Re: [at-l] Next Ruck

[Owen <jim_ginny_o@attglobal.net>]

Rich, Timothy D. wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> Y'all could come on down to the South where it all begins....
> 
> Amicalola Falls State Park
> 20 Tent, Trailer, RV Sites
> 57-Room Lodge, restaurant and meeting facilities
> 20-Room Len Foote Hike Inn
> 14 Cottages
> 
> It's balmy, I say balmy down here now that the ice has thawed; It was 72
> degrees Sunday in Atlanta (inside the Georgia Dome, that is).


This is a good question -- Where's the next Ruck?  

And there have been several possible answers just in the last couple
hours.  
The problem with each of those answers is that none of those places are
big enough to handle ALL the people who'd like to be at the Ruck. The
Ruck (as it was last weekend) has outgrown Ironmasters.  Period. There
wasn't enough room for everyone to stay there, there wasn't enough room
for everyone who was there to see the slide shows, etc.  

The Place is a good idea - but is still not big enough for everyone to
stay at. The church would work for slide shows, but there's no kitchen.  

Bears Den isn't big enough. 

Amicalola is a little better - but would still have the same problem
next year - or the next.  Does it have a kitchen?  What's the cost
there?  I don't know - but I suspect it's more expensive than most
people would find acceptable. 

On the other hand ---- how about all of the above? Including Tommykins
house? 

There's no conceivable reason why there should only be ONE Ruck. 
There's every reason for others to begin having their own local Rucks.
If nothing else, it would eliminate what might be called "Ruck envy". 
More to the point, it would put the Ruck(s) within reach of those who
can't afford (either time or money-wise) to get to Pine Grove Furnace. 
A lot of people who don't live near Pennsylvania would like the chance
to meet other list members who live in their area, talk, eat, hike, and
have a good time. Why not find a place that's close to home, and invite
the rest to come spend the weekend talking trail?

On the down side - it would cut down on the number of those who attend
the annual "virtual Ruck dinner". 

I think it comes down to this -- why can't there be a "Ruck system" 
rather than "THE RUCK"?   Not "mini-Rucks" - but "full-service" Damascus
and Amicalola and Phoenix and Minneapolis and Miami and Atlanta Rucks.  

I'll be gone in April and won't be back until the Gathering - so I won't
have a lot to say about this.  But that's my take on how this thing
should go.  

Walk softly,
Jim


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