music on the trail

[jwang]

whats up all...just wondering if any other musicians will be hitting the trail in march. i`m phsyced about the trail but theres no possible way i could go 6 months w/o a musical outlet. i`ll be packin a harmonica...anyone else thinkin along the same line...lemme know. Also, i see a lot of...i`m gonna hike this many miles or whatever on here. I hiked w/ a group of thru-hikers for 3 weeks last year. If theres one thing i learned it was to take your time, dont plan to much. Hiking 5 or 6 miles and comming to a breath taking, inspiring spot on top of a mountian and spending the rest of your day there with a few friends ...those are the days you'll remember for the rest of your life...not the days you blew past those spots to meet your 20 mile a day quota!!! But in the deffense of anyone who doesnt agree with me...ANYONE willing to take on such an adventure...in my book...is an incredable individual.

[RAT]

Let me know when you are going to be near the trail between Erwin and Damascus and I will bring my guitar out and we can jamm some so you wont be jonesin` too much ! Did you know that the Brits call a harmonica a "Gob-Iron" ?? lol I totally agree with your comment:

Hiking 5 or 6 miles and comming to a breath taking, inspiring spot on top of a mountian and spending the rest of your day there with a few friends ...those are the days you'll remember for the rest of your life...not the days you blew past those spots to meet your 20 mile a day quota!!!

I have been preaching this for years, but seems that the majority of thru-hikers still dont have time to stop and talk, enjoy anything the trail has to offer , just looking northward and deathmarching to Big K ! Best of luck to you on your hike.

RAT

[bfitz]

Every once in a while you'll find a hiker with a guitar, but there'll be plenty of oppurtunities to jam, I promise!

[WhoAh]

Also, i see a lot of...i`m gonna hike this many miles or whatever on here. I hiked w/ a group of thru-hikers for 3 weeks last year. If theres one thing i learned it was to take your time, dont plan to much. Hiking 5 or 6 miles and comming to a breath taking, inspiring spot on top of a mountian and spending the rest of your day there with a few friends ...those are the days you'll remember for the rest of your life...not the days you blew past those spots to meet your 20 mile a day quota!!!

This has been my mantra as well. Like many have said in this forum "The journey is the destination". I intend to savor it... for many reasons - and not just 'cuz The Wife said that I had better enjoy this hike cause there probably ain't going to be another long distance one after it... no, not just because of that... ok, well maybe...

Maybe I shouldn't have bought her that "Trail Widow" t-shirt??

[Gray Blazer]

On March 30-April 1, I'll be camped at Rocky Bald (approx 124 miles from Springer) cookin' ham-n-eggs for thruhikers and anyone else who shows up. I'll have my guitar and flute and claves like last year. If you look at my pic of the base camp from last year, you'll see my guitar. You'll also see all the snow which is why no one jammed last year. It was too d----- cold! If you're droppin' by this year we'll jam if the weather is better. BTW, I like your philosophy about hiking and letting other people HYOH.

[Tipi Walter]

When I backpacked thru the Shenandoah Park I carried a B-flat clarinet the whole way wrapped in a down vest and only played it one time. Being a professional clarinetist in my early years(U.S. Air Force Band), I just couldn't add human music into an otherwise tranquil natural setting. After years of being around professional musicians and their demanding egos and their hungers-to-be-heard, I knew my pissant attempts at music merriment wasn't needed and in fact certainly disturbed other hikers.

The real noise pollution though does not come from musicians on the trail but from jet airplanes, car traffic and loud whining motorcycles.

Of course, when stealth camping music making(along with fire-making)must stop. I took a little soprano recorder with me on many trips and along with a big book of Irish fiddle tunes(perfect for the recorder), I spent hours whistling like a bird. I wasn't anywhere near an established trail but on a ridgetop and at my tipi on private land.

[Gray Blazer]

When I backpacked thru the Shenandoah Park I carried a B-flat clarinet the whole way wrapped in a down vest and only played it one time. Being a professional clarinetist in my early years(U.S. Air Force Band), I just couldn't add human music into an otherwise tranquil natural setting. After years of being around professional musicians and their demanding egos and their hungers-to-be-heard, I knew my pissant attempts at music merriment wasn't needed and in fact certainly disturbed other hikers.

The real noise pollution though does not come from musicians on the trail but from jet airplanes, car traffic and loud whining motorcycles.

Of course, when stealth camping music making(along with fire-making)must stop. I took a little soprano recorder with me on many trips and along with a big book of Irish fiddle tunes(perfect for the recorder), I spent hours whistling like a bird. I wasn't anywhere near an established trail but on a ridgetop and at my tipi on private land.

When you were playing your recorder, did the birds come around to check you out. I find that when I play my flute outside, the birds just have to come around to see who is making that noise. I used to play 1st chair clarinet in grade school. I was always being challenged by this smart girl and this other guy with a lot of, shall we say, feminine characteristics. Well, after a while I got tired of the challenges and when I turned around I noticed all these beautiful girls congregated around the last of the 3rd clarinets and I said to myself, that's where I want to be. No challenges, but, lots of pretty girls.

[Lone Wolf]

whats up all...just wondering if any other musicians will be hitting the trail in march. i`m phsyced about the trail but theres no possible way i could go 6 months w/o a musical outlet. i`ll be packin a harmonica...

Can you actually PLAY it? Nothing worse than someday only being able to play half of one song. Ol Susanna sucks over and over.

[Tipi Walter]

When you were playing your recorder, did the birds come around to check you out. I find that when I play my flute outside, the birds just have to come around to see who is making that noise. I used to play 1st chair clarinet in grade school. I was always being challenged by this smart girl and this other guy with a lot of, shall we say, feminine characteristics. Well, after a while I got tired of the challenges and when I turned around I noticed all these beautiful girls congregated around the last of the 3rd clarinets and I said to myself, that's where I want to be. No challenges, but, lots of pretty girls.

If you mean birds in the British sense . . . .

Naw, honestly I don't recall a greater increase in birds. I guess I was too wrapped up in the notes. But one time a spider crawled into the blockflote(recorder)and jumped out when I started playing. Peed myself.

[Gray Blazer]

If you mean birds in the British sense . . . .

Naw, honestly I don't recall a greater increase in birds. I guess I was too wrapped up in the notes. But one time a spider crawled into the blockflote(recorder)and jumped out when I started playing. Peed myself.

I think that was the Byrds. Great story about the spider.

[chicote]

I've been thinking about making a small berimbau to bring. It's a bowed percusive instrument. I'll probably just play it when no one is around or if someone asks. It has a unique sound and I'm not sure everyone would like it or not.

[Socrates]

jwang - I'm not a harmonica fanatic, but Janis played one while Bobby sang the blues and Bob Dylan and Blues Traveler proved to me that it's not just for hobos on trains so congrats on keeping true to expression.
But I swear to god that the first bongo drum I hear is going to send me running and screaming naked into the woods, never to be heard from again. They cause evil flashbacks!

[Lone Wolf]

But I swear to god that the first bongo drum I hear is going to send me running and screaming naked into the woods, never to be heard from again. They cause evil flashbacks!

Stay away from that ***d up drum circle at Trail Days then.

[Gray Blazer]

I've been thinking about making a small berimbau to bring. It's a bowed percusive instrument. I'll probably just play it when no one is around or if someone asks. It has a unique sound and I'm not sure everyone would like it or not.

I hope you come by and jam. You need to teach me how to use the musical bow. I got one as part of a grant I wrote for my school's music program (you can get a lot of money if you mention multi-cultural....just don't let on that white people have culture, too.) I also need someone to teach me how to play the tabla ala Ravi Shankar. Notice the multi-cultural icons.

[chicote]

I'll stop by for sure. I wish I could get my company to hook me up with some funding for it. I'd have 20 of them if I could afford it.

[Gray Blazer]

OK, I'm bringin' the bow. I may have to look for the coin that came with it.

[chicote]

No need for a coin. Most players use smooth oval rocks. By the time we meet up I'm sure I'll have found a couple that meet my tastes.

[Gray Blazer]

Stay away from that ***d up drum circle at Trail Days then.

Yeah, we're not having a drum circle at Rocky Bald. We do have a pit with live rattlesnakes that we jump in and grab as many as we can and dance with them (I know I have pi--ed somebody off-I hope a lighti

[Gray Blazer]

TIPI, I saw your pic of you dancing. Awesome! The headpiece was pretty amazing. Definately come to the jam.

[Boat Drinks]

jwang - I'm not a harmonica fanatic, but Janis played one while Bobby sang the blues and Bob Dylan and Blues Traveler proved to me that it's not just for hobos on trains so congrats on keeping true to expression.

Don't forget Fingers Taylor!