Midwest Mob-fest '07

“I may have to bring the big pack afterall. I had planned in bringing the GG Vapor Trail. I'm lacking on post hike clothes. I'm good during the day, but from making camp to bed time I'm lacking. It's never cold enough here to matter so when I go on cold trips I just suffer through. It didn't help last year at RRG where I fell to mid thigh depth in a creek. This was about 10 minutes before Sass got her leg broken.

Last year was more of a basecamp and my pack was about 50#'s. I need to stay under 30 this year. I'm too out of shape these days to haul a big one very far.”

“I have been trying to decide which pack (internal vs external)and if I'm bringing my down coat. I definately wouldn't hike in it and it's not exactly made for sports, but it's damn warm and we won't be doing many miles so weight isn't much of a factor. I won't be close to 50#s but will definately be heavier than I normally am. (3 liters of booze will do that you know LOL!)”

“3L, wow. I'm thinking of bringing a pint of Woodford. I'm more of a mellow sipper.”

“Well, it's for sharing. See, Nigal and I have decided to have some Rare Breed, but you can only get it in fifths. Then I told everyone I would whip up a batch of egg nog to share, and that will be two liters. I don't intend to sit and guzzle hard liquor all night LOL! The nog will be about the strength of beer, or just a little stronger. The bourbon on the other hand is approx 108 proof.”

“That's some serious weight. What night are you doing the egg nog?

Last year we hiked in a grill top and dutch oven. The first night we grilled onions, peppers, and polish sausage and wrapped them in tortillas with spicy mustard. The dutch oven was cast iron and we did peach cobbler.”

“Sorry DH, I just saw this.
I planned on breaking out the nog on Saturday night. That's the first night I'll be there. Hopefully I won't have any trouble getting it all drank the first night so I don't have to carry the stuff on Sunday! The RB will last both nights and a bit more prolly.


DH you just gave me a freakin great idea! What do you think about cooking peppers, onions and sausage in one of those clamshell looking cast iron sandwich cookers that are on rods like for cooking hotdogs? That would be too cool! Prolly not more than a pound and a half or so too. Hmmmm...”

“Never mind. I could accomplish the same thing with my AL skillet for prolly 1/8 of the weight. Duh. I just might do that for Saturday night though. That sounds mighty tasty! Ah the beauty of cold wx trips. The world is your refrigerator!”

“Just be sure to precut and triple bag the onions and peppers and you're good to go.”

“I was planning on saving weight and not using a bag for them at all DH. You know, just drop them in one of my outside pockets of my pack, and away we go! What's the problem with that? LOL!
Actually I'll prolly put them in a food saver bag, and vacuum seal it if I actually go that route.”

“Dmanit Dayhiker, I just sat here and made out a complete gear list, food planned, and a grocery store list for this trip! It's too freakin early to be doin this! LOL!

I just realized that when I hit the trail on Saturday I'm gonna be carrying 15# of liquid! That is terrible! LOL! I'm definately gonna have to use my BIG pack. Oh well, this trip is about comfort right?”

“I meant triple ziplock bags. Those onions can stink up a pack.”

“But if I leave the pocket open a little, so the smell can get out it should be ok, right? ;-)”

“Hey meangreen is that an onion in your pocket or .....”

“I'm taking myself off the list. My calf is feeling worse instead of better and all the blood has pooled in my foot now. I can't hardly get my foot into a tennis shoe in the morning and the hiking boot brought tears to my eyes this morning. Walking downhill is agony, even at a moderate degree (parking garage). RRG hills would kill me. And, to add to my injury Birch has patelar tendinitis now. Call us the gimp family. =(
So, Meangreen, we're sorry we'll miss this trip. We were both really looking forward to it.”

“Looks like I'm out for this trip.”

““I'm taking myself off the list. My calf is feeling worse instead of better and all the blood has pooled in my foot now. I can't hardly get my foot into a tennis shoe in the morning and the hiking boot brought tears to my eyes this morning. Walking downhill is agony, even at a moderate degree (parking garage). RRG hills would kill me. And, to add to my injury Birch has patelar tendinitis now. Call us the gimp family. =(
So, Meangreen, we're sorry we'll miss this trip. We were both really looking forward to it.”
Sassafras
5:26:46 PM
11/25/07

That sucks, hope you kids are feeling better soon.

The Bush-rats trip is the same weekend, and the most miles we'll probably do is 4, being it will be mixed off trail travel.

So, if you two are feeling better and want to still get away, head north to Clear Lake State park, where we'll be departing from on Friday morning.”

“So, Meangreen, we're sorry we'll miss this trip. We were both really looking forward to it.�
Sassafras
6:26:46 PM
11/25/07

But who'll wear the extra #&%!$ sheath I carved if birch doesn't arrive.”

“NCT, thanks for the info but hiking is out for a spell so is running...

DH, mail it to me I will wear it in honor of my the trip. Sorry dude, I was REALLY looking forward to seeing you.”

“Yall are going to be missed for sure. Heal up for the next one. Maybe airfare will cooperate and we can come up with something for the summer.”

“I hate to do this, but I am going to have to bail on this trip as well. As soon as I got back from the Cumberland Gap trip, I found out that my family is planning a very early Christmas thing due to a lot of folks being out of town for the actual Holiday. Of course, this is being scheduled for the weekend of this trip. I know that I will regret it since I had so much fun on this last trip. I will definitely be signing up for more in the future. Have fun!”

“Dang that sux guys...I was lookin forward to seein you guys again.
Hurry up and heal kids, so we can get back to this hikin stuff :)”

“NCT, thanks for the info but hiking is out for a spell so is running...

Mollycocker! :( OK gang, birch is out. Who the hell's gonna spoon me? I don't care who it is . You guys draw straws if no one wants to take one for the team. UP? Dayhiker? Meanie Greenie Tiki Torchie?

Come on, someone step up to the plate...”

“NOT ME !!”

“Nigal strikes me as a guy who'd want to be the front spooner.”

“DH, he is gentle and kind. He WILL respect you in the morning.”

“I see meangreen being the spooner in question.”

“Are you shy DH?”

“No Dayhiker, I prefer to "pull anchor" and be in back. Last time I was in front birch tried to give me a reach around while whispering something about liking me so much I could come over to his house and do something or other to his sister. ??? This is completely 100% heterosexual cuddling for heats sake and nothing more. swear to gawd.”

“Don't quote FMG or we'll get into another slur debate?

Birch did say his Dad lives in Tx. Only 2 things come from Texas. Birch doesn't have horns.


Painfully shy!”

“Birch was born and bread in MICHIGAN. You guys are creeping me out.”

“If someone shows up to this event with a can of crisco and a plastic sheet, I won't be surprised.”

“And when I say bread I mean bred! ;)”

“He does get a bit crusty after a few days on the trail.”

“TTGW”

“I just checked the attendee list. Man, people are leaving this trip like rats from a ship.”

“Where's meangreen?”

“The sound of silence. That usually means someone is over the barrell in work or life and is trying to still make the trip. I've been there and noticed he hasn't been around.”

“I was hoping the numbers would go down some. Just the name of the trip made nervous. It's just gonna make the trip even better.”

“Less folks to take photos of your spooning victim?”

“I don't know man, with so few people you guys may just have to spoon in shifts. :(”

“Dunadan loaned me a book called "Confederates in the Attic" a few years back. It talked about how the Confederates were so ill equiped and how in the winter they would sleep in a long line of spooning for warmth. They would rotate who got the ends through the night. I wish I didn't have that mental image, but Nigals last post sort of brought it there.”

“DAMN!!! I go away for a couple days and everyone is broken and bailing and what ever.

Sass! Birch! Holy crap! What happened? Hope you get well soon. I was looking forward to hanging out with you two. So sorry you are layed up.

Windi too?! Damn.

Don't worry DH. You can wear Birch's "sheath" and take his place in our spoon chain. ;-) We'll get you right in between Nigal and UPLover. LOL! Come to think of it we did have a chain of sorts going on at the last one... Nigal will you help me make a new love rock?”

“We'll get you right in between Nigal and UPLover.

A goober sandwich?”

“Any girls left for the love rock or will it just be guys?”

“I think I'll just be the event photographer!”

“BOO to sausagefests!!!!

Stomper get your tail our for this! Don't worry Nigal will be assisting me with love rock part deux. LOL!”

“We are down to 1 confirmed and two maybe's for women, and I don't really expect to see one of those maybes. Uness Otis14 or SilentJ are female. I don't know either of them. Come on ladies! Don't leave Mariposa to the tortures of being alone in the woods with all of us weirdo guys!”

“Who you callin' a weirdo?

I'm still planning on being there and carpooling with dayhiker. I gotta get him on the phone and work it out.

I'm bringing my solo tent which only has room for...ahem...one person. LOL”

“Stew will be "soloing" whilst the rest of us spoon then. LOL!
Ya gotta be a weirdo just to be a TT'er. It's ok.”

“Have you talked to Mariposa? Is she still going?
Otis14 isn't a girl and he isn't going to be there. That's Coyote's son and I don't think either of them are going to make it.”