The Ghost of Masten 2007 Trip report thr ead

“gotta love that tree!

Woohoo.. I was first in Masten and first to post pics. I AM somebody.

Here are my pics
(including the infamous Buddur/waterfall sequence)”

“Thanks all for showing a little Midwest girl a good time. ;) You only love me for my bourbon. :p

It was great meeting everyone! I'm always skitish about going to these great big parties and either not knowing anyone or knowing only a few, but I seriously felt like one of ya'll. Yes, I said "Ya'll". :p

Crazy Pace: I think altitude had nothing to do with it. It may have been the 'creek' you were drinking from.

For those I knew, it was great seeing you again and for those I just met, it was great to meet you.

Now.... lemme get back to my Knob Creek. :D

p.s. Pennsey, I'm guessing that the Sox won again? Did you take a swig of bourbon every time they scored? ;) If not, I'll be hitting you up the next time I see you.

p.s.s Ya'll really did miss a great morning. The heavy frost coated everything that wasn't covered by spruce. Spindle sang "Winter Wonderland" for us this morning.”

“Sunnydayz and I rolled into Masten just after Pennsy arrived . He tried to pretend he was a ranger but the Sox hat gave him away. Slowly Peeps rolled in and before you knew it Crazypace had erected Kitchen Stadium and we headed out to knock out a section of the OLP. It was rainy but we were afforded some great views. Afterwards Crazypace broke out some awesome chilly and I made some soup. The highlight Saturday was the bushwack. The Beech groves were an amazing yellow and as deep as we were in the wilderness in the farthest reaches known to man far away from any zemblance of civilization We finally arived at what were to be renamed chocolatehead falls. In accepting this the honoree was thought to be overheard saying, " you never know whats behind the next curve ...or six or seven curves. Had the Jam session to end all jam sessions. It was a pleasure being a part of it. As always it was great seeing everyone. Props to ENS for bringing the most excellent Reading Premium beers. Props to Crazypace for setting up the amazing munchy buffet Saturday. This one was tops.

Pics to follow.”

“That was one heck of a party! I did manage to survive. I woke up incoherent but fortunately did have all my clothes on. It was great to see old friends again as well as make new ones. Pennsy, Thanx for the pics. Thanx to everyone for the food and drink also!”

“Great pics Pennsy, but so many closeups! Skeery! Beautiful fall colors and scenery. The funny thing is that we see creeks and waterfalls just like that all throughout the PA, NJ and NY area, only few people set out to enjoy it. But once it gets into your system, it becomes a big part of you. I wish I was there this weekend, maybe with my older daughter. It would have been great. My younger daughter who is a tomboy, can't understand why I love going camping and backpacking. She says "what do you get out of it?" Either you feel it or you don't.

But no close ups! I don't like my pic taken.

The music must have been so much fun. My daughter would have loved to sing. We'll try for the next trip.”

“Here are my pics.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/561231077EhDtSc”

“So here is a question. If you could buy a small house near the OLP to use as a base, would you?”

“Sure. Tons of Hunting style cabins around and RE prices very reasonable. Also the area has tons of trails all within an hour or so drive. Rickets glen, Midstate trail, WRT, Loyalsock, Worlds end. A bunch.”

“Guys great pictures. I posted some pictures here Pennsy climbing up the Masten chimney to retrieve his chair was impressive and I posted a couple pictures of it. I took a picture of Spindle putting lipstick on Jackstraw while he was asleep. LOL...
last edited: 10/30/07 4:37:31 AM”

“Nice pictures, so far!”

“LOL! Poor guy can't even rest. I think that a cabin near the OLP would be so great, since it is a three hour drive or more for me. Maybe I could turn Lydia into an outdoors freak afterall. And your right, there are so many trails out that way, and lots of open space.”

“There's excellent bike riding out there too. Great for day rides or even overnight bike trips.”

“Nice pictures, guys.

Next time I must join the day hikers.
Those cricks and falls look good.

When are we going back?”

“I thought a crick was something in your back? Very nice pictures though. The creeeeek pictures ;P were very nice as was the one of Buddur testing the umbrella, lol.”

“Yay, good pics. Hey Crazypace, I realized I didn't get to tell your wife goodbye...I guess she was in the tent when we left. Tell her I had fun talking to her! No need to thank me for reminding her how much fun it is to be pregnant and have babies.

RichB, you hike freaking fast! ENS and I made it to the water crossing, and then I decided it was too slippery and the Old Loggers Path was right there (and looked a lot easier), so we turned and hiked up to a waterfall on that.”

“I hate that I missed it, but sometimes one has to prioritize.”

“Excellent pics- I love that area.

Sorry I missed it, but with the rain, the creeks came up and I needed to get some whitewater kayaking in. Ran/swam a Class IV rapid, good fun.”

“No Scotch???????? No sacco??????? I pine for you all.”

“Someone had Scotch (I think). We had Bourbon, too.

I was singing Thorogood all weekend.”

“The bourbon got wiped out but I went home with more than half of this stuff left.

”

“And with you there to help me
We probably could...........

Oh yeah, you weren't there.”

“Anybody pick up a light gray hooded sweatshirt with YSSC on it, name of Daisy inside the collar? Much sentimental value. Reward for return.”

“Keep rubbing it in, MarkO. When's the next Blue Moon?

Half a bottle of excellent Scotch left over? I take it No Men were at this gathering, eh?
last edited: 10/30/07 7:40:47 AM”

“Sunny... check with spindlette. I picked some stuff up, I have no idea what belongs to who, but I didn't pick up the sweatshirt. It was there, however.”

“Well it's a good thing you offered a reward, otherwise I bet no one would return it! TTers are so mean. ;-)”

“I left a $100.00 bill laying around. Did anybody find it ? I can describe it perfectly for proof.”

“By the way - we collected mucho gear that was left behind.
Roam Around
4:22:43 PM
10/29/07

So we're half-way home and I ask Stevie "I don't remember packing the chairs (small black folding stools w/padded seats), did you grab them?" So I'm guessing, Roam, that these stools were a part of the cache left behind?

And Pennsy, if Stevie sees the photo of her and I playing the banjo showing her with that very concentrative look on her face, she'll make you remove that photo from yer album. Heck I can't wait to show her the photo just to see her response. lol

I had a blast on this trip, especially since I needed an easy lay-around-the-campsite weekend. And it was great to see some familiar faces, and to even put a face to the names of TTers I hadn't met yet. Great group...great fun!”

“Oh I think I found that, Crazypace! I'll need a $200 reward in order to give it back.”

“Geez Drac, you're pretty smart!

Alas poor Mac got ignored on Saturday evening.
It seems quite a few drank some of that Creek water.”

“Lyra, it was great meeting you and also seeing ENS again. Thanks for the compliment on my hiking, but I thought I was hiking the same pace as everyone else. I was happy to be able to be out there considering the cocktail of anti-cancer drugs in me for the past week.”

“Great to see you again, Rich!

Next time I must get my lazy arse in on some of the hiking.”

“Great seeing you too MarkO! Yes, come hiking with us next time. Plenty of nice hiking in that area. Next time, I'd like to hike up Miners Run. I haven't been up there yet.”

“Hey Buddur, the stools were rescued, both of them. Spindle will email you with ransom instructions. Just do as your told and noone gets hurt. ;)”

“Miners Run is pretty awesome.

So, what's this rumour of some putting in place a TT basecamp in Masten?

Maybe Masten 2008 will be indoors!!! woohoo!”

“btw

Pics are awesome everyone.”

“They got some hikin' trails up there, huh?

Got any recommendations for a weekend get-away?”

“I thought we were indoors this time??

The Loyalsock/Link Loop would probably make a nice weekend hike MarkO.”

“The Old Loggers Path is a nice weekend hike. If you'd prefer base camping and day hiking, you can hike up Miners run like they did last year, hike Rock Run or hike up to Sharp top for some views. If you like to fish Pleasant stream used to have a good population of trout. I haven't fished it in a few years in the prime season, but in 2002, I had one of the most productive days of fly fishing ever.”

“Maybe I could get some maps from Big Daddy ENS.

Looks like Loyalsock Link Loop looms large.”

“That's a good loop. Nice views exist at High Rock and Canyon vista. Good camping at Sones pond or the Loyalsock creek.”

“MarkO, you planning a romantic getaway or an open trip?”

“Open....

Just me, myself and whomever else wants to join.

My weekends are Fri-Sat, so I would be heading out on a Thursday evening and returning home Saturday afternoon.”

“After...

lost luggage
dead car battery
leaking car roof
fried speakers because of the water leak...

Yeah, I am finally home.

I had a great time guys. [even tho I wish I would've had my hangover on Sunday like everyone else and not a day early]”

“You earned every second of that hangover Gem. I haven't seen anyone drink tequila like that since the night spindle and Neville tried to catch a possum in an ursack.”

“Peter Noone held hostage?

This bodes ill for the Herman's Hermits' Reunion.”

“I bet I could get a Friday off to do some PA rock pounding.”

“I might be able to attend a Loyalsock Link hike too.”

“"I haven't seen anyone drink tequila like that since the night spindle and Neville tried to catch a possum in an ursack."

Was it a little possum or a big Ursack?

Gem, you gots pictures?
last edited: 10/30/07 1:08:58 PM”

“not yet marko. I still am catching up on my work. just thought I say hi on this thread real quick.

I have video footage and a couple pictures. not many pics tho this time. [sorry]”

“Glad ya got home OK.

I think we all survived.”