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[at-l] My First RUCK!
Hear, Hear!
This was my very first RUCK ever, and it was just AWESOME! I was only
able to drive up for the day, and drove home in freezing rain and snow, but BOY
was it ever worth it!
If I can ever figure out how to download and share my new digital camera
images, I'll post them, but that's likely to take a few days. What they won't
capture is how super-nice everyone was to a Newbie/Wanabee like yours truly, or
the spirt of comradery and good humor that prevailed throughout the day on
Saturday.
Marsha was incredible in the kitchen, which didn't do my pre-hike
getting-into-shape efforts any good at all, but since she's a fellow "Ohioan",
I'll have to let that pass. But the warmth in that part of the house was coming
as much from her as from the stove.
Mara (Stitches) "tuckerized" my pack, which will help me to get a bunch
more ounces out it, which is great! Of course, going in, I thought the exercise
would just be one of those "off in a corner -- let's see what you've got -- ok,
here's a few tips" kind of deal. When it was time, me and my pack (and,
thankfully one other innocent soul and his pack) were invited into the main room
where the assembled RUCKERs had pulled up chairs and carpet, and we became the
entertainment portion of the afternoon! ("But Mara, I really NEED a four pound
first aid kit, because, well, because.... I might need it...)
In all honesty, it didn't go that badly, but only because of all the great
advice and tips I had already picked up from discussion threads on this list.
If I'd had the 54 pound pack that I did my first AT section hike with, now THAT
would have been worth the price of admission!
The discussion session for the Class of '05 was also valuable, as well as
entertaining, as prior-year stalwarts described not only some of their most
important lessons learned, but the circumstances in which those lessons had been
learned. (Take TWO ATM cards AND cash, got it!) Thanks for sharing, guys!
A major highlight for me was the DVD presentation by Weather Carrot
covering the hike itself, the trail community, and trail maintenance. Boy was
it ever inspirational for those of us yet to get out there and experience a
through hike. It was kind of cool to know that there were several of us in the
audience from this year's Class of '05 and that we were already experiencing
some of that hiker community thing within our own group.
In fact, I was able to add two more names to our Mid-March hiker gang list
-- Hey Becky, Hey Wyatt!
Finally, I was also able to place some faces to some of the names whose
postings I've been reading about for the past many months. Marsha, for one, and
Ms. Janet, and Shelly of the Go, Vols, Jim and Ginny Owens, and Chase, and
Mountain Man and oh, gosh, now I'm going to go having another one of those
senior moments and forget all the rest of the folks I met but didn't write down
their names. (Note to self: on the trail, carry paper and pencil; write stuff
down....)
Oh, and one more, who wasn't nearly as scary in person as his postings
would suggest. He even went out of his way to help me carry some stuff from my
car up to Ms. Marsha in the kitchen. Some guy with a really cool new truck.
Now what WAS his name.... McGee? McGoo? McGuire? Mc something. It'll
come to me...
Thanks, everyone -- it was really nice ta meetcha.
Longhaul
Chase Davidson
<wb4pan@mindsprin To: "at-l@backcountry.net" <at-l@backcountry.net>
g.com> cc:
Sent by: Subject: [at-l] Ruck In PA
at-l-bounces@back
country.net
01/30/2005 02:57
PM
HI Gang,
I am home from the Ruck. I had a great time. It never got colder
than
0* (according to my car thermometer. I missed seeing a lot of folks (a
bunch of you southern Ruck traitors didn't come this year :-)). It was
a fun weekend and I really enjoyed chatting with a lot of my friends.
Sorry I didn't,t say goodbye to most of you :-( But I didn't want
y'all to see me with tears in my eyes. I hope every one has a safe
pleasant journey home. And although a few folks tried to bring that
southern ruck pew-monia with them I think the cold killed off all the
germs :-) I shouldn't need to eat again till next weekend. Thanks to
all the folks that worked in the kitchen!! Boy I am glad Marsha isn't
my boss at work. LOL just kidding. Thanks Marsha!
chase
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