🏈 Bye Week- Say One Good Thing About The State Of Alabama (cannot be anything UA or Crimson Tide)

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Let me flip this. Do you do a "cold weather camping trip?"

Haven't in a while, but would.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

What are your top 3? I don’t get to as many of them unlike I did years ago.

I like…

Cheaha, Guntersville (if you have a boat), and Gulf State Park (in the fall/winter when it’s cooler).

As a kid, I loved Oak Mountain, but it was close to home so we’d just hang out there a lot. That BMX bike course was birthday party central for every kid in elementary school.

I first hiked and backpacked at Oak Mountain, overnighted off trail before it was allowed behind the large rock outcropping that now has an established trail there. Cheaha has to be on my list, we've done the Pinhoti in total and repeated that stretch through Cheaha with neighbors and kids. Little River Canyon - the park, the NRA, and the wonderful glory that is Mentone makes that whole area special.

Wind Creek isn't a State Park any more? Looking forward to the new lodge at Cheaha.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Let me flip this. Do you do a "cold weather camping trip?"

Most of my hikes on the Appalachian Trail were Jan-April and October-November. We had a few below zero nights, and several pretty good snow events (8 to 12 inches), but that's about it.

 

[TerryP]

Haven't in a while, but would.

Annual. Same park. Same stretch of spots close to the showers and water. This will be the 17th year.

Cold weather camping trip:

One of my best friends is disabled: handicapped sticker guy. We get CHEAP rates on spots. About an 80 percent break, I think.
Two spots, next to each other. One, with the camper at night. The other with tents.

I know. It's a bit weird. But, it's also pretty cool. It's five in the morning and you're getting cold sleeping in the tents...so you go to the camper to warm up a bit and make coffee. Outside, mind you, with a percolator. (Yes, likely the gas powered grill on the camper.)

One of the best weekends ever...

State was ranked #1 in the BCS. I had no clue what happened that Saturday.

This is a Sunday morning, right? A few hours before the sun comes up. Across the campground there was a crew who were cleaning up the other side of Santee (storm damage.) So that morning I was watching their routine. Seeing dozens of people, volunteers, coming out of tents was a pretty wild site. Just watching what they were eating.

I can't remember my carrier. I had no reception that day. So, I grabbed a friends phone to see the temp...ended up listening/looking at scores. A beer, a bowl, a phone, inside a truck because it was cold. I missed one hell of a day of football.

Also...

There wasn't anyone there. It was basically, just us. No shit, deer coming within 10 yards of the camp site those nights because of the smell. (Baked potatoes.)

Wouldn't trade it...

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I first hiked and backpacked at Oak Mountain, overnighted off trail before it was allowed behind the large rock outcropping that now has an established trail there. Cheaha has to be on my list, we've done the Pinhoti in total and repeated that stretch through Cheaha with neighbors and kids. Little River Canyon - the park, the NRA, and the wonderful glory that is Mentone makes that whole area special.

Wind Creek isn't a State Park any more? Looking forward to the new lodge at Cheaha.

As far as I know it is. Always confuses me though when people talk about staying there, if they mean the park or the casino in Atmore.

 

[TerryP]

I first hiked and backpacked at Oak Mountain,

Monte Sano mountain as a teen. And I was STUPID! I went off trail there for a few hours, for years, wearing chucks, jeans, and a long sleeve shirt. I probably should be dead.

 

[TerryP]

Most of my hikes on the Appalachian Trail were Jan-April and October-November. We had a few below zero nights, and several pretty good snow events (8 to 12 inches), but that's about it.

I can't say I would do that. And, this goes back to the conversation we had at the bar recently.

What kind of shoes?

While I bike, I look for wet leaves over roots. While hiking, you have to be looking for the same thing. I"d rather hike a trail that had green leaves overhead.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

It's five in the morning and you're getting cold sleeping in the tents...so you go to the camper to warm up a bit and make coffee. Outside, mind you, with a percolator. (Yes, likely the gas powered grill on the camper.)

When we were young we'd tent camp with another couple and our young kids in a lake campground that had electricity. The power box was just big enough to place the drip coffee pot on it. Best coffee is outside coffee. When we hiked into the Grand Canyon and rafted, the river rats had a huge steel coffee pot, all you could do was lean it over to pour the coffee. I still jones for that stuff.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I can't say I would do that. And, this goes back to the conversation we had at the bar recently.

What kind of shoes?

While I bike, I look for wet leaves over roots. While hiking, you have to be looking for the same thing. I"d rather hike a trail that had green leaves overhead.

Two pair of Vasque Sundowners, the original leather version. They were lighter than many, but not light. First pair got me through PA, summitted Katahdin with the second pair and got another 3-400 miles on them. We'd use high gaiters in the rain or snow, low gaiters if the weather was okay for the week.

We hiked in shoulder/winter to avoid insects and heat. Had a nice bout with black flies in Vermont.

 

[Kamikazi18627]

I will swear to this comment. Acclimation.

In my opinion, here is not a lot different than there; daily. If you are outside in the morning when the sun comes up and stay outside most of the time, that mid-afternoon 'shock wave' of heat and humidity doesn't hit.

I'm no fool here. I've a deck on the east side of my house, a patio on the west. So, I do avoid direct sunlight. But, the weather...I'd rather have it hot and humid than cold.

Well, ill have to disagree with you there. I guess it depends on where "here" is for you. It gets hot in Pell City, but mannnn it was just flat out miserable at GSP during Memorial Day.

Maybe it was just a "heat" wave. I dunno. I like heat, but not heat that knocks ya down.


Side note, I almost stepped on a cottonmouth on that trip........yikes. My wife told me that I was green in the face after that encounter. Haha

 

[TerryP]

When we were young we'd tent camp with another couple and our young kids in a lake campground that had electricity. The power box was just big enough to place the drip coffee pot on it. Best coffee is outside coffee. When we hiked into the Grand Canyon and rafted, the river rats had a huge steel coffee pot, all you could do was lean it over to pour the coffee. I still jones for that stuff.

With baked potatoes...

I love that in the husk, split open a bit so you can cram butter inside the husk. Douse it with a hot sauce ..rewrap, in aluminum foil, on a camp fire. It will create a aroma for a quarter of a mile.

About like coffee... ya just smell it.

 

[TerryP]

Had a nice bout with black flies in Vermont.

Go on....

 

[Rolltide24]

Yall need to come ice fishing with us in February in northern Minnesota. It’s feeling cold! But a blast.

 

[mando]

Monte Sano mountain as a teen. And I was STUPID! I went off trail there for a few hours, for years, wearing chucks, jeans, and a long sleeve shirt. I probably should be dead.

A friend/coworkers family owns part of the south side of that mountain. He said they had a business logging up there that quit logging because of all of the rattlesnakes they were running across. Lots of snakes up there.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

@TerryP @It Takes Eleven I'm quite impressed w/ your camping/backpacking roots. I'm Scout leader & my youngest son is about to age out & finish his Eagle. I have another son who is 28 who earned Eagle as did myself back in the 90's. So many stories so many experiences. Pretty much all of them involve coffee from a percolator &/or a steak from campfire. I'm taking the wife to Hard Labor Creek, GA (Where one of the Friday the 13th was filmed) to camp for the Jawja/TN game. I'll update pics of my setup.

@Rolltide24 we went up to the boundry waters of Minnesota & canoed the BSA High Adventure Canoe base in the summer of 2009 (see 1st pic). It rained 6 of the 7 days. Such beautiful country up there though but damn MN roads SUCK! That base turns into a sledding base in the winter. I've considered going but the investment in gear would be such a waste on my end.

SIDE NOTE: If you guys want to camp at an absolute GEM of a state park & see some true Americana history, I highly recommend FDR State Park in Georgia (just above Columbus). Its fairly close to Alabama but the campground is awesome PLUS there is an 21 mile hiking trail that stops a Dowdel Knobb (second pic on right) where FDR used to picnic looking out over Pine Mountain & there is his second home, the Little White house, where he stayed, & eventually died. Wait till the kids are older to have some kind of appreciation for it. You will not regret that visit.

 

[TerryP]

@TerryP @It Takes Eleven I'm quite impressed w/ your camping/backpacking roots. I'm Scout leader & my youngest son is about to age out & finish his Eagle. I have another son who is 28 who earned Eagle as did myself back in the 90's. So many stories so many experiences. Pretty much all of them involve coffee from a percolator &/or a steak from campfire. I'm taking the wife to Hard Labor Creek, GA (Where one of the Friday the 13th was filmed) to camp for the Jawja/TN game. I'll update pics of my setup.

That's a cool story.

Let me draw a parallel here. At least for me.

Think about movies that are set a century ago; or, even farther back. A staple, for a scene, is the homestead with a big porch. You'll see a character sitting out there basically doing nothing. Just enjoying the quiet; stand still moments, if you will.

Fishing, hiking, camping, golfing, and biking ... they all fit in the same "genre." You don't hear anything but the quietness of nature.

I was out earlier this morning and noticed a neighbor had three tents up in his backyard. He has pulled his jon-boat around to the front. I got a call from him at 12:32 AM today...I know what he's thinking.

Reminds me...

A few years ago we'd spent most of the day on the water. It was a spring trip, I want to say March, where it was warmer being out in the sun on the water than it was at the camp site. We were fishing but it was more of a lawn darts game, a closest to the hole type of fishing, or to make a basketball analogy, a game of "Horse." IE: "Watch me drop my line there."

To say the least, by sundown we're exhausted. Back to your comment here ... steaks, potatoes, on a campfire. I ate so much I fell asleep in the chair...woke up several hours later in the rain. Soaked. My friends? In the camper, dry, and sleeping.

"We figured you'd wake up sometime."

 

[BamaFan334]

I'm taking the wife to Hard Labor Creek, GA (Where one of the Friday the 13th was filmed) to camp for the Jawja/TN game. I'll update pics of my setup.

I live five minutes from there. Nice little golf course for a state course if you play. Enjoy your time!

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I ate so much I fell asleep in the chair...woke up several hours later in the rain. Soaked. My friends? In the camper, dry, and sleeping.

"We figured you'd wake up sometime."

It's ALWAYS the water logged campouts that live to be told in tales. My oldest son ALWAYS brought the rain. It didn't matter the forecast. He backpacked Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico & it hailed so much it covered the ground. And the desert was in full bloom when he got back to base camp. Lets just say he got the FULL experience there.

When we were in MN canoeing in the rain we got to our last campsite where it finally stopped. We pulled up our canoes found bear tracks everywhere & their crap too. But we were too tired to care (11 hours on the water that day). Anyway, we set up camp, raised the bear bags, & I laid out on next the campfire & watched the clouds roll back from the horizon like a blanket being pulled off a sphere to see the a blazen sunset (see pic). We hadn't seen sky for 6 days & that was the first mirror lake that was finally still enough to reflect. I feel asleep right there & woke up to a decent starry sky but was very surprised to see that there was still sunlight on horizon. I'd never been that far north before & apparently the sun never really sets there. I completely assumed I had to go farther north for that. I was wrong.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I live five minutes from there. Nice little golf course for a state course if you play. Enjoy your time!

We've done our own summer camp with 70+ scouts & adults there before. We used the kitchen, dinning hall, & cabins where the bad teenagers got it.

I was the waterfront directer teaching swimming merit badge & I had to rope off sections of the lake for ability groups. So that meant snorkeling the water to make sure there was no debris or serial killer that could snag a scout. My first name is Jason, so it was fitting we called it Jason's waterfront.

 

[TerryP]

My first name is Jason, so it was fitting we called it Jason's waterfront.

Do you own a goalie mask?