View Full Version : Had a great time at The Gathering . . .
Jester2000
10-13-2009, 15:26
Just wanted to say thanks to all of the people who worked hard to put together a great Gathering.
It had an interesting, diverse program, the fire was fun, and everyone I knew had a great time. Thanks to my mom for the food, particularly all of the goodies at the fire Saturday night. And thanks to all of the hikers who attended -- I love getting to spend time with all of you.
And thanks to nature for clearing out the weather, giving me a spectacular sunset from Little Round Top, and dropping a meteor on Friday night that lit up the sky around midnight and freaked everyone out.
Jack Tarlin
10-13-2009, 16:00
It was indeed a wonderful weekend and it was great to see so many folks.
Jester, tell your Mom, the apple cake was greatly appreciated; it made it back here to New Hampshire, was much admired by the folks I live with; and is probably being pillaged as I write this.
Which is what apple cakes are born for.
...and dropping a meteor on Friday night that lit up the sky around midnight and freaked everyone out.
Maybe it was a meteor but because of the dense cloud cover I would not swear to it.
Panzer
EarlyBird2007
10-13-2009, 20:09
Jester, thanks to YOU for a great Battlefield hike. I humor myself that I know quite a bit about the Gburg battle, having toured the battlefield numerous times. You mentioned several things that I had never heard. Great Job!!!
Just wanted to say thanks to all of the people who worked hard to put together a great Gathering.
It had an interesting, diverse program, the fire was fun, and everyone I knew had a great time. Thanks to my mom for the food, particularly all of the goodies at the fire Saturday night. And thanks to all of the hikers who attended -- I love getting to spend time with all of you.
And thanks to nature for clearing out the weather, giving me a spectacular sunset from Little Round Top, and dropping a meteor on Friday night that lit up the sky around midnight and freaked everyone out.
Jester2000
10-13-2009, 20:11
Thanks for the compliment! It was, as always, a bit too long, but I had fun. I feel like even if all we had done was walk to Little Round Top and back for the sunset it would have been worth it.
Hoop Time
10-13-2009, 20:50
Thanks for the compliment! It was, as always, a bit too long, but I had fun. I feel like even if all we had done was walk to Little Round Top and back for the sunset it would have been worth it.
I didn't think it was too long at all. But then I was back at the campsite enjoying a beverage while you were doing that extra leg to the Corpse of Trees, etc.
As others have posted, it was an excellent hike and the guide was top notch.
As for that sunset, in case it was not seen when I posted it before, here is Jester in front of that sunset (and a bonus shot of a canon that shows off the sky as well)
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/2/3/4/jestersunset-web_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36892&c=661) http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/2/3/4/cannonsunset-web_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36889&c=661)
Yes, the Gathering was a great way to spend the weekend, and the battlefield tour was great. Also those pictures are amazing, almost as good as seeing the sunset in person.
Cookerhiker
10-13-2009, 21:08
I enjoyed the Gathering - it seems to get better every year. Hats off to Bill O'Brien and all those who worked hard planning.
It did not rain anywhere near as much as they had predicted. The weather was actually pretty good. Even though it rained a little on Friday night it was the warmest night. Sunday was a beautiful day at the camp and also good driving weather for the way home.
Panzer
I had a great time. anyone who missed the gathering missed out on a great weekend. It is alwalys great to see my hiking friends and meet a few new ones. can not wait for the PA ruck
fiddlehead
10-13-2009, 22:39
Good fun.
Beautiful campus,
Good friends and lots of stories retold.
Sorry i missed the night-hike.
Twas fun for sure. Those things always rejunvinate my spirit, which is crushed daily living in NYC :D
The European bike/hike presentation, Bluebearee's Haute Route and Bob's Camino talk have definitely inspired me to head across the pond (supposing I find $1000 on the street in the next several months).
Great to meet new people, see old friends and hopefully i'll meet the rest of you next time.
Jim Adams
10-14-2009, 03:37
My first Gathering and it was incredible! I had such a good time and made about 200 new friends. I can't wait until next year.
geek
Jim Adams
10-14-2009, 03:37
My first Gathering and it was incredible! I had such a good time and made about 200 new friends. I can't wait until next year.
geek
Jim Adams
10-14-2009, 03:37
My first Gathering and it was incredible! I had such a good time and made about 200 new friends. I can't wait until next year.
geek
Jim Adams
10-14-2009, 03:38
My first Gathering and it was incredible! I had such a good time and made about 200 new friends. I can't wait until next year.
geek
Jim Adams
10-14-2009, 03:51
oops! don't know what happened there and can't seem to erase it.
geek
Jester2000
10-14-2009, 10:43
Well, it was incredible, so posting it that many times was appropriate. Loved Geek's Sunday Evening presentation. I've never been able to stay Sunday night before, so I've always missed Sunday's show. It was wonderful.
As for that sunset, in case it was not seen when I posted it before, here is Jester in front of that sunset (and a bonus shot of a canon that shows off the sky as well)
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/2/3/4/jestersunset-web_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36892&c=661) http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/2/3/4/cannonsunset-web_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36889&c=661)
Hoop Time - Nice camera work! I tried to capture the sunset (but not Jester 'cause he's too squirrelly to capture) and I just couldn't get the colors to come out right. Yours came out awesome, thanks for sharing. It really was a stunning sunset that night.
JoshStover
10-14-2009, 12:50
I really hate that I couldn't make it. Sounds like it was a good time. I ended up in the Red River Gorge.
Cookerhiker
10-14-2009, 13:01
I really hate that I couldn't make it. Sounds like it was a good time. I ended up in the Red River Gorge.
Nothing wrong with that; the Gorge is fabulous! I've only been there once but look forward to more trips.
fiddlehead
10-14-2009, 17:34
Oh, and thanks a million to whoever it was that found my GPS.
That thing has my whole trail that I'm routing in Phuket, Thailand and it was disaster when i lost it Friday night in the dark and confusion of looking for a place to put my tent.
Someone turned it in to Noel who knew i had lost it.
Thanks!!!
Over 30 of us headed up to Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the ALDHA worktrip. We started by cleaning out the old grist mill and getting the building prepped for AT museum use. Then we headed over for clean-up and other tasks at the Ironmasters Hostel. And an incredible amount of work done at both places. Did everything on the lists.
Thanks to Red Wolf for fixing the meals. Special thanks to Ready for organizing the work trip. And special thanks to Tacoma Ted for the evening concert. And thanks to everyone, including one SB thru-hiker who worked hard on Monday.
LIhikers
10-14-2009, 23:14
My wife and I are new ALDHA members and so this was our first Gathering.
My thanks to one and all who made it such a great weekend, including Jester for the battlefield tour. I wish we could have stayed later on Monday for the work party but had to make the drive home.
Ditto for what everyone has already said...
Now as for this fireball on Friday night - it was one of the coolest, if not THE coolest, things that I've ever seen. I found a website that tracks sightings, and turns out 3 other people saw the same one. One guy in PA witnessed it exploding above the ground - which was the noise we heard.
Anyway, if you are interested, "our" fireball is records 599a-d:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/fireball_log2009.html
Thanks Chomp, I was looking around hoping that someone else had seen that too! It really was a once in a lifetime experience.
RedneckRye
10-15-2009, 01:58
Ditto for what everyone has already said...
Now as for this fireball on Friday night - it was one of the coolest, if not THE coolest, things that I've ever seen. I found a website that tracks sightings, and turns out 3 other people saw the same one. One guy in PA witnessed it exploding above the ground - which was the noise we heard.
Anyway, if you are interested, "our" fireball is records 599a-d:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/fireball_log2009.html
Just checked out the meteorite site,...
Tim Scott is such a geek, no way that he is even close to being AWESOME.
GEEK is the most awesome guy I've ever met.
I knew he was a good guy, but until his sunday night presentation I had no Idea of his AWESOMENESS.
For 2010, hopefully we can cajole, threaten, or start a petition to get Bust Ace to do a presentation about his 1973 Southbound hike. I've seen the photos and they are spectacular. I've heard him tell tales and they are great.
RedneckRye
10-15-2009, 02:48
Here are 2 photos from the battlefield hike...
Our leader thru the darkness,
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36996&catid=member&imageuser=316
And possibly the best photo I've ever taken, though I claim no credit for the colors of the sunset or the beautiful lines of the arch.
I think the AT runs the ridge that is at the very bottom of the sunset, but I'm not 100% sure.
I like to call this image "Rainbow Toast".
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=36997&catid=newimages&cutoffdate=1
Why does Jester look more like Jesus?
Good times at the Gathering!! Thanks for everyone's hard work!
Jester2000
10-16-2009, 17:22
Why does Jester look more like Jesus?
WWJD = What Would Jester Do?
Ditto for what everyone has already said...
Now as for this fireball on Friday night - it was one of the coolest, if not THE coolest, things that I've ever seen. I found a website that tracks sightings, and turns out 3 other people saw the same one. One guy in PA witnessed it exploding above the ground - which was the noise we heard.
Anyway, if you are interested, "our" fireball is records 599a-d:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/fireball/fireball_log2009.html
when that phenomenon happened someone hypothesized it to be "power line discharge".
Seems like a good theme for the next Billville get together
when that phenomenon happened someone hypothesized it to be "power line discharge".
Seems like a good theme for the next Billville get together
or the next best trailname
or the next best trailname
I am not sure about a Billville theme, but it would be a good trail name. Of course whenever asked "How did you get that name?" You would have to respond "I don't want to talk about it." I think the stories that would be made up and spread as gossip up and down the trail would be far better then any other explanation.
Jester2000
10-16-2009, 18:44
when that phenomenon happened someone hypothesized it to be "power line discharge".
We tried a theme once with the word "discharge" in it. It was awful.
Jack Tarlin
10-16-2009, 18:47
Hey Jester, Dave wanted you to know that he and his wife REALLY went to town on your Mom's apple cake that made it all the way back here intact, so please tell her thank you......he also says that if another one should turn up in the mail, it would make you very popular in these parts.
Likewise, you are welcome anytime too.
With a cake.
Jesters Mom
10-19-2009, 10:20
Thanks, Jack. I didn't think it was my best effort - a little well done - but I'm glad you and Dave and his wife enjoyed it. I'll do better next time.