Trail Days - The Best & The Worst......

[Bluez4u]

Let's hear it.............don't be shy..............

The Best....

Seeing old friends..
Sharing stories.....
Being together.....


The Worst.....

Eating at Sicalys......
Food on the floor....
Terrible service.....
Dirty silverware....
Forgetful Staff.......

[camojack]

Let's hear it.............don't be shy..............
The Best....
Seeing old friends..
Sharing stories.....
Being together.....

I'll second all of that. Got pics?

[OregonHiker]

Let's hear it.............don't be shy..............

The Worst.....

.....

Seeing non-Damascus residents complaining about TD operations, suggesting alternative locations, but not volunteering to lead the effort to do something else

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Seeing non-Damascus residents complaining about TD operations, suggesting alternative locations, but not volunteering to lead the effort to do something else

You just might be surprised at what goes on while you are busy tailing people around on internet forums to snipe

[Bare Bear]

Worst:
The excessive drinking and drugging. People that go JUST to party and really just use the Trail as an excuse for poor behavior that negatively impacts others.

Best:
Getting to see old Trail friends, some for that one time each year we can get together.

Very worst: Not going this year, fuel costs, family obligations, etc. etc.

[Tinker]

The very worst -

I couldn't afford to go due to high gas prices and a tight budget.

[Alligator]

The playground was a nice addition to the park.

[dmax]

the best: the AT was empty. nice time to get out and hike in solitude.

[mambo_tango]

i was actually quite disappointed with the class of 2008. last year was way more energetic but i may be biased.....

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Best: I missed it this year - no mud, no puke, no noise, no price-gouging

Worst: I missed it this year - missed seeing people and the parade and Billville useless gear and the homemade gear contests.

[Blissful]

The Best - seeing all my great hiking buddies of course!

Not so great - the parade seemed more disorganized and there were hardly any banners for each of the classes - I would have brought a big one for 2007 had I known On another note the parade was much rowdier than last year I thought. But a good kind of rowdy. (not like one year where people scooped up road puddles and dumped them on hikers and the crowd. That was gross) Little kids were really into it which was cute.

I have some pics up in my gallery.

[Fannypack]

Best: I missed it this year - no mud, no puke, no noise, no price-gouging

Worst: I missed it this year - missed seeing people and the parade and Billville useless gear and the homemade gear contests.

we can all look for the negative in the days events.

If we went thru every day looking for negative happenings and dwelling on these happenings life would be such as a drag.

Trail Days is no different from many other events, there is nothing special about hiker events that keeps it pure.

I must admit as a non-drinker and not a 20-year old that my evenings end usually by midnite.

This year I can say that I slept very well in the campground on Saturday.

[quasarr]

Best - Contra dancing! I had tons of fun and was glad I went. The regulars were nice and very helpful to us dancing newbies.

Worst - Someone stole our cooler It only had 2 beers in it but still

[kanga]

the best: the AT was empty. nice time to get out and hike in solitude.

amen to that!

[Lion King]

The Best:

Seeing old friends and laughing a lot.

good programs, good people.

Sicilys staying open 30 minutes later so Wildflower, Karma, Mello yellow, leapyear, Jersey and I could eat our Pizza after closing.

The 2003 reunion luncheon.

karoke...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

The Worst:

As always WAY too much law enforcement (sorry for your troubles Damascus) and way too many "local" (Meaning from anywhere but the trail) teenagers drinking and leaving their broken coolers, empty party cups and beer cans all over so hikers (Who will get the blame for their sorriness) have to clean up after them.

I think its ridiculous that ABC can stand around an out of the way campsite and watch people passing a nalgene and then come over and yank it and the person who has it last. Ridiculous.


If there IS a problem, fix it, but for gods sake, go after the underaged non-hiking thugs who are stealing packs and openingly trying to buy drugs from hikers who are in groups from their year and not the hikers themselvez who are just hanging with friends and not bothering a soul.

The charging an entrance to say hello to someone thing makes it more of an 'event' then a campground which will bring in more non-hiking raff.

=======
It felt different this year, but as always, good to see friends and I hate that I missed so many people that I heard were there but never saw.

[Frau]

I didn't see this thread so posted my impressions of my first TD on a different thread.

But:

1.) I was amazed at the paucity of attendees, Friday afternoon and Saturday early. I had expected hordes.

2.) I was delighted to see so many dogs.

3.) Saturday, I saw almost as many people hiking as at TD early in the a.m. I am used to fewer faces on the trails, at least around here.

4.) I expected more vendors and reps, and am still confused as to why gear reps and vendor were in two different locations.

5.) We were VERY happy to find roadside camaping so close to Damascus.

6.) All in all a pleasant experience. Everyone was helpful and seemed happy. Our main event was 2 days hiking, though, and not partying.

Frau

[D'Artagnan]

I can sum up the best and worst in two words: "Grizzly Park".

[Bigglesworth]

i was actually quite disappointed with the class of 2008. last year was way more energetic but i may be biased.....

The big problem is we were throughly confused about when and where to GO! Half of 2008 was up front, half in back, and maybe even some roaming in the middle...we won't go down as the most organized class in history!

Best: seeing friends ahead and behing me - reunions.

Worst: some of the police were unnecessarily invasive in very mello camps.

[OregonHiker]

You just might be surprised at what goes on while you are busy tailing people around on internet forums to snipe

You are funny, yet predictable

[t-bor]

worst. atf in the woods, and being on crutches
best. not getting busted by the atf