Hocking Hysteria!

“Keep it up you two and I'll have to release the pics of you snuggling together on the beach........”

“It just looked like we were snuggling.”

“You're threatening us? Are you sure you want to do that? We're two pretty tough chics.”

“Yeah! We'll pull your hair. Better watch out.”

“Tough? Failure to shave ones legs does not equal toughness---just look at Nigal.”

“Nigal shaves.”

“well, i'm turning 29 so if you can make your 70 year old dad look like a 29 year old this may just work”

“Failure to shave one's legs may equal laziness. Toughness comes from within...like Nirvana, baby.”

“I thought Nirvana came from Seattle?”

“From "within" Seattle.”

“I liked Kurt Gobang.”

“What does NC being old have to do w/ Teen Spirit?”

“Smells Like Teen Spirit and Bull$hit to Me.”

“wow”

“What?”

“Just that a mere seven seconds elapsed b/w our Teen Spirit references... so he owes me a coke.”

“thriftyhiker - You could ask your relatives to delay the celebration for a week. Tell them that there are some good photographic opportunities available that you have been planning to use.

Your excuse is weak, if you're just trying to duck out of the trip. But suit yourself!

I'm anxiously looking forward to being together with all you folks in the group, including your spouses, guests and dogs. See you all soon.

Attending List (not including spouses, guests and dogs)
Nigal
Sassafras
mapsNmammals
Wolfeyes
Ruby
birch
csiler
Dub
bonecrusher
gonzo
helinka


Now, you other folks, if you don't want to attend, that's fine. We're planning to have a great time. This may be the best trip of the year. And, in case there is a group there from the other side nearby, we could use your help in a snowball battle. But OK, we're going to have a wonderful time without you. We'll be having lots of fun. This is going to be the "Fun Trip" of the year. Only by attending can you avoid missing-out.

The Maybe Crowd (the other folks)
bitpusher
chili
UPluver
Ewker
Wounded Knee
dhutch1
Indiana John
.
Hey, NC, bring him. With me there, he'll feel young again. It could be a great gift for him. I'll even let him try out my crutches, while I demonstrate some Aikijutsu maneuvers for him.
last edited: 3/16/06 9:26:33 AM”

“7 seconds elapsing does not equal a jinx coke---that would need to be simultaneous. Read your rules.”

“My rules... my rules...

My rules are always subject to change.”

““My rules... my rules...
My rules are always subject to change.”
tarabull
10:22:03 AM
3/16/06


Oh that's right, the gender guidelines, how could I forget?”

“Nowslimmer don't forget Upluver on the confirmed list. I guess this means I have to give you your cup back instead of passing it on to someone else. Rats. You should take a minute to check out our chicago pictures.....http://community.webshots.com/album/548565291GFOYIE
last edited: 3/16/06 9:45:44 AM”

“Your excuse is weak, if you're just trying to duck out of the trip. But suit yourself!

i can't wait till i get old enough where i can say something rude and people can just blow it off by saying "Well, he's just an old man" ;)”

“"i can't wait till i get old enough where i can say something rude and people can just blow it off by saying "Well, he's just an old man" ;)”


Ha! I ain't got that kind of time man. I'm gettin' mine while the gettin's good!”

“thriftyhiker - Sorry if you feel offended. I just try to call them like I see them. Perhaps I do need new glasses. Simply trying to jar you into attending. It would be a pleasure to meet you.

"I'm gettin' mine while the gettin's good!"
Nigal

Yep, Nigal is good at trying to keep me on ny toes.

Sassafras - Some real nice pictures. Thanks. Glad that it was a great trip. Looking forward to meeting you and your family. Don't know if I'll have enough space for that cup, though!

BTW, Nigal has organized the trip. And he has been doing an excellent job. I just copied the names from the trip page. UPluver was still listed as a "Maybe."

See you all soon. I'll be the one at the bottom of the pile!”

“Hey!! How about a gear swap while we're all there? Bring yer gear you can't use or don't want anymore....books and maps, whatever you got and don't want anymore.

I know we have an outdoor products eyeglass case, that hooks onto a pack, that desperately needs a home, and probably a few other choice items.”

“Computer had the hiccups, pardon me.
last edited: 3/16/06 12:35:08 PM”

“And again. =)
last edited: 3/16/06 12:35:38 PM”

“Great idea Sass!”

“i think sass wants to do a gear swap ;)”

“How'd you guess Thrifty?!

I have a nice mossy oak camo cup to trade too. =D”

“Did you notice she underscored and boldened 'gear swap' thus slamming the door on me for any kind of a good wife swap joke?”

“Sassafras - It may not have been you. There was a triple post on the "Hey Lizs" thread at the same time. Matt may be waking up.”

“I might be up for a gear swap. I'll have to rummage around and see what I might have to contribute.”

“Hey Y'all I think I might actually make this! We'll see, but for now I'm a strong maybe for Saturday night LATE if that's ok. I work saturday, but could drive out after I get off. I would miss the hikin but I'm dieing to meet some of you folks. Nige, I'll be expecting that bottle of '63 Dom and the cubans too! LOL! I dont really have anything to bring to the gear "swap" but may be interested in buying some things. For those of you who dont know me I post at midwesthiker regularly.”

“anyone thinking about hanging out for a while on Sun? Seems a shame to drive 250 miles to set up camp in the middle of the night then drive back at the crack of dawn, but i've done crazier things. Hell, I even went and got married once! LOL!!!”

“Meangreen - I'll be there for a while, trying to recover from all the people, who are planning to jump on me. I'm planning eventually to mosey up north to the Columbus area. It's time to visit an Internet Friend and her family. She just had surgery, which went well. She is in charge of an Internet Forum on the Civil War. She and most of the Forum members are re-enactors.

I could use suggestions on a place to camp for the night, before returning to GSMNP I like the National stuff, parks, forests, etc., because I get to camp for 50% of the cost and no cover or admission charge.

thriftyhiker - I'm interested in the names of some of these folks that may be trying to pass me off as "old." I'd like to talk to some of them about age and what is "old." Thanks for any information.
last edited: 3/16/06 5:53:28 PM”

“"Nige, I'll be expecting that bottle of '63 Dom and the cubans too!"

I'm sorry, have we met? LOL!”

“OH, Sh*t! Sorry dude! That was the lorax...

NEVERMIND!!! 8)

Really though, would you mind a late arrival?”

“A "late arrival" with cash and booze? Why not!”

“LOL! Just making sure I wasn't beholden to you for something. Don P is out of my price range. If I did owe you I was going to claim to not know you.

No man, come when ya can. I don't think we're going to reach the limit of 30. I was worried we would hit the limit and anyone who was a a late arriver or decided to come at the last minute wouldn't be able to camp there. No problem man.”

“Here’s a short list of some of the cool places to go see if anyone is getting in early and needs to burn time before check in or on Sunday on your way out, or if you decide to just go see the sites Saturday rather than do a long day hike.

Rockhouse- Awesome caves that you can climb into and explore with a tall waterfall right next to an exit! If you see nothing else this weekend you have to see this place.


Birch in the cave


Waterfalls at the exit

Conkles Hollow- A neat hike up into a deep, deep hollow with tall cliffs on both sides. Walking into this hollow makes you think you walked back into the Jurassic era. You can also do the trails up on top for great views.


Falls at the head of the Hollow


Cedar falls- Beautiful falls along the long dayhike trail.

Ash Cave- A huge overhanging cave.

Cantwell Cliffs- Not sure I’ve been her yet.

Old Man’s Cave- Wonderful cliffs and caves and rock formations.

I think the wife and I are doing a long day hike Saturday which will start at the upper falls..



...and take us passed Old Man’s Cave, Cedar Falls and down to Ash Cave. It’s an all day hike round trip but if anyone wants to stash cars at the other end it can be a cool 6-7 mile day and then after that run to some of the outer sites.

Here’s a map for all the sites around the park:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/pdf/hocking1005.pdf”

“LOL! right on!
Got the booze covered if ya like bourbon, and i may even have a few extra bones too. We'll see. Is anyone else gonna be hanging out on Sun for a while? Sounds like nowslimmer has some things to take care of. I would love to get some trail time in with someone besides the voices in my head!
SHUT UP WILSON!!!
LOL!”

“I think I'm packing up Sunday morning to get home so I can nap before work that night. I'm sure some will be around Sunday day.”

“People from the other side! There will be no snowball fight, those people don't even own tents!

NS, where are you staying in Columbus?”

“Birch and I will have to head out and relieve the gramma of her duties.”

“

"I could use suggestions on a place to camp for the night, before returning to GSMNP I like the National stuff, parks, forests, etc., because I get to camp for 50% of the cost and no cover or admission charge."

Dub - I have no plans, yet. I will be visiting in Hilliard, west of the city near Cemetery Road. I don't want to impose on someone just out of the hospital. I only know her from the Internet, but we've been talking for years. We do have a mutual friend, whom I've met. Depending upon the timing I may be able to drive 100-200 miles south to find a campground. I don't have maps of WV or Ohio, yet. Perhaps I could make it to Interstate Park between Virginia and Kentucky.
last edited: 3/17/06 1:02:19 PM”

“no dogs allowed in Conkles Hollow”

“NS: Well dude, I live in Hilliard 3 miles south of Cemetery Rd. I have a spare bedroom you can use if you want. I'm not home much at all and the place is a mess so if you don't care that it's messy and you probably won't see me much, feel free to crash. How long would you be staying?”

“Rose Lake (small reservoir near the campground) contains a population of a fascinating critter called Craspedacusta sowerbyi. An old professor of mine in college (Horton Hobbs III) has been taking classes to this lake for years, and has seen them there in the fall regularly for quite a long time.

The little critters are a nonnative invasive freshwater jellyfish from China. The current theory holds that they arrived in the US via shipments of water hyacinth. Individuals, then stuck to the feet of ducks and geese (yes, stuck to the feet of ducks and geese) were transported to various small bodies of water around the country. Most populations in the United States consist of individuals of only one sex (mostly female). It's theorized that a single individual colonized entire bodies of water due to their ability to reproduce both sexually AND asexually.

Anyway, here's a picture of one in a jar from a field study trip I took in 2002. I put together a little poster and presented it at the Ohio Lake Management Society symposium that year.

”

“No kidding? that's neat as hell!”