Roughing it with wine and goat cheese on the AT

And do John W and Steve B have trail names yet?

Wine and Goat cheese after these explicit, and simple packing suggestions:

On Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 9:47 PM, Judd Thompson <jmthompson79@gmail.com>wrote:

thats a go!

I found Grits at Wallmart if anyone is interested. The "buttered" kind.

Someone bring ground coffee to feed the plastic Malita Drip. I have filters.

Bring a cup! I have mixed instant oatmeal/grits and hot water right in the bag they come in. if you have a cup it creates another option but you'll have to wait for your coffee and I'm not sure I could choke down another instant oatmeal without coffee. If anyone wants creamers or sweetener thats up to you. Hannaford does have those little UHT creamers or if anyone had powder in a baggie that would work too.  

Got lunches sewn up. Envelopes of tuna spread, tortillas and bacon. I'll try and find some hot sauce and I just got some onions out of the garden I'm going to try to remember to bring.

Supper is in the bag. Steve has the bourbon.

Everyone should have a gallon size or at least a quart size zip lock baggie to carry their trash. It, also, goes in the bear bag at night. leave all zippers on your pack open at night. If the rodents have it in their little brains there's food behind those zips there ain't nothing going to stop them from getting in.

I'm bringing: some gorp, some jerky and electrolyte drink mix. oh and some little power chewy gum drop things I saw at Dicks. TP, wet wipes, Gold Bond powder and sanitizer in a quart baggie - although really the way my system seizes up I probably wont need it in just three days. I have a mini super soaker towel and a rain fly for my pack. A new batteried head lamp (with a red light option if you have a choice). My toilet kit has a tooth brush, bandaids, ace bandage, tweezers, 10 year old epi pen, and my pharmacy. My backup prescription glasses are also sun glasses. Did I mention vitamin I (-buprophen) ?

I have chemicals to treat water. I'll have a 2 liter bladder (it may not be full all the time) and two 20 oz used gator aid bottles in my side pockets - one is dedicated to my electrolyte drink. I don't think I'll pack the pump/filter. The chemicals have done ok by me so far. And I haven't had to get water out of a mud puddle recently although if I had to, I'd sacrifice my cleanish socks to filter the big stuff out. Some people claim a neckerchief is indispensable. Eh. I wore one to keep the sweat out of my eyes way back. I now wear a hat. And what's the advantage over cleanish socks to filter water?

I have my jet boil stove and fuel. It can heat up 2 cups of water in about 2 minutes. If we are going to heat up breakfast and supper and coffee... I might bring a big fuel canister. I also have a waterproof food/bear bag and line in case there isn't a bear locker at the camp sites and we have to hang our food. If you want to bring peanut butter you'll have to sleep in the tree/locker too. I will have a long handled spoon and a jack knife Steve bought me at Indian Hill years ago.

I'll have a pair of light smart wool longies, a pair of extra socks (mostly to sleep in if it gets cold - but only hiked in as a last resort or the last day), a light down jacket and a rain jacket. I count on my longies, jacket and socks to keep me extra warm in case it gets really cold. I'll wear socks (same pair every day probably), gaiters, boots, a hat, long sleeve hiking shirt, a pair of tight stretchy (compression ?) shorts under a pair of running shorts. That gives me something to swim in if I'm feeling modest at the time and then be mostly dry by morning. It also justifies the Gold Bond. I don't do bug dope generally. mostly because I don't like the idea of having to live in the stuff until my next shower

I'll have a map/guide and my iphone. I'm considering taking my recharge battery... its practically a brick but I have a feeling there will be photos to take. It's that or bring my camera... I'll have my hammock with bug net and rain fly. I will have an inflatable sleeping pad - it makes sleeping in a lean-to all that more comfortable if the need arises, and sleeping bag. I also carry a small piece of foam on the outside of my pack to sit on. Although, I have a feeling the more streamlined you can make yourself the better on this particular sorte' but, if there are lots of rocks a piece of foam to sit on might be nice.

John, if you really do have extra space, the "brain" comes comes off that pack ( its all about the ounces!). The brain is that zippered pocket that flips over the top. It doubles as a fanny pack. An "ascent" feature I have yet to use. I did use it for my foray into D.C. from Harpers Ferry last year.

Don't forget to bring a clean change of clothes and comfy shoes to leave in the car at the end of the trek and a garbage bag to put your hiking clothes in. I will leave a couple gallons of water that should be warmed up nicely by the time we get there and we can take a little shower. Pack a towel with those clean clothes.

Well thats all that comes to mind right now...

ttfn

Do you believe in MAGIC?

Gulf Hagas is part of the Appalachian Trail (AT) Corridor.For a short distance the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail follows the AT. The section of the AT which goes through Gulf Hagas is called the Hundred-Mile Wilderness. This is the final 100 miles (160 km) of the AT and is viewed by many as the most remote and difficult portion.

The Thompson Family camp-out at Roach Pond happened from Aug 17-22. Judd's mission was to find a place where the Frenchtown Road/Moosehead Lake/Greenville roads/old camp haunts crossed the AT so he could unload his 16 hamburgers and his packages of red hot dogs and devil dogs to hikers.

On Aug 19, Kelcy and I left Judd on the road east of Greenville toward Katahdin Iron Works, with his BBQ in the red pick up truck. While Kelcy and I hiked to Gulf Hagas, Judd delivered "trail magic": iced PBRs and seltzer water, grilled burgers (cheese, lettuce, condiments) and red hot dogs for hikers: some day hikers, some through hikers, some section hikers.

When Kelcy and I were done for the day, forging ankle deep in the Pleasant River, we caught up with Father Goose, burning his last two burgers for the late afternoon hikers coming down the hill into the 100 mile wilderness.  Unfortunately "Cookie" (a baker from Pennsylvania) was a vegetarian, so she scarfed up our watermelon and appreciated Judd's cold beverages. RIght behind her was "Ninja Hoops" (we suspect from her large earrings) who appreciated the fully loaded burger and kept saying it was the best day of her hike. They allowed me to photograph them with Father Goose. As we were packing up and Kelcy downed the last burger, a nice guy from Mexico "Speedy Gonzales" trekked by and was happy to nab some oranges and apples, even devil dogs (when we explained what they were.) Another perk for the hikers: Judd took out any garbage they had stored up.

Cookie (through hiker) Ninja Hoops (flip flopper) and Father Goose - "just 65 miles to Katahdin"

JT and KT on the AT

Judd and Kelcy made the 11.8 miles out and when I texted Kelcy to see if I should plan on them for dinner, he texted back: "Dad offered hippies a ride so won't be home for 2.5 hours." Braids and White Cap from Newcastle, ME, two NOBO through-hikers, received a shuttle to their hotel. Kelcy and Judd got home limping, moaning and smelly. They had requested that I phone in an order to Riverside BBQ Grill, which they picked up as they drove through Augusta. They arrived home with pounds of ribs, pulled pork and crab cakes. 

On the trail, Kelcy had described a dish to Judd and they pined for it while munching on cold tortillas, with cold tunafish and cold pre-cooked chicken bacon. The following day, Kelcy brings the fantasy to life:  He did his own sausage and Panko shopping, soft-steamed some eggs, and did the deep fat frying to perfection.  Scotch Eggs, with molten yolk centers, plated on a bed of arugula, as seen on FB.  It was a feast for Thrag-Tar the Berzerker,  the "blood thirster."... (Kelcy's made up AT trail name.)

"shakey knee syndrome"

Gentian pond 2162 feet. Moose. Although we didn't see it grazing in the pond last night , we had a great swim after a difficult sweaty day.
Yesterday we left China at 0800 and headed for Gorham NH. We had an 11 o'clock date with a shuttle to take from the parking lot on ft. 2 to the trail head for Carlo Col trail head. A trail that will lead to the AT. Here called the Mahoosucs Trail or goal is to hike SOBO back to our car. Got to Gorham early and picked up a couple of subway Sammies to squirrel away for lunch on the trail. We were hiking at noon and on the AT BY 1:30. It was the most expensive shuttle I've had since starting this. I think it's because of where I am so close to the Whites. and the fact that the place is covered with trails. So we did 7.8 miles and we were beat. A lot of boulder scrambling and long steep ups and downs. Passing a lot of NOBOs, probably feeling pretty good about themselves coming out of the Whites. So here we are at Gentian Pond. We are borrowing Malindi's tent and we left the rain fly off so we could see the stars. That's Kelcy's mug on the pillow. Didn't see any meteor showers --too many trees really but the stars were bright. We both had shake knee syndrome by the time we got to camp. The dip in the pond was great and the food for supper was tasty. ,called Good-to-Go. We shared a curry one and a risotto one, both double servings. Not excellent. I'm using an alcohol stove this trip. I might consider using it on the next section. I have to calibrate how much water I can heat up with so many ounces of fuel. It's going to be a good day to hike. Although one map says it's 18 miles and another says it 13 miles. Oh my.
47° Fog
Appalachian National Scenic Trl, Success, NH, United States

Sent from my iPhone

"X" marks the spot

Here's the plan.....
Kelcy got home from work in Bangor at 1am this morning. Only the dog greeted him.
I woke Kelcy up at 7am today on my way out the door to work--bacon and home fries sizzling on the grill to lure him out of his cocoon.
This a.m.Judd was packing (still? or again?) for an 8:30 am departure.
Their plan was to arrive 11am for car drop near Gorham, ME for a pre-arranged shuttle trip to the trail head, having dropped the car (at the X spot on the map.) 

The goal:  to depart "Carlo Col Trail" and hike the Mahoosuc trail, 8-13 miles (I really can't tell from the font on this map) past Mt. Success ( oh THAT's fun to say) to Gentian Pond Campsite by dinner time. Then they plan to hike out to the car tomorrow and be home in China for dinner. Don't get eliminated. Don't get constipated..... that's the plan.

Last night Judd deliberated over taking his small 1 man tent vs. Malindi's (small) "two man" tent--then, whether to take sleeping bags or not (we woke up chilly at 59degrees so he opted in) then, whether to travel "light"  (i.e. no stove or fuel and only eat cold food) vs. traveling "not light" and carrying a stove and some freeze-dried repast. I saw some gorp, fake bacon, tortillas  and single serving prunes go into the packs.  Also two small flasks. I threatened to sneak some hugs, wrapped around small rocks into each pack, but decided they were traveling semi-light.  

So far, 10:15pm, no text, no FB, no instagram, no ranger reports...so they're in the Maine wilderness, probably no cell service, making memories.