REI is having a sale!!

Just in case some of you need to bone up on gear. http://www.rei.com/Sale+and+Clearance

Starting to Solidify Plans!!!!

Hey Ladies!

I am so excited about this trip, and i know it's a little early but i'm starting to solidify some plans here (nothing too concrete of course).

The people below are the ones i absolutely know are yeses or maybes.
IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS LIST AND WANT TO BE PLEASE COMMENT OR E-MAIL ME ASAP!

Confirmed Attendees:
- Libby Jones (me)
- Jessica Siegel/Dymond
- Jessica Hansbrough/Corey
- Cecilia Grimm/Jones
- Auntie Bim Jones
- Aunta Ahhhhnie Johnstone
- Andi Simpson (YES OF COURSE WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!)
- Julie Brownley??? (sorry... i sent it to a couple different Julies and i'm not sure if that was you who responded in the comments)

The Definite Maybes:
- Jocelyn
- Lolo

Note: Dolly Sods only allows groups of 10 or less. If we get enough people i'm thinking we can split into two groups and either do completely different trails or one group can do the same route backwards... something like that. We have enough experienced people that i'm comfortable splitting up the group if you are. My mom may head up the other group... right, mom??

Voted for Place as of today:
Dolly Sods, West Virginia (fyi: this place is ~4 hours from Baltimore)
I've done some map scouting and the routes i have mapped so far are all less than 15 miles in varying terrain but nothing too demanding (no harnesses or rock climbing experience necessary).


Voted for Dates as of today:
10/22 - 10/24


Here's the schedule as i see it so far:

10/22 - Meet up at Red Creek Campground (car camping style) between 2pm and 10pm (for those of you who work for a living).  We will do a big introduction, maybe some games, gear check, a big dinner, and of course s'mores.

10/23 - This will be our big hike day. We'll do a quick OYO (on your own) breakfast, break camp, pack up and head out early. We'll hike around or under 10 miles this day. We'll lunch OYO as well. Find a camp near water and do a group dinner.

10/24 - This day will be light. We'll breakfast OYO. I'd like to get back to the cars for a group lunch, debrief, and do a gear check.  This way we can all get on our ways early since most of us have to be back for the work week and it'll be a long drive for everyone. I anticipate being on the road by 2pm at the latest.

We can discuss food later. I'd like everyone to contribute to the group meals and we can assign that stuff later. And for those of you who haven't backpacked before i'll give you food suggestions for the OYO stuffs.

Grab Some Gear...

Some of you i know have looked at the gear list on this blog and therefore panicked... But DON'T!

One thing you will absolutely need to own if you don't already are hiking boots. It's pretty important to have your own pair of hiking boots. (partly it's just good hygiene to own something you're going to sweat in that much, but also it'll be more comfortable.)

It would also be good to ask around amongst your friends to see if anyone has a backpack you can borrow. You'll need one with a frame (internal or external) and a decent size not like school book size. What they call Day and a Half packs will work for this one to two nighter but it's best to get something with a solid aluminum frame - day and a half packs tend to have like thick plastic board rather than a full on frame. and if you carry a lot of water or the like it'll hurt your back...

Now here are some good cheats:
1) clothes - super easy to find decent backpacking clothes at second hand stores. Yoga pants and bra tops are great for long underwear if you can find close fitting spandex/poly ones (NO COTTON).

2) socks - you can find pretty cheap wool socks all over the place you don't need to buy Smartwool or other top of the line socks... look at any store (walmart, kmart, target) and you should find really cheap ones in the mens department under work socks, but make sure they fit well!!! baggy socks will give you blisters.

3) if you're little like me, go to the kids section of any gear shop, MUCH cheaper! maybe not as fancy or pretty or well made but cheaper and they do the job!

4) tuperware containers make great camp bowls! and it's pretty easy and cheap to find good water bottles (they sell them in my grocery store these days) - nothing fancy like the super expensive nice camelbacks... and again, borrow from your friends (they say that you need a gallon of water for 24 hours when backpacking which is like four nalgenes but really i've never carried that much, we'll have a couple dromedaries and just bring what you have and we'll work it out)

5) things like stoves, group pots, dromedaries, tents, etc - i can find/supply/buy a lot of that so you only need to bring it if you have it or know someone who does who doesn't mind lending it (or invite them along too!!!)

6) i will also make sure to coordinate food considerations for all too as we get closer to October.

Looking Like...

With all the votes so far it's looking like it will be October 22 - 24 at Dolly Sods.

If that were to be a definite who of you, could make it?  Just trying to get an idea...

Still plenty of time to vote for those who haven't yet...