Giving Thanks - Allegheny JohnnyCake/Tra cy Ridge

“Too bad, Pete. Would have been nice to have you on this one! Another place, another time, I guess. Enjoy the family time...”

“pete :-(

Hope to see you again soon. Enjoy your Thanksgiving w/ family!”

“pete - hope to meet up with ya onthe trail sometime soon. Enjoy your holiday!

buddur - at that site your suggesting, how far is it from Tracy Ridge? Could cars be left there in case we need to?


D - If you can go down on Thursday, let us know!

mapes - your on the list twice! lol! Are both you and Tree coming and driving together? Can you bring 'toes?”

“PS - Would it be OK with everyone if we put a 11/18 deadline for commitment? I'd like to give enough time for all of the logistics to be worked out with everyone going.”

“I'm in, and I might be coming with the Trees. I guess us easterners just have to work out our logistics for meeting up...”

“I will speak to all involved in the car pool within the next week or so and we will give you ample time, Q...
last edited: 10/26/04 11:43:42 PM”

“Sounds great!”

“G'morning, Q.”

“Mornin`!”

“Hi Boo and Q”

“Mornin` T!”

“I was just so darn excited about this trip, I wanted to go twice :)”

“I'm gonna take myself off this trip :( i was looking forward to it, but since I'm moving to Colorado I won't be able to make it.”

“show off”

“LOL

your just jealous! This will be a really cool trip though, i was really looking forward to it!”

“Wuss!”

“are you sure Buddur?
do i need to mothball my car?”

“hey, tree, does your new saturday gig mean you can't meet up w/ us on this trip?”

“I told this guy who took me on that I had something going on that weekend. He didn't seem to think it was a problem. But I intend to talk further about it Saturday when I meet with him...”

“It seems we should be good to go for the weekend. Leaving on Friday morning early and should be there before dark with a few hours to spare. So, where are we to meet you folks, mid to late afternoon on Friday. I have never been there, so I need some help here...
last edited: 11/16/04 12:21:37 PM”

“Ok, got an idea from the maps, but need some specifics...”

“Working on a definitive for the Friday off. Yes, my company took that day away from us this year. However, I would plan to drive over on Thursday. I'll clean up my status as soon as I can.

Of course Shanedog already says he's going cause he wants to meet the famous Buddurdog, his backpacking role model :-)”

“I was thinking of parking at the parking area down on the bottom right of the map on rt 321 (next to the numeral 18 on the map) and hiking in to the Handsome Lake or Hopewell sites, wherever you may be. Does this jive with your plans?”

“Hope to meet you, dhutch! This should be a good trip...”

“Friday night - camping at either Handsome Lk or Hopewell, as far as I know. They're close to each other so it shouldn't be too hard to find us.”

“So, we'll hike in from that parking area on the southeast side and meet you at one of those places. Q gave me his cell #, so I will try and hook up with him prior to venturing out..
last edited: 11/16/04 3:07:28 PM”

“looking forward to meeting some new TT people.
taking that Wed off so we will be all packed and ready to go by 6:30am Friday morning.”

“If I come....I'll definitely spend two nights on the trail. Prefer to have company but don't mind being alone...everyone can do what they want.

Tree - if it works out I'd be happy to hike in with you guys. Not sure when I'd be arriving though. Might be difficult to coordinate.”

“Ok, Fritz. Maybe we can get a better idea once it gets a little closer to game time. We can stay in touch in keeping an eye on the threads...”

“I'm coming out of the Monticello, NY, area early Friday morning. D'ya reckon we could meet up anywhere?”

“I'm taking 80 across. Which way are you going?”

“Good news! Got the okey dokey to take next Friday off. PA here I come. I've been wanting to do some backpacking over there as I here it's beautiful. Also it will be good to meet some new Trailtalkers! I'm looking at driving across Thursday.

Now to go update my status and study up the maps and itinerary.”

“treebeard,

i'm not sure if 80 is your best bet, as there really isn't a direct way to get from 80 to the allegheny reservoir. you may want to think about taking NY's 17 instead.

everyone,

you have to pay $8 to stay at handsome lake or hopewell, it's self registration. they are "developed" lakeside camping areas with water, picnic tables and pit toilets. they can only be reached by boat or trail. other great campsites are at tracy run, johnnycake run, and polly's run.”

“Thanks, jmitch. I got this route form mapquest, (which in itself can explain its deficiencies) and it said to take 80 west and then merge onto PA-153 at exit 111 toward Penfield. Then onto US-219 to rte 321. And, where I wanted to park, was along 321 in the SE corner of the Allegheny map. Is this not a viable route?
last edited: 11/18/04 7:41:21 AM”

“i forgot your coming from NYC. that route is probably the best. the parking area is at least 1.5 hrs from I-80. watch out for elk when driving.”

“Thanks, jm! I appreciate it...”

“"I'm taking 80 across. Which way are you going?"
-Treebeard

I guess if I'm coming from Monticello, I'd take I-84 to Scranton to I-81 to I-80, but I'm not sure. JMitch seems to be insisting that NY-17/I-86 on the New York side is a better route, and Monticello is right on NY-17...”

“PS- from monticello, take 17. this trail is much closer to 17 than 80.”

“PS, jmitch is right, in your case. For me, heading up 280 to 80 through Jersey makes up for the hour to hour and a half that it would take me to get upstate to 17...”

“Treebeard,

FYI, between nos. 18 and 6 is about an 800 foot climb. On the good side, the scenery is very nice.

Everyone else,

lots of places indicate vistas, though when i hiked there last they weren't there, but there are some nice views through the trees.
hiking along the reservoir is very nice.”

“Any chance you'll be joining us, jmitch?”

“How's the terrain on that climb, jmitch? And is it gradual or really steep?”

“tarabull,

i might make it out sat and sunday, but i can't guarantee.

treebeard,

the climb is along an old grade, i would say it's fairly gradual, but it'll burn your legs. it goes up along the gorge of nelse run with beautiful hemlocks, one of the nicest places along this trail system.

the parking area is marked by a small sign for the north country trail, it is a small gravel lot, on the left side of the road, big enough for about 3-4 cars.


everyone,

this trail system is surprisingly popular. when i was there last, lots of people came all the way from michigan. of course, that was in summer.

if you want a scenic, isolated and secluded campsite, camp at the mouth of polly's run.”

“Thanks, jm!

It's usually my wind that gets me when I climb elevation. My legs are not as much of a problem to me...”

“Ok, one more day of work, a feast, and then we are off! Looking forward to this...”

“OK, so far there's 10 folks signed up as YES'ems, yet there are still 4 MAYBE's.

Can a brotha get a confirmation from these four that they are still in maybe-limbo?

Oh yeah...Local Weather Forecast
last edited: 11/24/04 4:41:04 PM”

“...but I still have to figure out exactly when and where I'm going...”

“It isn't the night before, for me. I am still a maybe. I won't leave before Friday morning, if I come, and see y'all at camp Friday night.”

“yall have fun now, ya here!?”

“I'm out. I gotta work Friday.”