June Meeting- BOB Hike, "Pageant", and Gear Auction

[jackal556]

Since our last hike turned out so great, we discussed stepping up to the next level and doing a BOB hike, "pageant", and gear auction. For the hike, Schenley Park in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh is the current selected location so that we can do a urban-woodland transition.

The plan is to:
-meet up with appropriately loaded BOBs,
-take a hike (nothing too long),
-get all the bugs out of our kits (like the toe of that boot poking you in the kidney),
-finish the hike,
-eat some foodstuffs from our BOBs,
-do the "pageant" by showing off what we have in our BOBs,
-auction off your surplus gear or items you've made with the proceeds going toward the RFYL campaign.

I'll post more info as plans come together.

[rsnurkle]

Where is the "pageant" part of the party most likely to be located?

[jackal556]

Where is the "pageant" part of the party most likely to be located?

Not decided yet, but open for suggestions...

[rsnurkle]

Hmm. Perhaps a park space scouting trip is in order...

[jackal556]

One of the ideas we discussed for the event was a woodland- urban interface. So, Flagstaff Hill area might be the best to meet up, walk around, and rally back?

Still accepting suggestions.

[jackal556]

What are the thoughts of inviting the media out for the event? It will involve the trademark BOB, we're in the start of summer disaster season, and zombo-mania is on the rise (not the bath salts fueled cannibalism, but the zombie marketing craze). Some of us our in sensitive positions (myself included), so I'd like to make sure they use handles/ avatars/ codenames/ aliases in the article.

Anyone?

[Doctor Jest]

I am hesitant to invite the media to events until we have a more established presence in Pittsburgh. Once we have a resume of charity events and the like under our belts, and have a larger, more well-known group, I think that inviting the media would be a good way to spread the message. But for now, as small as we are, with the need to use pseudonyms, and the zombie stuff, I suspect that we would appear to the media as a small bunch of crazies instead of a group of serious disaster prep enthusiasts with a zombie slant.

[jackal556]

I am hesitant to invite the media to events until we have a more established presence in Pittsburgh. Once we have a resume of charity events and the like under our belts, and have a larger, more well-known group, I think that inviting the media would be a good way to spread the message. But for now, as small as we are, with the need to use pseudonyms, and the zombie stuff, I suspect that we would appear to the media as a small bunch of crazies instead of a group of serious disaster prep enthusiasts with a zombie slant.

That's why I sought the wisdom of the collective.

I went through my BOB this week and did some re-arranging. (I have some minor re-stocks needed for my FAK).

Dr. J- any impact in your area from the tornado/ storm yesterday?

[maxfarrand]

I'm still mailing up "Prize" stuff. Items to post monday.

[Doctor Jest]

Sorry to be so slow in replying. I was camping in northwestern PA (Tidioute) this past weekend.

No damage here - the bad stuff was out closer to Latrobe / Ligonier.

[jackal556]

So, I'll pitch meeting up around the gazeebo at the bottom of Flagstaff Hill/ corner of Frew and Schenley Dr. Walk up through CMU campus around 11:00. For those that need to turn back, can head back on Schenley. Hit the trail near the Panther Hollow (almost typed Holler) Bridge, wander around and meet up at the gazeebo area for the "pageant". I looked at some of the trails and one is about 2.5 miles.

Parking is available there on Schenely, on CMU campus, the metered lots by the library, and the Museums lot. I'd recommend the Museums lot because it is $5 all day and you can park in the shade.

On a safety note, it is going to be mega-warm this week, so hydrate before the hike and take it slow. It's been, um, maybe a couple of years since I've walked around with a pack on my back in this temperature.

[jackal556]

The hike was a great time today. The weather was fantastic . Pictures to follow...

[engr-rn]

Good to hear..looking forward to the pics..sorry I couldn't make it..fell between 12 hr night shifts at work...hopefully see you soon.

Tina

[epi_diva]

So glad you had a good turn out. Sorry we didn't make it out! I was still recovering from post vacation flu/severe cold that had me out of commision the week before. Looking forward to pics when you get a minute to post them!

[jackal556]

After I was able to dig out some image software and get these to the appropriate size, here are the pitchers. The turnout was myself and Pertinax. It was a warm enough day and the tree cover kept it cool.

Here's me and my BOB. The bag is the LA Police Gear knock-off of T.H.E. bag. I learned in preparing for this hike that I cannot fit two full camelbaks in the pouch in the back. I had some seam separation near the antenna port where I was routing the camelbak tube. My FAK is the pouch on the right side of the pack. The sleeping bag is a slumberjack (I think) rated to 30. I got rope, webbing, and carabiner if we needed some light mountaineering. I'm also considering cutting down my sleeping pad as well in both length and width. The bottom external pouch holds everything I typically carry in my MULE pack. I have much more space for attaching additional pouches and gear on the back. The gloves are 5.11 and one of my most favorite products that they produce.


Here is Pertinax and the bag he selected for the hike. It's a 5.11 pack and the external pouches hold an additional nalgene bottle and a mess kit. I'll let him tell more about it.


In some parts, we took the road less traveled by.