Zombie Con VI - The Debriefing

[bigmattdaddywack]

It was awesome, apart from me dying almost the first night from heat exhaustion.
Manbath is heaven.
The hills were killer.
You guys are awesome.

[Hawk]

Due to a seemingly rotating shift of manbath schedules, and a lack of surprise-sneak-up-on-you-like-a-ninja drinks down there, the debauchery seemed minimal this weekend. It was a great relaxing time, and I was happy to meet/see everyone. Thanks for a fantastic trip, everybody!

[Hawk]

Also, I hope nobody gets pregnant by the fluid exchange on that log by the rope swing everyone was sliding their crotches over.

[Elessar]

Also, I hope nobody gets pregnant by the fluid exchange on that log by the rope swing everyone was sliding their crotches over.

canoe trip multiple-partner-log-slide-germination FTW!

<--John from Jeff City

PS: Range trip was awesome but I was bitten by shit I'd never seen before. Let's just say that despite not using it at the top of the Hughes Mountain hike, I did end up needing my signal mirror for something...

PPS: Manbath is heaven and I'm sleeping in a hammock next time... I kept sliding down the hill in my tent until I made a hole in the corner

[Doctor Jest]

Another fantastic Z-Con. The folks this year were so helpful, there were so many that chipped in and helped with all the work.

Kudos cubed to crypto for his awesome water pumping system, it worked like a charm and saved a huge amount of work.

I hope you guys post lots and lots of pictures,my camera died and I couldn't take any.

I love my Hennessy hammock.

And a big thanks to all those who planned this and put it all together!!!

[kyle]

It's finally over....

This year seemed a little more subdued than usual. I'm sure the heat had a lot to do with that. Lot's of really awesome new folks though. It was a great crowd and I had a blast. Everyone worked their asses off. We set up camp and broke down camp in record time.

I also learned a lot of new things.

I'm exhausted. Looking forward to the meeting tonight at Shrewsbury Lanes. It will be nice to hang out with the folks I just suffered with for a week in a more relaxed environment.

Why do we do this every year?

Now time to rest up for a few days then start up the planning of Zombie Con 7!

Next year:
- No more generator. Time to power all the equipment off of batteries
- Figure out the best way to trickle charge the batteries using solar/hydro
- Swamp cooler
- Figure out how to safely build a Tyrolean traverse for equipment
- New seminars
- Kyle should get his shiznit together and have less technical issues with the "State of the Squad" presentation

Sorry about the generator problems on Saturday night. Crypto and I figured out what the problem is but it couldn't be easily fixed out there in the dark.

Elessar, we forgot to get the dog tag today. Email me your mailing address and I'll toss you a new one: kyle@zombiehunters.org

[kyle]

pictures are starting to roll in!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7 ... 1158498176



Here is a photo I put up on the ZS Twitter account. The goal was to post to the twitter account about what was going on at Z-con a few times a day but I had trouble keeping a signal. I got lucking while up at the top of the mountain during the radio seminar so this is all I got:
http://tweetphoto.com/28876210

I need to delegate the Z-con "tweeting" to a volunteer with a better phone service next year.

[Bridget]

Ewok village was a wonderful place to camp and I'll be sure to do it again.

The flies were horrible and bitey, the ticks were sparse, and the heat was just as prevalent as ever.

Good to see pics coming in. I'll miss Manbath but am glad to know it'll be a full year before I have to climb that damn hill again.
And it was great meeting so many new folks!

[Elessar]

Sorry I missed the meeting guys - took a lot longer to get home than I expected. The rifle range's parting gift (hornet sting) on my wrist started to puss so I tried to sterily cut it open to drain it and bandage it, so... a couple Vics say I ain't goin anywhere . I plan to come next month tho...

Kyle I'll shoot you and B3 emails...

[Jeriah]

Just got home. This was awesome.

Wish I'd made it to the Hughes Mt. hike; after the knife sharpening seminar I just laid down and took a nap and didn't get up again for hours. Next year!

Also, getting god-damned hammocks for next year. The novelty of trying to simultaneously sleep and free climb a rock face is wearing off.

Also, I'm retiring the Crocs as water shoes. As well as the only shoes I wore all weekend this year. Last year and this year, the Crocs did okay as water shoes, but when wet, my feet want to either slide out the back of them or do a barrel roll inside them. Also, when in the water, they want to float up above my head. Going to get some of the thick-soled Vibram Five Fingers for next year.

Painting my shotgun stock, fore-end, and barrel tan. Barrel to cover rust and prevent future rust, stocks because black plastic gets really hot in the sun. Thinking about doing this to one of my rifles, too, or at least wrapping some fabric around the stock.

Next year I'll hopefully remember to shoot the damned slow-fire pistol match, too.

Highlights included the Eastern Box Turtle we rescued off the road in Irondale, and the Green Egret we saw taking fish from the river on the float trip. Good animals, good times.

Nice to meet the new people, and thanks to everyone who helped put this together!

[Blasphemous]

I made it safely home, although the Sandman was assaulting me the whole time. Things I learned from Z-Con this year...

1) Hammock! (I'm also tired of sliding down the hill)
2) A decent pair of water sandals was golden.
3) Copious amounts of sunblock allowed me to be in the sun constantly.
4) Yet more gear I can trim out of my pack.
5) A comfy chair will make it out next year. Pete had an outrageously comfy looking chair.

It was great to see the old crowd this year and always a pleasure meeting the new folks!
- Aaron

[drewder]

What a view....


The trip up to base camp...


Man-BATH

ManBath Sideways (damn you photobucket...)


ManBath from Base Camp


The Up Top Cook...


This view is brought to you by Beef Jerky and drewder...


No Jerky, jerky.


It's not a post card, but damn close...


Thanks to LadyDeath for letting me use her tent.


Most of the pix from top of the Mountain... All in all, it was a great time. Can't wait till the next event.

[bigmattdaddywack]

I really wasn't close to dying(Bridget brought that up with me) but it just felt like it.
For next year
Must
1. Cardio
2. Get a hammock
3. Pack a lot lighter, bring less food, less frivolous stuff
4. Cardio
5. Get man-kini


Also water shoes really end up stinking

[bethanyb]

It was great meeting everyone! I dropped my disposable camera at walgreens after the meeting so I should have pics up on facebook and picasa tomorrow. Anyone from ZCon that wants to add me on facebook can find me using the email bbaker111 [at] my [dot] stlcc [dot] edu you have to add me as a friend to see my pics.

Also Kyle I can't see those pics. Facebook is telling me no content found.

[csullisurvive]

Thanks to everyone who made this possible!

I will be offering my assistance for next year.

Zombie Squad Rocks!

-Christian

[drewder]

Pix found here viewtopic.php?f=38&t=60415&start=216

^^^ or nevermind, the mods have conveniently moved the pix posted in above thread to this very same thread.... thanks.

Things learned:

1. If you have the day off from work, don't call to see how things are going at the office.
2. Quit your job if you can't make it out on Wednesday-Sunday.
3. El Dickman is King of the Mountain.
4. Wade is King of the River.
5. I am neither of those listed above.
6. Camping at the top is a hell of a hike, but an insanely great view.
7. Always keep your glasses handy. It is really hard to read subtitled movies without them.

There are a lot more, but I just wanted to point out a few. It was great meeting new people and even more fun hanging with the VETS. Hope to see y'alls around.

[kyle]

It was great meeting everyone! I dropped my disposable camera at walgreens after the meeting so I should have pics up on facebook and picasa tomorrow. Anyone from ZCon that wants to add me on facebook can find me using the email bbaker111 [at] my [dot] stlcc [dot] edu you have to add me as a friend to see my pics.

Also Kyle I can't see those pics. Facebook is telling me no content found.

Hmm... Those are from El_dickman's facebook page. Maybe you have to be friends with him. Not sure how he has his profile set up.

[Jeriah]

5. Get man-kini

Do it. Then Crypto and I should bring ours again next year and we can have a beauty pageant.

[PistolPete]

I had a good time. The 22lb reclining chair was worth it, I fell asleep in it more than once. I am mixed on the hammock however. I don't have a Hennessey, mine was a $30 or something, and was not super comfortable. It took a couple nights to get it set up correctly.

The cheese making seminar was awesome. The first time I have the house to myself I'm totally making some.

The weather was nice this year. Hot enough to let us know it's summer, but it was a lot cooler than last year. It was even downright pleasant a couple of nights.

The timed pistol shoot was a lot of fun. I like having to shoot in ways that I don't normally, I always learn something. Thanks to everyone to helped out to make it fun!

[Bridget]

Things I did right this year:
Packed light, clothes-wise. I don't have any issue with wearing the same things a few times when I was dry, so one pair of cotton pj capris, cotton khaki capris, a few tank tops and a few different swimsuits so I always had a dry one did me just fine. I replaced my bulky PJ pants with a pair of thick wool socks in case it got cold, which it never did.

Picked nutrient and calorie dense foods. Usually I bring snack bars and fruit and end up being starving in an hour or so, so I made sure the foods I picked were going to fill me up for a long time.

Brought my fleece liner and that's it. I didn't even pretend that I needed my -10 degree humongo sleeping bag. The two nights that it did get kind of chilly, I was fine. To add to this, the inflata-bed with the built in pump and bag was a nice change from trying to cram it into a container and losing the pump.

Finally got some real water shoes instead of Crocs. They actually kept rocks out and didn't slide around on my feet, trying to kill me.

Things I would like to improve before next year:
Learn your gorram serving sizes, girl! A serving of curry while camping, though delicious, is not three times as much as you'd eat at home! Luckily, because of this, I had some food to share with others.

Realize that you're setting up your camp in a creek bed. Thankfully it didn't rain, but it definitely added to the slope of the mountain.

I did right bringing two bottles-- one for water and one for booze, so the water one wouldn't taste boozy-- but kept mixing them up. By the end of the weekend everything tasted like a hangover.

That 100% DEET spray was gross. I'd rather pack in more Off than have that stuff touch my skin ever again.

And really? I need a fan in my tent. That would have made camping so much awesomer.


Next year, if we get to do the Gourmet Campfire Cooking seminar, I would really like to focus on locally procurable foods. My garden should be pretty prolific next year if all of my perennials survive, so I would really like to make everything from scratch and show y'all how it's done. You know, real disaster preparedness stuff. Or something.

[bethanyb]

Pics!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/album.php?aid=453989&id=783550226&ref=mf

or for non facebookers...
http://picasaweb.google.com/bebaker22/20100623ZCon2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCIK54-3q7pnLowE&feat=directlink

[Elessar]

Sounds like this is taking a lessons learned direction and I certainly learned a few things...

1. get a hennessee hammock

2. don't rely on $6 walmart water shoes for 5 days or even 5 minutes (those vibram 5 finger water shoes are next on my list)

3. pack fewer MREs! ( I had 3 left at the end )

4. keep a utensil on you always! (light harness LBV would be great for this and other essentials)

[jnathan]

It was great finally meeting some ZombieSquad members after two years of chatting with some of you via the forum and IRC.

It was hot, it was humid and it was great.

It was also my first time camping in about 13 years, and there were some consequences... such as spending a ridiculous amount of time cooking. I was told ahead of time that cooking is teh suck(SIC) and I can honestly say that those who warned me were correct. In case you don't remember me, I was the guy who was always cooking on the flat rock near the fire pit.

Since I flew, I was at a major disadvantage as I had to unpack my suitcases and repack into a pack. But, it was a great learning experience. Things to bring next year:

1) A Henessy hammock (or equivalent - check Hoods Woods (thanks Rob) for reviews)
2) A smaller tent (a 3-person tent offers you lots of room... amazingly hot, uncomfortable room)
3) A really small Camelbak pack so I don't have to tote around a stainless steel Nalgene
4) A simpler method for cooking and cleaning and a much smaller cookset
5) A headlamp that can produce red light (so as to not annoy others at night)
6) Water shoes that don't cut my feet up (The Vibram FiveFingers Keep Stuff Out (KSO) model looks promising)
7) Boots instead of low top Merrell shoes

Despite what the advertising may claim, I slid off my pad when using a Big Agnes Lost Dog (+50) sleeping bag mated to a Big Agnes dual core air mattress.

The seminars were interesting (the small bits I was able to attend.. when I wasn't cooking), a big thanks to everyone who lead a seminar. And, a big thanks to Kyle, Kristan, crypto (for science!), B3 (our range mistress) and all the other people from "home base" who make ZombieCon a possibility.

-Jeff

[Bridget]

Jeff, I'm still going to offer to bring food for people for the low low price of $20 for the whole trip next year.
That way you won't have to cook!