Sort of new here too ...

“I've been here almost a year now and have been snooping for longer than that, yet have never introduced myself and thought it was time to say "hi".

I currently live in Harrisburg PA, but have lived in a number of coastal regions in the past.

I got interested in backpacking because of experiences in the military. Military "backpacking" is much different and I have a lot to learn still. I really got into civilian backpacking about 2 years ago out of need for a way to get exercise due to a knee injury. Backpacking was one of the best calorie burners of exercises that I actually thought I'd enjoy without further damaging the knee. Like all hobbies, I took to it quickly and researched it heavily, spending much time reading this site and others and just experimenting with ideas.

I'm not an ultra-light backpacker, but am interested in that. My pack usually weighs about 30 pounds, not including water. My next pursuit in backpacking will be more of a survival(minimum gear)/backpacking mix. I'm also interested in combining star-gazing with backpacking.

Last year I got certified in wilderness first aid (again, much different than what is taught in the military) and would highly recommend it to everyone on this board. I think everyone can benefit from it. I know many of you have, and would bet you'd do it again.

I'm an ultra-conservative, but had those beliefs before becoming a Christian, as many people have falliciously attributed my beliefs to. I was a liberal for most of my life, up until about 5 or so years ago. When backpacking I let it known that I won't discuss politics. I backpack for the purpose of "getting away from it all" and to enjoy God's creation.

My main hobbies are backpacking, weight lifting, martial arts and am involved in various church ministry type programs, although never feel like I do enough with that. My musical tastes have changed a lot over the years, but primarily enjoy blues now-a-days. Music is another way to "get away from it all" and I couldn't tell you many performers or names of songs, ... I just like to veg listening to it.

I don't listen to music on the trail, but I can see why people do. To me it would be a distraction, but I bet it enhances a lot of people's experiences too.

I'm horrible at communicating online. I appreciate just about everybody on this forum and realize you have a lot of different experiences to share. As somebody who has been lucky enough to experience a lot, I can appreciate the many different views offered on this site and understand where most people are coming from more than they might realize. Most likely, I've had the same thoughts at one time or another. That being said, I'm constantly impressed with the amount of things many of you guys know and look forward to learning from you. There are a lot of skilled people out there. Look at Trekker John's signs for example. Impressive artisan!

I'm married to a non American citizen. She came here as an interpreter and became a student. She is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. She speaks multiple languages (speaks English better than most Americans) and teaches a wide variety of subjects. She also loves hiking, but hasn't got into it at the extent I have, yet.

I probably will cut back on backpacking once my knee heals (had surgery a month ago) to focus on other hobbies again, but will definitely continue to backpack and camp for life. I won't likely meet any of you (horray for you!), mostly due to a busy schedule and never enough time to be with friends, so they always get priority, but I do hope to meet some of you someday and I always keep an eye out for TTers when I'm on the trail.”

“Note to Sarge.

TT is basically a dating service. Married people have trouble fitting in.
last edited: 6/14/05 7:47:30 PM”

“All this time and I just realized last week that Treebeard and Mapleleaf were married to one another!”

“HI SAREGE WELCOME TO TRAILTALK

i just know youll just fit in in here perfectly ;-)

"When backpacking I let it known that I won't discuss politics" good for you. god knows we get more than enough of that here.

"I'm horrible at communicating online" no, im sure youll get along just fine with everyone here ;-)

great taste in music, btw. i too like blues, but dont know alot of performers names, but i do love john lee hooker.

glad to see you reachin out, sarge. keep up the good attitude”

“i dont know of a whole lot of people who have met and dated thru trailtalk. tarpy and lyra maybe? bison and embear? lizs and every other male over 30? ;-)”

“hey troll :)”

“Good to hear about your other side Sarge. People of other nationalities and ethnic groups add something to life. And usually good eats, too.

What are you doing in the burg, if I may ask?

No CB, I'm over 30 and have not dated lizs.”

“I had the same problem. Mapleleaf was here a year before treebeard showed up, because this place attracts the ladies. She was married then.

I think treebeard showed up, because mapleleaf got caught trying to make a date. More likely she got a date and figured out the kind of loosers we are.”

“Hey Sarge, you been here longer than me but I've been here longer than I appear having previously posted with the name Imanrobot. This message will not be repeated.
last edited: 6/14/05 8:22:01 PM”

“wellcome sarge-”

“Treebeard didn't come here because Maple got a date, because Maple never got a date, or even tried to get a date. She was always quite clear that she was very happily married.”

“"This message will not be repeated."

will it self-destruct in 10 seconds?”

“shes happy, hes married. har har har har har”

“ill give 10 to 1 odds someone(could be anyone) turns this fuego”

“Umm, I can see where Crash Bank will destruct, but it will be at the hands of Mapes. Oh, she's gonna put a hurtin on you!”

“Geo - I'm not trying to be mysterious, but I'd rather not talk about what I'm doing in Harrisburg. I will say that I work for the government and enjoy computers and work with certain demographic information.

She's a great cook, and a natural at it! She can just whip something up out of whatever's in the kitchen where all I see is bread and things to put on it. She learned from watching her mother but never really cooked that much until after we got married. It was an added bonus.”

“troll
kain't belief I's de firs un ta sez it.

Ohhh, I've met lizs, but we only see each other once in a blue moon. Not that we are seeing each other or anything.”

“not that theres anything wrong with that!”

“troll
kain't belief I's de firs un ta sez it.

youre not. sacco beat you to it”

“opps, missed that one. My appologies, eh!”

“I find it hard to believe you were once a liberal sarge! LOL”

“Sarge works for Rendell? go figure.”

“Sarge, I'll hike with you sometime. I'm just right down 283 in Lancaster.”

“I'm getting old, now (about to turn 48 on June 28th), so I've been thinking more and more about making the backpack lighter. I usually end up with about 45 pounds for a longer trip (counting water). I really need to get that weight down some more. Went to a Pocket Rocket stove and that shaved off a bit of weight. Going to a lighter down bag this winter, and am using a fleece bag and a small down throw for a summer bag, so that's shaving some weight off, too. My tent weighs four pounds--that's about as light as I'm likely to get it since I insist on a real tent (I don't like tarps or bivis) and most two-men tents are just right for just me. One thing that I actually increased pack weight on was my sleeping pad--I went from a closed cell pad that was really only good for insulation to a ThermARest pad--picked up about a pound and a half there. But the extra comfort (and increased insulation) was well worth the extra weight.”

“Sarge, Maple has posted under treebeard's name, so either they are cohabitating, dare I say that to a person who believes in God and marriage, or they are married, or she broke into treebeard's apt to use his computer!!!”

“hey im cohabitating and proud of it :) If that gets peoples panties in a wad then too freakin bad. :)”

“Spirit, there is something about being married that changes things. I think it's the realization that the things that annoy you about your partner are yours to enjoy for the rest of your lives together, lol, even though it's the same if you just live together your whole life. It's jus the psychology behind it.

That woman that I find so annoying called Joy Behar on the daytime show called The View says she is with her boyfriend 16 years and will not get married since things are fine the way they are.

Marriage is helpful if one person is not working, so you get health coverage, but that is no reason to get married, but a side benefit if you are married.

Panties should only be in a wad on the floor before the sex act! No arguing here. We are a peaceful group, uh, yeah, right!!!!”

“i dont know of a whole lot of people who have met and dated thru trailtalk. tarpy and lyra maybe? bison and embear? lizs and every other male over 30? ;-)”
Crash Bang
7:15:11 PM
6/14/05


DOH!!! how did I miss out on my turn?”

“ENS - cool. We actually hike at some of the same places already (from reading your posts) so maybe we'll run into each other some day.”

“Sarge - welcome aboard. I too am new and recovering from knee issues - I had two replacements. I am getting older (44) and know that lighter will always be better. You gave me some advice on hill climbing and I am tal=king it to heart. I will be back at it this weekend so we will see how the training has helped. If you ever get to MN let me know - I have some good ideas of places to hike.”

“Awesome hikergerb - Good luck this weekend!”

“Sarge, if you ever make you why up to the Adirondacks, I'd be honored to hike with you or anyone else for that matter.”

“Actually lumberzac, I just might take you up on that. It's sort of on my list for next year...”

“go to Harriman this weekend with us

ps, I AM NOT MARRIED to that freak tree with the beard.

he creeps me out”

“I'm seriously confused. Are you guys married, cohabitating, none of the above? What's the deal??

just curious”

“Hey Sarge. Let me give you my official welcome. I hope you continue to enjoy this place with all its wisdom and idiocy.

There are some fantastic people here. Although we play a little rough with each other, we have each others backs when it counts. I was blown away by the way people here lifted me up when I was ailing.

Marriage hasn't changed TT for me. The fact that there were some great single women here did add something when I was was unattached, but that was only one fine spice in a very tasty gumbo.”

“Secret's out, Maple! Don't try to hide it!

Sarge, Maple has been my bride for almost 18 tumultuous, I mean, wonderful years!”

“A belated welcome to TT sarge.

I did NOT date that woman! ;-)”

“Try biking.”

“I do bike because I have to for the knee. Otherwise, I hate it with a passion. Thanks for the tip though.”

“We've had two lasting marriages (so far) from a PNW tt hiking group that was started 7 years ago, and I'd say both couples were married about 5-6 years ago, so love does blossom on tt!!!”

“well lookee at this little lovefest! welcome to TT, a year late. LOL!

i didn't meet Tarpy through TT, he brought me here. send all checks of gratitude payable to Tarp Lloyd Monkey.”

“I will probably cut back on backpacking once my knee heals?-I dont quite get that--”

“thats because sarge is so hardcore, that he lugs 50 pound packs up 10,000 foot mountains for 30 miles a day for relaxation, while the rest of us puny girly-men (and girly-women) struggle to dayhike around the city park with a fanny pack loaded with twinkies and juicers”

“finger - Good question. That's what I get for abbreviating my answers. What I meant to say was I was really into backpacking before my surgery. People were asking me about backpacking at different locations after my knee heals, so I said I will probably cut back on backpacking once it heals. Technically I cut back when I had the surgery, so I see your point.

cb - You forgot "barefoot" and "blindfolded".”

“only listen to me sarge, not these losers”

“How ya doin' there Jello Fog? Hey, do they have chocolate jello?”