peak_bgr
New member
Thursday may not have been the warmest of days for a gathering, but the weekend turned out to be the reward.
Thursday after Ed (ADK4487) and I checked in, and recieved many weird looks from the front desk ladies we set up his warming tent for everyone to thaw out in. I attempted to then set up a small screen tent I brought, but it was to cold and the plastic adapter broke. Then to my tent, it was to cold for my elastic. It wouldn't spring back to put my poles together, so I was out a tent. We then retreted to Desperados for some mexican. 19 of us I believe. After I rolled Sean (Shizzmac) out of my jeep at the campsite I returned home to sleep out the nearly -30 temps in a warm bed. Many others followed my lead be sleeping at the Jackrabbit.About 4-5 people slept out that night.
The next morning I quickly set up my now warm tent and 10 of us set out for Street and Nye, and 4 of us got both of them. I only got to Nye, happy with that, yet a little disapointed. It was -25 on the summit and my legs were freezing, and getting there I had a difficult time breathing, my lungs burnt from the cold. After the hike we returned and warmed up in the info center at the loj and then hung out at a camp fire for a while before dinner at Mr Mikes pizza. A few of returned to a nice fire before turning in that night. It dropped to about -15 that night, but it didn't feel that bad. I woke up when it started snowing in my tent.
Saturday brought an absolutly gorgeous day, bright blue skies, no clouds, almost no wind, and temps in the positve digits. Me and Bushwacker climbed Whiteface via the old Marble Mt, t-bar trail. We had a nicely broken trial, and the climb felt great. The summit was warmed by the sun and the lack of wind helped. We descended down the steps to the castle and met the other group (Blue, Shizzmac, MichealJ, SherpaKroto, Audrey)who had skied up the toll road. One of the most beautiful days I can remember. That night we had a dinner at camp that consisted of so much food it would take three gathering to finish it all. From burgers and Kielbasa to peanut soup. From chili and stew to quasadilas. For desert you could pick from cookies, brownies made with cream-de-menth, pineapple cake, and ice cream sandwiches. To drink we all indulged in a little hot spiced wine and hot cider with spiced rum. We also had beer, cold wine, Cocoa with Sambuca ans oh ya did I mention beer. The sleep that night came fast, and it was pretty warm too. In fact I slept with my arms out of the sleeping bags for part of the night.
Sunday morning I broke down camp and went to breakfast with the gang at the Black Bear, where blackberry pancakes with sausage hit the spot. At the table we tallied up a count of 39 people at the gathering. On my way home I remembered one more. Turnbill was joining, me, Arm, SherpaKroto, Shizzmac, and Nancy for a climb of Cascade and Porter on Monday. So I believe that will be #40. So, 40 people, from 6 states ans 2 countries, not to bad for an arctic gathering.
The hike up Cascade and Porter was great, about -15 on the ridge with 45-50 mile an hour winds on the summit of Cascade. That was a rush in itself.
To wrap thing up I would like to send my thanks to all, for the great turnout, for the great food, for the great laughs, and the great memories with many new friends. A special thank you to Darren for making this all possible, even though he couldn't make it. So, how was Hawaii? A little to hot right?
See you all again real soon.
--Spence
Thursday after Ed (ADK4487) and I checked in, and recieved many weird looks from the front desk ladies we set up his warming tent for everyone to thaw out in. I attempted to then set up a small screen tent I brought, but it was to cold and the plastic adapter broke. Then to my tent, it was to cold for my elastic. It wouldn't spring back to put my poles together, so I was out a tent. We then retreted to Desperados for some mexican. 19 of us I believe. After I rolled Sean (Shizzmac) out of my jeep at the campsite I returned home to sleep out the nearly -30 temps in a warm bed. Many others followed my lead be sleeping at the Jackrabbit.About 4-5 people slept out that night.
The next morning I quickly set up my now warm tent and 10 of us set out for Street and Nye, and 4 of us got both of them. I only got to Nye, happy with that, yet a little disapointed. It was -25 on the summit and my legs were freezing, and getting there I had a difficult time breathing, my lungs burnt from the cold. After the hike we returned and warmed up in the info center at the loj and then hung out at a camp fire for a while before dinner at Mr Mikes pizza. A few of returned to a nice fire before turning in that night. It dropped to about -15 that night, but it didn't feel that bad. I woke up when it started snowing in my tent.
Saturday brought an absolutly gorgeous day, bright blue skies, no clouds, almost no wind, and temps in the positve digits. Me and Bushwacker climbed Whiteface via the old Marble Mt, t-bar trail. We had a nicely broken trial, and the climb felt great. The summit was warmed by the sun and the lack of wind helped. We descended down the steps to the castle and met the other group (Blue, Shizzmac, MichealJ, SherpaKroto, Audrey)who had skied up the toll road. One of the most beautiful days I can remember. That night we had a dinner at camp that consisted of so much food it would take three gathering to finish it all. From burgers and Kielbasa to peanut soup. From chili and stew to quasadilas. For desert you could pick from cookies, brownies made with cream-de-menth, pineapple cake, and ice cream sandwiches. To drink we all indulged in a little hot spiced wine and hot cider with spiced rum. We also had beer, cold wine, Cocoa with Sambuca ans oh ya did I mention beer. The sleep that night came fast, and it was pretty warm too. In fact I slept with my arms out of the sleeping bags for part of the night.
Sunday morning I broke down camp and went to breakfast with the gang at the Black Bear, where blackberry pancakes with sausage hit the spot. At the table we tallied up a count of 39 people at the gathering. On my way home I remembered one more. Turnbill was joining, me, Arm, SherpaKroto, Shizzmac, and Nancy for a climb of Cascade and Porter on Monday. So I believe that will be #40. So, 40 people, from 6 states ans 2 countries, not to bad for an arctic gathering.
The hike up Cascade and Porter was great, about -15 on the ridge with 45-50 mile an hour winds on the summit of Cascade. That was a rush in itself.
To wrap thing up I would like to send my thanks to all, for the great turnout, for the great food, for the great laughs, and the great memories with many new friends. A special thank you to Darren for making this all possible, even though he couldn't make it. So, how was Hawaii? A little to hot right?
See you all again real soon.
--Spence
