Team Hike Spring 2005 (June 2 – June 4): Four Seasons Campground, Scottrun PA (Spugs’ trailer in the Pocono’s).

• Boner
• Gramps
• Hicks
• Spugs
• Gerba

This was originally slated to be Team Hike at Mt. Washington New Hampshire but due to an unprecedented lack of response the hike was re-planed at the last minute to be a shorter drive for those who could make it. The idea was to do a kayak trip down the Delaware and crash at Spugs’ campground on Friday and Saturday night. There was also the possibility for other activities after the kayaking Saturday and on Sunday that included quads, shooting guns and crazy go-carts. In what may be the most predictable weather pattern every year the weekend of Team Hike was cool and rainy. The good news that came with canceling Mt. Washington is the weather up there was even worse… The weather in New Hampshire was low 40’s to low 50’s with heavy rain. At least in the Pocono’s it warmed up to the 60’s. For the hike Boner took the whole day off on Friday and Spugs decided to work a half day giving him plenty of time to get up early and set up the campsite for us. Spugs thought he was running late when he got up to the area at around 3:30. However when he called Boner who was planning on leaving his house at 11AM Spugs found out that Boner was hours away from taking off. Gramps and Hicks were working on Friday and were expected up early evening. Since it was pouring Gramps wasn’t able to make it up until around 5:30. Spugs had just gotten up a little bit before this and was busy getting supplies for the weekend. Spugs explained that he was shopping and got a call from his boss and wound up talking to him for an hour in the grocery store. He then was grabbed by the back of the neck while he was in line and found Gerba was in the same store as him. Brian told Spugs he’d be over to hang out with the guys a little later on. Gramps and Spugs unloaded the cars, went and got some wood for the fire and set up some other things including tapping the first keg on Team Hike that Spugs brought up with him. A little after eight Boner showed up and joined the guys around the fire. Next up Gerba came into camp (he lives about four minutes from the campground) and the party was full speed ahead. At around 8:30 Spugs was getting a little nervous about Hicks getting there by 9. The campground office closes at 9 and they usually like all guests to be there by then. When they called, Hicks was on the road but said he had just gotten started and would be about another hour or more. No worries, the lady at the camp store said that Spugs could just open the gate for him when he got up and Spugs gladly accepted this responsibility. Hicks got into camp at around 9:30 and it was time to start dinner. They made chicken and shrimp over angel hair pasta with sun dried tomatoes and broccoli in an alfredo sauce. More then a few beers accompanied the meal. The fire that they had built in the white trash fire ring (an old tire rim) was very hot and it was fun sitting around and talking with the small group. Periodically out of nowhere came a nice redneck that Spugs and his family nicknamed Beer Can Rick. He came by to appraise us of his condition after he got into a car accident in his minivan a few weeks earlier. He was on pain medication (as well as self medication that came in a mason jar) but was not willing to share with us. It is believed that all the pain meds were gone a long time ago anyway. Beer Can Rick was also able to give us a name of a local go go that his son had gone to a few weeks earlier, The Grandview, but was unable to give us directions. After a while the rains came and the party was moved onto the deck under the trailer awning. A lot of snack food came out at this time including Buffalo wing flavored kettle chips that would wreak havoc on the guys the next morning. The group stayed up until 3:30 before Spugs, Boner and Gramps made their way to bed in very comfortable trailer double beds and Hicks in his car covered by a huge tarp. Hicks also said he was very comfortable. All night you could hear the rain beating on the roof and you were very happy to be in the dry whiskey tango surroundings.

Saturday morning began very late. We slept in until around 11 as we were in no rush to wake up and hang out in the pouring rain. It was decided that there would be no kayaking on this day with the rain coupled with the very cool weather. At 11 Hicks made us breakfast, one blueberry pancake each and bacon. Gramps being the fat bastard that he is made some smart ass comments and Hicks made sure he got what resembled a fifth pancake. Another bonus about Team Hike being in a campground was there was plumbing. You could clean up in a shower or sink (all of us chose the sink) and use a toilet for #2s. Ahh yes, things were good! The all star crew decided on a fun filled day of going on an adventure in the Camelback area of the Pocono’s and even contemplated getting a massage at a place they had seen advertised on route 80. The adventure started at an indoor go-cart place where you raced NASCAR style on a slippery track. None of us were very good drivers but we did witness a big fan of the “sport” lecturing his son on the finer aspects of racing. It was actually quite disturbing kind of like a little league coach that was way too into the game his son was playing. After we were done with that we drove to a micro brewery that Spugs knew about. Great beer and good sandwiches were on the menu so the men dove in. Hicks started out what would soon become a very silly afternoon by asking our cute waitress if they had beer. For lunch we ate a big plate of nachos and all got one type of sandwich or another. Boner, always being ready to kick it up a notch, next suggested shots of vodka. Our waitress told us they didn’t serve shots there but she would help us out. We got huge double shots served in snifters as apposed to normal sized shot glasses. As we enjoyed the vodka as our desert and were finishing our beers Spugs spotted a couple of guys at another table who he thought would have the information that we wanted. He walked up to them and inquired about a strip bar that we heard was close by. Sure enough he got the info from the fellows and we were stopping at a liquor store to pick up a twelve pack and shoot over to the Grand View. This was a top quality place and the boys were thoroughly entertained by the interesting conversation and all around pleasant demeanor of the employees. After the twelve pack was gone it was time to get to the serious business of hiking on Team Hike. They drove to the top of Camelback and started to walk on the paved trails on top of the mountain. There was a dirt path that actually took them to the top of the ski mountain and they hung out there for a bit. Hicks and Gramps were throwing stones at the snow making guns testing their aim. From there they started back around the path but the ½ mile they had gone became too much of a workout and they took a shortcut back to the car. Spugs started showing off his driving skills and did doughnuts in the explorer and then headed back to the trailer. Back at the campground the fellows started to dig back into the keg. Beer is delicious!!! Gramps and Boner made a pizza with fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers in the trailer oven. Gerba came back over to hang out with us and Hicks and he started to really get into bottles of wine. Spugs then started cooking on his gas grill (This is really starting to sound like Team Hike Beverly Hills) and we were chowing on Burgers and dogs before long. This night wasn’t nearly as late as the night before. Gramps went to bed first listening to the conversation outside. The other day drinkers were all ready to go down as well but the fresh Gerba was full of energy and really into the wine so they stayed up pretty late with him. The out of towners all promised Brian they would come over for breakfast the next morning but Spugs was in no mood to get up and everyone else wanted to get home early. Spugs did wind up going over to Brian’s but not until it was more lunch time then breakfast time.

E-mails for this hike:

When: June 1st- June 4th

Where: Appalachian Trail New Hampshire

How: Base camps and day hikes

Team Hike is approaching! We talked about getting back to the basics and doing some real hiking. New Hampshire fits the bill. We are planning for the first weekend in June for our adventure. This will be an awesome Team Hike. I planned some really cool hikes. This part of the Appalachian Trail will blow you away if you are used to the NY/NJ trail. Most of the peaks are above tree line where you are walking on huge boulders with amazing views of the rock cliffs. Also, we will be hiking on Mount Washington. This mountain has worlds record of the highest wind ever recorded in the world. 250 mph then the machine broke. June is a safe month, however, many people have died up there during the winter months by being blown off the mountain. There will be snow on some of the peaks. This trip will be different because we will not be carrying backpacks during the day. We will have base camps at local state parks, and will be taking day hikes with food and beer. The state parks have running water, toilets and showers for you ladies. We did the day pack hiking years ago and had a blast. Most of the peaks would be killer with full packs. I recommend that you start with us on Thursday afternoon, however if you can not do Thursday, you can meet us Friday night at a local state park (no hiking required). Here are the tentative details:

Thursday campers

June 1st (Thursday)- Some guys will meet around 1pm on the last exit on the parkway or Gramp's house to depart to NH.

Thursday night- arrive in the Franconia section of NH. Drive will be around 4.5-5 hours. Camping at Laffayette NH state park.

Friday

Hike a trail that has natural water flumes and waterfalls. Supposed to really cool. Will pass a historic shining rock. Previous team hike went to this huge rock on top of a 5000 ft above tree line trail. Hiking with day packs.

Friday Night and Friday drivers

Friday night- People leaving on Friday can meet us at base camp 1 or another base camp. I might switch Friday nights base camp to get us closer to Mount Washington.

Saturday ( the hike not to miss)

Mount Washington- We will take the train to the top of Mount Washington. The train is called the cog railway. Should take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beats hiking 4 hours straight up. Once we get to the top 6288ft high (one of the highest peaks on the east coast), we will hike above tree line for a couple hours and climb a couple 5000 peaks then descend to the base. This hike will be awesome.

Sunday

Drive through the Kangamanges Highway to check out some waterfalls and head home.

You don't want to miss this hike. Talk to your significant others and wives about this letting you go on this trip. You don't have to be an experienced backpacker for this trip. However, I would try to get in a little shape because the air is thinner above tree line. Previous team hikes in New Hampshire- Terry Dufffield almost had a heart attack on Shinning Rock, Yeyho sucked his whole asthma puffer by the time he got to the top.

Forward your responses to Gramps or to me (Spugs).

Later,

Spugs (rob espuga)

Please forward this to everyone. My list above does not include everyone.

Looks like everyone is too busy for this year's Team Hike or New Hampshire is too far away for the weekend. We'll have to try another time. Maybe next spring you ladies could get approval from your significant others so we could do Mount Washington.

Here are some suggestions for an alternate Team Hike. Same dates, weekend of June 2nd. Gramps and I were talking about going kayaking down the Delaware. You could either make this a weekend trip or just a day trip. We are planning to hook up in the Poconos at my trailer on Friday night. My trailer is in a white trash campground right off rt 80 , next to camelback ski resort. We could camp up there Friday night then drive up to the kayaking place on Saturday (Barryville, NY). Those that can not get up on Friday night, can meet us Saturday around 11:00am on the Delaware River. After an awesome day kayaking, you can cruise home or go back to my campground for Saturday night. Saturday night, we could revisit the Dome (where Politos party was held). Sunday morning, cruise home. The best part of the Delaware River is North of the Delaware Water Gap. As you go North on the River, the rapids become higher. The water has been fairly high, so the rapids will be cranking. Water should not be too cold as well. The kayaks hold cold beverages as well. Hopefully we can get a better draw for this alternate trip. Let's start the rsvp list again. Should be a great time.

Those in for the white trash/deliverance weekend:

• Spugs
• gramps
• hicks
• boner
• Spugs

To all,

As you know we have changed the plans of team hike to be in the Poconos. We have some awesome things planned for the weekend. Friday night, party and cook. Saturday, kayaking down the Delaware (either ripping rapids or leisurely ride will be determined). Saturday night, party, cook, and local entertainment 30 minutes away. Sunday, whatever you want (quading, swimming at Gerba's lake, riffle shooting). In addition to the kayaking, there is local place that has Honda quad riding, shooting rage with all types of guns, etc.

All I need to know is how many people are planning to come up and when. I need to reserve the campsites prior to Friday. The campground charges $15 dollars a night per person. There are hot showers, water and electric on the tent sites. We also have a gas grill. So far, these are the people that are in or have confirmed:

Friday night:

Spugs, Gramps, Hicks, Rocco, Sterni, Steve Polito, Shoes, Parker?, Gerba, Panebianco?

Saturday night: Gump, Flush?,

* Even if you can not stay any nights, you could also meet us for the kayaking day then take off if you have to.

Reply back with your responses.

spugs

To all,

If the weather blows for kayaking, we will make it up with some other activities (indoor go carts, riffle range, local pub, local entertainment, quading, or hiking). Bring your hiking boots just in case we hike to sunfish pod. It's only a 50 minute hike. Also, if we go quading, bring beat up clothes and sneakers, because you will get really muddy. Gramps, bring that big tent for the other campsite.

spugs