large rock with it no too long ago.Maybe this trip he will get a moose :P”

“PS monkeyboy, bunny boiler is just my Halloween handle.

I'm leaning towared the four day trip. I'm not sure I can get three days off during that time, plus most of my vacation time is tentatively accounted for.

Those who come up the night before could get about four full days in. Last trip a couple of us met at the cabin at noon and went out snowshoeing. Then we had the hike in, play day, and hike out.”

“WAITAMINNIT!!!!

You are running out of vacation and comp time!!!! I am a little curious now. Roughly speaking, how many vacation and comp days do you think you'll have this year? Lucky bunnuy boiler!!!!”

“LOL, not running out - accounted for - and tentatively.

Currently I get 168 hours Jan 1 of each year. I'll get one last bump in May when I hit 20 years to 192 per year. I get 24 hours personal leave which rolls into my vacation balance at the end of each year if I don't use it.

Unless I take time off between now and Dec 31, I'll carry 36 hours of combined personal/vacation time into next year.

I may not get any comp time at all next year, last session was the first time since I've been in budget that we worked nights and weekends like that.

It doesn't take much to eat it all up either - usually I take one full week and then two weeks, plus a bunch of long weekends - so I try and budget my days so I don't screw up.

Get a state job man, the bennies are great as well!

=D”

“Get a state job, eh... That may be real possible. We're moving to N.H. and I doubt the travel to my current job will work. So... since I have to get another job anyways... I just might take your suggestion!!!”

“I had a state job in NH... the vacay and other bennies were not as good (well, maybe almost as good if you stayed 20 years).”

“Actually, I'm bumping this to hopefully keep Twigeater a bit busy while she's home recuperating. Maybe it will reduce all the email spam I'm getting from her.”

“BITE ME!

boring Pennsy...

:p”

“Now, now...guys...no fighting :)”

“he's just mad cause I didn't e-mail him yesterday...

whatchya doing home at this hour skeetah?”

“You spammin' Pennsy?”

“Actually what keeps me busy is trying to figure out if skeetah bait and monkeyboy are really two people...

I e-mail 'em at both their addresses, and SB repiles using MB's e-mail address. So I reply to her e-mail address and MB replies using SB's e-mail address.

Skeetah Bait starts a thread, but monkeyboy shows as the author...

I'M SO CONFUSED!

LOL...

=D”

“Confused???

I want some of what she's takin'”