Bearmagethon Support Team

“I think the only logical place to start is Slate Run. You already have the camping area spoken for and I don't know of any other free group camping area along Rt. 44. To start along 44 would mean a very lengthy road shuttle both morning and night. It's 12-15 miles by back roads or near 40 miles by main roads one way.

The elevation profile may tend to favor doing it clockwise, but it is STEEP both directions out of Naval Run. Clockwise would put the long downhill into Slate Run, and the wet fording of the stream at the end. My biggest concern with this direction is the boulder climb up Red Run off the Francis Road on tired legs may increase the chance of twisted ankles or falls.

Either way is TOUGH!”

“Ok... plan stays as is at unless something else compelling comes up. Start at Slate Run and go counter clockwise.

Executive decisions can be fun... hehehe”

“Rev, If you have a list going or if you are trying to keep track of this, however I am certified in CPR.”

“We are getting to the point where I think we can roll out this adventure to those who might be interested in supporting it with donations. I had not realized there re as many endurance type events as there are. There may be some folks in those circles who would like to support this with us. However I don't want to shut out the folks on this board or the other side. If you are considering supporting this you might want to sign up even as a maybe for now. We will be trimming that down closer to the date of departure.

WHAT I NEED NOW-----

There was talk early on of setting up a website for this event. Is there an interest in that? I am not a web designer any more than I am an artist. If someone wants to take on that project it should probably be ready to roll out by the end of February. I should have the donation sheets and the explanation sheets ready to release by then.

We will need a way to release and distribute those pages to the hikers and those who legitimately will use them for their fundraising. I really don't want them available to just anyone. I would hate to have someone misrepresenting the event and pocketing the money. I will probably open a yahoo group restricted to the names on the roster for the purpose of hosting those files. Any body have a better idea?

LtHikers artwork seems to work really well for what we want. I appreciate the help everyone has provided to me. This should be an excellent event.””

“I have been looking over the threads submitted on this event and so far the planners have done a superb job covering the bases. Again I will offer my services as a local SAR responder and emergency services liason for this event. With a span of 30 participants spread over the remote BFT region I do suggest a hasty team Quick Response/SAR presence during the event, possibly 2 teams. I do not presently see the need for a multijurisdictional EMS/Rescue presence on site unless an actual incident would require that. The availability of existing Rescue Utility Terrain Vehicles at the Black Forest, Cammal, Morris and Jersey Shore Fire Stations will provide response for evacuations. Advance agency notification along with a local coordinator on site will ensure complicance beyond the requirements of the BOF.
There is an area of logistical concern. June 7 is the running of the Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally in the nearby Tioga State Forest. Local emergency services, communications resources are already reserved for the rally. The primary EMS for the eastern BFT, Morris Fire and Ambulance, will be staging near Leetonia during that event. Available local Ham Operators, RACES and the Cedar Mountain radio repeater are reserved for the race. I do not see that this will conflict with the ultra-hike itself, just keep in mind that local resources will already be geared up for the road rally that day.
Your most significant hazard will be the downhill slope to Naval Run. I suggest the participants are through that area in the cooler early morning with daylight conditions present. Before the Road Rally begins.
If I can be of further assistance, just ask. Good luck.

Gus”

“PARidgerunner ... would you and What's For Lunch get your heads together and share notes. You guys are great. Thanks.”

“WFL, thanks for coming forward. We definitely need to talk. It sounds like my job may be getting easier. Make it too easy on me and I may do the hike. ;) I'm out of town for a couple days and will only be near a computer intermittently, but I will check in.

My latest information on the rally as of a couple weeks ago was there are MAJOR changes afoot compared to past years and Tioga State Forest may not be used at all. Do you have more current information?”

“Holy crap. It's Gus!”

“What's For Lunch... as I have been working with your message of this morning I seem to hear the suggestion that we reverse the direction of travel from Slate Run and proceed clockwise. This would put Naval Run in the morning hours, probably after sunrise. It would also mean the fording of Slate Run could be eliminated after dark. These are two very significant reasons to change the direction of travel if I understand you correctly.

Would making this change provide a greater measure of safety for the event? If so, let's do that. Safety of the hikers has been and remains my chief concern.”

“Basic timeline:

I would expect to be shifting phases of this event somewhere around the beginning of March. We are currently deep into the planning phase. I think that is going very nicely. Around the first of March I would think we will be moving from the planning stage to a recruitment phase. March, April and the first half of May will be focused on recruiting the poeple that we need for support, giving advance notice to the various support agencies and the like. I would like to have the final list of hikers in place by the middle of May so we have a couple of weeks to focus intently on final preparations.

That is roughly the time line I am working with. So any questions you have about the event itself should be brought out on to the table before the end of February. That way we have a consistent vision and unified understanding of what is taking place when we got to raise donors and support people.”

“Hey, Has anybody contacted the Black Forest Inn? I imagine they may be interested in being a sponsor. Also they have a bunch of acrage. They might allow Camping. If not there is a campground right across the street. I mention this cuz their Food is Yummy and I imagine some serious noshing (and beer drinking) going down. They at least might appreciate a heads up that a vast hoarde might be heading their way.”

“Well before this gets out of hand this is still the research phase, I am going to need to hear some input from the hikers themselves. I especially want to know the experience level of the participants and if there will be anyone that is a novice to the BFT. Safety is paramount, however, I also want this to be a fun and enjoyable event for the hikers.
That being said, we all know that someone will be leading the pack and someone will be bringing up the rear. Support placement will be in advance of the lead, and following up the end. 30 hikers is an easily managed number. Compared to the mega-transect at Lock Haven and the NORBA mountain bike races this will be simple.
So now the first question I have for the participants, and this is directed to those that have hiked the entire BFT. Where would you prefer to do your night hiking? If you intend to be on trail before dawn and after dusk it will be important to know the direction of travel and where you do intend to begin and end. I can conform Search and Rescue around what you plan to do. For obvious reasons I would prefer that all participants are beyond the 2 significant hazard locations, Naval Run and Slate Run during daylight.
Take your time, think it over and once a route is planned support can conform around that.

Gus”

“currently, naval run is the proposed start/finish. or is it slate run? whichever one is on the southeast side”

“Currently Slate Run is the start/finish as it is closest to the campground at Black Walnut Bottom.

Current start time is 4:00 am with sunrise slated at about 5:30 according to the data I have seen on line.

I am becoming increasingly uneasy about the Slate Run crossing in the dark either way> Unless we plan a major shuttle to another start point I am becoming more comfortable with a clockwise direction. That avoids Slate Run in the in pre-dawn and we can use the walk around to avoid Slate Run in the after dark evening hours if we have people on the trail that late.

My reckoning is that it should take more than an hour and a half to go from Slate Run to Naval Run.”

“why not just station somebody AT slate run? its only a few minutes walk from the road”

“not sure I understand how stationing someone at Slate run after dark would help the corssing. But I haven't looked at it. I need to take a drive up some time.”

“We can just string a rope across Slate Run and swim.”

“Whats For Lunch - would you PM me please?”

“The theory is they have some money for a bridge over Slate Run but unless someone has deep pockets to come up with the rest it won't help you guys any.”

“I will be looking for at least three support teams to tend the stations. We are going to want to make sure we are at the third station for the fastest hikers as well as having cleared the first the station. I am looking into service organizations like scouts or youth groups to handle those tasks. We may need several different teams if a team can not commit for all day. That is part of the recruitment phase. Just looking ahead a bit.

There is a lot of interest in this growing around the area as people get to hear about it. It looks like things are shaping up nicely. Thank you all for your work and efforts.”

“PARidgerunner, I hear your call and responding. PM on the way.

Gus”

“ugh... I am out of two of my more important meds tonight so sleep is not really happening.

What's for Lunch... To fill you in on some of what has been accomplished so far, My role in this endeavor is as a general Logistics Coordinator. I have delegated out the medical issues to MsKatieBear who is a strong hiker and an EMT. PARidgerunner has taken on the role of communications guru along with general trail safety issues. My understanding is that he is also an EMT. I have taken the lead on the road crossing support stations and the food resupply at Naval Run largely because I am gimpy and couldn't hike this trail if I wanted to.

To my mind that leaves a big hole I have been hoping someone would come along and fill. If you are willing to focus on the SAR and related trail issues I would deeply appreciate it. If you could coordinate communication and evacuation issues with MsKatieBear and PARidgerunner that would give a very broad based and cohesive spread of responsibilities.

I would like that focus to include a plan for the sweeps as well as any emergency rescue and trail triage that might be needed. The expectation is that the people critical to these tasks will be in radio contact. I would also feel better is there was a water team to make some determinations about whether Slate Run is passable or should be bypassed. Would you be willing to focus on those areas. I can very well understand that the SAR responders may not be best stationed at the road and food resupply stations. My sense is you would have an excellent grasp of those logistics. If you would be so kind as to focus there I would greatly appreciate it.”

“Rev,
This is why I have stepped forward now. As both an experienced hiker and Fire-Rescue responder in the Pine Creek Gorge Region I am well versed in the terrain, weather, routing and local resources of the BFT. I have a few other accronyms of my own after my pager has gone off for it. I have personally responded to wilderness searches, high angle and swift water rescues in the region. I already know what to expect from the trail itself and the response mechanisms and command authorities in place within Lycoming and Tioga Counties to respond to emergencies there. I may have my own upcoming recommendations based on prior experiences and that will all be ramped up depending on weather conditions closer to hike time. Let me assure you that all your safety concerns will easily be addressed. What we need now is input from the hikers themselves. This after all, all about them.
Logisitics will evolve around their hike.
As we see more information from them we will meet and plan accordingly.

Gus”

“Thanks for your help. PARidgerunner has made some real progress with the communications planning. Things will mesh very well I think. PARidgerunner and MsKatieBear have both been very easy to coordinate with. I like the team as it is shaping up.

With the weather tomorrow I may not be getting up to the trail after all. My car is not the best in snow and my my footing is bad enough on dry ground. I think I may be playing it safe. possible 3" north of I-80”

“rev, i guess that i would best be used as a sweeper but i'll let that for you to decide. i'm an expirenced hiker and although currently expired, have been recently certificated in cpr and first aid. i have been a scoutmaster for many years and i am used to working with groups of hikers. usually kids but, still hikers. i have been involed with organizing and participating in outing at Quehanna Trail and bigger trips to Philmont NM and the Boundary Waters in MN. i'm available all weekend so just let me know where you need me. sorry about any typos, i; using my phone to type.
-spike (rick)-”

“Spikehiker... sign up on the support page and watch for further announcements and discussions revolving around the support issues. Glad to have you on board.”

“Just got back from a great weekend with my trail club. It was great fun climbing a ridge today in a major snow squall and near white-out conditions. I don't recall ever having quite so much snow packed in between my glasses and my eyeball without falling down. But, the more important thing is I picked up at least 4 confirmed support people. Being hikers, probably sweeper is the most popular position for them, but they are very willing to help out wherever needed. They probably will not all sign up on here, but just be aware they are out there and I will continue to keep them in the loop.”

“Talk about a small world. Now that PARidgerunner and I have discovered we were working for the same agency this task is going to be a lot easier.

I thought something rang familiar.”

“Make sure you guys stay abreast of the Trip thread as well. We may have to look at the process of shuttles for the beginning and the end of the hike if we start where ENS has suggested. Unless we leave cars stranded or have very tiered people drive after the hike. I don't like either option there. I don't know how craved in stone ENS starting point is.”

“Actually Rev, ENS may be on to something significant. I would not be too quick to commit to a base camp along SR0414 at Slate Run. There are major disadvantages there. I suggest with an open mind looking at Crash Bangs suggestion and take a look at what Black Forest Village has to offer. We can get together later with my reasoning behind this.

Gus”

“It has become evident to me that I am in the wrong place to continue trying to coordinate this event. I am not upset, offended, nor am I "taking my dolls and going home" But this is going to need a whole lot more personal onsite presence than I can provide. I am running on an extremely low income and multiple trips to that area of the state is just not within my budget.

I am proud of what I have accomplished. But I think it might be best for the co-ordination to be vested elsewhere where there is easier access to to the site and more know;edge of the trail. Any information I have which may be useful in furthering this cause I will gladly share. But I am convinced this has gone beyond my best contributions.

I wish you all well.”

“hehe, after WFLs post I was about to say "uh oh! Here we go!" ...”

“Every dollar that gets spent on a campsite is a dollar less that might have gone to the cause. Trying to negotiate the use of personal property for camping is way beyond my skills and ability. Black Walnut Bottom appeared to be the best option for the cost. But it did complicate getting the hikers to and from a new start place.”

“When some one steps forward to continue the support planning, I have the files for the liability release and the donation form which I would be happy to send you so you don't have to recreate the wheel, unless of course you want to. I have my various planning files which I would be happy to share with you although I am not sure what good they would be at this point.”

“Upon reflecting over the last couple of month I realize the plan for supporting this event did get far too complicated. So I revised my suggestion. The simplest way for this to work would be for the hikers to communicate to each other how many will be involved. Then simply place a vehicle with the resupplies where they feel it is most appropriate to have them. Camp where you want. Start where you want. You don't need me, or communications or any of that other garbage that got added to essential plan.

My only request is that you please be careful. The only thing I would ask is that someone contact Forester Matt Reed and advise him the plans have changed. Given the scale of the new vision I don't think a LOA would be required. But I can not make that call.”

“I will post here the body of the message I just sent to Matt Reed, the recreational forester. As the vision of this event has changed, so have the needs. I did not want anyone to have to labor under plans that were no longer valid.

The message I sent read:
Mr Reed:

I need to inform you the entire nature of the Black Forest Trail Day Hike evolved into a much simpler and smaller concept. I am longer serving as the support coordinator as that position has become unneeded in the recent changes. Please inform the District Forester that the proposal I submitted to you is no longer valid. Should the need arise, someone else will be contacting you with new details and a new proposal.

I thank you very much for your assistance and attention in this matter. I have enjoyed being in contact with you. All the best.”

“meltdown”