Let’s keep the chatter going….!

[Green Bay Paddlers]

I am a camping veteran, but a geocaching campout rookie this year. What to expect? “What’s Next?” has been giving us all kinds of tidbits from campouts and picnics of the past but I’m sure all of the rookies would like to hear from the other seasoned vets out there about what to expect?

Is it normal to be THIS excited for something? The packing list is made and the camper is ready to go. I’ll be using the camper for trout fishing on May 1st so I will have a chance to make my list of everything I’ve forgotten to pack. We will be ready for May 14th…

Let’s keep the chatter going. It’s time for the excitement to begin its crescendo!

Jeff

[kbraband]

It’s great to see your enthusiasm! I think many of us are excited about the campout too. What to expect? Hmm, that’s hard to answer without knowing what your expectations are. As a veteran camper, one thing that you are probably already aware of is that it can get chilly at night in mid-May. Don’t be surprised to awaken and find frost covering the ground. Bring warm coats, gloves, hats, and water-proof boots, at least for the early morning hours. Some people have tent heaters, although with a warm sleeping bag you can get by just fine. Some people like to bring treats to pass around at the campfire. We’ve had everything from popcorn to cherry cobbler. A few bottles of your favorite local brew to trade is also a fun campfire event. For the night caches, LED headlights come in very handy. The WGA will be sending out reminder emails in the days preceeding the campout. Meanwhile, if any other veterans of the 2002 and 2003 campouts have any tips, how about adding a few here?

[greyhounder]

I haven’t really camped since I was a youngster (and a couple times in my 20s), so this is a great thread for me! I have to buy everything needed for the trip, so the more suggestions, the better!

One question (well, the first of many…) are there shower facilities? Go ahead and laugh. I’m not sure how well I’ll survive the weekend if there’s no shower!!!!

Bec

[GrouseTales]

Yes there are showers. They are located at the family camping area. For those camping at the groups sites, you will have to drive a short distance to use the showers. I do believe they will have the showers turned on by the time of our campout.

[Cathunter]

Are you ready for the campout?

Believe it or not, it is only 3 weeks from today!!

I can’t help but to be excited and nervous knowing that time is winding down.

It will also be great to hit some caches in a part of the state I have not yet hunted in.

I Can’t Wait!!

[Green Bay Paddlers]

Wow… it’s close! Yeah – we’re getting packed up already. In our family, nothing says camping like a little red meat. Unfortunately, the price of a decent ribeye or New York Strip steak is now sitting at $9.99/lb!!! ARGH!!!

The answer? FESTIVAL FOODS’ SPOON ROAST! I tell ya – grab the burgendy pepper spoon roast – cut it into sirloin steaks and GIDDYAP!!!! Happy, happy…. ($3.50/lb)

Smiling!

G.B. Paddler

[Green Bay Paddlers]

Life is so good… Good people, plenty of caching, a cold beer, great hiking, a little canoeing, laughter by the fire, a sky full of stars, sunny warm days, a game of horseshoes, a bit of fishing, plenty ‘o caching, grilling out, swapping stories, comparing notes, healthy competition, group photo, fun, fun, fun!!!

19 days to go….

Jeff

[Cathunter]

I’ll tell you what Jeff…… after I catch the fish of the day, i’ll let you demonstrate how to properly cook a fish over the campfire.

What’s black on the outside and cold in the middle?

Anything Cathunter tries to cook over a fire.

[This message has been edited by Cathunter (edited 04-25-2004).]

[Green Bay Paddlers]

That’s how we survive for a week every year up in the Boundary Waters my friend. I’ve got the breading, the oil and the fire. Bring it on over to campsite 046 and we will feast. I’ll even provide the potatoes, onions and a few cold barley pops!

Jeff

[admin]

Cathunter,
Jeff’s serious about his food! He’s not just talk, we’ve had his fish and it’s delicious!

Catch enough for a small group please!

19 days ’til campout! Hoo-yaw!

[Green Bay Paddlers]

“What’s Next?” is/are joining us this year in the Boundary Waters. I am chief cook and we had them over to test the breading. (A week in canoe country with bad breading is like a shop-a-holic in Manhatten with a bad charge card!)

Life is good. I think between the two of us fishing we should be able to come up with a nice stringer. Northern Pike is very tasty – just a little difficult to fillet!

We are so close… I have chills….

[GrouseTales]

Here are a couple quick stats as of 4/26/04.

[*]62 teams have signed up for the Saturday caching event. (148 people)
[*]35 teams will be camping Friday night, and
[*]35 teams camping Saturday night.

Because we have so many teams of 1 or 2 campers, we will have a few more cars then anticipated. As previously mentioned, we will need to get creative with the parking arrangements. Some cars may need to be parked in nearby overflow parking lots. Bicycles would be handy, or we can shuttle people around.

I visited the our group sites a few times this past weekend. The sites are still in great shape. No lakes in the site as the winter photo implied . The DNR did a prescribed burn in many areas of the park, including some grassy fields near the group sites.

The pit toilets near our site are actually pretty nice. It was a nice spot to stop and “think” about where to put another cache .

If you have mountain bikes, I think they would be great to bring along. They biking trails are mowed paths. Some are hilly kettle moraine like, and others are in open fields. I think bikes would be a nice way to get from area to area w/o moving your cars. I’d bring mine, but I won’t have room with all the other junk I need to bring.

Cellphone coverage is low to moderate in the park. If you have Cingular like me, you will be roaming (even with nationwide coverage).

I’m really looking forward to the night caches. The trails from the group campsites are great! We have wooded hills, and open fields. I’m hoping for a crystal clear night so we can watch the stars from the middle of a pitch black field.

[greyhounder]

I might bring along my bike (if it fits!) but I’m pretty unfamiliar with it. I can make it work, obviously, but I don’t fully understand mountain bike type vehicles. Would someone be able to assist me in the finer points (if time allows)? It’s a Trek something or other that I won in a raffle a few years back. I’ve only ridden it a very few times. I can’t figure out the gearing at all, and it just seems to be a little on the tall side (not sure if it’s a adjustable — it’s a men’s bike, so that bar is foreign to me.)

But I thought it would be handy getting me to and from the showers. I don’t know about hauling camping gear on it though….

Bec

[olahot]

OK GrouseTales, that comment about ‘thinking’ about where to put another cache while you were visiting the pit-toilets is a little scary. I mean I love caching but that would be over and above…

jk

Actually, it would be hysterical to see my almost 12 year old if she thinks there is a cache by the pit toilets!!! It would definately be worth it!! (Am I a cruel mother or what?)

[admin]

Quote:

Originally posted by olahot:
that comment about ‘thinking’ about where to put another cache while you were visiting the pit-toilets is a little scary. I mean I love caching but that would be over and above…

We hope it would be over and above….

Otherwise it will be down and below!!!!

YUCK!!!!

Sorry… bad taste…

[Author]

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