BSP Maine winter trip II

“That's understandable, monkeboy. Dude, you would have loved it down here yesterday. I took the girl I'm dating sea kayaking.. 82 degrees out and not a cloud in sight.”

“There is a kayak "show" next weekend in Durham N.H. by Kittery Trading Post. We'll be there to sample, and maybe purchase some paddles. And check out the other gear,too. That'll probably be Sunday. Looks like we'll get a dump of snow Thursday, so we'll have to go skiing on Saturday. If not, there is LL Bean's Fly Fishing show on Saturday. Busy, busy, busy....”

“Wait did Artex say "the girl I'm dating"? Isn't that going to make the "thing" difficult?”

“Lthiker - yes, but at the same time, it's not going to get in the way too much. We've talked about it already, and she seemingly understands. One has to do what's right for them. :-)”

“I'm off to sunny and warm Las Vegas this afternoon for a conference. I hope my blood doesn't thin out in a week. Lows around 51-53 at night...people will be walking around in jackets and I'll likely be in shorts!”

“I was thinking about what monkeyboy said about meeting us at Trout Brook...

My thoughts originally were to go right to South Branch, then do some hiking from there that day - though that would be limited to three hour tours - and we can do that anytime, LOL...
(think south branch falls)

However, we could do this...those of us who stayed at Trout Brook could hike from there. We could do all or part of Trout Brook mountain. Views of Matagamon Lake can be had in a fairly easy .7 miles, and 360 views further on at the peak at 1.3 miles. I know the book says it's a "pleasant and leisurely hike" with 1,000' of elevation gain, but of course in winter it's not quite so leisurely. And after that we still have to haul sleds 7 miles.
There is always the Freezout trail or maybe a hike to a pond if we just want a flat hike through the woods.

Anyway, these are just thoughts...I can call and see if anyone has the TBF bunkhouse after us...if not, we can leave our gear there, MB&SB can take their time coming in and have a warm cabin to have lunch or relax in...we could set a time to meet at the cabin (like noon) then continue on to SBP together.

My plan for South Branch Pond day is Howe Brook - it's a 6 mile round trip, probably need crampons (I hope, wahoo!). If that isn't far enough, I'd continue on to Upper South Branch Pond lean-to to see it and the cliffs of the pond in winter. I enjoy seeing stuff I see all the time in summer in winter as well. Those who want something more ambitious can do North Traveler or Black Cat.

I also have this thought of hiking Horse Mountain on the way in to TBF...

Just thinking about all that winter hiking makes me tired! I'll likely flop at the end of each day - if I don't make it to my bunk, just cover me with a tarp and throw some soup my way, LOL...

o(=D”

“Wow, Twigeater, sounds pretty ambitious...

Hey, Artex, whats this "thing" all about??? Just curious.”

“Yep, but basically just suggestions/ideas depending on the conditions...”

“Twiggy it all sounds good to me.”

“I went into Mr Paperback tonight to buy "Touching the Void"
I'd grabbed a $20 when I jumped out of my truck, or I'dve picked up this other book as well...

Can't remember the name of it, but the picture on the cover had a young girl sitting halfway up Index Rock.

hmmmmmmmmm....

=D”

“S b,

ssshhh, I think the thing is not to be talked about lest it be jinxed. ”

“SB, I'll tell you about the thing next week.

9 more days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“9 more days oh #&%!$ I better start getting ready!”

“I'm about a third of the way packed already. :-)”

“"Can't remember the name of it, but the picture on the cover had a young girl sitting halfway up Index Rock."
twigeater

Hey monkeyboy - I don't think you realize this, but we both just got slammed. Remember?


Getting ready? Well, I might be going to West Virginia this weekend which means I'll have Monday night to unpack from that trip. Tues, I'll be working and leaving early Wednesday for the trip. That gives me Tues night to start and finish packing. Lots of time!”

“What, no trip to Alaska Monday night? Wuss!”

“You know, I think we have been challenged!!!!!

I remember, once, while I was cod fishing on a company outing. I thought I had hooked the planet, but I was able to reel the thing in. Now cod don't give much of a fight, but they act like a dead weight. We must have been 400 feet deep. So I am reeling in and my arms are aching. I was going to take a break, not thinking anything was on there. The boat captain was watching and knew I had a good one on there. He said to me, "If you're a little tired, there's a little girl over here who will finish reeling this one in for you". With that, I found the energy and realized there was actually a good one on the line. It was a 17 pounder, aand almost took the pot for the biggest fish. My boss pulled up a 22 pounder and took the pot.

So, anyways, after that story, and Twigeater's challenge, you know where I am headed this summer!”

“I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the monkeymen didn't tackle index rock! :)

anywho...does everyone have crampons for the trip?”

“Yup, got my crampons all ready!
I have hit a stopping point on my sled design. I cna't make up my mind about how to attach the traces to the belt.
I have several options;
1- I have the hardware to connect the belt directly to the PVC pipes. I would use eyebolts in te end caps of the PVC and then use a carraige bolt thru the belt and into the eyebolt. With assorted washers.

2 - My Traces have rope inside of them and I was thinking about tying snap hooks to them and just snapping them to the belt.

Any other options?

My sled came out nice. The front of it had a lip that was down turned and I worried about it catching snow so I heated it up with my pocket rocket and bent it around the other way.
After reading alot of the posts here about sleds I also attached L channel to the bottom to help in traversing. I pop riveted 2 - 3' peices to the bottom. I hope it doesn't add much drag.

Other than those modifications it is a pretty basic sled.”

“Cool how you fixed the lip...

My traces have rope running through the pipes that I tied to hooks on a backpacking belt. I could use hooks, but I like the traces right up against the belt.

The good news is...
it's supposed to snow all week in Patten!”

“Twig so you have the hooks and don't use them?

Woo Hoo Snow!!!!!”

“I have hooks on my old traces and they add a couple inches of looseness to the rig. I tie the traces to the belt as snug as I can get it, then the sled doesn't jerk as I walk. It makes for a smoother haul.”

“non-stretch rope is a good thing too.”

“So you just tie the traces on? I guess that was MB that used elevator bolts.”

“yeah MB used the bolts - they sounded "princess and the pea" painful to me, LOL...”

“I have an aluminium coffe percolator would that be worth throwing in the sled? Can it cook on top of the wood stove?
If I get enough yes votes I will bring it and a lb of coffe grounds.”

“Night Time lows in Patten are down in the teens. Daytime in the high thirties.”

“I don't drink coffee, so I don't care.

Patten weather forecast”

“I mentioned to Bruce that we should find a way to bring pedxing on the trip. He came on last years trip and was signed on as a maybe for this one.

He's going to blow up a pic for the bunkhouse...any other ideas?”

“lol that would be great.”

“I'm dehydrating honey coated bananas and strawberries. My goal is to make the best trailmix known to mankind for this trip.”

“SB says PLEASE bring the coffe maker, PLEASE!!!

The princess and the pea has not actually happened. The belts I got from Home Depot are double layer padded. I bolted to the outer layer and the inner padding is plenty to protect you. And using elevator bolts really makes a difference. They are alot like carriage bolts but they set flat into the belt. You have to go where they have a thousand of those 2" high drawers that pull out and have all kinds of fasteners. You'll probably need a clerk to help you find them. I used a solder iron to melt a hole in the nylon belt, and immediately set the bolt in place to "nest" it. Honestly, they feel just like our backpack belts, but we are able to drag twice the weight we would carry.

Pedxing, a blow up pic of him? I was just thinking about that last night, and having a candle burning for him the whole time we were there.”

“Ok I will bring the coffe pot and a bag of nice coffee. Maybe Kona or Jamacain Blue Mtn.

MB that sounds like the same type of belt I got.”

“I'll also bring my mini-espresso maker. Easy to use and clean, and makes a mean cup of concentrated java!”

“SB will bring some Green mountain Coffee also.

Artex, so you like hi test???

Twigeater, we ain't got any crampons.... Just the ones that come with our snowshoes. Are they a requirement for BSP or just some of the options for our day outings? Are there other things we honeymooners could do while every one else is out of the bunkhouse, klimbing on ice?”

“Hi test?”

“It's a term a co-worker coined when we debated whether to bring a 12 pack or a fifth in our backpack. He said if you're carrying it, you oughta go with "hi-test" referring to the old octane ratings at the gas pumps.

In the same way, espresso is to coffee what hi test is to regular.

Sometimes, I think I type too much....”

“LOL! Thanks for explaining. Speaking of hi-test, what sauce is everyone bringing for the post-hike party?”

“Sauce?”

“LOL... sorry, I couldn't resist....”

“I'll bring BBQ.”

“After making a belt out of seat belt webbing that fell apart a few times, I bought a backpacking hip belt for $20. I didn't have to find elevetor bolts or solder anything, LOL.

I was thinking crampons might be needed for the Howe Brook trail, but maybe not.
Does EMS or LLB rent them?

I'm probably bringing wine and schnapps or something.

Please remember people - if you cart alcohol all the way to Patten, remember to put in on your sled!
LOL!

o(=D”

“I'll bring wine.. or perhaps some Maker's Mark whiskey..”

“LOL at LtHiker....I think Artex was referring to alcoholic beverages??? If so I was thinking maybe peppermint snapps? Not sure yet.

Hey Artex, that dehydrated fruit sounds yummy. Guess we'd better get crackin' on dehydrating some stuff too.”

“Twigeater, I have some strap on thingies, I think they are called stabl-icers. Look kinda like a tevas, and you strap them on right over your hiking boots. They have hex head screws on the bottom that grab the ice pretty good. Will these suffice, or do we need real crampons. We ain't scaling ice are we???”

“Isn't there a nearby liquor store where we can "shop" for the post party? Not sure what I am bringing for the ummmm current party. Most likely some wine, perhaps some Kahula w hot chocolate. I'm gonna have to think real hard about bringing the truth serum though.”

“truth serum?

Okay, this time, I'm serious, what is the "truth serum"?”

“I haven't read through all the posts, but will try to later tonight. The hotel is having problems with their broadband connection. I just wanted to quickly say...Yes, I have crampons.”

“Twigeater, I'm looking in my favorites for BSP rules and Regs, and I don't have that link saved anymore(????)

There are currently 849 messages on this thread already. I could search thru all those pages of threads, or I could ask for the pretty lady with the cutest lil' smile for a link to BSP.

Specifically, I'm looking for the list of must have's to hike BSP, and generally, I just want a link to their site. I promise it will go into my hiking folder in the favorites link.”