Bearmagnethon Tribute Hike

“http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Slate+Run&state=PA&site=CTP&textField1=41.47&textField2=-77.49&e=0

A little on the warm side. yet another reason to be on the trail by 4:30 am.”

“I can leave the Morristown, NJ area around noon on Friday (possibly a little earlier) if anyone needs a ride. If not, I'll see you all there.”

“I'm psyched!”

“Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%.”

“Here is the list of people that will be attending or participating in some way as I see it right now. There are 10 people signed up as definite on the trip page including me, so I won’t list them. Plus CrazyPace is bringing a newbee.

Definite Support People:
spindlette
Spikehiker
ramblinrev
Martha
Steve
Victoria

There are 4 who told me yes to support a month ago but have not confirmed after I sent the final details last week:
Rindercella
katiebug
Paintbrush
Todd

Other “maybes” from the forum:
jmitch
techntrek
eggs
Dub

I would welcome any correction or clarification to the list. It looks like we still have room for a few more, even if it’s just to spectate and imbibe.”

“"The Girl" may be coming with me. If that happens I will need to get her back to town for work Saturday afternoon through Sat evening. I am hoping she will come just for the time in the hammock. She has yet to spend the night in hers.”

“PAR: Rindercella's been unusually quiet, must be busy. (Although I did tell him to bug you about something. :) )

Paintbrush is support and not hiking? I thought she was crazy enough to do this kind of thing sometimes.

No I'm not coming, spoken for elsewhere. Have fun...”

“I can't imagine what you would want Rindercella to bug me about. :) I need to put it on a CD and mail it. I had a CD made a couple weeks ago then I realized there were newer files and I didn't get back to it. Send me your mailing address.

I agree Paintbrush is crazy, but I think she backed off on the crazy mileages after she completed the AT. She even skipped the Megatransect last year for the first time. I hope to catch her in the store today.”

“I'll send e-mail. Ask PB to forward my e-mail about the big event later this month if she wouldn't mind, too. :)”

“She's "crazy" you say ??? I like her already !!

I am soooooo ready for this hike. Did my training loop this morning at 4:30 am just to get in the spirit of this.”

“Crazy like a fox. Her style of UL backpacking is to carry practically nothing then mooch off everyone else.”

“I was wondering if my "new" shoes were property broken in for a long mileage hike. So on Sunday, I did a 20-mile training hike. I spent part of last night popping the blood blisters that formed under my pinky toenails... so I'm thinking the answer is "no". Guess I'll be hiking in my old shoes. The toes feel much better today, and as long as they don't get infected, they'll be 100% by Saturday morning.

The Black Walnut Bottom campsite is just south of Slate Run, correct? I'm planning on being there a little after noon.”

“Good you found out about the shoes before Saturday. That could have turned into a miserable day.

The campsite is on the right about 2 miles south of Wolfe's General Store which is basically downtown Slate Run. You have probably already figured the best route is to work you way to US 15 south to Rt. 287 south to Rt. 414 west. Make sure you go all the way through Morris and turn right on 414 WEST.

If you realize you forgot anything, stop at Wild Asaph Outfitters on Main Street in Wellsboro on your way through.”

“Hi, everyone:

I just wanted to wish all of you good luck this weekend hiking for and drinking to Phil. I know he'll be there with you, in more ways than one thanks to the U.S. Postal Service. Thanks for doing this tribute to him...I know he'll be smiling and kicking back a few wherever he is. It means a lot to me that you all remember him and miss him on the forums.

Have a great time and safe travels.

Love,
Mrs. Bearmagnet”

“Thanks Dani!

We will take plenty of pics and write one heck of a trip report. Once we sober up and recover that is!”

“Dani, we're honored.

Anyone look at the forescast lately? I was just on Intellicast. Good news... chance of precip is low (isolated t-storms). Bad news.. 95*F with 50% humidity. That's a 105*F heat index! Whoa Nellie... the hurt factor just tripled! Those 20+ stream crossings are looking like a godsend now.”

“Hey PARidgerunner,

I'm in for helping out. I'll be in the area Way late friday night early Saturday morning. Let me know what I can do to help.”

“Welcome aboard, Jackstraw. Your first assignment - don't wake me up if it's that late. It's going to be a long day.

I love hot weather!”

“who'll be the first to get into Pine Creek?”

“With the crowd that says they are showing up early, the first dippin’ may happen Friday afternoon.

I took a side trip on my way home from an excruciatingly mind-numbing day in State College today to check out conditions on the section of the BFT with the most stream crossings. I started at the northern Rt. 44 crossing and ran south for a little more than a half hour then turned around because I had to keep watch of my limited time before dark. I did 15 stream crossings plus three bridges. Some rain had passed through just prior to me starting out so my feet and pant legs got pretty wet from the vegetation, but I never encountered any water over the soles of my trail runners as long as I picked my way on the rocks correctly. I have to admit I did slip on one that was soaked from the rain and dipped my toes in the stream. Overall I would say the streams are at average level, but it may seem a little high if you have only done this trail in the dry part of the summer. Stream crossings will slow you down some, but so will some other parts of the trail that are wet, or steep, or rocky. It’s all part of the charm of this trail.

I don’t want to get into a contest over what weather forecast is best, but I generally rely on the National Weather Service because I know the people in the State College office and regularly work with them. Their hourly forecast graph for Slate Run right now has the peak temp and heat index both in the upper 80s with a 5 – 10 mph breeze throughout the daylight hours. Hot yes, but still survivable if you pay attention to hydration and any warning signs that it’s time to slow down and take a break.

Last minute details: I’ve located one Igloo 5-gallon water jug and maybe a couple more that are unconfirmed yet. If anyone has one it may come in handy. Within literally seconds of saying I didn’t have any firewood last week an “anonymous donor” (actually several of you know him quite well) emailed me about where I could pick some up. It looks like I will have time to do that Thursday evening so we should be covered. I even stopped in the campsite tonight and there was a little firewood left at site 1. I make no prediction on if it will still be there by Friday.

I’m still putting the finishing touches on some written packets for the support people to include driving directions to the aid stations, instructions on the radios and some other useful information. The new radio system I’m using is probably more complicated than it needs to be but I want to test it.

Any time up until late morning on Friday I can be reached either by posting here or by the email in my personal information on this site. After I leave cell coverage area, I can be reached by calling 863-203-2898. Yes, it’s a satellite phone. Yes, it is an unlimited calling plan, so don’t be afraid to use it if you want to get messages to me or any other participants. Yes, I will track you down and prosecute harassing calls or other abuse of this phone number. We’ve had some successful experience in the courts with that. Also be aware you will quite likely get a voice mail message because Globalstar has a working satellite overhead only about 70% of the time.

There are 5 special requirements the Bureau of Forestry put on this hike:
1. A written emergency management plan must be provided and adhered to.
(I modified what ramblinrev started months ago and they bought it. If anyone wants to see it I will have it on site.)

2. Participants must be courteous of other trail users at all times.

3. Communications between participants and support personnel is crucial, and must be maintained throughout the event.

4. Solid human waste must be deposited in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at lest 200 feet from water, camp, or trails. Cover and disguise catholes when finished.

5. All refuse must be removed from trail and campsites.

It all seemed simple enough to me so I signed off that I was responsible for y’all. Many thanks to everyone who has chipped in to make this happen. I’ve had almost more fun than is legal with the planning for this. Just remember that together we can accomplish great things when we don't care who gets the credit.

See ya this weekend!”

“I'm glad to see what I started did not go to waste. I really appreciate your taking this over. I may be able to come up with a couple more 5 gallon water coolers. I'd have to check and can't do that until later today.

"The Girl" may not be coming with me on Friday. :?(. The final vote is still out. She has been known to change her mind.”

“The groundwork you laid made it easy.

I know all about female indecision. I believe I've heard a different plan for this weekend every day this week.”

“I cant wait to meet you guys. You went above and beyond with the logistics for this thing.
With the new weather, I wonder how many will drop out at the 20 mile mark (rt44) when it starts getting hot out?”

“Gonna be warm?

I'll see you guys Saturday evening.”

“Yo Marko !! Beer me.”

“6 pack of beer at the Manor Hotel is $7.50 and they have a good beer selection.

Troegs Rugged Trail / Blue Moons etc etc.. lots of yuengling of course.”

“Thanks PAR! No wood. Got it.

The 20 mile mark will be interesting I think.

MarkO, you're coming in Sat evening and leaving Sun morning?”

“Yessum, mizz Spindle.....

Beer(s) for Mister Crazy Pace!!”

“CP...Who NEEDS to make me pretty blue drinks I think. ;)”

“Awesome!! This is gonna hurt!”

“Pictures!

I'll need lots 'o pictures. Video would be best, but I'll settle.”

“I'll get you pictures. :)”

“Moon for the camera!

(_!_)”

“MarkO, have you been working out?”

“Tight buns, eh??”

“I'd bounce a quarter off 'em but it would damage my monitor.

Bringing the music?”

“Bathing suits for the after hike dip in the creek optional ??”

“After you. Please.”

“I am bringing music, the question is "how much?".

Hey Coco Brain!!
You gonna be there?”

“I'll be arriving at Black Walnut Bottom sometime this afternoon.

I want to say something here. I know there was a lot of speculation that I got mad and took my dolls and went home. That is the farthest thing from the truth. To be very honest what I see in PAR's plan is very much what the end result of the image in my mind. One difference was that I probably shared too many details too openly. It made it seem more daunting than it was.

I'm coming this weekend because this was never about "me" in my mind. To stay away or boycott or anything else would seem to be the opposite statement. How much I can actually do will remain to be seen because I am still in dire financial straits and will be arriving without a full tank of gas. But I want to see this thru. And part of that is being there to participate.”

“I look forward, (or is it northward?) to seeing you, Rev.”

“Awesome, guys...just awesome...so over the top...just like Phil...”

“Awesome, guys...just awesome...so over the top...just like Phil...”

“I'm sure that there will be many toasts to him.
I'm leaving soon, be there by 1:00.”

“bringing my mew drum! : )”

“Rev up your Rockabilly.”

“Great weekend! Eight hikers entered the woods at 0430 and eight hikers exited the woods safely. Tired, sore, bug-bitten, scratched and nettled, but only one nasty puncture wound. And in the end, the trail won. With temperatures in the upper 90s it was just not the day to complete such a challenging trail. Twelve hours after the start, the support crew was frolicking in Pine Creek.

We started seeing hikers drop out even prior to the first aid station, and only 2 continued past the 18.8 mile mark to the west side of Rt. 44. Kudos to WalksWithBlackflies and Chowdahead for going the farthest. Somewhere over the course of the weekend I lost my map with all the mileages on it, but by their leaving via the Blackberry Trail I estimate their total distance to be about 25 miles. WalksWithBlackflies also holds the record for most dangerous animal encounters – a bear and a strike and miss by a rattlesnake.

Two others set the day’s record for most miles bushwhacked after missing a turn. It’s still a little unclear if they shortened or lengthened their route, but they definitely lengthened their time on the trail. It also led me to backsweep nearly 6 miles to get a taste of the sweltering conditions and to see the sweltering temper of one of the lost.

Many others can add many details to the overall trip report, but I will just add that Phil’s legacy and even a part of Phil himself were spread in the Pennsylvania Wilds this weekend and I am very happy to have been a part of it.”

“It was a good time. Everyone accounted for. Everybody off the trail under their own power although not always at a designated aid station. But that's what the road crosings were for in the first place... :?)”

“Bob!

Thanks PARidgerunner for handling all the details. All your work made it effortless for those of us who weren't doing the hiking. :)

Great weekend y'all.”

“This was the most well planned trip I have ever been on. The weather made us glad it was too. PARidgerunner did one heck of a job with the support including the little red wagon! (please oil the wheels on that thing!). Next time, and there "will" be a next time, we will not pick a heat wave to try this hike. It was suggested, that mabey next year, do it as a realy with teams. We could get alot more hikers if the mileage isnt that scary. I'm not a big trip report writer, so here's what I have learned and observed.
1. Heat, humidity, big hills, and long miles = heat stroke, blisters, chaffing, wrong turns, and need for air conditioning.
2. Thank god there was a baby on this hike because I had to borrow some some diaper cream when it was over. (Go head, make fun, but I needed it real bad!)
3. Pennsy does not like heat.
4. The newbee I brought, who I've tried a dozen times to talk out of going on this trip, ended up being the only girl who hiked and did 20 miles, hardly drank any water, didnt eat, didnt sweat, wasnt tired. I was worried that she was gonna die in the woods, and now all Pennsy and I heard on the way home is what a bunch of sissy's we are! Go figure.
5. Spindle makes good pancakes at 3:30 am.
6. If your in front of Walkswithblackflies on a downhill = he "will" pass you!
7. Chowdahead can hike. We stayed together 99% of the hike and were the first ones out to Rt.44. We were done, went back for my truck and when we got back to Rt.44, we learned that walkswithblackflies kept going!
So the chowda wasnt haven any of that. He got his gear back on and took off after him. And people think I'm crazy!

Final thought - People comming together for for a good cause and to pay tribute to someone who couldnt be there is a great thing. I know I would love that if I were Phil. Thanks again to all the support people who went waaaaaay out of there way for everbody.”