Maine Snowball III

“Awwwww, man. Pennsy signed up? That's it, I'm not going.”

“I don't blame you. Your ego won't be able to take another thrashing. moohaahaa!”

“Oh yeah?!?! Well, you... you...

My cat's breath smells like catfood.”

“all right, i'm gonna try one of these. i'm #9 for on the "for sure" list. there are two on the maybe. if this causes a problem, or if artex is afraid of a true snowball battle champion, let me know and i will remove my name.”

“Just saw the new dates, and I wouldn't be able to get them off since I teach.

You kids have fun!”

“my challenge only took four minutes to the very second to scare you off?”

“Yeah. You should see the wet spot on my pants!”

“Dang, Baume. You got some power there.

Hey, don't teachers have sick days and a few personal days? You can't duck out THAT easy.”

“now that i have moved up to #8 on the list, am i assured a bunk in the bunkhouse?”

“Yeah, I do have sick days and personal days. I don't know though....

I think it's only fair that since I removed myself from the list, that baume has it. If there's an opening when it gets a bit closer, than maybe something will work out.”

“Twigeater said that 10 is the permit limit, but there would only be room for 8 in the bunkhouse. If more than 8 sign up, I have no problem sleeping in a lean-to.

Twiggy, my route preference was just a mild suggestion. I'm pretty much game for whatever you decide.”

“i don't have a problem with a lean-to either. i'll just bring my bivy for added warmth.

also, what will be needed other than cold weather clothes and snowshoes (and of course, nippin' whiskey to share)?”

“where would a body fly into if the needed to fly?”

“Alrighty then. I'm back in. I'll use my personal days for this trip.”

“baume 66-

A body would most likely fly into Portland, ME, but I think you might also be able to fly into Bangor, ME and meet people at the trailhead or on the way up. If you fly into Portland, you'll most likely be able to meet up with everyone at twigeater's.”

“I wonder if they'll let me bring a sled onto the plane?”

“only if you buy it a seat, Capn Bobo. j/k. Bringing a sled is definitely something you should check with the airline. I mean...they take skis and stuff.

What about boxing it up and sending it to twigeater via UPS a couple of weeks in advance?

I have to reconfigure my sled. I was using electrical conduit that I bent. I used two seperate pieces and then attached them, but I'm not happy with the connection. I thought it might fail as it is the weakest part of the traces. I found the piping and a connector the way that Pennsy and twigeater had their sleds set up, so I'm going to use that design.”

“I may be making a new sled, and if so, someone else can use mine.

You guys tell me what the best dates are for you and then I'll see if I can book it. My time off may be limited by my job, but frankly, since my vacation was cancelled this year, I'm gonna have to work next year at keeping my time down - LOL! I never thought I'd be in that position, but whoopee - here I am!

As to where we go, we can have a preference, but that could change...the bunkhouses fill up quickly during school vacations, I hear. Does anyone object to South Branch if Roaring Brook isn't available?

Basically, where and when is a crap shoot.

Nice to see some new names on the trip list!

=D”

“PS - Manchester, NH is also an option...also Mermaid transportation - which I guess is a bus from NH to Portland.”

“I should actually put myself as a "strong maybe" for this trip. Call me a wuss, but I'm a bit nervous about how this will work with taking my personal days. I just want to look into it more.

Having said that, should it all work out and I go, I'll be more than happy to help out giving rides to people flying in, and offer a place to stay before or after the trip if needed.”

“Artex, what week is school vacation?”

“Winter break is Feb. 21-25. Spring break is April 18-22, but don't rearrange anything on my account, if that's what you're thinking. That first part of Winter break I'll be hitting the Daks for FYAO, and I think you previously said you didn't want to schedule it at the same time? Perhaps I can arrange a trip up at Bigelow or at the Haggis in April during my spring break (a spring melt trip of sorts).”

“It's actually better for me over the long weekend, but it looks like I may have something else that weekend anyway...
We could do the Maine trip at the tail end of your February vacation.

Looks like I'll be in Florida during April vacation.

I just have to gloat...
20 years of working for the State has finally paid off...I now get 5 weeks paid vacation each and every year! and I can't carry more than 400 hours, so there is some pressure to "use it or lose it!" I begin 2005 with over 300 hours...and I do not intend to lose one iota of time...

woot! woot!”

“Hey, 300 hours is 7 1/2 weeks! You get more than me. That's not fair! ;o)

FLORIDA????”

“Artex - I don't even wanna hear about your vacation time. Grrrrr!”

“Florida for a vacation? Sorry to hear that. :-)

The later half of my February vacation would work out great for me, obviously. Plus, we'd bet a true winter experience. Your guys call though. But I'd have no problems doing FYAO and then coming back to Maine for the Snow Ball. That'd be wicked awesome.”

“Sorry, Pennsy.. I finally got you beat for vacation time! Moohahahahahah!”

“The end of that week in february would work for me. i'm pretty flexible to any of it.”

“I'm flexible as far as the timing goes, too. I'll be taking a dip into my meager 3 weeks of vacation.”

“Florida - I know... :(
It's a family thing we do every 5-10 years, and this time I'm taking my grandgirl.
AND with all this vacation time - I don't even mind!

Artex, what do teachers get up front for vacation, sick and personal time?

I'll change the dates to that weekend in February.”

“I'm flexible as far as the timing goes, too. I'll be taking a dip into my meager 3 weeks of vacation.

skiracer
07:14:32 AM
09/29/04

Although, that is prime ski season. It all kind of depends on what is happening during the ski season. After being away from ski racing for a couple of years, I'm thinking I might just get back into it this year. Since I bought a season pass that is good at Killington, Mount Snow, Pico, Attitash, Sunday River and Sugarloaf this year, I'll be hitting the slopes more than ever.”

“I've got to see what dates I can get off anyway...”

“"Plus, we'd [get] a true winter experience."

I just caught that! LOL...
last winter was unseasonably warm at the time of the SnowBall, but the year before there was plenty of snow and cold at the very same time. March really is still winter in Maine.
But I tell ya, I enjoy being out in shorts when there's snow on the ground!
=D”

“Last winter was certainly a weird one. Let's hope for more snow this year and no rain after the big snowfalls.”

“yes it was weird...wicked cold, heavy snow, then rain to wash it all away...

I love snow!
=D”

“I had to change the dates, sorry...”

“Also changed the itinerary...”

“Twig I guess no one is looking this far ahead. I am dropping from the FYAO trip and planning on this one. The track record with FYAO isn't very good.

I will make this offer to any of the TTer's that live south of CT. If you can make it to my house, we can car pool from here.”

“lthiker, what if i flew in?”

“great!

:)”

“I am sure that arrangements could be made. I would reccomend flying into Portland ME.”

“Hey whats going on with this trip?”

“The dates are set and bunkhouse reserved...

what's yer question?
=D”

“Are you trying to figure out how to be in two places at the same time?

LOL...”

“We've been so busy lately, we barely realize there is a snowball trip..... Guess I'd better check out the trip page....”

“Wow, just checked out the trip. Only 4 bunks in the bunkhouse. SB won't come unless she gets a bunk in the bunkhouse. Of course, we could always share one bunk to leave room for some others......

Maybe I could get her to share a tent. We actually have done this in the past at Blackwoods one spring in Acadia.”

“dang! I can't get to Maine fast enough. :(”

“Just wondering I hadn't seen any activity here in awhile/”

“Monkeyboy, you and skeetah have bunks as two of the first to sign on...some people do share them, I'm sure you could (and have, LOL) If there are more than 4 on the trip, we'll have to pay for lean-tos/tent sites, but I'm sure we can squeeze 6 in the bunkhouse.

This trip don't need no stinkin' activity! My trip planning strategy is different these days - rather than try to make everyone else happy, I picked the weekend that worked for me and the place I wanted to go.
So there! ;p

Last week I planned a trip to Quebec for a few of us...I picked the weekend that worked for me, made reservations, and e-mailed everyone - "This is when we are going and where we are staying - too bad if you don't like it!" LOL...good thing they trust me...hehe
last edited: 12/07/04 8:00:12 AM”

“Well, I don't like it !!

I'll be freezing my ass off somewhere in the Adirondacks while y'all are laughin' your asses off in a bunkhouse.........in your jammies!!!”