Ohio Folks

“Is anybody in for a trip to Zaleski Sept. 21-23. We discussed this with the Michigan folk this past weekend, and it sounds like we could get a pretty good group together. So whaddya say, Buddur, Nigal, Tarabull, Joy, Hyperpacker, Le Subtil, eforme urke, adventure gil, sunshine, general custard, bacpac and anybody/everybody else?”

“Boy, Buddha, you don't waste any time.

Are you suggesting we start hiking on the 21st? I will have to check w/ work to see if I can get that day off.

I'll have John check it out with his work, too.”

“We can get there late at night on friday, and night hike 3 miles to the first campsite. I guess it all depends, I could check into a few differnt scenarios.”

“I'd try to make it.”

“Im all for it. In fact it is the perfect time scenario for me because I will be in school then and i will want to get away. And Im all for night hiking. It will probably take me the longest to get there too. but i uess i could skip my afternoon classes on friday if i have too. Heck I dont even know if i have afternoon classes. Yes i want to go though”

“You gotta invite more geezers though. It suks being the oldest in the group.:-)”

“Buddha - Sadie wants to know if dogs are allowed at Zaleski?”

“tarabull,

yes, dogs are permitted.

gc”

“le subtil, if i were to come on this trip, i would be celebrating a milestone birthday there (one that ends in a 0) and it is likely that i would be the geezer of the group....i usually am these days, it seems....in grayness, but not in spirit!!”

“Dogs are certainly welcome! Le Subtil, hopefully we can get Budder, Walkin'crow and Gonzo. I know they are all in the area. If I am missing anyone, it's because I don't know where everyone is located. Hopefully we can all see you down there.”

“BTW, has anybody night hiked before?”

“I usually start my trips with a late Friday hike into the woods to set up camp. Usually 3-4 miles into the High peaks area of the ADK. Its fun. River crossings can be tough (picking out the whole route from one side is difficult with a headlamp. Get half way across and realize your stepping stones have petered out and you are stranded).

Headlamps rule. I use a petzel wiht a 4.5 volt battery. If it is cold weather (below freezing) get the one that hangs around your neckk to keep the battery warm.

Trail signs on an unfamilar trail can be tough, easy to miss. It seems to take forever when you are looking for a trail junction .5 miles up the trail and it is pitch black beyond the beam of your light.

Saw serveral deer our last time in. Had 'em jacklighted with our headlamps. Didn't move. Coulda tagged them.”

“I've night hiked plenty before. I'd rather spend Saturday morn wakeing in the woods than driving to them. The trails in Zeleski are very well developed so it shouldn't be too bad by headlamp. If you haven't night hiked before I would suggest that you do it with someone that knows the trails there.

Put me on the "most likely" list. My work situation is wierd these days and I never know until the last minute if I'll have to work a Saturday. It's actually a nice drive from here to Zeleski so if nothing else I'll at least try to roll in Saturday nite and add some more ECT'ers to my "I've mett" list. I'm closing in on thirty!

See y'all there(fingers crossed).”

“Ive night hiked before. Its great. Its best if you know the trails your right. I dont own a headlamp, I use a maglight.”

“I've night hiked a couple of times to find ECT groups on Friday night rather than Saturday morning. It's kind of spooky, but cool when solo. It's more fun with one or two other people.”

“i am a virgin when it come to night hiking (at least while carrying a loaded pack)....it sounds interesting, although it seems like i would be hitting my head all the time....”

“Hey, Buddha Bear!

In principle, I plan on going. But that is the start of the school year, so things come up. I probably won't know until late August.

Zaleski: MWT 2001 - No East Coasters Here!

Oh, and who knows, I might come on down to the Hocking Hills or thereabouts sometime later this summer. I'll be looking for bear sign.”

“OOOOooooohhh!!

I WILL be there now! I owe Buddha Bear an A$$ whupin'!!










;^)”

“Hey, don't Buddha Bear and Bacpac both live in Ohio.

I wanna be there when they meet.”

“me and bacpac meeting, that would be like an asteroid hitting the earth.”

“BB,

if i survive the long trail, count me in as a probable.

gc”

“gc; best of luck on the Long Trail. I'm sure that will be a trip you remember many years from now.”

“Mark me down as a definite maybe!”

“people still LIVE in ohio???

bizarre!!!”

“I'm working on getting some vacation days...if I do I'm in!
Where we gonna meet? Where is the trailhead exactly?”

“I've never night hiked but am willing to do it. As long as someone knows where were headed. John and I only have one headlamp. Sounds like I should probably pick up a second one so we can both wear one.”

“If we get the number of people that I think we will, I am sure the whole trail will be lit up. I may night hike it this weekend, just to see how difficult it is.”

“Been there...done it...

Unless it's a necessity...Night hiking sucks (imho)!”

“My brother and I night hiked into Hoist Lakes once about midnight, under a bright full moon, in December with 2' of snow on the ground. It was surreal. The moon was not quite bright enough, however, to illuminate the trail sign we missed...not that it really mattered.”

“BTW; under lamp light yellow and white trail blazes look the same. That little trick added several miles down and back up a mountian when some friends tried a night hike on the AT. That won't be a problem in Zeleski(if memory serves me).”

“Zaleski is perhaps four hours from my home in Berlin. It would be zer kind if thee could welcome me to come.”

“Come one come all I say.”

“Though ye be not a Christian, thank ye for this kind welcome Buddhist Bear.”

“Don't forget yer tick spray...cause there's lots of'em down there!”

“You're coming , aren't ya Buddur?”

“Sept. 21st-23rd eh? I think this trip may very well call for the usage of a personal business day! We'll have to see if a Grandma will take care of Abby before committing but it sure sounds like fun! Will the trees be turning in Southern Ohio by then?”

“What time do ya think we'd be hitting the trail? Ninish?”

“Boy, I guess I need to provide details early!

Here is the plan. We'll have two meeting times. For those that can take Friday off, we'll meet at 3:00 p.m. - hike 3+ miles to first campsite and anchor enough spots for the whole group. For those that can't get friday off, we'll have a 2nd hike into the site at 9:00 (the night hike) I figure the first group can hike with the last, gaining us the TT record for most people in a night hike. The second day, we'll do a much tougher 10 mile hike with many many hills. The last day, we can do a 7 mile hike that will return us to the parking lot. I'll work on setting up links with details in the near future. The 21st-23rd is now set in stone!”

“Buddha bear, is the 2nd day hike to the camp by the north loop? If so I recall that to be 12 miles. Not trying to be picky but I remember that the last leg had some substantial hills. I am a pathetic flatlander you know LOL!”

“Yeah hyper, that's it, but I figured we could skip that small loop and go directly to the campsite.”

“John and I are looking at taking half days. That way we can be outta here around 1pm.

Hyper/Joy - If I recall, you thought it would take about 5 hours?”

“BTW - Are there plenty of water sources?”

“Potable water is provided by the Park Service near all esablished campsites via underground storage tanks and wells just downslope (creating artesian flow).

The N loop should only take you 2-2.5 hours to hike...maybe 3 if yer poking along.

I'll maybe be there. I've been to Zaleski 3-4 times already. Maybe this time I'll take time to see the Train Tunnel and other sites of interest I missed before.”

“Tarabull, you don't need to bring a water filter. The water is trucked in by the rangers and is cool and clear! They even have outhouses at the sites that are very very clean (and no KKK graffiti either).”

“We'll camp at C on Friday night, D on Saturday Night, and then hike out.
Topo Map”

“Another question? Buddha and Hyper mention "many many hills" and "substantial hills"...

They're all down, right?????”

“Tara; they are Ohio hills. Unless you are a flat-lander you'll be fine. If you are a flat-lander you might break a sweat on a couple of them.”

“I hiked the "hilly" part in about 3 hours. You break a sweat, but it's very manageable. Crow is right!”

“"Crow is right."
FINALLY!! Someone said it! ;o)”

“You bringing Mr.Beam with you again Mr.Crow?”