Finally Cold as a Blair Witch’s T*t, a T R

“I was nominated to write the trip report, so here it is, for your reading pleasure.

After much finagling, bartering, and sacrifices to various Pagan gods, the day of the trip was at hand. The goal: hitch a ride with Squilax and MarkO to the woods near Boonsboro, MD in hopes of seeing the Blair Witch, and most certainly to freeze our collective tits off. At least we hoped for some cold weather - it was 70 just the day before (Thursday)! The plan was for Squilax to show up at my office at 2, with MarkO in tow.

But the Blair Witch had other plans. An overturned vehicle on 83 north of the MD line left Squilax in limbo for several hours. And me sitting at my computer at work in my fresh trail clothes, getting strange looks from all the non-hiking coworkers around me. (You’re going out in cold to do *what*? And there are others that will be out in the cold with you? You better believe it.) Finally after a 4-hour delay, I got the call that made me smile. They had arrived.

A short hour drive west on 70 left us in the Parking lot of the Old South Mountain Inn, a historical structure built in 1732 and passed through many owners over the years (including the Dahlgren family). We knew others were already waiting so we loaded up and headed down the short access road to Dahlgren Backpacker’s Campsite. No hot showers or toilets for us since the bathhouse is closed over the winter - but none of us came for the wusy creature comforts anyway. Spam was already in attendance and had a nice fire going. After a little get-to-know-ya chat the rest of us set up camp and met back at the fire to warm our hands. We knew dinner would need to be found soon since it was now past 8. We considered the Inn, but it was priced for larger wallets than ours so we headed out to Boonsboro for the next best thing: Subway!

Back at the ranch, now with stomachs full, we all enjoyed the company and some booze. But not all the booze. Oh no, the best was yet to come, tomorrow. Others arrived including PhantomSoul, Batman Luke, ScorchFire, and StratusLoop. The group was almost complete. It was finally lights-out for the latest night owls at around 1:30 am. And it definitely wasn’t warm anymore - it went down to 23 as we slept.

Spam was up early, and I joined him by 8. After several calls to wake up the masses we pretty much gave up, figuring that one of us would meet the rest of the masses when they arrived at 9 in the parking lot. But, soon after some heads appeared and stoves started firing up for some hot drinks and food. Or at least PhantomSoul tried - it took a crowd of 4 to work out the bugs in his new stove but eventually it fired up. The last few people showed up (Stephen, now montecristo, Bison, and Embear) so we were ready to go.

On the trail by 9:30? I don’t think so. After getting a round of coffee, finding the endpoint (I-70 & 40) to drop some cars, and loading up at the start point (near Cowall shelter) it was closer to 12:15! But, with only 4 1/2 miles planned for the day there wasn’t any rush. We had one big uphill for the first half mile and then an easy, level 4 miles to Pogo Campsite. Oh yeah, there was that stretch of ”effen rocks”, as Squilax put it. Just a taste of the PA rocks farther north. Probably put there by the Witch just to piss us off. Squilax, montecristo and I hung back to have lunch while watching PhantomSoul mount a rock scramble TWICE. He got back to the trail just in time to realize his gloves were sitting at the top, so back up he went as we dug into our bagels and peanut butter (or at least that’s what I had). Montecristo and I took off down the trail to find and make camp. At about the time we wondered where the camp was, out of the corner of our eye MarkO’s construction-orange tee-pee beckoned from the left. We were at camp! Squilax and PhantomSoul stumbled in soon after, with the same observation. MarkO’s shelter was hard to miss. Finding a flat spot at the camp wasn’t easy, but not too hard either.

Pretty soon the group was gathered at the lower fire ring as I lit the fire that would eventually keep us - and another group - warm for the night. Gotta love a good fire! Spam whipped up some trail magic for the group by making spam-and-egg burittos for everyone that wanted one. A great appetizer to start off the evening meal, thanks Spam.

We all settled in around the campfire. The Witch dished out some more cold from her left tit so we stuck our feet in the fire and grabbed our bottles and bladders of spirits to ward it all off. ScorchFire announced she would “rather eat sh*t” than drink Rumple Minz. Batman Luke proved that farts really do light. And then the other group appeared. Turns out that a high school group, with the help of two Navy-trained gents, had spent the last 3 hours trying to get their camp fire lit and were there to see if they could warm their 23-degree hands by our fire. Of course we were glad to help, so we all stepped back to let them in to the ring for a while. As we all held our breath, hoping the alcoholic cloud emanating from the group didn’t poison the young ‘uns. MarkO came to the rescue and by breathing on their wood and lighting a fart managed to get their fire going in 10 minutes, so back up to their own fire they went. Soon the booze ran out and Batman Luke and MarkO decided (in their drunken state) that a run back to Scorch’s car at 9 o’clock at night, in the cold, and dark, and while drunk, would be good. Hey, sounded fine to us. Off they went, and about the time they were expected back MarkO appeared. No Batman Luke. MarkO let reason take over and decided it was time to turn back, but Batman Luke continued in the quest for more Fire Water. Just as we started to worry, he appeared back in camp. Unfortunately the party was already winding down, but the additional booze was put to use before the group made its way into their bags in ones and twos.

Sunday morning, 23 degrees again. Bring on the cold, baby! Due to the prior evening’s events, no one was up before 9 and even some weren’t up closer to 11. Breakfasts were made, camp was struck in spots, and plans were made to get people back home. Initially the idea was to hit a diner somewhere, but since everyone was headed off in 3 different directions, that didn’t happen. Maybe next year. And maybe next year we’ll see how cold the other (right) tit leaves us. Maybe we’ll get some snow? It did snow all over the area Sunday night, and wind chills dropped into the negatives, so we just missed it. Next year.

It was wonderful finally meeting some of the people I have talked to online for the last 10 months. See y’all next trip.
last edited: 1/18/05 10:05:04 AM”

“Oh, and Squilax, I meant to give you some $ for gas. I owe you next trip. Thanks for driving.”

“Thanks for the TR TNT! Do ya have any pictures up?”

“Unfortunately I'm still stuck in the stone age and need to wait for my film to be developed. You would think with "tech" in my name - and as tech'ed up as I am with everything else - that I would have a digital camera by now. Hopefully soon.

Good meeting you embear. Hope you are feeling better now. ;-)”

“Nice TR tehntrek! No need for me to rehash anything already recorded, but I'll add a description of our hike out.

Everyone had left camp by the time PhantomSoul, MarkO and I had our gear stowed and ready to roll. I actually left before MarkO had put away his tent, just to get a head start, as I am always the slowest hiker in any given group. I made my way up the slight rise out of Pogo to the crest of the trail passing other day hikers and PATC trail maintainers along the way. For me it was a nice, meandering walk in the woods. I got glimpses of the valley to the west as I made my way through the denuded forest. PhantomSoul caught up to me a little before we made the Black Rock overlook. He dropped his pack for another rock scramble while I made my way out to the cliff-edge with my pack still on. He got a photo of me kneeling on the edge (Nice pic BTW, PS!). We hung around taking in the view, then picked up and headed south toward Annapolis Rocks and PhantomSoul's car parked at the trail terminus. We soon arrived at the Annapolis Rocks cutoff, where once again, PS wanted to scramble on rocks. Just after he headed towards the cliff, about 1/4 mile away, MarkO caught up. We already dropped our packs for a break, so MarkO did the same and went after PhantomSoul. They came back in about 10 or 15 minutes and we took some shots for the camera, then continued on our way down past Pine Knob Shelter to the end of the trail.

Once at the car, we loaded our stuff and left for the other trailhead to pick up my car. When we had transferred our gear to my car, the three of us decided to find a spot for a quick supper. We ended up going into Frederick to Mountain View Diner and all ordered breakfasts from the menu. It was a nice ending to a fun weekend hike, and each of us recapped the highlights that stuck in our minds. After supper, we headed home - PhantomSoul back to NJ and MarkO with me back to Towson to drop him off then home for me in PA.

I ran into snow south of York and it continued for most of the way home, leaving a dusting covering the roadways.

Thanks everyone for a great weekend. It was nice to get the chance to meet a new group of TT'ers. I look forward to the opportunity to hike with you guys again sometime, maybe when the weather's a bit milder.

My photos are located at Blair Witch Hike - January 2005

See you on the trail again sometime!”

“Nice report, thanks!

Lyra and I will have to meet you guys next time you are in Maryland.

Great pics, none of you look completely insane!”

“Hey Squilax! Great silhouette shot of Phantom Soul!

Matter of fact, he's never looked so good! j/k Georgie!!”

“LOL, I look like I'm sneering at you in the pic of me and my brother.”

“great pics!!!

thanks so much for writing the TR you guys (stratus, Squilax, TNT)... i'm posting them on my webpage : )”

“Thanks for posting the TR....I enjoyed the read...but I didn't realize PhantomSoul is an avid skilled mountain climber....lol...j/k dude...and you're right it was cold...or at least it felt really cold....I was used to the 60 degree weather we've been having lately and this cold stuff had to show up....the nerve of it...

I'll post my TR when i'm completely finished....”

“Holy flaming farts Batman(Luke)! LOL!”

“Nice report and pictures all around!”

“Wow we finally get to see a picture of the elusive Bison. You and Embear make a cute couple.”

“elusive? ENS and PS hike with him a lot, they have tons of pics of bison, nige.”

“sounds like a great party, errrr, backpacking trip.”

“I wonder if lighting a bison fart would be a big deal.”

“I see Squilax has decided to join the site that actually backpacks more than one trip a year!


And :P since I couldn't come on this trip this year.”

“Same to you, pal!”

“Couldn't or Wouldn't you wuss?

And MarkO if I'd lit one of my farts there'd have been death and destruction.”

“death and destruction? lovely. i was sitting right next to the beast.”

“Hey, I had to sleep with him...”

“Ya know what they say about buffalo farts....”

“sorry to hear that, em, but your man didn't have BEANS AND CHILI for dinner!!!!”

“"Ya know what they say about buffalo farts...."

what? That they smell like buffalo farts? LOL.”

“I'm guessin' buffalo farts are HUGE!!!

Poor little Emmie would have been shot into orbit!!”

“5....4....3....2....1....we have ignition of the underwear.... and liftoff...”

“LOL!! This was my second TT'er hike and it was really fun. Y'all got a nice group of folks over "here"!”

“I wore the coat in to work today that I wore on the trip. Don't you just love the smell of a campfire in the morning?”

“I was afraid to wear mine on the train this morning - someone might think we were on fire somewhere!”

“oK Scorch - you got me there.

Did anyone see the pic of me and Bison in the parking lot? I think Spam took it???

I look like I just got two horrible black eyes!!! :O”

“tech, you ain't got one of them digitals?”

“Squilax, welcome aboard. TT trips are a blast. I've signed up for over 10 this year, should have almost 30 bagnights by the end of August. Last year on the Blairwitch we picked up Carl, a refugee from the other side.”

“MarkO - it was on my list to buy with Xmas cash, but other things took priority. As they always do.”

“Dub - I posted our Wind River trip for July 2005 over here late last fall. I've been able to pick up a few TT'ers in addition to those from the Glacier Gang from last July. I've been surprised to see how many of us actually post on both forums.”

“I picked up a new water filter since this past trip. My First Need saw better days. I took it into EMS to see if they had a repair kit that might be able to restore resiliecy in the pump section's O-rings, but it is self-contained, so I'd have to buy a new one anyway.

I got the MSR Mini-works filter. Looks like this one will be a lot easier to maintain on the trail and off, not to mention that it's light and less bulky than the First Need.
last edited: 1/18/05 2:46:03 PM”

“Used Em's MSR filter on this trip... didn't like it, takes way to long to pump compared to my PUR (now katadyn) Hiker, also harder to pump, much less efficient.

Tech doesn't have digital? What is this, the 80's?”

“Nice Pics and TR! Hey Tech, ya gotta tell me, how did your bro end up as Montecristo?”

“Bison, do you have a digi yet? I thought you only had a 35mm.”

“techntrek, when is your next hike? Would you be interested in going with MarkO, Phantom Soul, Backslacka and me to WV to hike the North Fork Mountain Trail?”

“tech - i wore my down coat today as well... smelled so good like campfire... mmm.

squilax, i own the msr miniworks and i absolutely love it. it's a little harder to pump and it works slower than a lot of other filters, but the results are great. best tasting water from a pump i've tasted yet. just my .02”

“Wow that was a great trip report techntrek and Scorchfire you had some cool pics too!

I want to thank Scorchfire for putting this trip together I met and hiked with 9 new TTers to add to my list. This trip was a little different than most TT trips that I have attended and it was totally cool!

Four and one half stars!”

“damn, what do we need to do to make it 5 stars?”

“Yeah ENS I don't have digi, but I have an excuse, I shoot slides...”

“You can't get a perfect score when you run out of booze!!!!!”

“BS! i still have a nalgene that's a quarter full of firewater!”

“Okay FIVE it is!!!!”

“: D”

“Nah, stop it... you're killing me...

Anywhoo, now that we actually have a real TR page, here's another link to my pictures:

PhantomSoul's Maryland AT (a.k.a The Blair Witch Hike) Pictures

Yup, the TR's above pretty much covered it all (that and I'm taking a break from storytelling this week...). I had an excellent time with everyone and really enjoyed meeting 4 new TT-ers, rocketing me over 70 now (wow).

Piece!”

“Oh yeah, I didn't run into any snow on the way home, I guess because my route took me further east along towards the coast. :~P

But not to worry, it started snowing here about 10 minutes after I got home...”