Savage Gulf 1/16-18/04

“Since the site and date have been selected I decided to narrow the focus of the thread.

Update:

I talked with the Ranger station for some clarification. We self register (as everyone said) when we arrive. Each campsite has a maximum of 4 tents. There are multiple sites at each main campsite. Collins East, for example has 6 sites * 4 tents = 24 total tents capacity.

I was starting to get concerned our group would be too big, but now it's looks like there's plenty of room. That's good news and a big relief.”

“looking forward to my first backpacking trip in '04. gonna be COLD!!! I'll bet.”

“It was cooooold the same time this year...lol...”

“I do need to add that if the lows are below 10* then I'll have a hard time doing the trip. I'm not equipped for that kind of cold. If it gets around that cold I'll sandwich my 20* down bag with my 40* down quilt + all the fleece and wool I can put on. I might even be good below 10* with that set up. The coldest weather I've ever camped in was TC2 and I stayed plenty warm then.”

“I've never been backpacking in January...I'm looking foward to this trip!”

“I am too. I've been backpacking in Alabama in Jan and Feb but it never got below about 30*. I'd imagine it'll be different here.

That brings up a good question. The first night we'll be camping in the canyon. Typically, how much colder is it in the canyon than Monteagle? We can get weather reports from Monteagle pretty easily.”

“I'm sure it will be less windy, but not quite sure about the temp. I'll ask my brother - he's a ranger there.”

“I've had success using those Grabber Mini Warmers in my 15 degree sleeping bag during extreme cold. The manufacturer is not too keen on using their product while you're asleep, but it's better than freezing!! :-)”

“and stuff em in your sleepy bag...warm and snuggly...heck, I shouldn't have said that.”

“my dog likes to try and get in my sleeping bag, but the best she can do is sleep on it, with me in it. I don't get much sleep, but I sure do stay warm!:)”

“It'll prolly be 10 degrees cooler than Monteagle. You'll be fine, you're a backpacker. Drink deep the cold mountain air.”

“overstock.com has a -5° down bag on sale for 160.00, it is the backside that FG has. I just bought one for myself and I have a feeling I will be using it that weekend”

“your supposedd to be backpackers....the most in shape athletes...

as backpackers, your supposed to take whatever God throws at you, adapt, improvise and overcome.

Dang...what a bunch of wheenies...It ain't gonna kill ya, and if it does, I'll pack your gear out had ship the frozen body to your spouses...the gear...I'll keep and sell on ebay.”

“Here in Central Alabama we've had one morning at 32* so far this year. It snows about 1 time every 3 years. I'm just not equiped for what I consider really cold weather.”

“never been cold in it yet, and you can machine wash it and it ain't made of that dang profolactic polyfill nonsense by dupont. Get it wet, and its ok. perspiration vapor moves to the outside of the bag, leaving you dry on the inside. yep...wiggy's. I've put my life to it, numerous times.”

“0* Western Mountaineering bags have about 8" of loft which is 4" on top. I'll have 3" from a quilt and another 2 to 2.5" from the sleeping bag giving me 5.5" above and 2.5" below. I'll be sleeping on a full length foam pad and a 3/4 length thermarest guidelite. I also have a down coat. Sounds like I'll be alright afterall.”

“Cool, Jerry Springer just signed up. CMB is coming on the trip too. This should be interesting.”

“I am almost a lock on this trip. My cousin may make his TT debut on this trip.”

“MORE WOMEN!!! Dayhiker, I'm depending on you to sell this trip to single women...comon dude...help a pathetic person out...huh?”

“I'm married with 2 kids. I won't be selling anything to single women.”

“stikmon, check the list. There are two hotties signed up for this trip Yam and Embear.”

“Poor danababy, Ewker doesn't have her in his hotties list. ;)”

“ewker--I am by far more of a hottie than embear!!!

mooooohahahaa”

“danababy isn't single!

But she is a hottie!”

“....but embear is a pianist!.... ;)”

“What is heck does being single or not have to do with being a TT hottie!”

“yeah, ss, but she's still playing off the beginner music sheets!!!

(heeheehee)”

“Only in your dreams, Yam!!!”

“I can see right now that yam is most proud of her own modesty. Ha Ha.

Look forward to meeting you!”

“Well, stikky specifically requested single hotties...”

“I like you already, StoveStomper...”

“Is that a picture of witches brew?”

“ah shucks, embear.......
Too bad you are too young for me.... ;)
Well, if Ewker has adopted yam, I guess I could adopt you as your TT Dad... ;)”

“No, just a boiling pot...”

“embear--i don't have to dream of my beauty....i see it every day in the mirror.

hey ss!! ewker's trading me for a processed pig!! what kind of dad is that??!!!”

“yam - How many?”

“how many pigs??
just one. like a little piglet.”

“Well heck yam, you should be worth at least a whole hog! ;)”

“An unclean animal like a hog for the most beautiful yam? Never!

1000 camels for yam and her exquisite beauty! Who is this "Ewker" and where may I send the camels?”

“um. I'm not sure I want to move to Arabia....
are you really really rich and sexy, mr. sheik? then i might be happy to go there w/ you.”

“the reason I didnt mention dana is because she wont show up

Sorry Arab Sheik a processed boar is a better than a bunch of camels”

“I'm not coming on this trip then...unless you all can get smokey girl to show up...

Yammmmmmmmmmmm...

I like that name.

kind of roles off the tounge...yammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...its a homer simpson sort of thing.”

“Just remembered this little tidbit...when MDS and I were at Savage Gulf this weekend, we saw a sign that said one of the campsites was closed. I can't remember which one it was though, either Sawmill or Stage Road. I think Stage Road was in the plans for this hike, so we may have to amend them.

The closing had something to do with trees down because of the Pine Beetle infestation. I know that we saw the rangers cutting a lot of pine trees this weekend.”

“more wood for the fire.”

“I talked to my bro and he said that Stagecoach Road campsite is closed right now, but that it should reopen in December. He is going to keep me posted...”

“embear,

were you able to find out from your brother how much colder it typically is?”

“dayhiker, don't worry about the cold, you will be ok. If you freeze we will carry you out like a popsicle....lol

Just go buy you a good 0° or lower degree bag”

“I just finished building a down quilt that has me tapped out on gear expenditures. It's the one that I mentioned would be sandwiched with a 20* bag if it was cold enough. The reason I'm asking is that I don't want to have to carry two bags unless I have to. When you have 2 kids under 4 years old the gear purchases have to be planned and made very carefully.”

“Just take out 3 cans of food and the sixpack, you should have enough room and weight saving to get a sleeping bag liner in there.”