Deep Freeze Tennessee (TR)

“We just got back to the outskirts of Chicago. Jimmy is here waiting for his wife, playing my guitar.

We had a blast this weekend. Rain, snow and freezing temps couldn't keep us from the gulf.

Thanks for all that came out! I will post a better report tomorrow. If you want to post your own report, go for it here.”

“Hey...hey...hey...I had a great time meeting everyone and just hanging out. I was surprised that the cold temps didn't bother me much. I got a kick out of watching my water turn into slush right before my eyes. Thanks for cutting up all the wood and the nice fire...whoever you are. Last time I got together with WK at Savage Gulf, Walkindude proclaimed me the "wood #itch"! I guess it was someone elses turn this time.

Looking forward to hiking with you guys in the future.”

“The group of backpackers ended up to be 11 in size, with people streaming in until mid-morning Saturday. The weather was a little colder than forecast, and a good inch of snow fell Friday night, and some ice pellets fell Sunday night. Daytime temperatures were quite comfortable for hiking.

The surprise steal of the campfire conversations came from Tnprime (Tennessee Prime, real name Dave) the drummer of the band Old Union

http://oldunion.com/

who spent a good hour telling us how he toured North America by hitching rides on rail road freight cars. He described the culture of such lifestyle even better than Bill Bryson described the backpacking culture on the Appalachian Trail in the book A Walk in the Woods. You guys got to listen to his stories.

Thanks to Wounded Knee for organizing this trip, and doing a car pool. Everyone was helpful in the shuttles and transportation, getting firewood and the like. You could not ask for better hiking companions.”

“Had a great time even if it was just for one night. Sure wish I could have been able to stay one more night.

How was the climb out to get to the Alum Gap campsite.

The weather was great and the snow at the start of the hike was awesome.

It was nice to see some old friends and meet some new ones. I hope everyone had a great time and made it home safely.

Thanks to that Commie Wounded Knee for putting this trip together.

Here are my pics from the trip, enjoy

http://community.webshots.com/album/545407318eDRCem
last edited: 1/17/06 8:19:41 AM”

“Thanks for the reports and the pictures. It looked cold and damp, but the pictures were interesting. I could visualize trying to cross those bridges with a foot or more of damp, sticky snow on them. Glad the trip went well.”

“Thanks for the pics/report Ewker, those suspended bridges looked tricky. Glad you all survived.”

“Brian did it again. Wounded Knee's trips are always good and seem to usually involve extra precipitation. ;)”

“Good pics Ewker. Had a blast everyone! Good to see some of you again and meet the rest of you. Wish I could have stayed till Monday. The hike out to Stone Door was georgeous! Thanks for planning the trip WK.

Here are my pics. No time for captions.

http://community.webshots.com/album/545565028PmroLZ”

“dang IJ, you sure you didn't take some of my pics...lol”

“lol, I was thinking the same thing looking at yours. We must have a similar eye...”

“sorry I missed one of my favorite trails snowed over. ! more week until I get my knee fixed, & I'll plan a back on the trail trip down there sometime in March.”

“It was great to meet all the new ones and to see Ewker again. Everything was planned very well for this trip,(special thanks to Wounded Knee for getting it together) and for once it seemed everything fell together just so, even the weather.

While restocking a few things for the trip Thursday night I grabbed some freezer bags, and then while packing them I noticed that I had purchased the special holiday "Let It Snow" emblazend bags..Ah! What foreshadowing.

I will have the pictures developed by tonight so should post some of them tomorrow.

And once again, I don't think you could have asked for a better bunch of people to hike with.

And for now, back to listening to the mp3's on TNPrime's Old Union band website. Think that I am hooked.

Oh yeah....there should be some interesting pics from the Stone Door Overlook when Rescue9 and TNPrime post their pictures so keep your eyes open and your vertigo in check.”

“Hey Rescue, let me know if you get those video clips up somewhere.”

“I looked at y'alls pics while I was home.

Great pics! Wish we had got some snow on DDX's trip.”

“nice pics and TR! Makes me homesick. :(

Did yall hike to the old savage homestead while you were at sawmill?”

“I know I didn't stop. I can't speak for the rest of them. You could see it from the trail. Last time I was there the wildflowers were in full bloom.”

“Embear I saw it from the trail too. I was in a hurry and didn't stop.”

“yeah, ewker, last time i was there the flowers were incredible. I didnt realize you could see it from the trail in the winter....”

“What a wonderful trip! I've got lots of pics on my site already, though the trip summary blog isn't quite finished yet.

Here's a direct link to the pics.
http://corridor9.net/gallery/SavageGulf”
rescue9
3:46:43 PM
1/17/06”

“Thanks for the redirect Ewker, didn't know this one was here. I've not had the chance to resize the video clips yet, I'm going to try and get that done later tonight. I'll let ya know when they are up IJ

BTW: Those are some AWESOME pics IJ and Ewker! I'm a little upset at myself because I forgot to turn off that darn date thingy my wife likes to have on the pictures. I think it ruins them. :-(
last edited: 1/17/06 4:06:07 PM”

“Hey all! Thanks for a great weekend! I had a wonderful time, my legs and knees held up like I never expected over 20 miles of rough terrain. Definatly thanks to the 20 walmart trekking poles. As I sit here I still have vivid memories of the snowy start, the calf burning descent, and the long trek to alum gap. I was really happy to meet such a mixture of great folks and I really look forward to the next outing. Thanks for enduring my train stories, maybe next time I will jar some more memories loose.

Also thanks for starting the fires for dusty and I and also picking out premier camping sites..... thats my cop-out for being the last to camp each night!

Sunday night we had an excuse though, unknown to the rest of the camp, I proposed to dusty at the sink just past ranger falls and she said YES! We kept it a secret so as to continue to enjoy the rest of the weekend with everyone, it did make the up hill to Alum easier! We have been dating for a long time and South Cumberland is always been a special place for me and us, so it seemed the right place and definatly the right weekend. I was bummed cause my spot was supposed to be ranger falls, BUT as Bill and Ken will attest, the sink area is beautiful too.

Also I will post some photos as soon as I get them! Great meeting everyone! Soon it will be Mr and Mrs Tnprime! HAH!”

“I wondered why you mentioned the sink area, then looked at Dusty and smiled. Congrats man!”

“Tnprime, good choice, you lucky guy. Any girl who will go winter backpacking is a keeper.”

“hey, maybe that's why i spilled spaghetti all over my lap!! haha my mind was occupied with what happened at the sink! -i had a great time meeting all of you guys, bill, i'm glad to see you & ken made it home safely from the restaurant~ hope to hike with you guys again soon.”

“Congratulations on the engagement.

Thanks for the great reports and pictures. Very enjoyable.”

“Wow. That is wonderful news. Congratulations. I wish that you guys had asked Ken and me take a picture of you two at the sink, but I guess if you had posed on one knee for our pictures TNPrime, it would have given it away:)

I will post my pictures at Webshots and then put the link here in a little while. I only had one roll of film so my coverage is sketchy, but with as many people as were on this trip I am sure we will get thorough pics when put together.”

“Ok not that anyone is still up to see these, but here they are.

http://community.webshots.com/album/546195705kWmkiN

Not in the right order yet, but you get the idea.

Ken should be e-mailing his pictures to me when he gets back to Knoxville, and I will post a link to those as well.
last edited: 1/18/06 2:57:11 AM”

“Awesome pics everyone. Brings me right back. Looks like you had a sweet spot on Sunday night. Was the moon out? Bet it lit up the valley!

Rescue those overhang pics gave me the chills. I don't mind being places like that, but it always makes me nervous to see other people close to the edge.

A big congratulations to tnprime and harrylegs. That is so awesome! Many years of happiness to you! I'm sorry I'missed the train stories, i'd love to hear them sometime. Hope to hike with you both again.
Get some sleep! ;)

Welcome to the board harrylegs hope to see you posting now.”

“I had a great time so thabk you wounded knee... thanks to all that went on the hike. I really appreciate the friendship, courtesy, and hospitality I see from others on these trips.

Special thanks to ewker for putting me up for the night and helping me retrieve my lost gear.

Here is looking at the next trip!”

“Thanks for your report and great pictures, BBill knox.”

“Ken e-mailed me his pics of the trip. I posted them to my webshots account.


http://community.webshots.com/album/546436955cgNVQD”

“Hey WK, did you stop at a Waffle House on the way home”

“You know it! It was an awesome finish to an awesome trip!”

“Jimmy san, I was torn between the Waffle House and Mexican, so the decision came down to the margaritas. Now that is an idea, Waffle House with margaritas--I would have been there. Not so far fetched I guess, I know that some Denny's have beer and wine available.”

“The waitresses in such a place would put skanks to shame...my kind of joint.”

“Would a Chunked and Scattered Magarita be a blended one, JimmySan?”

“Only if it is made with Knob Creek!”

“Hey, guys, here is our photos from the trip... nice shots... Cant wait till the hints of spring in the Gulf!

http://community.webshots.com/album/546679588ozwSCh

Also the bands DVD will be finished in about a month. It is fricken sweet, saw the rough cut footage tonight... DANG! I'll let you's know as soon as I get info on how to order it if you'd like.”

“On your last few photos, I was on the same rock, and I would not have gone on it if I had known how thin it was and how much overhang it had. Good photos. Thanks for posting.”

“Great photos! Thanks for posting. I already have good memories from this trip, but yours will be better tnprime. Congrats again!”

“Holy s--t look at that overhang!

That looks like a phenomenal trip.

Okay, who's the guy that wore bluejeans of all things?”

“that was me, you care to donate some goretex zipoffs?”

“I would if I had any. :)”

“It was a great trip treebait! If I only had the time to post a report.

I might be able to do it this weekend.”

“Hey, all! I went to Collins Gulf this w/e and took some photos with the phone. Boy was the water UP! Got slammed with a crazy thunderstorm too. Anyhow, here they are
http://community.webshots.com/album/549180409zEEfxL”

“The woods are still brown here around Chicago. It is nice to see some green in your photos.”

“Thanks for the pics! It is nice to see some green around there. Any flowers blooming yet?”

“good pictures; those boots look nice. give me a shout when you get another weekend off, maybe we can get a trip together.”

“Yeah! BILL! Sorry, I forgot to call you, it was a spur of the moment thing really. Went down there on Sat around noon got about 5 miles in a and out the next day. Looking at a Memorial Day Wkend thing next.

The boots took some breakng in, I must have malformed feet otherwise they are great... BTW I didnt know you could register for weddings at REI!! They told me that when I bought the boots so I did! Crazy.

No flowers yet except for the ground cover, and those are sparse. Just everything greening up.”

“I still need to write a trip report for this, DOH!”