attroll
10-11-2004, 12:13
This is a little late in coming but pcm25 wrote a write-up about our WhiteBlaze get together. I was to busy and forgot to post it. Here goes.
Whiteblaze Get Together a big hit
THE FORKS, Maine — If Attroll had any lingering doubts about the success of the first Whiteblaze get together at Steve Longley’s place here, they couldn’t have lasted long once it got started. Close to 100 people, mostly long-distance hikers, relaxed, ate, shared stories and terrorized the Border Patrol, all along the Kennebec River on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19.
wbdent The weather cooperated enough to provide an enjoyable time for all. The rain stopped in the early morning hours Saturday and it remained cool and dry (one tiny sprinkle Sunday morning) throughout.
wbdent With a chow line of two gas grills, a pair of Coleman stoves, as well as other devices, food (burgers, dogs, venison stew, stir-fry, corn-on-the-cob, and much more) kept the hikers coming back for more. Breakfast included eggs and hash browns, English muffin sandwiches, and leftovers. Don’t ask Bramble where he got his corn-on-the-cob breakfast from.
wbdent Bones and Grass were there fresh off their Katahdin summit on Friday. When I asked Bones what that moment felt like, he replied, "it was an emotional implosion."
wbdent Rainman was there, having made the trip up from Tennessee to see his daughter complete her hike. A-Train drove over from Vermont to join the festivities.
wbdent Scott One-Leg Rogers arrived in the blue "One-Leg Bounce Box" with his entire family (six and a half children) and spent several hours. The clan was camping at Crawford Notch, N.H. and made the day trip to the event. His littlest, Elijah, had fun playing with the trail dogs in attendance.
wbdent Baltimore Jack, purveyor of the Venison Stew, held court around the perpetual campfire telling stories and offering advice.
wbdent While hikers continuously had their own special moments as long-lost friends arrived, the group highlight of the afternoon was the delivery of four hikers via 18-wheeler.
wbdent Truck traffic on 201 is a fact of life but as this flatbed slowed down and stopped, it got everyone’s attention. Gordon, the driver from Bladen, Nebraska, had picked them up in Stratton and delivered them to Whiteblazes’ door. Everyone insisted he stay and he was doted over by everyone till he couldn’t eat another bite. He then moved on to make his stop delivering ATV’s (how ironic) in Jackman.
wbdent Saturday night saw two loads of people head into The Forks for the ever-popular Bar/Laundromat/Shower/Hot Tub place. It also produced a guitar around the campfire for those that stayed. Under the bigtop, "Trek" was played for those interested. It was a blast to sit behind someone that could name the places the pictures on the screen were from.
wbdent On Sunday morning Rancid pulled in, all the way from Baltimore, Maryland. Fortunately, he was sticking around to hike the Caratunk to Monson chunk and didn’t drive all the way for just the final few hours.
wbdent Sunday also took the Whiteblaze event international with the insistence on the part of some that they see Canada, less than 50 miles up the road. Despite reminders that trees in Canada don’t look any different than those in the Good ‘Ol USA, more than half a dozen ran out to the road with their packs and jumped into the back of a Ford pickup that had stopped. Before being picked up, Bramble stuck his leg out from his Scottish red plaid kilt to flag down a car. It didn’t work.
wbdent That ride didn’t get them far and I’m not sure how it happened but Walkin’Wally’s sister-in-law got them to the border. Then the fun started. After visiting Canada, some discovered they were lacking in the identification category. Then the Border Patrol objected to the number of people in the car. Not enough seatbelts they said. In the end, they were escorted to Jackman where those without seatbelts had to thumb back to basecamp. It all worked out in the end.
wbdent Gordon the trucker even came back for lunch Sunday on his way south.
wbdent Even as things were being broken down Sunday afternoon, four hikers, fresh from Steve’s ferry service across the Kennebec arrived and enough food was found to take care of them.
wbdent Thanks need to be extended to Rick (Attroll), his wife Donna, and her son Chris for organizing the event. Extreme thanks also to Steve Longley for the use of his property. He also obtained a second port-o-potty.
wbdent Thanks to all the Whiteblaze members that attended and a special thanks to the hikers. We did it for you. Thanks for coming.
--Pcm25--
Whiteblaze Get Together a big hit
THE FORKS, Maine — If Attroll had any lingering doubts about the success of the first Whiteblaze get together at Steve Longley’s place here, they couldn’t have lasted long once it got started. Close to 100 people, mostly long-distance hikers, relaxed, ate, shared stories and terrorized the Border Patrol, all along the Kennebec River on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18-19.
wbdent The weather cooperated enough to provide an enjoyable time for all. The rain stopped in the early morning hours Saturday and it remained cool and dry (one tiny sprinkle Sunday morning) throughout.
wbdent With a chow line of two gas grills, a pair of Coleman stoves, as well as other devices, food (burgers, dogs, venison stew, stir-fry, corn-on-the-cob, and much more) kept the hikers coming back for more. Breakfast included eggs and hash browns, English muffin sandwiches, and leftovers. Don’t ask Bramble where he got his corn-on-the-cob breakfast from.
wbdent Bones and Grass were there fresh off their Katahdin summit on Friday. When I asked Bones what that moment felt like, he replied, "it was an emotional implosion."
wbdent Rainman was there, having made the trip up from Tennessee to see his daughter complete her hike. A-Train drove over from Vermont to join the festivities.
wbdent Scott One-Leg Rogers arrived in the blue "One-Leg Bounce Box" with his entire family (six and a half children) and spent several hours. The clan was camping at Crawford Notch, N.H. and made the day trip to the event. His littlest, Elijah, had fun playing with the trail dogs in attendance.
wbdent Baltimore Jack, purveyor of the Venison Stew, held court around the perpetual campfire telling stories and offering advice.
wbdent While hikers continuously had their own special moments as long-lost friends arrived, the group highlight of the afternoon was the delivery of four hikers via 18-wheeler.
wbdent Truck traffic on 201 is a fact of life but as this flatbed slowed down and stopped, it got everyone’s attention. Gordon, the driver from Bladen, Nebraska, had picked them up in Stratton and delivered them to Whiteblazes’ door. Everyone insisted he stay and he was doted over by everyone till he couldn’t eat another bite. He then moved on to make his stop delivering ATV’s (how ironic) in Jackman.
wbdent Saturday night saw two loads of people head into The Forks for the ever-popular Bar/Laundromat/Shower/Hot Tub place. It also produced a guitar around the campfire for those that stayed. Under the bigtop, "Trek" was played for those interested. It was a blast to sit behind someone that could name the places the pictures on the screen were from.
wbdent On Sunday morning Rancid pulled in, all the way from Baltimore, Maryland. Fortunately, he was sticking around to hike the Caratunk to Monson chunk and didn’t drive all the way for just the final few hours.
wbdent Sunday also took the Whiteblaze event international with the insistence on the part of some that they see Canada, less than 50 miles up the road. Despite reminders that trees in Canada don’t look any different than those in the Good ‘Ol USA, more than half a dozen ran out to the road with their packs and jumped into the back of a Ford pickup that had stopped. Before being picked up, Bramble stuck his leg out from his Scottish red plaid kilt to flag down a car. It didn’t work.
wbdent That ride didn’t get them far and I’m not sure how it happened but Walkin’Wally’s sister-in-law got them to the border. Then the fun started. After visiting Canada, some discovered they were lacking in the identification category. Then the Border Patrol objected to the number of people in the car. Not enough seatbelts they said. In the end, they were escorted to Jackman where those without seatbelts had to thumb back to basecamp. It all worked out in the end.
wbdent Gordon the trucker even came back for lunch Sunday on his way south.
wbdent Even as things were being broken down Sunday afternoon, four hikers, fresh from Steve’s ferry service across the Kennebec arrived and enough food was found to take care of them.
wbdent Thanks need to be extended to Rick (Attroll), his wife Donna, and her son Chris for organizing the event. Extreme thanks also to Steve Longley for the use of his property. He also obtained a second port-o-potty.
wbdent Thanks to all the Whiteblaze members that attended and a special thanks to the hikers. We did it for you. Thanks for coming.
--Pcm25--