Thanksgiving on the AFT

“Don't forget the gravy, turkeys.”

“I am still debating going. If I go, it's for one night. I may come out tonight and hike back out tomorrow.”

“I will go tonight.. I will be there.”

“my plan is to hike into camp tonight, hopefully be there before 9. Tomorrow I am going to hike to Lehigh Gap.

My dad is going to shuttle me.”

“Hi. This is not Crazy Pace. Do you know who I am.

We are watching Pennsy and Spindle try to beat each other in pool. Practically every other sentence out of their mouths can be taken out of context.

Oops, Pennsy just said "whacky spin".
last edited: 11/29/08 6:33:29 PM”

“Hi, This "is" CrazyPace and Pennsy is getting served in pool by a girl.
He drank too much and is saying words.

Latest quote - where in the world is spindles ass ??”

“ruh roh, Spindle just said "hold the stick" and Pennsy is not in position.

Game over. Spindle won. And dear gawd, now they are well...you don't want to know.

creek dancer”

“BTW - we are off the trail and at my house (CrazyPace). My pool table is being violated by drunk TT'ers.
Pennsy, CreekDancer, Spindle, CrazPace are still here.
ENS and 32oz left about 2 hours ago.”

“Spindle asked Pennsy to "show me the goods" and Pennsy said play your cards right, get in position and you may just win the game.

Now he's going to french somethin' and his balls are stuck in the corner pocket.

These PA peeps are really nutso. I need to drive up here more often.

Oh, and the hike was amazing. They told me about the rocks before I drove up here, but never said a word about the freakin' bolders. That was definately not in the brochure. At least my boots didn't die..........yet.”

“WTF??? Ya'll covered 38 miles reeeeeal quick! In fact, I think that might be a new record!

Goddammit! Ya'll are drinkin' without me! No fair! :p”

“they're making this up.

Friday night I drove to the trailhead on Jacksonville Road and hiked the two miles south on the AT to the Allentown Shelter and there was no one but 4 old ladies from Topton, PA and they were all drunk and with in minutes they passed out in the shelter.

I thought about hiking back to my car, but I decided to just bivy and hike out in the morning.

Yesterday morning I got up and hiked out and then I drove to all of the possible trailheads to see if anyone's car was there, but nothing. So I went home.

Atleast I got a bagnight and a couple trail miles. I think I got punked.
last edited: 11/30/08 4:10:29 AM”

“They didn't even have the decency to call you?”

“WTF on the AT?

I wasn't there. I bailed. Buddha Bear must have shown up disguised as me.”

“by the way, even though I wasn't there, whose trekking poles are in my car?”

“WTF on the AT?

Did anyone show up? I wasn't there either.

Today I'm feeling the need to reorganize my gear room for some reason.”

““WTF??? Ya'll covered 38 miles reeeeeal quick! In fact, I think that might be a new record!

Goddammit! Ya'll are drinkin' without me! No fair! :p”
msdoolittle

Nooo. Us? We never drink.”

“you guys left me all by myself to fend off ursela and brenda and the rest of the Topton climbers club.”

“Saint Ursula ("small female bear" in Latin) is a British Christian saint.”

“WTF happened??

Did those boneheads camp at The Crazy P Ranch?”

“I didn't go either, but I am home now. How the heck did my poles end up in Pennsy's car???? Dang, I can't believe I left them somewhere AGAIN!!!!!”

“Well, you certainly didn't use the poles.”

“I don't know how they got there, considering this trip only happened in Buddha Bear's warped mind, but email me your address and I'll get them to you in time for the next fictitious trip.”

“Is ENS the only one of this cabal to actually hike?

The poor boy had to contend with Saint Ursula as well as with abandonment by his "friends".”

“Somehow a couple pics of Boneheads got on my camera. WTH??

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569006621CoyCsw”

“OK, what gives?”

“
When he gets in scrape,
He makes his escape,
With the help of his friend,
An ape named Ape,

Then away he'll schlep,
On his elephant Shep,
While Fella and Ursula stay in step....


(Sheldon Allman & Stan Worth)

”

““OK, what gives?” MarkO

Polar Bear girls, apparently.”

“Sorry I couldn't make it guys... My car broke down on the way... I did make it back home ok though...

I will have pictures and a trip report soon, however I'm not sure how exciting pictures of my SUV being towed down I 81 will be to you all..

Well, it was nice almost seeing you all, and was great to almost be hiking with you.. Maybe we can plan something again real soon....

Oh and my feet don't hurt at all since they weren't exposed to those PA rocks...

So how was the knife's edge...


32oz (got it pensy).. 32OUNCESOFGATORADE
last edited: 11/30/08 4:37:08 PM”

“Sorry I missed you guys. I wish I could of hosted some kinda after hike pizza, beer, and fancy mixed drinks party.
Also, sorry I could not make a nice breakfast for those who might of stayed.

CreekDancer - What rocks ?? We aint got no stinking rocks !!”

“is crazypace creekdancer?”

“Looks like it.”

“Madness !!! How could this be ??

How did she get into my computer ??”

“Dang, I miss everything..

Were there waffles involved?

..and did Marissa Miller show up...

'32oz”

“Coffee, eggs, bacon, bagels, fruit etc..

Yeah, you missed it. And missed Pennsy get beat by a girl in pool!”

“I truly am sorry I missed it, however it was probably good that I left... I wound up helping my mom out with my sick nephew on Sunday...

'32oz”

“HA! Now I know this is a farce cuz there's no way a silly girl could beat me at pool.

Sorry you broke down Sugar Water Boy. We might have missed you if anyone had shown up. Hypothetically speaking, it would have been a very hard but fun hike, with lots of good times with friends. It's a shame I never got the chance to practice my balancing skills on the Knife Edge, and I would have really enjoyed spending the last night hanging at Casa Crazypace. I'm still puzzled hhow those trekking poles got in my car and how those pics morphed into Spindle's camera. Shoot, she doesn't even own a camera. Black magic??”

“What the.......how was Crazy Pace able to log on as me???

The CrazyPace's were the utmost trail angle hosts, so I hear. I was told they took in a bunch of us stinky hikers, made us take showers, fed us food and booze, and made us sleep inside on comfy things.

And CP has the most awesome mecca oasis of a gear room. REI obviously took some hints from this guy. Oh, and Spindle, next time I GET TO SLEEP IN THE GEAR ROOM... sheesh (err... if I show up for the hike). All that gear could give a girl some amazing dreams.
last edited: 11/30/08 6:09:25 PM”

“Sure Pennsy-poo, sure. There's also NO way CP's tiny, delicate little daughter could totally lay down the pwnage on you so hard a whole room full of adults winced at the you-got-SERVEDness of it.

CD, if ever we show up for one of these hikes and end up crashing in CP's gear room we could share the space between the sleeping bags and the packs. Maybe we'll even let Pennsy be the goodie in the middle, you know, if ever we all don't bail.

Had I been there last night I would have needed several "moments" to myself. Imagine with me, if you will, the gearage...”

“Oh, I saw the rocks CP. The boulders...now that i was not expecting!! Knife Cliffs, or whatever, scared the bejeebus out of me. I am not crazy about heights.

But man, I had so much fun with you guys. Great weekend with great people.

Gearage....lol. I can only imagine what it would be like to sleep in than minus 10 Montbell!!!!!
last edited: 11/30/08 7:33:59 PM”

“Spindle, so who are those hunter guys in your pics? And why did you take their pictures?”

“WTF??

This all sounds like bool sheet.”

“Sounded like a good time. Wish I could have been there.”

“CD, the gent standing by the Dans Pulpit register is Dave, Vietnam Vet and the trail maintainer for that section. He is the welder who built and hauled up the thick metal register box. All the blazes on the rock along that bit are his work.

The gent in the orange is his brother, Barry. They were out there together for the first time since Barry was 16. They were scouting around a bit pre-opening day of rifle.

32oz and I got to thank Dave in person for all the trail work. :) I believe he genuinely appreciated our gratitude. (I only got a little misty-eyed at his glowyness, I swear)”

“You mean, had you been there ?”

“Yeah. Who the hell had my camera??!!”

“Trip report?”

“For what? ENS wrote his and he was the only one who showed up.”

“What about Buddha Bear?”

“Jmitch was the trip leader, so it his responsibility to do the TR.
Thats if he showed up.”

“While I will never know for sure here is how I think the trip would have gone.

I would have woken up and feasted on a stack of strawberry covered waffles (just for the heck of it)..

Then it would have been off to meet Spindle at Little Gap. After dropping her car there, we would have proceded to Windsor Furnace. A quick call to the police would have been made, due to the fact that I didn't realize that approval was needed to park there overnight. Apparently since 9/11 they are a little spooked about having unknown cars parked so close to there water supply.

Since I have done this part of the AT before I know what the hike is like... We would have had a nice easy accent up to Pulpit Rock (although not as easy as normal since I strapped 43 lbs on my back). Nearing the Pulpit we probably would have run into 3 mapless hikers heading in the wrong direction. (Ironically this is the second time that this would have happened to me in this area).

Plagarizing Spindle.

At the Pulpit we met Dave, Vietnam Vet and the trail maintainer for that section. He is the welder who built and hauled up the thick metal register box. All the blazes on the rock along that bit are his work. The box itself weight 90lbs the rest was another 30.

The gent in the orange is his brother, Barry. They were out there together for the first time since Barry was 16. They were scouting around a bit pre-opening day of rifle.

32oz and I got to thank Dave in person for all the trail work. :) I believe he genuinely appreciated our gratitude. (I only got a little misty-eyed at his glowyness, I swear)�


Upon leaving the Pulpit we headed to the Pinnacle were we ate..

10 miles into the hike we would have come upon Creek Dancer's Car parked at the Eckville Shelter. Crossing the road we would have started the 1000 ft climb up towards the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. It would have been about here were the idea of carrying 43 lbs would have become a not so good idea.

Spindle blazed a trail ahead of me, and I huffed and puffed to try to keep up.. Finally, as dark would have been falling we would have hit the shelter...

And there waiting for us was a fire and....... 5 women.. what? were was CD.. ah down the hill a bit..

CD informed us that the spring was dry, so all of a sudden, the extra 4lbs of water wasn't such a bad idea.. Neither was the 1/2 pound of port wine cheese, the crackers, the lb of deer meat, the 30 ounces of crown nor the 20 ounces of khalua..

While we would have been waiting for CP ENS and PENNSY, I would have traeted CD and Spindle to Hotchocolate with freezedried ice cream and Khalua...

I'm sure CD would have brought some B52 shooters and spindle would have hade tequila..

At about 7:40? CP and Pennsy would have showed up with WildTurkey and Honey and news that ENS was having problems and may not be there.. Would he live up to his Bailnsky Nickname...

With night falling and alcohol being downed, all hope given up, what do we hear but a yelp followed by a night light.. Sure enough ENS shows up..

After passing around the libations and watching Morissa Millar (Chummer) get sick, we turned in...


Saturday we awoke to a face another 16 miles of rock... CP suggested we lighten up when we hit Pennsy's car, and while I wanted a work out, I'm not a masochist.. We lightened up for the final 15 miles..

Upon reaching 309 we stocked up at the spigot and headed to Bake Oven Knob (another section that I have done)..

The rocks became bigger until we were boulder climbing... The PA knife's edge is awesome and Pennsy made it even more challenging by taking the hardest route... From there it was up to the knob with more great views...

Leaving the knob, we had 9 more miles of rocks, stones, boulders, etc before coming off of the mountain at Lehigh Gap. By this point I don't think there was a foot in the group that wasn't in pain.

It had already been decided that we pass up the Outterbridge shelter and get all the cars to CP's.. With crappy weather in the forecast, and thanksgiving traffic, we decided to skip the Sunday hike to little gap. A wise decision given the ice and sleet that arrived SUnday morning as well as the traffic that I hit on the way back south.

Arriving at CP's we had great pizza and beer, and got to visit the wall of gear... CP's nickname need's to be changed to Cabela's..

While Spindle pummeled Pennsy in pool and CD took a nap, CP and I discussed logistics for Rainier and Adams...

Feeling the pull of family ties, I bade farewell to everyone at 7:30 and headed to my parents'.

Another hypothetically great trip (had it actually happened)

I must add that there was one tense moment during the trip in which Pennsy and I almost went at it while discussing the volumetric quantity of a Gatorade Bottle... CP interveened and cooler heads prevailed...

'32oz
last edited: 12/01/08 10:49:08 AM”