Smashing Pumpkins on Tom Jones: Trip Rep ort

“(Hope Mapleleaf doesn't mind that I started the TR thread, but I know she hates writing TR's).

Smashing Pumpkins on Tom Jones: Trip Report. Harriman State Park, NY 10/15/04 - 10/17/04

Trip Attendees: ScorchFire, Capn bobo, Mapleleaf, Treebeard, MarkO, Crash Bang, Adventurist, Mrs. Adventurist, AmyG and Asher doggie too!
Special Guest: Srul (newly dubbed "Soul Man" because no one could pronounce his name right and his name sounded like the word soul).

Friday night:

Capn bobo picked me up at my house around 7:30pm and we headed up to Harriman. MarkO was driving the Trees and Crash Bang (CB) from NYC to Harriman. The Capn and Scorch were hungry, so once we entered NY, we stopped at the Rhodes Bar (?) and had some eats and some drinks (and was yelled at for smoking in the bar... OOPS! Forgot NY's law). We then met up with the Trees, MarkO, and CB at the trailhead to head up to Tom Jones Shelter for the night. By this time it was about 10:30pm or so. The rain started coming down real hard. It was impossible to see the trail. It was a pretty steep 400 foot climb to the top and then a little ways to the shelter. We pretty much tailgated for an hour hoping that the rain would let up. When it didn't and we couldn't find the shelter thanks to Bobo taking a quick peek up on the ridge, we opted for a hotel. Because all the hotels were booked up for some silly conference, we decided to head back to the trailhead and find the shelter. It's now midnight and the rain had finally let up.

We climbed up to the ridge (what a slippery mofo of a climb with all those darn wet boulders!) and after searching for a while, we found the shelter. I set up camp next to Tom Jones Shelter (I don't like sleeping in shelters) and everyone else set up in the shelter, too lazy to set up : P We had some drinks, some laughs, and then went to bed finally around 3:30am.

Saturday:

I woke up around 9am and since everyone was sleeping, I took the opportunity to just sit back and relax with my Luna bar, my smokes, my journal, and my comfy little campchair. I sat on the edge of the ridge that dropped down below and dangled my feet and just relaxed in the morning sun and wrote in my journal. Bobo was the next to wake, followed by Mapleleaf yelling at Bobo for laughing too hard, then the rest of the gang.... well, except CB who decided to be antisocial and park his tent a mile away and not hang out with us the previous night or Saturday night : P

Around 10:30am, Maple received a call from Adventurist saying that Twinks bailed (shocker) and that him, the Mrs., and AmyG would be to the shelter by 11am. They arrived pretty much on time and we sat around and talked for a while and decided what route we'd take for a dayhike.

Around 1pm, we all packed up and started hiking. Since Mapleleaf and I are on the injurred list, we decided it'd be best for us to do a short couple miles and pump everyone's water while the rest of the gang did their own thing. We split up and Maple and I went our own way.

Maple and I were the first back to the shelter since we didn't wander too far. Brrr, was it cold. We bundled up and sat talking in the shelter for a while until a visitor stumbled upon us! The one and only Srul (pronounced Srul) arrived. He is from Israel and staying with his sister in NYC for a while. Very interesting person. The guy had been on the trail for a week and we were the first people he ran into, so he was quite talkative. The most impressive thing was that he was mountain biking Harriman! No clue how he was managing that as the terrain is pretty rugged and steep in a lot of spots. He hung out with us the rest of the trip. He saw a bear on Bear Mountain while in Harriman and showed us photos. Very cool.

Around 5pm or so, the gang got back to camp minus Treebeard. A while passed by... where the hell was Stu??? He wasn't that far back from the gang who was gathering wood on the way back to camp. Adventurist went to look for him. By this time, the cold and pouring rain started up again. Adventurist returned... still no Treebeard. Adventurist and Mapleleaf headed back out to look for him again, followed by myself, AmyG, and Srul. Eventually Treebeard was located and we all headed back to the shelter to thaw him out by the fire. Apparently he had missed the turnoff to the shelter and kept walking on the trail. Then when he realized he had passed it, it was raining so hard he couldn't find the shelter and stayed put knowing that he'd be rescued by his fellow TTers! Way to go,Tree,.. now go back and collect your pile of wood ; )

We started cooking dinner after Tree returned. After dinner, the real fun began! Me and Bobo packed in 3 small pumpkins that we surprised everyone with. When done eating, we carved them and made Jack-O-Lanterns! (see pics). They were most impressive. The drinking also began... another classic TT moment with stories and laughter. We'll leave it at that ; ) Some awesome photos were taken though, that's for sure.

Sunday:

Woke up at the ass crack of dawn and laid in my tent for a while trying to fall back to sleep while everyone decided it would be fun to watch the sunrise and chit chat right next to Scorchy's tent : P (bastards!).

Don't know what time it was when I finally got the nerve to crawl out of my warm bag into the freezing cold, but I immediately packed up and got ready to head out.

Everyone ate breakfast and took their time packing up since we were only going back down the mountain where we came in (about a 20 minute hike or so).

We hiked back to the cars and went to Orange Top Inn diner and ate a hearty breakfast.

We parted ways and wished the Adventurists good luck with their move to CO! It was great meeting you guys and hope to come out there to visit the Rockies one of these days and hike with you there. Also great to meet AmyG and Asher dog. You're a lot of fun, girl.

Bobo and I said goodbye and quickly departed. We were on a mission. The Eagles were on.

Awesome trip!

Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/201807591iIghJr”

“Hey Scorch!

Eagles won, huh?

We had a nice time at a great shelter.
I've never seen one built quite like it.

I'm tired.......home in one piece”

“again,.. sorry about your bag, markO! let me know how that patch holds up.

it definitely was the best shelter i've seen.

yup eagles won... E A G L E S... Eagles!”

“great report...hey...so what's the real story? how did the cigarette hole get in MarkO's bag??

what's wrong with you guys?? can't you all make her stop??”

“Better to burn a hole in my bag than my ass.”

“:'(

me and nora were bundled up in the shelter and i flicked my butt at the fireplace which bounced off the fireplace and onto the bottom of MarkO's tent. I don't think I have ever lept up so fast in my entire life. By that time it was too late and there was a small hole the size of the cherry on the end of the butt.

i offered to buy him a new bag, but then Srul saved my life and patched it up with some awesome stuff he had (i gotta get that shiit to keep in my first aid kit!).

marko, plllleeease let me know if that holds up. if not, i'll be glad to buy u a new bag.”

“nice report & pics, Scorchie! It was great to get out and play this weekend - what a fun bunch! Always nice to see old TT friends and make some new ones.

This trip, though short, had it all...rain, shine, fall colors, falling TTers, missing TTers, TTers who wouldn't get lost...never a dull moment. hmmm...should we even dare to mention the BP-Rag group?
skeeeery!
=:0

I want to thank everyone for putting up with my hyena dog. This was his first trip, so, like Bobo, he is still learning group etiquette. He also really likes to snuggle...sorry for you shelter dwellers who got pounced. LOL

The pumpkin were great! Bobo does it again with his little surprises...he's the bestest. (also thanks to scorch for the pumpkin assist). I can't wait to see how the other pics turned out. Here are a few I took...
http://community.webshots.com/album/201921206VKHmkC”

“oh yeah...the flying embers! Mark, just remember that it's better to have it hit your bag than to have your crotch set on fire!!
heheheh!
>;D”

“Nice TR. Sounds like another good trip.”

“Sounds like y'all had a blast. Cool pics, but Scorch, in her last pic in the caption, left out the names of AmyG and the psycho killer-looking dood on the right. Gotta git wit it girl!

And there weren't any photos in your album AmyG...yet!”

“OK...Wha'da'fa???

There are NOW pics in your album, G.”

“cool pics!

sorry bout leaving amyg and asher's name outta the picture. the caption cut it off! it's fixed now.”

“hmm, i can't see any pics in AmyG's webshot album”

“nice pics of the trail and leaves.

Jackolanterns are cool!”

“her pics are up, i saw em : P

i liked the group shot at lunch.”

“Sounds like ya'll had a great time. Nice pics.
How is CB supposed to adjust to civilization if you keep dragging him back the woods”

“he wants to do the AT again!”

“sucks, can't see them. I'll try ie now, see if I can get to them there. yupp, I can see them now. wow, another great sunrise pic”

“Sounds like another memorable Tom Jones hike.”

“Nice pics! Looks like it was a great trip to send of the Adventurists with.

I really dig that lean-to. I was last there nearly two years ago with a lot of the people on this trip. Glad you guys had fun and the weather cooperated.”

“Hey Ho!

Let me first say...

E A G L E S !!!!!!!!

Secondly...

My Brain Hurtsssss

Great Trip! Good to see everyone, it was a blast!!! I'll try to get pics posted by tonight, it's gonna be a long Monday...

Great to be able to See Mr. and Mrs. Adventurist one more time before they head Westward-Ho! Above all, I will miss all the great times that Danielle and I have shared over the years... grade school, the Soph Hop, our first *kiss* and those countless trips into the mountains and endless talks around the fire. Jon? Yeah, I'll miss him too, I guess...

Looks like I lost my filter, I think it might have slipped behind/under the shelter. Oh well, with Trail Magic sometimes you find something and sometimes you give something away!

CONGRATULATIONS to our newest TT friend,
ASHER the Wilderness Rescue Doggie! St. Bernard he's not (I'm concerned AmyG is not feeding him enuf), but I was working with him all weekend, he's got potential and the girls sure think he's cute!”

“hey-roe!”

“What can I say, AmyG's new boyfriend is a dog.

I thought Dare was much cuter.

It certainly was a treat to see Danielle again, she's cuter even than Dare.

Jon and Danielle are two of the sweetest people I know.
Our loss is Colorado's gain.

The real story on the burnt sleeping bag is that Scorch and I were sharing a smoke in the sack.......ya know ;^)
last edited: 10/18/04 7:54:22 AM”

“LMAO, exactly. apparently he's got a really long tongue”

“Thanks everybody for putting together such a great trip!

We had a blast and will definitely miss all of you!”

“But Scorchie dear, tongues will wag!!!”

“Awww MAN! Sorry to hear about your loss Mr. Bobo....

That was an awesome filter set-up too!

We should start a thread:
BOBO FILTER FUND DRIVE!”

“Did Maple get Smashed? ;-)

Mapes - How did the toothache go? Fixed yet?”

“I felt no pain Frdaynight and Sat night.
hurts now :(

I will add a few things in later (got to work now)
I had a much needed rest and good time!”

“Glad to hear you guys had a great time!”

“Thanks...good luck with the exams...”

“Ya missed a fun time, Toesey.”

“One of these days I might get to meet you MarkO! Dang. You coming to the Tree's Halloween party?

Thanks Adventurist. Sorry I missed you and the Mrs. Enjoy Colorado!”

“I'm staying in-state for Halloween, Toes.

Some day we'll meet!

You missed a fun party.”

“Yeah MarkO - someday you might get to meet Terror Toes, who cares about Bobo!!!
last edited: 10/18/04 9:30:45 AM”

“Huh?

You be the Bobo I know.......she be the Toes I don't know”

“hmmm....I wonder when I'll have the pleasure of meeting the infamous CapnBobo?? Are you going to be a the Tree's party?”

“Beware of the Bobo moon.

lol”

“Scorchy gave a pretty comprehensive TR, so I will just try and fill in some blanks. Before seeing her and Bobo on Friday night, the rain and timing of our departure threw us into an inordinately unusual traffic nightmare getting out of New York. We wound up being a few hours later than planned. So, the rain decided to get heavy around the time of our arrival at the trailhead, hence the little "tailgate party" prior to hiking up. Those rocks were really slippery, so going up was a cautious endeavor, to say the least. But, we made it.

Saturday's hike was a really fun outting. It was good to see the Adventurists and Amy G (Asher Dog, too) as it had been quite a while since seeing them. The route had its share of climbs and descents. Harriman has a fair amount of very picturesque overlooks, too, as evidenced by a few of Amy's pics. The weather held out, for the most part, until my adventure around the conclusion of the hike, that is. On the last climb up to the top where the shelter is, I got separated from Mark-O and Amy G and wound up off the trail momentarily. I realized it almost immediately and remedied it by going back to the last blaze. But, at that point, I found that I lost those two. The rain was starting to become a downpour at this time and visibility was diminishing and it was approaching nightfall, to boot. A little weary at this time, I guess I wandered too far as I couldn't find the landmark that would tell me I had hiked far enough and I should simply look to the right and spot the shelter. Instead, I trod on and started to descend from the top. Knowing this was definitely incorrect, I turned back a little. Almost slipping on one of those large, wet rocks, I decided to drop the wood as conditions were getting a little worriesome. I called out for someone to hear, but to no avail. This kept up for what I estimate at about 20-30 minutes. I was resigned to staying put on the trail, figuring that would be my best chance of being spotted. Sure enough, Adventurist came through and found me shortly there after. Thank you, man! You were a welcome sight! Maple was with him and they led me back to the shelter where we started up a blazing fire. Felt good as I was pretty wet at that time.

Some awesome chili to follow along with some of Bobo's hot TNT. That really hit the spot, Capn! Lots of laughs and good times to follow that night.

We slept in the shelter again that night as the rain got into the tents a bit. At one point, I got up to purge the old bladder and when I came back, Asher dog had decided to inhabit my sleeping bag. I tried to him him the quiet heave-ho, but he wasn't having any of that. Matter of fact, he growled and then tried to nip at me. So, I tried it again. He did it again! The third time, I think he got the message and he moved, reluctantly. Good dog!!

It was a great trip. Jon and Danielle, we will miss having you guys in the area here. But, I know that you will be happy where you are going and I wish you two the best. You are wonderful folks. Best of luck to you.

As for the rest of you eightballs, it was a pleasure and I am sure our paths will cross again soon enough! Great trip, guys. I loved it...”

“Eightballs?

There was nine of us”

“Well, there's only one eight ball in a rack...


...and I think it was you!”

“You talkin' about my rack?”

“Sounds personal, man!”

“well if he wasn't counting himself, then there was 8!”

“Sounds like yall had a good time! I love the pumpkin idea. Hmmm. I wonder how much they weighed???”

“you know what really sucks? that there were 3 great trips on one weekend. :(

wish i could've been on each one of them.”

“WE had pumpkins!! >8^P”

“If Gemini was along, we could of had *4* pumpkins!”

“You guys did an 8ball on this trip? Holy smokes.”

“Oooooooooooooo”